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John Beraldo, 61, inspired students through work ethic, team play of 61. Beraldo taught high school for more than OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF 30 years with the Halton Catholic District As a Grade 11 student, Ron Esteban loved School Board, beginning at Assumption in basketball. But when the tryouts for the St. Burlington in the early 80s. He was instrumental in establishing the basketThomas Aquinas Raiders wrapped ball programs at Oakville's St. up, the undersized point guard Thomas Aquinas, Loyola and Holy was not among those to make the Trinity, working at all three team. Unlike Michael Jordan who schools when they opened. Beraldo held a lifelong grudge against the was the perfect person for the role, high school coach who left him off said Colin McGillicuddy, who the varsity team, Esteban had no worked alongside him at Aquinas ill will toward the coach. and Holy Trinity. "I was devastated but you In addition to having a strong couldn't be upset with the guy," work ethic that he passed along to Esteban said. "Through the tryhis players, McGillicuddy said outs, he was able to build a relaJohn Beraldo Beraldo wasn't interested in inditionship with you." The coach told him to return the next day. vidual recognition. "There are a lot of egos in sports but with Esteban was offered the role of team managJohn, a strength of his was bringing people er, which he gladly accepted. "Talk to anyone who played for him, you in," McGillicuddy said. "He wanted the whole just wanted to be a part of one his teams in program to succeed, rather than just have any way you could. It allowed me to express one team succeed. He found a way to include my passion in another way," Esteban said. everyone. You wanted to be part of things "That was probably one of the most signifi- with him." That was especially true with his players. cant moments of my life. Had I made the team, I probably would have pursued playing. Doreen Bonsu played for Beraldo at Holy But he instilled in me that coaching was a Trinity in Grade 9. That year the junior Titans way of helping others. He made me believe I squad went 31-1 and won the Halton championship. could do that one day." "He took me under his wing," said Bonsu, That coach was John Beraldo, who died Dec. 21 at the Carpenter Hospice at the age who now plays at Wilfrid Laurier. "The big By Herb Garbutt thing he did for me was he challenged me to play senior in Grade 10. I was reluctant to do it, but he encouraged me. Playing against older girls and developing my skills was the foundation to help me get to that next level." In the days before Beraldo's death, students and staff at Holy Trinity were invited to sign a scrapbook that was to be delivered to him. In a day and half, after more than 100 former students had shared their memories of their teacher and coach, the book was full. McGillicuddy said Beraldo had a good sense of humour and was a great storyteller. That helped him build relationships with his players and make them want to work hard for him. But Beraldo wasn't just concerned with basketball. "I'll always admire the relationships he built with his players," said Anthony Cordeiro, who coached alongside Beraldo at Aquinas and Assumption. "It was never just basketball and winning. It was building character and developing a skill set that would allow them to forge ahead in life and meet challenges, all the things that help prepare us for the real world." Following his retirement in 2008, Beraldo continued to coach for a couple of years. McGillicuddy said it never felt the same for Beraldo, though, because he missed the daily contact at school with the players, which allowed him to get to know them better. Through the years, many of Beraldo's former students and players have gone on to teach and coach, including Andrew Saulez, Holy Trinity's senior boys basketball coach. "His influence is reflected across the board," said Esteban, a guidance counselor at Holy Trinity and an assistant coach with the University of Toronto women's basketball team. "He's touched every school in some way." As a coach, Beraldo liked his teams to play a high-tempo game that put pressure on the opposition. What he liked about it was, because of the pace, players often had to make their own decisions on the court, rather than simply running a series of set plays. "He loved the fact that basketball was a game that had enough creativity but enough structure to help kids flourish," Esteban said. "It made the players better and gave them more ownership of the situation," McGillicuddy added. There was what McGillicuddy calls a Beraldoism to sum up the style of play: Pressure breaks pipes, but it also creates diamonds. To four different high schools in Halton, the diamond of their basketball programs was John Beraldo. 19 · Wednesday, January 9, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Blades coach to adjust for heavy schedule Continued from page 18 Int. Hornets open 2013 with win, tie The Oakville intermediate AA Hornets opened the 2013 portion of their Provincial Women's Hockey League season last weekend with a win and a tie, snapping a three-game losing streak. The Hornets downed the Toronto Leaside Wildcats 3-2 Friday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, then earned a 3-3 draw with the Brampton Thunder Sunday in Brampton. Amanda Pereira and Hayley Scamurra scored for Oakville in both games. Jennifer MacAskill had the Hornets' other tally against Leaside, with Heather Platt notching a single versus Brampton. Kierra Lambertucci posted the win in net Friday for the Hornets. Camille Leonard recorded the tie Sunday. The Hornets (6-8-6-1) will be home for a pair of games this weekend, hosting Brampton Friday (8:30 p.m.) and the Kingston Ice Wolves Saturday (4:30 p.m.). Both contests will be played at Joshua's Creek Arenas. "We coach to win all the time, but certainly in terms of the structure of our practices and off-ice training, we have to be vigilant in accomplishing what we want to do in practice while ensuring the players are getting their rest," he said. NOTES: The OJHL trade deadline is tomorrow (Thursday). Gomes said the Blades have their eyes on several possible acquisitions, but that "it would have to be the right situation, the right player, and we would have to feel he could make a real impact with our team"... Nathan Renouf and Patrick Chore each had a goal and an assist in Friday's loss to the Toronto Jr. Canadiens. Jonah Renouf added two helpers and was the lone Oakville player to score in the shootout, which Toronto won 2-1... Oakville residents Doug Bonar (two goals, two assists) and Nathan Feric (goal, three assists) were two of the Patriots' biggest offensive contributors in their 7-0 win over the Blades Saturday. Oakville was whistled for eight consecutive minors in the second period and was outshot 46-34 on the night... Kyle Jenkins, Jonah Renouf and Chore had Oakville's goals against St. Michael's. Buitenhuis was credited with 46 saves in the contest, while the Blades registered just 25 shots on goal... The Blades will visit North York tonight (Wednesday), the Milton IceHawks Friday and Burlington Cougars Saturday. Oakville's next home game isn't scheduled until Friday, Jan. 18, when the team hosts St. Michael's for a 7:30 p.m. start at Sixteen Mile. Puck Drop 7:30 PM at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex FRIDAY NIGHT MEGA 50/50 draw pot starting at over $500 Adults $5, Students/Seniors $2, Kids FREE Any MOHA/Hornet players FREE, All MOHA/Hornets Coaching Staffs FREE Oakville Blades Alumni FREE JANUARY 18 PINK IN THE RINK - FREE ADMISSION TO GAME