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qit SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sIeblanc@miltoncanadianchampion.com JAF atoms jclinch titie ' with OT win Championship wins don't get Smuch more dramatic than this. Determined to prove a round- Irobin victory over their formidable neighbouring rivais was far [rom a fluke, the additional entry atom Winterhawks erased a third-period deficit before eclipsing the Acton Tanners 2-1 in overtime to dlaim last weeks 43rd annual Hespeler Olymnpic Tournament. This marked tbeir second tour- nament win in as many months. Oscar Fisher prov'ided the hiero- ics, burying a rebound with just 38 seconds left in sudden death. Assisting on the golden goal were Tyler Sharpe and Noah Caravaggio, who'd tied things up on a terrifie end-to-end rush and backhand - bis third tally of the tournament - with nine minutes left in regulation. The win was especially sweet,' given that the Winterhawks had two goals called back yet stayed focused en route to claiming the title. Dylan Vieira was impressive between the pipes to cap a huge net- minding campaign for Milton. He and Adam Best gave up just four goals over five games, thanks large- ly to top-notch defensive support. While held off the score-sheet in the finals, Wesley Magee stood out offensively at the tournament - with two goals in the initial 2-1 decision over Acton and a hat-trick in a 3-0 shutout of Dundas. A 5-1 win over Cambridge saw Caravaggio tally twice and Sharpe, Dylan Skoryk and Jack Kaszycki add singles. Kaszyckî had the lone goal in a 1 -1 tie with Belle River. Haydar na>ed &M1 Player of Decde by Hockey News ltes certainly been a December to remem- ber for Darren Haydar. Along with enjoying an especially pro- ductive finish to 2009, the 3o-year-old native Miltonian earned an American Hockoey League Player of the Week honour and was named to the Canadian teamn for the Januaiy 19 AHL ail-star classic in Portland, mairie. But watt, thereb more. Acknowledging bis long-time domni- nance in the league, The Hockey News recently named Haydar the AHL Player -of the Decade. An article about the honour will appear in, dieJanuary il issue. "It caught me off guard. Il didnt leven know they had someéthing like that," admitted the Lake Erie Monsters assistant captain, whose AHL resumé includes two Calder Cup cbampionships, rookie of the year ('03) and MVP ('07) honours, records for all-time playoff goals and points and an incredible 122-point campaîgn in 2006/07 in which hie had a point ini 39 straight games wo shatter the previous league point-streak record. "Its definitely an honour." Fittingly enough, the player of the decade award announcement came amidst a partie- ularly bot stretch for Haydar, who had nime goalsand seven assists in the last eight gaines of December. As of last night hie sait tied for seventh in league scorig with 16 goals and 19 helpers. Making bis way around the Great Lakes over the past seven-and-a-half seasons (with previous stints in Milwaukee, Chicago and Grand Rapids), Haydar's AHL dommnance may soon be cominig to an end - with a jump wo Europe next season looking more like a probablity than just the possibility ht was in past years. "I'mi definitely ready wo move on with my career," he told The Hockey News, referr-ing to the mere 22 gaines hek seen in the NHL over the past seven-plus years. Minor bantams reign supreme Win Richard Bell Memorial for second straight tourney title M iltons AA mîinor hantains went more than six seasofls witlhouî tasting tournamrent gold, but are certainly getting their luIl of it these days. For the second trne in as rnany rnonths, the Wintcrhawks reigned suprerne in tournarnent pla, with their latest triumph corning lasi week at Oakville*s Richard Bell Meinorial. Shaktng off a fîrst-round defeat, Milton rclcd off fixe siiraîI 1t wxx 1() I uit ili c I lic \\ ic ic official icarnipi onship coronation came wiîh a3- victory <wer the Oshawa Minor Gcncrals, the highlight of the Winterhawks'touirnarnent mun carne a few\ hours carlier against thc host Rangers. WVith the sernifinal overtinme down btx o skatcrs a sicle. defencernan Matthew (iooding slid horne a goal- rnouth scramible - creaied hv an Andrxw Dodson breakaway - to eclipse Oakvillc 2-I1 It was the second garne winner of the tournent for Gooding. While he and Dodson provided the heroies, advaneement to the finals was largely the doing of net- minder Anthony Henein, who was nothing short of brilliant while the Rangers dominated the second and third periods. Sean Walter put Milton ahead laie in the second, with help from Alex Webster and captain Ben Preisner. The Wintcrhawks fortihied their efforts for the championship, but still needed a rock-solid effort [rom goalie Nieholas Hoffman to knoek off the Generals. This was thanks to a pair of third-period markers. Webster notehed the winner on a nifty end-to-end rush and provided a great physical presence. He and Walter had a goal and an assist each in the finals, while Marcus Miller was the other marksman and assists went to Preisner, Dodson and Hoffman. Jordan Harris exhibited a great deal of grit in bis own end to lead a formidable defensive effort, while the see PLENTY on page A16 dfâlrïa dc *2LaiuY Saveo Time,~ Sa Mn ofic J b.W/ î~ h -oir N I 1 'Il i Ill 'il 1111-,j Il Il lu