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Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2009 37 All-out effort Tavares set to make NHL debut The wait is almost over. John Tavares will make his much-anticipated National Hockey League debut tomorrow (Saturday), when he and the New York Islanders are home to the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins. Tavares, the first overall pick in this summer's NHL Entry Draft, scored a record 215 goals during his four years in the Ontario Hockey League. His 72 goals in the 2006-07 season broke Wayne Gretzky's record for goals in a season by a 16-year-old. Last winter, the former St. Thomas Aquinas student led Canada to gold at the World Junior Hockey Championships, earning tournament MVP and top forward honours. While Tavares is looking to make his mark as a rookie, fellow Oakville resident Steve Mason is hoping to duplicate the stellar freshman season he enjoyed last year. Mason and the Columbus Blue Jackets also open the season tomorrow with a home game against the Minnesota Wild. Mason went 33-20-7 with a 2.29 goals-against average in 61 games last year, helping the Blue Jackets reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Those numbers, along with his .916 save percentage and seven shutouts, earned the Abbey Park grad the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie. Former Oakville Trafalgar student Sam Gagner will begin his third NHL season tomorrow as his Edmonton Oilers host the Calgary Flames. Gagner had 16 goals and 25 assists in 76 games last year. He scored 13 goals and added 36 helpers in 79 games as a rookie two years ago. Golfer wins amateur tour national title Pekka Ojapalo wasn't taking anything for granted. The Oakville golfer took an 11-shot advantage into the fourth and final round at last weekend's Golf Channel Amateur Tour National Championship in La Quinta, California. Unlike low handicappers where a bogey can make or break a round, Ojapalo -- playing in the Senior Division, Snead Flight (for players with a handicap of 20 or higher) -- knew how quickly things could change. "You have to expect anything," he said. "A big number can come very fast." Ojapalo had already watched his lead whittle to three strokes and danger was lurking with an island green at the end of the par-5 15th hole. The 56-year-old tried to set up his third shot at 100 yards where he was comfortable with his club selection. His strategy paid off as he hit the green. His closest rival, Steve MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER Daughtrey of California, wasn't so lucky. His shot splashed into the water. And then again. TIGHT D: Abbey Park's Kayla Goodhoofd (in blue) and Holy Trinity's Selena Singh go to And again. By the end of the hole, Daughtrey had an the floor for a loose ball during Wednesday's Halton high school senior girls' basketball game at Abbey Park. Trinity improved to 2-0 on the season with a 55-36 victory over the unlucky 13 while Ojapalo had a par, restoring his double-digit advantage. Eagles. "I felt bad for him," he said. "He was playing very well to that point." As it turned out, Ojapalo didn't even need his opponent's misfortune. He birdied 16 and finished with a 95 to win the tournament. He could definitely relate to Daughtrey, though. Ojapalo had been in contention the previous year but fell out of the running after "a very bad round" on the final day. This year, Ojapalo bought himself some breathing room with consistent play over the first three days, opening with back-to-back 91s. Ojapalo, whose best round is a 79 at Hidden Lake in Burlington, then shot an 85 -- a great score for him under tournament conditions, he said. "Playing in a tournament is so much different," he said. "Those short putts become a lot harder." And while he struggled on the greens in the final round, Ojapalo compensated throughout the tournament with his accuracy off the tee. That was essential, particularly on the final day on a tight course with narrow fairways. -- Herb Garbutt www.icesports.com 905-845-6989