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26 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell 905-844-4444 I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D Broker of Record B R O K E R A G E SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2009 Legein excited about new opportunity Titans into Div. 1 By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR football final By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Standing less than six feet tall and weighing under 190 pounds, Stefan Legein doesn't seem to fit the Philadelphia Flyers' bigger-is-better philosophy. But the local resident is now one of the Flyers' top prospects, following a trade to Philly from the Columbus Blue Jackets two weeks ago. Legein, Columbus' second-round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, was dealt for 2006 second-rounder defenceman Michael Ratchuk. Legein was immediately assigned to the Flyers' American Hockey League affiliate Adirondack Phantoms. The Holy Trinity grad is excited about the move. "I feel like I have a better opportunity. When you get traded, you know a team definitely wants you or they wouldn't have traded for you," the 20-year-old forERIC RIEHL / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER ward said, following the Phantoms' 3-0 PHANTOM SIGHTING: Adirondack Phantoms forward Stefan Legein turns up ice loss to the Toronto Marlies Friday in with the puck during Friday's American Hockey League game against the Toronto Marlies. Toronto. "The Flyers have a great group of Legein was recently traded to the Philadelphia Flyers' AHL affiliate. young guys and a great group of older guys up there. It's exciting looking for- me from minor hockey to junior and Legein is having fun playing hockey again. ward to coming up through the system taught me things I needed to do to be a That wasn't the case last fall, when Legein better pro. I'm excited to work with him drew national headlines by announcing and playing as soon as possible." his retirement at the age of 19. In Adirondack, Legein is reunited with again." Gilbert quickly gave A few months later, Legein returned to head coach Greg Gilbert, Legein an opportunity to the game, rehabbing with the St. Catharines who was behind the bench "When you get showcase his skills with the Jr. B Falcons and then joining Columbus' for Legein's first two seasons traded, you know Phantoms. Legein played on AHL farm team Syracuse Crunch. with the Ontario Hockey a team definitely Adirondack's top line against He hasn't looked back since. League's Mississauga Ice wants you or they Toronto after the Flyers "I don't think (the brief retirement) Dogs. called up forward David helped me, but it was something that had While Legein didn't wouldn't have Laliberte Friday. to happen," said Legein, who has three begin to flourish offensively traded for you." That could be a short- goals and an assist in 10 games with in the OHL until his third lived experiment, however. Syracuse and Adirondack this season. "I season, he credits Gilbert Stefan Legein Legein and linemates Jon enjoy (playing hockey) more than anyfor playing a key role in his Matsumoto and Patrick Maroon were held thing or I wouldn't have come back. It development as an all-around player. "When I was playing for him, I learned off the scoresheet and were each a minus- can be a short career for some guys and a long career for some guys. I'm just about my overall game and about playing 3 against the Marlies. Regardless, it's quite evident that hoping I can do this the rest of my life." a role," Legein said. "He kind of cradled Late score sinks Crusaders in McCormick Cup A late try and conversion by the Aurora Barbarians denied the Oakville Crusaders a provincial senior men's rugby championship last weekend in Markham. Aurora's Steve Shortly reached the Oakville goal with four minutes to go in regulation and Zach Pancer booted the subsequent conversion, giving the Barbarians a 12-11 victory in the McCormick Cup final at Fletcher's Fields. Oakville had built an 11-5 lead on a penalty kick by Kristian Evans, drop goal by Spencer Fullerton and try by Mike Sutherland. Former Canadian international player Marco Di Girolamo accounted for Aurora's other points, scoring an unconverted try in the first half. With the victory, Aurora earned the right to face the California club champion Santa Monica Dolphins later this month in Las Vegas. That contest is an exhibition match sponsored by Rugby USA to build interest for a major world rugby tournament to be played in Vegas next February. The appearance in the McCormick Cup final was Oakville's first since 2005. The Crusaders' last senior men's provincial title came in 2000. The Holy Trinity senior football team earned a milestone victory last week, but the Titans aren't quite ready to celebrate yet. They're more focused on their next daunting assignment: taking down the undefeated Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Trinity and Notre Dame will play for the Halton senior Division 1 championship tomorrow (Thursday) in Hamilton, an 11 a.m. kickoff at McMaster University's Ron Joyce Stadium. The Titans will be making their first-ever appearance in the senior Division 1 final, earning their berth with an 1816 come-from-behind victory over the Nelson Lords Friday in Burlington. "This is what we've been working for since we started the school (eight years ago)," said Titans head coach Joe Moscato. "It's a great thing to get to the final, but we're focused on playing a dynamite football team." Moscato and the Titans are well aware they'll be seen as substantial underdogs when they take the field tomorrow. Notre Dame defeated opponents by an average of 26 points per game on its way to a 6-0 mark during the regular season, including a pair of victories over Trinity (3-3). In the most recent meeting between the teams, Oct. 22, Notre Dame routed the Titans 49-10. But Moscato isn't putting much stock in that result. "That was the final game of the regular season. We had a bunch of injuries and guys who were sick, so all our backups were in there," he said. "It was a nothing game. Win or lose, we knew where we were going, so we didn't bother showing them too much." The other regular-season game between the Titans and Irish officially went into the books as a Trinity forfeit loss after one of the Titans players was ruled ineligible. Trinity trailed that game 13-9 at halftime before Notre Dame pulled away in the second half for a comfortable win. Trinity quarterback Rob Birtles isn't about to concede another Irish victory tomorrow. "They are big, they are physical, they are strong," the Grade 13 student said of the Irish. "But I think we have more team speed than they do." Birtles was one of three Titans to reach the end zone in the semifinal win over Nelson. Linebacker Te Nguyen returned a fumble for a touchdown and Tim Doyley scored the game-winning major in the fourth quarter as the Titans rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit. Leading 18-14 late in the game, Trinity conceded a safety. Nelson nearly returned the subsequent free kick for a touchdown, but Chris Tavella made a game-saving tackle on special teams. Two plays later, Doyley locked up the Titans victory with an interception. Trinity defeated Nelson in two of three meetings this season, the first times the Titans have knocked off the Lords in senior play. They hope to accomplish another first tomorrow. · Can't make it to the game? Follow the progress tomorrow on Twitter at Twitter.com/Haltonsports