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PAGE B2 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ DECEMBER 14,2005 durtiamregion.com Generals believe in playoff run DiRienzo leads Oshawa to 4-1 win over Belleville BY BRIAN MCNAIR Staff Editor OSHAWA « If the rest of the Oshawa Oshawa Generals share the same never-say- die attitude as Carlo DiRienzo, maybe they will make the playoffs. After all, he knows all about beating the odds and he still believes. DiRienzo, the team's 19-year-old goalie "who was cut at the start of the season but welcomed back when the goaltending struggled, led the team to an impressive 4-1 win over the Belleville Belleville Bulls Sunday. Although still 15 points back of the Bulls, and thus the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, DiRienzo and the rest of the Generals certainly seemed as though the task was achievable following the game. "Definitely," DiRienzo quickly responded when asked if the Generals Generals could still reach the post-season. "The guys are really positive in there and we're really sticking together. I'm so happy for our team. I feel we have a good group of guys and we will be successful." DiRienzo could be the poster boy for patience and perseverance. Despite being sent home after training camp, he was told - and more importantly believed - he might find his way back if things went awry between the pipes and he kept working hard. "I didn't make the team and I was wondering what was going to happen, but I kept training hard and I never gave up," he said. "That's the main thing, I never gave up, I never lost hope." If the Generals were in need of more inspiration, they certainly got it from co-captain Peter Tsimikalis Sunday. Despite missing Saturday's 7-3 loss in Erie with what was originally thought Play It Again even in four outings CLARINGTON - The Clarington Play It Again Novice AA Toros have been busy recording a pair of wins and the same number of losses in recent league play. , m Playing against Markham, the Toros gained a win of 1-0 on a goal from Jordan Nesbitt, assisted by Cameron Lowery. The team played against Whitby, coming coming out shy in a loss of 3-2. Scoring for the Toros were Kyle Staal and Lowery, assisted by Adam Loudfoot and Staal. Against Ajax, the Toros weren't so lucky suffering a loss of 9-4. Connecting for goals were Nesbitt, Staal, Loudfoot and Michael Swaine. Zachary Treen and Nesbitt had assists. Against Oshawa the Toros earned a win of 8-5, as Lowery led the scoring parade with four goals, while Treen notched a pair. The other goals went to Loudfoot and Nesbitt. Collecting assists were Staal, Swaine, Brendan Goldsworthy and Nesbitt. Nesbitt. ■ Facing a ton of action in net during the recent games, Evan Cormier and Tyler Parkin, shared the goaltending duties. Receiving the Hard Hat Awards in recent games were Braydon Bumpus, Brandon Bryant, Jack Chesson, Cormier, Goldsworthy, Goldsworthy, Denin Gray, Loudfoot, Lowery, Jake Moreau and Treen. Ron Pietroniro/Metroland Durham Region Media Group Cal Clutterbuck of the Oshawa Generals is stopped by P.K. Subban (6) of the Belleville Bulls during the first period of Sunday's game at Civic Auditorium. Auditorium. The Generals came up with a 4-1 won over former coach George Burnett. to be a broken foot, Tsimikalis returned Sunday and added to his team-leading point total with two assists. "That was a pretty solid effort by our team and.we had some pretty gutsy performances by a number of players," said coach Randy Ladouceur. "That's an exiting game and you're Get the PICTURE! Our library is packed with great photos just waiting to be framed and mounted. If you see a photo in the Metroland Community Newspapers of Durham Region that you wish to purchase, you can order a re-print or a digital image by calling (905) 579-4400. The Canadian Statesman really battling it out, you're in the trenches," he added. "You know you've been in a hockey game at the end of it, win or lose." Although the Bulls were playing their fourth game in five nights, the Generals Generals were anything but refreshed. It was their third game in five nights and they hadn't returned home from Erie until 4 a.m., after having to wait for defence-, man Chris Miffien to be released from hospital following a badly broken leg suffered in the game. Blue-liner David Halasz was also forced out of action after suffering a mild concussion Saturday, and missed Sunday's game. Cal Clutterbuck led the way to victory victory with two goals and an assist, while John Tavares and Gary Fricsen also scored for the Generals Sunday. After Tavares converted a beautiful breakaway pass from DeLory for the insurance marker with 1:09 remaining, the ensuing celebration showed this team still cares. "Anytime you get an effort like tonight, that's cause for celebration," Ladouceur said afterward. "We're just taking it a game at a time here and trying trying to make steps forward in the right direction." GENERALLY SPEAKING: After .Cal Clutterbuck opened the scoring on the power play 9:28 into the game, a record 2,717 stuffed animals hit the ice as part of the eighth annual Teddy Bear Toss Night. Clutterbuck also closed out the scoring with an empty- net marker... Shawn Matthias scored Belleville's lone goal on a giveaway midway through the second period... The Generals outshot the Bulls 46-34 and scored the game's only power-play goal, on seven chances. Belleville had eight power plays... Oshawa's Andrew Gibbons didn't have a chance to play against his ex-mates, scratched from the Bulls' lineup with an ankle injury... The Generals improved their home record to 6-8-0-0, but are now 1-14- 2-0 on the road after the loss to Erie... Brett MacLean had a goal and two assists for the Generals against his former former Otters teammates Saturday. John Tavares and Clutterbuck also scored for Oshawa... The Generals host the Plymouth Whalers Friday, are in Belleville Belleville Saturday and back in Oshawa against the Ottawa 67's Sunday, the last action before Christmas. Three wins in a row for Vandelay Toros CLARINGTON - The Clarington Vandelay Minor Atom AAA Toros have won three in a row in ETA league play. The Toros traveled to Richmond Hill for an early evening tilt, coming out strong in the first and dominating the struggling Stars throughout the game. Netminder Brett Otterbein registered a shutout in the 8-0 victory. On Saturday, Barrie made the long trip down in a fast, paced game with end to end action. Michael Bergman made the big saves to keep his team in the game, allowing the Toros to come out on top 7-4. • The teams have now split the season with one win each. | After a five day break the Toros saw their next action in Peterborough. The two closely matched teams made for an entertaining hockey game for the fans and parents. The Toros came out on top with à 3-1 win, the difference being the Toro goaltending, as Otterbein stopped 25 shots, 18 of those coming in the third period. • i Coach Todd Stauffer credits the recent success of the hockey club tb'^ "Good team play and fantastic goaltending." goaltending." ! Scoring for the Toros were Mitchell Burghardt (5g,5a), Cody Kean (4g,6a); Liam Osborne (lg,7a), Ostop Mostowy (2g,3a), Mitchell Skelly (2g,la), Com nor Whitley (2g), Mack Morissetté (lg,la), Michael Hibbard (2a), Tyler Gaulton (2a), Liam Rowe (lg), McKj enzie Miles (la), Zach Cole (la) and Brandon Hoskin (la). '■ | PURCHASE PRICE $15,998* DAPWI SOCCER CLUB INC. 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