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The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y N o v e m b e r 7, 2001 - D1 See me before you purchase or least1 vour next vehicle G lenle\ i n C H R Y S L E R · C hrysler · J E E P D O D G E 23S8 Royal Windsor Dr., £15-7575 S p o rts M fe te % APPLE A utoG lass % fb t UPHOLSTERY... 8 4 2 -6 0 6 0 SEATS, BOAT TOPS, CONVERTIBLE TOPS... 1033 Speers Rd. An Oakville Beaver Feature Editor: NORM NELSON Phone:845-3824, ext 255 Fax:337-5567 E-mail:nnelson@haltonsearch.com BANTAM SOUTH CENTRAL AAA LEAGUE (as o f Nov. 4) Central GPW L T GF GA PTS OAKVILLE Rangers 9 9 0 0 35 6 18 GREY-BRUCE Highlanders 30 23 13 8 6 1 1 HALTON Hurricanes 3 10 4 3 27 36 11 BRAMPTON Battalion 4 7 0 11 38 26 8 1 8 0 30 51 4 GUELPH Jr. Storm 10 2 South GP W BURLINGTON Eagles 8 5 STONEY CREEK Ice Breakers 11 5 NIAGARA FALLS II 4 WELLAND Tigers 11 3 ST. CATHARINES Sabres 11 3 L 1 5 6 7 7 T GF 21 35 35 23 36 GA PTS 14 12 38 11 32 9 30 7 40 7 MIDGET SOUTH CENTRAL AAA LEAGUE (as of Nov. 4) Central GP W L T GF GA BRAMPTON Battalion 8 61 1 38 22 8 53 0 31 21 OAKVILLE Rangers HALTON Hurricanes 10 44 2 40 32 GREY-BRUCE Highlanders 9 26 1 15 50 GUELPH Jr. Storm 7 25 0 35 24 South GP W L T BURLINGTON Eagles 7 61 0 9 32 4 ST. CATHARINES Sabres WELLAND Tigers 8 43 1 NIAGARA FALLS 8 25 1 STONEY CREEK Ice Breakers 6 0 4 2 PTS 13 10 10 5 4 GF GA PTS 28 11 12 35 26 10 24 21 9 29 36 5 11 26 2 The Oakville Rangers bantam AAA rep team are undefeated in league play so far this season, includ ing this recent 5-1 win over Brampton. But their biggest accomplishment so far this season happened last weekend, winning the Big Nickel in Sudbury. Photo by Glen Thiessen Big winners at Big Nickel By Norm Nelson BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The Oakville Rangers triple-A major ban tam team went as far as they could last year, win ning the Ontario M inor Hockey A ssociation (OMHA) championship right here in Oakville. And for that achievement, they'll get to host it again this season -- once again providing local hockey fans with a chance to take in some of the top youth talent in the province. This year, however, in their major bantam year, the OMHA championship is not the end of the line but a jumping off point to further competition -- the all-Ontario and national championships. It's important for any team or athlete not to get too far ahead of themselves, but this past weekend Oakville's two-time defending OMHA champion Rangers made an early statement that they are focused and serious in their goal to win a third straight OMHA championship, and to try to advance to provincial and national competition. The cracker jack Oakville team won one of the province's most prestigious tournaments -- the Big Nickel in Sudbury. The title might very well be as prestigious, maybe even more so, then their OMHA titles. While the OMHA titles carry the distinction of being able to come through in the playoffs, the Big Nickel title has a more distinguished cast with 32 top teams from the U.S., GTHL, Alliance, Ottawa area and Northern Ontario. About the only no-show among highly touted all-Ontario candidates was Timmins, said Minor Oaks Hockey Association (MOHA) vice president of rep hockey, Keith Murray. "Huge tournament. It's certainly one of the top tournaments in the province, absolutely." Oakville coach Scott McKenzie could not be reached prior to our press deadlines. Oakville won Sunday's championship game 32 over Detroit Compuware with Tyler Donati scor ing in overtime (from Charlie Giffin and Nick Dodge). For his efforts, Tyler Donati was selected the game star. Donati also received an even bigger honour, being named as the bantam tournament MVP. It wasn't the only individual hardware picked up by Oakville, either, as Luke Pamanzone picked up the F. McCool Memorial Award as the best team player. As well, forward Charlie Giffin made the sixmember tournament all-star team. Oakville was down 2-1 after the first period, with Charlie Giffin scoring Oakville's lone goal (from Justin Donati and Tyler Donati). But Nick Davis scored the lone second period goal (from Tyler Donati and Nick Dodge) to send the game in to overtime (after a scoreless third period). Earlier in the day, Charlie Giffin accounted for all the goals in a 2-0 semifinal shutout over Sault Ste. Marie Thunder. Assists went to Brad M cKenzie, Daniel Hannigan-Daley, Jordy McMillan and Nick Davis. Charlie Giffin got the nod as game star. On Saturday evening, Oakville won their quar terfinal game 6-3 over the Toronto Red Wings in a game that was closer than the score. Oakville held period leads of 2-0 and 3-2 before scoring two empty net goals in the third period and then another with the Red Wing goaltender back in, just for good measure. Scoring, in order, were Justin Donati, Luc Pamanzone, Charlie Giffin. Nick Davis, Tyler Donati and Giffen, with his second. Assists went to Ben Heersink (2), Tyler Donati, Justin Donati, Recent action for AAA midgets The O akville Rangers triple-A m idget rep team defeated the visiting Stoney Creek Icebreakers 6-2 on Oct. 24. Brock Pawliw led the charges with a hat-trick with single tallies going to Jeff Vaive, Tyler Legein and Brandon Taverner. Assisting on the goals were A1 Lee, Jeff Bentley, Kevin Silber, Steve Turner, Jeff Holwell and Taverner. The outstanding goaltending duo of Sean Tompa and Josh Disher have contributed greatly to the team 's success. (Oct. 21) Coach Shawn Hudson, on Oct. 21, took his charges into Bram pton where he had coached for four years. Oakville had a good start and maintained a wide edge in shots on goal, but couldn't convert on this night, dropping a 6-3 decision. Tyler Legein had a pair and Jeff Vaive a single marker. Assists went to A1 Lee, Kevin Silber and bantam AAA call-up Brad McKenzie. (Oct. 19) Oakville scored three unan swered goals to defeat visiting Guelph Storm 4-1. Brandon Taverner scored a pair of goals with single markers to A1 Lee and Brock Paw liw into the em pty net. Assists went to Pawliw (2),Tyler Legein, Jeff Bentley and Chris Veitch. Daniel Hannigan-Daley, Nick Dodge, Jordy McMillan and Graham Tough. Justin Donati was the game star. Earlier on Saturday, Oakville won their `round of 16' game 2-1 over Ottawa Valley Titans with brothers Tyler and Justin Donati taking care of the scoring. Assists went to Nick Dodge (2), Graham Tough and Tyler Donati. All the scoring was in the third period. Tyler Donati was the game star. Oakville earned first place in their four-team preliminary round pool with three straight wins -- 5-0 over North Bay, 7-4 over Elgin and 3-2 over the Toronto Marlies. Justin Donati was Oakville's top scorer with seven points (4g,3a) which tied him for fourth over all. The Oakville team has been together for years, the nucleus as far back as their minor novice year eight long years ago. Those first two years, by the way, they set the standard, winning gold medals at the OMHA championship. In the ensuing five years, they have never missed a podium, earning bronze, two silver and, most recently, back-to-back gold. After winning the OMHA major peewee title two years ago, the Rangers did advance to the allOntario's where they settled for the silver medal, losing to the Toronto Marlies. UPCOMING ACTION Oakville had to guard against a let-down as they were in Niagara Falls last night. Their next game is at home, Saturday (Nov. 10), 7 p.m., at Glen Abbey against Grey Bruce. Also of interest, the Rangers take on Burlington, first in the south conference, next Wednesday (Nov. 14), 8:30 p.m. at Burlington Central Arena. Burlington's lone loss came in the season opener, 5-2 to Oakville. Cru make it through to McCormick Cup final The Oakville Crusaders will try to com plete their version o f the triple crow n this Saturday, 2:30 p.m., at Fletchers Fields in Markham as they take on Yeoman in the McCormick Cup rugby championship. This prestigious competition is basi cally the men's playoff championship for Ontario. The Cru already captured the regular season (12-1-1 record) and seven-aside titles this season. Last year, the Cru, who have devel oped into a powerhouse o f late, won the regular season and M cCormick Cup titles. In fact, this Saturday's McCormick Cup final is a rematch o f last year's which the Cru won 13-8. The previous year, they also made it to the final, losing 23-12 to the Irish Canadians. Finally back on their own home turf after playing their previous four playoff games on the road (after an opening playoff round win at home), the Cru advanced to the McCormick Cup cham pionship last Saturday with a 32-25 win over the Brantford Harlequins. The upstart Brantford squad with the less than impressive 5-9 playoff record, (See 'Cru' page D3) The Crusaders (black jerseys) again had their hands full with upstart Brantford. But this time they won 32-25. Photo by Glen Thiessen j;\ij . -JULI DurnJu:; j i . E, a a iv io ; L 'um. 4;iL 7&.u-£,:ui, SuL 7&iu^uu LL