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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports 33 | Wednesday, March 20, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Mission accomplished Minor midget AAA Rangers become first-ever Oakville team to win OHL Cup by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Duncan Harvey still vividly remembers the front page of the Oakville Beaver sports section on April 7, 2004. "There were five Oakville kids playing on the best team in the province. They were the best kids on that team," Harvey recalls of the Greater Toronto Hockey League's Toronto Marlies bantam AAA team, which featured 1989-born players John Tavares, Sam Gagner, Cody Goloubef, Justin Vaive and Reggie Traccitto. "And I saw the story in the Oakville Beaver right after they won the (provincial bantam hockey championships). The Oakville minor midget AAA Rangers celebrate Sunday in Toronto after becoming the first Ontario Minor Hockey Association team to win the OHL Cup since 2006. | Aaron Bell -- OHL Images "And I was thinking, why couldn't that program be here?" to minor midget -- is the pinnacle event of year. Now we're first in the province, and I'd vey says. With that, the motivation to turn an minor hockey. The trophy itself dates back to say first in North America, the way we've "We just hope we've set the bar as high as it Oakville Rangers team into the best squad 1968, when it was first awarded to the pro- been playing lately." can go now, and that the (Minor Oaks Hockey in the province was born. And Sunday, nine vincial bantam champion. Association) takes on the challenge to move years later, Harvey's dream came to fruition. "It's the one thing everyone chases," says Compilation of talent criticized the organization into that level when it comes The minor midget AAA Rangers became the Harvey. to AAA teams and championships beyond first-ever Oakville team to win the prestigious The trip to the top did not come without its OMHAs. I know our AAA teams have done "I sent an e-mail to our parents (Monday) OHL Cup championship, overcoming an 0-1- morning, saying this is the greatest Oakville costs. Harvey admits there were some bridges well at the OMHA level, but as far as all-On1 start at the tournament in Mississauga by Rangers team that has ever played. It's the big- burned along the way. tarios and Silver Sticks go, that's the last hurdle winning their final four games in dominant gest tournament in minor hockey. I know the The Rangers have been heavily criticized -- to compete with all the teams from every fashion. Oakville clinched the OHL Cup title Telus Cup (national midget AAA champion- over the years for supplementing their team league and find a way to come out on top. -- the first earned by an ship) is a big event -- Oakville with out-of-town talent, in turn taking spots "We definitely didn't make a lot of friends Ontario Minor Hockey has not won the Telus Cup on the team away from local residents. The along the way, but now Oakville finally gets Association team since -- but it's different because in condemnation intensified even more this sea- to have a team that will go down with the '89 the Steven Stamkos-led Ontario, all the top players are son as players and their families moved to Marlies team." Markham Waxers did gone. Of all the tournaments Oakville from as far away as Ottawa, Quebec Spencer watched over the years as some so in 2006 -- with a 5-1 with the best kids in one age and New Jersey to join the team. of his long-time teammates and friends were rout of the Marlies in In all, 10 of the 17 players on this year's mi- bumped off the roster to accommodate out-ofgroup all playing in it, this is Sunday's final at North nor midget AAA Rangers squad could be con- towners. the event." York's Herb Carnegie For captain Matt Spencer, sidered "true" Oakville residents, according "It was definitely tough. One of my good Arena. Adam Craievich part of the team since tyke, to Harvey. Andrew Burns has also been with friends I went to school with went to (play and Sean Kohler each the OHL Cup win marked the the team since tyke, Jesse Barwell joined the hockey in) Brampton because unfortunately scored twice in the title end of a worst-to-first journey. team in minor atom, Mark Bzowey and Sean there wasn't a spot for him this year," says game, Cody PetawaWhen Harvey took over the Kohler climbed on board as peewees and Matt Spencer. "But, after a while, our main goal was bano added a third-peRangers after their novice year, Luff returned to Oakville from the GTHL three to win championships, and we felt the players riod marker and Adrian they were coming off a 2-26-4 years ago. we brought in, the imports, would give us the Duncan Harvey Clark earned the victoThree other players are imports, and Harvey best chance to win something. It's tough, but I campaign. Minor midget AAA Rangers head coach ry in net to finish with "It's quite awe inspiring," says four moved to town specifically to play guess it's business, in a way. a tournament-best 0.75 says Spencer, who was an- hockey. "In the (GTHL), there's a lot more flexibility goals-against average. "I understand this team has (sparked) a lot with players... I think after a while, you can't nounced as the OMHA's player of the year last To Harvey, the long-time Rangers coach, week. "We went from a team that was last in of controversy. People were unhappy. But at just focus on this small little area of Oakville the OHL Cup -- created 11 years ago, when the province... to the next year being third the end of the day, something drastic had to be to provide enough talent and enough people the OHL draft year switched from bantam in our league. We kept building to this final done to get Oakville into the spotlight," Harsee Rangers on p.35 This is the greatest Oakville Rangers team that has ever played.