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2 5 | Friday, M a rc h 2 4 , 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | w w w .insideH A LT O N .com Kevin Nagel, Oakville Beaver Sports Editor, knagel@burlingtonpost.com 0 By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff Sports fourth NCAA "Connected to your Community " Camille Leonard had spent more than 4 ,6 0 0 minutes in the Plattsburgh State Cardinals' crease over the last four years -- 7 7 hours kicking out more than 1,400 pucks. That's three days and five hours as one of the stingi est goalies in NCAA hockey. But with the clock ticking down on her col legiate career, she had no choice but to aban don her post for what was likely the last time. The Cardinals trailed 4-3 and a penalty that left them shorthanded with 1:24 to play was seriously threatening to end their reign as national champions. There were less than 30 seconds left when Leonard started making her way to the bench, not wanting her career to end. Regardless of what happened, it had been a good run. Three straight national titles were more than any player could have asked for. But Leonard didn't even have time to get settled on the bench when Cardinal defence man Julia Duquette scored her first goal of the season, tying the game with 16 seconds to play. "That definitely gave us m om entum ," Leonard said. "We knew it was our game to lose." And that' s the thing with the Cardinals. They don't lose. Over Leonard' s four years at Platts burgh they lost just five times in 120 games. Leonard made five more stops in overtime before the Cardinals, who had been forced to kill 11 penalties, got a power play of their own. Senior Erin Brand took a cross-ice pass, pulled the puck around one defender and fired a shot from the left circle that beat the Adrian College netminder. This time, when Leonard left the crease for the last time, it was as a national champion. "To win in overtime was so m uch fun," she said. "To be a part of this team, to win four championships -- you dream of win ning one, not four in a row." Camille Leonard posted a 1.11 goals-against average while going 25-1-0 to lead the Plattsburgh State Cardinals to their fourth straight NCAA Division III women's hockey title. Earlier this year, the former Oakville Hornet became the Division III all-time wins leader, finishing her career with 75. | photo by Mike Dickie - special to the Beaver W hen Leonard arrived in the city on the shores of Lake Champlain in northern New York, she joined a team with high expecta tions. Plattsburgh had lost in the national semifinal each of the previous two years. In Leonard's freshman year, she played just three games while senior goalie Sydney Aveson led the team to its first national title in six years while winning DIII player-of-theyear honours. The next season, Leonard was slated to once again be the backup. But by the second m onth, she had seized the starter' s job. Aveson had left big skates to fill, graduat ing as the all-time Division III wins leader. But Leonard went 2 0 -2 -0 with a 1.22 goalsagainst average as Plattsburgh defended its title. She was even better the following year, winning a Division III-record 2 7 games with a minuscule 0 .6 9 average. "Cami is solid all-around. She plays the angles, she's aggressive, athletic, but her big gest strength is her focus," said Plattsburgh coach Kevin Houle. "W e don't give up a lot of shots but there will be a handful of Grade A scoring chances. She makes those saves and that' s a credit to her preparation." As Plattsburgh prepared for a bid for an unprecedented fourth straight national title, Leonard' s teammates voted her team captain. "It meant the world to m e," the former Oakville Hornet said of being the first goalie in school history to be named captain. "It was an honour to wear a C on my jersey and have the respect of my teammates." Leonard continued to earn that respect with her play. Last month one teammate mentioned to her that she was approaching Aveson' s win record. On the final weekend of the regular season she broke the record in style, turning in a 25-save shutout against Buffalo State for her 70th career win. "I had no idea how many wins I had," said Leonard, who finished her career with a 75 4 -0 mark, including 30 shutouts. "It has just as m uch to do with the team in front of me. It' s as m uch their record as it is m ine." That may be true, but the goalie plays a big role. "I don't think I can look back and remem ber her having a bad game," Houle said. As Leonard rushed the length of the ice to join in the celebration with her teammates Saturday, she was convinced she had played her last game. The plan was to do her Masters of Social W ork at McGill University. Then on Monday an email arrived with an offer to play in Europe. "A few days ago, I had made m y decision," she said. "Now I don't think I'm ready to end m y career." Blades can oust Cougars with victory tonight The Oakville Blades appear to be just as comfortable at Burlington' s Appleby Ice Centre as they are at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex, their home rink. Wednesday in Burlington, the Blades defeated the Cougars 3-1 to take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven South West Confer ence semifinal series. It was the second win in a row for Oakville in Burlington. The Blades can wrap up the series with a victory tonight in Burlington in Game 5 or with a win in the sixth or seventh see Reeves on p. 26 V a c h o n In s u ra n c e G ro u p III Vachon Insurance Group 2 0 0 -5 4 6 8 Dundas St. W, Toronto, ON 1 -8 0 0 -7 6 6 -8 6 6 2 vachoninsce.com As independent insurance brokers, w e have freedom of choice. So should you. Buying? Selling? Re-financing? Call us for a quote at Jam eson Glas D . 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