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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2011 29Local connection helping R.I.T. Tigers SIGHTS SETchallenge for NCAAON AN NCAA TITLE:Former Oakvillewomen's hockey titleHornets playerTraci Galbraith isBy Herb Garbutthis dads tip, going to a tournamentcurrently a starOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFin Stoney Creek to see the bluelinerdefenceman for for the Burlington Barracudas.the RochesterIn a profession where contactsWhat he saw was a really solidInstitute of are critical to success, Scottdefensive defenceman who couldTechnology Tigers,McDonald was at a disadvantage.eventually match up against thewho have yet toHired in August of 2006 to coachoppositions best players. lose a game thisthe Rochester Institute of Four years later, Traci Galbraithseason in NCAATechnology Tigers womens hockeyis a leader and key contributor on aDivision III wom-team, MacDonald had spent theTigers team that is the No. 1-rankeden's hockey play. previous three seasons as an assis-Division III team in the NCAA. ShesGalbraith has 18tant coach with RITs mens squad.not only providing the shutdownpoints in 21The Oakville native had built a net-defensive play that McDonaldgames and is alsowork of connections in the mensexpected but shes also the teamsrelied upon by game but, with the season quicklyleading scorer from the blueline forcoach Scottapproaching, he was once againthe third straight season.McDonald whostarting from scratch.Galbraith had just two goals andis also an Oakville Not only would he have to learnnine points in 35 games in her finalresident tothe strengths and weaknesses of hisseason with Burlington in theshut down the players and devise a system of play,Provincial Womens Hockey League,other team's tophe would also have to quickly get tobut has topped those totals everyscorers.work on recruiting players.year in college.McDonald did not have to waitI was more of a stay-at-homeDYLAN HEUER / long to get his first lead. The dayplayer make sure the puck staysCOURTESY OFafter he was hired, he was talking toout of our zone, said Galbraith,ROCHESTERhis father, George, who suggestedwho has six goals and 18 points inINSTITUTE OF his son look at a player who was21 games this season. The peopleTECHNOLOGYworking at the hockey camp he ranIm playing with, we help eachat Canlan Ice Sports.other compete and be better everyIll have to see her play, saidday. I think just working out andMcDonald, who had yet to even seebeing stronger, Im able to get morethe team he was now coaching onpucks to the net.the ice.And a good boost of confidenceMcDonald would follow up onSee Coach, page 30