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Local goalie to join country's top bantams at hockey camp impressive 1.88 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage for a Brampton squad that saw a lot of roster turnover in the previOakville resident Ben Blacker will join ous offseason. Blacker credits his coaching many of the country's top bantam-aged staff and fellow teammates for his success. "A lot of our team's solid play has come hockey players at the upcoming Allstate AllCanadians Mentorship Camp in from our coaches who took our team from scratch and built it up, giving me the opporMississauga. The 15-year-old Brampton Battalion goal- tunity to play, and that (played) a big role in tender and 41 other players from across where I am today," Blacker said. Ben's father, Ted Blacker, said the Canada were invited to the camp, which will feature instruction by 21-year National Brampton organization deserves a lot of credit for raising the profile of a team that Hockey League veteran Gary Roberts. Blacker was not expecting to be invited, was built almost in one full season. He said but he is certainly excited about the oppor- he is very proud of how the entire group of players came together. tunity. "They have improved every step of the "I was speechless. And I mean that literway. When Ben went to ally. I was in my dad's car and Brampton to play, it was they were on speaker (phone) "It's not every day you basically a brand new team so I had to keep quiet and get to play with the top and they took a lot of doulisten," he said. players in all of Canada. ble-A players and started "I couldn't believe that I from scratch. That really was chosen for this and that You get mentored by gave him a good opportuis when the excitement start- players who have nity to play," Ted Blacker ed to sink in for me." already played in the said. Blacker, who prefers to let NHL, so I am going to The Allstate camp will be his on-ice skills speak for take with me every held July 17-21 at themselves, was humble Mississauga's Hershey when asked if he expected to tidbit of information." Center, where Ben and the be chosen for the annual Young goalie Ben Blacker rest of the chosen players hockey camp. will split up into two teams. "It was definitely a surprise. I heard I was being considered but They will then take part in an intersquad there are a lot of other good goalies out there exhibition game which will be broadcast live who could have easily taken my place. Just on TSN. Ben hopes to improve in a few ways at this being selected is a really big honour," he camp, and knows that the opportunity will said. Perhaps the biggest reason Blacker was do him well. "It's not every day you get to play with the selected was his success last season for the Battalion. He started 51 games, posting an top players in all of Canada. You get menBy Lucas Casaletto SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 25 · Thursday, July 5, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com HIGHLY THOUGHT OF: Ben Blacker, pictured in action last season with the Brampton Batallion, has been invited to a hockey camp this month that will feature the top bantamaged players in Canada. tored by players who have already played in the NHL, so I am going to take with me every tidbit of information they have," he said. A major part of the camp is ensuring that all players remain fit and take part in daily physical activities. Roberts will be running the program where the players take part in a special dinner largely focused on healthy living and eating. Blacker said that he has already received a jump-start on proper meal choices. "I have two great parents who make sure I am eating right and I already have my mom's smoothies that are pretty great," he said laughing. "My two best friends play a big part in me staying fit. I have known them forever, and we push each other and make each other stronger which shaped who I am today." Ted Blacker said his son will benefit greatly from being around a large group of players at the Allstate camp because of how comfortable Ben is with his teammates on and off the ice. "He was an (alternate) captain last year for Brampton, which is rare for a goalie. At the back of his hockey pants he wore an `A' because they can't have it on the shirt," Ted Blacker said. "I think that speaks a lot of his character." Loyola quarterback named a Top Gun AWESOME IN ANCASTER: The Oakville Little League 11-under Whitecaps won their division at a recent baseball tournament in Ancaster. Loyola student Brandon Smyk will attend a Football University Top Gun camp for high school players this month in Williamsburg, Va. The 16-year-old, heading into his senior year as quarterback of the Hawks football team, also plays for the Burlington Stampeders junior varsity team. The Stamps are the second-ranked squad in the province. Smyk was selected to attend the Williamsburg camp after a strong showing at a Football University camp at York University in May. The Williamsburg camp will take place July 19-21. OAKVILLE'S NEWEST REAL ICE TRAINING FACILITY COMING SEPTEMBER 2012 of the season for the 11U Whitecaps, who also defeated the 12U Whitecaps selects 15-4 in the semifinals. Also contributing to the win were Nathan Shute, Colin Skov, Alex Pain, Jibran Qureshi, Bernn Tabuyog, Daniel Symonds, Noah Levine, Rishi Pandeya and Mitchel Morrison. Norm Baxter, Joe Levine and Mark Symonds coach the team, and Teresa Symonds is the manager. 11U Whitecaps muscle up to win tourney Led by a sudden power surge, the Oakville Little League's 11-under Whitecaps baseball team won its division at the recent John Stokoe Memorial Major Tournament in Ancaster. Matthew DiMita, Emily Baxter and Mike Cummings each drilled home runs in the championship game of the Brad Furdal Division, pacing the Whitecaps to a 19-4 rout of the 12U Ancaster Cardinals selects. The homers were the first over-the-fence round-trippers FUTURE STARS LEAGUE $ FOR AGES 4 -7 BERGERON Additional Features: · Skill Development Classes Register online · Private Lessons www.cehockey.ca · 905-901-5114 · Team Sessions 1130 Speers Road, Oakville · Rentals 499 Head Instructor JASON