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24 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday February 10, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com MOHA coaching program paying dividends with players Continued from page 23 than the novice AA squad did a year ago, to win its Tri-County league title once again. Nick Serniuck, the club's head coach, credited the MOHA for the success of his squad as well as the strength of the other local teams this year. "I believe the success of the teams is due to the system," he said. "Each level works to prepare players for the next. By having a standard for coaching (the Mitron system) and a dedicated team re-enforcing coaching development, MOHA is able to give support and guidance to their coaches, which obviously has a direct relationship on the players." Atom A House league graduates have played a major role in the success of the atom A Rangers, who had only five returning players from the minor atom A club and one former AA player. Glenn Lacoste, in his first year coaching a MOHA team after working with girls' hockey and select baseball squads in the past, has guided the new-look Rangers to a overall record of 39-6-6 thus far. That includes a 21-3-4 record in league play, a 14-3-2 mark in tournament competition (with three championships) and a 4-0 showing in the first round of OMHA play- downs. Led by 40-goal seasons from Ben Everett and Brandon Hughes, the Rangers outscored their opponents 255-89 this year. Goaltenders Lukas Marek, who played in house league white division a year ago, and Logan Gauer have combined to allow less than two goals per game. "I don't believe anyone thought we could take 11 new players and play at the level we have, especially when you introduce body contact into the fold," said Lacoste. "We have managed as a staff to take these talented young men to the next level." Atom AA Dave Crozier moved up to coaching the double-A level this year, and took a bunch of familiar faces with him. Ten players moved up to the double-A squad this year after back-toback OMHA championship seasons as single-A novices and minor atoms. They fared well against the tougher competition, going 21-3-4 in league play and winning the Kawartha Lakes Early-Bird Tournament. The Rangers have since made it through to the quarter-final round of OMHA playdowns. "A strong season was not expected," Crozier said, "but (the former single-A players') competitive sprit has raised everyone's game on this year's team." Minor peewee AE The minor peewee AE Rangers won 22 of 28 regular-season games, finishing atop their division, and earned gold in two of the four tournaments they entered. Oakville began the OMHA playdowns with three straight wins and will likely face either Georgetown or Brampton in the quarter-final round. "This season has surpassed our expectations. I think it has been a combination of very hard work, the boys never quit and never give up, team chemistry and, most importantly, they are having fun," said head coach Chris Stamper. "It takes a lot of people to make a team successful, and we really do have a great group of parents and kids." Minor peewee AA Eight of nine forwards reached double digits in their season goal total, helping the minor peewee AA Rangers win their league title with a 23-2-3 record. Oakville, semifinalist at both the Richard Bell and Pittsburgh Fall Invitational tournaments this year, began the OMHA playdowns with a pair of wins over Guelph and victories against Stoney Creek and Caledon. Head coach Don McLaughlin has installed a fast-paced, offensiveminded system, and credits the players' physical conditioning for making it work. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER "Oakville continues to develop some great players. It has always been GOOD YEAR: The Oakville minor peewee AE Rangers, pican outstanding hockey town," tured after winning the Richard Bell tournament two months ago, McLaughlin said. "If we can keep all of have had plenty to celebrate this season. the boys playing hockey in Oakville that live here, I believe we will have 2005-06, captains the team, while Jack Gillis solid success at every level and all age groups." has earned 10 shutouts in his first year of rep. Former AE player Matt McLaughlin, meanMinor peewee AAA while, led the team in scoring. The minor peewee AAA Rangers have been "This is a group of players that sincerely downright miserly this year, allowing only 32 cares for one another," said Langley. goals in their 29 games -- including eight Bantam AA shutouts in a 10-game span. Oakville went 25-2-2 in league play, They didn't win their league title, finishing reached the final of the Don Mills tourna- second, but the bantam AA Rangers' 17-5-6 ment, and beat defending OMHA champion mark and three tournament titles is nothing York-Simcoe twice in tournament action. to scoff at. "Team commitment to defensive zone covLed by forwards Jeff Pinto (captain) and erage, exceptional goaltending, strong Ricky Bota (leading scorer) , defencemen Mike defence, balanced scoring and great team Scott (plus-36) and Kyle Dube (plus-32), and chemistry," said head coach John Guzzo. goaltenders Ali Bennington and Chris Miniaci, The team will compete in the SCTA play- the Rangers earned gold at the Silver Stick down weekend March 16-18. tournament in Brampton and a competition in Washington, D.C., as well as an early-season Minor bantam A tournament in Orangeville. Four separate levels have blended into one Oakville began the OMHA round-robin solid single-A team this season: the minor playdowns with a 2-1-1 record, needing to win bantam A Rangers. its next two games in order to advance. Three of the team's players competed in "We broke our season into three house league last season, while another four trimesters," coach Mark Scott said. "By doing were on the AE squad. Six more played dou- this, it gave the guys a series of goals to strive ble-A as peewees a season ago. for in smaller periods of time. Go hard, relax... "Ironically, it has been the house league go harder, relax... go hardest and take the and AE players who have made the biggest summer off. We always expect to win - you impact," minor bantam A coach Bob Langley have to to have any kind of success." said of his team, which went 20-3-5 in league play and won its first three OMHA playdown * Attempts to contact coaches of the minor contests. atom A, peewee A and midget AAA Rangers Eric Purcell, a house league player in were unsuccessful.