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Sports Oakville Beaver MEN'S · WOMEN'S · YOUTH BALL HOCKEY REGISTRATION t 2 1 son Seas www.burlingtonballhockey.com 905-637-8118 45 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER HARD-HITTING HOCKEY: Wednesday's Provincial Junior A Hockey League playoff game between the Oakville Blades and Aurora Tigers was a physical affair. Left, Oakville defenceman Taylor Farris sends Aurora captain Mark Thorburn flying over fallen Blades netminder Scott Greenham. Right, Blades forward Jeremy Welsh sends Sam Yearsley over the boards and into the Oakville bench. Blades' star players shine in Game 3 shutout victory By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR In order to enjoy success in the playoffs, teams generally need their best players to be their best players. That was the case for the Oakville Blades Wednesday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, and is the reason the Blades now own a 2-1 lead over the Aurora Tigers in the Provincial Junior A Hockey League's North/West championship series. Game 4 will be played tonight at the Aurora Community Centre. Scott Greenham stopped all 41 shots he faced Wednesday and Nick McParland scored off the rush in the third period, lifting the Blades to a 1-0 triumph. Greenham has been the Blades' backbone throughout the year (posting a 2.32 goals-against average and .923 save percentage), while McParland has led Oakville scoring in both the regular season and the playoffs. McParland blasted home a slapshot with 11:16 to go in regulation, taking a pass from Luke Moodie and using an Aurora defender as a screen. Braden Birch started the play with a fine breakout pass. "I was going for the far side. I wasn't going top shelf or anything, but I'm glad that it did," said McParland. Once the Blades -- who were outshot 156 in the first period and 41-33 on the night -- got the lead, they made sure they kept it. Aurora had only one decent chance the rest of the way, a Jordan Watts snapshot on a 2-on-1 that Greenham slid across to stop. "Our coach (Carlo Coccimiglio) set up a good system for us," McParland said. "We trapped them and kept them to the outside, and we were successful." Any Aurora hopes of a comeback ended when Tigers defenceman Matt Thomson was whistled for hauling down Moodie with two minutes left. Oakville, led by some excellent forechecking by Jeremy Welsh, kept the Tigers hemmed in their own zone to run out the clock. Aurora head coach Jerome Dupont found little consolation in the fact his team controlled play for the first half of the game. "The bottom line is we got chances, but when you don't convert, what good is it?" he said. "Greenham played great, and we had some chances that I thought we should have buried that we didn't." -- Game 5 tomorrow... ...at River Oaks · see page 47 Join Us For Golf This Season! 36 Championship Holes! Limited number of memberships available! Associate Membership.................................................$299.99 Weekday Membership ....................................................$2,575 Weekday & after 1:30 on weekends Membership .......$2,985 Full Introductory Membership.....................................$3,899 Weekday, Seven Day Restricted & Full Introductory Memberships all include: · Full access to both golf courses. · Preferred tee times up to 14 days in advance. · Opportunity to play in leagues, tournaments & social events. · Club storage, Club Cleaning & use of pull cart & locker. · Computer handicapping. · Full use of practice facility. Pro Shop Now Open! Course Opening Soon! (905) 336-3660 Visit Us Online: www.hiddenlakegolf.com