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www.durhamrcgion.com Œfje Cmmbtmi Statesman THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, August 27,2003 PAGE 13 Ckirington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 August 27, 2003 infodurhamrerjien.com Brian Legree Sports Editor blcgreeQilurluwuvgion.com So long, goodbye, farewell and... thank you Most of the time, my fingers glide effortlessly across the keyboard. Normally, it's easy to put the thoughts, the words, the sentences, the paragraphs together. But not today. Today is different. How do you say goodbye after almost almost nine years at Metroland's newspapers, including This Week, Canadian Statesman and Times- Journal? How do you properly say goodbye goodbye after almost two decades of journalism journalism in Durham Region, including a lengthy stop at the Oshawa Times, other community papers and a stint in radio? The short answer is, I'm not sure. But I'm going to try. To say I'm leaving with sadness is selling the word sadness short. Yes, it's my choice to leave and begin a teaching career at Durham College, but it's not as simple as putting down pen and picking up chalk. There are people, lots of people, who need to be thanked. Where do I start? How about with my family, which has been incredibly supportive of my efforts in media, even back in the mid-1980s when I was hauling in the princely sum of $9,900 a year (that was $332 in my pocket - every two weeks!) It's not about the money, I kept telling myself. And it wasn't. It was about the work. To that end, I can't leave without thanking my co-workers from this and yesteryear. There are dozens from the now-deliinct Times who deserve deserve my thanks and even more at Metroland. People like current sports staffers Brian McNair and Brad Kelly, the entire newsroom, publisher Tim Whittaker, editor-in-chief Joanne Burghardt, advertising manager Fred Eismont, the entire composing staff and on it goes. Thanks to all of you, from the front of the building to the back. There's a simple reason our papers win so many awards - it's about quality people doing quality work. But a community newspaper is absolutely nbthing without the community community it serves and to that end, there's a huge list of people who deserve deserve my heartfelt thanks. These are people in the sports world and outside it who always dealt with me promptly and professionally, professionally, people like Scott Clark, Ken Babcock, Mark Stehlin, Jim Dutton, Rob Dyment, Bob Hanna, Murray Parliament, Mike Laing, John Goodwin, Wayne Daniels, John Humphreys, George Burnett, Troy May, Bill Todd, Dave Roberts, Stan Marchai, Peter Vipond, Cliff Mad- dock, Roger Lajoie, Don Fleming, Terry Kelly, Andy Dyment, Fred Sewell, Sharon Wocrmke, Ron Guiltinan, Bob Black, Ken Leonard, Heather LaFontainc, Stan Tzogas, Frank Sobil, Bernie Huxtcr, Mike Dahle, Mike O'Hare, Calvin Curtis, Cord Carey, Dave Gilbert, Kevin Dillon, Barb Boycs, Patrick Belmonte, Belmonte, Rick Alston, Glenn Butt, Linda Koeslag, Sandra Moloney, Brian Bieniara, Michael Mayers, Charlie Formosa, Chris Brocking- ton, Nick Springer, Dan Gribben, Kalhlynn Modi, Gary Hope, Bob In- glis, Allison McGhee and Jennifer Olson. 1 could...and should...go on, Those names only scratch the surface surface of incredible spoiling people in Durham who have helped me do my job, Those of you not mentioned - and you know who you are - submitting submitting results, photos, helpful information, information, I also offer a great big thanks. It's ironie that I tell my kids I'm going to 'work' in the morning, when in reality, it's been nothing but fun. Thanks again, everyone, RON PIETR01MIR0/ Statesman photo OSHAWA - Ben Eager strolls into Harman Park Arena Tuesday for the first day of on-ice workouts at the Oshawa Generals' training camp. Generals seek net gains from Beckford-Tseu After trading Kevin Druce, Oshawa expects veteran goalie to carry the load BY BRIAN McNAIR Staff Writer OSHAWA - Chris Beckford-Tseu admits to some mixed emotions about losing Kevin Druce as a teammate. teammate. But he understands it's a good move for both 19-year-old goalies. When coach/GM George Burnett dealt Druce to the Sault Ste, Marie Greyhounds last week, it removed a good friend from the Oshawa Generals' Generals' roster but erased any doubt as to who would be the No. 1 man for the Ontario Hockey League club this season. season. "It's a good feeling, I'll take a little little bit more of a leadership role this year," Beckford-Tseu said before the Generals' first on-ice training session yesterday, which was held at Harman Park Arena because the ice at the Civic Auditorium wasn't ready until today. "We've got a younger team this year, so I'm going to have to step up and show the guys the way." It's not that there was much doubt who Burnett's go-to guy would be. After all, Beckford-Tseu appeared in 31 more games than Druce last season season and capably handled all of the playoff assignments for a second straight year. "Chris is our guy, there's no question," question," Burnett said. "We're expecting him to win hockey games for us." lie might have to single-handedly on some nights, The Generals have lost a lot of offence offence from last year's team - Jamie Johnson, Brandon Nolan, Altren Nit- tel, Coll King and quite possibly Nathan llorton'if the Florida Panthers Chris Beckford-Tseu: St. Louis Blues' draft pick hoping to make impression as 19-year- old OHLer. like what they see - and two solid defencemen defencemen in Mike Sellan and Tyler Cook. An athletic 6-lbot-3, 205-pounder, Beckford-Tseu looks forward to the challenge. "It's my 19-year-old year, so I've got to be a little more consistent," said Beckford-Tseu, who had a 3.1.6 goals-against average in 54 games last season. "The team's going to count on me a lot more, so I've got to be there every night." And the St. Louis Blues will no doubt be popping by for a few looks this season, Notoriously lacking a money goalie the past few seasons, the Blues selected Beckford-Tseu in the fifth round, 159th overall, in June's National Hockey League draft. "He's learning how to be a pro a little more and being more prepared to play - his fitness and strength are all much improved," Burnett said. "We expect him to play a lot of hockey. The sky's the limit as to what he can contribute to our hockey club this season," Mills tops Canadian Tour's Order of Merit First Canuck to lead money list since Mike Weir did so in 1997 BRIM LEY, Mich. - It came as little little shock an Oshawa native finished atop the Canadian Tour's money list this season. But even Jon Mills was surprised it was him. Mills, who was born in Oshawa and whose family now calls Brooklin home, finished second at the seasonending seasonending Bay Mills Open Players' Championship in Michigan Sunday, moving up from ninth spot to first on the Order of Merit thanks to a $22,560 payday. Among those Mills surpassed on the money list was friend and fellow Oshawa native Derek Gillespie, who settled for third place for a second straight year and again missed out on an exemption to the second stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School by one spot. Mills, who made $55,321 in 11 events this season, and American Rob Johnson ($54,164) earned the exemptions. "To be honest, coming into the week, I didn't look at (the Order of Merit) too closely," Mills admitted to reporters afterward. "Finding that out was a big surprise. surprise. I figured I needed to win to even contend for first in earnings." Mills, a first-team all-American in his final year at Kent State University University in 2001, is the first Canadian since Mike Weir in 1997 to finish atop the Canadian Tour's money list. "To hear that Mike was the last Canadian to win, well, it's great just to be mentioned in the same sentence as him," Mills said of Weir, the reigning reigning Masters champ and a strong can- r- didate to be named PGA player of the year. "He's a great player and a greater guy, so it's quite the compliment." Mills and Gillespie, both 25, will join Weir and many other of the world's top golfers at the Bell Canadian Canadian Open Sept. 1-7 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club. Mills fired rounds of 71-74-68-70 to finish with a five-under-par 283, five strokes back of American Rodney Rodney Butcher. He struggled off the tee during a chilly final round, hitting just two fairways, but was hot on the greens. "I was all over the place... but my puller came through for me," said Mills, who made the MTS Classic in Winnipeg his first professional victo- Jon Mills: Second-place finish at Bay Mills Open vaults Durham golfer to top of money list. Derek Gillespie: Oshawa resident resident finishes third for second straight year, just misses PGA school exemption. ry earlier this summer. "1 still have a few things to work on, but I think this is a little sweeter than Winnipeg. This shows consistency." consistency." Gillespie opened strong by shooting shooting a 69 Thursday, but dropped into a tie for 23rd after rounds of 73,76 and 73. The $2,384 payout left him with $47,844 in 10 events. Oshawa's Kevin Jones had a solid finish to the season. He was tied for ninth after rounds of 72-74-70-72 and earned $6,110, vaulting him to 43rd on the money list with $10,356. Whitby's Eddie Maunder missed the cut and finished 100th on the Order of Merit with $2,155. Heat, Rebels claim City and District titles John Sharpe named MVP of Campbell Division DURHAM - The Pickering Meat and Claremont Rebels are Oshawa City and District Softball Association champions of 2003. The Ileal won the Brady (Midget) Division, besting Oshawa BB I by a count of 4-3 in the final, Oshawa 111! I took out Oshawa BB II 3-2 to advance to the final, Pickering's Ken Cook was named lop pitcher, Oshawa 13B ll's Davis Smith was best hitter and Richard Col in-Thome of Oshawa BB II was chosen most valuable player. In the Campbell Division, Claremont Claremont took out the defending champion Stouffvillc Mennos 1-0 in playdowns and then went on to defeat Mount Albert Albert Mudhens 8-3 in the finale, Paul Boynton of Stouffvillc was named best pitcher, Steve Townson of Mount Albert was chosen best hitter and John Sharpe of Claremont was named most valuable player.