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Ice offence frozen in weekend losses FATHER KNOWS BEST: Oakville Blades player Steven Hickey (left) shakes hands with father and former NHLer Pat Hickey following Saturday's Blades alumni game at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Father got better of son on the night as Pat's team of former NHLers and Blades downed this year's Blades squad 8-6. ERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 35 · Wednesday, December 2, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Despite firing 62 shots on goal in its two games, the Oakville Ice managed only one goal in weekend losses to the Bluewater Hawks and Southwest Wildcats in Provincial Women's Hockey League play. Oakville (5-9-3-1) dropped a 1-0 overtime decision to the Hawks Saturday in St. Thomas, then fell 4-1 to the Wildcats Sunday in Windsor. Jaclyn Conacher had the Oakville marker in the loss to Southwest. Ali Binnington was in goal for the Ice in both games, stopping 43 shots against Bluewater and 27 more versus the Wildcats. The Ice has a favourable schedule this weekend as it looks to rebound from the two defeats. Oakville will visit the Etobicoke Dolphins Friday, then return home for a Sunday 4:30 p.m. matinee against the Durham West Lightning at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Etobicoke is 3-7-1 on the season, while Durham West is a league-worst 116. Blades don't mind extra work for the Voyageurs' win over Oakville in last year's league playoff final. Taking care of business, and working overtime. "I know there were guys that That could be the mantra these days for the Oakville played Kingston last year that wantBlades, whose three wins in the past week have all been ed to make amends a little bit," said decided after regulation time. Nobili. "We tried to balance that Oakville defeated the Brampton Capitals 6-5 in over- with putting things in perspective. See Coach page 36 time Thursday in Brampton, needed a shootout to edge the Kingston Voyageurs 4-3 Friday in Oakville, and shaded the Vaughan Vipers 4-3 in overtime Monday in Vaughan. The three victories solidi"The opportunity fied Oakville's hold on third place in the Ontario Junior A to be in a Hockey League standings, five shootout or win points behind second-place in OT... creates Georgetown with three games those kinds of in hand. The dramatic wins moments that also brought a little mid-season excitement for the players. you don't get in a "The opportunity to be in a traditional win." shootout or win in OT... creates those kinds of moments that Oakville Blades you don't get in a traditional coach Jason Nobili win," said Blades head coach Jason Nobili. "Certainly it creates some confidence on the players' front. Anytime you get into the extra frames (and win), momentum is derived from that." Nobili added he and his blood pressure might benefit from winning in regulation instead of overtime, but the parity of this year's league doesn't make it easy. "I think the league goes beyond the traditional two or three teams from the past that run the coop and everyone else hangs on their coattails," he said. "This year, with the realignment, it's six, seven, eight teams deep. We've had tough games against Buffalo, Trenton, Couchiching, Vaughan. You can't take the opposition lightly. It's great." The Blades have proven they can beat anyone as well. They handed Kingston only its second loss of the season Friday, gaining a measure of revenge BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR By Jon Kuiperij