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www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 B R O K E R A G ER E A L T Y C O R P . INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATEDSportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2010 33 By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Greg Westlakes debut as captain of the Canadian mens sledge hockey team was a winning one. Dont expect to hear him bragging too much about it, though. The local resident and his Canadian teammates won two of three games in an exhibition series with the Paralympic champion United States last week in Toronto. All three games went to a shootout, with each team posting 2-1 victories before Canada earned the series win with a 1-0 triumph Saturday. Eight months ago, when the Paralympics were held in Vancouver, defeating the Americans would have been a big deal for the Canadians. Unfortunately, Canada did- nt get the opportunity to even face the U.S., suffering upset losses to Japan and Norway to finish out of the medals. Westlake acknowledged beating the U.S. in exhibi- tion action wasnt quite the same. Overall, there were more positives than negatives, said the 24-year-old. Zero bragging rights, though. The exhibition series marked Westlakes first time wearing the C in international action after he was recently named Canadas captain. Westlake said he thought about what he should be doing as captain during intermissions, but that he did- nt feel any different out on the ice. It was just an exhibition series. It would have been a waste of time to make a big rah rah speech, he said. I was just trying to up the intensity and be confident, lead by example. My first time playing as captain, I also wanted to not only score but score a goal when it mattered, he added. Westlake managed to do that, scoring in the final minute of Game 2 to tie the contest 1-1, though he was thwarted in all three of his shootout attempts during the series. The Canadian teams next international competition will be Nov. 10-14 in Rochester, N.Y., where theyll face Japan and the U.S. Westlake said that tournament will be much more important to him and his teammates. Theres animosity there, Canada versus the U.S., but the U.S. didnt do anything to us in Vancouver. They didnt break our hearts, he said. But Japan did. I have some emotions invested in that game. We need to show them what should have happened. Provincial sledge hockey team practices in Oakville, page 34 Westlake, Canada defeat Americans in sledge series The Oakville Blades are back in the upper half of the Provincial Hockey Leagues West Division standings. The Blades won both their games last weekend, giving them four victories in their past five contests and improving their record to 8-4-1. Oakville is current- ly fourth in the West, three points behind the third-place Hamilton Red Wings but with two games in hand. Oakville began the weekend with a 3-2 victory over the Burlington Eagles Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Kyle Lysaght scored twice and Tyler Karius broke a 2-2 tie with 11:11 to go in the third period, giving Blades head coach Mark Jooris a victory over the team he coached last season. Dan Savelli stopped 21 of 23 shots to earn the victory in net. Sunday, the Blades traveled to Milton and handed the host IceHawks a 5-4 over- time defeat. Phil Hampton provided the OT winner, scoring 1:07 into the extra session, after the IceHawks tied the game with two goals in the final seven minutes of regulation including the equalizer with 2:12 left on the clock. Kyle Blaney, Michael Sardella, Brad Kobryn and Lysaght also found the net for Oakville. Eric Faion made 34 saves and is now 4-0 on the season. The Blades next action is slated for this Friday, when they host the division- leading Georgetown Raiders for a 7:30 p.m. start at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Oakville will visit the Orangeville Flyers the following evening. Weekend wins move Blades into fourth THE EQUALIZER: Oakvilles Greg Westlake (left) beats American goaltender Steve Cash to tie the score in the final minute Friday dur- ing the second game of last weeks sledge hockey exhibition series between Canada and the U.S. in Toronto. Canada defeated the U.S. 2-1 in the three-game series, with all contests requiring a shootout to decide the outcome. But Canadian captain keeps exhibition win in perspective MATTHEW MANOR / HOCKEYCANADA.CA GETTING HELD UP: Brandon Denham of the Oakville Blades (left) is manhandled by Milton IceHawks defenceman Spencer Gourlay in front of Milton netminder Brandon Gorecki Sunday. GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER