By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The Oakville Blades drive for five is off to a good start. Seeking a record fifth consecutive trip to the Ontario Junior Hockey League finals, Oakville opened the 2011-12 campaign Tuesday with a 6-3 win over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres in Buffalo. The Blades will look to build on that effort tomor- row (Friday) when they play their first home game of the season, a 7:30 p.m. contest with the Georgetown Raiders at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Oakville head coach Matt Moore was pleased with what he saw from his team Tuesday, considering the Blades had just returned from a three-game exhibi- tion series in Vermont. Its normally tough for kids to do what we did, Moore said, noting that the club returned from the Vermont trip Sunday night, practiced Monday and then traveled to Buffalo Tuesday night. Our kids battled for a full 60 minutes. It was a great credit for them. Six different players Brad Kobryn, Kyle Blaney, Connor McGlynn, Tyler Karius, Martin Kudla and Chris Taylor scored in the opener for the Blades, while 11 players earned at least one point. Thats the kind of balance Moore and Oakville general manager Carlo Coccimiglio are looking for from their forwards this year. (Buffalo) relied on two lines, but were deep all the way through, Moore said. Initially, thats what really jumped off the page. We have a lot of depth and can wear (teams down). The Blades return several veterans this season that are expected to lead the way offensively. Stefan Thompson recorded 36 points in 28 games with the Blades last year after being acquired from the Cobourg Cougars, while Karius (20 goals, 25 assists in 46 games last year) and Blaney (20 goals, 24 assists in 49 games) are also back. Blaney, in his third season with Oakville, will captain this years edition of the Blades. He didnt wear a letter last year, but hes a player that always stepped up and showed energy, Coccimiglio said. Hes ready for that task. Hes got all the qualifications of being a great leader. He thinks Oakville Blades first, and every year I want a captain who thinks Oakville Blades first, not the individual. Complementing those three returning veterans are 1995- born rookies McGlynn and Bryson Cianfrone. McGlynn, a local resident, is already committed to Boston College, while f Cianfrone will be eventually playing for the University o Michigan. Sports 30 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2011 l d b f h f lB a es egin quest or anot er ina s appearance CAPTAIN KYLE: Oakville Blades forward Kyle Blaney (in white), pictured crashing the Wellington Dukes net during last year's Ontario Junior Hockey League playoffs, is the captain of this year's Blades squad. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Blades, page 31 We're deep all the way through. Initially, that's what really jumped off the page. We have a lot of depth and can wear (teams down). Oakville Blades head coach Matt Moore