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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record B R O K E R A G E SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2009 33 Official recognition for aspiring hockey zebra In a field where you generally don't want to be noticed, Jeff Campbell is happy to get some recognition. The 20-year-old Oakville resident has been selected to participate in Hockey Canada's Officiating Program of Excellence, a program designed to identify and develop promising amateur and international hockey referees and linesmen. Campbell is one of 15 officials that will attend a regional camp this weekend in Oshawa, where participants will have a chance to earn a spot on the 17-member officiating staff that will work this year's World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Timmins. Hockey Canada manager of officiating Todd Anderson said the regional camp will provide other opportunities for Campbell as well. "We would hope this maybe opens the door Jeff Campbell for him to showcase his talents to not only us, but members of the OHL (Ontario Hockey League)," he said. "NHL (National Hockey League) officials will also be there, and the CHL (Canadian Hockey League) is always looking." Campbell, a Level 3 official who will attend the regional camp as a linesman, currently works Ontario Hockey Association Junior B and Junior C contests on top of minor hockey games. He estimates he officiates 100-150 games per season. "I believe I'm on the right track," said Campbell. "I've got my lucky breaks and I've been noticed at a young age." Campbell began officiating nine years ago with his longtime minor hockey teammate Michael Perras as a way to make some spending money. Perras stopped refereeing a few seasons later, but Campbell stuck with it. "It's a whole different perspective," said Campbell, who quit playing hockey at age 17, "and it kept me involved in the game. If I wasn't officiating, I might be playing men's league now. Here, I'm allowed to stay in the game at a high-intensity level and move up and see better hockey." Campbell began thinking of officiating hockey as a possible career path after a former OHL linesman recommended it to him at a bantam A tournament in Hamilton. Since then, Campbell has focused on developing his skating abilities, studying the rulebook and training in the gym. "As a ref, you need to be able to skate with these guys GETTING THE CALL: Jeff Campbell has been selected to participate in Hockey Canada's Officiating Program of Excellence. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER See NHL page 34 Blades' sniper breaks out of funk It's safe to say Ryan Murphy has snapped out of his early-season scoring slump. The Oakville Blades forward earned seven points in two games last weekend, including a hat trick Sunday against the Huntsville Otters, giving him 10 points in his past three games. Murphy, who had 81 points in 49 games last year, collected only seven points in the Blades' first 10 games. His one-goal, two-assist effort Friday, however, didn't save the Blades, who lost 8-4 to the Trenton Golden Hawks in Trenton. Mark McGowan (two goals, one assist) also enjoyed a three-point evening, while Kyle Lysaght notched Oakville's other marker. The Blades rebounded Sunday in Huntsville, doubling up the Otters 6-3. Murphy had three goals and a helper, with Kyle Badham, Steven Guzzo and McGowan also tallying. McGowan had two assists and Mark Bennett set up three Oakville markers. Daniel Savelli started in goal both games for Oakville, taking the loss Friday and earning the win Sunday. Mike Morissette relieved Savelli in the second period of Friday's loss. The Blades will visit the Milton IceHawks Friday, then return home Saturday to host the Villanova Vipers for a 7:30 p.m. start at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The contest against Villanova will be Oakville's first home game in two weeks. Pink partners Members of the Abbey Park's offensive line, along with the rest of the Eagles, wore pink socks and had pink stripes on their helmets for Thursday's high school senior football game with the Bishop Reding Royals. Eagles centre Sonu Bal (with ball) even wore a pink wristband as the teams participated in the annual Partners in Pink football game, an event that supports breast cancer awareness and raises money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER