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2017 | 22 www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, June 16, Lewis’ two-way contributions help Cobourg claim national title By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff The first time Theo Lewis watched the RBC Cup final — apart from when he lived it — he got goosebumps. Watching his Cobourg Cougars tie the game with 67 seconds to play in the third period and then score in overtime to edge the Brooks Bandits 3-2 for the national junior A championship was that moment young hockey players dream about. “A lot of guys play junior and have nothing like this to show for it,” Lewis said. “I can't even explain how unbelievable it was. It was just one of the best feelings in my life.” It was an opportunity that was five years in the making. Com- ing out of minor midget with the Oakville Rangers, Lewis tried out for the Oakville Blades, the team he grew up watching. But the Blades were coming off a trip to the Ontario Junior Hockey League final and had a strong team with few openings. When he didn't make the team, he heard there might be a chance to play in Cobourg. Lewis went to the tryout, made a good impression and earned a spot on the team. Though Lewis never cracked double digits in goals until this season, when he had 11 goals and 23 points in 50 games, the two-year alternate captain established himself as a vital member of the Cougars. “You could always count on him. He’ a very physical player who added a lot of energy and positionally, he knows where to be,” Cobourg GM Brent Tully said of Lewis, who was a defence- man until peewee. “Hes probably one of the best penalty killing guys in the league. That reflected in Cobourg’s OJHL-best penalty kill that boast- ed an 89.3 per cent success rate. That carried over to the RBC where the Cougars allowed just four goals on 33 opportunities (87.9 per cent) against the country’s best teams. JOHN WILLMOTT ARCHITECT, INC. www.jwarchitect.com OUR FIRST PASSION New « Additions « Cottages « Interiors * Landscape ille’s Th dded clutch scori I i tetorshe play at the RBC Cup as he helped the ( coboug Gone win the prove they belonged. After losing just once in the first two rounds of the playoffs, Cobourg dropped three straight one-goal games before Trenton completed the sweep with a 3-1 victory. Lewis not only felt his team deserved a better fate than being swept, he felt the Cougars could have won the series. “It only motivated us more. We knew we had a second shot that nota lot teams get,” he said. “We knew we had a shot at redemp- tion, but we had to be at the top of game when the RBC came.” And the Cougars were. Five weeks after Trenton eliminated them from the OJHL playoffs, Cobourg exacted revenge with a 3-2 overtime win in the opening game of the national tourna- ment. The Cougars kept rolling, thanks in part to some unex- pected offensive contributions. Lewis scored twice in a 6-1 win over the eastern Canadian champion Terrebonne Cobras and then broke a 1-1 tie wit eight minutes to play in a 3-1 semifinal win over Penticto1 “Guys like Theo had those extra defensive responsibilities It has to be extra special for someone like him,” id. “ play the way he did and score a few goals — when you play in a tournament like that you need secondary scoring, and he was phenomenal.” Lewis finished the tournament with three goals and two as- sists in six games, tied for third on the team. The 20-year-old is weighing offers from Canadian universities and Division III colleges in the U.S., but says wherever he goes, education will be the priority and hockey will be a bonus. __, Wherever hockey takes him next, he'll always have a memora- to reflect on. Lewis said the championship was not national Jr.A title. | photo by HL Images Cobourg climbed as high as third in the national rankings ear- ly in the season, finishing with a 39-11-4 record in the league’ toughest division. Though they were guaranteed a spot at the RBC Cup as tournament hosts, the Cougars were determined to other goal. Vilela leads Blue Devils rout Felipe Vilela set an Oakville Blue Devils club record, scoring four times to lead the team to a 5-1 win over ProStars FC Vilela scored three times in 23 minutes in the opening half and then set the new team mark in the 90th minute to cap the Blue Devils’ sixth straight Leaguel Ontario win. “Everyone in the league knows that Felipe is quality and if you don't do your job on him he is going to score goals,” Duncan Wilde of the 2015 Golden Boot winner. “They couldn't hold him today, and he hit form. Everything he hit seemed to go in the back of the net, so good for him and good for Matthew Santos, with his third of the season, had Oakville’ The win moved the Blue Devils back into first place in the West Division, a point ahead of Sigma FC (5-0-2). Oakville hosts OSU Force Sunday at 4 p.m. at Sheridan College. ny meaningful to him, but to the city that had become his sec- ond home after spending eight months of the last five years there. “We would always lose a lot of guys to the GTHL so we never won much in minor hockey,” Lewis said. “Cobourg hadn't won a championship since 1974 in Jr. C, so it was a really big deal.” | Mason signing autographs Saturday Philadelphia Flyer goalie Steve Mason is appearing at a local pub Saturday. The 29-year-old Oakville native, who will be a free agent this summer, is appearing at the Original 6 Line Pub from noon until 1:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to meet the veteran goalie. There'll be a free signing session at the sports pub as well as a raffle for a signed Steve Mason jersey. The Original 6 Line Pub is at 1500 Sixth Line. _———_af Saturday. coach > i HAXELL LAW | Buying? Selling? lk iomaalarcarelate rs j | Call us for a quote at “D. Kevin Haxell 905-845-0767 ext. 222/223 OUTDOOR HOUSE LEAGUES AT APPLEBY COLLEGE & ST. THOMAS AQUINAS AYOUTH SOCCER Exe FOR BOYS & GIRLS 7*?¢ftrse°* 2 BORN 2003-2015 2014/18 SOCCER TOTS LEAGUES AVAILABLE TUES-SAT PROGRAM: #77.28 4 12. weeks of games, starts May 30 4# Soccer Tats program for players born 2014/2015 includes parents & kids in fun 30min sessions Jameson Glas ~ nwall Road, Unit C, T: 905-845-0767 « F: 905-845-5552 + 4 Teammate requests accommodated # Paid, cartified coaches 4 Team uniform included 4 Each player receives a BSC ball 4 Team photogeaelig pci & End of Seasor Crennieo cc FRIED COACHES Register online at BURECAKSP ORESCENDRES CA tury Drive, Burlington, 905-631- 0000. ect "200 or iat @Ete ea apottoreete ca