vReid ready for OHL challenge with perennial contender 67's The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 26, 2003-25 By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Elgin Reid knew a one-year stopover in Jr. B would make for a much smoother transition to the OHL. After just two games with the Ottawa 67's, Campbellville's 16-year- old defenceman no longer considers last season's stint in Leamington a good decision - but rather a vital one. "I can't imagine how some of these guys make the jump from bantam," Ottawa's 2003 opening-round draft pick said following his first weekend of major-junior hockey. "It's so much faster and more physical here. Personally, playing with the older guys Elgir in Jr. B last year was pretty much neces- sary.' Even with that season-long tune-up in Leamington, Reid knows he's got a tough road ahead - or at least a long one. The 67's begin 2003/04 play with a five- game-in-nine-days road trip. And a winless weekend for Ottawa and -4 showing for its newest blueliner was far from an ideal start. "Sunday certainly wasn't a great gane for us," Reid admitted of a 6-4 loss at the hands of Sudbury, which followed a 3-3 stalemate with Sault Ste. Marie Friday night. Nevertheless, Campbellville's OHL rookie was fair- ly pleased with his individual performance - noting that so far he's held his own physically at junior hock- ey's highest rung. Sharing a similar view of his initial efforts is 67's head coach/general manager Brian Kilrea. Remarked the OHL's winningest skipper, "We were looking for defencemen that could move the puck and Elgin fit into that category. We're happy with how he's worked at camp and expect him to be a quick leamer and major part of our defence." For that to happen, Reid says he'll have to heighten his on-ice vision in order to keep pace with the as times lightning-quick flow of major-junior hockey. "Everything's just bang, bang, bang. There's very little time to react. You've got to have those instincts sharp." Reid 'The local defenceman knows full well that the pressures of breaking into the OHL are compounded in a place like Ottawa - where expectations are almost always sky-high. And with about a dozen players back from a team that made it to the league finals last spring, this year's no exception. "It's all business here. If you have a bad game, the media's all over you," said Reid, who's now sporting jersey #85 in honour of his grandfather, who passed away at that age last fall. "But most players want that kind of atmosphere because it makes you better." His 67's continue their season-opening road trip tonight in London and then face St. Michaels Saturday aftemoon and Brampton Sunday evening. Ottawa's first home game is slated for October 3 against Mississauga. Steve LeBfIanc can be reached at sleblanc@halton- search.com. %Ietroland Commuohty Newmpapfrs - ,SPfrEia SuPPIO-enft rsetOuo sIE Fax ail of your team reports and sports sto y ideas to Steve LeBlanc 1 bd M at (905) 878-4943, or e-mailt them to miltoned@haltonsearch.coM. Milton Minor Baseball Association This ad is spponsored by the High Five Photography Studio X 1A . f-11 We the existing board would like to express a heartfelt thank-you to all the coaches, sponsors, parents and especially the youth for this past sea- son. It was a year that saw changes within the House league division. We had the Rookie, Mosquito, PeeWee, Bantam and the Midget divisions play- ing rural. We did this because other centres had only 1 team. We felt that it might provide more competition for the Milton House League teams. We will evaluate the rural situation each year. The House League Junior team expanded this year to 2 teams. The Rep system saw an expansion this year. We had a Rookie team, a Minor and Major Mosquito team, a PeeWee team, a bantam team and a Junior Team. We would like to thank Jeff Murdock, Joe Beaudry and Loblaws for their con- tributions to Championship Day this year. We would like to thank Jeff Harper for getting the Ridley guys to corne out dur- ing the winter to run clinics for the managers/coaches and youth. We would like to thank Susan Hickey for volunteer- ing her time to take the minutes of the monthly meet- ings. Even though Susan retired 2 years ago she still comes back to help. What dedication! We are losing a very valuable member this year. Steve Wagemann has decided that his time has come. He has an opportunity to go to China during the upcoming year for work. He thought long and hard about this and unfortunately for Baseball we didn't win. We want to thank Steve for all his dedication, help and knowledge that he has provided Milton Minor Baseball over the many years. We have had a few new faces corne to the board meetings during the course of this year. Some have even expressed an interest in coming out again next year. There are many opportunities for parents to volun- teer some of their time to a very worthy cause. The more help we have, the smoother the organization runs. Mark Saturday, October 4th, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. to attend the Annual General meeting at the Boyne Community Centre. Watch the Champion during the 1st part of February for the Sports Weekend Registration for 2004 Milton Minor Baseball will have a booth to sign up the youth for house league and for umpiring. f eiu e o ng te 2o o awgsonsors for their support during the 2003 season. Newspaper Article High Five Photography House League T-Ball Division Carefree Mini Storage Key Centre Miltown Computer Shoppers Drug Mart Rookie Division Austen Noble Insurance Chudleigh's Town Dental Group PeeWee Division McCuaig Insurance Ltd. Milton & District Kinsmen Club Mosquito Division Karmax Apple Auto Glass Canadian Tire Bantam Division Chudleigh's Midget Division Milton Lions Club Junior Division Meritor Primary Electric Supply Rep Teams Rookie Hunt Chrysler Dodge Jeep Minor Mosquito Optimist Club of Milton Major Mosquito Wallace Pontiac Buick Cadillac Ltd. PeeWee Milton Chrysler Dodge Bantam Canadian legion Junior Roxul Inc. à 00 1A 4, W li 1 $N-OIO M M