The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

D6 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 4. 2001 _ AutoGlass ,/ i* 1033 Speers APPLE Rd. 842-6060 UPHOLSTERY.. SEATS, BOAT TOP*, CONVERTIBLE TOPS... S p o r ts W a te c to An Oakville Beaver Featutv Editor: NORM NELSON Phone:845-3824, ext 255 Fax:337-5567 E-mail:nnelson@haltonsearch.com Teen turns to coaching after concussion prematurely ends promising hockey career By Kathy V^nchus SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER 1 dent at White Oaks Secondary School, osh Dixon, an 18-year-old Grade 12 stu- # P didn't even see it coming. jk cowardly check from behind and his play ing days were over. The then 15-year-old ban tam triple-A hockey player dropped to the ice with his fourth, third-degree concussion. "The night I got hit, I knew I was done," said the straight talking Oakville youth who at the time of his devastating injury was captain of his elite hockey team. He doesn't remember the incident that cut short his playing career, nor, ironically, the blocked shot and game-winning assist he made just prior -- a sequence of plays which helped catapult his team into first place. Like most Canadian kids, he started playing hockey at an early age, right after he learned how to skate (by pushing a chair around the ice). Whether it was outdoors in the midst of a bit ter winter or in the basement in the middle of August, he would stickhandle and shoot for hours on end. He rose quickly through house league ranks and played six years in the Oakville Rangers rep system. Then abruptly. Josh was through. It was October of 1998, nine games into the season. The crack as his head hit the ice must have been nauseating to those who knew of his injury-prone past. It was devastating to the young man, but he says he has himself to par tially blame -- coming back too soon from his third concussion. Now, with his hopes of one day playing in the NHL or suiting up for the national team dashed, he was forced to face the fact that he would never be able to play contact sports of any kind, nor could he ever shake the lasting effects o f such brain trauma -- the fatigue and episodes of depression. What he hadn't lost, however, was his pas sion for the game. So he went the obvious route. If he could no longer leap over the boards to join the frey, he would have to settle for the next best thing -- behind the bench. And, so, much to the wonderment of offi cials, coaches and players within the Minor Oaks Hockey Association (MOHA). he still con tinues to lace up his skates with the same dedi cation and commitment that fueled his rise to the top triple-A level. Only now, it's not to take faceoffs or fly up the ice to outwit a goalie, but to impart his opti mism, his tremendous passion for, and knowl edge of the game, to a group of impressionable 13-year-old players eager to listen. Josh immediately went about certifying him self as a coach, Levels 1 and II, and as a trainer, and is believed to be the youngest person ever to hold such credentials. He then joined his former coach Rick M acintosh on the bench, someone he attributes to teaching him so much about the sport. "I did it in order to stay on the bench. I love hockey. I'd go insane if I couldn't do something Photos by Peter C. McCusker Josh Dixon (left photo), a one-time captain of Oakville's triple-A ban tam rep team, coached Oakville's peewee single-A rep team this season with Pat Kahnert (in right photo). (involving hockey)." If there is bitterness, he conceals it well. Grounded, focused, with not a hint o f self-centredness, Josh speaks sincerely when he says, "It means a whole lot more making a difference in their lives. It's an incredible feeling when some one scores a goal and you're as happy as they are and you didn't score the goal." This season, his climb up the coaching ranks continued as he co-coached Oakville's very good Oakville Rangers peewee `A' rep team which made it to the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) quarterfinals. The team's other coach -- Pat Kahnert (who has a son on the team) -- met Josh at a coach ing seminar they were both enrolled in, and remembered thinking he would be a "heck of a find for any bench." Kahnert ran into Josh again at a trainers' course and while it was Josh's relative age that stood out like a sore thumb, what continued to impress Kahnert was his commitment and pas sion as a student of the game. Kahnert couldn't think of a better role model for his own peewee A rep team and soon talked Josh into joining him. "We divvied up the head coach duties. He takes all the practices. He is such an inspiration to the team. He is so positive, so mature and focused. What he is doing transcends his 18 years. The kids really respect him for what he does." A good coach must have compassion, care, commitment and the ability to build confidence in his players, and Josh excels in every depart ment, adds Kahnert. put on by Ridley College and McGill Josh says Kahnert has taught him much about University. relating to players and building trust. Coaching Josh also shares his personal experience at seems to come naturally, says Josh and he head injury conferences throughout the province, urging kids not to risk everything as thanks the many people throughout MOHA for he did by coming back too soon, and to have his opportunities. Certainly, he has had no problem gaining the respect for their on-ice opponents. "It's not worth the risk," he says. attention and respect of his young charges; of Josh is also one of four members of the sole course, it doesn't hurt that he played at such Oakville entry in the debut Scouts Canada high level himself. Northern Outdoor Adventure Race, a gruelling Team member Scott Emberley said his skills event involving stints of mountain biking, have improved in his first year of rep hockey, canoeing and kayaking, and repelling for which thanks to Josh. he and his teammates -- fellow WOSS students "Josh is really experienced. He has a lot of knowledge about hockey and he knows what it's Caitlin MacLennan, Manchit Bopargi and Courtney Bonk -- are currently in training for like to play rep hockey at this age." It's easier talking to someone who is closer to and for which they are seeking sponsorships. He also plays goalie for the Oakville Coyotes your age, remarked Kahnert's son Pat, and Josh roller hockey league and would love to coach a "can skate like heck and shoot amazingly." high school hockey team, with his ultimate goal Recently, the team participated in an exhibi altered slightly. Instead of playing for Canada's tion game at the Air Canada Centre, home of the national hockey team -- he now aspires to Toronto Maple Leafs. Josh went for a skate just coach it. so he could step on the ice where the Leafs play, "I think he is a terrific student of hockey and said team treasurer Joe Mejaski. I think he'll achieve what he dreams," says "It's amazing the commitment he has at this Kahnert. stage of his life, his passion for the game. He Vice-president of the MOHA rep division, can relate to all the players, they have so much Keith Murray, couldn't agree more. "He is a respect for him." great role model. He is a fine example of what The same high standards Josh demonstrates you'd like a kid to be. He's just so enthusiastic." on the ice, apply to his off-ice life as well. The A solid hockey background, excellent com Grade 12 White Oaks student, who has complet munication skills and positive leadership com ed three years of high school with honours, has bine to make a good hockey coach, says Murray, his eye on an English degree at Queen's. He is active in debating and public speaking x and Josh is the ideal candidate. SEE TEAM REP REPORT, pg. D4 and has participated in prestigious competitions Notre Dame wins Jr. tournament: Loyola goes 1-2 Loyola's junior hockey tournament for Halton and Peel high schools at Ice Sports last week saw the champi onship trophy remain in Halton. Unfortunately, it w asn't Loyola that kept it there. Last Friday's championship game was an all-H alton affair with Burlington's Notre Dame edging Milton's Bishop Reding 3-2 in over time. The Loyola `A' team settled for a 12 record, defeating B urlington's Pearson 3-0 but absorbing a couple of 5-3 losses to St. Joseph's from Peel and to eventual cham pion Notre Dame. Loyola players pile on top of a Notre Dame player. Notre Dame, however, finished on top not just in this game but the entire 12-team tournament. Photo by Erin Riley jb---------------------------------------------------------- ^ Auspicious beginning * for new Oakville club Oakville's fencing club has been busy of late. Milton resident Stephen Willson, 31, earned a pile of medals on the Ontario Challenge Circuit in men's epee. He earned a silver medal at Ryerson, gold medal at Waterloo and a silver medal at the OCC finals. Over all, he finished third on the circuit. On the national open circuit, Willson earned two 15th place finishes and a 15th place finish at the Ontario provincial finals. He is currently ranked 51st in Canada. On the world cup circuit he placed 69th at Le Grand Duel - Coupe du Monde in Montreal. Oakville resident Simon Walsh, 30, also in men's epee, in his rookie season, collected enough points to earn him a 33rd place finish on the circuit. Kamil Karbonowski, in men's foil, also in his rookie season, finished 59th overall. The Company of Cavalier Gentlemen, a non-profit Oakville club, is dedicated to promoting interest in fenc ing, both historical and modem. In addition to the foil, epee and sabre, the club studies and re-creates western European martial arts of the 17th century. Classes are held at the Ontario Centre for Martial Arts, 461 North Service Road in Oakville (825-4223). Here s w h at w e 'll do: Install up to 8L of Motomaster Coolant · Pressure - test cooling system Visually inspect all belts & hoses cooling fan operation 8 4 9 -8 4 7 3 -- * 844-0202 ST O R E HOURS: Mon. -Fri. 8 :30am-9pm Sal 9am-6pm. Sun. 9am-5pm Look for our flyer in Friday's Oakville Beaver Our new store is opening at Trafalgar and Dundas early April ftccretflte I fat wm The Gar Bar and Car wash Are Now Open.