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Sports Join us on the sports desk every Monday and Friday ÆBèi A durhamreiloii.com /fir^ Shram Ceytey Bn< K*fty Brie* McNafM Ebe Canadian Statesman ♦ July 5, 2006 ♦ durhamregion.com Brian McNair Daniels torn between two towns Don't be surprised if the Stanley Cup steers clear of Durham Region this ■ year. And don't be angry either; it'll be back soon enough. Mind you, the possibility still exists this summer, as Oshawa native and former General Jeff Daniels will claim ownership for 24 hours thanks to the job he performed as assistant coach- of the Carolina Hurricanes this past season. But, while saying he's "being pulled in both directions" between his natural and inherited hometowns, one gets the sense the latter, Raleigh, will win out. Raleigh, after all, is where Daniels Daniels has established some impressively deep roots over the past seven years. It's where he was given a second life as a player in 1999, rescued from the minor leagues to play the final four seasons of his career with the Hurricanes Hurricanes and earn his full pension. It's where he was given his first crack at coaching less than a year after retiring, joining Peter Laviolette as mid-season replacements for Paul Maurice and his staff. It's where he and wife Jennifer gave birth to Jordan, their daughter who is now three. In short, it's where he calls home. He seems to be a perfect fit in Carolina, learning under one of the league's brightest coaches, and part of a team that emulates some of the qualities he did as a player. Daniels, after all, was a marginal prospect when he was selected in the sixth round of the 1986 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. But, through sheer hard work and determination, he became an effective checking winger and penalty killer, especially late in his career. In fact, he played 260 of his 425 career NHL games .in those final four seasons, after he' had turned 30. Like Daniels, the Hurricanes made the absolute most of their talent this season, and never said die, even when many outsiders did. Partly because of that, Daniels says winning this Cup was even more special special than as à player with the Penguins in 1992, when he didn't suit up for a playoff game. "This one's a little sweeter, where we started the season and no one gave us a chance," he says. "It was just a matter of belief within the room." With the entire Carolina coaching staff rewarded with five-year contract extensions following the Cup win, it appears Daniels will continue to call Raleigh home for some time yet. Which is just fine with him. He admits to having higher aspirations one day, but is in no big hurry to get there. "Even though you've played the game your whole life, there's so much more to learn once you cross that line (into coaching)," he says. Daniels seems to have plenty of potential and could one day get Stanley Stanley for a longer stint as his seniority and responsibilities grow. Then, if not now, Oshawa will surely get a front row view. Brian McNair's column appears every third Wednesday. E-mail hmcnair@durhamregion.com Loblaws beats Courtice Storage CLARINGTON - In Bowman- ville United Soccer Club Major Atom action, Loblaws defeated Courtice Storage Depot 2-1 to improve their season record to 4-1. Mitchell Hunt and Liam Moran scored for Loblaws and Matthew Howlett scored for Storage Depot. Strong goaltending from Mitchell Hunt and Brandon Bond contributed to the win for Loblaws. Gaels open playoffs in thrilling fashion McFarlane fires OT winner in Game 1 against Mimico BY SHAW* CAYLEY Staff Writer MIMICO - After sailing through three periods in the rear view of the Mimico Mountaineers, one could argue the Clarington Green Gaels were sim ply on the prowl. The Green Gaels trailed right up until the final minutes in Game 1 of their first round series against Mimico on Sunday, before knotting the game and sending it to overtime. The teams then traded goals, forcing a second extra frame, this time of the sudden-death nature. That was when Brandon McFarlane stepped up for the kill. Caught in a crowd, a few metres out from the dotted line, McFarlane fired the game winner over the shoulder of an unsuspecting Mountaineers goallender, giving Clarington an 11-10 victory. "That ball must have had eyes," remarked Green Gaels GM Neil Atkinson. Atkinson. "There was so much traffic, I don't think their goalie saw it until it was right in front of him. Then it was too late." Trailing 7-4 heading into the final 20 minutes, the Gaels pulled to within one, before suffering what Atkinson termed a "little bit of a letdown," by allowing two more goals. However, with a -win State makes Courtice's Monique Sylvester accepts scholarship BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor COURTICE - Delaware State University University proved over and over again that it was interested in adding Monique Sylvester to its soccer program. She has reciprocated by agreeing to pack her cleats and relocate for the next four years to play for the Hornets. The Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School graduate has accepted a full scholarship to the Division I school after they made it abundantly clear they wanted her to become a student/athlete at the school. "They were so on top of everything," says Sylvester of the diligent recruitment recruitment process. "They were always call- • ing and talking to me and seemed more interested than the other schools. "The coach (Matthew Okah) is amazing. amazing. He is really cool." The 17-year-old began kicking the' ball around the pitch originally with the Darlington Soccer Club, shifted to * Whitby and finally settled in as a striker with the Oshawa Kicks. It was while competing in the States with the Kicks that recruiters at Delaware State took a shining to the Courtice resident. "They came to a couple of tournaments tournaments and watched me," she recalls of showcasing her immense skills in a series of games played in Long Island and West Virginia last summer. Planning to study sociology with a criminal justice emphasis, Sylvester says she always entertained thoughts of securing a scholarship, but that the process took her a little bit by surprise. "I always looked forward to trying to get a scholarship, but at the same time, it just kind of unfolded for me." During her time at Holy Trinity, Sylvester Sylvester made a lasting impression, named by the school as one of its Faces of the Future, a Metroland Durham Region Media Group publication that honours exceptional secondary and elementary students in both athletics and arts. Sarah Facey-Crowther, who nominated nominated Sylvester, raves about her achievements. achievements. "Monique is an excellent athlete in a multitude of sports. In her three years at Holy Trinity, she has grown in skill development as well as on a personal level. "This year she was an excellent rôle Walter Passarella / Metroland Durham Region Media Group Holy Ttinity grad Monique Sylvester has been awarded a soccer scholarship scholarship to Delaware State University. model. She has been able to balance academics and athletics." Her athleticism may not be limited to just the soccer field at Delaware State, as she hints about trying to earn a spot on the basketball team as a walk-on. still in their sights, the Gaels refused to quit, forcing overtime with three late markers. Last night after our deadline, Atkinson Atkinson was expecting much of the same at home in Game 2. "They are not going to roll over, they'll go down swinging," said the GM of the opposition. Tomorrow night, Game 3 goes in Mimico, while if necessary, Game 4 will be back at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex Saturday. With the changes, there is sure to be a period of transition, but she is looking forward to what lies ahead. "It's going to be hard leaving home, but it has to happen. I need some variety in my life," she says. In Brief Dragons end championship drought CLARINGTON - The Darlington U-9 Dragons have finally solved the riddle of how to win a championship game. They competed in the annual Darlington Soccer Club tournament against teams from Quinte, Belleville and Ottawa. Coaches Herman Zwart and Jim Kamstra created a game plan of passing, teamwork and positioning for the tournament. The Dragons executed that plan very well resulting resulting in a total of 28 goals for, and only five against. Once again the Dragons qualified qualified for the championship drawing a comparable Whitby Iroquois team. Several tense moments in the final minutes of the game resulted in scoring chances at both ends, how- ' ever the Dragons hung on for a 2-1 victory for their first tournament championship. Matthew Cholod earned the MVP award for being an offensive threat throughout the final game while scoring five goals over the weekend. Scoring was spread throughout the roster including Keenan Vanderkooi (6), Adam Laishram (5), Justin Holi- ad (5), Jacob Friend (4), Gerrit Van Heuvelen (2), Thomas Robinson and Jack Chesson who scored singles for the Dragons. The coaches easily recognized the ball handling skills and intelligent play of Aaron Chia, Tomas Azzano, Lucas Farinha and Jack Thompson Thompson along with goaltending by Mark Kamstra as major contributions to their tournament title. Jus' Chilling is jus' winning CLARINGTON - The Jus' Chilling Chilling house league baseball team is ripping up the Bowmanville Newcastle Newcastle Baseball Association league so far. In eight games, the team has a record of 7-1 with just four games remaining in the schedule. Team members include Mitchell Wootton, Nickolas Lubenko, Evan Ritchey, Troy McKenna-Lowe, Jer- rick Bahor, Zachary Roden, Thomas Thomas McHardy, Eric Young, Matthew Jones, Ethan Ryan, Chad Hibbert and Matthew Boyle. The team is coached by Rob Hibbert and Jerry Jones. Redmen reeling from lack of support Attendance figures plunge despite talented team, league BV BRIAM MCNAIR Staff Editor BROOKLIN - "I'm not really sure fans in Durham Region deserve a Major Series Lacrosse team." With those words, Brooklin Redmen general manager Barry Johnson has delivered the harshest reminder yet that this team might not survive without better better fan support. In what has long been a puzzling problem, attendance has plunged even farther this summer at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre, where, despite the team's 5-6 record, there's enough talent talent on the roster to form the nucleus of. an excellent National Lacrosse League team. Yet, in a region often refereed to as a lacrosse hotbed, the best attendance figure to date was in the 300 range for a game against the archrival Brampton Excelsiors. The worst has been about 100. It's brought Johnson's frustration level to a boiling point. "For the team we've got on the floor, for the calibre of the league, what do people want?" he wonders, "1 don't believe the fan support is there across the league, but l see a little more urgency on our part because we're a community-run organization." . Johnson points out that, while the other six teams in the league have deep- pocketed owners and/or major sponsors, sponsors, the Redmen continue to rely on gate receipts and various fundraising ventures to cover expenses, the most significant being travel. He says a bus trip to Akwesasnc can cost up to $2,500, which alone isn't covered by gate receipts from a crowd of 300. Although crowds will often swell come playoff time, Johnson says the fans have to tie more consistent supporters supporters if they hope to see the big-name talent remain on the floor. Despite missing the playoffs altogether altogether last season, for the first time since 1976 no less, the Redmen managed to attract marquee NLL players such as Shawn Williams, Gavin Front, Steve Toll, Gee Nash and Steve Dietrich this season.• Johnson says that simply won't be possible down the road unless something something significant changes. "We really have to get serious," he says. "I don't sec it running under the current regime, as a community-based organization. I don't think it can survive. survive. Maybe it can survive, but can it be a competitive team?" The Redmen have three regular season season games remaining at Iroquois Park, tonight against Kitchener-Waterloo, July 12 against Peterborough, both at 8 p.m., and Saturday, July 22 against Barrie at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and students, and are free to children 12 and under accompanied by an adult. See brooklinredmenlacrosse.com for more details.