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Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 B R O K E R A G E I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 38 Blades goaltender earning respect of new teammates Greenham solid in early action By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMIE SABAU / COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS FIRST NHL MILESTONE: Oakville native Steve Mason (right), pictured in action against the Chicago Blackhawks earlier this month, stopped 20 of 21 shots to earn the victory in the Columbus Blue Jackets' 2-1 preseason win over the Buffalo Sabres Friday. Mason earns first NHL preseason victory Minor Oaks Hockey Association product Steve Mason reached the first of what he hopes is many National Hockey League milestones last weekend in Buffalo. The 19-year-old netminder earned his first NHL win Friday, backstopping the Columbus Blue Jackets to a 2-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Mason stopped 20 of 21 shots, beaten only by Buffalo's Clarke MacArthur with 9:39 remaining in regulation time. Mason earned first-star honours for his efforts. The strong showing might also have impressed the Blue Jackets coaching staff, as Mason survived the club's second round of cuts on Monday. Fredrik Norrena is expected to be Columbus' starting netminder this season, with Pascal Leclaire serving as the back-up. Scott Greenham hasn't wasted any time earning the trust of his teammates. The Oakville Blades netminder is off to a great start with the Provincial Junior A Hockey League club, boasting a 1.33 goals-against average and .960 save percentage after his first three games. Greenham, 20, stopped 71 of 73 shots fired his way in last weekend's action, earning a 4-0 shutout Friday against Streetsville and being saddled with a hard-luck 2-1 loss Sunday to St. Michael's. "For Scott to have such a good start as he has, he's earned the respect of his teammates, 100 per cent," Blades head coach Carlo Coccimiglio said. "He was worried about that coming in (after playing last season with the Ottawa Jr. Senators). We broke him in slowly and his confidence level is getting higher and higher every game." The other half of Oakville's goaltending duo, Matt Hoyle, was also solid on the weekend. Hoyle made 38 saves in the Blades' 4-2 win Saturday in Mississauga. Five games into the season, the Blades (3-2) have yielded only 12 goals against -- six of those coming in their season-opening 6-3 loss to the Hamilton Red Wings. Credit for that goes to more than just the goaltenders, Coccimiglio said. "Our kids are committed to working together in the defensive zone and we're quite pleased with the effort in See Balanced page 38 Oakville Soccer Club www.oakville-soccer.on.ca 2007 FALL INDOOR SEASON BEGINS: WEEK OF OCTOBER 1 OAKVILLE SPORTS CENTRE (THE DOME) Your coach will be contacting you directly prior to your game night with schedule details for your son/daughter ALL SCHEDULES ARE ONLINE at www.oakville-soccer.on.ca WE ARE IN NEED OF COACHES IN THE FOLLOWING AGE CATEGORIES: GU 9/10: BU12/13: GU 16/17/18: BU 16/17/18: 1 2 1 4 COACH COACHES COACH COACHES (Saturdays) (Friday Evenings) (Thursday Nights) (Sunday Afternoon) JOIN IN ON THE FUN AT OSC DAY Toronto FC vs New England Revolution KICK OFF: 12:30 PM OSC DEPARTURE: 11:15 AM $25.00/member SATURDAY OCTOBER 20TH Please contact Dianne at dsporcic@oakville-soccer.on.ca Including Return Transportation to BMO Field Contact Joy at jneefs@oakville-soccer.on.ca BOOK YOUR TEAM AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF PARTICIPATING IN ON-FIELD OPENING FESTIVITIES!! Visit www.oakville-soccer.on.ca for complete details The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsored by: