The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

From Russia, with love for hockey By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 43 · Tuesday, December 29, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com They speak two very different languages but one sport unites them. "With the boys it's all about hockey," said Oakville minor bantam AAA Rangers manager Vivian LeBlanc. "It's a world-wide language." LeBlanc's family is one of nine families boarding players from the Moscow North Stars during their stay in Oakville for the Richard Bell Memorial International Hockey Tournament. And although there have been challenges in communicating with their guests, everyone is finding a way. Some families are using translation programs on the computer, another printed off pictures of different foods in order to ask their guest what they wanted for breakfast. The Russian squad had a translator scheduled to travel with them but problems with travel documents forced him to stay behind, as it did with three of the team's players. Oakville Ranger defenceman Callum Fryer has Petr Malkov and Andrey Iovov staying with his family. He said they have been relying mainly on gestures and hand signals to communicate, though the 13 year old has picked up some Russian. "I learned a little bit, how to say hello and good morning," he said. But while verbal communication may be limited, the Stars are hoping to let their play on the ice do the talking. "They're pretty good," said Callum Fryer, a defenceman on the Oakville minor bantam AAA Rangers. "They're fast and they're good with the puck." The Rangers cheered on the Moscow team as it opened the tournament Monday morning against the Kitchener Jr. Rangers. "Go Georgy," yelled Theo Lewis as Georgy Vilchinskiy stickhandled through a maze of players before having his shot stopped by the Kitchener goalie. Lewis is looking forward today's game (3:05 p.m. at the Glen Abbey Rec Centre) against the North Stars. "They don't play systems like we do and they have a different sense of position," he said. "It should be a good experience." The North Stars won two exhibition games prior to the tournament, beating both Niagara Falls and the Hamilton Reps but dropped their opener at the Bell despite a third period rally. Trailing 2-0, Vilchinkskiy scored on a breakaway and six minutes later pulled the Stars even. However, Kitchener would score twice in 41 seconds in the last four minutes to earn a 4-2 victory. "First game, good. Second game, good," said Dmitriy Paramonov, one of the few players who can speak some English. "Third game, not so good. We lose." The Stars' player of the game, wearing number 99, showed some Gretzky-like moves. He wasn't shy about dishing out hits either, despite being one of the smaller players on the ice. But a hit at centre ice midway through the game resulted in a shoulder injury. That might mean the only hockey left for Paramonov on the trip will be played on a X-Box or a Playstation -- a popular pasttime between players who share a game, if not a common language. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER SLICK STICK: Georgy Vilchinskiy of Moscow North Stars maintains control of the puck despite being knocked down by Cody Petrosino of Kitchener Jr. Rangers during the Richard Bell Memorial International Minor Hockey Tournament. The Russian team, staying with local families during the tournament, dropped its opener 4-2. STOREWIDE SALE 4 DAYS ONLY! Monday, Dec. 28 Tuesday, Dec. 29 Wednesday, Dec. 30 Thursday, Dec. 31 9:30am-6:00pm 9:30am-6:00pm 9:30am-6:00pm 9:30am-3:00pm Opportunity Boxing Week Special for a fresh start in 2010 Join Now! NO MONEY DOWN! on a 1 year membership!* LIMITED TIME ONLY NO ENROLMENT! SALE PRICED MERCHANDISE and ALL ACCESSORIES on Sale *Prices include both taxes. NO TAX* on In-Stock goodlifefitness.com 3 locations near you: 217 Lakeshore Road East, Oakville Oak Park Superstore Women's Club Town Centre Co-Ed Club 905-337-7244 Hopedale Women's Club www.swissinteriors.com 905.844.3530 905-257-4728 905-469-1150 *Based on the purchase of a 1 year PAP membership during your first club visit. Regular membership fee varies based on club and membership option chosen. No additional fees are required above the regular membership fee. Payments will commence based on your start date. Offer valid at participating clubs. Limited time only. Other conditions apply, see club for details.