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16 Independent & Free Press,Thursday, February 3, 2011 Local sniper to play in Canada Winter Games SPORTS & LEISURE "I've worked really hard at my game and hopefully how the OMHA team did last summer really opened up some eyes. I feel I deserve to be on the team, but still it was a shock when I found out I made it." The Grade 10 Christ the King Secondary School student is captain of the Halton Hurricanes minor midget AAAs, putting up 43 goals and 32 assists in 48 games this season. He also wore the C for the `Canes in their terrific run to an OMHA bantam title and Ontario Hockey Federation bronze medals last year. "Jacob definitely has the best work ethic of anyone on our team by far," said Hurricanes' head coach and Guelph Storm scout Joe Migliaccio. "He practises with the same intensity he plays with and he's very responsible defensively." And Harris can boast plenty of experience putting on the Team Ontario jersey, having won two Canadian box lacrosse championships. The Ontario team in Halifax will feature several top prospects for this spring's Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection, including centre Max Domi, son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Tie, Nick Ritchie, who played a game for the Georgetown Jr. A Raiders earlier this season, and defender Jordan Subban, younger brother of Montreal Canadiens' blueliner P.K. The Ontario entry will be coached by Dave Milek, an assistant with the OHL's Guelph Storm. "Our awesome goalie from the Hurricanes, (Milton's) Jason DaSilva, is on the team, and I've played with and against everybody on there. It should be a great team with the talent we have," Harris added. The Hurricanes will play host to the OMHA AAA championships March 11-13 for the minor midget and minor peewee divisions. Strong tryout pays off for Harris By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Add Georgetown's Jacob Harris to the list of household hockey names such as Domi and Subban who will represent Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax starting next week. The 6-foot, 190-pound centre was among 20 players selected for the provincial under-16 squad for the 12-team event, thanks in part to his showing at a tryout tournament last August in Kitchener. Harris had a four goals and an assist while turning in a solid defensive effort for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association team that won all six of its games in the showcase tourney. "This Ontario team has so many good players, I feel really lucky to be going out there," said Harris, who turned 16 on Wednesday. Georgetown's Jacob Harris was among 20 players selected for the provincial under-16 squad for the 12-team Canada Winter Games, which begin next week in Halifax. Submitted photo Gerrits heads to Utah on a high note If momentum counts for anything, Travis Gerrits has to be feeling awfully good about this weekend's world freestyle aerial ski championships in Utah. The 19-year-old Actonian heads into today's qualifying round fresh off his second top-10 World Cup performance, having placed ninth last weekend in Calgary. Making the finish all the more impressive was the fact that Gerrits secured it with a new trick he'd just recently incorporated into his routine. Crashing on his initial qualifying jump-- and banging up his hip-- the young aerialist quickly rebounded with his next attempt. Turning to his just-learned lay double full (twist) full, Gerrits delivered the single-best jump of the day to place eighth (combined scores) and clinch a spot in the finals. The jump-- complete with a near-perfect landing-- was one of his best in recent years. Day two presented a déjà vu scenario, with the Acton-area freestyler crashing again on his lesser tricky first jump and then pulling out a strong ninth-place effort with his new manuovere. This marked the second top10 finish in his last three World Cups, having placed 10th last month in Mont Gabriel, Quebec. A `forerunner' (type of future Olympian in training role) at the Vancouver Winter Games, Gerrits is expected to follow up this weekend's world championships with a trip to Moscow to continue his World Cup season. SHAWN HILL Hill inks deal with Marlins Georgetown's Shawn Hill has signed a minor-league contract with Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins and received an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old righthanded starter enjoyed a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays last year, posting a 1-2 record with a 2.61 earned run average in four September starts. In a career that has been marked by two elbow ligament replacement (Tommy John) surgeries, Hill has an overall record of 9-18 in 44 career starts with five teams. TRAVIS GERRITS 0.9% finance for up p to 60 months & Lease ase for 4 48 8m months on at 0.9% both o.a.c. WINNER EVENT EVERYONE'S A Honda ALL NEW 84 month finance at C 2011 CIVI 2011 CR-V 2.9% 9 905-874-3021 O.A.C. www.georgetownhonda.ca Serving Georgetown for over 30 years! 316 Guelph Street, Georgetown wn 905 905-873-1818 873 1818 HONDA