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Times Advocate, 1997-09-10, Page 14Page 14 Times Advocate September 10, 1997 Gardner turnlng hockey heads at Ivy Leagueschool in Rhode Island Hensall's Cara Gardner has taken the next step in her quest to play in the Olympics by winning a spot on the Brown University squad By Craig Bradford T -A Reporter PROVIDENCE, RHODE IS- LAND — Hensall's own Cara Gardner misses home already. Not that she doesn't have a lot to do during orientation week at Brown University, the Ivy League school she won a spot at through her hockey prowess. Gardner, 19, has turned her love and her skill into a chance for a top notch education while moving clos- er to her dream of playing for her country at the Olympics. "It's just another step for me," Gardner said simply via phone from her dorm room at Brown. "It's pretty good so far. As soon as you get here they take care of you." - Last season Gardner saw blueline duty with the London Senior AAA Devilettes, her second season with the team. Calling herself an of- fensive defenceman, Gardner said weight training programs at Brown set up by head coach Digit Murphy will build up her upper body — while quick on her skates, Gardner needs to bulk up to move some bodies in front of the net. "My skating is the strongest part of my game," she said. (more paid positions there). "i'm sure I will he a coach some- day," she said. "I love working with the little kids." The Brown Bears' Murphy is the The highlight of her career so far assistant national coach and one of . was when he went to the '94 Can - the top women's hockey roaches in . ada Winter Games in Grand Prairie, the U.S. Gardner hopes some of Ada., with the Ontario U-21 rin- Murphy's winning ways rub off on gette team. her. "That's as far as you can go in "One of the reasons I came here ringette," Gardner said, pointing was for the coach." she said. "She's out another reason why she . fantastic. She gives you a lot of ex- - switched to hockey. "That was a posure." big thing for me. Gardner started It was like the Ca - her hockey career nadian Olym- playing with the pies. boys from age She feels her three to eight. .goal of playing in Then she the international switched to ringette because "1 Olympics is a realistic one because wanted to play with the girls." while she is young and in - But the hockey bug wouldn't go experienced, most national team away and she decided to give corn- members arc age 26 to 30 and will petitive girls hockey a try in Lon- be retiring when Gardner is ready don. The switch hack to hockey to step up to national level Ca - paid off in a big way for Gardner nadian hockey. ' who eventually wants to become an "I'm not good enough now; but athletic therapist hack in Canada. the coach here (at Brown) does a But she's keeping all her options lot of training, she said. open including coaching in the U.S. While she likes,Rhode Island, it's "That was a big thing for me. It was like the Canadian Olympics." certainly not Hensall. "The culture here is a lot differ- ent," she said. One of the 'big differences for Gardner is what music young peo- ple listen to. In Canada she was used to hearing bands like The Tragically Hip, Our Lady Peace and I Mother Earth. While she can't pick up her favorite Canadian acts on the airwaves, Gardner is training her new American friends to.appreciate Canadian talent. When the Bears season starts in mid-October they'll face other the ivy league schools — Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Dartmouth as well as teams in the Eastern Col- legiate Athletic Conference. They'll also host the University of Toronto and the Toronto Arrows women's hockey teams later in the season. Gardner said the Bears' aim is U.S. championship gold and the tal- ent is there — her roomie is Lauren Goldstein, herself a freshman, but also the former national junior goalie. "I think we're going to go far," Gardner said. Gardner's mom, Kay, said going to the prestigious Brown where 93 per cent of athletes graduate (com- pared with just over 50 per cent for many other schools) is a great op- portunity for her daughter and the whole family has enjoyed the ride so far. - "It's been fun, we've enjoyed the sport," Kay said, including watch- ing Cara's older brothers, Brian, 22, and Chris; 24, play. The family is rounded out by dad Skip. "We've travelled farther distances with her since there isn't the same amount of competition in women's hock- ey_„ Brown's assistant sports in- formation officer Beth James said their looking for big things from Gardner. "She is projected to be one of our best," James said. Murphy agreed. "(Gardner) is the lone defensive 'newcomer," she said. "Her greatest assets are her speed and aggressive- ness." That's a Hensall native for you. Hensall's Cara Gardner hopes to win Olympic gold someday. Here she's seen in her '94 Ontario U-21 team uniform and the inset photo is a recent snapshot. This Week in Sports...; • Lucan makes pitch for piece of 2001 Games - page •. Mid -Elgin Wings bring home international glory - page is 3 -on -3 hockey tournament a success The Lucan tourney organizers had to book extra ice time, at Stephen Arena because more teams than expected signed up Whining by. Lucan's Gregory Noyes, 7, playing for the '90 Strathroy team, -skates by a Stratford player during the Lu - can 3 -on -3 Toumament at,Lucan Arena on Saturday. ' Lucan — The Lucan 3 -on -3 Hockey Tournament had a much bigger turnout than expected, or- ganizers said: Chet Couture said over 400 kids cin 42 teams from_throughout south- ern Ontario in eight age groups (horn in '8.3 to '90) participated in the. event that took over Lucan and Stephen Township Arena in Huron Park' for much of the weekend: "It was a great success," Couture - said. "Everyone had a ball and it • was a good tune-up for the winter • season. Couture plans on.offering two, , more tournaments this spring — one on April 3-5 for kids horn from '87-91 and the other on April 16-18 for kids horn from '83-86. Winners from this weekend's tourney: '90 -North London; '89- Logan's Heroes; '88 -Mid Elgin Red Wings; '87 -Shamrock Wings: '86 -Pylons (London Jr. Knights); '85 -Chatham Young Guns; '84- Stratford; 84Stratford; '83 -Northern Avalanche. Jr. D Irish edge Parkhill 5-3 LUCAN — The Lucan Jr. D Irish hockey club started their season off, on the right leprechaun's foot with a 5-3 exhibition win over the Park- hill Stars'at home on Saturday. Lucan goals came from Joe Mor- ley, Andrew Stansell, Ben Dobhie, Scott Philips and ian Haldanci. Irish manager Ken Freeman:said while the team had only four occa- sions to skate before the Parkhill match -up, he's confident they'll be competitive this season from what he's seen from the team especially after the all -rookie effort on Sat- urday. Hole three hot at Exeter G.C. EXETER — Hole three at Exeter Golf Club has become the most ace -able hole around with two . holes -in -one over the weekend. Hay Township's Ben Glavin, 17, notched an ace on the 146 -yard hole using a 9 -iron on Sunday. His feat was witnessed by playing part- ners Jack Glavin (Ben's dad) and Dan Lewis while Andrew Frciter and John Pryde saw it go into the hole. Exeter's Bob Drummond also used a 9 -iron to ace #3 on Saturday. His stroke was witnessed by his mom Grace. Club co-owner Janet Mason said that's four holcs-in-onc there in a summer. "That's a little more than usual," she said. One reason for #3 being the hot hole (three out of the four aces have been on it) is that it is the shortest hole at Exeter G.C. Bob Hawkens aced the I 75 -yard hole seven at Oakwood Inn using a 4 -iron last welt. "1 was itnpressed with some of them,'' Freeman said. "i think we'll he `pretty good. but i'll know a lot better in a week." Freeman said the team will make its final cuts in late September. The Irish next take on Mitchell at home in cxhihition action, an 8:15 p.m. start. Lucas has at (east one more cxhihition game, at London's Nichols Arena versus Lambeth. be- fore the season kicks off for them. at home versus Parkhill on Oct. 1, an 8:15 p.m. start. - 1 Call Sports Reporter Craig Bradford with your sports tips (519) 235-1331 • Fax (519) 235-0766 Sandwiched An icy welcome back. Exeter Jr. D Hawk Ben McCann is the meat in this Mitchell sandwich during their exhibition game at Hensel! Arena on Sunday. Exeter ate Mitchell up 5-0 with goals from Mike Skinner, Jeff Glavin, Chris Stuckless (2, one on the power play) and Dan Taylor (pp). Stuckless also picked up an assist while Jeff Campbell added two helpers. Coach Dave Revington said only five skaters from last year hit the ice on Sunday with the rest all potential rookies. "We're impressed with some of the young guys we've seen," Rev- ington said, but added it's too early to tell what sort of team he'll have come opening night at Hensel! on Sept. 26, an 8:30 p.m. start vs. Belmont. Exeter next practices in Hensel! to- night, 9 a.m.-11:30, with exhibition games at Mitchell on Saturday, 8:30 p.m., and at Hen - sal! vs. Brussels Jr. C on Sunday, 2 p.m. Cream of the crop Best squirts. The Exeter Minor Soccer Association gave out its '97 hardware on Sunday at the South Huron Rec Centre. At left, the league/tournament champions, the squirt no. 3 team, front left: Melissa Smith, Faith -Anne Wagler, Kami Fevery, Michelle Desjardine, Mi- chelle Mullei, Michele Weber, Alex Marzo; middle left: Greg Gielen, Madam Veldman, Kylen VanOsch, Brendon VanOsch, Jennifer VanHie, David Muller, Daniel Hartman; back left: coaches Barb and Robert Smith. Absent is Kurtis VanOsch. At rig/. , the most sportsmanlike squirt no. 1 team, front left: Phi! VanRaay, Christine O'Reilly, Kelly Cronyn; middle left: Mi- chelle Johnston, Aaron deBoer, Miranda Mattucci, Laureen Taylor, Justine Johnston; back left: coaches Tony Mattucci and Teresa VanRaay. Absent are Justin Buchanan, Mitchell Overholt, Blair Parsons, Michelle Roy and Faith Tuininga. Next week the U-11 and up teams play their last game at 1 p.m. at the Rec Centre with the awards starting at 2 p.m.