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32 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 3, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com In defence of the goaltender Local canoe club second By Clayton Ward-Theriault Grade 9, T. A. Blakelock Imagine facing a 100-mile-an-hour slap shot coming right for you! What do you do? Do you jump out of the way? Do you save it? Well, an NHL goalie faces one every game. Just imagine how they feel. Martin Brodeur, Marty Turco, Andrew Raycroft, Mikka Kiprusoff, Roberto Luongo, and Manny Legace are some of my favourite NHL goalies. They are also some of the best in the NHL today. The goaltender carries the burden of the whole team, whether its facing a breakaway, killing a powerplay, or even a shootout. This is important because since the lockout there are more penalties, more breakaways and the new shootout. This is hard on goalies and the other players. Being a goaltender in the NHL today is a hard job because of the media demands, having to be the best skater on your team, and coping with the trapezoid behind the net. The modern NHL goalie has to be the best skater on the team because the equipment these days is just so awkward and heavy. To me, it is very hard to imagine how the goalie can even stand up with all of that weight on him. And then there is the trapezoid behind the net. The trapezoid is a newly-implemented rule in the "New NHL" which restricts goalies. They must wait until the puck reaches this restricted area before acting or else they will get a two-minute penalty for delay of game. Under the old NHL rules, the goalie could go whereever he wanted to behind the net. I agree with the new rule because it makes the game way faster and more exciting because the dump-andchase strategy is used more often than before. Equipment is very important to the goalie because without it, he just doesn't stand a chance! A goaltender's specialized equipment ranges from his mask all the way down to his skates. The mask can range anywhere from plain primary colours to the coolest design you can think of that can go on a plain mask. The goalie usually has a plain mask to start off on his new team and then designs it, often to the colours of his team. The mask is very important for protecting the goalie's face from flying pucks. The pads these days are made out of kevlar. Kevlar is the same material used in bullet-proof vests used by the police. Outer pads consist of the glove, the blocker, the leg pads and sometimes a fibreglass neck guard attatched to the mask. The inner pads consist of the shoulder pads, pants, chest protector, jock strap, and another neckguard which is padded. The skates for a goalie are different from a player's skates because they need to be tied to the pads near the ankle. The combination of the extra equipment and the skating skilled required to make it all work illustrate the special role of the NHL goalie and how important he is to his fellow teammates. So, remember, next time you see a goalie facing a huge slap shot, ask yourself: "What would I do?" in outrigger race standings Wai Nui O Kanaka Outrigger Canoe Club was recently presented with an award by the East Coast Outrigger Racing Association (ECORA) after finishing second in the ECORA's 2006 OC6 (six-person outrigger canoe) racing season. Wai Nui, formed two years ago with compounds in Oakville and Mississauga, has quickly shot up the standings thanks to increased membership, more locally-recognized race opportunities and better attendance at Point Series races that take place throughout the eastern seaboard from Florida to Toronto. Funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has played a part in allowing both membership and race opportunities to grow. The club's own race, titled `Why Nui Why Not', has been recognized by ECORA and will be added to this year's Point Series schedule. The Toronto Harbour International Outrigger Race received similar recognition last year. Wai Nui also recently announced that the club will host its first canoe camp this summer, designed to provide an introduction to the fundamentals of outrigger canoeing as well as an opportunity for daily practice. Sheila Kuyper, a long-time physical education teacher at Appleby College who won a record-total eight gold medals at both the 1997 and 1998 national canoeing championships, will be the club's head coach. Instruction and skills will be taught in a combination of paddling on Sixteen Mile Creek and Lake Ontario, and will include boat care, history and culture of outrigger paddling, basic stroke fundamentals, self-rescue techniques, individual instruction in single outrigger canoes, and six-person crew boats. The camp will be held July 1620 at the club's Oakville compound, located downtown off Water Street. Anyone interested in obtaining more information about the Wai Nui O Kanaka Outrigger Canoe Club can attend the upcoming Oakville Harbours Symposium (March 7 at Oakville Town Hall), where club member and former Olympian Larry Cain will be speaking and the club will have a display table. Alternatively, for more information on the club or the camp, visit the club's web site at www.wainuioutrigger.net. Specialty Products Call for a professional consultative approach to your printing needs. 905. 845. 4549 WHO DOES IT... HOME IMPROVEMENTS WINDOWS WHO DOES IT... PROFESSIONAL & SPECIALTY SERVICES COMPUTER SERVICES YOUR AD COULD BE HERE TOO! Eliminate Window Condensation Don't Replace. Regain! Fog TAXES & PAYROLL free Window Restoration Get the fog out plus a 20 yr warranty. 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