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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, December 18, 2007 - A21 SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE Le8LANC e-mail sleblanc@haltonsearch.com Trade brings seasoned OHier back home Defencen'wn Shepley now living in town while closing out Major-Junior careex with Brampton BA1TAIION'S NEWEST TROOPER: Recenily traded to Brampton, OHL veteran Zack Shepley guards his defensive zone during his recent debut against Niagara. By ion Kuiperij SPECIAL TO THE CHAMPION Z ack is back, in more ways than one. Twenty-year-old defenceman Zack Shepley - an Oakville native whose family relocated to Milton three years ago - returned to Ontario Hockey League (OHL) action earlîer this month, playmng in his first games of the season after under- going off-season surgery to repair two hemniated discs in bis lower back. The return to action coin- cîdes with a return to the area for Shepley, who was recently deali to the Brampton Battalion after playing bis firsi three sea- sons wîth the Plymouth Whalers - the last culmtnating wîth an OHL cbatnptonship. "I was gond to play in a gainc again,- sai thc six-foot- lotît tncb ,218-ptîcttd IbIicilinci, wbo anrived in Brampton a mere one hour before a December 7 tilt with the Niagara lceDogs but stîi suited up for the 3-0 wmn. It was nice to get the first one oui ot the way night away and not have to think about it for a few days. 1 didn't have to deal with the nervousness." Sbepley was reterring to the aîjnsîment of playing with a new team, but he easily could have heen talking about his return front the back ailment. He first started feeling pain in hîs lower back in the spring of 2005, but played though it lait season before undergoîng an MRI at Chnistmas. The test discovered the two herniated discs, causîng Shepley to sit out for six weeks before rejoiffng the WVhalers for their mun 10 the Memonial Cup. lic fînally underwent snrgcry ibis past surnmei. I kncw 1I bad îo takc the tiînc to licai it so 1 could havc a hockey career (past the OHL) as well as a nçprmal lite," Shepley said. Playmng with Brampton means Shepley - one of three Milton OHLers - can move hack in xith hus parents. It also might mean a better shot at get- ting back to, the Memorial Cup, since the Battalion are just two points out of first place in the Eastern Conference with a 20- 11-1-2 record. Their newest defenceman picked up an assist in Friday's 6- 3 decision over the Kingston Frontenacs - who include tel- low Miltonian Josh Brttain - and is a plus-2 in five games since his arrivai. Plymouth wasnt doing too badly itseli, but a 19-9-2-2 record is only good enough for a fîfth tie in the West - which features such top contenders as Kitchener, Windsor and Sault Ste, Manie. esee BATTALION on page A22 Haydar sent back to Wolves 11 lo 001100 SiiprisIiig inloxe, Daricir- f fax dat fiotil itiinscîf bcadccl bac k to the Aincrîcan f lockcx I cagne's (Chicago \V'olxves Stîtdax afit oi1. 1 li cassiginienic uts a fcxx cax s aIte ici Ate.laînta 1i rasbis plac ccl ii ion waix'cîs - xx ic fi liec dc sicd \\ ccl ncscl ix -ia, paît of ant offensixve îsc kcip tli.ii bcgaiî xitli thie i-ccciii accfttiiiii of xtt iin \'laik Rcccli. Prior i hibeing i ccallccl bx Atanîta Da Ociobet 10, wxxbîcilegan bis bingesi N It1-Ha, stint in fîx'c aîîd-a-lhall ycaî s, tbc 28-y car-olc i rglît wîîîger was namccl capiain of the \Volxcs. [bis f-01 ltîwcd an iiicredliblc 2006-07 campaigii un wbicb bc aiiiasscd 41 goals and 81 assîsts ici nun awax1 arrE ayd xxiib tbe AHL xcoting race and cdaimi M\ P onours. Lvcn more irnprcxxîvc, lie rccoided a point in 39 straigbit gaines, tying thc fonrt iilongcs stincak, in North Amnencan profcssional hockey bîstory Hlaydatrloscd' out bis latesi MIL tellurte vtb a goal and sexen assists in 16 gaines. lits rturn to tbc WVindy City is wel- ren cornc ncws foi the \V olxvcs, who already sit dar atop thc Wcstcrn Conference at 19-7-1-0, and wiih te ice nciiatival of botb their reigning MVP and bot prospect Bryan Little are even more favoured 10 make another serin un at the Calder Cup. p j pW Peace-of-Mind Buy 3 Tires" Maintenance Service cet 4th Tire Service Includes: Moa Odrï Po de writen epot nRao4e S FEE leve ' ro 'of C vallgblysonraeslflomdAsk us about the suspnsin sytemsaty beneft is Eniomna aig charg e ..MayAidmneIhjof winier tires. - .s n tnheic adsyneic o i ls MusI b earisaelan 81 om nAo ST. N., RIKIENU e hl e s uplies fs.1i" elrfr eal jjClarke's Golf www.clarkesgolf.com QMSkyCaKddle GPS Systems Ot tMe exact i'andaga Boys and Girls Junior sets '24900 Free personauizaton Christmas Checklisî Cil alnae mboierei tiý. Math Mii n ml on the balpke 5/dw- OLF AL'LS WOFMENS & LADIES 0%OFSHIRTS & SHORTS 1 b 1 L U b U Il L Il 0 VU C U a L VU VU VV. Mil 1 1 t U Il fi Il 1- y 0 9 G 1-. b U M Green Fee Discount book Coif 'f Teor 9o5m878MI818 Fooi m m 1 1