8 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, June 5, 2012 Jr. A Raiders sold to Burlington businessman By EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer After seven seasons as owners of the Georgetown Raiders, the Nishi family has sold the Ontario Junior Hockey League club to Burlington businessman Bill Court. The ownership change was approved at the OJHL's annual general meeting in Mississauga on Saturday and the sale was made with some stipulations that Ted Nishi hopes will keep the team near the top of the league for many years to come. Nishi said that he fielded "three or four" serious bids for the Raiders, but the agreement hinged on the rehiring of head coach and general manager Greg Walters, head athletic trainer Andrew Groombridge and that several volunteers would remain with the organization for at least a year. It's expected that associate coach Dan Currie and assistant coach Terry Richardson will remain with the team as well. "When we sat down with (the prospective owners) and insisted that they sign contracts with the coach and the three staff members, they looked at me like I had three heads," chuckled Nishi, an Etobicoke resident whose son Michael played here for a season before moving on to the Ontario Hockey League. "If they didn't agree to that, I told them I wouldn't sell it. It was very important to us that we keep the integrity of the club and that we weren't selling it for the most amount of money we could get. And through dealing with Bill during this process, he's in it for the long haul." Court, who couldn't be reached for comment Monday afternoon, operates the Burlington-based Court Group of Companies Ltd. "It is with great pleasure that our family has the opportunity to be part of the long and storied tradition of the Georgetown Raiders," said Court in a press release. "We look forward to being part of the Raiders community and its continuing success." Last season, the Raiders finished the regular season as the OJHL's top team, advancing to the league semifinals before losing at home in a seventh game to the eventual-champion Stouffville Spirit. Walters was named the OJHL's coach of the year and Groombridge received the trainer-of-the-year award. The OJHL also announced on the weekend a realignment of the 23-team loop that will place Georgetown and chief rival Oakville in different divisions. The Raiders will play a 55-game regular-season schedule in the West Division alongside Buffalo, Burlington, Hamilton, Milton and Orangeville, with the top eight teams from each of the two league conferences making the playoffs. SPORTS & LEISURE 'Dogs stun rivals The Halton Hills Bulldogs mounted a dazzling late rally to beat the Green Gaels 10-9 in overtime Saturday in Ontario Jr. B Lacrosse League action. It marked the first loss of the season for the Gaels and the last time the Bulldogs beat their East Conference rivals from Clarington during the regular season was in June 2005. The teams were tied at five after two periods before the Gaels scored four straight to seemingly take control in the final frame. But the defending conference-champion `Dogs struck for four goals of their own in a five-minute span to equalize the contest, witnessed by some 750 spectators. Netminder Dustin Hanzelka was outstanding for the home side, which was outshot 6341 on the evening. With veteran marksmen Brendan MacDonald and Michael Licata out with injuries and rookie Connor Brown attending the Ottawa 67's rookie camp, 11-21 Halton Hills still managed to stretch its undefeated streak to eight games. Mike MacDonald had three goals and four assists for the Bulldogs, including the OT clincher while Seth Laidlaw had two goals and six assists. Luke Laidlaw (3), Dakota Rocca and Brandon Clelland tallied for the hosts, who also beat Newmarket 17-10 Friday night. This week, the Bulldogs will host Mimico Thursday and Mississauga Saturday starting at 8 p.m. Rebels, Jags are champs Both Halton Tier II junior rugby championship trophies were claimed by Georgetown teams last week, with the GDHS Rebels completing an undefeated season in girls' league play and CtK's Jags running the table on the boys' side. The 7-0-1 Rebels captured the girls' title with a 17-12 triumph over Oakville's St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders in Burlington. Taylor Richard scored the opening try, but the Raiders tied it before half. Tries early in the second half by Richard and Deanna Rolfe put the Rebels in command and they held off a late Aquinas push to prevail. Carolyn Stoddart provided the convert kicks for GDHS. Meanwhile, CtK's junior boys capped off a 6-0-0 campaign with a 45-10 win over visiting GDHS. Nick Cunha, Kieran Smerdon, Nick Tibbits, Parker Mellott, Colin Bass and Adam Lane ran in for tries. SOCCER: Christ the King's junior girls and boys are slated to play in the Halton semifinals today (Tuesday) after victories in Thursday's quarterfinals. Emily Hubbard and Alessandra Previte scored for CtK's girls in a 2-0 home win over the Bishop Reding Royals. The 6-1-1 now Jags take on 7-1-0 Notre Dame in Burlington today at 3:30 p.m. The 6-1-1 Jaguar boys beat visiting Milton District 2-1 on Thursday on goals by Nick Moreno and Jessie Bydevaate. They will play host to 4-1-3 Corpus Christi Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Midfielder Alessandra Previte (right) of Christ the King's Jaguars scored one of her team's goals in a 2-0 win over Bishop Reding on Thursday in the Halton junior girls' soccer quarterfinals. The Jags take on Notre Dame in Tuesday's semis. Photo by Eamonn Maher Acton Farmers' Market Thursday June 7th | 3 - 7pm Enjoy entertainment from the Robert Little Dance Club and Face Painting. Come for the freshness, stay for the fun! www.downtownacton.ca Market Bag Bring this coupon to our Season's First Farmers' Market on June 7th, 2012 and receive a re-usable Market Bag, FREE! Limit one coupon per customer. Valid only on June 7, 2012. No cash value. While supplies last. Compliments of the ActonBIA