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Sports Oakville Beaver By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009 29 Blades reverse the tide to win another division title Return of goaltender Hache sparks team to Game 7 win over Raiders previously reported in the Beaver) in the league semifinals. That series begins tonight (Friday) at Joshua's GEORGETOWN -- For a team that Creek Arenas, starting at 8 p.m. has much loftier aspirations than a The Blades might not have got there division championship, the Oakville had it not been for the return of Hache. Blades were doing a lot of celebrating The 20-year-old former Ontario Hockey on the Gordon Alcott Arena ice Leaguer was injured in Game 2 of the Wednesday in Georgetown. series against Georgetown and wasn't Gloves and sticks were thrown high even allowed to attend the next three into the air and players piled onto each games of the series, told by doctors to stay other around goaltender Matt Hache, away from the rink and in dark rooms. whose return to action that night from Hache was cleared to play Monday a concussion injury had for Game 6, but did not "It's more almost seemed to re-energize his feel prepared. He pracrelief right now teammates. ticed Tuesday afternoon The Blades had just that we get to and Wednesday morning, reversed the tide in a grip- move on to the and looked no worse for ping and compelling next round." wear Wednesday night. seven-game series with "I had to do it for the the Georgetown Raiders, Blades captain team," said Hache, who capturing the inaugural Jeremy Welsh stopped 25 of 27 shots. Ontario Junior Hockey "Tonight was a whole League MacKinnon Division champi- team effort, the defencemen and foronship with a 3-2 victory in front of a wards blocking shots. It made it easy capacity crowd. Georgetown came into for me to go in there." Wednesday's game with all the Coccimiglio said the return of the momentum, having won the past two No. 1 goaltender gave a boost of configames to force Game 7, but Oakville dence to the rest of the Blades players. played poised, intelligent hockey to Affiliate player Adrian Volpe had taken build a 3-0 lead and then held on for over for Hache in Game 2 and played dear life the rest of the way. very well to earn victories in three "It's more almost relief right now consecutive games, but struggled in that we get to move on to the next Games 5 and 6. round," Blades captain Jeremy Welsh "The team saw (Hache) coming said of his feelings following the game. back and it gave them a bit of a lift," "It's special for the guys who weren't Coccimiglio said. "The longer the here last year. We went through it and series went, the harder it was for this was just a stepping stone, but I'm Volpe. The pressure was on and he more excited for the guys who came to played well for us." the team and wanted to win and hadn't Tyler Leimbrock and Chris Muise, experienced it." acquired from the Brampton Capitals Oakville won the then-West during the season, also played key Conference title last season on its way roles in Oakville's Game 7 win. to a league championship and an Leimbrock snapped out of a scoring appearance at the RBC Royal Bank Cup slump with two goals, while Muise tournament, and has won four division brought tenacity and energy throughcrowns in the past six years. out the night. "I told the boys in the dressing This is the first division champiroom that I've been doing this a long onship for the two 20-year-olds. time and to win back-to-back champi"They paid their dues and I'm realonships is hard to do," said Blades head ly happy for them," said Coccimiglio. coach Carlo Coccimiglio. "They should Luke Moodie had Oakville's other be very proud of themselves." goal Wednesday. Oakville's next opponent will be the See tomorrow's edition of The Central Division champion Wellington Oakville Beaver for more details about Dukes (not the Huntsville Otters, as the semifinal series with Wellington. SEVENTH HEAVEN: The Oakville Blades won the Ontario Junior Hockey League MacKinnon Division championship Wednesday with a 3-2 win over the Raiders in Georgetown. Above, the Blades' Lindsay Sparks, Tyler Leimbrock, Ryan Murphy and Taylor Farris (left to right) celebrate a goal. Left, Oakville netminder Matt Hache makes a pad save. PHOTOS BY L.J. KAPUSCINSKI / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVER