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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Titanic changes for Sr. B lacrosse club Blue Devils kick by Jon Kuiperij Beaver Sports Editor Sports 55 | Friday, May 1, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" A new coaching staff, a different home arena, an overhauled roster, a dedicated game night and increased expectations. The only constant about the Oakville Titans these days might be the senior B lacrosse team's logo and jerseys. "I'm most excited about the coaches," Oakville general manager Josh Briscoe said of the recent changes, referring to incoming head coach Ken Gillies and his assistants, Mike White and Tony Crepinsek. Gillies, who has coached or managed the Oakville Buzz junior B team for much of the past decade, had been on Briscoe's radar since the Titans moved to Oakville three years ago from Wellington. "He's a guy that not only knows the game, he knows the players because he's been in the junior ranks. He and Tony and Mike know all the guys that are coming through (the Oakville system)... and they're wonderful personalities to deal with," Briscoe said. The Titans will open the 2015 season against the Ennismore James Gang Sunday at Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. All of the Titans' home games this year will be 7 p.m. Sunday starts on the artificial turf surface of the lacrosse-specific facility. Last year, Oakville played home games on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on concrete floors at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. Briscoe feels the change in venues will be good for both the team's players and fans. "We're not a team of teenagers. As these guys get into their 20s and 30s, that turf is wonderful to be on," he said. "And I think off first League1 season Sunday By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff Mike White (left) and Ken Gillies, two very recognizable names in the Oakville lacrosse community, will coach the Oakville Titans senior B team this season. Tony Crepinsek (not pictured) will also serve as an assistant coach. | photo by Riziero Vertolli -- Oakville Beaver -- @Halton_Photog going to the one game night, a Sunday night when people are able to get back from the cottage, we can really promote it." The Titans' roster had not yet been finalized as of Wednesday, but Briscoe anticipates a 50 per cent shake-up from last year's squad that went 7-9 during the regular season, then bowed out in the second round of the playoffs. 2014 scoring leaders Jon Mason, Connor Latimer, Sean Gillies and Cam Monroe are likely to return, though Brad Gillies is moving up to senior A and Luke Laszkiewicz hopes to do the same. By the time training camp concludes this week, Briscoe estimates the Titans will have looked at more than 50 players, an increase over past years. They are also awaiting the return of players currently away at university. "We've done a lot of hard work, and people are starting to see success," said Briscoe, noting the Titans' semifinal appearance in last year's playoffs. "I've been on the phone or email the entire offseason (recruiting players), and a lot of it is that players talk to each other, say `I'm coming out and I'll bring this guy out with me.' see Two on p.57 The Oakville Blue Devils will be looking to establish a team identity as they begin their first season in League1 Ontario, but already president Duncan Wilde is thinking about making changes to the team's logo. The two stars atop the club's logo represent the championships won by previous incarnations of the Blue Devils -- a national under-19 title in 1998 and a Canadian Professional Soccer League crown in 2005. Wilde would like nothing more than to add another star as soon as possible. And while that may not necessarily happen this season as the Blue Devils join a league that already has established powerhouse teams, Wilde sees no reason the team can't be competitive. "We had the infrastructure in place from the PDL (Premier Development League, which the team played in last season under the Toronto Lynx banner)," Wilde said. "We've made some roster changes, but I'd like to think we'll be really competitive. It's in our DNA to want to compete for championships." That process begins Sunday as the Blue Devils kick off the League1 season by hosting the Sanjaxx Lions at 4 p.m. at Sheridan College. And while Wilde would like to win championships, he also wants to do it with local talent by building a development system through the team's affiliation with the Oakville Soccer Club. This year's squad will feature several players who came up through the OSC, including midfielder Anthony Doran and Tyler Wason, both members of see Devils on p.57 THE GYM NAUTILUS Est. 1982 Convenient, clean, and friendly. We're Oakville's best kept secret! High quality weight training and Nautilus cardio equipment. Experienced and mature personal trainers. Carpeted, air conditioned with ample natural light from large windows. Free indoor parking. 4-Month Student Special $189 + HST 11 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, ON www.thegymnautilus.com 905-844-1610