Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2008 31 The new field's a hit MOHA loses long-time leader Mike Zardo resigns after 20 years as president By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF HOME OPENER: Rizwan Aslam takes a swing Saturday at Glenashton Park, the Oakville Cricket Club's first game on its new field. Oakville rallied to defeat St. Catharines 250246. See page 32 for details. MICHAEL IVANIN / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER After 20 years as the president of Minor Oaks Hockey Association, Mike Zardo has resigned. Zardo could not be reached for comment but, in a letter e-mailed to the MOHA board last week, the long-time president of the association said, "I take great personal pride in what my team and I have accomplished in growing and developing this association over the years and I am "I am extremely extremely disappointed disappointed with the current situation." Ironically, Zardo's resig- with the current nation came just days situation." before he received the 2008 Ontario Minor Hockey Mike Zardo, in Association Honour Award, a letter resigning the organization's highest as president of the honour, which is presented Minor Oaks annually to "a person who Hockey has made an outstanding Association voluntary contribution to minor hockey for a considerable period of time." Zardo was first elected president in 1986 and has held the post for all but three years since. In that time, the organization has grown from 1,500 players to 4,160. MOHA treasurer Jeanette Mittler has also resigned her post. Wayne Moorehead, who had served as vice-president of house league for eight years, was defeated in the organization's May 22 election. He was elected to the board of directors but resigned four days later. Keith Murray, last year's vice-president of town rep, withdrew his candidacy just prior to MOHA's election. MOHA vice-president of house league Tina Field said she was not prepared to comment when contacted yesterday (Tuesday), but said she would discuss the situation this week. Moorehead said Zardo's resignation did not come as a surprise to him. "I figured he would," Moorehead said. "He's spoken to me in confidence as to why." Moorehead said a division formed in MOHA over a couple of issues, one involving referees, but chose not to elaborate. He did say an unusually large number of referees turned out to vote in the organization's election. In concluding his letter, Zardo said, "People will argue that change is a good thing and I would agree, provided it is a good change. What has and is happening to MOHA is not good change and I am not prepared to be a part of it." MOHA is coming off of one of its most successful rep seasons. The novice A, atom AE, atom AA, peewee AAA and minor atom AA Rangers won OMHA championships, while the atom A, peewee AA and bantam AE Rangers were OMHA finalists. The novice AAA, atom AAA and midget AAA squads won OMHA bronze medals, and the atom AA, peewee AAA and atom AAA teams were OHF finalists. MOHA also boasted four Tri-County champions. Oakville Soccer Club SUMMER CAMP ONLINE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW!! YOUR WEEK INCLUDES: · QUALITY COERVER SOCCER INSTRUCTION · CAMP T-SHIRT · SOCCER BALL · SKILL TESTING PRIZES THROUGHOUT WEEK · TWO OUT OF PARK ADVENTURES (Full Day Campers) · PIZZA LUNCH ON FRIDAY (Full Day Campers) · BUS TRANSPORTATION NOW AVAILABLE! CHECK WWW.OAKVILLESOCCER.CA FOR COMPLETE DETAILS & REGISTRATION A DON'T MISS ALL THE SOCCER ACTION AT BMO FIELD IN THE MONTH OF JULY!! · OSC DAY JULY 19TH Y · CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE JULY 1ST & JULY 22ND · INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY(S) JULY 5TH & JULY 15TH · OLYMPIC BOUND TEAM CANADA vs. BRAZIL JULY 10TH Visit www.oakvillesoccer.ca for Ticket Purchase a or Contact Matt @ mmaclaren@oakvillesoccer.ca for Group Inquiries a www.oakvillesoccer.ca The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsor: