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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 201036 By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF When Glenn Hoag saw his young team in Slovenia strug- gling and not reaching its potential, he approached the teams manager and told him about a player he thought could make a difference. Hoags instincts proved to be right. His new recruit was a vast upgrade over the player he replaced, with strong defensive instincts and passing skills that help set up the teams offence. But his biggest impact had nothing to do with his techni- cal skills. The players were willing to do whatever the guy they dubbed Crazy Dan asked them to do work harder, commu- nicate better. He changed our team, Hoag said. The guys just came around and rallied around him. The players loved him. He car- ried the group. The team ACH Volley based in Bled with an aver- age age of 24, went on to reach the Champions League semifi- nals, the first Slovenian team to ever advance that far in the European club championship. Now Hoag is hoping Oakvilles Dan Lewis can have a similar effect on another one of his teams, Canadas national squad. At 34, Lewis is the oldest member of the team and one of only five players who were on the national team four years ago when it played in its last world championships. Lewis never expected him- self to be in this position. He started playing volleyball in elementary school, contin- ued in high school and began playing rep for West Side Volleyball Club. But it wasnt until he was attending the University of Manitoba that he realized the opportunities that were available to him in the sport. He was 21 when he first heard of professional volley- ball. After school, Lewis would go on to play in Spain, Switzerland, France and Poland before joining Hoag in Slovenia last year. It changed my life com- pletely, Lewis said. Its been great to be able to train in a sport that I love every day. And Lewis is also enjoying his life off the court much more. When he first went to Europe, he didnt fully appreci- ate the opportunity the game had given him. I didnt get into the cul- ture. I didnt make friends out- side of volleyball, he said. I was living in Europe and want- ing to be back home and I was missing out. And what I was missing out on was my life in the present. I was in Europe eight months, so why spend eight months wishing I was where I was going to be for four months. Now Im learning about Slovenia. Its not just volley- ball. There are so many amaz- ing experiences. There have been changes on the court as well. Hoag says like many young players, Lewis used to let his emotions get the best of him. Instead of letting a bad call or missed point rattle him, he is able to settle himself and his teammates to concen- trate on the next point. Technically, he is one of the most skilled players we have, Hoag said. He keeps his emo- tions in check, which is some- thing that has come with age, and when you have his ability and youre more focused on tactics, youve got everything you need. The Canadian squad, ranked 20th in the world, is currently preparing for Septembers Rallying point DIGGING DEEP: Dan Lewis (in red) returns a serve during the Canadian mens vol- leyball teams exhibition match against Cuba Tuesday in Mississauga. The team is prepar- ing for next months world championships in Italy where it will be looking to improve upon its 11th-place finish in 2006. Volleyball veteran Dan Lewis has emerged as a leader on both his pro team and Canadas national squad MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER n See Lewis page 37