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28 Sports Oakville Beaver MINOR'S · MEN'S · WOMEN'S BALL HOCKEY REGISTRATION www.hmbhl.com 905-637-8118 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 Cowboys determined to change perception T hey have yet to line up for one snap in their new colours and under their new name, but the Halton Cowboys' first comeback attempt is already well underway. The minor football club formerly known as the Halton Invictas is battling an opponent much more intimidating than a 250-pound linebacker or hard-hitting safety. After all, as Cowboys president Alex Voihanski is well aware, all the x's and o's in the world can't combat public perception. And the perception of the Invictas wasn't good last year, largely due to a nightmarish former affiliation with alleged fraud artist Walter Garrick. Garrick, best known for being charged with defrauding several members of the Toronto Argonauts two years ago, purchased the Invictas from original founder Jack Crawford and allegedly used his minor football connections to attract potential victims. Now, a new chairman and a new executive hope a new name will provide a bit of a new start, all the while hoping to preserve the Invictas tradition. "We felt we needed something a little different," Voihanski said. "The name (Invictas) is old fashioned, people don't know what it means, we thought it was time. As a branding issue and marketing issue, we NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER thought it'd be a good move." Of course, there's some irony in attempting to wipe the RINGING ENDORSEMENT: Halton Invictas alumnus Phil Gibson (right) shows off his 2002 Grey Cup ring to aspiring Halton slate clean by naming your team after the National Football Cowboys player Christopher Jean during the Cowboys' recent registration and information night at King's Christian Collegiate. League's Dallas Cowboys, who have had plenty of players in "One thing we worked really hard to do was to develop as "People were worrying, and one of the reasons we weren't the news for the wrong reasons over the past decade or two. winning was because top-end coaches and players were going "They haven't always been successful and they've had their many positive relationships with the Oakville community as possible," said Voihanski. "We very much believe the Oakville to the United States, to prep schools, because they would get fair share of scandals as well," Voihanski conceded with a Soccer Club to be an elite organization with huge numbers. paid," said Voihanski. "He wanted to make sure they stayed and laugh. "But they're kind of like the Leafs. Love them or hate We're not necessarily modeling ourselves after them, but we decided to revolutionize the way things were done. When he them, they're the team that's talked about the most. When believe they run their ship properly. started being successful, other clubs decided they couldn't comyou think football, generally first and foremost you think "We also wanted to have a home base and family atmospete, and it got to the point he got so big with so many clubs. Dallas Cowboys. We want a real football culture." phere for our players and teams and families, and we were "(Hyman) did nothing wrong. He was railroaded for The former association with Garrick isn't the only part of very fortunate to do that as well. Our home is in Oakville, our thinking outside the box and being progressive. He would their image the Cowboys are trying to clear up. field is in Oakville, our base is in Oakville, like nothing more than to make football a major sport within They are also trying to establish an identiour office is in Oakville. I don't know how this province. There should be no fear (of him) at all. The ty and connection within the Oakville com"One thing we worked much more Oakville we can actually be." league should feel very lucky to have an individual with the munity, something that had been missing in really hard to do was to The final major perception the Cowboys resources and the passion to make this thing huge." the past when they were primarily known for develop as many are combating is the reputation of their chairVoihanski estimated Hyman has invested "probably close servicing Burlington residents. positive relationships man, Stuart Hyman. Hyman once owned to six figures" into the Cowboys. The Cowboys have reached a long-term dozens of minor hockey teams in the Greater The Cowboys' attempts to clean up their image appear to deal with King's Christian Collegiate to make with the Oakville Toronto Hockey League (he sold them last be paying off. Voihanski said membership has already the high school facility their home field. As community as possible." year) and was seen as someone trying to make increased by 60 per cent this season, noting that more than part of the agreement, the Cowboys will Halton Cowboys financial gains through a monopoly owner100 people attended a recent registration and information make improvements to the school's football ship of not-for-profit organizations. night. The Cowboys offer a wide range of programs, from flag field, including fixing the goal posts, bringpresident Alex Voihanski The GTHL investigated allegations that football for beginners to varsity squads for elite players, and ing in bleachers, installing an electronic Hyman funneled thousands of dollars from three of his clubs hope to have 500 players in their system this season. scoreboard and putting a fence up around the field. They to an elite club where two of his children were playing, and Abbey Park High School football coach Bob Hepburn will hope to play all their games there in 2010. Hockey Canada reportedly threatened to audit his books oversee the Cowboys peewee team that will compete in the In addition, the Cowboys have developed a relationship before Hyman sold his GTHL clubs. Ontario Varsity Football League, while Invictas product and with the Oakville Soccer Club and have secured offseason Voihanski said Hyman's incentive for purchasing the former Grey Cup champion Phil Gibson is also involved with practice time at the new Pine Glen Soccer Centre. They are minor hockey clubs came after watching the struggles of the the varsity program. also partnering with Boston Pizza on Winston Park Drive, For more information on the Cowboys, visit www.haltonwith the restaurant agreeing to provide discounts to Cowboys Canadian men's hockey team at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano. cowboys.com. players and their families and friends. Boasting over 14,000 players nationally, the Canlan Ice Sports 3 on 3 Spring/Summer Hockey League is without question one of the largest youth 3 on 3 leagues in the world. 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com