OkillOAKVILLESMUSIC STOREwww.gearmusic.netSports324 Kerr St.905-339-3515SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011 21Novice AAA Rangers deliver OMHA gold on home iceBy Herb GarbuttOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFOf the 12 Oakville teams that won Ontario Minor Hockey Association championships this year, perhaps none had more expectation to deliver than the youngest Rangers squad to claim a title.Since first lacing up their skates at the beginnng of the sea-son, the Oakville novice AAA Rangers had known they would be playing for the championship in seven months time. It was a long way off, but its always in the back of your mind, said Oakville coach Jaan Luik, whose team was selected last year to host this seasons OMHA tournament. You never want to be hosting one of these and not put on a good show.Luik need not have worried too long.The Rangers won their South Central AAA (SCTA) season-opener 14-2 and started the campaign with a seven-game unbeaten streak. Over a two-month mid-season span they won 12 straight games and went on to finish atop the standings with a record of 30-4-2, topping the league in both goals for and goals against. Oakville then went undefeated (4-0-1) at the SCTA qualifying tournament, leaving no doubt they had earned their place in this past weekends tournament.Sunday, the Rangers discovered the rewards of hosting the tournament after blanking the Clarington Toros 2-0 to capture DAN HO / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVERthe OMHA championship.Winning it at home is extra special, Luik said. Weve had GOAL ORIENTED:Dante Parisotto of the Oakville novice AAA Rangers watches the puck go past Clarington goalie Ethan a lot of success in tournaments that werent in Oakville (win-Robertson and into the net during the final of last weekend's Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship tournament at Sixteen ning events in Peterborough, Whitby and Michigan) but to win Mile Sports Complex.in that venue and by playing the best two games that weve played all year it was amazing the way the guys dialed it Evangelistas hat trick led Oakville to a 5-2 win over Hamilton. teams place in the final already secure, Oakville squared off in.Sang and Kelly also scored in that win.against Clarington in the final round-robin game Saturday Luke Evangelista scored early in the first period and Tanner While Luik said it was easy to see the players overall skill afternoon. Camden Purboo scored a pair of first-period goals Kelly added another in the second while goalie Davis Tolnai and level improving throughout the year because of their age, he and Kelly and Tolnai added to the lead early in the second as the Rangers defence shut down a high-scoring Clarington team said it was their ability to grasp a team game passing, hard Oakville pounced on the Toros for a 4-0 lead, going on to win that averaged more than four goals against its other opponents work, hustle, taking short shifts at such a young age that 4-2.in the tournament.really impressed him. And despite their strong start to the sea-And while playing for a championship at home the following Oakville reached the final by going 3-0-1 in the round robin. son, they continued to improve throughout the year.day could have produced nerves for a young team, Luik said it Cameron Tolnai scored twice in the first period of Fridays It wasnt a smooth line going up. There were ups and had the opposite effect.opener against Brampton to stake Oakville to a 2-0 lead. downs, Luik said. But every time the peaks got higher and There were a lot of people patting them on the back and Evangelista, Marcus Sang and Kelly would add goals as the higher. Every time they had a key game, they continued to that juiced them up a little, he said.Rangers held off a late Brampton rally for a 5-3 victory.show us new highs.By the time the final game rolled around, the Rangers coach Eric Russell and Tolnai scored in a 2-2 tie with Whitby and The peaks continued to rise Saturday afternoon. With both See Novice, page 24Register NowOakville Little League - 2011 Youth Baseball RegistrationRegister NowDivisionAgeOAKVILLE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELDHOUSE, 425 Cornwall RoadWHERE:Blastball4WHEN:SATURDAY, April 2nd from 9:00AM to 4:00PMT-Ball5 - 6T-Ball7 - 8Oakville Little League offers:Rookeball8The largest youth baseball organization in Oakville.MinorA9The highest caliber, fun and fair-play house leagues.MinorAA10Grass infields, pitching mounds, outfield fences & dugouts for ages 9 & up.MinorAAA11The only All-Star program to compete in Senior, Junior & Little League Major12Proud Sponsor ofJunior13 - 14World Series playdowns.Senior15 - 18Oakville Little LeagueFees include: Major League replica uniform, individual & team photos.For more information call 905-827-1831 or register online at www.ollb.org