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S Sports SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011 25 St. Joseph girls end volleyball drought Jaguars win first f Halton l title l in 20 years St. Joseph girls' volleyball coach with St. Luke, St. Andrew and the Giancarlo Derosa attributes the top four teams from Burlington and success of his squad to commit- north Halton. ment. Derosa felt that dedication from Having seven rep players didn't players, coaches, parents and staff f hurt, either. made the difference for St. Joseph The Jaguars won their first this year. Halton Catholic ele"Every practice, mentary system "We had 100 per cent even the girls who championship in 20 commitment from the didn't see a lot of f years last week, coaching staff to the playing time defeating the showed up and supactual players to the Oakville rival St. ported our A line," Matthew Wildcats teachers on staff to the he said. "We had principal." in the final. 100 per cent com"We knew we had mitment from the a lot of talent on the St. Joseph Jaguars coach coaching staff to team," said Derosa, Giancarlo Derosa the actual players noting that seven of to the teachers on 12 players on the Jaguars roster staff to the principal." also play rep. "(St. Matthew) had Parents Michele Hatziioannou rep players as well. It was a friendly and Herb Arnds also played a key competition between both of our role in the Jaguars' success, serving schools, and it was a bit of a sur- as volunteer coaches for the past prise to beat them because they several years. always had our number when it Members of St. Joseph's team came to tournaments." are Brooke Robertson, Emma The Wildcats handed St. Joseph Costin, Ania Ermarkaryan, Alisa one of its two losses this year, Ermarkaryan, Sofia Sartor, Isabel defeating the Jaguars 25-14, 23-25, Heykoop, Claire Hatziioannou, 15-12 in the Oakville finals the pre- Madeleine Watson, Natalie Lakostik, vious week. Both teams advanced to Jessica Arnds, Nicole Hann and the Halton finals, however, along Nicole Pickford. Back in season HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY UNDERWAY: Abbey Park Eagles player Carson Barnes (left) and White Oaks Wildcats opponent Ben Everett chase down the puck Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Abbey Park downed the Wildcats 4-1 in the league season opener for both clubs. The Halton high school boys' and girls' hockey campaigns began last week, while girls' volleyball and boys' basketball got underway this week. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER St. Matthew lost one league game, claimed Oakville championship The St. Matthew girls' volleyball team didn't lose many games this year either, finishing the Halton regular season with an undefeated mark. Prior to defeating St. Joseph in the Oakville final and falling to the Jaguars in the Halton title game, the Wildcats were runners-up to St. Joseph at the 28-team Catholic Cup tournament. "The dedication, loyalty and passion each of the girls demonstrated throughout the entire season makes them all champions," Wildcats coach Nicole Biturajac said in an email. Contributing to the Wildcats' success this season were Emma Guerin, Jessica Rosales, Marta Tkachuk, Juhl Henriksen, Melanie Richard, Mariah Johnson, Victoria Corett, Holly Guerin, Lexia Noden, Andrea Wallin, Kristen O'Neill and Andrea Wallin. Karen Moskal, Lindsay Smith and Shelly Donaher also coached the Wildcats. -- See page 26 for a photo of f the Oakville champion St. Matthew Wildcats. A team photo of the Halton champ St. Joseph Jaguars appeared in a previous edition of the Beaver. Fanelli ll d dedicates d first f OHL goal l to mom Ben Fanelli has a gift for his biggest fan. "Hearing the arena and the boys on the bench after "I'm definitely going to give the puck to my mom," I scored was surreal." the Kitchener Rangers defenceman said after scoring The goal was more than two years in the making. his first Ontario Hockey League goal in Fanelli was knocked out of action seven Kitchener's 4-1 win over the Sarnia Sting games into his rookie season when Erie last weekend in Kitchener. Otters forward Michael Liambas sent him "Kind of as a gift, but also a told-you-Icrashing into the boards in 2009. could-do-it type thing." The hit sent Fanelli's helmet flying and Fanelli's parents Sue and Frank were in he cracked his head on a glass support before the stands to see their 18-year-old son creep falling to the ice unconscious in a pool of f in from the point and blast a shot past Sarnia blood. The blueliner was rushed to a hospital goalie Brandon Hope midway through the in Hamilton with severe head injuries. second period. Doctors doubted he'd ever return to the The Oakville native fired his arms straight game. But Fanelli never gave up and spent up to the rafters in celebration before his the next two years working toward his Ben Fanelli teammates mobbed him on the ice. comeback. He was cleared to play this sea"I can't keep the smile off my face," said Fanelli, who son amid mixed feelings from his mom, who supported was scoreless in 30 career games before Sunday's con- his decision but doesn't enjoy the violence in hockey. test. "I never really pictured what it would be like. I "She got to see (the goal), and that's great for her," thought hopefully I'd get a goal sometime, but I never said Fanelli. knew how it was going to happen. -- Josh Brown, Metroland West Media Group