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63 | Thursday, December 25, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com F Oakville Blades players (left to right) Greg Campbell, Ross Sloan and Kamil Tkaczuk dropped off armloads of donated toys to the Salvation Army Church on Rebecca Street earlier this month. | Graham Paine -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog I L L I N G T H E N E T Team organized toy and food drives this month continued from p.62 representative Michelle Langlois. "This shipment will ensure that doctors and nurses can provide medicines as needed, free of charge." The Blades have participated in a number of other community initiatives this month. The team collected approximately $2,000 worth of toys and gift cards for the Salvation Army at the Blades' home games Dec. 5-6. Players have also distributed winter gloves to the needy in the Oakville community, and the Blades collected non-perishable food items at last Friday's home game against Georgetown to donate to the Oakville Fareshare Food Bank. "We know we're blessed. Oakville isn't the real world. We think as an organization, it's important to make sure people know we're not taking it for granted and that we want to give back," Bales said. "We just think it's really important that we give back to the community. We have a lot of Oakville guys, and for a lot of us the community was behind us, supporting us as we came up in the minor hockey ranks." Volunteers are always welcome at Health Partners International of Canada. Scheduled volunteer sessions are typically the last Wednesday of the month, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The organization also seeks people who can come in as needed to assist during emergency operations. If interested in volunteering with the HPIC, contact Nan Hoogsteen, volunteer co-ordinator, at 905-6701990, ext. 4, or nhoogsteen@hpicanada.ca. Minor Oaks Hockey Association players stand beside a hockey net filled with toys at River Oaks Recreation Centre recently. The goal of the MOHA's annual Fill The Net Toy Drive was to fill one net with toys, but the campaign filled a total of four nets in support of Halton Police's Toys For Tots program. The gift items are distributed through the Salvation Army as well as Kerr Street Missions, making for a happy Christmas morning for many children, teens and parents throughout Halton Region. | photo submitted Local trio seeking World U18 hockey gold Oakville's Madison Field, Kristin O'Neill and Lindsay Agnew have been named to the Canadian squad that will look to win the gold for the fourth straight year when the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship begins Monday in Buffalo. Field leads the Provincial Women's Hockey League in scoring with 40 points in 22 games for the Oakville Hornets, which has a league-best 22-1-2 record. Agnew, who helped the Mississauga Chiefs win the Ontario Women's Hockey Association title last year, sits fourth in the PWHL with 33 points in 18 games. Agnew made her debut for Canada in a three-game series against the United States in August, scoring in each game. O'Neill also played in that series, scoring twice as Canada took the series two games to one. She leads the Stoney Creek Sabres with 13 assists and 22 points. Oakville has had at least one representative on the Canadian squad in all but one year since the tournament began in 2008. CANLAN ICE SPORTS | Winter Programs LEARN TO SKATE The Canlan Ice Sports Skating Academy offers skating development programs to meet the needs of any child or adult. Each level of the Learn to Skate Program is designed with specific elements and exercises to be completed by the participant. Programs focus on the fundamentals of skating and prepares participants with the essential skills to participate in hockey, ringette, or figure skating. Participant's advance through a progression system by completing selected skill sets such as swizzles, strides, stops and turns to help them perfect their skating abilities. Ages 3 years + HOCKEY TIPS FOR TOTS Designed for aspiring young hockey players this program focuses on the fundamental skills of skating and explains the game of hockey in simplest terms. Age and skill appropriate drills focus on power skating, puck handling, passing and receiving. Participants should be able to skate forward, fall down, and get up without assistance. Full hockey equipment is required. Ages 4-7 years CLASSES BEGIN WEEK OF JAN. 3RD, WEEKDAY & WEEKEND AVAILABLE LACROSSE: CANADA'S NATIONAL SUMMER SPORT BOX LACROSSE REGISTRATION OPENS IN JANUARY Summer Box Lacrosse registrations will be accepted in person at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre on January 14th, 17th, 21st , 24th, February 7th and also the Box Lacrosse Store from January 15, 2015 through to March 21, 2015. YOUTH 3ON3 HOCKEY LEAGUE · The 3on3's fast paced, high tempo, end-to-end action keeps kid's skills sharp during the summer season · Season runs end of April to mid August, 12 games guaranteed, all players receive jersey and hat to keep · Team and individual entries from Tyke to Juvenile, both House League and Rep, Weekday and Weekend options SPRING FIELD LACROSSE REGISTRATIONS FOR BOYS (REP) AND GIRLS (HOUSE LEAGUE AND REP) WILL BE ONLINE ONLY STARTING JANUARY THE BOX LACROSSE STORE Located in the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre 1132 Invicta Drive, Oakville FOR REGISTRATION DETAILS, VISIT: 2300 Cornwall Road 905-845-6989 www.icesports.com/Oakville OAKVILLE www.facebook.com/CanlanOakville W W W.OA K V I L L E L AC ROS S E .C O M