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34 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday June 25, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Birch, Delmas also picked Continued from page 33 The Chicago Blackhawks chose Blades defenceman Braden Birch in the sixth round. The Hamilton native joined the Blades in January, just in time for a playoff run that saw them reach the national Jr. A championship tournament. One other player with Oakville ties was selected Saturday. Peter Delmas, a Bedford, N.S. native whose family moved to town last summer, was drafted by Colorado in the second round. The 18-year-old netminder played for the Lewiston Maineiacs for the past two seasons. The second-youngest player in Division I hockey, Goloubef made his mark with Wisconsin with four goals -- three of them game-winners -- and 10 points in 40 games. Goloubef, who talked to all but four NHL teams prior to the draft, said his defensive zone coverage improved dramatically at Wisconsin and he hopes to contribute more offensively in the future. "It's a learning process and you do what you can to contribute," said Goloubef, who will attend the Blue Jackets' rookie camp in a couple of weeks. "He's a pretty good all-around defenceman," Castron said. "When you go to college, you don't always get to play the game you played out of junior. It's a process you go through but as the year went on he started to earn powerplay time." Carlo Coccimiglio was an assistant coach when Goloubef played with the Blades in the 2006-07 season. "He was born with the skill of a hockey player," said the current head coach and general manager of the Blades. "He's destined to play in the NHL with his skill and his intelligence on the ice. He's got so much poise." Birch a Blackhawk When Goloubef moved on to Wisconsin, Coccimiglio found himself another NHL draftee to fill the void. Coccimiglio worked with Birch at a summer training camp and was impressed but the 6-foot-3, 195-pound defender had already committed to play with the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Hockey League. "The first time I saw him, he reminded me of (Florida Panthers defenceman) Jay Bouwmeester," Coccimiglio said. "He had the same skating stride and similar characteristics." Birch was traded to Drayton Valley of the Alberta Junior Hockey League in December but was injured and began looking at a return to Ontario. Coccimiglio was more than happy to add Birch to the Blades' blueline. Birch returned to the lineup for the Blades' final 13 regular-season games and "just kept getting better and better," Coccimiglio said. His presence helped Oakville overcome the loss of defenceman Trevor Eckenswiller as the team won its first league title. "He called me after he got drafted and he was ecstatic," said Coccimiglio. "It's a great accomplishment for him. It tops off our whole season and we're very proud of him as an organization." Birch was one of 12 Blades to accept scholarship offers following the season (he committed to Cornell), but Coccimiglio said he's expected to return to the Blades for one more season. Avs take another local goalie Like Columbus, Colorado seems to also be making a habit of targeting Oakville, particularly for goalies. Last year, the Avalanche drafted Oakville netminder Trevor Cann in the second round. This year, it selected Delmas, the third-ranked netminder in the draft. Delmas had a 2.84 goals-against average and .903 save percentage in 34 games diromg his second season with Lewiston. He was named to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League all-rookie team in 2007. Like Cann, he played in the Top Prospects game, represented Canada at the 2007 U-18 championships, and won a league title and went to the Memorial Cup as a backup netminder. "Peter is an athletic goaltender with quick reflexes, strong puck skills and is an outstanding teammate," Lewiston coach Ed Harding told nhl.com. WINGING IT: The Oakville Angels tier 1 bantams won a prestigious midget softball tournament in Toledo earlier this month, earning a berth in the USSSA World Series. Bantam Angels win Tune Up title National bronze-medalists two years ago, the Oakville Angels tier 1 bantams already appear headed for another successful softball season. The Angels won the seventh annual USSSA Toledo Tune Up midget tournament earlier this month in Ohio, earning a berth in the USSSA World Series. Oakville was one of four Class A teams to finish the tournament with a 6-1 record, but the Angels were awarded first place because they allowed the fewest runs (10) at the competition. Members of the Angels, who also earned silver at last month's Worth Brantford Tournament, are Michayla Caughlin, Meghan Doherty, Mariana Gallardo, Kirsty Grant, Kelly Hannivan, Nicole Helmer, Renee Helmer, Kimberly Lawson, Lauren McLaughlin, Sam Morneau, Alex Saunders and Michelle Saunders. First place at stake tonight for Buzz The Oakville Buzz will have a lot to play for when it closes out the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B regular season tonight (Wednesday) in Barrie. First and foremost, the Buzz needs a victory tonight over the Tornado to earn home-floor advantage throughout the upcoming Eastern Conference playoffs. A win would allow Oakville to finish the season in a tie with the 17-3 Clarington Green Gaels for first in the East, and the Buzz holds the tie-breaker after beating the Gaels earlier this month. Additionally, with a solid defensive effort tonight, the Buzz could finish the year with the lowest goals-against total in the East (and second in the league, next to the 20-0 Six Nations Spartans). Oakville has allowed a paltry average of 6.3 goals per game through 19 games - coincidentally, 0.1 goals per game less than the Tornado. The Buzz improved to 16-3 with road wins over two of the league's doormats last weekend. Oakville doubled the Markham Ironheads 4-2 Friday, then whipped the Mississauga Tomahawks 10-3 the following night. Josh Ruys scored twice and Harry Hristopoulos recorded three assists for the Buzz against Markham. Connor Gamble and Cedric Soubry had the other Oakville goals, with Mark White picking up a pair of helpers. Saturday, Brad Gillies led the local charge with two goals and three assists. Braden Gallant and Robert Bentivegna both had a goal and three assists, with Joel Zalasky and Ruys both contributing a marker and two helpers. Connor Gamble and Alex Kruse also tallied. See Friday's edition of The Oakville Beaver for results of tonight's game and details of the Buzz's playoff schedule. -- Jon Kuiperij PHOTO CONTEST WINNER ITF Technical Committee visits Oakville The International Taekwon-Do Federation Technical Committee, headed by Master Hector Marano and Master Paoblo Trajtenberg of Argentina and Master Willem Bos of Italy, visited Oakville earlier this month to conduct the 36th ITF International Instructors Course. Participants from across Canada, USA and even three participants from Nepal were put to the test at Sheridan College as the Technical Committee covered all 24 patterns, self-defence, free sparring tactics and various other aspects of Taekwon-Do. ITF President Master Tran Trieu Quan was also in attendance. Of the 114 participants, 60 were 4th Dan and up, with an astounding 10 Masters in attendance. On the Saturday evening, everyone gathered at the Holiday Inn Oakville Center for a formal dinner banquet in honor of the Technical Committee. In his closing remarks, event host Mike Morningstar thanked everyone for their support as well as the Masters for their efforts around the world to keep the true teaching of General Choi Hong Hi alive in its true form. ek 6 Photo by Mike DeJong www.oakvillesoccer.ca The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club