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40 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday March 21, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OGC's Chambers one of Ontario's top coaches Oakville Gymnastics Club's director of recreational programs was recently presented with an Ontario Coaching Excellence Award. Laurie Chambers, a former national level athlete who once qualified for the World Tumbling Championships, received the award in recognition of her work in coaching recreational athletes. "I have the best job. Not only am I able to have a positive effect on the healthy development of kids, but I also have the unique opportunity to work and share that passion with others dedicated to the sport," said Chambers. "I am thrilled to be recognized by the CAO (Coaches Association of Ontario) for my contributions." Chambers has national coaching certification, a certificate in recreational leadership from Humber College and a risk management certificate. She is a certified sports aerobic instructor, and is also certified in sports-specific First Aid and CPR. With more than 17 years of combined coaching and administrative experience, Chambers has taught gymnastics to a wide range of children and adults, including children with special needs. Since Chambers became the Oakville Gymnastics Club's director of recreational gymnastics, the program has undergone substantial growth. Recreational session numbers are currently at more than 1,300 people, nearly triple that of last year's total. Summer camp participation is also up, expected to be 700 (double that of previous years). Chambers was pleased the CAO chose to recognize the field of gymnastics. "I am really happy that gymnastics is being recognized as a premier sport, because gymnastics promotes a healthy lifestyle for kids as young as 18 months," she said. "Kids can enjoy recreational development right up until their midteens, and from there they can easily transfer their skills and knowledge to teaching. Gymnastics helps to build self-confidence, co-ordination and strength. Kids with a gymnastics background have a strong base of skills that provide an added physical advantage when participating in sport." The CAO is an independent, non-profit organization providing representation and recognition for coaches in a variety of contexts. The coaching excellence awards are handed out annually. THE OMHA'S BEST: The Oakville peewee AAA Rangers were a happy bunch after winning the Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship last weekend in Keswick. OMHAs featured competitive field Continued from page 34 pionships came by a 3-1 score to Central Ontario, which finished fifth. "It's a pretty competitive loop," said Guzzo. "People need to realize at this level that if you don't have your `A' game, you're going to lose. At the end of it, we persevered, kept on going and didn't take our sights off winning the gold medal." The team's lone girl, Kristyn Capizzano, led the Rangers in points at the championships. She factored in on Oakville's first four goals of the tournament, notching a goal and three assists, and also drew a helper on Burns' goal in the final. Also scoring goals for Oakville at the OMHAs were Tyler Burns, Austin Kosack, Sean Perichak, Kamil Tkaczuk and Greg Campbell. Sean Perichak added three assists to finish the championships with four points. Kevin Buzzo had a pair of helpers. Braydon Banitsiotis won two of the three games he played in goal. Other members of the team are Brandon Clark, Cole Morrison, Justin Martin, Conor McGlynn, Scott Goodman, Danny Beaver, Kevin Guzzo and Jackson Hulbert. Elio Capizzano and Mark Gowan are the team's assistant coaches, and Rob Campbell is the trainer. The Ontario Hockey Federation provincial championships will be held from March 31 to April 5 in Thunder Bay. Atom B Hornets advance to division A two-game sweep of the Mississauga Chiefs has propelled the Oakville BMO Financial Group atom B Hornets into the Lower Lakes Female Hockey League East Division final. Maddie Sisokin scored the series-clinching goal, breaking a scoreless deadlock with 25 seconds to go in regulation of the second game. Sisokin cashed in on a rebound from a shot by teammate Sydney Davison. Minutes earlier, Hornets netminder Lia Widell cleared a puck that was dribbling towards the Oakville goal line, setting up the exciting finish. Widell did not allow a goal in the series, also posting a 30 shutout in the opening game. Christina Scanlon, Sisokin and Davison -- the latter into an empty net -- provided the Hornets' goals in that game. 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