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Winning also important, Corpus Christi coach says Continued from page 22 allow rep players to play boys' no longer level," says Van hockey in the HSSAA boils down to Landschoot, now the boys' hockey one important question: How badly head coach at Corpus Christi. "The do you want to win? "I think I have pretty good perquestion begs: Do you want to be competitive within our association, spective as a school teacher. I get or do you want to compete at the the whole picture and I get it is value for life and you want these provincial level? Notre Dame dominated Halton kids to develop into responsible boys' hockey during Van young men who have perspective on all values," he Landschoot's tensays. ure behind the Irish "I think I have pretty "But at some bench. The school good perspective as a point, you show up won five regional school teacher. I get the to win. You lace championships in whole picture... But at them up and have a that seven-year game plan in place, span and went on to some point, you show you put out all your represent Halton at up to win." marbles and your several OFSAA tourCorpus Christi boys' hockey thoughts and enernaments. gy into winning, or The inflated stu- coach Carl Van Landschoot you wouldn't show dent population at Notre Dame during that time up. "Now, win where? Win in Halton, (more than 1,700 students before Corpus Christi was built) was a fac- or win beyond? It would be nice if tor in the Irish's dynastic run. So, we could compete beyond." Van Landschoot says he has too, was recruiting as many top players as possible from the advocated changing the rule for Burlington Eagles and Burlington many years but has been out-voted every time he brings up the issue. Bulldogs rep programs. "We got kids who were on (OHL) He has, however, at least one other draft lists, and kids who were draft- Halton boys' hockey coach in his ed and elected not to play (AAA rep) corner. "Come OFSAA, we fall short to or (junior A), because we were traveling everywhere and playing regions that allow their rep players against these prep school kids," to play high school," says Bishop Reding coach David Montaya. Van Landschoot recalls. "This is an issue that comes up "Representatives from the Burlington Eagles would come to every year, and our board has been watch our tryouts and ask `Who stuck on the rule since the dawn of will you let go? We need to know if time." they'll come back to the Eagles so Kokotailo submitted his appliwe can have a AA team." But Van Landschoot wasn't able cation to the HRTO in October of to recruit all the top hockey talent last year. His application was at his school. And he believes that's accepted, meaning that the tribuwhat kept the Irish from winning nal will soon be assessing whether at least one OFSAA championship, or not the Halton boys' high school hockey rule is discriminatory. if not more. Today (Feb. 3) is the deadline "One year, we won five tournaments outside of Halton. We got to for the HSSAA to answer to the OFSAA and lost the bronze-medal HRTO regarding Kokotailo's comgame," he says. "We walked away plaint. If the HSSAA does not thinking this was a great and suc- respond by that deadline -- "I cessful year but, man, we could would be shocked if the (HSSAA) did not submit a response," Curtis have won the whole thing. "I don't want to disrespect my said in an email -- the complaint own roster, because those kids will be decided on Kokotailo's would have gone through a wall for claim only. An HRTO official said he could me and were so invested wholly in our program. But, if you're just not specifically comment on looking at calibre, we were proba- Kokotailo's claim, but did say the bly just one line away from win- tribunal strives to resolve the ning the whole thing. And those majority of its cases within a year. kids were in the halls of our -- With files from Steve school." Leblanc, Milton Van Landschoot says the whole Canadian Champion argument of whether or not to GOOD MONTH: 23 · Friday, February 3, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Former St. Thomas Aquinas student John Tavares was named the NHL's first star for the month of January. The New York Islanders forward scored nine goals -- including four game-winners -- and added 13 assists in 13 January contests. OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO Tavares NHL's top player in January St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus John Tavares capped an outstanding January with two goals and two assists against the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday. The New York Islanders forward finished the month with nine goals and 22 points in 13 games to earn NHL first star of the month honours. Four of his goals were game winners. "I try to approach each game with the same work ethic and attitude," Tavares told NHL.com. "You get to know the teams you're playing against and what you expect your matchups to be, but I just try and go off my hard work and create my space that way. And my linemates have been phenomenal, too." Tavares also played in his first NHL all-star game Sunday in Ottawa. Tavares, playing for Team Alfredsson, scored on Detroit's Jimmy Howard in the first period. It was his team's third goal in a span of 3:13 to erase an early 3-0 deficit. Tavares delivered a pretty set up from behind the net on Milan Michalek's third period goal that again tied the score 7-7. Team Chara went on to win 12-9. With more than 30 games remaining this season, Tavares is already approaching last year's career-best totals. Tavares had 29 goals, 38 assists and 67 points in 79 games during his sophomore season. So far this season, the first overall pick in the 2009 entry draft has 22 goals and 31 assists in 49 games. Maybe the most impressive stat is Tavares' plus/ minus. After posting minus-15 and minus-16 marks in his first two seasons, Tavares is a plus-4 this year. EARLYSEASON FORM: The Oakville Venom bantam under-13 girls started the basketball season recently by winning the ABC Magic Tournament in Ancaster. Bantam Venom girls win Ancaster title Provincial basketball champions in their division last season, the Oakville Venom bantam under-13 girls are off to another good start this year. Oakville won the ABC Magic Tournament in Ancaster recently, posting victories in all of its games. The Venom clinched gold with a 46-38 overtime victory over Brantford in the championship game. Members of the team are Stefanija Mrvajevic, Taishawna Bent, Megan Harton, Morgan Cross, Marianna Vasquez, Kiara Kelley, Shayla ParkinsonRoberts, Sydney Charvis, Zoe O'Neill, Laura Ivaniukas, Amanda Coughlin, Caroline Szustak and Ashley McDonald. Petria Bent and Gary Charvis coach the Venom, while Sharon McDonald and Debbie Grant manage the squad.