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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 2006 21 ONTARIO'S BEST: Oakville Buzz players (left to right) Josh Smyth, Mike Bentivegna, Bobby Debrone and Brenden Thenhaus hoist the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B championship trophy after Oakville defeated the Orangeville Northmen 5-1 Thursday in Orangeville. The Buzz, which won the best-of-five OLA final in four games and has gone 31-2 overall this season, will compete in the Founder's Cup national championship tournament next week in Windsor. BILL SANDFORD / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER On to the Founder's: Buzz OLA champion Oakville stymies Orangeville Northmen to win provincial junior B lacrosse title in four games By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR ORANGEVILLE -- One more step. Utilizing the stifling defense it has featured all season, the Oakville Buzz clinched its first-ever Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B championship Thursday with a 5-1 victory in Orangeville. Winning the provincial crown fulfills one of the team's two main objectives this season; Oakville will have a chance to reach its other goal, a national championship, when it competes in the Founder's Cup tournament next week in Windsor. "This is an unbelievable feeling," Buzz captain Bobby Debrone said following his team's victory over the Northmen, which gave Oakville a 3-1 series win. "It's an incredible feat, considering there's 26 teams in this loop. We're going to party hard tonight but then get right back on track for the Founder's Cup next week." Brian Rea scored two goals for the Buzz, which led 2-1 "(This) was a after the first great example of period and 4-1 after 40 minutes. how defense wins Kyle Hagel, Justin championships, Wilson-Kirby and offense wins Dan MacRae games." added singles for Oakville. Justin Wilson-Kirby The key once again, however, was the defense. The Buzz forced and recovered numerous loose balls, tenaciously checked the Northmen snipers and held Orangeville's potent power play off the scoresheet. When the Northmen did man- age a quality scoring opportunity, Buzz netminder Gary Muzzin was up to the challenge, beaten only on a breakaway midway through the first by John Quarrie. "Tonight was a great example of how defense wins championships, offense wins games," said Wilson-Kirby, an 18-year-old Oakville resident who came up through the Hawks rep system. "Muzzin played awesome. He's so much better than last year, like a brick wall out there. Our defense and goaltending really stepped it up." Securing the OLA crown was all the more sweet for the Buzz because of how close the squad came last season. Oakville went 17-2-1 to finish first overall, then rolled to the provincial final before being upset in four games by the 11-9 Elora Mohawks. This season, motivated by last year's dis- appointing finish, the Buzz lost only once in 20 regular-season games. In the playoffs, Oakville swept its first three series and nearly swept the Northmen, holding a two-goal lead in Game 3 Tuesday before dropping an 8-7 decision. Motivated by last season "It made us want it more because we didn't want to feel (the pain) again," said Buzz defender Brendan Farrer. "Last year, we felt the exact opposite (of this). This year is just that much better." Teammate Mike Bentivegna credited Buzz head coach and director of player personnel Glen Little for assembling the talentladen club, noting as many as six players weren't initially planning on even playing lacrosse this season. See Assistants page 22 At Air Calm, we take the C.A.R.E. Promise for our Customers! As a leader in heating and cooling, we deliver above-average C.A.R.E (That's Comfort, Accountability, Reliability and Excellence!) to our customers and to our community. Air Calm ClimateCare understands the needs of all of our customers. Call us today for a NO OBLIGATION home analysis of your heating and cooling requirements. A member of ClimateCare, Ontario's largest heating & cooling cooperative e-mail: aircalm@climatecare.com 905- 844 -7354 The Heating and Cooling Professionals who C.A.R.E. Comfort. Accountability. Reliability. Excellence. FURNACES BOILERS SERVICE INFLOOR HEATING FIREPLACES AIR CONDITIONERS INDOOR AIR QUALITY