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Editor: Norm Nelson Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: nnelson@haltonsearch.com

Former CFL vet, Pat McNerney,

takes over reigns of the Longhorns

By Neil BeckerSPECIAL TO THE BEAVER

Gearing up for their upcoming campaign in which they will seek an unprecedented 11 th straight Northern Football Conference (NFC) playoff championship and a fourth straight Canadian Senior Football League (C SFL) national championship, the Oakville Longhorns held a press con­ference on Thursday night to formally announce their head coaching change.

They bid a fond farewell to Tony Molnar, who in his latest two and a half year stint with the club, merely guided the club to all the cookies available on the plate — three nation­al championships and two NFC cham­pionships.

He will be replaced by one of his former and now just retired players, longtime CFL veteran and Burlington native Pat McNerney who is currently living in Hamilton.

"Pat is a perfect choice because he played the game and he thrives on challenges, and this will be a chal­lenge for him.'' said Oakville native Dana Segin who did double duty last year, kicking for the Longhorns as well as the Hamilton Tiger Cats where he was a surprise late-season call-up, filling in for two games in replace of injured veteran Paul Osbaldiston. Segin's belated but memorable CFL debut saw him contribute five field goals and two point-afters for 17 points in a win over the Montreal Alouettes.

Segin has been resigned by the Ti- Cats for this season.

"Pat, who was an all-American tight end. is a team guy who is unselfish and has great organizational skills and is surrounded by great coaches who have been here for years."

McNerney, who went through a Chicago Bears training camp, will be taking over from a local legend. In his total nine year tenure with the ‘Horns, Molnar amassed a 118-4 record.

"Pat definitely has the full support of all the players," said veteran forty- something Longhorn quarterback Mark Demerling, also of Burlington.

"He has to use what worked best with coach Molnar and add his own ideas to that.”

McNerney went on from the Chicago Bears training camp to a five-year CFL career.

He has played the last two years for the ‘Horns, under former coach Molnar. in addition to intermittent stints in the 90's between pro training camps.

In addition, McNerney was coached by Molnar as a youth for many years in the Burlington Stampeders youth football organiza­tion.

Molnar, who described his succes­sor as being "a hell of a ball player", feels there will be a seamless transi­tion.

"The coaching staff is in place, and the players who are so talented are in place, to once again have a winning season," the former coach said.

McNerney, who also had former Weber State teammate and current Hamilton Tiger Cat Trevor Shaw pres­ent during the official conference at the Whistling Mountie. admitted that it will be a learning process.

" I’m going to make some mis­takes," said McNerney. .

" I’ll be relying 150 per cent on my coaching staff, and will be talking to Tony, who is my mentor and second to none ..."

"I don’t feel any pressure, and I don’t expect to lose with this talent. I haven’t lost in football for a long time, and there is no prize for second place."

Barrie Erskine • Oakville Beaver

MOMS week runs until Saturday

Move over Blades: new junior team

Ice Bears host key playoff game against Brampton FridayNVVHL CENTRAL DIVISION - final

GP W L T OTL PoinLs GF GA Last 10Beatrice+ 36 32 3 1 0 65 201 54 10-0-0-0Brampton+ 36 27 9 0 0 54 152 71 8-2-0-0ICE BEARS+ 36 19 13 3 1 42 122 111 5-4-1-0Telus 36 0 34 1 1 2 54 236 0-9-1-0

Oakville Butterflies Special Olympians host friendly competition

The Mississauga Ice Bears are coming back to Oakville, their home away from home, for a key playoff game Friday night, 7:15 p.m. at Ice Sports Oakville.

It should be a dandy with the Ontario champion and national silver medalist Brampton Thunder in town for the second game of a best-of-three opening round playoff series.

It may be opening round, but because of the tough cen­tral division these teams are in, one of these very good teams is going to have an early playoff exit.

The opening game of the series is on tap tonight (Wednesday) in Brampton.

The winner of the series takes on the defending NW HL champion Beatrice Aeros in the second round.

All three teams sport Canadian Olympic gold medal team members in their line-ups.

The Oakville Butterflies Special Olympians will be hosting a friendly rhythmic gymnastics competition this Saturday (March 29) at the Calvary Baptist Church. 1215, Lakeshore Rd., Oakville, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

At last count, there should be at least forty gymnasts in attendance.

The sport has come a long way since its start­up 2-1/2 years ago.

Back then, the Oakville club for Special Olympians was the only rhythmic gymnastics club on the Niagara peninsula and its success has generated at least four new clubs in this part of southern Ontario.

The MOMS championship week kicked ofT iLs schedule last Sunday, including this tyke red championship game. It was won by the Eagles, as you can tell by the reaction of Eagles goaltender Elliot W ebster (left photo), who was later mobbed by teammates (right photo).

The Hockey MOMS house league championship and awards week continues until Saturday at River Oaks, ‘B ' pad.

The annual week is totally paid for and organized by the volunteer Hockey MOMS volunteer group, and, as is tradi­tional, it brings the Minor Oaks Hockey Association (M OHA) house league season to an official close.

The remaining schedule is included here.It's a busy time for these Hockey MOMS as it’s also the

time of the year for one of their biggest fundraisers which helps pay for this busy week of hockey.

Their annual dinner/dance is on tap Saturday, April 5 at the Oakville Conference Centre on Bronte Road (Holiday Inn). At this point there are some tickets remaining for this always popular function which traditionally sells out.

Part of this fundraiser is a silent auction and. as always, the MOMS arc always appreciative of any donated items.

"It’s the bfggest fundraiser we have to support the MOMS for the awards week." said Hockey MOMS volun­teer Nancy Brooks.

Phone Nancy Brooks at ihe MOHA hockey office at 338- 9220 for more info.

The Hockey MOMS House League Championship and Awards Week al River Oaks, remaining schedule...

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26• 6:20-7:50 p.m.: Minor Bantam White• 7:50-9:20 p.m.: Minor Bantam Red

THURSDAY, MARCH 27• 6:20-7:50 p.m.: Pecwcc White• 7:50-9:20 p.m.: Peewee Red

FRIDAY, MARCH 2#• 6:20-7:50 p.m.: Minor Peewee White• 7:50-9:20 p.m.: Minor Peewee Red

SATURDAY, MARCH 29• 9:20-10:50 a.m.: Novice White• 10:50-12:20 p.m.: Novice Red• 12:20-1:50 p.m.: Minor Atom While• 1:50-3:20 p.m.: Minor Atom Red• 3:20-4:50 p.m.: Atom White• 4:50-6:20 pjn.: Atom Red

Move over Oakville Blades. Oakville has a new junior hockey club in town — only this one is for the gals.

B ill Metcalfe, who owns the Mississauga Ice Bears of the National Women's Hockey League (N W H L), confirmed that the Oakville Jr. Ice will begin play this coming season in the Southwestern Girls Hockey League.

Oakville will play out of Ice Sports Oakville, he said.

Ice Sports also houses the Oakville Blades junior hockey club for the guys which plays in the provin­cial Junior A hockey league.

The Southwestern Girls Hockey League also includes Rochester. Michigan (Detroit), Bluewater (Windsor), Cambridge and London.

Metcalfe said the Oakville Hornets girls hockey association has been a tremendous help by allowing the team to associate with them. In return, he said, the Jr. Ice will aim to give the Hornets’ up and com­ing stars plenty of opportunity to practice with and make the team.

In turn, he said, the Junior Ice will be a direct

will go for a distinctly local flavour with at least half the players from Oakville.

Recruiting, he said, starts immediately.Although the age limit is officially 20. he

expects his team and the league will be distinctly younger this coming year, directly because of the double co-cohort year in which both the current crop of Grade 12 and OAC students are heading to university.

The bulk of his team, he said will be Grade 11/12 with some younger talent also cracking the line-up.

And like the Blades, the Junior Ice will hope to help aspiring hockey players achieve college and university scholarships.

Of course, Metcalfe’s aims aren't entirely altru­istic.

He. of course, hopes that after playing universi­ty or college hockey, the players will come back and lace up for the Ice Bears in the NW HL.

Not only does player recruiting start immediate­ly but so does the hunt for community and corporate backing for this team which will provide elite hock­ey opportunities for the area’s best youth players.

feeder team to the NW HL's Mississauga Ice Bears.Metcalfe, who is currently coaching the Hornets

bantam AA rep team, will take on the coaching reins of the Jr. Ice for their inaugural year.

A lot of the supporting staff and coaches, he said, w ill come from the Ice Bears.

Similar to the Oakville Blades, he said the team