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OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 1, 2009 · 18 Minor peewee AA Rangers rally for another OMHA title Defence carried the Oakville minor peewee AA Rangers this season, but it was their offence that came through when things mattered most. Limited to three goals in the first four games of their Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship series with the Whitby Wildcats, Oakville managed to generate seven goals in the final two contests and rally for the team's third OMHA title in four seasons. Nicholas Serniuck's overtime goal Sunday at River Oaks Recreation Centre gave the Rangers a 3-2 victory in the sixth and deciding game. Whitby had blanked Oakville in Games 3 and 4 to take a 5-3 lead in the first-to-six-points series, but the Rangers pulled out a 4-1 win Thursday in Whitby to force the sixth game. "We knew we were solid defensively and had great goaltending," said Oakville head coach Mike Choma, whose team allowed 24 goals in 28 regular-season games this year. "It was creating offence, utilizing our team speed to get pucks deep and get to the net (that we needed to do)." Choma said experience -- four players on this year's team have now won three OMHA titles, while the majority of the roster has won at least two -- played a major role for the Rangers as well. "Whitby was up 1-0 (Sunday) and there was no panic. When the kids are down, you can see they sit down on the bench, but all the kids were still standing and focused on what they had to do," he said. "We scored two goals in the next three minutes." Whitby was the only team to defeat the Rangers outside of tournament play this season. Oakville went 28-0 against Tri-County competition, then won all its OMHA playdown contests before the final against the Wildcats. "It just goes to show the strength of Whitby," said Choma. "You have two teams that were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the province all year long in a six-point series, and it went to the sixth game. It was a great series." The Rangers were one of three Oakville minor peewee teams to win championships at this season's Richard Bell Memorial Minor Hockey Tournament. They also won their Silver Stick qualifying tournament, but were eliminated before the semifinals at the international competition. "That's the one thing that eludes us as a group," said Choma. "There's always things to strive for." -- Jon Kuiperij WE ARE FOOTBALL! OVFL 1 LEAGUE IN ONTARIO # LEARN TO PLAY FROM ONLY $ · · · · Flag & Tackle Football for Boys & Girls 5-19 yrs. old House League & Rep Safe, inexpensive fun! We W supply all equipment & un uniforms Certified Instructors teach you how d y to play! · Open to ALL OAKVILLE RESIDENTS AKVILL 199 We offer you OVFL Football, where kids have received NCAA & CIS Scholarships and graduated to NFL & CFL! SUMMER NON-CONTACT HALTON MEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE 26th SUMMER SEASON! H ADULT OCKE LEAGUE Y Two Rangers teams see OMHA title hopes end The Oakville peewee A and minor peewee AAA Rangers both had their Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship hopes end recently. The peewee A Rangers fell 3-2 to Stouffville last Wednesday at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre in the fifth game of their championship series, while the minor peewee AAA Rangers went 1-3-1 at their OMHA tournament last weekend. The midget AAA Rangers, who won their OMHA title last month, are competing in the Ontario Hockey Federation championships this week in Burlington. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR SPRING/SUMMER & FALL For more information visit our website: PROGRAMS WWW.HALTONCOWBOYS.COM 905.257.1234 · Non-contact · Excellent officiating · Prime time games at · Sweaters/socks provided River Oaks Arena · 18 games primarily · Trophies Wednesday nights, · Individual entries some Mondays · Balanced teams INFORMATION AND/OR REGISTRATION BY PHONE www.hmhl.bizland.com (905) 849-9712