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Raiders-Derbys match-up likely to be physical affair The two most-penalized teams in the OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League's West Conference are meeting up in the first round of the playoffs and if last Saturday's final regular-season matchup between the two was a barometer for this series, the forecast calls for plenty of animosity. The third-place Georgetown Raiders hold a decided size and experience advantage over the suddenly formidable Streetsville Derbys, yet the latter won the season series four games to one. If the Raiders didn't take the sixth-place Derbys seriously before, they were openly seething after another inexplicable one-goal loss to Streetsville here last Saturday, a 1-0 decision in which Georgetown outshot its opposition 3921. Game one of their best-of-7 quarter-final series begins Saturday at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex at 7:30 p.m. Game two will be in Streetsville Tuesday at 8 p.m. folRYAN lowed by game three GIBB back here Wednesday evening. Apparently unconcerned about potentially providing the Derbys with motivational dressing-room reading material, Raider goalie Ryan Gibb was predicting an early exit and a three-month layoff for the 2006 Royal Bank Cup hosts. "We're not too worried about it," said the 20-year-old Gibb of Streetsville's regularseason success versus Georgetown, which included three wins at the Vic Johnson Community Centre. "We lost (last Saturday), but we also stepped up and sent a message physically. I think we get away from our offensive strategy against them. They were all close games in their barn and with their style of play, they're going to have the edge if we don't stick to our game plan. We know what our team is capable of and to put it bluntly, by next week, (Streetsville's) done." But the club that's named after a pet food company can certainly become a dangerous animal if the Raiders are complacent. Superpest Ryan Silveira drew the ire of Georgetown power forward Paul Marchese in last weekend's contest and the Derbys do have some toughness and size with Clayton Windigo, twins Dan and Kyle Fraser of B.C., and high-scoring defender Felice Turano. As well, Streetsville picked up two of last-place Buffalo's players and Steve Tamaridis from the Toronto Thunderbirds, losing just once in their last 11 games. Former Raider goalie David Wilson is expected to be the starter for the Derbys, yet it was netminding partner Tyler Gordon who stymied the Raiders in the regular-season finale. On the injury front, both teams appear to be at full strength. Raider defenceman Ryan Lee has been given clearance to play after the former Mississauga IceDog suffered a late-season leg injury. The Derbys are trying to avoid the ignominious distinction of being eliminated in the first round of playoffs, then having to wait until May when they're the host team for the national championship tournament in Brampton. Georgetown, meanwhile, will graduate at least half of its roster when the 2005-06 campaign is over. --By Eamonn Maher, staff writer On your mark... About 60 young hockey players got the opportunity to put their fundamentals to the test during the Skate Shoot Score Hockey Skills Challenge recently at the Mold-Masters SportsPlex. Developed by Georgetown's Adam Bennett, Skate Shoot Score consists of five drills for all age levels in a fun, competitive format. The event here was the first ever in Canada, with winners moving on to the regional finals at a yet-to-be-determined date. Photo by Eamonn Maher Harris rink holds down first vs. Georgetown (3) vs. Streetsville (6) Game 1 Saturday, Feb. 11 @ Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. Game 2 Tuesday, Feb. 14 @ Streetsville, 8 p.m. Game 3 Wednesday, Feb. 15 @ Georgetown, 8 p.m. Game 4 Friday, Feb. 17 @ Streetsville, 7:30 p.m. Game 5 Saturday, Feb. 18 @ Georgetown, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary) Game 6 Tuesday, Feb. 21 @ Streetsville, 8 p.m. (if necessary) Game 7 Wednesday, Feb. 22 @ Georgetown, 8 p.m. (if necessary) Note: All Georgetown games at MoldMasters SportsPlex. All Streetsville games at Vic Johnson Arena. Mike Harris of Acton got off to a great start in the round-robin segment of the 10-team KIA Cup Ontario Men's Curling Playdowns taking place this week at the Guelph Sports & Entertainment Centre. Harris, representing the Oakville Curling Club, sat alone in first place with a 6-0 record after Wednesday's draws, with three more preliminary-round games to play. Semi-final action will take place Saturday and the final is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday. High school roundup Bearcats handed first loss Acton High School's juggernaut senior girls' volleyball squad lost its first match this season last weekend at the 30-team Niagara College Invitational in Welland, nipped in the final by Scarborough's Birchmount Collegiate. The Bearcats had won all four tournaments they've entered this year and are heading into the Halton league playoffs with an undefeated regular season. At the Niagara College tourney, Acton steamrolled through the preliminary round, beating Confederation Ecole Secondaire of Welland, St. Mary's of Hamilton, Rockland and Woodstock. They easily defeated Jean Vanier of in the quarter-finals to set up a finalfour clash with a much taller side from Waterloo's Forest Heights. The `Cats took the first game 2522, then, with Melissa Bigg mixing up the plays and Jen Wieck, See HIGH, pg. 22