www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 5, 2016 | 38 Kevin Nagel Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports "Connected to your Community" Telus Cup victory for Henderson Oakville goalie helps North York win national midget hockey title By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff A year ago, winning a Canadian championship seemed like a remote possibility. It wasn't that Kyle Henderson doubted his abilities. He was coming off a championship season in which he was named the league's most valuable player. It was more a question of geography and timing. Henderson had lived in Washington, D.C. for the past eight years, having moved from Burlington to the U.S. capital for North York Rangers goalie Kyle Henderson of Oakville makes a save in a Telus Cup game against Lac St. Louis in Quispamsis, N.B. his father's work. Last year, playing with the Washington Lit| photo by Matthew Murnaghan Hockey Canada Images tle Caps of the National Junior Prospects Hockey League, he posted a 12-1 record with 0.90 goals-against average and a .955 save percentage to earn the under-16 league MVP award. Henderson posted a 1-1 record with a 2.57 goals-against lead until scoring with 2:16 to play and then added an empty"I learned a lot playing there," Henderson said of the average and a .902 save percentage in three games at the na- netter to clinch the title. league, which played games along the east coast, from Con- tional midget championship. It was a long road to the national championship. North necticut to Florida. "It was a great experience and I got to see "I wasn't expecting to win a national championship my York backed up its first-place finish in the GTHL standings lots of new places." first year (back in Canada)," said the Grade 12 Abbey Park by beating the Mississauga Rebels 9-1 in the eight-point sestudent. "Our coach said from Day 1 that we could do it, but ries. Henderson earned spot on Rangers after returning to Canada it was still a bit of a shock." "When we were still winning games decisively in the playBut by the time the family returned to Ontario, settling in Henderson backstopped the Rangers to a 5-3 win over offs, we started thinking, `Yeah, we can do this,'" Henderson Oakville in June, most teams had already held their tryouts. Dartmouth, then turned aside 23 of 25 shots in a 3-1 loss to said. He contacted about half a dozen teams and among those to Lac St. Louis, which scored the winner with just 1:44 to play. North York went on to win the Central Region championget back to him was a Greater Toronto Hockey League team, He also played the final period of a 4-1 loss to Lloydminster, ship, capping an 18-3-1 playoff run with a 4-0 shutout of the North York Rangers. allowing one goal on 14 shots. Whitby in the final. After skating with the club a few times, Henderson earned The Rangers would avenge that loss a day later, beating Henderson, who posted a 6-1-1 record in the playoffs while a spot with the Rangers. It would turn out to be a beneficial the Bobcats 5-3 in the semifinals. That set up final with allowing just 15 goals, hopes to continue his hockey career pairing for both player and team as the Rangers won the the Saint John, which upset Lac St. Louis 2-1 in the other by catching on with a Jr. A or Jr. B team next season. Telus Cup last week by defeating the host Saint John (N.B) semi. Chances are there will be a few teams who could use a Vito's 4-1. In the championship game, North York clung to a one-goal goalie with back-to-back championships on his resumé. FRIDAY 4 Jäger Bombs 4.75 MGD or Miller Lite Tall Cans $ 5 Pints of Canadian/Coors Lite $ $ $ $ Choose from Canadian or Coors Light & Any One of our 1/2 Pound Fresh Ground AAA Chuck Burgers $ 4.00 JÄGER BOMBS 4.75 MGD OR MILLER LITE TALL CANS 5.00 PINTS OF CANADIAN/COORS LITE Buy One Pound of our Delicious Signature Wings and Enjoy a Second Pound for Choose any One of Our Domestic pints, Canadian, Coors Light, Budweiser or Bud Lite and One Pound of Our Delicious Wings for Yes That's Right....Order Any One of Our Signature Wings, Burgers or Main Event and Receive One Kids Meal Absolutely FREE!* *Conditions apply ask your server for details 1¢ $ 1599 905-338-5458 www.draftedsportsbar.com 379 Speers Rd., @ Dorval