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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 4,1997 -19 Action - reaction Milton Winterhawk Michael Brown (below) sinks this game-winning shot past Georgetown's goalie Saturday, giving his AA minor novices a 4-3 triumph. Moments Iater (right) he accepte hearty congratula- tions by teammates In a hero's recepton. Braam aims for new heights down under By STEVE LeBLANC Special to The Champion After six long years, Tina Braam bas retumed to Australia, in search of her top racing form. It was in the land down under where the 53-year-old Miltonian scored her best per- formance in world triathlon competition - a 2:47.05 finish for ninth place in the women's 45 to 49-year age class. She'll look to improve on both time and placement November 16, when she tackles a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40km bike, 10km run course in Perth. "I haven't done well at the World Triathlon Championships for a bit. Two years ago I really faulted in Cancun, Mexico where ail I did was finish," said Braam, who splits ber time between triathlon and duathlon events. "I'm hoping to break 2:40 this month, and if successful I think I can crack the top five (in women's 50-54 year division)." She was just seven minutes off this lofty pursuit in August - qualifying for the Worlds with a second-place effort in Welland. An early morning start in Perth should offer ideal race conditions for Braam, who is more comfortable competing in cool weather than warm. "The race will start at 6:30 a.m., so it shouldn't be very warm while at the same time winds probably won't pick up until well into the race," she predicted, just prior to Sunday's departure. Most recently, Braam and training coach Emil Dimitrov have placed more emphasis on cycling in preparation for this year's world championships. This second leg of the triathlon, she said, - m RACER on page 20 Tina Braam Nobody's perfect; Merchants close By STEVE LeBLANC Special to The Champion The Merchants are about as close to perfection as you can get. The team won ail nine of their Ontario Jr. A hockey games in October. Even on Halloween night (Friday) - when it's rumoured anything can happen - it was business as usual for the defending league champs. Marty Williamson's crew didn't need any tricks to hum- ble the Streetsville Derbys 8-2, just hard work and their tradi- tional late-gamne surge. Like clockwork, the Merchants unloaded with a handful of third-period goals to tum a seemingly tight race into a blowout. Tallying twice in the final frame was scoring leader Darren Haydar, who beat vet- eran cage guarder Jason Nedilski with upstairs wrist shots both times. He also notched Milton's final go-ahead goal at 10:56 of the second, for his third hat- trick of the season. Streetsville's David Fry sandwiched this game-winner with two goals of his own, both assisted by Ivan Pozgaj. Hometown goalie Jeremy Wenzel gave him a huge target on a one-time slapshot and later gift wrapped a behind- the-net clearing attempt, which Fry quickly converted into a wraparound. These goals, plus six more in the last 30 minutes of play, brought fans out of an early slumber when neither side looked much like a hockey team - or at least not a deter- mined one. The first period was a partic- ular yawn-fest as just one goal was scored, by Milton's Jasen Hopiavuori, and the Derbys looked completely clueless on two powerplays. The Merchants had just one man-advantage opportunity Friday, which Haydar capital- ized on at 17:53 of the third. Setting up ail three of his goals was big brother Jeff, Mike Hurst while defenceman Matt Bannan figured in two. Also drawing two assists were Hopiavuori and Rich Williams, who counted goal number three on the year as weil. Recording their first goals in a Merchant jersey were Mike Hurst and rookie rearguard John Nadalin. Both scores came in the third period -just six minutes apart - as a result of persistent grinding in the slot. Ron Baker sank Milton's second goal while the rookie line of Mike Wheelihan, Jeff Seeds and Jamie Fitzgibbon toiled away ail night. Wheelihan was particularly impressive on face-offs and in the comer. Friday's win, number 10 in a row for the Merchants, came without Kevin O'Flaherty, Troy Walczak and Shane Sullivan - who is nursing severe neck strain. Milton hasn't lost through October in the past two years. They went 9-0-1 in 1996, with their only blemish coming in a 5-5 draw with Streetsville. Merchant notes: Milton won eight of their first 13 games by four or more goals ... A dozen Merchants are averag- ing at least one point per game ... The Merchants take on their arch rivais, the Capitals, Thursday in Brampton and host the lowly Vaughan Vipers Friday.