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Page IS THE HERALD Wednesday Jane 1M OHL teams say local picks can step right in GMs endorse Raider ByPAULSVOBODA Herald Sports Editor If everything goes according to plans all three Georgetown Raiders taken in the May On tario Hockey League priority draft should be taking regular shifts in the OHL next season The Guelph Platers Cornwall Royals and defending OHL cham Peterborough Petes all gave ringing endorsements to their respective Georgetown B draft choices last week Defencemen Trent Cull and Rod were both selected in the first round seventh and ninth overall by Guelph and Cornwall respectively and Gendron a winger went in round six to Peter borough overall We feel Trent will be able to step right in and play said Platers general manager Rob Holody on Wednesday We dont expect him to come in and be a Paul Coffey right away but hell certainly have that chance in the future Cornwall GM coach Orval Tessier applied much the same terms to Pasma We feel he can definitely step right and play said on Thursday We ve always worked bard on our defence Our first pick last year was a defenceman John Slaney St Johns Nfld midgets and he scored points last season Meanwhile in Peterborough GMcoach Dick Todd has lost three graduating left wingers from his league champion Petes and he says Gendron will be given every opportunity to win one of those open spots in next years lineup We feel hes an excellent player and his style of play is conducive to our system said Todd We feel Bryan has an excellent chance of playing for us Although Holody said the Platers were originally looking for a big goatscorer in the first round of the May 27 draft the availability of Cull when turn came around forced the team to change its drafting strategy We felt he was the best player available explained Holody Our team last year was a Van Canuck type hockey club We were looking for goal produc tion in the draft But we like Trent Hes a big strong aggressive player We think hell fit in Hes the kind of player we want here Cornwall meanwhile had tabbed as its number one pick well before the draft Pasma was ranked 18th Cull was but said there was no doubt who his club was going to take Rod was our number one prion he said We were hoping he would be there Tessier found Pasmas size most tive but the Royals also feel the 6foot4 204lb 17 yearold has the developing skills to match If you look at the recent Stanley Cup playoffs it seems today s defencemen are all big said- Tessier Hockeys going that way to big mobile defencemen We feel Rod has great ability and were looking for him to do well down the road too Tessier said Cornwalls decision to take Pasma in round one was also based on the fact the squad is losing veteran backstop Richard Tabaracci and top blueliner Schneider As for Cull the Platers also believe theres big things to come from their Raider grad The 6foot 2 heads into Guelph as an aggressive 15- yearold and Holody sees a lot of potential the youngster Hes rough around the edges but he should be a fine Jr A player said Holody What he lacks in finesse he makes up for in intensity and aggressiveness Trent has that spark in his eye that says he wants to play The last time Guelph had a seventh overall pick in the first round they chose another young defenceman Mike who is currently ranked as a second rounder for the upcoming National Hockey League draft on June 17 If Cull can follow in Mike Speers footsteps well happy and I know Trent will concluded Holody Meanwhile Todd admitted a strong second half and a fivepoint playoff scoring total in four games helped Gendron who was ranked as a 10th round choice prior to May like his aggressiveness said defeated the Indepen dent in a tight game in the final of the Project Playground Softball tournament held at Glen Williams Park on the The tournament was held to raise funds for worth of playground equipment for Glen Williams Park A committee has been working for several months to raise funds for Project Playground The Town of Halton has kicked In for the equipment Here one colorful batter takes a swipe at the ball in he late innings of the final game Herald photo A- ffitgiBtrrrft Located at Carols 65 Main St S Phone for an appt or please drop by 8772981 Gift Certificates Available Keep Your Trailering Safe With The Right Towing Equipment by Mini HALTON TRAILER SALES RENTALS RR 1 GEORGETOWN Trafalgar Rd Hwy 8774266 Thanks coach Acton High School rugby players surprised outgoing coach Martin Lewis at the athletic awards banquet May 25 The ruggers presented Lewis with a personalized jersey and a special card of thanks Pictured with Lewis are some members of the Redmen rugby squads The Acton teams enjoyed some success In with the juniors upsetting arcnrival Georgetown Rebels and the midgets qualifying for the Halton County quarterfinals Lewis was assisted in his coaching duties this year by Dave Boycott Herald photo TIME TO MINT Youve got a house full of reasons to choose College Pro We Offer A 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