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PAGE 16THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, AUGUST29,2001 Generals want big things from small camp Only 28 players invited to training camp BY BRIAN LEGREE Staff Editor OSHAWA - George Burnett is hoping hoping big things come from small packages. packages. The Oshawa Generals coach is holding one of the smallest training camps in the club's history, inviting just 28 players to the Civic Auditorium Auditorium for on-ice workouts starting today (Wednesday). "I think it's the right way for us to go right now," says Burnett. "I think the key thing is we need to have a good start. There isn't anyone coming to this camp that we don't feel has an outside opportunity to play in this league. We're putting our plan of attack into action right away." Although new Ontario Hockey League rules would have allowed Burnett Burnett to include all his recent bantam- aged draftees (1985 birthdates) to take part in the entire training camp and play up to five games, only first-round pick Nathan Horton will be on hand. Garett Vassel, Oshawa's third- round pick, the other 1985 birthdate eligible to play with the Generals this season, isn't coming to camp, instead opting to remain in New York and play Tier II junior hockey. (Oshawa's sec- \ STEPHEN HOAR Named Jr. A lacrosse rookie of the year. Top awards go ! / tg,f Green Gaels BY BRIAN McNAIR Staff Writer DURHAM - Two former Claring- ton Green Gaels made quite an impression impression in their first season of Junior A lacrosse. ' A year after leading the Green Gaels to a Founders Cup Junior B title in 2000, goalie Mike Miron and sniper Steve Hoar both copped major awards in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A ranks this past season. Miron was named the league's most valuable player after backstopping backstopping the Orillia Kings to their first- ever playoff appearance while Hoar took rookie-of-the-year honours after a 63-point season with "the Whitby Warriors. "I was very surprised," Miron said of winning the league's top award. "Going up to Junior A is a big step and it really shows when you get up there." A Whitby native now living in Oshawa, Oshawa, Miron was given his release at the start of the season by the Warriors, who were already solid in goal with Scott Wylie. The Kings moved up from 10th spot in 2000 to fourth this past season, going 12-8 and sporting an 8.3 goals against average, before being eliminated eliminated by the Warriors in six quarterfinal games. "It was a team effort, but he was a major contributor," Kings coach Wayne Colley says of Miron's impact on the club. "When he plays, he plays with a lot of heart. He studies the guys and he's technically sound." Colley, a former great between the pipes for the Brooklin Redmen, took over the Orillia job after coaching the Green Gaels to the 2000 national title - and brought a handful of former players players with him. Among those who stayed behind was Hoar, a Bowmanville resident who finished third in scoring for the Warriors this season with 18 goals 45 assists in 20 games. Hoar, who also plays hockey with the Peterborough Petes, won the Joe Nieuwendyk Award, named after arguably arguably the best player ever to come out of Whitby's minor hockey and lacrosse ranks. Other Junior A award winners were Peterborough's Scott Evans as most outstanding player, St.. Catharines' Sean Grecnhalgh as most sportsmanlike sportsmanlike player, Orillia's Luke Wiles as scoring leader, Orangeville's Brodic Merrill as most outstanding defensive player and St. Catharines goalie Matt Vine as MVP of the playoffs. John Martin and his assistants with the Peterborough Lakers won the Jim Bishop Memorial Award as coaching staff of the year, GEORGE BURNETT "There isn 7 anyone coining to this camp that we don't feel has an outside opportunity to play in this league.' ond-round pick, Josh Manning, is a 1984 birthdate.) Burnett maintains the club knew Vassel likely wouldn't report this season, season, but maintains the New Yorker will be in Oshawa for the 2002-2003 season. season. The small camp should help with the evaluation process, says Burnett, adding sometimes veterans "might be lined up against a kid who has no chance to play in the league and they're lighting it up and I think some times you're a little bit misled. Right now our matchups are competitive." Burnett believes the club has more skill and improved depth compared to a year ago. , "We're a lot deeper in all the positions positions right now, wc have more youth, wc have more skill, wc'rc not where wc want to be just yet. but I think we've improved in all those areas," lie says. More depth and more skill could add up to trouble for sonic veteran players, concedes Burnett. "You don't like to see veteran players players not stay involved or whatever," says Burnett, "but if they're being challenged for their jobs, then wc'rc getting better. I think our team will probably be younger then it was a year ago, but it will be more skilled and that's a big thing - wc need to score more goals." Oshawa's offence was the third- punicst in the OI-IL last season, scoring scoring just 184 goals in 68 games (2.7 per game). Burnett believes John Kozoriz could rebound from an injury-plagued season (16 goals) to score 30-35 in his overage season. He also expects the team's other overage forward, Chris Minard, to improve improve on last year's 23 goals. Other players expected .to improve on last year's numbers are Brandon Nolan (15 goals), Scott Rozcndal (20 goals) and Mike Rice (13 goals). Top draft pick Nathan Horton (16- 31-47 in 45 games. 23 goals in 25 playoff games) is also expected pick up the offensive slack, as is import rookie Vladimir Skoda. GENERALLY SPEAKING: The Generals open the pre-season against Brampton on Monday, Sept. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Civic Auditorium. The club has announced new ticket prices for pre-season games. Adults arc $5 per ticket, seniors and youths up to 18 arc $3. . .The Generals will also play one of their 'home' pre-season games in Port Perry against the Peterborough Petes on Saturday, Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. >+o SO 0 BOWMANVILLE UNITED SOCCER CLUB will hold their ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING on Wed., Sept. 19th, 2001 at 7 p.m. in the Garnet Rickard Recreation Complex The public is invited to attend. Please note that revisions to the club's constitution will be made at this meeting. 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