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

www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Tuesday, December 29, 2009 · 44 Helmer, Cappelletti earn silver with MAC Abbey Park's Renee Helmer and White Oaks' Melissa Cappelletti helped the MAC 18-Under girls volleyball team win a silver medal at the Provincial Cup in Cambridge. MAC was undefeated in pool play and topped Burlington Fire and Fury 17U 18-25, 29-27, 15-10 in the quarterfinals and then the Ottawa Mavericks 26-24, 25-20 in the semis before falling to Element 25-23, 25-13 in the final. Oreskovich makes the most of second chance Continued from page 41 the guys in the NHL," he said of Oreskovich, who had continued to lift weights in his time away from the game. Oreskovich may not have played hockey in two years, but he had been paying attention. "I'm tired of watching players I'm on par with or better than playing in the NHL," Morris recalls Oreskovich telling him. "Can you find me an opportunity?" Though Morris was convinced of Oreskovich's desire to return during their twohour meeting, he knew his newest client wouldn't be an easy sell. "He had a history, a background, and it was not good. He left the game." First Morris contacted Colorado, the team that drafted Oreskovich 55th overall in 2004. The response was not overwhelming. Next, Morris contacted the Florida Panthers, who had named DeBoer their head coach the previous season. "Vic always had the talent. He's big, strong, skilled and fast," DeBoer said. "I just told our GM, make sure when you talk to Vic that he's fully committed, that he's not just sticking his toe in water. And every answer that came back from (Vic) and his camp was that he was (committed)." · · · · Oreskovich proved that in training camp. He made enough of an impression to earn a twoway contract and after his surprisingly brief "It's been a little stint in the minors, he surreal. You're made his NHL debut competing against in St. Louis on guys you grew up Halloween. watching. But at For someone who had been retired two the same time, months earlier, it had you don't want to to feel a little like a be in awe." costume party. Wearing number 65 Victor Oreskovich seemed appropriate, since it's the kind of number that is usually assigned in training camp to a player with little hope of making the team. "It's been a little surreal," said Oreskovich, whose first NHL goal two weeks later forced overtime in a 4-3 shootout loss to Los Angeles. "You're competing against guys you grew up watching. But at the same time, you don't want to be in awe." Wade Redden can attest that hasn't been the case. Oreskovich's hit knocked the New York Rangers' veteran defenceman out of the lineup for two weeks. "He hasn't looked out of place," DeBoer said. "He's made it tough for us to take him out of the lineup." Even in junior, the Panthers' coach always knew Oreskovich had the skills to compete at the highest level. But he says the player he is coaching today is nothing like the player he ordered off the bench in junior. "He's a totally different person. That kid (in junior) was a troubled young man. He's sorted all that out," DeBoer said. "It always was his commitment, where his mind was and how bad he wanted it. I've seen a lot of kids over the years and they don't appreciate what they have until it's not there any more." Oreskovich is no longer taking anything for granted. He's been in the lineup for every game since his recall but when asked if he's looking forward to Florida's Jan. 5 game in Toronto, he says, "I can't wait, hopefully I'm still up." Save lives, DON'T DRINK & DRIVE! A safe, happy holiday season for everyone tops MADD Canada's wish list Have A Safe and Happy New Year! Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Broker Sales Representative 326 Lakeshore Rd. E., Oakville BRENDA CURLISS (905)845-4267 E-mail: brendacurliss@cogeco.ca www.royallepage.ca/BrendaCurliss Check Us Out! MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime. 1-800-665-6233 | MADD Halton Region | Phone: 905-844-0096 | Email: info@maddhalton.org | www.madd.ca 928 Winston Churchill Blvd., akville, ON L6J 7X5 TEL: (905) 338-9919 FAX: (905) 338-3089 SPRIGGS INSURANCE BROKERS LIMITED Kevin Flynn, MPP Oakville Wishing you a Safe & Happy New Year Community Office: Unit 2 ,2330 Lakeshore Road West Oakville ON L6L 1H3 tel: 905-827-5141 fax: 905-827-3786 kflynn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Phone (905) 845-3654 Fax (905) 845-9748 FORTINOS LTD. 173 Lakeshore Road West Oakville, ON L6K 1E7 e-mail: rspriggs@spriggs.ca 159 Church Street, Oakville, Ontario, L6J 1N1 John Crnogorac Franchise Owner Your Supermarket with a Heart! Mississauga Burlington Oakville Fax Happy New Year! (416)798-7527 (905)681-4035 (905)844-9232 (905)845-1634