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24 Sports Oakville Beaver DENTURES COMPLETE DENTURE $ 349 ea. 905-842-8209 LIMITED TIME OFFER SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008 Blades shake off rust, win playoff opener By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR A couple weeks off did not slow down the Oakville Blades. The Blades opened their Provincial Junior A Hockey League second-round playoff series against the Milton IceHawks Sunday with a 4-1 win at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The game was Oakville's first since its regular-season finale Feb. 12, as the Blades enjoyed a bye in the first round after winning the West Conference with a 39-6-4 record. Nick McParland scored the gamewinning goal, breaking a 1-1 tie eight seconds into the third period. Geoff Guimond and Julian Cimadamore -- the latter into an empty net -- added markers for Oakville in the final frame. The two teams were scheduled to play Game 2 last night, a contest that began after the Beaver's press deadline. Goaltenders excel in Game 1 For much of Sunday's contest, it appeared the story would be Milton goaltender Dillon Branco, who stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced in the first two periods. However, his counterpart Scott Greenham was just as steady in the Oakville goal, and perhaps more so once the Blades gained their thirdperiod lead. The 20-year-old Greenham said he was nervous Sunday afternoon, uncertain how the layoff might affect him and his teammates. "I was actually pretty worried. I didn't know what to expect," said Greenham, whose 30-save effort included difficult stops on David Vallorani, Stephon Thorne and Justin Basso in the final period. "I was nervous until I got to the rink. Then I started warming up and as soon as I got back on the ice, I felt back to normal." Normal for Greenham means very good. He boasted a record of 27-3-3 this year with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage, earning him a scholarship from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. "They tell you how nice it is in the summer, that you can go golfing at 11 p.m.," Greenham laughed about the recruiting process. "They don't really tell you about the winter." Greenham had little chance on Milton's lone goal of the evening, as Kevin Rebelo banged in a rebound from close range to tie the game 1-1 late in the first period. Kellan Lain had given the Blades a 1-0 lead earlier in the frame. Oakville head coach Carlo Coccimiglio said he was a little worried after two periods, as the IceHawks -- brimming with confidence after an DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER BLADES DRAW FIRST BLOOD: Oakville Blades forward Julian Cimadamore (74) tries to break past Milton's David Vallorani during the opening game of the teams' Provincial Junior A Hockey League playoff series Sunday at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Oakville scored three third-period goals to win Game 1, 4-1. See McParland page 25 www.oakvillesoccer.ca 2008 REP TRYOUT SCHEDULE WHO: BOYS U11 ­ U18 WHEN: SAT., MARCH 1, 2008, 8:30AM ­ 7:00PM WHERE: RIVER OAKS TURF FIELD (2400 SIXTH LINE ­ BEHIND RECREATION CENTRE) WHO: GIRLS U11 ­ U18 WHEN: SUN., MARCH 2, 2008, 8:30AM-7:00PM WHERE: RIVER OAKS TURF FIELD (2400 SIXTH LINE ­ BEHIND RECREATION CENTRE) VISIT www.oakvillesoccer.ca FOR COMPLETE SCHEDULE 2008 SUMMER CAMP SERIES ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE VISIT WWW.OAKVILLESOCCER.CA FOR FULL INFORMATION 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Thanks to our Proud Sponsor: