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Injured Gaffar still hopes for NHL career By GENE PERREIRA Special to The Beaver If there‘s anything Shayne Gaffar has learned in his three years in the Ontario Hockey League, it‘s to take the bad with the good. The talented Oakville native has had his share of disappointments along the way to becoming a star with Newmarket Royals. First it was not seeing eyeâ€"toâ€"eye with former head coach John Lovell last season. After getting off to a flying start in the first half, Gaffar found himâ€" self with less ice time. It probably played a role in his being passed over in the June National Hockey League draft. Things were running much smoother this season under new head coach Shawn MacKenzie. The team was _ doing well and Gaffar and _ wingers Nathan Lafayette ! and Jeremy Stevenson | Oakville‘s : Gaffar was his way to a career season â€"â€" and posâ€" selection â€"â€" when he â€" was hit by an injury. 33 EXCLUSIVE CARDS INCLUDING 6 HOLOGRAMS c S d ce * Austar couecror serie§ 1 w,. 9# N J ‘[ Ar. Tiz YÂ¥ YÂ¥ fM\cDonald‘s AND RECREATION But once again disappointment hindered his progress; this time an injury. "It‘s definitely frustrating," said the 19â€"yearâ€"old centre, who had scored 18 goals and 21 assists in just 22 games. "You‘ve got to take it in a positive manner. I‘ve been riding the bike everyday and working on my legs. The only thing I can do is come back stronger. formed the team‘s top line. Last month, in a game against _ Guelph, Gaffar headed into the corâ€" ner to forecheck and was dragged down a falling Storm defenceman. Instead of falling to the ice, he tried to pull up and his shoulder gave out. Gaffar passed out from the injury. When he came to, he found himself with a dislocated shoulder that will keep him out of the lineup until midâ€"January. stands. "It‘s a little frustrating because you want to be out there," he says. "But you cet to see a And watch from the lot more things, like defensive play, and get to see it from a fan‘s point of view. I‘d definitely rather be on the ice, though." Gaffar will miss anywhere between 15 and 20 games. Still, he feels his goal of 100 points is withâ€" in reach and hopes to catch the eye of NHL scouts. While his teammates have tried picking up the slackâ€"Newmarket is only five points out of second place in the Leyden Divisionâ€"there‘s no doubt MacKenzie can‘t wait until his man in the middle returns. "He‘s a great playmaker and he sees the ice as well as anybody in this league," the coach said. "He‘s in the top six guys in the league with the puck." Another thing MacKenzie expects from his veterans is leaderâ€" shipâ€"and says the 5â€"footâ€"10, 175â€" pound Gaffar provides that "in spades." Gaffar was offered a hockey scholarship by the University of Michigan but opted to join the Royals,who had selected him the 12th round of the OHL draft. It‘s a decision he doesn‘t regret. "I‘ ve had some disappointments See GAFFAR, Page 18 ©.1992 McDonald‘s Restaurants Of Canada Limited. Upper Deck and the card/hologram combination are trademarks of the Upper Deck Company. © 1992 The Upper Deck Company. All rights reserved LIMIT 5 PACKS PER VISIT BASKETBALL: Peter Ho hooped 20 points to pace QEP to a 55â€"28 trouncing of TAB in junior action Wednesday. The win improved the Eagles®to 2â€"0 while TAB fell to 0â€"2. Nevin Campbell and Steve Chambers added 14 and 10 points respectively for QEP. Jason Foote hauled down 12 rebounds. VOLLEYBALL: Blakelock Tabbies improved their record to 2â€"1 in Volpe Division senior girls volleyball with a 2â€"1 decision qver Q.E.Park, Wednesday. In other senior games, Loyola Hawks blanked Milton 2â€"0 and Bishop Reding swept St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders 2â€"0. In the junior circuit, QEP dumped TAB 2â€"0 and Milton topped Loyola 2â€"1.. VOLLEYBALL: Blakelock improved their record to 2â€"1 The experience was a shortlived one for Oakville Curling Club repâ€" resentatives at the provincial senior playdowns last weekend. Ross Tousaw‘s rink was eliminatâ€" ed in two straight games at the men‘s regional championships at Sunparlour while Faye Gardiner‘s women‘s foursome got knocked out after three rounds of the women‘s regional in Woodstock. Both had previously captured Zone titles. Local curlers bow out WHILE SUPPLIES LAST Starts Friday January 1st. SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 1993 â€"PAGE 17 WEDNESOAY: OT vs. White Oaks (hockey); Whit Oaks a! Blakelock (basketball}. Milton plety; Bishop Reding at Loyola; Drury at Park (volleyball). HURSDAY: Q.E. Park vs. Loyola (hockey). PJDAY OGAA vufleybail Humber at ck vs. 0.E. Park; Appleby vs. White Oaks (bockey). Aquinas at OT (basketball) to the Ontario senior cl onships, next month. With / were Rob DeLeenheer, McDowle and Gord Mc Shirley Finlay, Jennie Nol Jane McNicoll were with Ga Meanwhile, Oakville‘s Susan Snow goes for a bert! Scott Tournament of Hea: weekend in the OLCA finals A and B side winners at the e‘s four zones now move on Ontario senior champiâ€" , next month. With Tousaw Rob DeLeenheer. Gary Â¥: Q.E. Park vs. Loyola (hockey) OGAA vufleybail Humber nen_sfi,g m., men‘s 8 p.m.) t month. With Tousav DeLeenheer, Gar and Gord McNicoll Jennie Noble and ‘re with Gardiner. Oakville‘s Mary for a berth in the nt of Hearts this Gary