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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, February 27, 2014 | 16 HALTON TRANSMISSION 559 SPEERS RD., #UNIT 3 905-842-0725 www.haltontransmission.com Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Sports by Jon Kuiperij "Connected to your Community" Jenner returns home, gold in tow B Appleby College grad Brianne Jenner shows off her Olympic gold medal after returning home Tuesday from Sochi. The Canadian women's hockey team member was greeted at Pearson International Airport by her parents as well as a large group of media and fans. | photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog the tournament. That was followed by Marie-Philip Poulin's equalizer with under a minute to go, then Beaver Sports Editor Poulin's winner eight minutes into OT. Jenner, who at 22 years of age was the secondrenda Jenner was thinking like a mother as she youngest member of the Canadian squad, downwaited for newly-minted Olympic champion played the notion that her goal turned the Olympic daughter Brianne to walk through the arrival final around. "I think someone would have (scored) eventually. gate Tuesday afternoon at Pearson International AirWe had that momentum going alport. ready," the Appleby College grad "I hope they're dressed propsaid. erly," she said softly. "Brianne's Such humility is typical of Bripretty laid back." anne, according to her mother. Brenda's concerns were put to "If you know Brianne, she's rerest a few minutes later as Brially low key, no fuss. She doesn't anne finally emerged, clad in a red want the spotlight," Brenda said. t-shirt, black zip-up jacket and "We had friends who said they grey sweatpants. Her gold medal, wanted to come to the airport earned in the Canadian women's (Tuesday), but Brianne would have hockey team's dramatic 3-2 oversaid, `What are you doing here?' time victory over the United "It's kind of strange. You go in States last Thursday, was the perand out of believing (what Brifect complement. anne and her teammates accomBrianne's luggage and hockey Brianne Jenner plished)," Brenda added. "That's equipment may have been lost on Olympic women's hockey gold medallist how I feel. To me, she's still Brithe nine-hour flight home from anne who wanted to know what's Russia -- she'll have to visit Service Ontario in the next day or two to get a tempo- for dinner tonight." Brenda and husband Dave, both of whom attended rary driver's license -- but there were two things she the entire Games in Sochi and watched all of the Cawasn't letting out of her sight. "My passport and gold medal I keep on me at all nadian women's hockey contests in person, were just times," Jenner said. "I'm not too worried about the two of the many family members, media and wellwallet. I have a few things in there, but I'm sure it will wishers who welcomed the women's hockey team and other Olympians home Tuesday. get here eventually." Brianne was appreciative of the support, which she That Jenner isn't fazed by missing personal belongings probably shouldn't come as much of a shock. The said she and her teammates also felt in Russia. "There were so many Canadian fans over there. We last two weeks have been a whirlwind, particularly since her goal in the Olympic final. Canada trailed physically saw it and felt it. So many messages by text the U.S. 2-0 with less than four minutes remaining and Twitter," she said. see Olympics on p.17 in regulation before Jenner notched her first goal of I think someone would have scored eventually. We had the momentum going already. Torn knee ligament doesn't spoil Tavares's Olympic experience John Tavares was a man of mixed emotions as he discussed his Olympic experience Tuesday in Unionville, N.Y. On one hand, Tavares felt badly that a knee injury he suffered while helping Canada win men's hockey gold at the Games will keep him out of the New York Islanders' lineup for the remainder of the National Hockey League season. On the other, the 23-year-old former St. Thomas Aquinas high school student said he would do it all again. "I think it's important for us to play. I think you saw how much we love representing our countries," Tavares told Islanders TV and other reporters assembled in the Islanders' dressing room, addressing the torn MCL he suffered during Canada's quarter-final victory over Latvia that knocked him out of the tournament "If you put yourselves in (Islanders general manager Garth Snow's) shoes, you can understand why teams are concerned about their players and injuries. Certainly, he cares a lot about the Islanders and this organization, and so do I. There's always that risk (of injury) any time you step on the ice... it's obviously a tough situation, but I certainly love playing for my country and if I get the call again, I would." Tavares said his knee did not require surgery. He also noted he suffered a similar injury to the same knee when he was 16 years old and trying out for the Canadian under-18 team. "I missed a full six weeks of training and working out in the summer time. I didn't miss any games, but I missed the tournament," he told reporters. "I remember not being able to do a whole lot, especially in the beginning. I will just try to support my teammates here. Other guys will get more opportunities, and I'll put everything I can into rehab and therapy." Following his injury in Sochi, Tavares remained with the Canadian team and joined in on-ice celebrations following the 3-0 win over Sweden in Sunday's gold-medal game. It was an experience that will last a lifetime. "It was pretty damn special. A lot of fun," he said. "(Being in the Canadian dressing room after the final) was something I'll never forget." Tavares currently ranks third in the NHL scoring race with 24 goals and 42 assists in 59 games. He said he fully expects to be healthy for the Islanders' training camp in the fall. Oakville's John Tavares (20) celebrates a goal with Canadian teammates Alex Pietrangelo (27) and Patrick Sharp during last week's Olympic men's hockey quarter-final victory over Latvia. Tavares tore a ligament in his knee later in the game and will miss the rest of the NHL season. | photo by Richard Lautens -- Toronto Star