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Sports Oakville Beaver Oakville's Steve Mason took the next step toward an NHL career when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets last week. After playing just 16 games in his rookie season in the Ontario Hockey League, Mason flourished in the number one role this past year, appearing in a league-record 45 games with the London Knights. He was named the league's top goaltender and backstopped the Knights to the West Conference final, where they were eliminated by Plymouth. The 18-year-old netminder said Columbus had hoped to sign him after the first round of the OHL playoffs, but his agent and parents felt it was better to wait until the season ended. "It's nice to get it out of the way," said the Minor Oaks Hockey Association product. "I've got a big summer ahead of myself." The summer will be spent preparing for his second NHL training camp. Mason said last year's camp had a major www.aplushomes.ca from 2 .4% ·Full MLS ·Full Service Call ADAM CAMPBELL Broker 905-844-4444 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2007 41 Mason inks NHL deal impact on his play this season. "I impressed a lot of people and it gave me a lot of confidence going back to London," he said. Mason, drafted in the third round, 69th overall in 2006, expects to be back with the Knights next season and hopes to turn pro the following season, likely with Syracuse of the American Hockey League. He also hopes to have another opportunity to try out for Canada's world junior team. He was invited to training camp last December but suffered a concussion days before the camp and was unable to play until the last day of camp. While Pascal Leclaire is considered the Blue Jacket's long-term starting goaltender, he struggled with knee and back injuries last season. Hockey's Future, a website that evaluates players' long-term potential, lists Mason as Columbus' eighth-best prospect, slightly ahead of current Syracuse goalies Tomas Popperle (11th) and Daniel Lacosta (12th). -- Herb Garbutt Friendly game More kayaking gold for van Koeverden Adam van Koeverden continued his dominance of the World Cup canoe and kayak circuit, winning both the K-1 500 and 1,000-metre races in Zagreb, Croatia last weekend. The reigning Olympic champion won the 500m on Saturday in a time of one minute, 39.121 seconds. Andres Gustafson of Sweden was second in 1:39.715. "I had a tentative start but after 50 metres I caught up and stayed strong the rest of the way," van Koeverden said on the Canadian Canoe and Kayak Association website. The Burloak Canoe Club member followed that up with a victory in the 1,000m, posting a time of 3:34.581. Eirik Veraas Larsen of Norway was second, 1.7 seconds behind. Van Koeverden has won both races in each of the last three World Cup events. BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER REUNION: Former St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School students took to the pitch Friday afternoon for an exhibition rugby match, part of the school's 25th anniversary celebrations. Participants also donated money for Loyola alumnus Sean Corner, who was recently paralyzed while playing in a game with the Hamilton Hornets. OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB OAKVILLE SOCCER SET TO KICK-OFF MAY 14!!! FULL SCHEDU NOW ONLIN CONTACTI 20 THOUSAND PLUS AT BMO FIELD HE TORONTO FC & THE OSC CKET WITH TRANSPORTATION LE TO BMO FIELD INCLUDED CANADA vs. ARGENTINA RGENTINA DLY AGO FIRE VOLUNTEER COACHES STILL NEEDED CONTACT ROBYN @ ralp@oakville-soccer.on.ca FOR MORE INFORMATION HOUSTON DYNAMO PURCHASE TICKETS THROUGH OSC OFFICES BY CONTACTING MATT @ mmaclaren@oakville-soccer.on.ca Oakville Soccer Club www.oakville-soccer.on.ca A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsored by: