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22 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2007 Mason OHL's top netminder Each year since he strapped on the goalie pads, Steve Mason has taken a giant leap forward in his hockey career. This season marked the first year since house league -- just six years ago -- that he played a second year at the same level. But Mason still managed to progress, going from a backup goalie that saw action in just 12 games last year to being named the Ontario Hockey League's top netminder on Thursday. "The mental part of playing 62 games is definitely the biggest adjustment," said Mason, who posted a 3.20 goalsagainst average and a .914 save percentage "It's a tough grind to keep focused and be ready for every game." But that's exactly what he did, setting an OHL record with 45 wins. Knights goaltending coach Dave Rook said Mason learned to prepare for the role by watching and learning from last year's starter Adam Dennis. But even Rook was surprised by how quickly Mason adapted. "We knew he had that potential but that's a lot to ask to make that jump in a year," he said. It didn't take long for people to notice. Mason was invited to the Canadian world junior tryouts but his chances of making the team were hurt when he suffered a concussion a day before the camp opened. He wasn't cleared to play until the final day. That leaves him with a goal for next year. "You look at the success Canada has had and all the great players who have gone through that program, it would definitely be special to be in that same category," said Mason, a third-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Rook said Mason's biggest strength is his belief in his own ability, adding that it's tough to find a technical hole in his game. -- Herb Garbutt COREY WILKINSON / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER TWO FOR NEW: New Central Public School students and coaches display the basketball pennants they earned as boys' and girls' tier 2 East champions. Pair of basketball titles for New Central By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Score two for the little guy. New Central Public School, the smallest school in the Halton District School Board, boasts two championship basketball teams after winning both the boys' and girls' tier 2 East title contests Wednesday at T.A. Blakelock High School. The Cougars boys' squad received doubledigit scoring efforts from three players as it defeated Joshua Creek 44-32, while New Central's Brittney Phannenhour netted 20 points in the girls' 26-14 win over Abbey Lane. The basketball titles were the first for New Central in more than 10 years, according to Halton District School Board athletic conveners. The Cougars won girls' tier 1 East pennants in 1998 and 1999 as well as a tier 2 crown in 1990, while the boys earned a tier 1 East champi- onship in 1991 and a tier 2 title in 1995. "It means the world," said New Central boys' coach Greg Kay. "They hadn't won for over a decade, in either girls' or boys', so it really helps bring the community "Almost every together and improves the school girl in the whole school came out climate." With a school pop- (to pre-season ulation of 86 students, tryouts)." Kay had only 14 players to choose from in New Central tryouts and settled on coach Stacey Lewis a 13-player roster. The girls had a much larger turnout with approximately 40 students vying for spots on the 15player squad. "Almost every girl in the whole school came out," recalled girls' coach Stacey Lewis. "The hardest day is posting the team; I'd take all the girls if I could. We had girls trying out with almost zero basketball skills, but that was the biggest joy -- taking girls with very limited skills and seeing their determination to excel." Shane Wyslobicki led the Cougars boys' team against Joshua Creek, scoring a game-high 19 points. Josh Sholtz added 11 and Mitchell Shannon poured in 10 for New Central. Also on the team are Daniel Stephenson, Cortez Reniari, Adam Kelly, Ryan McAnuff, Connor Cook, Jack Ye, Nicholas Contini, Taba De Vries, Parker Lewis and Colin Davis. Mike Malo countered for Joshua Creek with 14 points and Andrew Lee added five in a losing cause. The girls' final was tied 16-16 at halftime before Phannenhour, encouraged by Lewis to shoot more, took over. "It was a pretty good game for me personally," said the 14-year-old Phannenhour, who plays rep for Oakville Venom. "My parents usually tell See Tier 1 page 23 O P SO EN O IN NG ! Voted Burlington's #1 Course (everyday after 2:00pm) Featuring On-Line Booking Reader's Choice Winner