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Tie Hawks, clip Cougars Raiders `starting to peak' as Jr. A playoffs approach The OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League's playoffs aren't scheduled to begin for another three weeks, but a couple of West Conference foes decided to get a headstart on the postseason proceedings last Friday. Putting their 20-game undefeated streak on the line, the host and first-place Milton IceHawks were fortunate to come out with a 2-2 tie against the seemingly rejuvenated Georgetown Raiders. The fifth-place Raiders served notice that they will be a dangerous opponent in the playoffs, even if they've underachieved so far during the regular season. With just five players left on the roster from last year's run to the Royal Bank Cup semi-finals, Georgetown outshot the IceHawks-- Canada's number-one rated Tier II Jr. A squad-- 38-37, and had several chances to put the game away, but couldn't beat Milton's all-star selection in goal, Zach Kleiman. "We approached this like a playoff game and you can feel our team is starting to peak right now, we're starting to gel together," said Raiders' captain Frank DeAngelis of Woodbridge. "Sure, Milton has a great team, but come playoff time, experience will be a huge factor and there's plenty of that in our (dressing) room." Scoring goals remained the sore spot for the 19-14-4-2 Raiders heading into Tuesday night's game in Streetsville against the Derbys, but they received surprising contributions from an unlikely source on the weekend. Georgetown's Kyle Termini scored his first two goals of the season and both came in key moments of those games. The 20year-old fourth-line bruiser produced the tying marker midway through the third period of Friday's spirited encounter in Milton and potted the eventual winner in Saturday's 5-2 home victory over the fourth-place See RAIDERS, pg. 20 Recent acquisition Jeremy Whelan (15) of the Georgetown Raiders shakes off a check from Burlington's Dave Smith on Saturday during a Jr. A contest at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. The host Raiders posted a 5-2 win and tightened up the OPJAHL's West Conference standings a little more with the playoffs fast approaching. Photo by Yves Desjardins Rylett honoured at pro contest The North Halton Twisters' Girls' Hockey Association honoured one of its founders with a surprise presentation on Friday night prior to the National Women's Hockey League game between the Oakville Ice and Brampton Thunder at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Grace Rylett recalled the day about nine years ago when an informal discussion on the soccer field sideline amongst parents set the wheels in motion for the The National Women's Hockey League returned to the Mold-Masters SportsPlex Friday with a match between the Oakville Ice and Brampton Thunder, and about 800 spectators turned out. Tasha Noble (77) of Oakville tries to get past Brampton's Sue Cleall during Brampton's 3-2 overtime win. Photo by Eamonn Maher establishment of the organization, which has grown to over 500 players in the Halton Hills and Milton areas. "Some of the parents at the soccer pitch were talking and somebody said they were tired of taking their kids out of town to play hockey," said Rylett, a public health nurse in Brampton. "Wouldn't it be nice to have something like that here at home?" Rylett credits local residents Pam and Bill MacGillivray for doing much of the legwork required to get girls' hockey going in the area, although she does admit to having good computer skills and a knack for organizing. Even though her daughter Cheryl has entered college and no longer plays for the Twisters, Rylett remains as the president. She has also served as a manager and trainer for various teams and recruited husband Bob from the boys' minor hockey ranks to coach girls' hockey. See PRO, pg. 20