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www.durhamrcgion.com Œfjc Cmtabtait Statesman THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, SEPTEMBER 24, 2003 PAGE 13 Clarington's Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1854 September 24,2003 infodurham .com JASON LIEBREGTS/ Statesman photo Grin and bring it OSHAWA - Kristen Dandoff, of the host team from Durham Col- : ; lege, rears back and gets set to fire one to the plate during the S Can-Am Women's Fastball Tournament held over the weekend. 1* Durham advanced through to the finals before losing to Mohawk > College. For more details, sec page 14. Rookie is 'exactly what we needed' The 'other' Caruana, Justin, leads Eagles to first win of season over Syracuse Stars BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor BOWMANVILLF - A broad smile stretches across tire face of Bow- manville Eagles rookie Justin Caruana just before lie breaks into a hearty laugh when asked if there is any kind of rivalry between himself and cousin Matt. "There's no rivalry. Not that 1 know of anyway," he says. One couldn't help but wonder as Sunday's game against the Syracuse Stars unfolded. With Matt, the captain of the hockey club and team MVP last season, forced to watch from the stands due to injury, it was the other Caruana who put on a show, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist in a convincing 6- 1 route. "He's exactly what we needed this year," says coach Curtis Hodgins of the rookie winger. "He's a guy who drives the net, wins the one-on-one battles and is extremely strong for a kid his age. "Some guys play on the perimeter, but he goes right where the action is. He brings some enthusiasm and he's only going to get belter and be an impact impact player in this league." Tire Grade 11 student at Clarke High School certainly made an impact in Sunday's victory over Syracuse. His hat trick helped the Eagles to their first win of the season after a, pair of ties and two losses through lotir games. The fouivpoint night gives him six' goals and five assists on the season, a pace that would result in the 16-year- old finishing with more than 100 points this season. It's a pace he's not likely to maintain, and comes as a bit of a shock that he's been able to do it at all. Justin Caruana: Rookie winger leads team with 11 points after five games. "It's surprising to me that I'm scoring scoring so much," he ways with a sense of bewilderment about leading the team scoring race with 11 points. Last season season with the AAA minor midgets in Peterborough, he scored 19 goals and added 39 assists in 29 games. A sixth round draft choice of the Peterborough Peterborough Petes, Caruana stayed less than 48 hours at the team's training camp in order to keep his scholarship eligibility intact. Prior to leaving though, he was given some sound advice advice by the Petes about playing Tier II in Bowmanville. "They told me to go back and be more consistent and not worry about playing for Peterborough, just play for the Eagles." While the offensive numbers in the early going will certainly leave a positive positive impression on the Petes, there are other areas of his game that need to improve improve to ultimately step up to the next level. | "Like all young players, he needs to work on Ids play away from the puck," says Hodgins. "You can get by on your talent alone in minor hockey, but up here you have to play as part of a sys- Curtis Hodgins: 'Some kids play on the perimeter, but he goes where the action is.' tern." Caruana concurs, noting he learned in a hurry that the tilings that worked playing AAA hockey in Peterborough last season don't work in junior. "It's a lot faster and tougher, and it's not as easy to hit or deke through everyone," lie says of the most notable differences. Caruana and the rest of his teammates teammates will look to build on Sunday's win when they host the Port Hope Predators tonight (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Recreation Complex. THE SCOOP - In the win over Syracuse, Sean Brackin had a goal and three helpers, while David Smith scored a pair and added three assists...Torn Fitzpatrick was ejected in the third period after receiving his second misconduct for not wearing his visor properly. Steve Cornelissen was also tossed in the third period after getting getting a misconduct for checking to the head...Derek McGrath, Adam Mac- carone, Kyle Branson, Chris Wood and Justin Caruana scored in a 5-5 tie with St. Mike's on Saturday as part of the Col lege'Weekend Showcase. I Generals show how the West was won if Three-games-in-three- : nights road trip , results in wins over : Windsor, Sarnia and : Plymouth to start the : season a perfect 3-0 BY BRIAN McNAIR I Staff Editor OSHAWA - Who'd have thunk it? The Oshawa Generals have started started the Ontario Hockey League sea- ; son as well as only the most optimistic optimistic could have predicted. Playing three road games in as many nights against some stiff Western Western Conference competition, the Generals came away with three wins - 4-3 over Windsor, 3-2 over Sarnia 1 and 5-2 over Plymouth - despite being without their No. 1 nelmindcr and, for two games, their top blue- liner. The only worry now for George Ryan Gibb: Rookie gonltendev impressive in three road wins, stopping 83 of 90 shots. Burnell, the team's coach and general general manager, is whether the early success success will go to the players' heads. "it will be interesting to see how we respond," says Burnett, who will guide the team into another tough road test Wednesday in Owen Sound at 7:00 p.m. "Do we get a little over-confident or do our veterans help keep us grounded?" . Chris Beckford-Tseu, who lias returned returned to the Generals following a strong showing at the St. Louis Bines' camp, will gel his first start of the season against Owen Sound. Although he was available for Saturday's game in Plymouth, a weary Beckford-Tseu watched rookie rookie Ryan Gibb earn his third win in as many 01-1L starts. Gibb turned aside 83 of 90 shots over the three games, showing Burnett Burnett that lie will be a solid backup this season. "It's great for Ryan's confidence and it puts a lot of confidence in our team in Ryan's ability to win games," Burnell says of Gibb, who was an all-star with the Cobourg Cougars last season. "For a lot of reasons, it's a great way to start the season for him personally personally and for our team." Defenceman Paul Ranger also returned returned to the Generals, from the Tampa Bay Lightning training camp, and made an immediate impact by scoring a key power-play goal in the third period of Saturday's win over Plymouth. And, while Burnett was obviously pleased with the play of his entire team, he was particularly happy with the leadership shown by new captain Tobias Whelan and power forward Ben Eager, who was back from his National Hockey League camp (Phoenix Coyotes) in time for the entire road trip. Whelan was often double-shifted, scored once in each game and picked up five points while playing his usual solid two-way game. Eager avoided the needless penalties penalties he had a propensity to take last season and also had three goals and five points. "I've been here four years and I don't think we've ever come out with more than one win down there," Eager says of the annual western road trip. . "It was a bit surprising with all the young guys playing their first games, but 1 think everyone composed composed themselves well and we played well together." The Generals have two more difficult difficult road tests - tonight iii Owen Sound and Sunday in Toronto against the St. Michael's Majors (2 p.m.) - but have already ensured themselves a winning record prior to their much-anticipated home opener on Friday, Oct 3 against Windsor (7:35 p.m.). GENERALLY SPEAKING - Oshawa native Ryan Kitchen scored his first goal as a General Saturday against Plymouth. Ben Eager had a pair... Tyler Donnti was a healthy scratch Thursday, but played Friday and Saturday. Twin brother Justin Donati missed all three games with a wrist injury, while Andy Reiss (flu), Mike McLean (thumb) and Tim Filin (healthy) also didn't play. Ask Your Physiotherapist Telma Grant Registered Physiotherapist "Acupuncture and Shoulder Pain" Q. Telmn, I have .shoulder pain. II is so laid 1 eunnnt sleep at night and 1 cannot reach behind me. Can acupuncture help? A. As always, llie proper diagnosis is important. Sue your medical doctor first. Then Your Physiotherapist will do a detailed evaluation on your shoulder including your range of motion, strength, wind movements produce your pain ami what is behind your pain. Acupuncture can help decrease pain and increase movement in your shoulder, Of course, exercises directed to stretching and strengthening your shoulder are also essential. Acupuncture is not my first recommendation for shoulder pain, simply because most people are leery of needles, But acupuncture can he effective where oilier trealmenls have failed. Your Physiotherapist lias a big selection of pain relief strategies. If you have shoulder pain; discuss with her if acupuncture would help you. If 7A Grant Physiotherapy CRAMlV 214 Kim: St., If. Bowmanville "Cmml an us!" ' (91)5)623-2783 Listen to Tin* ( iiv,ill's! Kovk 'n Roll ( Mtlics to win weekly vacations for 4 to experience the magic at - W( )i'ld Resort f / X / / r / /V / /> I J )v I it 11S ill I O'lOt lllllll i < nil «I