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LEADING BY EXAMPLE: John Kurz of the Sudbury Wolves was recently presented with the OHL's Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy in recognition of his character and commitment. The award had extra-special meaning to Kurtz, who was teammates with Renaud before Renaud passed away two years ago. PHOTO COURTESY SUDBURY WOLVES Four local schools win Halton Tier 2 basketball titles Four local schools were crowned Halton public elementary Tier 2 basketball champions earlier this month, defeating crosstown rivals in every final. In the Central Division playdowns, Pine Grove won the girls' title and Brookdale claimed the boys' championship. The East Division saw Abbey Lane take the girls' crown and West Oak grab the boys' title. Pine Grove was led by Alison Goldie, Haley Suchanek, Sarah Thomas and Laura Churchill in a 41-29 victory over W.H. Morden, whose leading scorer was Maddy Seattle. Brookdale rode a 24-point effort from Ryan Claringbold to a 36-33 win over Pine Grove in the boys' final. Luke Whitehouse and Arjun Bopari scored four points each for Brookdale, with Hugh McLarty (19 points) and Oliver Chau (four) replying for Pine Grove. Abbey Lane got 16 points from Erica Mandel to down Sunningdale 27-13 in the East girls' final. Nicole Berios countered with five points for Sunningdale. In the East boys' final, Gurvir Bassan hit the gamewinning shot with 12 seconds left to lift West Oak over Post's Corners 38-36. Bassan finished the game with 16 points and Trenton Ford added eight. Lucas Orlita had 32 of Post's Corners' 36 points. The division championship games were the final ones of the season for these teams because, unlike Tier 1, there is no Halton championship awarded in Tier 2. 37 · Friday, April 30, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Kurtz recognized for his leadership my life," said Kurtz, who continued to wear Renaud's number 18 on his helmet for the rest of his OHL career. "Mickey and I were Gregory Jambrosich was trying to make really close. When he passed away, it hurt. his mark in the Ontario Hockey League. It still hurts." Like most 16-year-olds in the league, he Renaud's memory lives on, though. The was one of the top players on his midget OHL honoured him by creating the Mickey team but was now having to battle for ice Renaud Captain's Trophy, which is presenttime against older, more experienced play- ed annually to the team captain "that best ers. exemplifies the character and commitChristmas was approaching and ment that Mickey Renaud displayed during Jambrosich -- living more than 400 kilo- his career." Last week, Kurtz became the metres away from home -- was four second recipient of the award. months into his rookie "(The award) is special season with the Sudbury "The biggest thing is to all captains," the 20Wolves when he received a selflessness, putting the year-old said, "but for me, text. knowing what kind of perteam first. The main "If you're ever feeling son and player Mickey was, homesick or just want to thing is winning and it meant a lot." talk, give me a call," it said. making sure everybody Kurtz had displayed The text was from else is happy." leadership in minor hockSudbury captain John ey, serving as captain of his Kurtz. team through most of his n John Kurtz "John realizes to do minor hockey days with your job on the ice, you have to be sure the Oakville Rangers. Now he adds to things are together with your life off the Renaud's legacy by passing on the lessons ice," said Mike Foligno, who coached Kurtz he learned from his friend. the last three seasons in Sudbury. "The biggest thing is selflessness, putKurtz knew firsthand the impact a cap- ting the team first," Kurtz said. "The main tain could have on a young player. In his thing is winning and making sure everyrookie season with Windsor, Spitfires cap- body else is happy." tain Mickey Renaud had offered him guidAnd Kurtz means everybody. Most capance and helped show him the ropes. tains would find dealing with the concerns "As someone new coming into the of their own team enough to handle. But league and not knowing anybody, he made Kurtz does not limit the job to the Wolves the transition a lot easier," Kurtz said. dressing room. After what happened to After his trade to Sudbury following his Renaud, he knows it is not just teammates rookie season, Kurtz kept in touch with that are affected by tragedy. The hockey Renaud. Then in February of 2008, Kurtz world is small, he says, "everybody knows was at his billet's home when the phone somebody, who knows somebody." rang. It was his mom and she had some Foligno said on several occasions Kurtz bad news. brought in cards for the Wolves players to Renaud, just 19 years old, had collapsed sign to send to a player on another team at his home and died as the result of unde- who was dealing with difficult times pertected heart condition. sonally, "just to let them know the Sudbury "It was the worst phone call I've had in Wolves were thinking about them." By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Kurtz was also the Wolves' nominee for the Dan Snyder Award for the OHL Humanitarian of the Year and, while studying sports management at Laurentian University, was twice named the OHL scholastic player of the month. On the ice, Kurtz established himself as a reliable defensive player early in his OHL career and his work ethic helped him earn more opportunities offensively. The 6foot-3, 203-pound left winger had a career-best 54 points in 2008-09 and it did not go unnoticed. He was invited to the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie camp in the fall and made enough of an impression to earn a spot in the main camp before suffering a concussion. He returned to Sudbury where the Wolves were fortunate to get their leader back. Jambrosich said on his first day back with the team, Kurtz came up to him, introduced himself and shook his hand. The rookie was surprised that the captain already knew his nickname. Kurtz went on to score a career-best 30 goals. Though Sudbury was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round, Kurtz's season continued when the American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch offered him an amateur tryout agreement. He played the final six games of the season with them, scoring his first pro goal. Kurtz hopes his play will earn him a contract next season. And though he won't return to Sudbury, like Renaud, Kurtz has left a lasting impression on his teammates. "He gave it his all every game and playing the same position as him, you see the stuff that he's doing and you learn from it," said Jambrosich. "He's like a big brother. He's one of those guys, no matter what your role was on the team, he made you feel like a key contributor." * FREE DAILY SERVICE Morning and afternoon departures to Fallsview Casino *After $10 Casino Rebate Government Photo ID required From Carpool Lot Guelph Line, North Service Minimum 5- hour stay required. Valid government-issuedRd identification photo and Players Advantage Club Card required to redeem offers. Offers subject to change without notice. Offers cannot be combined/substituted. Must be 19 years of age or older to board coaches for casino. Void where prohibited. 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