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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2010 41 For a good Claus HOLIDAY HUSTLE: A couple Santa Claus look-alikes (Kane Boultwood and Grant Gorchynski, pictured left to right) took to the Oakville streets earlier this month to participate in the Santa Shuffle 5 km Fun Run and 1 km Elf Walk in support of the Salvation Army. The event was pre- sented by All Weather Windows and sponsored by Oakville Running Room. Freshman wins NCCAA soccer title With Oakvilles Chris Karafilov playing a leading role, Palm Beach Atlantic University won its first-ever National Christian College Athletic Association mens soccer champi- onship recently in Florida. The freshman defenders biggest contri- butions came in the Sailfishs 3-2 win over Judson University in the NCCAA semifinals. Karafilov gave Palm Beach Atlantic a 2-1 lead early in the second half, then broke a 2- 2 tie with a goal from the top of the 18-yard box in the 76th minute. Palm Beach Atlantic went on to blank Cedarville University 2-0 in the final. The Sailfish, an NCCAA finalist in 2007, was the tournaments sixth seed this year. Karafilov, a graduate of Ecole Secondaire Sainte-Famille, had four goals and three assists in 11 games for the Sailfish this year. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Titans, Stampeders team up Oakville Minor Football (OMF) has joined forces with one of its biggest rivals. The OMF announced this week that it has merged with the Burlington Minor Football Association in order to accom- modate the growing number of players in both organiza- tions. OMF treasurer Ed Tilley said in a release that the merger was designed to address some administrative issues and that it wont have much effect on the associations actual teams. The Titans will practice and play home games in Oakville, and the Stamps will prac- tice and play in Burlington, Tilley said in the release. Where would the fun be in dis- couraging a perfectly good rivalry between us and our neighbours? Tilley said the organizations will share billing and registration systems, but that the Titans and Stampeders will continue to have separate boards and opportunities for board members, parents and volunteers to put their unique spins on each organization. The Oakville and Burlington minor football associations combined to have more than 1,700 players this past season. Tilley said the clubs are expect- ing 2,500 players for 2011, including 500- plus players in the flag football programs. But merger wont affect actual teams on the field Blades ride five-game streak into weekend Winners of five consecutive games, the Oakville Blades hope to continue that run this weekend when they play a pair of Ontario Junior Hockey League games at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Oakville will be home to the Hamilton Red Wings tonight (Friday), then will host the Milton IceHawks tomorrow (Saturday). Both games are scheduled for 7:30 starts. The Blades are coming off an 8-5 win over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres Tuesday in Buffalo. Kyle Blaney, Mark McGowan and Josh Ranalli held the hot hands in the victory over the Sabres. Blaney had a five-point evening (one goal and four assists), while McGowan and Ranalli each scored twice and added a pair of helpers. Braedan Russell, Kyle Lysaght and Dylan Wood also tallied for Oakville Tuesday. Stephen Hickey and Mark Bennett had two assists apiece, helping James Prigione (37 saves) earn the victory in net. Oakville has scored 17 goals in its past two games and 31 in its past five outings. The Blades (21-11-1) trail the Red Wings by a point for third place in the West Division, going into tonights action.