Li i during Argentina’s 1-0 CopaAmericawin over Chile is “nothing serious.” Playing a day after his 37th birthday, the Argentina superstar received treatment onthe thigh area of his right leg after getting kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th minute on Tuesday. Messi, however, stayed on the a quarterfinal berth. “It’s bothering me a little bit, but I was able to finish the match. Ohtani off to aroaring Start with Dodgers Halfway through his first season | with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sho- | hei Ohtanilooks quite comfortable | with his new surroundings. | The Japanese slugger has been a sweet-swinging Hollywood block: | buster so far. The Dodgersentered Wednesday | on top of the NL West with a 50- 31 record, and Ohtani has played a majorrolein theirstrong start. The two-time AL MVP is batting a ca- reer-high .320 with 24 homers, 60 RBIs and a1.032 OPSin78 games. | “Tt’s really about getting to know | the guys,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “As I stated before, I decided to sign with this team and wanted todothebest I canto fitin. So I think overall, looking back, it’s been a really good first half.” Ohtani, who turns 30 on July i Z | Shohei Ohtani | 5, agreed to a record-shattering US$700-million, 10-year contract | in December. The two-way sensa- tion isn’t pitching this year while he recovers from elbow surgery. “The reality is the workload has been a lot less,” Ohtani said. “So I can’t deny that. But at the same | time, as a hitter, I’ve been getting betterand overall I et been growing as a hitter, t Ohtani moved into the leadoff spot after Mookie Betts was side- | lined by a broken left hand. He is batting .419 (13 for 31) with five homersand 14 RBIsin eight games since Betts got hurt. “I don’t know what more we can really say about him,” Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “J think we've said everything we can since he entered this league, about what an amazing player he is. But when you come over here, STRATFORD BEACON HERALD MESSI NURSES MINOR LEGINJURY It was hard for me to move freely, partic- ularly side to side. We'll see howit feels,” Messisaid. Argentina coach Lionel Scalo- ers in Argentina’s last Group A match, against Peru on Saturday. Argentina will win the group unless it loses to Peruand Canada beats Chile. The Canadians can overtake Argentina on goal difference. Argentina is on plus-three and Canada minus-one. The Associated Press THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2024 HE, Stratford’s Max Mari a Bulla “Bina SECTION B Se ARRRCE a | A | Suaton 's Max Mari will play for the Toronto Bulldogs at The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament starting Monday in Edmonton. CORY SMITH/BEACON F eeanenmmeoe og at Edmonton hockey tournament Sniper topped 80- goal mark with U11 Lakers in 2023-24 CORY SMITH Max Mari has reached another stage in his young hockey career. The 10-year-old from Stratford has big dreams. He wants to play in the Ontario Hockey League, get drafted to the National Hockey League and then “win a Cup. But those are long-term goals. First, Mari of my chances to show my skill with all of the people watching,” he said. Before scoring more than 80 goals in 63 games with the Ull Huron-Perth Lakers last season, Mari’s family was approached by a parent from another Alliance Hockey team who suggested he try out for the Toronto Bulldogs, adevelopment program with Jack Hughes, Mitch Marner, Dougie Hamilton and Max Domi among its alumni. “J was surprised and excited,” Mari sai The two- way. pa: one on oft efor youjust rear going to goon any team. “Sometimes you just got to step back and d just appreciate a player like this.’ The Associated Press some of the best players in North America at The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament July 1-7 at the West Edmonton Mall. “I thought this would be one ashot that has reached ce amy tres per hour. But Mari will have to adjust his game with the Bull- logs, who want him on defence. “Learning a new position is al- ways fun,” he! said, doer have any doubts. leadership in It will al nt M will have to make crisp passes on breakouts and avoid forecheckers while findinga way to get his hard shot past opposing wingers. “He’s always had great determi- nation, but his skating has really improved,” his dad, James Mari, said, “He’s drivennow to be first to our Ht dressingroom,” Shawn Walker said. “The boys look up to him, and he’s a humble kid for how good he is at his age. Max is a pleasure to coach and have on our Lakers team. He has a positive attitude and loves playing for the Lakers.” that puck, no matt The young sous Senators’ fan normally patterns his game after the likes of Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk. Lately, he’s been study- ing defencemen and will need to be more like offensive blue-liners Erik Karlsson or Cale Makar. “It will be lots of fun playing a difficult level of hockey,” he said. Baan! it makes me play bet- “His triple-A Lakers’ coach Monday againgt CCM Chicago and will also face Saskatchewan, Montreal, Connecticut, Detroit and the Western Selects, who have pie. from Alaska to Washing- g “Mari wants toscoreagoal ortwo and “rack up some points” on his way toa gold medal. One step ata time. “Stages,” he said. cosmith@postmedia.com St. Marys joins Stratford, Listowel in GOJHL realignment CORY SMITH With a chance to create new ri- valries and renew old ones, and a greater emphasis on the regular season, the Greater Ontario Ju- nior Hockey League’s realignment is getting a stamp of approval from local teams. “Itsa good change and freshens up the league,” Stratford Warriors general manager Nick Parr said. The league announced Tuesday it will go from three conferences to two for the 2024-25 season. Put simply, Stratford, Listowel, ees ener-Waterloo and Elmira m the Midwestern Ractecus to the Western Conference, and Ayr, Cambridge, Brantford be Caledon will leave the Midwe: for the Golden Horseshoe, Gaui the new conferences have yet tobe named. Wet a is something that been looking at me the road. The geographic rivals ha- ven’t played anon-Showcase game since the Lincolns visited Allman Arena in 2010 for Hockey Day in Canada. That likely attendance boost should help offsetsome of the extra budget costs, Parr said. Stratford bs around $50,000 in 2023-24 for transportation and food during road trips, the GM added, and he Chatham and ant six times in GOJHL CONFERENCES FOR 2024-25 Conference A LaSalle St.Thomas Chatham Listowel Stratford mira London Strathroy Kitchener-Waterloo Sarnia ki St. Marys 2 oe B Caledonia Pelham Cambridge Port Colborne Baas Fort Erie St. Catharines Caledon Hamilton Welland suspects like London, LaSalle and spects. All in all, I think it’s good for our league. It makes GMs and coachesalittle more: accountable to successful p) through the ee One wrinkle to lignment will be figuring out hoe to satis- fy organizations that share the same home nights. Junior rinks in Stratford, St. Marys, Listowel and St. Thomas are typically busy on the pei ota interimcom- _ the regular seaso1 Chatham. missionerTimTimmonssaid.“Go- _“I like longer caved because yoo It not only means some mpod ing to two conferences eee vm but teamswill rej season St. Marys, which typically eee important, and it also Piatustes road games, eens “a two peers eatelay have to the three-team (Sutherland Cup) when we get there,” he said. “It will jodify thi round-robin that was in place for butit’s 1 the last three seasons.” hard to know what you're expect- ement ofcompetition and eve: Teams will still play 50 games isn’t making the playoffs,” patie before the playoffs, and while de- Lincolns GM Pat Powers: said ex- said. “That should open things up tailsof tbeen pt for more player movement at the announced, Parr i deadline, whichi itingtime.” will play the other 11 teams inits the West used to be considered a Playing multiple games against conference four times, plus four failure, he said, but now St. Marys _ teams formerly from the Midwest crossover games and two at the will have to contend with the top also means St. Marys can bea des- annual Showcase in September. four teams in the Midwest from _ tination forplayers fromthe Kitch- Underthat format, Stratford will 2023-24 -- all of them perennial- _ener-Waterloo area, Powers said. face St. Marystwiceathomeandon ly strong -- along with the usual _ “It’s beneficial for us ina few re- Bey have to be made. I think it will take ayear to get used toand figure howit all worl Powers said. “It'll be interesting to see how it goes this year.” cosmith@postmedia.com