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HALTON TRANSMISSION 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 www.haltontransmission.com Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports 25 | Thursday, January 9, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Blades' trade of goalie not a white flag, GM says by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Oakville Blades general manager Mike Daley understands why it might look like he's throwing in the towel on the season. The Blades, 19-16-3 through 38 games of the Ontario Junior Hockey League campaign, recently traded No. 1 goaltender and team captain Evan Buitenhuis to the division rival Toronto Lakeshore Patriots. It's the sign of a squad with both eyes on the future, rather than one on making a run in the playoffs. However, Daley said the team remains focused on realizing its primary goal: to qualify for postseason play, then be a team nobody wants to face in the opening round. "Outwardly, it may look (like we're giving up). But internally, we have a lot of confidence with the group we have in the dressing room," said Daley, noting the Blades made the deal to give Buitenhuis -- who has yet to commit to an NCAA school for next season -- a better chance to extend his Pink in the Rink The Blades will host their annual Pink in the Rink breast cancer fundraising game tomorrow (Friday), a 7:30 p.m. start against Mississauga at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Festivities will include a 50/50 draw, a puck toss and a cupcake bake sale. Donations will be accepted at the door, with all proceeds from the evening going to the Canadian Cancer Society. final season of junior and potentially get more exposure to university scouts with the West Divisionleading Patriots. "Brendan McGlynn (Buitenhuis' backup) has played very well of late, and Mark Manolescu (the goalie Oakville acquired in the trade) had won seven of his last eight before coming to us," Daley added. "There's an opportunity for both these guys to push for playing time. Now there's no solid No. 1. These guys will have to fight it out (for ice time), and I think that will bring up the level of competition." In 71 games with the Blades the last two seasons, Buitenhuis posted a 40-25-4 record, 2.75 goalsagainst average and .918 save percentage. Manolescu (11-5-2, 3.19, .897 this season) will still have two years of junior eligibility remaining after this campaign, and McGlynn (5-42, 4.00, .890) will have three. Daley said he wasn't certain whether he would make any more deals before tomorrow's (Friday's) trade deadline. The Blades currently sit seventh in the Southwest Conference standings, nine points ahead of the ninth-place Mississauga Chargers. The top eight teams in the conference qualify for the playoffs. "Something may come up that we can't turn down. But we don't want to go out and grab a 20-year-old for the sake of helping us get through a round in the playoffs. We'd rather grab a 17-, 18- or 19-year-old guy," said the Blades GM. "As much as we would like to (advance in playoffs) and the fans who come out to watch would like to see it, we're building with a process here, next year and beyond." Daley also said the team does not plan to name a new captain, opting Top scorer Campbell also named Buzz MVP Junior B lacrosse team hands out 2013 awards Greg Campbell was recently named the Oakville Buzz's 2013 MVP at the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B team's annual banquet. Campbell also took home the team scoring leader trophy after earning 54 points (28 goals, 26 assists) in 16 games. Troy O'Donnell was second on the team in scoring with 50 points in 15 contests. Keyan McQueen, who had 25 points in the Buzz's eight postseason games, was named playoff MVP. Oakville won its opening-round series with Mimico, two games to one, before falling 3-2 to the top-ranked Clarington Green Gaels in the bestof-five second round. Other award winners were Jimmy Shea (Buzz player of the year, in recognition of a player's hard work and dedication), Colton Watkinson (top defensive player), Justin Martin (top rookie), Todd Nakasuji (top graduating player), Ben Neeb (top volunteer) and Paul Rakoczy (Brian Kruse Memorial Scholarship). The evening also included an exhibition game between the current Buzz team and a squad of the organization's alumni. The current Buzz beat the former Buzz 11-7. Oakville Blades forward Kris Bennett (foreground) celebrates a goal during the Blades' 9-1 win over the Burlington Cougars Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. | photo by Graham Paine -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog instead to continue with the leadership group of alternate captains Greg Campbell, Sean Perichak and Vince Palermo. Manolescu had a shaky debut with the Blades Dec. 27, allowing five goals on 13 shots in a 7-1 loss in Trenton. But he helped Oakville earn points in his next two starts, coming 3:30 from a shutout in a 9-1 rout of the Burlington Cougars Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex and making 42 saves in a 4-3 shootout loss Sunday in North York. Chris Polotek (two goals, two assists) and Marcel Fatovic (two goals, one assist) paced the Blades offensively against Burlington. Campbell and affiliate player Ryan Takamatsa contributed three assists each, with Kamil Tkaczuk, Sean Kohler, Matthew McLeod, Kris Bennett and Perichak also scoring goals. Ross Sloan, Dalton Bew and Campbell tallied in the loss to North York. Campbell's goal tied the game with 1:39 to go in regulation. Bew was the only Blades player to score in the shootout, which the Rangers won 2-1. Bennett had Oakville's goal against Trenton. Driven to exceed your expectations. Ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with the Auto Insurance Claims Experience" by J.D. Power. 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