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32 Sports Oakville Beaver United Way of Oakville 2007 Campaign Total Total Amount Amount Amount Raised Raised 40% 60% Our Goal $2.25 Million www.uwoakville.org SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2007 Trade brings Shepley back home By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR DOUG BALL / COURTESY OF BRAMPTON BATTALION A TROOPER: Oakville-born defenceman Zack Shepley is now with the Brampton Battalion. Zack is back, in more ways than one. Twenty-year-old Oakville native Zack Shepley returned to Ontario Hockey League action last weekend, playing in his first games of the season after undergoing off-season surgery to repair two herniated discs in his lower back. The return to action coincided with a return to the area for Shepley, who was dealt to the Brampton Batallion last Friday after playing his first three seasons with the Plymouth Whalers. "It was good to play in a game again," said the defenceman, who arrived in Brampton one hour before Friday's game but still suited up for the Batallion in a 3-0 win over the Niagara IceDogs. "It was nice to get the first one out of the way right away and not have to think about it for a few days. I didn't have to deal with the nervousness." Shepley was referring to the adjustment of playing with a new team, but he easily could have been talking about his return from the back ailment. He first started feeling pain in his lower back in the spring of 2005, but played through the pain last season before undergoing an MRI at Christmas. The test discovered the two herniated discs, causing Shepley to sit out for six weeks before rejoining the Whalers for their run to the Memorial Cup tournament. He finally underwent surgery this past summer. "I knew I had to take the time to heal it so I could have a hockey career (past the OHL) as well as a normal life," Shepley said. Playing with Brampton means Shepley can move back in with his parents, who relocated to Milton three years ago. It also might mean a better shot at getting back to the Memorial Cup, since the Batallion entered the weekend sitting second in the Eastern Conference with a 19-10-1-2 record. Plymouth wasn't doing too badly itself, but its 19-8-1-2 record was only good for a fourth-place tie with the London Knights in the West. That conference also features the Kitchener Rangers (25-4-12), Windsor Spitfires (21-6-3-3) and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (22-8-1-1). "The West is pretty strong this year," Shepley concurred. "I think (the Batallion) has a chance to go all the way." Shepley was one of four over-agers on the Whalers, prompting Plymouth to deal him for a third-round pick in 2010. OHL rules only allow teams to carry three over-age players (1987 birth year, this season) on their rosters. Shepley totaled two goals, 20 assists and 165 penalty minutes in 176 regular-season games in Plymouth. Brendan Taylor also dealt Shepley wasn't the only OHL player with local connections to be traded recently. Former Oakville Blades forward Brendan Taylor was shipped by the Belleville Bulls to the Saginaw Spirit last week in a five-player swap. Spirit general manager Don Edwards, familiar with Taylor from their time together when Edwards coached the Blades, said the move should provide Taylor with an opportunity for a greater role, including time on the powerplay. St. Matthew claims Catholic v-ball title St. Matthew Catholic School recently added another chapter to its history of volleyball success. The Lady Wildcats concluded a stellar season by winning the Halton Catholic District School Board girls' championship at St. Thomas Aquinas, sweeping aside local rivals St. Andrew and St. Luke to claim the prize. St. Matthew, which had last won the regional title five years ago, also won the Oakville Catholic crown, finished fifth at the Catholic Cup tournament and reached the final 16 in the Provincial Cup earlier this year. "Volleyball is big," said Lady Wildcats coach Mike Yorke. "They have set a tradition at this school of doing well that goes back 20 years, both boys and girls." Halton finalist a year ago, St. Matthew returned many of those players this season, and the experience paid off. Yorke described the squad as mature and intelligent, recognizing when to spike the ball and when to tip it. "It was one of those groups you get every so often," he said. WILDCATS WIN: The St. Matthew Lady Wildcats recently won the Halton Catholic District School Board girls' volleyball championship. Pictured are players Laura Whaley, Katelyn Proska, Stephanie Kitchen, Maureen Traynor, Emily O'Neill, Emily Wilk, Jessica Allingham, Crystal Marentette, Ariella Racco, Megan Williams, Annie Laskaris and Katie Venturi, along with coach Mike Yorke. Welcome to Spice Your Kitchen. Making Your Cooking Fun & Easy ing Fu · Knives and Garnishing Tools · Spice Racks · Small Appliances · Cookware and Tableware · Linens, Aprons and Mitts · Bakeware · Barware · Espresso Makers and Accessories Hours: Monday-Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 10am - 5pm Sunday CLOSED River Glen Mews Plaza 2530 6th Line, Oakville (905) 257-3500