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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 3, 2008 - 41 Skating in Technicolor The Oakville Edge synchronized skating team held its annual gala show Sunday at River Oaks Recreation Centre. Pictured, clockwise from left, Samantha Heard performs her solo; the Edge juvenile team performs its routine; and members of the Intro-to-Synchro purple team take a bow while the Grand River Ice Express junior festival team applauds their effort. PHOTOS BY NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER Checking role crucial against top teams Continued from page 40 satisfaction with roles they've been asked to fill the rest of the season, and he felt trading those players might allow them to play more significant roles somewhere else. "We need a good checking line like we had last year (when the Blades won the league and Central Canadian "We need a championships good checking and competed at line like we had the RBC Royal last year, we Bank Cup), we need lines to need lines to shut down other shut down other team's lines." teams' lines. We Oakville Blades have to start head coach/GM working on that Carlo Coccimiglio part of the game," Coccimiglio said, "and we figured bringing in different players would be the right time to do it." Coccimiglio said the Blades had their eye on two players in particular, one a defensive specialist and the other an offensive presence. He still hopes to obtain those players, although now it won't be by trade. In the meantime, those players who didn't want to leave the Blades will be expected to do whatever is asked of them. "They'll have to show us they want to KAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVER be on this team and will help any way they UH-OH: Oakville Blades forward Adam Simms (right) can," said Coccimiglio. "Nothing changes, looks like he's bitten off more than he can chew as he from our perspective. We were just trying squares off for a mock fight with ex-Buffalo Sabres enforcer to put them in a better situation and put Rob Ray during Saturday's Blades Celebrity/Alumni game. our team in a better situation. "We're asking guys to play certain roles, knowing they don't really want to play those roles. It's not that they can't play those roles, they're just not happy playing those roles. I always try to keep my players happy." Coccimiglio had several incentives to make roster moves Monday. First of all, teams are now limited to 25 player cards, with that number going down to 23 by Jan. 10. Also, the division rival Georgetown Raiders -- who routed the Blades 10-2 last month in Georgetown -- made a few acquisitions of their own recently and are looking like a major roadblock in Oakville's path back to the Royal Bank Cup. "I wouldn't say we're not good enough," Coccimiglio said. "But we're always trying to improve the club in the right spots." Blades win weekend pair On the ice, the Blades maintained their hold on first place in the MacKinnon Division standings with a pair of wins last weekend. Oakville (27-4) defeated the Bowmanville Eagles 6-2 Friday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, then dealt the Streetsville Derbys a 3-1 defeat Sunday in Mississauga. Matt Ribeiro scored twice and had an assist for the Blades Friday, while Luke Moodie contributed three helpers. Dustin Alcock added a pair of markers, with Julian Cimadamore and Ryan Murphy rounding out the scoring. Sunday, Lindsay Sparks scored twice and Cimadamore had Oakville's other goal. Blades netminder Matt Hache recorded victories in both contests. The Blades also hosted their annual Celebrity/Alumni Game Saturday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, which drew a crowd of approximately 600 people. A few ex-NHLers, Oakville Junior Ice captain Dayna Newsom and `Keeper of the Stanley Cup' Phil Pritchard teamed up with former Blades players to take on this year's squad. Highlights from the evening included Cimadamore getting a pie in the face after scoring the opening goal, former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray squaring off with the Blades' Adam Simms in a mock scrap, and ex-Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Steve Thomas blistering a shot past three Blades goalies that were in net at the same time. "Thomas just got a pass and let it fire, top corner," laughed Coccimiglio. "It was hilarious." Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society in memory of Bob O'Brien, a long-time minor hockey volunteer who was one of the first Tier 2 players ever drafted to the NHL. O'Brien passed away earlier this year. The Blades will be home to the Brampton Capitals Friday for a 7:30 p.m. start. The Blades will then travel to Port Hope Sunday for a 7 p.m. clash with the Predators.