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Stou 'Iie Sun-'l'ribuneISatur , Munch 29 zoos 13 lhey’re No. 1 : defending champs slotted in as top teams Long layoff could hurt SDSS, 19 teams chasing them at provincials in Ottawa BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer When the Stouffville District Sec- ondary School Spartans senior boys’ hockey team hits the ice in Ottawa for the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations Al AA playdowns April 2 to 5, they will have 19 other entries taking close aim at them. Not just because they are the defending gold medallists, but because they are ranked No. 1 in this year’s pro- vincial tournament. While veteran Spartans head coach Jamie Hewitt won’t turn down that honour, he was quick to note the seed- ing given to his York Region Athletic Association championship team is just a number. “The seedings are just for the begin- ning of the tournament. You’ve still go to go out and play the games," he said. For the Spartans, being the top seed isn’t new. Five years ago, they were also the top seed when the tournament was played in London. That season though, the Spartans were eliminated in the quarter-finals. That year, the Spartans missed sev- eral players who elected to play for their rep teams in the playoffs instead for the school. Entering this year’s championship though, Hewitt said he will only be missing Dennis O’Shaughnessy for at least the first part of the tournament. The forward plays for the Vaughan Kings that won the GTHL midget title Wednesday. The Kings advance to this week’s Ontario championships, which are also in Ottawa. The Spartans will begin pool play April 2 at 8 am. against 16th seeded Marc Garneau (Ottawa) and then play at 2:30 pm. against 11th seeded Father Redmond (Toronto). The following day, the Spartans will CIBC Imperial Service- is available in select markets and is most appro mate for individuals with household investable assets of $100,000. ( IB( Imperial Servnre is part of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce ("CIBC"). Credit pr uct applicants must meet CIBC lending criteria. Certain conditions and restrictions apply JAMIE HEWITT: Stouffville boys coach remembers being top seed at provincials five years ago. play 20th seed Forest Hill Collegiate (Toronto) at 2:15 pm. and finish off against sixth seed Holy Trinity (Cour- tice) at 8:15 pm. As the top seed, Hewitt acknowlâ€" edged they won’t have the luxury of sneaking up on any team. “We just have to play our game and stick to our systems and be disciplined in doing so. That’s what we have to focus on," he said. What concerns Hewitt, and prob- ably most of the other entries, will be the long layoff as most of the regional championships were staged prior to March break. For the Spartans, their last game with any meaning took place Feb. 28 when they defeated Brother Andre Catholic High School or Markham for the regional title. Because of this, he feels the team that can shake off the rust the quick- est might stand a good chance to be in the hunt for this year’s coveted gold medal. mortgage you need it‘ For clear, objective advice me at (905) 640â€"6108 at our Stouffville and 9th Line location. CIBC Variable Flex Mortgage" 0 Benefit from the savings potential of a variable-rate that’s right for you, please call I l l I - Use your home equity to access up to 80% of your home’s appraised value at a low variable interest rate - Ongoing access to cash whenever Last chance atA/AA trophy for back-to-back girls champ Stouffville District’s girls team is in the same boat. They, too, are ranked No. l in their provincial tournament. The twoâ€"time defending OFSAA A/AA gold medallists will enter the playdowns, which runs from April 2 to 4, as the No. 1 seed. Earning that lofty status last year paid off for the Spartans as they skated off with the cov- eted OFSAA title after defeating Bishop Tonnos Catholic High School (Ancaster) 5â€"1 in the final in henton. ‘It would be nice to win it this year, to finish off this portion of our existence and move into the next.’ Dan McConnachie Spartans assistant coach The Spartans will begin play Wednesday at 8 am. against the 20th-seeded North Gren- ville (Kemptville) Knights. At 12:40 pm. they will meet the 11th seed Roland Michener (South Porcupine) Predators. The Spartans will conclude What is aphasia? York-Durham Aphasia Centre 905â€"642-2053 or wwwydzieonca i , .i . 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While being named as the top seed this year is a nice ges- ture, Spartans assistant coach Dan McConnachie acknowl- edged it will present a challenge to this year’s club. “It definitely puts a target on our backs,” McConnachie said of their seeding. “Everyone will be out to unseed us. We've won OFSAA two years in a row and last year we were ranked No. 1. It’s not a bad thing. But that’s the way it’s perceived.” Brian Shankman is head coach of the Spartans. If the Spartans hope to skate off with their third straight title, McConnachie said they will have to do the things that car- ried them to a successful year in which they finished first in the regular season and were York Region finalists. “We’ve got to get timely scor- ing and goaltending and it all has to come together at once or t .; M's». «has 6:00 pm M NEW LOCATION! \lllihlll“ raga pvt-W cw”... a 915!) Mt" Nlt’t‘iil Ari? .‘i‘ Tlckets $65.00 Call: 905.472.5014 or visit WWWEVQIglE‘flIill:>f~sl>it”t*.t'>i'§fi to purchase your tickets online l’tttt‘t‘é‘tl‘s lii‘lp lillill l vvrifilmiw Hilarii. iVs. livi‘ Hi i' 5' i Iidllldil‘v’l‘ i are .ll‘ll hermit/cinva and adults Irwin), iii Markham » Slim m: thanks f: BRIAN SHANKMAN: SDSS girls hockey coach’s team opens Ontario finals in Pembroke Wednesday. we'll be in trouble," he said. While aiming for a threeâ€" peat is one incentive the club has going for them, McConâ€" nachie also noted this year will mark the final year they will be competing at the A/AA level. With the school's student population expanding, he said they will be moving up next year to the AAA level. “It would be nice to win it this year. to finish off this por- tion of our existence and move into the next," he said. â€"â€" Mike Hayakawa onday April 21, 2008 :i’uli-uf till i tulips if .ly'lil ilijl‘ I: 't‘ N; tilts-.(‘wfl ECONOMIST SUN Gait-Tribune SUPPeEWerlis' lvergreen llospit e, (s()(>(i Highway /, Markham ON t llilllllllil" I )ii1,ii:=,.itww N if l4$-ili)l‘