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32 Sports Oakville Beaver www.aplushomes.ca Adam Campbell Broker of Record 905-844-4444 B R O K E R A G E I N D E P E N D E N T LY O W N E D A N D O P E R AT E D SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2008 Blades' new captain leads the way Welsh takes control in season opener, but Oakville loses next night By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER JUST LIKE OLD TIMES: Oakville Blades forward Kyle Badham (left) celebrates one of the Blades' goals in their season-opening 8-4 win over the Mississauga Chargers Friday at Joshua's Creek Arenas. The defending Provincial Junior A Hockey League champions are 1-1 after falling 6-2 in Burlington the following evening. When it came time to sew a `C' on an Oakville Blades sweater, the team was looking for someone to assume the leadership role on a team with hopes of returning to the national championship tournament. If actions do indeed speak louder than words, the Blades made the right call in making Jeremy Welsh their captain. With eight minutes to play in Friday's Provincial Jr. A Hockey League season opener at Joshua's Creek Arenas, the defending league champions found themselves battling with a team that failed to make the playoffs last season. That's when the Blades' new leader took it upon himself to make sure the team didn't disappoint the fans who came to the rink to watch the pregame unveiling of their championship banners. Just 42 seconds after the Mississauga Chargers tied the game 4-4, Welsh scored to restore the Blades' lead. Over the next six minutes, he set up a goal by Ryan Murphy and a powerplay goal by Braden Birch, then added his second marker of the night for good measure in the Blades' 8-4 victory. "He has that ability," said Oakville coach Carlo Coccimiglio. "When the chips were down and the momentum was swinging their way, he went and took charge. That's the sign of a good captain." Coming through when it matters most is nothing new for the native of Bayfield, Ont. Welsh was named the top forward at last year's RBC Cup national Jr. A championship tournament after scoring three times and setting up three more in four games. "Jeremy showed great leadership last year and we knew he could step up and fill the shoes of Chris Corbeil," said Coccimiglio, who pegged Welsh to wear the `C' at the end of last season. Friday's performance was one that would no doubt catch the eye of college scouts, which is perhaps why Union College made sure to get a commitment from the 20-year-old following the game. The Schenectady, N.Y. school had been talking to Welsh since the summer and the team's head coach got the chance to see him play last week when the Blades played three exhibition games in Vermont. No excuses for loss to Cougars A night after Oakville's season-opening victory, it was Welsh's words that were coming through loud and clear as he refused to make excuses for the team's poor effort in a 6-2 road loss to the Burlington Cougars. "I think everyone's got to learn that we have to come to the rink focused because we were making mental errors and not working hard enough," Welsh said. While last season's nemesis, Hamilton, now resides in the Central Division, Oakville may have found a new rival even closer to home in the Cougars. Burlington improved to 4-0 and moved into first in the newly-named MacKinnon Division (formerly the West Conference). Despite having 14 returning players, Coccimiglio said his team will find out why it's so hard to repeat its success. "When you're the defending champion, everyone is coming to get you," he said. See Captain page 33 To All Teams Who Participated In The Oakville Cup Championships & To All Youth Soccer Players For An Exciting 2008 Season!! Time is running out to register for the Fall Outdoor Season October 6 - November 16, 2008 River Oaks All-Weather Turf Field www.oakvillesoccer.ca for complete details WINTER INDOOR SEASON "NEW" State of the Art Pine Glen Facility January 12 - April 19, 2009 Youth & Adult Leagues Available 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club Sponsor: