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36 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2009 House league action Rugby Devils beware: Eagles on their way up Midgets' success has future looking bright By Herb Garbutt Jamie Leveridge, who also have experience with the Cru. "The players are arranged in s a teacher, it's one of those groups on the field and there's one things that Tyler Leggatt of them in each group," Leggatt knows he can't allow. But explained. "They helped get the kids the coach in him can't help but in the right positions and it was smile when he sees kids tossing incredible how much, collectively, around a rugby ball in the hallways they had improved by the end of the of Abbey Park. season." Since the high school opened, Even the leaders of the team saw Leggatt and assistant coach Bob their games grow throughout the Hepburn have been working to season, Leggatt said, pointing to the build a rugby program that may example of Sears-Duru. one day compete with Halton pow"Djustice is such a dominant, erhouse Oakville physical athlete Trafalgar. The Red "It was incredible how that when we were Devils, winners of much, collectively, they playing a weaker 38 of the last 39 had improved by the team, he could just Halton senior run through them," end of the season." championships, said the Eagles' have set the bar coach, who expects Abbey Park rugby head very high for four Abbey Park's junior coach Tyler Leggatt decades. athlete of the year And while the to contend for a Eagles may not be ready just yet to spot on the Ontario U15 team. clear that bar just yet -- Abbey Park "When we got up against the better lost 31-17 to OT in this year's senior teams, he had to learn to pass and final -- they believe it is at least he did." within reach. Of course, Leggatt is the first to The midget Eagles wrapped up admit that a gap still exists between an outstanding season with a 22-14 the Eagles and their neighbours to victory over Uxbridge to win the the south. Part of that is due to the Barbarian Cup, the unofficial rich rugby tradition at OT. provincial championship for their "When (OT players) go into a age group. The Eagles' Grade 9 game, they're not just playing for squad won three of the four tourna- the 15 guys on the field. They're ments it entered and finished the playing for their older brothers, season with a record of 24-1. Abbey their uncles, their dads," he said. Park's lone loss came in the final of "They've got a 30-plus-year identity. the Red Hot, an early-season tour- We're trying to build towards that." nament that draws teams from They can't create history across Ontario. overnight, but the Eagles can do Abbey Park's team was anchored other things to become more comby three players -- Andrew Hall, petitive. On top of off-season trainChris Woodhead and Djustice ing, they have also tried luring the Sears-Duru -- who play rep on the school's best athletes into the proOakville Crusaders U14 team, as gram, something that will become See Quality page 37 well as two more, Ross Brown and OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While the Oakville Soccer Club is well-known for having strong rep teams over the years, the club also has a large and vibrant house league system. Right, Pizza Pizza player Fraser Gibb (in orange) chases down Jelinek Cork Group opponent Nick Keklikian during under-16 boys' house league action Monday at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School. GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER A Mason signing autographs tomorrow Whether or not Steve Mason took home a trophy from last night's (Thursday's) NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas, local residents will have a chance this weekend to congratulate the star goaltender in person. Mason, who was up for the NHL's Calder (top rookie) and Vezina (top goalie) trophies last night, will be at Kennedy Ford (280 South Service Rd.) tomorrow (Saturday). He will sign autographs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 21-year-old Minor Oaks Hockey Association product backstopped the Columbus Blue Jackets to the franchise's first-ever playoff appearance this past season. He led the league in shutouts (10), was second in goals-against average (2.29) and ranked ninth in wins (33) despite playing only 61 regular-season games. Many hockey experts expected Mason to beat out the Anaheim Ducks' Bobby Ryan and the Chicago Blackhawks' Kris Versteeg last night for the Calder. His Vezina competition included the Boston Bruins' Tim Thomas and Minnesota Wild's Niklas Backstrom. Steve Mason