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Former NHL great Orr makes k k keeping game fun f a priority By Ryan Glassman SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 29 · Thursday, October 27, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Imagine having Bobby Orr as your hockey teacher. Doesn't sound too bad, does it? Last weekend, 96 area hockey players from ages five to eight had the opportunity to learn from one of hockey's greatest players through the Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey program at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Not only was Orr on hand Saturday, but former Canadian national women's team captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall was also there to instruct those who are just starting to play the game. Both have been involved with the event since it was created in 1999. "I thought it could be something that could get a pretty important message out there, and it's working," Orr said Thursday at a promotional event at Budds' Chevrolet. "And it's pretty simple: every kid that wants to play our great game should be able to play in a fun and safe environment. Unfortunately, for some kids, that's not happening. "We started this program thinking we were doing it for the kids and the kids alone, but we soon realized it really is for the parents, coaches, officials and organizers of the leagues. We all have to work together to make sure it's a great experience for every kid." Orr said the program is designed to promote "good values, such as respect and responsibility, being a good person, helping your teammates and at the same time, teach the fundamentals." The Hockey Hall of Fame defen- seman and Campbell-Pascall, a Canadian Sports Hall of Famer, ran the program, along with volunteer coaches. Players were split into groups of three. "The kids that are coming out to play for the first time, they're scared and they're nervous and some of them are pretty intimidated. And then they spend an hour on the ice with our program, and they love it," Campbell-Pascall said. In the event's 12-year existence, Orr said Oakville has been one of its venues several times in the past. He clearly enjoys coming to what he calls "a great hockey area." "We've (had) tons of kids coming," he said. "We look for volunteers for the on-ice sessions and here in Oakville, we've always had great support. Obviously, the parents here are interested in the programs and what the kids are doing. "We have more volunteers than we need for what has to be done. It's a great area to come to for something like this." One of Canadian hockey's most influential female figures, Campbell-Pascall is also impressed with so many young girls in the town playing. She expected at least 25 girls to be taking part Saturday. "I know from a women's hockey perspective, there's a ton of little girls playing in this area too. So I know there will be quite a few girls at the camp, which is always nice," she said. But, on top of everything the players would learn, Orr said the main goal remains to enjoy the sport at a young age like he did and not worry about what may lie MAKING IT SAFE AND FUN: Former National Hockey League great Bobby Orr supervises a workout with youngsters Saturday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Orr and former Canadian national women's team captain Cassie Campbell-Pascall ran three instructional sessions as part of the Chevrolet Safe and Fun Hockey program, which holds clinics in four Canadian communities each year. ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER ahead. "People were coming up to my dad all the time and saying, `Jeesh, your son could play pro,'" he recalled. "He would say, `Go out and have fun and we'll see what happens.' And I wish more parents would do that. "If you think about the pressure on the kids already, I mean, you've got all these coaches, all these experts, the press, everybody advising, so much pressure on a young person and we're all in a hurry. This is a marathon, it's not a sprint." The program also features homework projects, which Orr said includes children "giving an example of being respectful or being responsible. And they have to draw something or write something and then we go over a few of those and talk about it." Orr did have a guarantee for those who participated in the event. "The kids will go home Saturday night tired," he said with a laugh. Hennessy, Nixon complete l Oakville k ll sweep of f GHAC girls' l ' races Continued from page 28 the OFSAA cross-country meet looking to Grade 4. The field also included former turn in a top-10 finish for the first time. GHAC midget champion Shannon Labelle of Blakelock's senior girls also qualified, led Notre Dame and Ontario Games by Boulton's sixth-place result. triathlon gold medalist Sasha Joining her will be Morgan Barran Boulton of Blakelock. (14th), Mary Paterson (25th) and "There were a lot of fast girls so Grace Bocking (40th). there was no telling what could Loyola's Sarah Nixon began happen," said Hennessy, herself an what turned out to be an Oakville OFSAA medalist in track in both sweep of the girls' races when she the 1,500m and 3,000m. "I just won the midget race. Nixon was went for it and was hoping to not nursing a pulled muscle, sitting have to sprint to the finish. Those out the team's final race at Heart (endings) make me nervous." Lake. But she said it started to feel Hennessy felt those same better a few days before the race. Kelly Hennessy nerves throughout what she called Nixon was a reluctant runner "an unsteady season." However, a third-place when she started in Grade 4. finish at last week's pre-OFSAA meet in "I didn't want to (run), but my dad said it Ottawa and her performance Tuesday have would help with other sports," said Nixon, a helped boost her confidence. She'll head to rep soccer player y for Erin Mills. But she turned out to be pretty good at her secondary sport as well. She won crosscountry titles each year in elementary school, except for Grade 8 when she rolled her ankle. "She's got great determination," said Loyola coach Jil Lograno. Nixon led a strong showing by the Hawks, who had four of the top 12 finishers to secure the team title by 59 points. Georgia Braunstein finished fourth, Victoria Gregatti was sixth and Carling Goold was 12th. Oakville Trafalgar had four runners in the top 20 to capture the senior boys' GHAC title. On their way to OFSAA are Ryan McAnuff (14th), Connor Freeman (16th), Angus Scott (18th) and Connor Hammond (19th). "At OT, no one recalls qualifying a senior boys' y cross-country y team for OFSAA (in recent memory)," said Red Devils coach Kelly MacTaggart. Also qualifying for OFSAA were: Blakelock's Emily Ramier (third, midget girls) and Nathan Pillinger (third, midget boys); MacLachlan College's Lewis Kent (fourth, senior boys); and White Oaks' Alexander Dossantos (sixth, junior boys). Top-10 finishers who did not qualify for OFSAA included: Oakville Trafalgar's Sean McAnuff (sixth, midget boys) and Taylor Vandenbygaart (seventh, junior girls); Blakelock's Berkin Cetin (seventh, senior boys); White Oaks' Myranda Hobbs (eighth, junior girls); and Abbey Park's Matthew Fitzpatrick (ninth, midget boys) and Mitchell Pratt (ninth, junior boys). -- Herb Garbutt can be followed d on Twitter at @Herbgarbutt