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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 · WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2007 19 Improving minor bantams reach Richard Bell final By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER THREE'S A CROWD: The Oakville goalcrease got a little congested during Saturday's all-Rangers matchup in the minor bantam AAA final of the Richard Bell Memorial International Minor Hockey Tournament. Oakville defenceman Parker McKibbon (left) pushes North York's Tony Belony into the net while Oakville goaltender Daniel French and North York forward Curtis Anderson follow the puck. A lack of finish derailed the Oakville minor bantam AAA Rangers' strong start at the Richard Bell Memorial International Minor Hockey Tournament. The Rangers opened the scoring in Saturday's final but the North York Rangers scored three unanswered goals to take the championship with a 3-1 victory. Oakville had won all four of its games at the annual Christmas tournament prior to the final. "It's the second time we've lost in the final (of a tournament)," said Oakville minor bantam AAA coach Mario MacDonald. "We're real close to being a top-notch team." Oakville's tournament showing is a stark contrast to its season. The team opened the season with four consecutive losses but has since battled back to close to the .500 mark and currently sits at 9-11-3. "I think mostly it's their understanding of the game," MacDonald said of the team's improvement. "You can explain things to them and they are able to visualize them and then when it works they go `wow, it works'. It's a credit to them. They're very attentive." Oakville went into the final shorthanded, missing both Billy Bryer and Justin Mattiussi. However, the hometown Rangers struck first in the championship game. Ryan Adams, standing in front of the North York net, made a nice redirection of Bryan Heggum's point shot. Oakville looked as though it might add to the lead in the second. Michael Ulozas appeared to have a breakaway as he chased down a loose puck but North York goalie Lee Mariani See Rangers page 20 2007 OUTDOOR SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER! ADVANCE REGISTRATION STILL AVAILABLE UNTIL JAN. 31 FOR RETURNING MEMBERS & SIBLINGS. ETURNING MEMBERS MAY REGISTER ONLINE AND SIBLINGS (NEW MEMBERS REGISTER IN PERSON AT OSC CLUBHOUSE. INTERESTED IN SPONSORSHIP FOR THE 2007 OUTDOOR SEASON CONTACT JOY NEEFS - jneefs@oakville-soccer.on.ca REGISTER EARLY LEGENDARY COACH ANSON DORRANCE COACHING CLINIC FEBRUARY 17, 2007. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR FULL DETAILS 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677