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24 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca from 2 .4% ·Full MLS ·Full Service Call ADAM CAMPBELL Broker 905-844-4444 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 2007 Novice, atom Rangers through to OMHA finals Facing their toughest tests of the hockey season to date, both the Oakville novice A and atom AA Rangers passed with flying colours. The two local rep squads have advanced to their respective Ontario Minor Hockey Association championship series after facing possible elimination in the semifinals. The novice A Rangers, who went unbeaten during the regular season, downed the Brampton Battalion 6-4 in their first-tosix-point series, while the atom AA Rangers edged the Stoney Creek Warriors 7-5 -- needing a 2-1 overtime victory in Sunday's final game to advance. Andrew Kew was the hero for the atom AA club, scoring six minutes into the first overtime of Game 6 while also netting the game-winner with 13 seconds left in regulation of Game 5 -- a 1-0 Oakville triumph. Reid Blackwell posted the shutout. The Rangers and Warriors split the first three games of the series, going 1-1-1, before Stoney Creek took a 5-3 series points lead with a 5-3 win in Game 4. Despite the close call, Oakville coach Dave Crozier felt his team was the superior of the two squads. "It was an all-around team effort," Crozier said. "We outshot them 202-78 in the series; we deserved to move on." The Rangers will face Whitby in the OMHA championship series (schedule had not been released as of Tuesday). Whitby advanced with a six-game victory over Aurora in the other semifinal. The novice A Rangers, meanwhile, won the first two games of their series against Brampton before the Battalion rallied to win the next two, setting up a winner-take-all affair Sunday at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. The splits BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER See Novices page 27 KICK SAVE: Oakville novice A Hornets goaltender Nicole Cece kicks away a Burlington Barracudas' shot during last weekend's girls' hockey tournament in Burlington. The Hornets defeated Burlington 6-2 Saturday morning at Mainway Arena and finished the preliminary round with a 2-0 record, but were eliminated in the semifinals with a 3-2 loss to Brampton. The intermediate house league Oakville Ducks fared the best of local teams at the competition, winning their first four games before dropping the championship game 3-2 to Burlington 3. The peewee A Hornets and an Oakville ladies' rec team both posted 12 marks at the tournament. DO YOU LIKE THE SPORT OF SOCCER? WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE BACK TO THE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY? VOLUNTEERING AS A COACH OR CONVENOR WITH THE OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB IS JUST FOR YOU THEN!! A variety of ages are available to choose from. Complimentary coaching clinics from our Technical Director are given to teach you the fundamental skills of soccer or simply to refresh those you already have! Minimum Age Requirement: 16 years of age (14 years of age with an adult volunteer) CONTACT CONNIE: cruetter@oakville-soccer.on.ca or download an online volunteer form MAKE A DIFFERENCE THIS SEASON!! SOCCER CAMP REGISTRATION NOW AVAILABLE! www.oakville-soccer.on.ca Oakville Soccer Club A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsored by: ® 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, On L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677