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www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 B R O K E R A G ER E A L T Y C O R P . INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATEDSportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2010 25 By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF While facing a team sporting four gold medalists in its lineup may give a goalie cause for concern, if Christina Kessler had her way, there would be nothing but Olympians on the opposing team. Thats the ultimate goal, to be on the Canadian team for the next Olympics, the Burlington Barracudas netminder said last week after a 3-0 loss to the Brampton Thunder in Canadian Womens Hockey League play. Thats definitely where I want to be. Kessler has twice represented her country with Canadas Under-22 team, posting four shutouts, includ- ing one in the final of the MLP Cup in January to earn Canada the gold medal. Recently, the 22-year-old was named to the senior national team for next weeks 4 Nations Cup in St. Johns, Newfoundland. The 4 Nations Cup tournament features the top four womens hock- ey countries in the world: Canada, the United States, Finland and Sweden. Its definitely a step in the right direction, Kessler said. Having the opportunity to compete at that level, theres a lot of great talent. Whenever you get the chance to wear the Team Canada jersey, its something you dont want to take for granted. Right now, Kessler just appreci- ates the opportunity to be back on the ice. Just a couple of weeks after leading Canada to victory at the MLP Cup, she tore her anterior cru- ciate ligament in practice, bringing an abrupt end to a stellar college career at Harvard. Despite having her senior season cut short, she left the school as the Crimsons all-time leader in wins with 64. Not playing was difficult It was tough for Kessler to watch from the stands. She even worked with a sports psychologist to stay positive as she went through a seven-month rehab process, the longest she had ever been off the ice since taking up the game. Kessler never thought about hanging up the pads, though. She was in contact with the Barracudas over the summer but just as she thought she had her next hockey destination settled, the Canadian Womens Hockey League formulat- ed plans for its first draft. Kessler crossed her fingers and she ended up with her preferred team when Burlington took her with its second pick, sixth overall. Shes young and shes coming off a knee injury, but we want to help her be one of Team Canadas goalies, said Barracudas coach Pat Cocklin. To do that, she needs to play great every night. Its one of those things you have to do to take the next step. The 4 Nations Cup should give her the experience she needs. Though Kessler is 0-3 in her three starts with the Barracudas, she hasnt had much room for error. Burlington has scored just once in those games. Kessler herself is still making adjustments after her long rehab, but if anyone can help the Barracudas while they look to regain their scoring touch, its the former Harvard netminder. She set an NCAA record for shutouts in a season (12), and though that mark has since been eclipsed she is still the womens college hockey career leader with a .941 save percentage. And getting a taste of national team experience next month could be just what she needs to take the Barracudas to the next level. NATIONAL TEAMER: Christina Kessler (35) tends the goal for the Burlington Barracudas during a Canadian Womens Hockey League contest last week against the Brampton Thunder. Kessler will play for Team Canada at next weeks 4 Nations Cup tournament. Kessler taking big step towards Olympic hockey dream Nelson denies Devils bid for repeat There were two kinds of pressure being exert- ed on the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils in last weeks Halton junior girls field hockey final. There was the pressure of playing in a champi- onship game, and then there was the pressure being applied by the Nelson Lords. Coping with the first wasnt that difficult. Half of the OT squad played in last years final, which it won 1-0 over Nelson to give the school its fourth title in five years. Overcoming the second proved to be a little more challenging. We knew what to expect with Nelson, said OT coach Laura Cameron, whose team played an exhibition game against the Lords earlier in the season. They are very aggressive on the ball and we knew that would be the thing we would have to stop. Nelson, 11-0 in the regular season and playoffs, would not be stopped, though. The Lords scored midway through the first half and added two goals in the first four minutes of the sec- ond half on their way to a 3-0 victo- ry last Thursday. It was a tough loss for the Devils. They defeated both Holy Trinity and Assumption to advance to the final and also came into the champi- onship game undefeated with an 8-0- 1 mark, having surrendered just one goal all season. Nelson countered with the leagues best offence, having averaged more than three goals per game, including 10 in its previous two playoff wins. OT also had the ability to put the ball in the Oakville Trafalgars Claire Davies (left) tries to steal the ball from Nelsons Kyra OBrien in Thursdays Halton junior girls field hockey final at OT. Nelson defeated the defending champion Red Devils, 3-0. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Goaltender named to national womens team for 4 Nations Cup tournament HERB GARBUTT / OAKVILLE BEAVER We knew what to expect with Nelson. They are very aggressive on the ball. OT coach Laura Cameron See Devils page 27