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D6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 21, 2001 SportsWednesday An Oakville Beaver Feature Editor: NORM NELSON Phone:845-3824, ext 255 Fax:337-5567 E-mail:nnelson@haltonsearch.com Rangers repeat! By Norm Nelson BEAVER SPO RTS EDITOR The Oakville Rangers minor bantam AAA rep team didn't rest on their laurels in winning their second straight Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) gold medal last Sunday at River Oaks rec centre. The Rangers won the heart-stop ping championship game 3-2 over Richmond Hill. "Good game, a bit too close at the end," said Oakville Rangers captain Nick Dodge, smiling, moments after the official cere monies had subsided. Ironically, the Rangers only defeat in the tournament was at the hands of Richmond Hill, 4-1, in the second game of the tournament. "We came out with a lot more energy," he said. "Last game, they were all over us, but I think we really took it to them in this game." Winning a second straight OMHA gold medal "is great." he said. "We're going to try and make it three in a row next year." And they'll be able to do it at home again, as their OMHA champi onship victory again brings with it an automatic berth into next year's tour nament which they get to host. # 14 15 18 9 16 10 5 7 11 13 4 19 8 1 12 29 2 3 OAKVILLE RANGERS/OMHA tournament Player gm G A pen Pts Nick Dodge Charlie Giffin Daniel Hannigan-Daley Brad McKenzie Victor Oreskovich Tyler Donati Ben Heersink Graham Tough Nick Davis Nick Prescott Andy MacDonald Justin Donati Ryan Wilkinson Chris Rowan Dan Ringwald Conlan Gassi Connor Farris Luke Parnanzone 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5 4 5 2 5 4 5 1 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 2 5 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 2 2 2 4 0 4 2 0 7 2 0 2 0 0 0 And that's not a bad little safety net to have, considering that next year, which is their major bantam year, is particularly important in that it's their draft year (for junior hock ey) and that the OMHA champion advances to the all-Ontario's. Not that they needed a safety net this season. Even with their automatic berth, as defending OMHA champi ons, they earned their way in the hard way -- and then some. As has been well noted, they had an undefeated regular season of 30 wins and one tie, swept their first two playoff rounds in the minimum six games and then finally dropped a game in winning a best-of-three set over St. Catharines (with both teams having already qfialified). "These guys compete," said 10 their coach, Scott McKenzie, after 8 coming out o f his triumphant 7 dressing room to talk to the press. 6 5 `T hey compete at everything they 4 do. It doesn't matter what they do. 4 At practice, they compete. 3 "It's not like we float through 3 3 the season waiting for this tourna 2 ment because we know w e're just 2 going to continue to play hard all 1 the time." 0 0 These boys are getting used to 0 success, and it would seem obvious 0 that they're not taking it for grant 0 ed, but are becoming ever more familiar with what it takes. Although barely into their teens at 14 (bom in `86), the core of the team has been together for seven years. They started off with a bang, win ning OMHA gold medals back in both their minor novice and novice years (in `95 and `96), following up with a bronze and two silver medals before returning back to gold medals, this year and last. Not only have they never missed qualifying for this OMHA tournament of champions, they have never missed a medal. The other distinguishing factor, of much pride to the local Minor Oaks Hockey Association, is that they are all products of hometown hockey. (See 'Rangers' inside, page D4) TOP PHOTO: is Nick Davis proud to have earned the OMHA champi onship trophy? You bet! MIDDLE AND BOTTOM PHOTOS: goal celebrations! In the middle left photo are Ben Heersink (#5) and Nick Dodge (#14). Among the celebrants in the bottom photo are one of the Donati brothers, Andy MacDonald and Connor Farris. RIGHT PHOTO: cap tain Nick Dodge is in alone. Photos by Erin Riley Here's what we'll do: · Drain transmission fluid · Replace transmission fluid and pan gasket · Clean or replace filter Upper Middle a i 8th Line Fees tor used automotive product disposal may apply. See details in store. Maintenance tip: Automatic transmission should be services every 40,000 km. See details in store. 849 8473 - " STORE HOURS: Mon. -Fri. 8:30am-9pm S at 9am-6pm. J Look for our flyer in Friday's Oakville Beaver Accre d ite d Test «. Q e p a ir Facility Our new store is opening at Trafalgar and The Gar Bar and Car Wash Are Now Open.