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8 Independent & Free Press, Tuesday,January 12, 2010 SPORTS & LEISURE Vipers bite Raiders 4-1 as trade deadline looms By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Showcase Weekend games and the Vaughan Vipers haven't been a good combination for the Georgetown Raiders this season. Perhaps the worst two outings of the 2009-10 Raider campaign have taken place during the Ontario Jr. A Hockey League's scouting showcase events, the most recent being a 4-1 loss to the Vipers Sunday afternoon in Collingwood. In September, Georgetown was blanked for the only time this year in a 2-0 defeat against Vaughan at the Oakville Showcase Weekend. Head coach and general manager James Richmond decided to sit out starting netminder Tony Capobianco for both of this past weekend's games in Collingwood, which included a 6-0 victory over the host Blues Friday night. But he said that his team's poor showing had little to do with goaltending as 16-year-old rookie Michael Nishi made both starts after being returned by the OHL's Windsor Spitfires last week. "When we have to play before 2:30 p.m. we haven't done well at all. It's surprising and disappointing because everyone seemed like they were ready to go, but we were just flat," Richmond said on the eve of the OJAHL's trade deadline. "We scored the first goal (Aaron Pearce), but Nishi had to play really well just to keep us in the game in the first period. We thought it was a good time for Tony to get a rest so that he's sharp and hungry for the playoffs." The Raiders did make some moves with just a few hours to go before Monday's roster cutdown deadline, although no major trades appeared imminent. Richmond acquired 19-yearold blueliner Kevin Van Dyk from the Orangeville Crushers in a three-way deal that sent Raider defender Andrew Darrigo to the Brampton Capitals. Van Dyk, a 6-foot, 180-pound native of Grand Valley, had six goals and six assists in 25 games with the Crushers before leaving the club a month ago, requesting a trade. Georgetown also loaned rookie rearguard and local resident Ashton Waters to the Erin Jr. C Shamrocks on an affiliate card for the remainder of the season. "We felt we upgraded our back end and we still have got a couple of open cards left to sign and OHL cuts or free agents, so we'll wait to see what shakes loose," Richmond added. As well, the Raiders decided to keep a third goalkeeper, Aleksander Lazic-- who has played in just one full game this season-- as insurance should the Spitfires need to recall Nishi at some point. In Friday's win over Collingwood, leading scorer Steve Perfetto notched a hat trick and Nishi made 26 saves for his first Jr. A shutout. Justin Basso, Pearce and Duston Hebebrand rounded out the scoring. After the weekend's results, the 30-6-2 Raiders dropped to third place in the standings as the Oakville Blades have won 11 of their past dozen starts to grab second spot. This week, the Raiders travel to Kingston Thursday to take on the first-place Voyageurs and will also visit Bramalea Friday evening. The last-place Milton IceHawks, who have lost 30 games in a row, face the Raiders in Georgetown Saturday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bearcats tamed by Aldershot Victor Thompson of the host Acton Bearcats drives to the basket past Aldershot's Jordan Whiston during a Halton Secondary School Athletic Association senior boys' basketball contest on Friday afternoon. The Bearcats led by 12 points in the second quarter but Aldershot hit several three-point shots to take command of the contest, earning a 73-59 win despite 27 points from Thompson. In other HSSAA senior boys' action, the Georgetown Rebels prevailed over cross-town rival Christ the King Thursday, as Carlos Waite had 16 points to lead his team to a 40-35 triumph. Dan Witczak had a dozen points for the Jaguars. Photo by Eamonn Maher North Halton Twisters' roundup Atom B Twisters are on a roll Netminders Karlie Thring and Olivia Chandler each recorded shutouts and allowed just two goals over four games as the North Halton atom B Twisters went undefeated in recent league play. North Halton 0, Guelph Thunder 0: Karlie Thring (SO). North Halton 4, Grand River Mustangs 1: Lisa Daugherty (2G); Jill Bennett, Beth Wight (G); Kayla Fillier (2A); Oriana Harris (A). North Halton 1, Belmont Blazers 1: Faith Lang (G); Bennett, Emma Danaher (A). North Halton 2, Hamilton Hawks 0: Danaher, Daugherty (G); Bennett (A); Olivia Chandler (SO). Daley Burnaccioni recorded the shutout and Rachel Smith provided the lone goal in the North Halton Twisters' victory over Guelph in the Lower Lakes Hockey League's novice B division. North Halton 1, Guelph 0: Rachel Smith (G); Daley Burnaccioni (SO). GEORGETOWN JUNIOR "A" Novice B Twisters GEORGETOWN JR. A GEORGETOWN TOYOTA RAIDERS vs MILTON ICEHAWKS Saturday, January 16, 2010 7:30 pm Mold-Masters SportsPlex (Alcott Arena) www.georgetownraidersjra.com GAME OF THE WEEK