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YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 3 ( / 0 ( ! , 4 / . ( ) , , 3 A GOOD REASON TO SHOP LOCAL #2. Shopping local saves you money. Out of town shops have done a good job of convincing us all that sole traders = expensive, but the evidence just isnt there to back this up . If you add in trav- el, parking costs, fees to transport larger items home and your time, the overall cost is often much higher. 905.873.0301 This message brought to you by your local newspaper 16 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 SPORTS & LEISURE Lead Ken McDermot (centre) of Georgetown had a strong week of play for Rob Lobels rink from the Brampton Curling Club as the team placed fourth at the TSC Stores Tankard. Also pictured are Team Lobel members Scott Foster of Burlington (left, second) and Whitbys Steven Lobel (vice). Photo courtesy Carol Pearson, Ontario Curling Association Georgetown native Ken McDermot was a key member of a Brampton rink that went nose-to- nose with some of the worlds top mens curlers this past week at the 2008 TSC Stores Tankard in Waterloo, begrudgingly settling for a top-four result in the province. The 39-year-old McDermot was the lead for Brampton skip Rob Lobel during their run to Saturdays playoff round after posting a 5-4 record in preliminary pool play, facing the likes of current world champion Glenn Howard, Peter Corner, Wayne Middaugh and Georgetown native Mike Harris along the way. Lobels foursome quali- fied for the final four by edging Brantfords Wayne Tuck 9-8 in 11 ends in Saturday mornings tiebreak- ing game. Facing 1998 Olympic sil- ver medalist Harris in the 3 vs. 4 match on Saturday afternoon, Lobels team led 7-4 after stealing three in the eighth end and led by a point with the hammer in the 10th, but Harris prevailed 8-7, moving on to lose to eventual champion Howard. McDermot battled a nagging throat infection through the week but soldiered on, and his side nearly knocked off the undefeated Howard in the round-robin, coming up just short at 10-9. It was a fun week. Ive never won this event and have always left disap- pointed. Im leaving disap- pointed but its still fun to be here, said McDermot, a married father of three who has made provincial curling appearances dating back to 1989 with teams such as Bob Fedosa, Peter Corner, Bob Turcotte, and Russ Hurry Hard Howard. In the playoffs, anything can happen. We were think- ing if we beat Harris and then theres one game against Howard and Peter Corner and you never know, were off to Winnipeg (for the Brier). There are hundreds of teams that would have liked to be in our position, and weve made it to the last four in the province. Thats a pretty good accomplishment. with files from Andrew Coppolino Never ones to do things the easy way, the Georgetown Raiders have nonetheless earned a much-needed week-long break from the upcoming OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League playoff battles after a couple of weekend victo- ries. Duelling with the Hamilton Red Wings over the final two weeks of the regular campaign for the coveted second spot in the loop behind powerhouse Oakville, the 30-14-5 Raiders pulled off a gritty 4-3 comeback win Friday night in Burlington over the Cougars and then dusted bottom-place Streetsville at the Alcott Arena Saturday 6-3. Meanwhile, the Red Wings lost 2-1 to fourth-place Brampton on Saturday evening, clinching second spot for the Raiders, who pre- vailed by just one point over Hamilton despite recent demoralizing losses to Burlington and Mississauga. The way this seasons gone, if theres an expressway to the cottage, were the type of team that likes to take the scenic route instead, laughed Georgetowns director of hockey operations, Lonnie Freeman. But really, to get the bye is a load off every- bodys mind because after some of the things weve gone through, the guys just really wanted it to prove what type of team we really have here. It also gives us a chance to heal some bumps and bruises and well be able to get in a few practices to work on some things and I know everyones looking forward to a bit of rest. The number of teams from each of the four OPJHL conferences that qualify for the post- season was cut from eight to six this year, meaning that the top two clubs in the division received opening-round byes, while the remaining four square off in best-of-5 matchups to be played in just eight days. A number of Raiders could use some down time to recuperate from game action and while the team received good news on the ankle sta- tus of forward Anthony Luciani, first-line winger Jeremy Wick will miss the first three games of the second-round series. Wick and Burlingtons Michael Folkes were assessed four-game suspensions for intent-to-injure match penalties in the second period of Fridays contest. Missing Wick is tough but to get Luciani back is like getting a free agent because not many people expected him to play again this year, said Freeman of his players fractured ankle, suffered Oct. 27. The 17-year-old Luciani had 14 points in 13 games with the Raiders after starting the season with the OHLs Erie Otters. Raiders nail down second to earn first-round bye Jeremy Wick of the Georgetown Raiders (left) helps out his defence by warding off Burlington Cougars Jordan Gidaro (87) and Michael Budd (27) during their OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League contest in Burlington on Friday. The Raiders clinched second place in the division by rallying for a 4-3 victory. Photo by Eamonn Maher EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Local curler McDermot experiences highs and lows at Ontario Tankard See RAIDERS,pg. 17 MIKE HARRIS