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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2007 41 And they're off... BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER TIGHT QUARTERS: Elbow room was at a premium at the beginning of the midget boys' 800-metre race during the Halton Catholic District School Board's all-Oakville track-and-field meet Monday at Holy Trinity. Top finishers in each event at the all-Oakville meet moved on to the Halton Catholic system championships, held yesterday in Burlington. Ball hockey tourney perfect way to remember Alex Corrance By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Before an undetected degenerative heart condition tragically took his life during a Boxing Day tournament last winter, Alex Corrance simply loved to play hockey. "He just lived for hockey," remembers his father, Alan. "If it wasn't ice hockey in the winter, it was roller hockey in the summer, or ball hockey. That was his life and he just loved it all the time, out there hanging with the guys and having a good time." There seems no better way, then, to remember Alex than the event planned for this weekend in the parking lot at Canlan Ice Sports. Beyond The Next Level, a training centre where Alex worked out regularly for several years, will hold the Alex Corrance Memorial 3on-3 Ball Hockey Tournament tomorrow, beginning at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the event will go towards the purchase of a defibrillator that will be made available free of charge to Oakville residents for on-site use at any organ- ized local sporting event, in partnership with The Mikey Network -- a foundation established in honour of Michael Hart Salem, a man who had a heart condition similar to Alex Corrance and passed away while playing golf in 2002. Ted Ali, one of Alex's former trainers, said the training centre has run a ball hockey tournament for its members the past several years -- an event in which Alex was a regular participant. Alex Corrance Dedicating the tournament to Alex's memory was a perfect fit. "It gives us a cause to do something on Alex's behalf and give back to the community," said Ali, whose son, Michael, is a goaltender that Alex would take shots on during weekly instructional sessions. "Everybody knows (Alex). The hockey community is very small, especially at the high levels." Ali and Dan Ninkovich, the tournament organizers, limited the tournament to 16 teams due to time constraints. They had little problem filling the field. "Almost right away, 16 teams filled up," Ali said. Alan Corrance, meanwhile, says he and his wife Debbie are extremely appreciative of the support they have received and continue to receive in the wake of Alex's passing. "We've certainly struggled with his loss over the past five months, and it hasn't been fun at all. But we've had tremendous support from family and friends, friends of Alex... they continue to remember his name," Alan said. "They'll contact us and visit us, and those kinds of things, from a personal perspective, are a tremendous comfort. "We're tremendously grateful that people are taking the time out of their day to come out and support this," he continued. "It touches our hearts and we're grateful they're doing it for the cause but also in his memory." There was a defibrillator on hand at the Scarborough arena when Alex collapsed to the ice during his Mississauga Rebels' midget AAA game against the Mississauga IceDogs. It is believed that structural damage to his heart, however, did not allow the defibrillator to revive the 17-year-old. The only symptoms of Alex's condition, Arrythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, are fainting or dizziness during physical exertion, or sudden death. Sadly, sudden death was the only symptom Alex ever had. That's why Alan hopes advances are made not only in the treatment of those with degenerative heart conditions, but also in the detection. "It means a lot to us in getting the awareness out, and, hopefully, medical research will find some way of detecting and improving the treatment," he said. "Detecting is the important thing." Donations will be accepted at the tournament, which will be moved to Sunday should the weather not co-operate tomorrow. Canlan Ice Sports is located at 2300 Cornwall Road, east of Ford Drive. Join Us For Golf This Season! GOLF GIFTS for FOR JUNIORS AND ADULTS Still a few spots remaining in our Junior Summer Camps and Adult Golf Clinics. Book your spot NOW! This Father's Day The Perfect Gift... Or Something From The Best Fully Stocked Pro Shop! DAD GREEN FEES 905-336-3660 Visit Us Online: www.hiddenlakegolf.com