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Wednesday, June 9, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D1 An Oakville Bernier Feature Editor: NORM NELSON 845-3824 (Extension 255) Fax:337-5567 -- This unidentified Oakville Coyote player steps over a Niagara player in Major Junior A roller hockey from Friday night. Visiting Niagara, however, won the game 15-10. Photo by Peter C. McCusker i IS YOUR GARAGE PROTECTING YOUR CAR BETTER THAN YOUR BARGAIN-RATE CAR INSURANCE? Don't trust just anyone to insure your car. see me: Wayne McGill 2345'Wytodi RA #21. Cbkvilfc 847-5671 Oakville Coyotes weekend split The Oakville Coyotes played four games in Major Junior A roller hock­ ey action this past weekend and settled for a split. The weekend started out on a losing note with a 15-10 regular league home loss to Niagara on Friday night. Next on tap, was the league showcase tourney on Sunday, the first of two this season. During these two showcase events, the west division teams (which includes the Coyotes) cross over to play the east division and these shortened games count in the standings. The Coyotes, who are struggling somewhat this season with a 4-6 record, almost had a sweep, beating winless York Thoroughblades 6-2, edg­ ing the Vaughan Rockets 6-5 but losing a close one 5-4 to Toronto. NEW SURFACE Friday night's home game was highlighted by the debut of the new play­ ing surface in Oakville Arena, designed specifically for roller hockey. After five years of playing on concrete, the Coyotes are now playing on Sport Court, which is the top playing surface for roller hockey, said Jay Labelle, who started the Halton Roller Hockey program which now includes the major junior A roller hockey team, the Coyote rep teams and the house league program. "I can't tell you how much this floor means to our league," he said. "It is like we have been skating with dull skates for the past five years and someone just sharpened them." Sport Court will bring a new era of roller hockey in Oakville, he said. "The 1999 season will long be remembered as the turning point in the evolution of roller hockey in this community." Sport Court, he elaborated, "is a sport specific engineering innovation that leads to outstanding performance and player safety. "Sport Court enables superior puck, stick, and skate handling, as well as vertical cushioning for greater player safety." The court is made of interlocking 10"x l0" plastic tiles. "You only, need to ask the players to understand the value of this floor to our league and community." The floor made its debut Thursday, May 20th, he said, to outstanding reviews from players, coaches, administrators, and parents. "The surface not only aids in the quality of the game being played, but also creates a much more aesthetically pleasing environment. "The ice blue colour of the court brightens up the arena, and the con­ trasting colour makes it easier to follow the puck for both player and fan." To make this purchase, the Halton Roller Hockey league had to take out (See 'Oakville Coyotes' page D3) SportsWdmhy earn Ex-CFLers could use a few reinforcements for the Halton Im/ictas By Norm Nelson BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR The related combination of heat and a lack of troops led to the Halton Invictas dropping their home opener 38-6 to Toronto Thunder in Ontario Varsity Football League action on Sunday. The Invictas, comprised primarily of Oakville and Burlington high school play­ ers, are back at home this Sunday (June 13), 2 p.m., against Brantford. The Invictas, this year, are coached by a couple of ex- CFLers. The head coach is Lawrence Fisher, who also played in the World Football League. He's a coach with the Toronto Argos and is also on the coaching staff of Sir Wilfrid Laurier University. He's ably assisted by St. Thomas Aquinas teacher Rick Kalvaitis, who split a couple of seasons between the Toronto Argos and the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the 1980s. He shares head coach­ ing duties at his Oakville high school with fellow teacher Gino Camelitti. "We kind of succumbed to the weather," said coach Kalvaitis. "That was a real tough game to start with. We stayed close with them in the first half, it was only 14-6. "The weather kind of (See 'Halton Invictas' page D3)Photo by Peter C. McCusker C R U S A D E R S R U G B Y : the Oakville Crusaders first side (black jerseys) earned a 22-16 home win over Ottawa Irish in Ontario A Premier rugby action last Saturday. The Crusaders host a busy weekend at home this weekend, highlighted by a Saturday, 3 p.m. game in which the first side hosts the Toronto Irish Canadians. A full day of rugby action starts at 9:30 a.m. with youth tournaments involving the non-con­ tact, U-14 mini rugby and midget U-16 rugby and also includes regular league games involving the women's side and the second and third men's teams. For complete schedule contact the Cru at 338-7533. Photos by Peter C. McCusker We just won an ejection of our own! 14.1** l i n in g flSSL»gpoiKwgjilSports over ____.-- , M \v v o ru isc* * ^ The Oakuille Beaver ju st received notice that our SPO RTS coverage is #1 in Ontario and a Top 3 Finalist in competition fo r Best in Canada with winners to be announced in July. Thank You to all the local sports teams and organizations that contribute to our success! ' i K W -* * £ «> . Z e . 1 IK"*** ** fs*>' . » * * » • ' ""*wwif «• * „ * . « > » g * & >*■ *- 1999 W IN N ER CCNA BETTER NEW SPAPERS COMPETITION Mrt***"*u» I ' #* ** ' *** trr.> Oakville BeaverQ flfa a /W e a fu t i i * 4.