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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 23, 2007 - 43 Local OHLers begin playoff chase Eight hockey players with local ties are vying for an Ontario Hockey League championship this spring, including several of the league's brightest stars. Leading their respective teams' charges for the J. Ross Robertson Cup will be sophomore sensation John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals, veteran sniper Tyler Donati of the Belleville Bulls and workhorse netminder Steve Mason of the London Knights. Also competing in the playoffs, which began last night as the Kitchener Rangers hosted the Sarnia Sting, are Kitchener's Victor Oreskovich, Mississauga IceDogs' Stefan Legein, London's Sam Gagner, Plymouth Whalers' Zack Shepley and Sarnia's Peter Di Salvo. Tavares, who finished the year with 72 goals (two more than Wayne Gretzky's previous OHL record for a 16year-old player) and 62 assists, and the Generals are making the team's first playoff appearance in three years. Oshawa (31-29-3-5) will face the Kingston Frontenacs (31-30-5-2) in the opening round. Donati ended the season fourth in the OHL's scoring race, scoring 54 goals and adding 75 helpers. His Bulls (39-240-5), second in the East, will clash with the Ottawa 67's (30-34-0-4). Mason posted a record of 45-13-1-3 and a goals-against average of 3.20, helping the Knights finish with the top record in the league (50-14-1-3). Gagner, a former Oakville Trafalgar High School student, contributed 35 goals and 83 assists as a rookie for London, which will meet the Owen Sound Attack (31-30-3-4) in the first round. Legein notched 43 goals and 32 assists this year with Mississauga as the IceDogs finished with a 43-21-0-4 mark, good for third in the Eastern Conference. Mississauga draws the Sudbury Wolves (29-30-3-6) in the opening round. Veteran defenceman Zack Shepley had 10 assists and a plus-27 rating in 44 games for Plymouth (49-14-2-3), which takes on the Guelph Storm (33-23-3-9) to open the playoffs. Oreskovich, a Colorado Avalanche prospect, had 28 goals and 32 assists this year for Kitchener (47-17-1-3). The Rangers will be opposed by the 34-24-55 Sting, for which Di Salvo saw limited action this year in a backup goaltending role. Other opening-round OHL playoff matchups include the 48-19-0-1 Barrie Colts against the 27-36-1-4 Brampton Battalion and the 44-21-0-3 Saginaw Spirit against the 37-23-1-7 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Local OHLers that won't see postseason action this spring include the Sudbury Wolves' Justin Donati (47 goals, 44 assists in 63 games), Windsor Spitfires' John Kurtz (eight goals, seven helpers in 58 games), Peterborough Petes' goalie Trevor Cann (23-32-1-4, 3.69 goals-against average) and the Petes' Brendan Taylor (10 goals, 15 assists in 64 games). SUMMER HOCKEY: The Halton Men's Summer NonContact Hockey League has openings for individual or small group entries to play in an organized spring and summer recreational league. The C/D calibre league offers the equivalent of house league hockey for men aged 30 plus. Games are played at River Oaks Recreation Centre in prime time, primarily on Wednesdays. Interested players can find more information at www.hmhl.bizland.com, or may call the league at 905-8499712. Tennis Anyone? Registration at Clubhouse (Just south of hospital) Saturday, March 31 Saturday, April 14 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fees: Family Couple Adult Junior $150 $130 $85 $45 Cheque Preferred After April 30th fees incr Now Hiring Court Attendants $8/hr. Forward resumes by April 7 to: Five alive in OPJHL championship hunt Five more locals are contending for a tier two junior hockey crown, having reached the semifinals of the Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The St. Michael's Buzzers boast the largest Oakville content of the four teams still remaining, featuring Mike Binnington, Tyler Sgro and Tyler Kelloway. Hamilton Red Wings' Mike Galbraith and Aurora Tigers' Jordan Watts will square off in the North/West semifinal series, which begins tonight. Binnington has enjoyed a stellar postseason to date. The goaltender sports a record of 11-2 and a goals-against average of 1.85 in 13 games. Kelloway has contributed four assists in 15 games from his defenceman position, while Sgro, a forward, has a goal and an assist in 10 outings. St. Mike's opens its South/East series tonight against the Wellington Dukes. Galbraith enters the fourth round of the playoffs fourth in the postseason scoring race, having scored 13 goals and adding 13 assists in 14 games. His overtime winner in Game 4 clinched the Red Wings' sweep of Georgetown in the West final. Watts has earned two assists in six playoff contests with the Tigers. Reduce Reuse Recycle The Manager Wallace Park Tennis Club P.O. Box 52064 Oakville, ON L6J 7N5 Wallace Park Tennis Club 245 Reynolds St. 905.845.7649 2007 Oakville Minor Baseball Registration A complete Baseball Program for all Boys & Girls Born 1982 - 2002 We offer 3 Levels of Competition: BURLINGTON MINOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION The BEST Football in Halton! Serving the Halton Region for over 40 Years Football Programs for ages 6-22 Home of the Burlington Stampeders and the Burlington Braves House League and Select Program: Complete uniforms T-Ball through Junior Season Starts - May 12 - August 25 Free Players Clinics Toronto Blue Jays Instructional Clinic ­ host Photo Day May 27 Family Discounts (for 3 or more members) Free Coaches Clinic Baseball Ontario Certified Umpires at all divisions House League Tackle, Flag Football and Rep. Tackle Programs Offered No Experience Necessary - Our Qualified, Experienced, Dedicated Coaches will teach the fundamentals of football, as well as teamwork and sportsmanship Last year we had over 1400 members from the Burlington, Oakville and surrounding areas! All Football Equipment Supplied, except cleats Divisions are filling up in all age groups. Be careful not to "Strike Out" and miss an opportunity to play baseball the way the Major Leagues play. Catch The Excitement! Play FULL Baseball from T-Ball-Junior Season games are played Monday-Thursday-6:15 p.m. start time. One game/week and practise on weekend. Website is updated frequently with upcoming events. www.oakvilleminorbaeball.com Email us at: omba@oakvilleminorbaseball.com RATES $FEES T-Ball ages 5- 7 $135.00 (includes Town of Oakville user fee) RookieBall - Midget ages 8-18 $200.00 (includes Town of Oakville user fee) Junior ages 19-25 $200.00 (includes Town of Oakville user fee) AGES: 5 TO 25, children must reach 5th birthday during the 2007 calendar year. New registrations require a Birth Certificate. 2007 Registration March 24 · 10am - 2pm April 14 · 10am - 2pm All at our Clubhouse, in behind Nelson Football Stadium (4181 New St., Burlington) All Tackle Programs House League (Mite through to Peewee) Summer Rep. (Peewee & Junior Varsity) Fall Rep. (Tyke, Atom & Peewee) Registration online available ew Clubhouse hours: Saturday, 9:00-2 p.m. Wednesday 7:00-9:00 p.m. N For more information please call 847-5545 or visit our website ­ (www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com) Play O.M.B.A. Baseball in 2007! Flag Football Registration (Mite, Tyke and Atom Only) Note: Our Peewee Flag Division is FULL (10 teams) Thank You! Must Bring Proof of Age Cheques, Credit Cards and Cash Accepted. "Oakville's own for 43 years" For More Information www.burlingtonminorfootball.ca www.burlingtonstampeders.com Tel: 905-637-2055