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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 21, 2007 - 53 Blades set for Red Wings By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Let the real playoffs begin. Though the Oakville Blades technically began the Provincial Junior A Hockey League postseason four games ago, sweeping aside the over-matched Mississauga Chargers, their first real challenge awaits in the upcoming second round. Oakville will face the Hamilton Red Wings, a team coming off a first-round sweep of its own, in the West Conference semifinal series that begins Friday at Dominion Twin Rinks (7:30 p.m. start). The Blades edged out Hamilton for second spot in regularseason play and went 4-1-1 against the Red Wings this year, including victories in the last four meetings. "Every round from here on will get tougher. They're a good team," said Oakville head coach and general manager Don Edwards. "We've always had good games and tough games against them over the two years I've been involved (with the Blades)." Rematch of '06 West final That includes last year's playoff meeting between the two clubs, in which Oakville -- fresh off a sevengame upset of the powerhouse Milton IceHawks -- eliminated the Red Wings in four straight games to win the West Conference title. Edwards doesn't think last year's postseason result will have much bearing on this series, however, pointing out the large turnover on the rosters of both clubs. "We've retooled a lot... 17 new players on the roster this year. Hamilton has nine or 10 new players. They're different clubs entirely," he said. "There are certain players that will remember the playoff series from last year, but it's a whole different nature of games, really. It's different parties involved." Edwards said the Blades will have to focus on shutting down Hamilton snipers Wes Consorti (31 goals, 32 assists in 49 regular-season games) and Mike Galbraith (an Oakville native who has six goals and six assists in four playoff games thus far), as well as getting traffic in front of Red Wings netminder Cameron Talbot. Whether past history might spice up the series or not, there is potential for bad blood. In the last game between the clubs, Feb. 2 at Dominion Twin Rinks, eight fighting majors were handed out in the final three minutes and Talbot was subsequently suspended for leaving his crease to join in an altercation. "That game was more frustration (from both teams) than anything else," Edwards said. Game 2 of the series will be played Monday in Hamilton, with Game 3 the following night in Oakville. NOTES: Daniel Borges had a pair of goals and added an assist Friday as the Blades finished off Mississauga with a 7-0 win at Dominion Twin Rinks. Tomas Sample, Bryan Peters, Vince Scott, Trevor Elliott and Trevor Eckenswiller also tallied in the win, with Matt Hoyle stopping 22 shots for the shutout... Edwards said the Blades have contributed more than $10,000 to numerous charities this year. Recipients include the "Skate in the Park at Dark" annual event that benefits Sunshine Dreams for Kids, the Mississauga Cruisers sled hockey team, the Oakville Salvation Army, the Alex Corrance Memorial Fund, and women's inline hockey. SKY HIGH: The Sky Blue midgets, a team in the Oakville Hornets Girls Hockey Association, went undefeated at four games in a recent tournament in Pennsylvania, winning its division championship. Tourney win for Sky Blue Hornets The Oakville Hornets Sky Blue midget girls' hockey team went undefeated at the 13th annual Sarah Backstrom Memorial Tournament in Pennsylvania earlier this month, winning the under-19 `C' championship. The victory in Erie was of extra sentimental value to several members of the team who are in their final season of girls' hockey, set to attend university or college next year. Players on the team are Katie Cavasin, Emilie Clarke, Colleen Doherty, Kassandra Dube, Christy Fergus, Jamie Fergus, Laura Hunter, Sarah Longo, Allie McInnes, Danielle Megannety, Ashley Runciman, Rachel Sousa, Katherine Wallace, Christina Wilson and Laura Wilson. Les Wallace coaches the squad. www.oakvillebeaver.com DO YOU LOVE THE GAME OF SOCCER? DO YOU ENJOY BEING A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY? THEN WHY NOT BECOME A CONVENOR OR COACH WITH THE OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB! Forms available online or CONTACT: CONNIE @ cruetter@oakville-soccer.on.ca for additional information BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER WITH THE OSC BY BECOMING A SPONSOR CONTACT JOY @ jneefs@oakville-soccer.on.ca for more information SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABL Oakville Soccer Club www.oakville-soccer.on.ca 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, On L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsored by