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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday March 26, 2008 - 41 Readying for championship day Local teams in OMHA tourneys The Oakville atom AAA Rangers went 3-1 at last weekend's Ontario Minor Hockey Association qualifying tournament in Niagara Falls, earning a spot in this weekend's OMHA championship tournament. The Rangers defeated Guelph 50, St. Catharines 9-1 and Halton 62, with their lone loss coming 3-2 to Brampton. Oakville will compete with the host Central Ontario Wolves, the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs, the York-Simcoe Express and an eastern representative at the OMHA championships. Novices also through The novice AAA Rangers have also qualified for the OMHA championships. The team went 3-0-1 at the qualifying tournament in Niagara Falls earlier this month, posting wins over Niagara Falls (5-3), St. Catharines (5-2) and Halton (5-1) while tying Burlington (22). The OMHA novice championships will be held April 4-6 in Richmond Hill. DEREK WOOLLAM / OAKVILLE BEAVER NOVICE HOUSE LEAGUE: Novice teal Hornets house league player Riley Robillard (right) -- pink laces and all -- battles for the puck with Yellow Stingers player Sierra Johnson Saturday at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The Hornets house league season will conclude this weekend with championship day. Ice stays alive against Sabres By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR Someone apparently forgot to tell the Oakville Ice that it has no chance against the Stoney Creek Sabres. The Ice, which finished the Provincial Women's Hockey League regular season 33 points behind the first-place Sabres, handed Stoney Creek only its third loss of the year last weekend to force a fourth game in the teams' second-round playoff series. Oakville will host the Sabres Friday (a 7:15 p.m. start at Canlan Ice Sports) for Game 4, where an Ice victory would force a winner-take-all contest Sunday in Stoney Creek. Ice head coach Bill Metcalfe said his team, the 12th seed in the playoffs, is beginning to believe it can pull off the upset. "We've just kept with our game plan," said Metcalfe, whose team dropped the first two games of the series before Sunday's 3-1 road victory. "The girls are doing everything, from blocking shots to being in proper position, and our goaltender (Stephanie Auger) has been playing huge. Confidence is contagious." Metcalfe didn't want to get into specifics about his team's game plan, but said the Ice is trying to negate the Sabres' size and speed by forcing them to move the puck laterally. The plan worked Sunday, as Sarah Finbow scored in the third period to break a 11 tie and Dayna Kanis added an insur- ance marker with 4:31 remaining in regulation. Taylor Metcalfe had Oakville's other goal, and Auger stopped 28 of 29 Stoney Creek shots. Two days earlier in Oakville, the Ice had also played Stoney Creek tough, dropping a 3-2 decision. Elaine Dumas and Metcalfe had the Oakville goals. Bill Metcalfe said he likes the Ice's chances in the series if it can extend the Sabres to a fifth game. "A win Friday would make home ice negligible in Game 5," he said. "In any (deciding game), I truly believe there is no home ice advantage. Everything is up for grabs. "That's looking too far ahead," he continued. "We're just focusing on the first shift of the first period (Friday). You worry about what you can control." Regardless of Friday's outcome, next game will be the last the Ice play at home this season. The winner of the Stoney Creek/Oakville series will advance to the Provincial Women's Hockey League championship weekend, along with four other teams and the host Aurora squad. Oakville Minor Frid & Russell Company Ltd. B & D Auto Recycling Polyanthus Landscapes Zellens Auto Mall To place your business logo or name here, call your Classified Sales Representative today! Baseball Association 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4, Oakville, Ontario L6L 2X4 Providing Quality Baseball in Our Community for over 44 Years House League, Select and Rep Programs for all Boys & Girls Ages 5 to 23 From May to September 2008 Player Registration Saturday's March 29th from 10 AM to 1 PM At the OMBA Clubhouse 1236 Speers Road, Unit #4 OR Register online by visiting our website at Our Fees: T-Ball (Ages 5 & 6).........................$145 Coach Pitch (Age 7).........................$145 Rookie Ball to Junior (Ages 8 to 23).....$205 www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com With your registration we provide: · Player Development Clinics · Coaches taught by qualified instructors · Baseball Ontario Certified Umpires · Complete uniforms, Individual & Team Photos For further registration details and information visit our website at www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com email us at: omba@oakvilleminorbaseball.com or call us at 905-847-5545 The Oakville Minor Baseball Association is affiliated with 905.632.4440