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36 - The O akville Beaver, Friday January 27, 2006 Wren's persistence pays off By Herb G arbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oliver Wren could have easily packed it in a few years ago. He had been trying out for junior teams since he was 15 but was always overlooked in favour of an older netminder. Having played AA hockey for the Oakville Rangers throughout his minor hockey career, he wasn't exact ly being recruited by the junior teams, despite winning an OMHA champi onship in minor bantam. Yet, Wren continued to go out each year and try to stake his claim to a goaltending job. "A lot of guys give up if they aren't drafted or if they don't make a junior team," said Wren, who was named the Provincial Jr. A Hockey League West Conference most improved player this week. "I just kept my nose to the grindstone." Wren made the rounds again last season. He got cut from Georgetown. He went to his hometown Oakville Blades but the team was holding its training camp in Europe and Wren feared that if he didn't make the Blades, all the other teams would have already settled on their goaltenders by the time he returned. Instead, he opted to stay closer to home. The long-shot walk-on made the final cut with the St. Michael's Buzzers and the Burlington Cougars. In the end he opted to play'with the Cougars, accepting third-goalie status knew he could play in this league and we picked him as our goalie of the future. We were planning a year ahead." Wren waited patiently for his turn with the Cougars, playing behind Brent Cescon and fellow Oakville Chris Rowan. He played a co u ple of games and finally got a chance to see some more action after Cescon was dealt at the trading deadline. This season, Wren, who just turned before Christmas, got the start in the season opener and stopped 28 shots as the Cougars beat the reigning conference champion Georgetown Raiders 3-1. He hasn't looked back since. Wren and Rowan, 19, have shared the netminding duties, alternating games. Wren has posted a 2.71 aver age -- fifth best in the conference -- and a 14-6-1 record. And sharing the games hasn't been a problem with the Cougar goalies. "Me and Chris compete," he said. "We both want to be number one but we're really close off the ice. We can joke around with each other and let HONOUR ROLL GOALIE: Oakville comments slide of our backs." Always seeking to improve his native Oliver Wren, who plays for the Burlington Cougars, was named the. game, Wren has been, taking private Provincial Jr. A Hockey League West lessons with former NHL goalie Don Conference's most improved player. .Edwards. "He's probably the hardest working and the team couldn't be happier. kid on the ice," Wiseman said. "He came here (last year) and had a It's a trait he's carries away from sensational camp," said Cougars' coach Wes Wiseman. "We absolutely the rink, as well. Wren is active in many sports, playing high school football with Abbe}; Park, roller hockey and lacrosse. He also began running, winning the under-19 division at a 15-km race in Streetsville last year. "My mom's a marathon runner," he said. "It's something we can do as a family. But it keeps me motivated when mom beats me in a race." For now, Wren is concentrating on the playoff race and helping take the Cougars as far as he can. Blades' Beca is west's best Sniper unanimous choice as conference'sM VP By Herb G arbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF It's often said that the best offence is a good defence. . Matt Beca won't argue. Though he's put up phenominal numbers for the Oakville Blades this season, he says his biggest improvement has been his defensive play. "I think I'm a better overall player. Lsat year was runand-gun, it was all offence we didn't really didn't have to worry about any defence. I think I've just improved in the defensive zone." Beca, wrapping up his second full season with the Blades, leads the Provincial Jr. A Hockey League's West Conference in goals (38) and points (79). He has earned a point on 63 per cent of the Blades' goals this season and has 36 more points than any other Oakville player. It's impressive totals like those that made him a unani mous choice as the confer ence's most valuable player. "It's definitely a great hon our to get. I'm not out there by myself," the said. "I definitely have to give a lot of credit to the guys on the team." And the team is more than happy to give it right back. "He's a great penalty killer, he's a motivator on the bench and he's awesome on the power play. He's our go-to guy," said linemate Luke Matt Beca Moodie. "(Opponents) send two guys after him and me or Jesse Paul are always open. He's the reason we get so many points." Beca gave an indication of what was to come in last year's playoffs. Acquired prior to the season from Hamilton, the 5-foot-ll, 175-pound pivot turned it on when it mat tered most, leading the Blades with nine goals in 14 playoff games. This year the Mississauga native has found the net regardless of the situation. He has three shorthanded goals and eight on the power play. He's also chipped in six gamewinners. "He's a marquee player in the league," said Blades coach Don Edwards. "He deserves the accolades. He's very deserv ing of the award." SPLASH T H E M E D E S IG N " C r e a t in g M a g i c a l R o o m s " Atom Eagles roll to tourney title With their stiffest competition com ing from a fellow Minor Oaks Hockey Association house league squad, the Oakville atom Eagles won a tourna ment title in London last weekend. Oakville was victorious in all four of its games, outscoring its opponents 224. The Eagles downed Kitchener 5-1, skunked Port Credit 10-0, edged the Oakville atom Lumberjacks 1-0 and doubled St. Catharines 6-3. It was the first tournament champi onship for members of the team, which includes Eric Neefs, Tommy Fox, Cole Nagy, Curtis Kohler, Vaughn Hachey, Harry Neill, Johnathon Stamper, Tyler Cassidy, Joel Furlan, Jamie Bailey, Anthony Salis, Paul Bruno, Danny Sprukulis, Ryan Shea, Tyler Downman and Tyler Kennedy. CUSTOMIZED ROOMS S a tu rd a y , Ja n u a ry 2 8 ,2 0 0 6 - 7 : 3 0 pm A Free Gift to all who attend. Win a Professional Poker Table. A live auction for a Pool Table authentically signed by NHL Alumni. S Tickets Available at Corbetts, Inside Edge & Dominion Stores O AKVILLE[ Fundraiser for the Oakville Blades jr. A HockeyTeam Your favourite team colours! Unique designs! Graphic Designers with a creative, TRAVELLING ART STUDIO. Ifis ito u rsite: 1410 Ninth Line, Oakville - www.twinrinks.ca splashthemedesigR.com · 905.257.5666 xi