www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, January 8, 2015 | 32 Atom A Rangers win Silver Stick qualifier Hornets goalie records sixth shutout The Oakville Rangers atom A Blue team qualified for the prestigious International Silver Stick hockey tournament by winning a regional Silver Stick tournament last week in Brampton. Boys' hockey Oakville clinched the regional title with a 3-0 victory over the Brampton 45's in the final, after edging the Woolwich Wildcats 2-1 in a shootout in the semifinals. The Rangers breezed through the preliminary round, defeating Brampton 6-1, East Gwillimbury 7-0 and Halton Hills 6-2. Oakville has won all four tournaments it's entered this season, compiling a perfect 20-0-0 record along the way. "This team is a gritty bunch which finds a way to win close games," said Rangers coach John Verdon. "When all 17 boys are working hard and putting the team first, we are tough to beat." The International Silver Stick tournament will begin Jan. 16 in Sarnia. Members of the Rangers are Liam Austin, Ryan Blumer, Matthew Calderwood, Kael Carey, Jack Churchill, Alex Dupuis, Logan Fletcher, Nathan Jesseau, Daniel McKnight, Justin Muurinen, Joseph Natale, Griffin Pick, Matthew Rydz, Jacob Schneider, Tyler Tufford, Angelo Turco and Daniel Verdon. Pat Carey, Don Churchill, David Jesseau and John Pick also coach the team, and Audrey Schneider is the manager. Bantam Spartans beat rep teams in Motown The Oakville bantam MD Spartans beat out rep squads from Canada and the United States to win gold in the Silver Division at the Motown Cup A2 hockey tournament recently in Detroit. Eduard Brenninkmeijer scored twice and Mike Cummings recorded the shutout as Oakville blanked the Richmond Hill AE Stars 2-0 in the championship game. Oakville also shut out the Stars 5-0 during the preliminary round. In the Spartans' other games, they downed the Caledonia AE Thunder 8-2 and tied the Macomb AA Mavericks 2-2. Oakville captain Casson Speziale finished the tournament with five goals -- including a hat trick in the first game against Richmond Hill -- and three assists to earn MVP honours. Other members of the team are Dylan Whittaker, Connor Buchanan, Jacob White, Matthew Baldin, Areeb Athar, Chad Nadin, Laim Deschamps, Jack Wanson, Drew Fearon, Matthew Demita, Stewart McNaughton and Eric Gowing. Fabio Baldin, Ken Nadin and Ron Fearon coach the Spartans, and Brian Buchanan is the trainer. Peewee Ice Dogs bite Detroit competition Evan Muller scored four goals on the way to MVP honours as the Oakville minor peewee red Ice Dogs defeated Thornton 7-1 in the final of the recent Motown Cup hockey tournament in Detroit. Jaiden Thiara, Martin Lakostik and Henry Robinson also scored goals for the Ice Dogs, who defeated Thornton 6-3, Rochester 8-1 and Findlay 5-1 earlier in the tourney. Other contributors to the gold-medal performance were Nolan Bourdeau, Jack Taylor, Benjamin Leitao, Jake Walker, Andrew Diong, Liam Deighton, Jake Branco, Lucas McNaney, Ethan Coulter, Owen Baxter, Evan Szekszer and Marco Paris. Armando Leitao and Ryan Procunier coach the team, Jeff Robinson and Doug Bourdeau are the trainers, and Arnold Branco and Karen Branco are managers. Nikki Cece wasn't tested early but she earned her league-leading sixth shutout in the final period. The Oakville Hornets limited the Bluewater Hawks to just five shots through the first two periods of Saturday's Provincial Women's Hockey League game, but Cece stopped 14 shots in the third period in a 5-0 Oakville win. Loren Gabel quickly provided all the offence Oakville needed, scoring twice and setting up Amy Curlew in the opening period. Emma Maltais, the league's top scorer, made it 4-0 in the second period with her team-leading 19th goal and Meghan Hector's power-play marker in the final minute of the third rounded out the scoring. The shutout was the second in a row for Cece, who blanked Nepean Dec. 19. With her 19 saves Saturday, she also took the league lead in save percentage (.945) while lowering her goals-against average to 1.11, third-best in the league. Next action for Oakville (23-2-2) will be when the Hornets host Waterloo Tuesday, Jan. 13 at Joshua's Creek Arenas. Canadian Tire helping more kids play hockey Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities has teamed up with the Hockey Canada Foundation to give more children across Canada the opportunity to play minor hockey. Through The Big Play program, which was launched recently in Toronto, Jumpstart and the HCF hope to introduce approximately 10,000 children per year, ages 4-18, to the game of hockey over the next three years. The Big Play will assist kids from financially disadvantaged families with the costs associated with registration and equipment. "Every kid should have the chance to play hockey, regardless of their family's financial situation. We're proud to partner with the Hockey Canada Foundation to get more kids into the game," said Jumpstart Charities executive director Landon French. "The Big Play ensures kids have the opportunity to develop the confidence, teamwork and leadership skills associated with organized sport, while creating a lifetime of memories, and we are thrilled to be launching this important program just as the `Year of Sport' kicks off in Canada." Jumpstart and HCF will work closely with Hockey Canada's 13 branches and the more than 330 local Jumpstart Chapters across Canada to communicate details of the program to minor hockey associations nationwide. Both organizations have a rich history of supporting the game and helping create greater accessibility at the grassroots level. "The Big Play will provide a welcomed source of additional financial support for many Canadian families in need," said Chris Bright, Hockey Canada Foundation executive director. "Participating in hockey is something every Canadian child should have the opportunity to experience during their youth." Canadian Tire Corporation made a donation to the local Jumpstart Chapter of each member of Canada's national junior team, enabling five children from each player's hometown to get into hockey. Canadian Tire also donated 25 cents every time fans retweeted a #BigPlay-hashtagged tweet from TSN's @TSNHockey Twitter feed, which showed video highlights of top plays from the IIHF World Junior Championship. For more information on how to apply for funding assistance through The Big Play, call 1-844-YES-PLAY or visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca. Parents or guardians of players will receive information when the application process opens in mid-2015 for the 2015-16 season. Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity dedicated to providing kids from low-income families with the opportunity to experience the benefits of organized sports and physical activities. The Hockey Foundation supports Hockey Canada by promoting and fostering accessibility to the game of hockey. 3 DAYS ONLY-THUR.-SAT., JAN. 8-10 Furnace Diagnostic only OFF OUR REG. PRICES on almost EVERYTHING IN THE STORE Service No additional charge for evenings and weekends Sale in effect Thurs.-Sat. January 8-10, 2015, at participating stores, for all Customers. Special purchases, promotional items, Signature StylesTM, yarn, sale & clearance not included. Regular store hours apply. $ Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! www.fabricland.ca 9 locations to serve you better MISSISSAUGA: 3015 WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. (N.W. side @ Dundas) 905-828-9966 BURLINGTON: 3515 FAIRVIEW ST. 905-639-2516 www.aireone.com A+ RATING (905) 849-4998 49 reg. $99