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32 Sports Oakville Beaver TRANSMISSION WADE SEYMOUR HALTON SPECIALIST 559 SPEERS ROAD, UNIT 3 905-842-0725 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, AUGUST 25, 2006 Sniper's absence doesn't slow Buzz in Founder's opener By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR RON KUZYK / OAKVILLE BEAVER GO WEST, YOUNG MAN: Sixteen-year-old goaltender Dylan Ellis, a member of the Oakville minor midget AA Rangers last year, will participate in the prestigious Pursuit of Excellence hockey program this season in British Columbia. Local teen heading west for hockey school By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Dylan Ellis is pursuing excellence in hockey all the way to the west coast. The 16-year-old will leave next month for Kelowna, British Columbia, where he'll participate in the prestigious Pursuit of Excellence hockey program. Ellis, who played goal last season with the Oakville minor midget AA Rangers, hopes to improve his game under the tutelage of former NHL skating coach David Roy and several other instructors. "I like how there's a lot of ice time and it's really based on working on your skills, not just playing the games," Ellis said. "It develops your abilities and I think that's really going to help me." The one-year program focuses on both academic and hockey development, with students from across North America and Europe splitting their days between the classroom and the rink. Participants spend three hours a day on the ice and another three at school, also participating in dryland training. As much as Ellis wants to improve his goaltending skills, he also hopes to attain good grades as he shoots for a university scholarship in the future. Spending so much time at the rink over the next 10 months won't make it easy. "I'll have to take on a lot of personal responsibility," said the White Oaks Secondary School student, who will live with a family of four. "The people I'm staying with sound great. I think I'll be able to adjust pretty quick." The criteria for being accepted into the program, according to Ellis, included a recommendation from his hockey coach, recommendation from a teacher, average grades and having played AAlevel hockey or higher last season. Playing its first game of the Founder's Cup national junior B lacrosse championships without its top scorer didn't faze the Oakville Buzz. Reed Board and Josh Smyth each recorded hat tricks as Oakville overcame the loss of Brenden Thenhaus to rout the Sherbrooke Jr. Extreme 16-2 Wednesday in Windsor. The Buzz continued its round-robin schedule last night against the Saskatoon Smash, a game that began after the Beaver's press deadline. Thenhaus, the Ontario Lacrosse Association's leading scorer during regular-season action, played two shifts Wednesday before leaving the game with what Buzz head coach Glen Little referred to as a "nagging upper-body injury". "They just However, Little said the sniper wanted to hurt could have played had Wednesday's us. Things got a contest been a must-win situation, little silly." and expects Thenhaus back in the lineup as early as tonight when Oakville Buzz Oakville faces the Calgary coach Glen Little Shamrocks. Jordan MacIntosh, Brian Rea and Chris Moulson each potted a pair of goals for the Buzz against Sherbrooke, with Drew Petkoff and Sean Thomson netting singles. Board had three assists for a six-point night, while Gary Muzzin and Spencer Robson shared the victory in goal. The chippy affair featured 109 penalty minutes, 60 going to the Buzz. Kyle Hagel, Matt Bertrand and Justin Wilson-Kirby were all involved in fights as the Buzz responded to what Little felt were cheap shots by the Extreme. "They just wanted to hurt us," said the coach. "Things got a little silly." Tonight's game between Oakville and Calgary will conclude the Buzz's round-robin schedule. Quarter-final games between second- and third-place finishers in each pool will be played tomorrow morning, with winners advancing to face pool winners tomorrow evening. Championship and consolation final games are slated for Sunday. For up-to-date schedules and results, visit the host team AKO Windsor Fratmen's website at www.akolacrosse.com. Winona Peach Festival 40 th Celebration August 25-27 Winona Park, Winona Friday 5 pm - 11 pm Saturday 10 am - 11 pm Sunday 10 am - 6 pm Celebrate The Largest Southern Ontario Family Festival Including Performances by: Honeymoon Suite, U2 Elevation, Johnny Cash Tribute Savour foods from around the world Crafts Midway Chance to win an exotic cruise www.winonapeach.com 1-866-90-PEACH