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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 · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 35 Blades well-armed for defense of West title Plenty of notable returnees on junior A hockey club By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR D on Edwards won't come right out and say it, but it's hard to envision the Oakville Blades as anything but a Provincial Junior A Hockey League power this sea- son. The Blades will open their season tonight (7:30 p.m. versus the Hamilton Red Wings at Dominion Twin Rinks) featuring nearly half the players from last year's West Conference championship-winning squad, most of them forwards. Meanwhile, significant departures like sniper Matt Beca and steady defenceman Dan Ringwald have seemingly been replaced by the additions of several notables. "No predictions... I would never make any predictions like that," Edwards, the Blades' head coach and general manager, said when asked what would constitute a successful 2006-07 season. "We set the bar for ourselves, but that bar is set privately in-house. Any time you're the defending champion, everyone is out to beat you. We set the bar for ourselves last year and we're hoping to set it higher." If there is one question mark about the club, it might be in goal. Marc Stuart, 10-2 during Oakville's surprisingly lengthy playoff run last spring, was dealt to the Pickering Panthers during the offseason, while David Scamurra is currently at Kingston Frontenacs' training camp. Young goaltenders LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER TOP GUNS: Trevor Elliott, Cody Goloubef, Daniel Borges and Bryan Peters (pictured left to right) will likely play major roles in any success the Oakville Blades enjoy this season. veteran Joey Pell, who played in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last year with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, and youngsters Cody Hamilton, Trevor Eckenswiller, Jordan Ogilvie, Chris Haltigin and Brent Trull. "We pretty much rebuilt a very valuable and needed part of our club," Edwards said. "I think our (defense) is better than last year." 40th anniversary season In their 40th anniversary season, the Blades have introduced a unique season ticket package which allows fans more flexibility. For example, purchasers of a 15-game package can use all 15 tickets for one game or attend 15 different games throughout the season. For more information, contact the Blades at tedwards@oakvilleblades.com or call 905-337-3361, ext. 236. "We've upped the price a bit at the door but, at the same time, we offer a very exciting package and I think we put a good product on the ice," Edwards said. After tonight's opener, the Blades will travel to Hamilton Monday for the second game of their home-and-home series with the Red Wings. Oakville swept Hamilton 4-0 in last year's West Conference championship series. NOTES: Several members of last year's Blades team have moved on to notable levels. Beca, who led the West Conference in scoring, is now a teammate of former Blades captain Nick Dodge at Clarkson University, Brendan Taylor has signed on with the Peterborough Petes, Luke Moodie is playing at Niagara College and Kyle Frieday is with Robert Should Scamurra, who split time evenly with Stuart last the Oshawa Generals, Monardo had 23 points last year for the season, crack the lineup of the OHL club, the Blades would be Collingwood Blues and Corbeil is a local resident that recentleft with a young goaltending tandem of Toronto Marlboros ly helped the Oakville Buzz win a national junior B lacrosse products Matt Hoyle and Daniel Pleckaitis. But Edwards, a championship. While last year's forward unit remained mostly intact, the former netminder himself who won the Vezina Trophy while Blades' blueline corps looks completely different this year. with the Buffalo Sabres, isn't concerned. "I've been happy with what I've seen so far," said Edwards, The only mainstays from last season are Paul Conter, who recorded 26 points in 30 games for Oakville after entering his first full season behind the Blades "We set the bar being acquired from the Georgetown Raiders, bench after guiding the team to a 26-17-3-3 finand Mike Topic, who split time last year between ish last year. "Not knowing the status of David... for ourselves last the Blades and Oakville midget AAA Rangers. we're working hard with them and there may be year and we're Gone, meanwhile, are Vitaly Lanochkin, Lane some adjustments, but I'm confident with their hoping to set it Moodie and Chris Cunningham (age graduaabilities." higher." tion), Scott Judson (Guelph Storm) and Up front, Edwards expects Oakville to feature a Ringwald (Rochester Institute of Technology). balanced four-line attack. Returning players Joey Oakville Blades The Blades took a major step towards filling Piccone, Daniel Calitri and Trevor Elliott all aver- coach Don Edwards those voids with the acquisition of the highlyaged approximately a point per game last year, while Brandon DeFazio had 13 points in 11 games after being touted Cody Goloubef. The 16-year-old Oakville native, acquired from the Milton IceHawks. Daniel Borges and Bryan already with a full scholarship for the University of Wisconsin Peters also provide some scoring punch, with Julian in 2007, was the OPJHL's top rookie last season with Milton, Cimadamore and Marc Hagel likely to improve on their solid notching 38 points in 42 games. Goloubef will play the first few games of the year before rookie campaigns. The Blades have added hulking forward Chase Langeraap, having surgery to repair a torn labrum, but hopes to be back acquired as a player to be named later in the DeFazio deal. for the second half of the season. "They say it can't get any worse, so I want to get in the lineThe 6-foot-2, 218-pound winger had 27 goals and 25 assists up until I get surgery," said the Oakville Trafalgar High School with the IceHawks in 2005-2006. Other new forwards include Nick McParland, Lindsay student. "I could be out four to eight weeks; they won't really Sparks, Dominic Monardo and Chris Corbeil. McParland was know until they actually go in there and do arthroscopic suran all-star winger with the Mid-Western Junior Hockey gery." Oakville has supplemented that addition with 20-year-old League's Stratford Cullitons last year, Sparks is a draft pick of See Borges page 36 CANLAN ICE SPORTS ­ OAKVILLE Adult and Youth Classes Fall Session begins September 24th! REGISTER TODAY FALL/WINTER PROGRAMS 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com