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S Sports Teamwork k SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011 25 Blades, Hornets both coming off strong weekends The Oakville Blades won both their games last weekend to remain one point behind the Georgetown Raiders for first place in the Ontario Junior Hockey League's West Division. Oakville needed a shootout to down the Hamilton Red Wings 3-2 Friday, then doubled up the Milton IceHawks 4-2 Saturday. Both games were played at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Martin Kudla and Brad Kobryn scored in regulation for the Blades Friday. Stephen Hickey and Kobryn added markers in the shootout, making a winner of netminder James Prigione. Saturday, Kobryn paced the Blades with two goals and Brandon Denham and Tyler Karius chipped in with singles. Michael Stiliadis stopped 20 of 22 shots to record the victory in goal. The Blades, 20-5-4, will have plenty of opportunity to overtake Georgetown for top spot before the end of the calendar year. Oakville has two games in hand on the Raiders and will also play a home-and-home series with Georgetown prior to the Christmas break. Oakville is scheduled to host the Buffalo Jr. Sabres tomorrow (Friday) at 7:30 p.m., then visit the Aurora Tigers Saturday and the Huntsville Otters Sunday. MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER DOUBLING UP: Abbey Park Eagles players Zoe Stylianou (left) and Nova Bozinoski both prepare to bump the ball during their Halton senior girls' volleyball game against the Corpus Christi Longhorns Tuesday at Abbey Park. The Eagles suffered their first loss of the season, falling 2-1 to the Longhorns, after a 3-0 start to the AAA season. Hornets break out of losing skid The Oakville intermediate AA Hornets snapped out of their recent losing streak in a big way last weekend in Provincial Women's Hockey League play. After dropping their fifth straight contest, a 3-1 decision to the Durham West Lightning Friday at Joshua's Creek Arenas, the Hornets bounced back Saturday to drub the Barrie Sharks 7-1. Oakville then carried that momentum into Etobicoke the following afternoon, earning a 5-4 overtime win over the Dolphins. Marie-Pierre Pelissou, Chelsey Stevenson and Victoria Bach each scored twice Saturday for the Hornets, with Madeline Webb adding a single. Melani Moylan and Amanda Pereira both collected two assists in support of winning goaltender Camille Leonard. Bach scored two more Sunday, while Moylan had two goals -- including the overtime winner -- and an assist. Emily O'Neill potted the Hornets' other marker and Laura Corcoran made 29 stops to earn the victory in net. Moylan had the Hornets' lone goal in Friday's loss to Durham West. Oakville (6-10) will be home to the Mississauga Chiefs Saturday in its last game before the Christmas break. Game time at Joshua's Creek Arenas is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. p Mason rock solid in return to action At last, Steve Mason has something to build on. Making his first start in nearly a month, the Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender made 30 saves and then stopped one of two shootout attempts to backstop Columbus to a 2-1 win over the defending Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks Tuesday night. The 23-year-old Mason has struggled the past several seasons after winning the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year in 2008-09. "Moreso for the mental side of things, I think for Steve that was a big, big game," Blue Jackets coach Scott Arniel told reporters following Tuesday's contest. "Hopefully he wakes up (Wednesday) and he's feeling real good about himself and uses that as a stepping stone going forward." Mason has spent the past month working one-on-one with Columbus goaltending coach Ian Clark, focusing on the basic fundamentals. "It felt absolutely great to be out there. I've worked very hard since I've been out," Mason said. "I think I've matured in a lot of ways. Nobody likes to sit and watch, but you have to make the most of it and you have to be ready. "It felt great to be a part of (the win), though. I'm not going to lie about that." The Abbey Park alumnus is now 4-12 this season with a 3.46 goals-against average. He entered the year with a career record of 77-67-6 and led the Blue Jackets to the franchise's lone playoff appearance in his rookie campaign. -- See page 26 for an update on Oakville's other young hockey stars and prospects OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTO Steve Mason hopes he has his confidence back after Tuesday's outing.