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24 Sports Oakville Beaver 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, MARCH 24, 2010 Blades spin some OT magic Oakville looks to take 3-1 series lead tonight on home ice uation. You can't minimize that, and we certainly won't." Murphy said the Blades will have to combat what There's often a fine line between winning and los- will likely be a Kingston desperate team tonight by ing in the playoffs, and the Oakville Blades have been sticking to their game plan, getting pucks deep and on the right side of that line so far. crashing the net. Thanks to a pair of 4-3 overtime victories over the "I think they're a little frustrated over there right weekend, the Blades own a 2-1 lead on now," Murphy added. "Losing twice in the Kingston Voyageurs in the Ontario "I think (Kingston OT, anyone would be." Junior A Hockey League championship players are) a little The line of Murphy, Lain and Dustin series heading into tonight's Alcock has done the bulk of the offensive frustrated over (Wednesday's) Game 4, a 7:30 start at damage for Oakville in the series. The there right now. Joshua's Creek Arenas. trio, which was put together for the first Ryan Murphy was the hero in double Losing twice in OT, time in Oakville's last series against the overtime Friday as Oakville tied the best- anyone would be." Georgetown Raiders, has combined to of-seven series 1-1 at Joshua's Creek. record 13 points in three games against Kellan Lain then scored 6:32 into the n Blades forward Kingston. extra session to win Game 3 Sunday in Ryan Murphy Murphy scored twice in Game 1 and Kingston. Alcock had three assists in Game 3, All three games in the series so far have been decid- including a setup of Lain for the winner. ed by one goal (the defending league champion "They complement each other well," said Nobili. Voyageurs won the opener last Thursday, 4-3 in "Lainer's a big body up the middle that distributes the Kingston), something that has come as no surprise to puck well, Dustin's a big man who protects the puck Blades head coach Jason Nobili. well and is really effective down low in the corners, and "It's certainly what I expected... and it's what I Ryan has a quick release." expect the rest of the way," Nobili said. "Playoffs is a Forwards Steven Guzzo and Mark McGowan and game of bounces. Certainly we've had some fortunate defenceman Bradley Ryan also found the net for the bounces and that's how it works." Blades Sunday. Ryan's goal, which tied the game with The goal now for the Blades is to parlay the three minutes left in regulation, was his second in 48 momentum of their back-to-back OT victories into a games this year. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER 3-1 series lead by winning tonight on home ice. Mike Morissette, meanwhile, earned his second "Momentum is huge. I'd rather be in this situation straight win in net after relieving Daniel Savelli in BOARD MEETING: Tyler Karius of the Oakville Blades (left) mashes Kingston Voyageurs player Rob McEwan into the boards Friday at Joshua's Creek Arenas dur- than the other situation, certainly," Nobili said. "But Game 1. Morissette will get the start again tonight. "We've had different guys step up at different ing Game 2 of the Ontario Junior A Hockey League championship series. Oakville with the experience and success (the Voyageurs) have had, they have a lot of guys that have been in their sitSee Game page 26 won 4-3 in double overtime and will shoot for a 3-1 series lead tonight. By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Midgets are OMHA champs BEST IN THE OMHA: The Oakville midget AAA Rangers whoop it up after winning the Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship last weekend in Quinte. This is the second straight year Oakville has won the OMHA midget AAA title. It seemed Liam Board could do no tion time of the final against Ajaxwrong last weekend at the Ontario Pickering, when Board broke a 1-1 tie to Minor Hockey Association midget AAA give the Rangers a 2-1 victory. "He was Johnny on championship tournaThe midget AAA Rangers were just the spot," Rangers ment in Quinte. one of five local teams to win an coach Tom Daley said Board lit up the OMHA championship last weekend. of Board. "That's what scoreboard at the comSee page 25 for coverage of the you require from one petition in Quinte, peewee AA victory and page 27 for a of your top players." notching seven goals story on the minor bantam AE The Rangers also and three assists in triumph. Coverage of the atom AE got contributions five games to lead the Rangers' and bantam AE Rangers' from many other playOakville Rangers to wins will appear in a future edition ers on the way to a 4-1 their second straight of the Beaver. record at the OMHA OMHA midget AAA championships. crown. Four of Board's goals came in a 5-3 Oakville's only loss came to league rival win over Quinte in a round-robin game. Hamilton, 2-1. After winning two straight OMHA But the Appleby College student's most important marker came late in regulaSee Oakville page 26