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BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer WhenShawnInonardgivesapeptalk to’his Stouflville minor peewee Clippers hockeyteamheofienremindsfllemwin- ningisn‘teverything. But giving up isn't an option, the 41- year-old Stouflville resident is always quick to add. Folding the tent is something Leonard could easily have done during his youth hockey career. That’s because he was born without a left hand. playing the game, Leonard persevered and never allowed that disability to interfere since he made his playing debut at the age offive while growing up in Newmarket. GWEUL FOR MINOR HOCKEY Moving to Stoufiville when he was 12, Leonard played in the Clippers orgamza- tion where he was moved to the wing after launching his career as a centre Inanehort to place himself onanequal footing with his teammates, Leonani felt he had to be better in other facets of the That meant being more cerebral and, at the same time, loging extra time when- ever he could to work ‘on specific skill development. “I loved the game of hockey at an early age and always wanted to be better than the players around me," he said. “Howev- er, for me to be better I had to be smarter positionally and work harder than others Coach didn’t let disability hold him back Clipper bench has won golds at amputee worlds m ht mm the Region! Munccnpahty 0' York 11250 Yonge Street. Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 621 an infectious appetite for Richmond Hm Public MMMMafim becauseittookbngerformetomake haldpassesandtakehardshotsonqet: _ “Bveninmphockeyslwaspmbably one ofthelastkidstoraisethepucknfl’ meioeandloouldn’ttakeaslapshotuntil myteenageyeara'lbmakemetepteams. Ihadtoworkashardonmysnengthsas Ididonmyweaknessesandeventuallyit paidoif.” To this day, Leonard tries to Relate that back to his troops “Whenlg'vefieetimetokidsinaprac- ficeandaflflxeydoisslapmepucklmake a point of telling them that when you work on your weaknesses, your strengths natu- rally develop further and then you can see the positive results of their overall skill development," he said. While Leonard had the good fortune of playing for the Clippers bantam team that skated off with an Ontario Minor Hockey Association title in 1982. the pinnacle of his playing career came in 2003 and 2004 when he was a member of Them Canada that competed in the International Stand- ing (Amputee) Ice Hockey Federation world championships Playing forward and defence for Team Canada, Leonard was part of gold-medal teams in Helsinki, Finland, in 2003 and Prague, Czech Republic, in 2004. His current-day Clippers have their own shot at an OMHA title. They're three rounds into the playdowns, facing Orillia in a minor peewee A quarter-final series. The bestâ€"ofâ€"five opens tonight in Orillia. Game 2 goes Sunday at 5:40 pm. at the Stouffville Arena. Employed as a project manager for a home builder in the GTA. Leonard is in his second season as a rep coach with the Clippers. He and his wife, Tara, have three children, Brittany, Cody and Brooke. SHAW man: Coach with team in OMHA quarter-finals won a provincial title on a Stouflville squad in 1982. “1 got involved in coaching because of my passion for the game, my many years of experience and overall knowledge of the game. Minor hockey was such a positive influence in my life that I feel a respon- sibility to give back to the game all the positive influences that I've received from those who coached me and the volunteers over so many years,” he said. ' HOST OMI'IA PLAYOFF GAME SUNNY Most important, though. Leonard hopes the experiences he's endured through his years as a player will inspire those learning the nuances of the game. “I share stdries with the kids of my play- ing days and how much efiort it takes to be thebestyoucanbeinsportandinlife. “1 always let the kids know that in sport and in life, the only limits you have are the ones you set upon yourself," he said. 888 96 MembelsoftheStoufivifleDucksSwimClubven- unedtnRiclumndHillrecendytotakepanmme Richmond Hill Aquatic Club's Mnter Invitational and recordedsomeenoouraginglesuha 1aialsofinishedfifthinthelOOmfmestyle,eighth 2mm fieestyle, ninth 200m butterfly. 11th 100m butâ€" terfly and 15th 200m FamMgotooumebsite,yodaegion.cornFommonme mymmmmca Lai just Ducky at qyeet Free Family Fun Day The Ducks offer swim programs in Stoufiville 11737 McCowan Road, Stouffville W Sub-T'fibune'Satuida): m. M2009 l‘I York'chion