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D4 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER W ednesday, May 17, 2000 Setback for Kumar (Continued from page D3) All-Oakville squash showdown at nationals Neha Kumar of Heritage Glen school won her second consecutive national squash championship, in the U-13 girls division, steam rolling through the opposition in Edmonton earlier this month. Her elder sister, Ruchika Kumar, 15, top seeded in the U-19 division, settled for a silver medal (see story) The national championship final boiled down to a famil iar all-Oakville pairing with Kumar prevailing over her namesake, Neha Chawla 3-0 (9-1, 9-6, 9-1). Kumar also won three straight in her semifinal match (91, 9-0, 9-4 over Edmondson from Toronto) and quarterfinal match (9-0, 9-1, 9-0 over Dudley). Kumar's goal, now, is to train hard next season to try and reach at least the finals of the U-15 national championship. For the next month, however, she will take a break from squash but not sports. She will be doing track and field at school and has joined the Oakville Soccer Club. Kumar, last year, won the U-12 national championship. However, Kumar then exited the national championship with a hard fought 3-0 loss to eighth seeded Courtney Paser (9-5, 10-9, 9-3). Kumar was top seeded at the national U-19 youth championships a week earlier in Edmonton but had to setde for a silver medal after being defeated by second seeded Jacqui Inward of Peterborough 3-1 (10-8,9-4, 3-9, 10-9). Kumar admits she let the top billing get to her. "The pressure of being number one prevented me from playing my normal aggressive game. I played a defensive game and did not go for my shots." With wins at the Western Region U-19, the provincial open U-19 and a 5th place finish at the Ontario Women's Closed, she will hang up the racquet for a couple of weeks. She will be representing Canada in the Junior Pan American games in August in Mexico. Coyotes at home June 2 &4 (Continued from page D3) We're giving away up to $1000 a day in May, and all you have to do to participate is show up and sit down to play at your favourite Slot Machine. If your seat number is called, you will be eligible to win $200 ('five daily draws of $200 each). And if you're a Winner's Circle member you'll also be eligible to receive an additional $50. No purchase necessary. For complete contest rules and regulations visit the Winner's Circle Booth or call (905) 854-4053. "Shawn has the skill to be one o f the best players in the league," said Ed Kirsten who is back coaching the team this season along with Ron Piercey. Snider scored the first goal o f the season for the Coyotes and his fifth goal (the C oyotes' 9th of the game) turned out to be the winner. He threw the whole gamut at the Niagara goalie, he scored in close with some dazzling stick handling, blew one by with a boomer o f a slap shot, and finally using what will probably come to be known as the best wrist shot in the league whistled a couple o f goals over the Niagara goalie's trapper. "Shawn is a great player, and a great kid, on what looks to be a great team," commented team president Jay Labelle. "We are extremely proud o f the players we have w ear ing the hometown Coyote colours this season. The com munity should come out to see these guys play. They are high skilled hockey players playing in a high skilled league." Also scoring in the Friday night opener was Oakville product M ike T arantino who signed w ith the team Thursday night and paid immediate dividends as he scored twice for the home side and set up one other. This past winter, Tarantino led the Blades in scoring and was fifth in the west division o f the provincial junior A league. "M ike is a great pickup," said assistant captain Shane Labelle. "I played midget with Mike. He is a very skilled play er, and is always fun to play with. W e're going to have a great year." Hard working Stu MacCrimmon, who finished fourth in scoring for the Blades this past winter, also tallied twice for the Coyotes including a crucial empty netter at the end of the game while Niagara was pressing for the tie. "Stu had to carry one N iagara player half the court to score that one," rem arked co-coach Ron Piercey. Rounding out the scoring Friday was another Blade Steve Kinnunen who stormed down the Wing end to end and burried a ten foot snapper between the legs o f the N iagara netminder. Assists were picked up by Sean Leathong (3), Jeff Elia (2), Labelle, Tarantino, M att Snider, Ryan Fitzsim m ons, Dan Bognar, Shawn Snider and Ryan M iehm. Other highlights on the night were the strong play of form er Burlington Cougar defenceman Sean Leathong who set up three of the Coyotes ten goals and rookie goalie Ryan M iehm who stood his ground and made some very key saves especially in the fourth quarter. SHOW CASE EVENT The Coyotes came away from the first showcase event, in Aurora, with only one win in three tries. Oakville opened up with a 7-2 loss to the M ississauga Rattlers. The Coyotes were then stung 8-7 in OT by the Pickering Phantoms. In their third game, the Coyotes looked to be in tough with the York Thoroughblades having won both o f their games. But the Coyotes came away with a convincing 7-5 win behind strong goaltending from `99 western all-star Joe Barber. "We could easily be 3 & 1 right now," said team captain Jeff Elia. "OT losses are tough but we will win our share before this season is over. It looked like we were setting up for the win, but the play broke down and they got a break. It happens." H ere's the scoring for the weekend event: Shawn Snider 4 goals & 6 assists; Jeff Elia 3 goals & 3 assists; M ike Tarantino 3 goals & 3 assists; Dan Bognar 2 goals & 4 assists; Stu M acCrim m on 2 goals; Ryan Fitzsimmons 1 goal & 2 assists; Shane Labelle 1 goal & 1 assist; M att Snider 3 assists; M ike Zack 1 assist; and Greg Carr 1 assist. UPCOM ING The Coyotes next home stand, at Oakville Arena, is the first weekend in June with two games -- Friday, June 2nd, 7:30 p.m . against B rantford T hunderhaw ks, and on Sunday, June 4th, 2 p.m., against Buffalo Wings. On Journey w ith us - i t 's fun and easy... Take a Jd GET SPONSORS from your neighbourhood, family, friends, school, church and/or work or sponsor yourself.. 0 th e run 0 - REGISTER at Glen Abbey Rec. Centre (14 15 3rd Line at Upper Middle) TAKE A HIKE beginning at 9:30am and enjoy a day full of fun, celebration and rewards that will last many lifetimes. from 8:30 - 9:30am on Saturday, June 10th We have limited edition for all registered hikers Random Draws* Incentive Rewards · Snacks · Entertainment · N ature Hike Our thanks go to you and our sponsors for celebrating life - and this event - with us. T-shirts fH lM0 L a k MTe .TM .ilt. O M ° .n d D T he O akville B eaver WMKaiooitom VLobiaws ROYAL BANK & IB J§ lI # FURNITURE iHOMf P C C O T f ALLCOLOUR A Pledge forms available at: OMDREB, R e/M ax aboutow ne offices, Royal Banks, Loblaws locations, The Oakville Beaver, Joshua Creek Furniture, Oakville Libraries, Town Hall and retailers w ith LIFE HIKE posters. For more information, pledge forms or to volunteer call the LIFE line at 905 2 5 7 -0 0 0 7 2 * 0 « 0 * 0 t Strategies for LIFE C elebrating LIFE & preparing for th e future LIFE HIKE proceeds support research and awareness of group A strep bacteria and resulting illnesses indudingscarlet fever, cellulitis, strep thraot, and the too-often fatal flesh eating disease and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The fifth annual Oak-land Ford Lincoln OTM H Classic road race is on tap on Sunday, May 28. All proceeds to the OakvilleTrafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) New W omen's Diagnostic Centre. Pre register by this Friday (May 19) and receive a a free T-shirt (at OTMH main lobby, Oak-land Ford Lincoln or the Running Company). Featured are a 3K family walk, 5K run and 5K team run. Participants collecting dona tions will be eli gible for special prizes. For more info, phone 3384642.