Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 22 Apr 2011, p. 39

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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2011 392011 Buzz squad more than just typical junior rebuildBy Jon KuiperijBEAVER SPORTS EDITORKen Gillies probably feels more like ageneral contractor than the general managerof a junior B lacrosse team these days.Rebuilding projects are nothing new toGillies and anyone else who runs a juniorteam. Its quite common to lose several play-ers to age graduation and a few more tohigher ranks after every season.But putting together this years edition of the Oakville Buzz has entailed more thanjust tearing up the carpet or patching holesin a couple interior It's definitely awalls.When you need big turnover year,to replace two-but it's good for a thirds of your ros-number of newter, its the equiva-guys to come in lent of starting and for us to tryover at the founda-tion and hoping and create a newyou have a couple atmosphere.decent remaining studs to work Oakville Buzzwith.GM Ken GilliesWeve been pretty busy looking at players, Gillies said of the offseason.Thats because eight players from lastyears team have graduated to senior andGRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVERGillies anticipates another five will be calledup thFRESH FACES: Pictured left to right, Brett Ulbikas, Braden Wallace and Joel MacBride are three of the many first-year players on the Oakville Buzzis year by the Buzzs junior A affiliate,the Burlington Chiefsthis season. The junior B lacrosse team has only a handful of returnees from last year's squad..To top things off, two players the Buzz was hoping to have back this season Jamieatmosphere.Even with the Buzzs season opener slated disappointing if we didnt make the playoffs, Elliott and Will Glover tore up their kneesLast years Buzz team had high hopesfor Saturday in Orillia, Gillies isnt quite sure he said.playing other sports during the offseason.before struggling to an 11-9 mark in thewhat to expect from his new-look squad. But We like the idea of flying under the radar. Its definitely a big turnover year, Gilliesregular season and then going out in the firsthe isnt setting sights low, either.And Im pretty confident that with the group said, but its good for a number of new guys round of the Ontario Lacrosse AssociationOur expectation is always to make the we have, well be a contender.to come in and for us to try and create a newplayoffs.playoffs. Thats the bar. It would be definitely See Both, page 42

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