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12 Sp ports SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012 Bell champion minor bantams finally playing with full deck By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The last two months "have been a struggle," says Oakville Rangers coach Nelson Pavao. If that's the case, there are probably a lot of teams that would gladly have asked for a healthy dose of adversity for Christmas. Pavao's minor bantam AE squad had won nine of its last 12 league games (going 9-1-2 during that stretch) heading into last START TODAY! 11 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville THE GYM NAUTILUS week's Richard Bell Memorial Minor Hockey Tournament. But the team has been besieged by injuries, at times missing as many six players from its lineup -- three of them suffering from concussions. Despite a 19-3-3 record this season, the Rangers sit in second place behind Brampton in the Tri-County Hockey League standings. That's why the Rangers were so happy to have everyone back in the lineup for last week's tournament. With just two games remaining before the OMHA playoffs begin, the team is hoping last Thursday's victory at the Bell will provide the boost they need. "It feels amazing," said Adam Nemcsek, who scored twice in the Rangers' convincing 4-0 championship game victory over the Richmond Hill Stars. "Hopefully this will push us right through to the playdowns and right to an OMHA championship." Nemcsek was one of the players out with a concussion. He missed more than a month but made his return at the tournament and showed no ill effects, earning the team's `Big Stick' -- its award for the player of the tournament. Oakville went 6-0 at the tournament, posting three shutouts. With strong support in front of him, Adrian Mendez was only called on to make 10 saves in the final. He and Malik Wocker allowed only five goals in the six games, which is even stingier than they've been in league play, where they've y p posted a 1.77 g goals-against g average. The Rangers provided their netminders with plenty of offensive support as well. Apart from a 2-0 win over the Burlington Bulldogs in their opener, Oakville scored at least four times in every game, including a 4-0 semifinal win over Stoney Creek. In the final, in addition to Nemcsek's two goals, Julian Chiovitti and Nicholas Li also scored. Grant Vassos, Jared Schultz and Ben Yacula drew assists. It was the Rangers' second tournament victory of the season, having won previously in Rochester. They were edged in overtime in the final of a tournament in Uxbridge and lost in the semifinals of a tournament in Burlington. Winning the Bell was special for the Rangers, not only to show what they are capable of with a full lineup, but also because they are tournament hosts. "It's nice to win at home," Pavao said. "You have more family out watching and because it's the minor age only, you can only play in it every two years. For some of f these guys, it might be their last chance to play. But they'll always be able to look back and say, `We won that tournament.'" The Rangers have just one tournament remaining, the SEDMHA Honda International in Halifax in April. Now back at full strength, they hope they'll be able to head out east as OMHA champs. -- Herb Garbutt can be followed d on Twitter at @Herbgarbutt g More Richard Bell coverage to come Two editions of the Beaver r haven't been enough to accommodate coverage from last week's Richard Bell Memorial Minor Hockey Tournament. See tomorrow's (Friday's) paper for details from the minor bantam AA and minor midget AA Rangers' championships at the annual tournament. And visit our website (www. oakvillebeaver.com) for coverage of f the five local squads that finished second in their divisions. Stories about the minor atom A, minor atom AE and minor peewee AA Rangers appeared in yesterday's (Wednesday's) paper. CALL FOR A FREE WORKOUT WITH A TRAINER. NAUTILUS · FREE WEIGHTS · CARDIO CALL 905-844-1610 VISIT WWW.THEGYMNAUTILUS.COM