Sapurji: Making a Major escape...

Here’s hoping your holiday was slightly more memorable than mine. After working both Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I was able to escape the clutches of the Star sports desk. It was OK though because this lowly OHL reporter was able to make some much needed holiday pay.

My first order of business was to take in the Majors 3-2 victory over the visiting Battalion last night because as you well know by now, I have no life and am quite anti-social -- which is hearty challenge for someone who makes their living as copy editor/reporter.

And speaking of being sociable, I ran into former Majors forward Ryan Rorabeck's father at the game last night. Mr. Rorabeck says Ryan is now playing at St. Mary's University in Halifax and is doing quite well. His shoulder -- which caused his early "retirement" from the OHL in Belleville -- is holding up. Also playing with Ryan at St. Mary's are former IceDog Dan Rudisuela, former Bulls Marc Rancourt and Cody Thornton as well as former Major forward Colin Power.

Anyway, after sitting through the first two periods of the game I kinda wished I had stayed home. The Battalion were missing a number of their key personnel including standout defenceman Bobby Sanguinetti (WJC Team USA), Cory Emmerton (mono), Alexander Eriksson (pending knee surgery), Patrick Killeen (flu), Luke VanMoerkerke (ankle), Matt Duchene (U-17), Brad Albert (mono) and a partridge in a pear tree.

To top it all off, head coach Stan Butler was also sidelined with the flu, leaving the Battalion in the capable hands of Kelly Harper and Jamie Allison. Butler has made the trip into Sarnia tonight, but is still quite sick.

NOTE: Speaking of illness, someone should take the temperature of whoever is working the Mississauga shot clock, because I suspect some delirium. Their shot clock has historically been inaccurate going back to the Don Cherry days, so I guess some things never change.

Cody Hodgson led the way for the Battalion with two goals and was probably the best player on the ice throughout the course of the game.

It was a rough night for some of their less experienced players, particularly Brampton's Ben Alavie who was seeing increased ice with Sangunetti away. Still, games like these are perfect experience builders for later in the season and especially in the playoffs should injuries occur.

The Majors were missing rookie forward Casey Cizikas (U-17) and his absence was clearly felt. It's really remarkable how much he -- and the rest of the Majors youth -- have brought to the team this year. It's no surprise then, that the hot topic around the arena was the rumoured trade of 19-year-old Matt Caria to the Soo Greyhounds in exchange for no-show Jordan Mayer. From what I saw of Caria last night, his mind may already be home in Sault Ste. Marie. He had a few fantastic scoring chances -- including a breakaway where he shot wide and another practically empty net he missed -- but couldn't convert.

Toronto is one of the places Mayer would report to but they'll have to wait until Jan. 1st to move the Hounds first-round pick.

Here’s an interesting take from the Sault Star’s Bill Montague about the ramifications of the Soo moving Mayer.

If this deal comes to fruition, I can understand the hesitancy of fans in the Soo. I’m not sure Caria is the answer to your scoring woes, even if you are essentially getting him (and most likely picks) for an asset in name only.

Latvian hero Kaspars Daugavins scored twice for the Majors and there is also some chatter that he too could be moved if the price is right. The only problem with moving both Daugavins and Caria, is that it would be taking a huge chunk – 58 points in 46 games -- out of their offence. Realistically, this is a blow-up and rebuild year for GM/head coach Dave Cameron, so getting younger now makes sense. Barring any Major collapse, as long as they can stay close to .500, Mississauga should still make the playoffs with a 19 point lead over last place Sudbury and an 18 point lead over Kingston at the halfway mark.

It’ll be interesting to see what Cameron comes up with before the Jan.10th deadline. He’s never been afraid to deal and has made some very savvy pickups in the past.

As always - questions, comments, compliments, complaints, threats etc: sunaya19@hotmail.com