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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 16, 2015 | 26 Continued from pg. 25 happened so quickly." The fact the selection committee had to track down his contact information through Facebook is just another reminder of how far McEachran has come in the past 12 months. In January of 2014, McEachran began the year by finishing 66th at the US Grand Prix Breckenridge, which was won by Brown. A week later, McEachran won the North Face Park and Pipe Open Series. While the development event didn't attract top skiers, it was nevertheless an important victory that set McEachran up for an impressive three months capped by his win at the AFP worlds that vaulted him seventh in the AFP world rankings. "Within a year, progressing the way he did on his jumps, I don't think I've ever seen anyone improve that much," said national team coach J.F . Cusson. "You see some showing a lot of talent and you never know when they're going to reach a plateau. With Evan, he just keeps going and going." Last month, McEachran reached the final in his first-ever Dew Tour event -- also his first as a member of the national team's A group -- bumping him to sixth in the AFP rankings. · · · · While the timing of McEachran's success may have come a surprise, the acheivements themselves are not. Cusson recalls being immediately impressed by McEachran. X Games `a dream come true' for Oakville skier "When he tried the double cork 1260, he got it right away. Right then, I thought, `This kid's got some skills," he said. "I've seen some really talented guys and they needed 20 tries. He shows up and he stomps it on his first one." "I remember that one," McEachran says. "For me that was an unnatural-level cork. I knew how to do it to the left, but doing it the other way feels really foreign. When I landed it, I thought, `Wow, this is insane.' Being able to spin back-to-back both ways really stepped things up." McEachran's jumps just added to an already impressive arsenal. "His rail game is probably top three in the world. It gives him a big edge. Evan's more than just a good rail skier," Cusson said. "It's incredible, he's so focused and so good with stress." That last skill will come in handy at the X Games. While his competitors can simply focus on the competition, the Grade 12 student at Oakville Trafalgar High School still has exams to write upon his return. And if he can manage all of that and repeat his performance at the AFP worlds, chances are McEachran will find himself being recognized a lot more often. Reid McEachran headed world championships Reid McEachran has been named to the Canadian team that will compete at the FIS Freestyle Ski World Championships in Kreischberg, Austria. The 21-year-old is in his first season on the national team after a strong finish to the 2013-14 season. He finished in the top 15 in each of his last five slopestyle events, including a 12th-place result at the Association of Freeskiing Professionals World Championships last April. He also turned in a sixth-place finish at the Aspen/Snowmass Freesking Open. With the date of this year's world championships conflicting with Winter X Games, many of the national team members, including McEachran's brother Evan, will be competing in Aspen, Colo. That provided an opportunity for members of Canada's development team to compete at worlds. "This year's Freestyle Skiing World Championship, which are now jointly held with snowboard, is a stepping stone for our athletes' Olympic journey," said David Mirota, Canadian high performance director. "For our upcoming provincial and institute level athletes benefiting from this major experience this year, banking these extra key lessons earlier in their careers will only enhance their development" The slopestyle competition will run from Jan. 20-21. | photo by Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver Ryan Garvey had a goal and an assist in the Oakville Blades' 4-1 win over Buffalo Tuesday. Blades down Sabres Ryan Garvey and Matthew McLeod each had a goal and an assist and Brendan McGlynn made 26 saves as the Oakville Blades topped the Buffalo Jr. Sabres 4-1 Wednesday. The Blades made the most of their 19 shots to end a four-game slide and record their first win of 2015. McLeod got Oakville on the board just 65 seconds into the game. Buffalo tied it midway through the first but Josh Kosack would put Oakville ahead to stay with 3:10 to play in the second. Ross Sloan and Garvey added goals in the third. The Blades host the Orangeville Flyers tonight (Friday) at 7:30 p.m. The game is the Blades' annual Pink in the Rink fundraiser for cancer research. There will be a puck toss, cupcake sales, a jersey auction and the Blades' DJ Jade will be cutting her hair for Cuts for Cancer. Last year's game raised $25,000. Power nets first NCAA goal in Hamilton College win Oakville's Courtney Power scored her first NCAA goal Tuesday in Hamilton College's 6-0 win over Potsdam. The senior defenceman gave the Continentals a 3-0 lead 9:03 into the opening period. Power, the team captain, has a goal and two assists in 11 games this season. The Appleby College grad has compiled a goal and 10 assists in 83 career games with Hamilton College. Creativity is subjective. The truth isn't. Furnace Diagnostic Service only No additional charge for evenings and weekends $ Truth in Advertising Matters. 9 locations to serve you better www.aireone.com A+ RATING 905-849-4998 49 reg. $99