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OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2011 23Who wants to tackle me?Oreskovich appreciates his special opportunityo often in sports, we seeIts a once-in-a-lifetime oppor-grizzled veterans nearingtunity to come here, the 24-year-Sthe end of their careers old Oakville resident said yesterday shaking their heads in chagrine,(Wednesday) afternoon. Every kidbemoaning how they once took dreams of playing in the NHL,playing for a championship for which is such an incredible longBLUES granted.shot, and then the ulti-ROMP:Hall of Fame quar-mate goal is obviously toOntario Blues terback Dan Marino is win a Stanley Cup. To be player Alistair perhaps the perfect here and get an opportu-Clark heads down-example. After a stellar nity to do that is crazy. field with the ballcollegiate career withThats all I can sum it up in hand during the Pittsburgh as. Its crazy.Saturday's interna-Panthers, Marino ledCrazier, still, when tional rugbythe Miami Dolphins to ayou consider that friendly contestSuper Bowl appearance Oreskovich had quit againstin his first full season in hockey a few years ago,Argentina's Salta the National Footballfrustrated with the path Province at League.of his career and not enjoying theCrusader Field.Though the Dolphins lost to thegame the way he once had.Clark scored a trySan Francisco 49ers, prevailingHe decided to give hockey in the game as hesentiment then was that theanother shot in 2009, earning a and fellow Dolphins would be back. Marinotwo-way contract with the FloridaOakville residentwould have plenty more opportu-Panthers and working his way into Dan Pletch helpednities to play for a title.the NHL after five games in the the Blues to aBut Marino never did. Despite American Hockey League.39-17 victory in going on to set plenty of NFL pass-Last summer, Oreskovich was front of nearly ing records, he never got back to part of a five-player deal between 1,000 spectators.the Super Bowl in his 16-year the Panthers and Canucks. All of a career.sudden, he had gone to a StanleyMICHAEL IVANIN /Lessons like that arent lost on Cup contender.OAKVILLE BEAVERVictor Oreskovich.And now hes headed to the Cup Less than 24 hours after helpingfinal.the Vancouver Canucks advance toTwo years ago, I wasnt playing the Stanley Cup final with a 3-2hockey. I was working out and fin-overtime win over the San Jose ishing up school, Oreskovich Sharks Tuesday, Oreskovich sound-recalled. Im sure if anyone had ed very much like someone who told me that this was going to hap-fully appreciates and comprehends pen, it would have been a little bit See Oreskovich, page 28his opportunity this spring.