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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 24, 2012 · 26 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-632-0588 (ext. 294) email sports@oakvillebeaver.com Blades coach not concerned about late-game struggles By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR ON TOP AGAIN: The Oakville Blades might want to petition the Ontario Junior Hockey League to shorten its games to 56 minutes. The Blades' recent struggles in the final moments of regulation time continued Saturday as the team dropped a 3-2 shootout decision to the host Burlington Cougars. Burlington forced overtime by scoring the tying goal with 1:25 remaining in the third period, then outscored the Blades 1-0 in the shootout. In Oakville's previous two losses, late goals against were also costly. The Blades surrendered two markers in the final 3:13 of regulation -- including the winner with 30 seconds to go -- in a 4-3 loss to Buffalo Oct. 7, and Orangeville broke a 2-2 tie with 3:40 left on the clock to beat the Blades 3-2 Oct. 12. Oakville head coach Kevin Gomes said the recent stretch has been frustrating, but he doesn't feel the Blades need to rethink their late-game strategies. "We're a type of team that presses a lot. We want to be aggressive in all areas of the ice, and we have done that. It's just been a bit of bad luck," Gomes said. "I don't think there's any one reason. Each game has been different." The coach also noted the Blades' most emotional victory of the season, a 5-4 overtime win in Milton Sept. 30, saw Oakville storm back from a 4-1 third-period deficit. "We know we can be good late in games," Gomes said. Injuries, particularly to the Blades' defensive corps, haven't helped. Oakville went into Saturday's game with nine forwards and five defencemen, forcing forward Eric Chore to move back to the blueline. Fortunately for the Blades, none of the recent injuries have been too serious. Defenceman Eli Berg and forward Len Fabbri could rejoin the lineup this weekend, and captain Aidan Orbinski is expected back by the end of the month. OJHL scoring co-leaders Jonah Renouf and Nathan Renouf each had a goal and an assist last weekend for the Blades. Nathan has had a hand in each of the Blades' last six goals and nine of the past 11, while Jonah has earned a point on five of the last six and seven of the last 11. Oakville (10-3-3) will look to correct its late-game issues this Friday when it hosts the Toronto Lakeshore Patriots at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, a 7:30 p.m. start. The Blades will then visit the Orangeville Flyers the following evening. -- Jon Kuiperij can be followed on Twitter @Beaversports Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils players (in black) celebrate after scoring a goal against Nelson in Monday's Halton senior girls' field hockey Tier 1 final at Bronte Athletic Field. OT built a 3-0 lead in the first half, then held on for a 3-2 win over the Lords to claim its second straight regional championship. ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @HALTON_PHOTOG Devils repeat as field hockey champs By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF When Brittany Grist scored the Oakville Trafalgar Red Devils' third goal Monday at Bronte Athletic Field, she had little reason to think it was important. After weathering an early storm, the Red Devils had erupted for three goals in the space of 10 minutes. With a 3-0 lead, OT appeared on its way to yet another rout and its second straight Halton senior girls' field hockey title. After all, how could the Nelson Lords possibly expect to come back against a team that had allowed just one goal in league play all season? The Red Devils had outscored their opponents 59-1 to go 11-0, including playoffs. But the Lords, who have the same goal of contending for a medal at the provincial high school championships, weren't about to let OT run over them. Nelson cut the lead to one before the half and then scored again with four minutes to play, setting up an exciting finish that saw OT hold on for a 3-2 win. "We were panicking a little," Grist Grist finally relieved the pressure with said. "We relaxed too much and (Nelson) came on strong. I think we got a little too a long run up the right sideline to move the ball deep into Nelson territory for the cocky and let our guard down." Having won every game before the first time. Her pass was converted by Halton final by at least two goals, and Claire Davies as OT took the lead. Grist said the goal relaxed the Devils nine of the 11 by five or more, OT had faced few challenges in league play. Now and allowed them to play their game. And that game was impresjust one win away from sive. Seven minutes later, returning to the provin- "That's what can Logan Hanny redirected cial high school champi- happen when you're Ellie Cookson's long shot onships, where the Red playing such a skilled past the Nelson netmindDevils won a bronze team. Once they scored, er, and Grist upped the medal last year, it was a it snowballed and we lead to three shortly valuable lesson. after. "Having been under were reeling a little." "That's what can hapthat kind of pressure, pen when you're playing we've learned how to deal Nelson coach Steve Clark, referring to Oakville such a skilled team," said with it," Grist said. Nelson coach Steve Nelson put OT on its Trafalgar's three quick goals Clark. "Once they scored, heels to start the game in Monday's Halton senior it snowballed and we Monday, getting five short girls' Tier 1 field hockey final were reeling a little." corners in the first three Nelson settled down, though, and cut minutes. "That's not what we like to do to start into the lead before the half. Both teams a game," said OT coach Jim Groen, whose had their chances in the second half but team survived the early attack. "The it was Nelson that capitalized first to pull important thing was not losing our com- within one with four minutes to play. OT See OT, page 27 posure."