The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

PAGE B2THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, DECEMBER 17, 2003 www.durhamregion.com Generals upbeat despite winless weekend George Burnett Salvage a point in tie with Plymouth after losses to Belleville and Peterborough BY PAUL FUTHEY Staff Writer OSHAWA - Persistence finally paid off for the Oshawa Generals, even if it only yielded one point. Despite coming out of Sunday's game against the Plymouth Whalers with a l-l tie, the Generals, battling injuries and the flu. managed to display display a number of positives for head coach George Burnett. "It's a great point." said Burnett. "It would have been great to have two but 1 think we can take a lot of really good things away from what happened happened here." B r a n d o ii McBride scored his ninth goal of the season with a shade under a minute to go in the third period period and goaltender Ryan Gibb on the bench. With the extra attacker, a strong Oshawa forecheck was finally finally rewarded when McBride, Brandon camped out in front McBride ol ' t he net, back- handed home a rebound rebound of a Fred Hatziioannou point shot. "We worked hard out there and we just couldn't buy a goal for most of the game," said McBride, who was also the Generals' lone marksman in a 3-1 loss in Peterborough the night before. before. McBride's late goal was followed by a wildly entertaining overtime. The teams combined for 17 shots and several glorious scoring opportunities in the five-minute session. Oshawa's near misses included Adam Berti hitting hitting the post and Tyler Donati denied in close by Plymouth goaltender Paul Drew. Not to be outdone at the other end, Gibb made some of the toughest of his 36 saves in the extra period, turning back Dan Collins and Erik Lundmark in succession and then stopping Richard Power in the dying seconds. , ...Tying Plymouth proved to be the bright spot of a three-game stretch in which the Generals lost the first two. In addition to having its roster weakened weakened by the flu, Oshawa's depth on. defence has been thinned considerably considerably with the recent losses of both Chris Petrow and Paul Ranger to injury. injury. With the two sidelined, Hatziioannou Hatziioannou and John Neal are the only non-rookies on the blue-line. Petrow is out until the new year. There remains a sliver of a chance Ranger will play this week, depending depending on results of X-rays, but it appears, appears, he, too, is gone until January. n 1ST ANNIVERSARY FRIDAY, DEC. 19TH c "JIMMY FRASER" SATURDAY, DEC. 20TH "BILLY BRANDO" 600 Grandview, Oshawa 905-436-1476 The injuries mean there will be plenty plenty of minutes to go around against Mississauga (tonight) and Brampton (Friday). "Every team has to go through that during the season and this is our time right now." said Hatziioannou of the injuries. "Hopefully we can win these next two games and it doesn't look that bad." In the meantime, the remaining defencemen defencemen have seen their minutes jump to fill the void - particularly Justin Wallingford, the 2003 first round draft pick whom Burnett credited credited with three "really strong" games. "We're makiim some mistakes but we're working hard and we're getting some pretty valuable experience in a lot of key situations," said Burnett. GENERALLY SPEAKING: Heading into tonight's game in Mississauga Mississauga against the Ice Dogs (16-8-4- 1). Oshawa (11-15-6-1) remains tied for first place in the East Division with Kingston, who has a game in hand...Ryan Bowncss, normally a forward, is seeing some time on the blue-line. He assisted on Brandon McBride's tying goal against the Whalers. Bowncss, the former captain of the Brampton Battalion, has been named an assistant captain with his new team...Ajax's Ryan Ramsay scored Plymouth's lone goal...Gens' defenceman Kevin Todd and Plymouth's Plymouth's Gino Pisellini delighted the 3,321 in attendance with a furious second period punch-up...In Saturday's Saturday's 3-1 win over Oshawa. Whitby's Liam Reddox scored the winning goal for the Petes...The loss to Peterborough Peterborough drops Oshawa's record against divisional opponents to an appalling appalling I-9-3-1...Ryan Gibb started both games against Peterborough and Plymouth...After going two for eight on the power play Friday against : Belleville, the Generals have been unsuccessful unsuccessful in their last 13 tries with the man advantage...Friday's game ■ against Brampton starts at 7:35 p.m. 3* 4k W Resounding Christmas Wishes May the spirit of Christmas ring in your heart and echo throughout the new year. Please accept mir best wishes at Christmastime and our sincere thanks for your loyal patronage. Canada Brokerlink Insurance Pauline, Geri, Maureen, Roberta, Dawn and Tracey , 83 King St. W., Newcastle 905-987-3200 Please recycle h 4» Eastview Boys' and Girls' Club W- -sss- Winter Program Activities Schedule Eastview Unit: Our iiiiiin ehtb, -ijj Ett/a/ie Avenue, Centrai Oshawa 905-72E-5I2I iVorl/niew Unit: iijO Maty St. North. North Oshawa Clubhouse, 0H.r-ij6-2i6.t6 Est. 2E7i. Kÿ - Serving the community for-Wyears, A place where every member counts! - " CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS BREAK PROGRAM: For ages 0 to 12 years. A four day program offered V a.m. to 4 p.m. on the following dales: December 29, 30. 31 and Janurary 2nd. Offered at both our locations for either $60 lor the week or $ 15 per day (Norlhview Unit Only), with a valid membership. Crafts, games, sports, computers, swimming and speeial events planned. Call die locations listed above for details by 12 noon on December 2-llh or the morning of December 29th. 2. SWIMMING LESSONS AT THE EASTVIEW UNIT: All Red Cross Atpia Quest levels plus L.S.S. Bronze Star, Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross offered. New winter session starts on January 5th, 2004 call for details at 905-728-5121 Ext. 228. 3. CLUB MEMBERS WINTER PROGRAMS: For children 6-12 and teens 13- 18 years starts up again for after school and evenings as of January 5, 2004. Offered at both our locations with a valid membership. v&l aSl îs** 'îïT'f H €4 & 4k Ù I? Oshawa & s fir We are now accepting registration for all levels • Kids' Skate • Canpower • Canskate • Learn to Skate Programs • Figure Skating - Beginners to Competitive • Pairs • Power Skating Classes Beginning January 2nd For further information, call (905)-432-2934 . or Carol Johnston at (905) 725-3668 . A United Way Member Agency -tssfryt :. - efit*. - ets* ■___ . . Got a good sports story you want to see in print? Call the sports desk at 905- 579- 4400 REGISTER NOW FOR OUR PROGRAM LINE-UP BEGINNING JANUARY 2004 • Powerskating with Mary (am & pm classes available) • Learn to Skate weekday s weekend classes, adults welcome) • Girls Powerskating & Hockey Skills • Boys Powerskating & Hockey Skills • Hockey Tips for Tots (beginner hockey program) • Adult Hockey Schools (mens & ladies classes available) CALL FOR AVAILABLE CLASS TIMES AND DATES CHRISTMAS & HOCKEY CAMPS Dec. 22 and Dec. 23 • 2 hrs/day" 1 hr. Powerskating & 1 hr. Hockey Skills • Ages 6 to 13 (4 groups) • $75 + GST La We hope you have a joyful and festive holiday, and a very happy and healthy year ahead. "Thunk you for voting us #2 Floor Covering Store in Clnrington." Pant Tile Ltd. • Ceramic • Marble • Vinyl • Himhmui • Carpel • Laminates • Area Rugs 1230 Lambs Rd., Bowmanville (905)623-3929 S3 Camera phones et you say it instan The LG 5450 y. Built-in 300K pixel digital camera Vibrant colour screen Picture messaging and 2-way text messaging capable Picture Album to organize and store up to 30 pictures Downloadable ringtones, games and images 32-tone polphonic ringers lïVuîruuîerw With any now activation on a 3 yoat contract, totoivo • No Activation too • Three Piece Kil (cose, cm chargor, hoadsol) • Telus Calendar • Holiday Gift Bag Ask lot Slovo lo got yout extras. $99.99' $299.99 TELUS mobility* NASCOM/Advantage Telecom New Location 15 Thickson Rd. N. Suite 2 Whitby (905)433-1133 6- I 9 Duiitlni SI.W. | ? IV.tuiul,Kvi'|iit|.TMlA sayy iMjmii hik .i»Klinucf,.iiutcily.iwiI.iUcjiIftU'.iWiIVty'Mbrlilwivlunii'its 'Nixv:ii.tiv:it*ii'jijiilyl),mluiii:iyi , ,itcailiiX.1li'imiilli!i$50m,uliiiidvilo.M,iliim i lkit(Killiiv l tilv,illil!m|MiJu ool|»j,tp.tkll.G6-l60luixtnc > I.M.i]tiniotxitaottcronlyvnlklunUDooomtx!f 31,2003<iixlliiis'ollt.i h KilviilKliiraijiiiidMiv.'illuiirycitlMdlli.T.I'l'.rzirziiWiHiiitilyimiiiiiilKiiiiiiiKU.it.'l'lEir'MOIllUiyCOMDINY.