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Oakville Hornets defenceman Julia Edgar and four other players with local ties have been named to the Canadian team that will compete in next month's world under-18 women's hockey championships in St. Catharines. | photo by Herb Garbutt -- Oakville Beaver -- @Herbgarbutt Ability, attitude of H.S. athletes are impressive continued from p.34 Dawson. Getting the chance to talk to people like that, professional athletes, Olympians and broadcasters, was predictably thrilling. What surprised me about this job was the calibre of amateur and high school sports. The underappreciated Oakville Blades have been a source of many highlights, from their improbable playoff run in 2004 under Frank Carnevale to their Royal Bank Cup national championship appearances under Carlo Coccimiglio in the late 2000s. So too was the Oakville Buzz, so polished and proficient during its run to a national junior B lacrosse championship in 2006. We've covered many local teens who went on to play in the NHL, guys like Nick Dodge, Jeremy Welsh, Steve Pinizzotto, Brandon DeFazio, Stefan Legein, Scott Wilson, Steve Mason, Kellan Lain, Victor Oreskovich, Cody Goloubef and, of course, John Tavares. I still remember interviewing Sam Gagner, then a student at Oakville Trafalgar High School, while he sat in the penalty box during a game at the Burlington Cup junior high school tournament, because he had to leave immediately after the game to go play for his rep team. High school sports in Halton have been wonderful to cover. Coaches have always been gracious to speak to us whether after victory or defeat -- too many come to mind to list -- and I've often left interviews with local high school athletes impressed by their intelligence, their eloquence and, simply, their manners. I've enjoyed relationships and rapports built with leaders of local minor sports associations as well as those in the community. John Mooney, the tireless and vibrant long-time volunteer with Oakville Little League, will always be a friend, as will many others I've met during my time here. I'll forever remember our former managing editor, the late Rod Jerred, who generously assumed my responsibilities for a few days in 2011 to allow me to accompany my then-girlfriend, now-wife on a vacation to Florida. Jen and I look back on that trip as a defining time in our relationship. Rod was happy with the 2-4 of Alexander Keith's I gave him when I returned, but I owed him a greater debt than that for his kind spirit as well as his mentorship over the years. Burlington Post sports editor Kevin Nagel was also a guru, particularly in my early years with the Post and Beaver, and the passionate writing of Herb Garbutt was a critical cog in countless Beaver sports pages, helping us earn an Ontario Community Newspaper Award for being judged as the province's best sports section in 2009. Former editor-in-chief Jill Davis not only gave me a chance by hiring me in 2003, she proved to be a valuable listening ear on several occasions when I arrived at important crossroads in my life. Finally, thank you to our readers, contributors, submitters, subjects, advocates and critics. This job came with its stresses of deadlines and workloads, but you helped make it rewarding. I'll miss it, and I'll miss you. Goodbye, and thanks. 35 | Friday, December 11, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Five Oakville players on Canadian U18 squad Oakville's Lindsay Agnew, Kristin O'Neill and Julia Edgar and Burlington's Emma Maltais will be looking to bring home gold for Canada after being named to the Canadian team for next month's IIHF Women's Under-18 Hockey Championships in St. Catharines. Agnew and O'Neill were part of the Canadian squad that was edged in overtime of the goldmedal by the United States at last year's tournament in Buffalo. Agnew had a goal and three assists in five games in the tournament while O'Neill had a goal and two assists. Canada hosts this year's tournament at the Meridian Centre and plays its opening game Jan. 8 against Russia. Edgar and Maltais will be making their debut at the world tournament, but did play for Canada in its three-game series against the U.S. in Lake Placid in August. Maltais scored twice in the series and Edgar had an assist. Canada won the series 2-1. Also named to the team was Mississauga's Jaime Bourbonnais, who plays for the Oakville Hornets in the Provincial Women's Hockey League. All five players were members of the Ontario Red team that won the Canadian under-18 championship in November. Agnew scored the overtime winner against Manitoba in the final. HT lost three Grade 11 players to prep schools continued from p.34 on the outside -- hitting 10 threes against Hayden, five of them by Welsford. "We have guys that can rebound," Santiago said. "We've got guys who will get dirty and take charges, and guys who can slash and get to the rim. We just have to all put it together." The Titans depth is impressive given that they lost three Grade 11 students to prep schools -- Canadian cadet team member Ignas Brazdeikis to Orangeville Prep, Callum Baker to Stanstead College and Wheza Panzo to St. Louis Christian. But Saulez said that's the new reality in high school basketball as players look to maximize their exposure for scholarship opportunities. "That's just the changing landscape," he said. "It has hit everybody." So while Trinity is still gaining experience, it is doing so successfully. It has reached the semifinals in three of its four tournaments, including one final, against some of the province's best teams and improved to 5-0 in league play with its win over Hayden. The Titans' biggest test in league play lies ahead as they host Bishop Reding Tuesday at 4:45 p.m. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in the GTA by HooptownGTA.com (Reding No. 7; Trinity No. 10). "After that, we'll know where we are," Saulez said. "That will give us the gauge of where we fit in." Winter Programs 2016 Classes Begin in January Our Learn to Skate program is designed for kids between the ages of 3 to 12. They are developed to introduce children to ice skating in a fun & positive environment. Our Canlan Skating Academy boasts professional instruction which gives each and every participant an opportunity to excel! Skating acaDEMY Classes offered on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sundays. Visit www.icesports.com for Details! For more information: Canlan Ice Sports - Oakville 2300 Cornwall Road, Oakville ON (corner of Ford Drive / Cornwall Road) 905.845.6989 · www.icesports.com/oakville