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16 Independent & Free Press, Wednesday, March 14, 2007 SPORTS & LEISURE Raiders hope to shake bad habit of losing in OT EAMONN MAHER Staff Writer Losing a playoff game in overtime in Steeltown is becoming a bad habit that the Georgetown Raiders will have to shake if their intentions of moving on in the OHA Provincial Jr. A Hockey League's post-season tournament are to be realized. After falling twice in extra time during last year's second-round West Division semifinal matchup to the host Hamilton Red Wings on their way to a six-game elimination, the hard-working Raiders dropped the opening game of the 2006-07 conference championship series 3-2 on Saturday night in the second overtime frame. Game two of the best-of-seven matchup was slated for the Alcott Arena last night (Tuesday). Former Red Wing grinder Frankie Grandits has turned into a playoff scoring hero, notching his second straight hat trick Saturday, beating Georgetown goalie Keaton Hartigan with a shot off a 3-on-2 break. Hartigan faced 60 shots in total before Grandits clinched the opener midway through the second OT period, while Hamilton netminder Cameron Talbot was in MVP form, blocking several quality Raider chances, making 55 saves in total. "There's no quit or panicking with this team. It's just one game and that could have easily been a win for us," said fifth-year Raider centre Rob Sgarbossa of Campbellville. "We've got plenty of character and experience in our dressing room and we've shown that we can bounce back and play well after a loss." Sgarbossa, one of several Raiders in their final year of junior eligibility, has accepted an offer to attend Fredonia State University in western New York on a hockey scholarship in the fall. Fredonia State was a surprise winner of the 2007 New York State title earlier this month, beating former Raider Ryan Busby's Plattsburgh squad to earn a trip to the NCAA Division III Frozen Four. For now, however, Sgarbossa is focused on helping his current club get past a formidable Hamilton opponent that was swept by Oakville in the 2006 West Division championship series. The Raiders are making their fourth appearance in the conference final in the past five years. "I'm fortunate to have been on some great teams in Georgetown, going to the Royal Bank Cup two years ago, and this year's team can go just as far," Sgarbossa added. "We know that if we're going to win in Hamilton we're going to have to not only beat their team, but their fans and the refereeing too." The Raiders felt aggrieved by the officiating of referee Glen McBryde throughout the evening, having a goal called back in the first period and losing veteran centre Adam DeJong to a checking-from-behind game misconduct. Then in the late stages of the first overtime period, Georgetown's Matt Carter was in the penalty box serving a too-many-men-on-the-ice infraction and when it expired, he was unable to leave because the latch on the door was stuck. The Raider bench was in an uproar, trying to get the attention of the officials, and someone threw a water bottle onto the ice, incurring another bench minor, although Hamilton wasn't able to score on the ensuing power play. Defender Matt Thomson got the Raiders off to a 1-0 lead with his sixth of the playoffs halfway through the first period. Despite outshooting the hosts 22-15 in the second period, Georgetown trailed 2-1 heading into the intermission as Grandits scored on a softie at the 19:52 mark. Raider winger Matt Carter forced overtime thanks to a top-corner wrister with just over 10 minutes left in the third stanza. Game three of the series is set for the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with game four at the Alcott Arena Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Fans will be supplied with white towels for the Georgetown home games and a commemorative St. Patrick's Day/Raiders t-shirt will be available for $5 at Saturday's game. (Eamonn Maher can be reached at emaher@independentfreepress.com) Greg Lever (5) and defenceman Evan Zych of the Georgetown Raiders hold off another Hamilton offensive rush before goaltender Keaton Hartigan can smother the loose puck in the first overtime period of their OPJAHL West Division series-opening game Saturday night at the Mountain Arena. Frankie Grandits completed his hat trick in the second OT period to clinch a 3-2 win for the host Red Wings. Photo by Eamonn Maher Rep hockey roundup Novices earn split in playoff action Georgetown's Bestcorr Raiders earned a split of games in the Novice AA Tri-County playoffs. Georgetown 1, Oakville 0: Trevor Jenkins (G); Christian Buchan, Ryan O'Connell (A); Nicholas Hinz (SO). Flamborough 3, Georgetown 1: Nicholas Aquilina (G); Cole Besworth (A). Flamborough 3, Georgetown 2: Tyler Biles, Jenkins (G); Elinesky, David Collins (A). Georgetown 2, Oakville 1: O'Connell, Jack Hennigan (G); Bryn Williams, Adam Farrugia, Besworth (A). Raiders advanced to the OMHA Minor Bantam AA championship series to play Richmond Hill after prevailing over Guelph in five games. Guelph 3, Georgetown 2: Kyle Kutlesa, Brendan Krivec (G); Derek Kessel (2A). Georgetown 3, Guelph 2: Jordan Dance, Andrew Smith, Bradley Knox (G); Tyler Shippel, Tyler Nieuwendyk (A); Cameron Jenkins (W). Georgetown 2, Guelph 1: Hayden Mancini, Nieuwendyk (G); Chris Guerette, Knox (A); Tyler McRae (W). Georgetown 1, Guelph 1: Shippel (G); Kessel, Dance (A). Georgetown 5, Guelph 1: Nieuwendyk (G, A); Kessel, Krivec, Guerette, Dance (G); Shippel, Moffatt (A); McRae (W). Quarterfinals Georgetown 5, Caledon 1: Krivec (3G); Shippel, Warren Brayne (G); Kessel, Hayden Mancini (3A); Dance, Smith, Nieuwendyk (A); Jenkins (W). Georgetown 2, Caledon 0: Dance (2G); Shippel (2A); Kyle Speers, Kessel (A); Jenkins (W). Caledon 4, Georgetown 1: Shippel (G). Georgetown 3, Caledon 3: Smith, Kessel, Mancini (G); Krivec, Shippel, Jake Tousignant, Nieuwendyk (A). Georgetown 3, Caledon 1: Krivec (2G); Mancini (G, A); Smith, Nieuwendyk (A); Jenkins (W). See MIDGET, pg. 17 Minor Midget AA Raiders Tri-County playdowns continue for Georgetown's Minor Midget AA Raiders. Georgetown 3, Caledon 3: Marc Drake (3G); Kamil Burghardt, Robert Turner, Matt Sargent (A). Georgetown 7, Oakville 2: Trevor Hill (3G, A); Colin Dickson (G, 3A); Turner, Dylan Chalmers (G, A); Brandon Usher (G); Burghardt (2A); Patrick White, Robbie Robertson, Colin Shajgec, Brandon Medeiros (A). Georgetown 3, Caledon 1: White (G, 2A); Chalmers (G, A); Dickson (G). Georgetown 5, Milton 0: Turner, Brandon Uberig (2G); Jason Skweres (G); Hill (3A); Medeiros (2A); White, Chalmers, Usher, Robertson, Will Cook (A); Marcus Rees (SO). Minor Bantam AA Raiders Georgetown's Most Valuable Puck.com 2006 300 TOURING Midnight Blue, 3.5L V6, automatic, 41,000 kms Stk.#P11187 2006 LIBERY RENEGADE Silver, 3.8L, automatic, 13,010 kms. Stk.#7J11-1 2005 300C Silver, 5.7 HEMI, automatic, 75,747 kms. Stk.#7T45-1 2004 PACIFICA Jade, 3.5L 6 cyl., automatic, 48,463 kms. Stk.#P11138 2004 SX 2.0 Black, 2.0L 16V, 4 cyl., 27,600 kms. Stk.# 7E44-2/P12 $ 24,999 $ 26,300 $250 $ BI-WEEKLY/72 MTHS 25,300 $240 $ BI-WEEKLY/72 MTHS 29,999 $255 $ BI-WEEKLY/84 MTHS 12,500 $140 JEEP BI-WEEKLY/60 MTHS GEORGETOWN CHRYSLER 336 GUELPH ST., GEORGETOWN, ON. 905-877-0149