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i. PAGE 12 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 29,2004 durtiamregion.com Neal a steal for Whalers Third-round OHL pick who spent last season with Eagles has first-round NHL potential BY BRIAN MCNAIR STAFF EDITOR OSHAWA -- While the 2003 OHL draft was a disappointment for the Oshavva Generals, it was anything but for the Plymouth Whalers. A big part of the reason for that is Whitby's James Neal, who continued a fine rookie season with a goal and an assist in a 6-3 win for the Whalers over the Generals Sunday at the Civic Auditorium. Neal, taken in the third round (44th overall), is one of those rare players who may get selected a lot higher in the National Hockey League draft -- if there is one, that is. "I think he should be a first-round pick in the NHL. If he plays like he has for the past three weeks, there's no stopping him," says Mike Vellucci, the Whalers' president, general manager manager and head coach. "We just lucked out to get him in the third round. We talked about him in the first, so I give our scouting staff a lot of credit." Vellucci actually picked three players players -- Michael Lombardi (later traded for Rane Carnegie and Mike Knight) in the first round, Dan Collins (who leads the Whalers with 12 goals) and Mark Mitera (not playing in the OHL) in the second -- before finally taking the advice of his scouts. Neal hasn't disappointed. Called up from the Bowmanville Eagles -- where he had 28-27-55 numbers in 43 games -- nine times last season, the rangy left-winger scored twice and added four assists. This season, the 17-year-old has 10 goals and 19 points in 33 games. "I've been getting good ice all year. I got some experience to step up last year and I've had a great year to step in with the Whalers," says Neal, who played on a line with Andrew Fournier and Gino Pisellini Sunday. "I get to play with some key guys and it's great... I can't be more happy." At 6-foot-3, 180 pounds, Neal has the height, but will likely need to fill out a bit to make it to the next level. But there's plenty of lime for that. What comes natural, and what many others others would kill for, is Neal's vision and intelligence intelligence for the game. "He's a special talent, He thinks the game as well as anybody I've ever had at that age," Vellucci says. "Like anyone his age, the only thing he has to learn is to be more consistent and play the same way every game." James Neal Playing in the Western Conference, Neal only gets the chance to return home once a season. He was obviously obviously excited during Sunday's encounter, as he played a solid all-round game and earned ice time on both special team units. And not only did he score, but he did so in the first'minutc, a nifty deflection deflection that gave the Whalers a quick 2-0 lead. "I've got a lot of family coming out, friends, cousins, so it's always good coming home," he said after the game. "I always watched the Generals growing growing up. You always get pumped for up for that. Luckily I got a nice goal at the start." For the second-guessers out there, the only chance the Generals had of scooping Neal was in the first round, when then-GM George Burnett opted for defenceman Justin Wallingford with the 11th pick overall. The team's two third-round picks, Mike Kavanagh Kavanagh and Gary Friesen, came after Neal was gone. Sign up now on. for annual charity indoor soccer tournament OSHAWA -- Get your kicks for a good cause. The Third Annual YWCA of.: Durham women's indoor soccer tournament takes place Saturday, Jan. 8, beginning at 8 a.m. Each team is guaranteed three 40-minute games.There will, also be 50/50 draws, raffles, and- prized awarded to top teams. /■. The tournament fee is $200: per team. Registration deadline is., Jan. 5. All proceeds benefit the YWCA Durham Family Programs- Centre. For more information, or to. register, contact the centre at 905-723-YWCA (9922) or drop by 1 McGrigor St. in Oshawa, op email vh@ywcadurham.org. P' JVngclu pComes > Commercial * Industrial • Office • Residential Space Available For Leasing 905-571 -0085 V Pickering- Oshawa- Bowmanville fflSEEHZl MARIMPIETRI Wishing All A Safe And Happy Holiday! Have A Safe & Happy Holiday! Whitby Transit 24 Hour Information: 905-668-3544 DIAL-A-RIDE & Evening Shuttle 905-668-3333 Thank you for your patronage and continued support u Durham Regional Police would like to advise all motorists that drinking and driving will not be tolerated on our streets. Plan Ahead, Don't Take a Chance and Don't Drink and Drive. HAPPY HHW YHAHt ADVERTISING' FEATURE W Brad Kelly Ei news at A SURE .ft;, $?. 77'A : v;-7 . : 7 '7" v' _ i U7:Eliminating drinking and driving is the main theme behind this year's National Safe Driving Week held November 1 to 7. Education, enforcement and engineering are the "three Es of safety" symbolized by the triangular logo of the Canada Safety Council. One of the most effective ways of reducing impaired driving is the road checkpoint. Equipped with passive alcohol sensors (or "breathalyzers"), police officers can easily determine if further investigation is justified. But the most effective way is and will always be moderation. Drinking coffee or taking hangover medicine after drinking alcohol might make you feel better, but they will not reduce SHOT AT SAFE DEgpS§|$|||i|l your alcohol level any faster. After drinking, only time ' rèmember that 60 percent of thoso who die in drinking will bring down your alcohol level. For example, it takes and driving accidents are the drunk drivers themselves, an average of one hour for a person's body to metabolize For more information about reducing the risks o the equivalent of half a pint of beer. So if you drink eight drinking and driving, visit the Canada Safety Council s beers at a friend's place... well, you can count for website at: www.safety-council.org or contact your local yourself how long it will take before you are able to drive MADD Canada chapter, safely. And with wine, the risk is even greater. It takes only two 175-ml glasses of wine to bring the alcohol level of a petite woman well over the legal limit. And having a heavier build does not guarantee your alcohol level will be any lower. Sounds complicated? Not really. Simply put, drinking and driving do not mix. And Canabtan statesman This Week M Metroland Durham Region Media Group V i À i J vV*v/ .■■cf» «Mi -- ->T T "T t Mobile-Job Site Mixed Concrete Available Men, -Fri. Saturday by appointèrent '■.!* f k I / ., \ ■ ■ . ! ! - .'Nandi 'Gravel 1 ' ' 777 Cement •Cc'c.rei Concrete '■« * 905-683-6501 • 1-800-473-7385 2800 Brack Rd. N. Pickering (Brack Rd. N.1 Taunton Rd.| Quality Childcare And Education For over 20 years Muppets Children's Centre, Whitby 900 Bonacord Ave. (Hwy. #2 & McQuay Blvd.) Tel: (905) 668-3362 Open from 6:45am to 6pm, Monday to Friday Fully equipped centre including large outside playground. Excellent Kindergarten and school age programs. ' Government Subsidy Available. ■ Dedicated and qualified staff. • Full and part-time programs available. • Developmental programs combine play, socialization and learning. • Learning facilitated by age appropriate curriculum. • Nutritious hot lundi and 2 snacks daily. BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY NOW AND RECEIVE 1 ^0/ E E F ° R ANY GROUP OF V ZO wrr 10 PEOPLE OR MORE Lunch ^,«7» JihBL Express ^ ec,,JC Jpt Sj f , Special, 15 min. rrsHr k ' JÈkÆ free 7 A KIDS EAT FREE MICHELS Sunday- Wednesday After 5 to close 1188 Simcoe St. S. Unit#10 Oshawa, On L1H4M2 Tel/Fax* IOMI44M1 M of us at Smartcfioice 'Driving Sclioof * ^ wishing you and yours a Safe andSfappy Holiday Season. I ; : leave the car at home this holiday season. Watch for us Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for all your local news. Canabtmt Statesman Cowan PONTIAC-BUICK GMCTRUCKS BOWMANVILLE Many Christmas From My Family to yours! 166 King St. East, Bowmanville, ON L1C3Z2 Tel: 905-623-3396 Fax: 905-623-7761 Rea: 905-623-6337 Cell: 905-439-5751 Email: wcschutt01@hotmail.com Wes Schutt Sales & Leasing Fleet Manager k 1 fry?-■, -- * \ : ' ■ Plan oheod bekxe celebrating during ike leiitve itaton. tewe ike cor of konw, kilo lionill or a cot), or Hovel wilk a detignolwd dfirer if you plan on drinking. Fix moreinfexmofionon tetponvble chinking, check out HOST; ICBOÏ fiuidn for rci/xvniWc wilwfom/ng of ycYe'Jcbo.lO®- mmwiL jtVi sæîâoosw a US NEW YEARS EVE J FE ATURING THE CROUP . Monday Karaoke Night Wings C25 each 9 (esVIn-only) Tuesday OpenMIc Free Chill with Small Pitcher of Beer Wednesday Al Matthews Wings 025 each (•at-ln-ofity) Thursday Phil Halliday T-Bone Special •10.99 Friday Special Guest Prime Rib Special •9.99 Monday - Saturday Live Entertainment CHAMPAGNE FINGER FOOD «10.00/ENTRY Now open Mon, to Fri, ,to 10:30: 522 Ritson Road South Oshawa Call for details 905-434-1669 Ontario's new free vaccines will protect kids The government of Ontario is helping kids stay safe from chicken pox, meningococcal meningitis and pneumococcal disease. Here's flow it works: . Vaeelnc* for pneumococcal disease Is now available free for children born on or aller .January 1, 2004. . vaccines for chicken pox and meningococcal meninglLls are now available free for onc-yeanold children bom on . Flve-yorm-olds'and hlglvrlsk people of any age who haven',, bad chicken pox ™ • -iVelve-year-olds, 15- Co 10-year-olds and high-risk people ot any age can gel Cite bi t. meningococcal meningitis vaccine. Mornmtton, M to you,- doctor or toed ,mld,o doit Cl. «-t.77-2tM.4M3. TTY l-t.0M87.K35». Or vlsil. IlealtliyOntarlo.com. i I I I /11 In :lllh Ontario