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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, Se pt em be r 2 2, 2 01 0 2 6 By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF On a night where the Oakville Bladeshonoured their past, a player with abright future provided the perfect link to the present. Mark Bennett helped the Blades christen their new home by scoring the first goal at the Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Just 20 minutes earlier, it was another member of the Bennett family in the spotlight. Brian Bennett was one of seven former Oakville cap- tains honoured by the team prior to Saturdays home opener. Brian barely had time to settle into his seat when his sons goal 3:50 into the Ontario Junior Hockey League contest kick-started a 5-3 win over the Newmarket Hurricanes. The younger Bennett was so caught up in helping the Blades win that he didnt even realize the significance of his goal until he was asked for his stick during the intermis- sion. It was just nice to get that first win, he said. Of course, Bennett had a little more reason to celebrate than his teammates. The 19-year- old just committed to Union College for next season. There he will join the Blades last two captains, Jeremy Welsh and Mike Ingoldsby, as well as Josh Jooris, the son of Blades coach Mark Jooris. And with his future plans looked after, Bennett can focus on the present and helping the Blades take the next step towards winning a national championship. There are guys who will score goals and guys who play on the checking line, he said. Whether youre the 12th forward not getting much ice, you have to be patient. Thats the small stuff you need to do to win champi- onships. You have to put the team first. Bennett speaks from experience. He got his first taste of Jr. A as a frequent call-up from midget, playing 24 games during the 2008-09 season when the Blades reached the league final. Last year, he made the team out of train- ing camp and went on to notch 21 goals and 57 points in 45 games. Though he is still the subject of some good- natured teasing by his family that hes yet to top his dads 80-point season with the Blades, the younger Bennett does have a league cham- pionship to his credit. Whether or not he approaches his dads lofty point totals, Bennett is one of the Blades offensive lead- ers, although his contributions go beyond the scoresheet. He does everything very well, Jooris said. Hes a strong kid, hes got a good shot and hes good defensively. Bennett knows his play on both sides of the puck will be important to continuing the Blades success, which has seen them win the league championship twice in the past three years. Thats some- thing he tries to stress to the newcomers on the team. Some guys think you can just throw on the jersey and youre going to win, he said, but it takes a lot of work. Saturdays win certainly wasnt easy. Oakville led 2-0 until Newmarket broke Daniel Savellis shutout bid early in the third. Kyle Blaney and Blake Roubos scored midway through the period to extend the lead to 4-1 but Newmarket refused to give in, scoring twice in a 31-second span to cut the lead to one with three minutes remaining. Mark McGowans empty-net goal sealed the win. Savelli again took a shutout into the third Monday as the Blades beat the Hamilton Red Wings 3-1. The Blades netminder made 33 saves while Kyle Lysaght scored twice and Josh Ranalli added another. The win improved the Blades record to 3- 1. They suffered their only loss Friday, 3-2 to Huntsville. Oakville will host the Mississauga Chargers in its next contest, a 7:30 p.m. start Friday at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Local product Bennett scores Blades first goal at new digsHighlighted by a third shutout victory ofthe season by its bantam squad, the Halton Cowboys Football Club won four of five games it played last weekend in Southwestern Ontario Football Association of Leagues play. The bantam Cowboys romped 33-0 over Brantford, the tykes downed Twin Cities 18- 12, the atoms blanked Twin Cities 6-0 and the peewee white squad defeated Cambridge 12- 0. Haltons peewee red Cowboys dropped a 30-8 decision to Hamilton in the other game of the weekend. In the tyke contest, new starting quarter- back Cain Richards completed a pass and had two runs for positive yardage. Offensive line- man Ian Curtis had a key block that led to a Halton touchdown, while Michael Rochon, Treyvon Norton and Bret Matheson anchored a strong defensive effort. The atom Cowboys earned their first win of the season, thanks in part to the leadership of quarterback Austin Reid. The defence also came up big for Halton, recording five sacks and recovering two fumbles. Defensive backs Dante Richards and Kevell Grant had excel- lent games for the Cowboys. The peewee white team got touchdown runs by Jack Berczi and Dante Iacoviello to earn its second consecutive victory. The offensive line of Brendan Holk, Graham Southon, Brandon Davis, Lucas Mitrovic and Darren Eddy controlled the line of scrim- mage, and Tate Sharp, Aaron Lewis, Wyatt Chapelle-Moore and George Khano led the defence to its second shutout of the season. Will Ellis was the star of the bantams vic- tory over Brantford, scoring four touch- downs. Ellis returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a TD, added 70- and 64-yard punt returns for majors and capped off his after- noon with a 90-yard touchdown run. Jordan Mealand had Haltons other touchdown, scoring on a 44-yard run. Zared Selinak, Thomas Milne, Malik Shillinford and the Cowboys defence did the rest, keeping the Bisons off the scoreboard. Cowboys win four of five SEE YA: Andre Pinto of the Halton Cowboys bantam team (with ball) runs past Brantford Bisons tacklers. 905-849-4998 www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 A+ Rating comwww. *See dealer for details 9 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU BETTER #1 in Home Comfort Since 1990 We service Lennox *Call for details, offers cannot be combined, On new orders only ** OAC Prime rate subject to change. ELIGIBLE FOR$3830* IN GOVERNMENT & FACTORY REBATES* UP TO System for Your Home GAS FURNACE, CENTRAL AIR, AIR PURIFIER & HUMIDIFIER Or Central Air Conditioner from $39/month** THE BIGGEST SALE EVER SAME DAY INSTALLATIONS AVAILABLE Furnace Diagnostic Service ONLY $49 $89/month**