www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 7, 2007 - 33 Depleted Blades march on Injury-ravaged club wins two of three on weekend By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Forget about division rivals like the Hamilton Red Wings or Georgetown Raiders. These days, the Oakville Blades' stiffest challenge is staying healthy. Despite playing with an injury-depleted lineup, the Blades managed to earn four of a possible six points in Provincial Junior A Hockey League action last weekend. Oakville dropped a 7-4 decision to Hamilton Friday in a showdown of the top two teams in the West Conference, then bounced back to post victories over the Buffalo Jr. Sabres (7-5 on Saturday) and Milton IceHawks (6-3 on Sunday). The Blades were without the services of such regulars as goaltender Scott Greenham, defenceman Jeff Grenier, Luke Turcotte and Chris Haltigin, and forwards Lindsay Sparks, Kellan Lain, Luc Boissinneault and Sean Teakle. Oakville head coach Carlo Coccimiglio, who was forced to shuffle his lines around and even utilized forward Chris Corbeil as a defenceman, was pleased with the weekend effort. "I was really happy with how the team came together, with players out of the lineup, and got four points," said Coccimiglio, whose team improved to 124-2 on the season. "It was a bad time (to play three games in three nights) when you lose that many bodies and impact players." To fill in for Greenham, who was injured during practice last week, the Blades acquired local resident Oliver Wren from the Burlington Cougars. Wren, who lost the Cougars' starting goaltending job to Andrew Hare this year after a couple of strong seasons in Burlington, played in all three games for Oakville last weekend. The Blades also picked up forwards Geoff Guimond and Chase Crowder last week. Guimond is a talented offensive player with OHL experience, Coccimiglio said, while Crowder -- the son of former NHLer Keith Crowder -- provides a physical element and should add to Oakville's scoring depth. The Blades were led offensively last weekend by Nick McParland (nine points in three games) and Luke Moodie (eight). McParland scored twice in the loss to Hamilton, then notched two goals and two assists against Buffalo before recording three helpers versus Milton. Moodie had one assist against Hamilton, two goals and two assists against Buffalo, and a goal and two helpers in the win over the IceHawks. "They are just on fire right now," Coccimiglio said. "The way they played this past weekend was the best hockey I've seen either player play in the two years I've known them." Connor McMonagle and Corbeil were the Blades' other goal-scorers Friday. Guimond scored twice and Addison Fisher added a single Saturday for Oakville, which blew a 5-2 third-period lead before scoring goals 1:32 apart in the final eight minutes. Jeremy Welsh, Trevor Eckenswiller, Jeremy Welsh and Julian Cimadamore chipped in with goals against Milton. The Blades will be busy again this weekend, scheduled to play three games in a four-day stretch. Oakville will host the Mississauga Chargers Friday (a 7:30 p.m. start at Joshua's Creek Arenas), then visit Mississauga Saturday before traveling to Buffalo Monday. Coccimiglio said Teakle, Boissinneault and Sparks might be back in the lineup this weekend, but expects to have to use Corbeil on the blue line once again. 461 Trafalgar Rd. (corner of Trafalgar and Cornw Buy One Item, BOGO Get One Item at SALE 1/2 Price *See Store for Details. November 8-22, 2007 Oakville's largest and best you baseball house league programs OAKVILLE'S EXCLUSIVE BOUTIQUE FOR HIGH QUALITY AND VARIETY DANCE: Featuring Ainsliewear, Sansha, Capezio GYMNASTICS: Suits seen in the movie "Stick It" SKATING: Dresses worn by National Team. CROCS: (Everyone's favourite place to buy CRO (Everyone's E yone's CROCS) CROCS Adult & kid's MJ, Athens, Beach, Georgies, Jibbitz lt Ji SWIM: American competitive, edgy swimsuits ican JEWELLERY: Glam, NYC, Artizan YOGINI & KIDORABLES KIDORABLES E NEW BIG-IT-UP-HATS, Brad Pitt "Slouch" BIG-IT-UP-HATS, S Crocs Mammoths this season's "Gotta-Have" & Snomin Snominis Ad-Lib's #1 pick as the Comfiest Shoe on the Planet! Proud supporters of St. Mildred's, OSD, Appleby College, Sheridan College, Fernhill, CDC, Premiere. COMING SOON: www.adlibwear.ca 905-84-ADLIB