The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Acton native Kosziwka helps Derbys trim Raiders "When the season started we had pretty low expectations because we have such a young team and so the focus was more on developing players, but now we realize As one of only a couple of players on we can win too," said the Acton High the rebuilding Streetsville Derbys who had School OAC student, an aspiring MBA any prior Jr. A experience heading into grad and accountant who was the this season, Limehouse resident Mike Bearcats' male athlete of the year for 2005Kosziwka wasn't exactly predicting his 06. "We got creamed in our first exhibinew club would be a contender for an tion game and I thought, `Oh no,' but the OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey season started and the team's League title in 2006-07. been on fire ever since. It's been After bouncing from pleasantly surprising." Orangeville to Georgetown and A product of the Halton to Wexford last year, the 18Hurricanes' minor hockey sysyear-old Kosziwka was just tem, Kosziwka won an Ontario looking for a full-time spot on a championship in badminton roster, and Streetsville, which with mixed doubles partner returned no players from its Melissa Bigg in May, and also led Royal Bank Cup team from this the Bearcats to the OFSAA finals past spring, underwent an ownin volleyball, although he had to MIKE ership change and complete give up the latter this fall due to KOSZiWKA organizational facelift. his Derby commitments. He Today, Kosziwka couldn't be would like to continue playing hockey happier as the Derbys have been a surprise next year at university, possibly south of team so far in the Western Conference the border. with a 6-3-2-0 record, and the 6-foot-2, "I'm looking for a scholarship and 175-pound forward is the team's leading we've had some interest from some U.S. scorer with seven goals and eight assists in schools," he added. "I just have to keep it 11 games. He set up two goals in a 4-4 tie up and by Christmas hopefully there'll be at second-place Georgetown on Saturday, something more out there than an offer." and while he didn't hit the scoresheet in a In both weekend tilts, the 8-1-1-1 4-3 overtime Streetsville victory on Raiders fell behind 3-1 after the first periSunday, Kosziwka played responsibly in od and needed late rallies to tie, despite his own zone, like most of his hard-work- once again outshooting their opponent by ing, if inexperienced, Derby teammates. a wide margin. Streetsville's power play, EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Georgetown Raider forward Ryan Ford can't get to this pass out from the corner and Streetsville's Sean Teakle (27) gladly scoops up the loose puck during an OPJAHL contest Sunday afternoon at the Vic Johnston Community Centre. The Raiders came back from a 3-0 deficit to earn a point, only to lose on a Derby power play goal in overtime. Photo by Eamonn Maher which employs Kosziwka on the point, scored three times in each contest, including the winner in OT Sunday with Georgetown's Ryan Ford in the penalty box for cross-checking, just after teammate Kyle Scwhende had equalized on a brilliant effort from his knees with less than a minute left in the third period. Matt Carter and Jon Southgate also scored for Georgetown on Sunday, with Schwende, Ford, Jonathan Quarrie and captain Wade Finegan tallying in Saturday's home draw. The Raiders also picked up another defenceman this week, acquiring 6-foot-4, 210-pound Peter Mrksic, an 18-year-old from Hamilton who began this season with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Coming up this week, the Raiders will be in Oakville Friday to take on the defending West Conference-champion Blades and then host Bramalea at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. (Eamonn Maher can be reached at emaher@independentfreepress.com) Trying it on for size Former Toronto Blue Jay player Jesse Barfield lets James Clark, 7, try on his World Series ring at the Gellert Centre recently. Barfield was supposed to hold a youth hitting clinic, but unfortunately rain forced the event inside. Rep hockey roundup Good start for bantams The Georgetown Bantam AA Raiders won their first two regular season games and were silver medalists at the Kawartha Lakes Early Bird Tournament in Peterborough. Regular season: Georgetown 6, Guelph 2 Georgetown 3, Milton 1 Kawartha Lakes tourney: Preliminary round-- Peterborough 3, Georgetown 0 Georgetown 5, Flamborough 3 Georgetown 4, Humberview 2 Semi-final---Georgetown 4, Mississauga 2 Championship-- Toronto East Enders 2, Georgetown 1 (OT) Scorers-- Todd Bannerman (3G, 3A); Ian McCrae, Cory Williams (3G, 2A); Stan Gaweda See PEEWEE, pg. 17 GEORGETOWN JUNIOR "A" Photo by Sabrina Byrnes GEORGETOWN JR. A