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18 - The Canadin Champion, Tuesday, February 3, 1998Le i10050 F CARPET '5.00 OFF VINYL REMNANTS Prati & Lambert àk. Up TO 50% OFF ACCOLAIDE PAINT Raitis Ivanans Razor is cutting in on defence for Milton Tbe Merchants have added size, strength and a big shot to their lineup just in time for the playoffs. AIl three additions come courtesy of newly arriving Latvian native Raitis Ivanans - more commonly known as Razor. The 19-year-old defenceman left Latvia less than two years ago but already bas a wealth of experience in North American hockey. He began the 1996-97 season witb a Tier 2 Jr. A club in Saskatchewan but was later traded to the Aurora Tigers and helped tbem win the Metro League title. He's spent the bulk of this year toiling with United League leading Flint, wbere he got to know former Merchant Winger Cory Holland. "The word on Razor is that be's got a huge shot from the point and bas great offensive skills for a big defenceman," said Merchant skipper Marty Williamson, of is new 6'4", 220 lbs. rearguard. "We've heard he likes to handie the puck a bit too much, but I don't think that sbould be a problem." The addition of Ivanans could be what Milton needs to cure their ailing power- play. It also adds that mucb more insur- ance against the ever-present possibility of post-season injury. Ivanans skated at Sunday's practice and is expected to dress for torigt's game in Hamilton. Raiders in the dark yet again By STEVE eLN Special to The Champion The Georgetown Raiders would have been well- advised to sneak out the back door during Saturday night's power outage at Alcott Arena. Because when the lights came back on and play resumed, ail that was waiting for them was another healthy dose of reality - courtesy of the visiting Merchants. With assistant captain Shane Sullivan back from suspension, Milton walked a littie taller Saturday. His sbarp-shooting teammates did the rest in a 13- 1 drubbing of the Provincial Jr. A wbipping boys. The only hollow victory hometown fans could dlaim is when cheap shot artist Mike L'Heureux jumped Sullivan from behind in the third and escaped with al bis body parts intact. Milton earned a little pay- back f'or Sullivan with three final goals during their five- minute power play. The higblight of the game came early on when star sniper Darren (Mini) Haydar broke Jamie Janjevich's Merchant season scoring record of 1 27 points. He did it with a picturesque upstairs backhand that beat Jeff Hladysh on the glove side at 7:38 of the first. Mini used the balance of the evening to complete a hat-trick and add two assists to up his season bankroll to 132. Assisting on two of his goals was Jeff Hutchins, who has temporarily replaced Steve French on Darren and Kevin O'Flaberty's line. Hutchins drew tbree other helpers and one goal. Other standouts on the night were Ron Baker, Kevin Crowe and Jeff Haydar - who were thrown together on the second line during some offensive reshuffling last weekend. Goaltender Daniel Jacques faced 18 shots. His hopes for a third shutout were dashed early by Andrew Sandziuk - him- self a Milton native - who unloaded a rocket mbt the top shelf midway through the opening frame. Baker and French tallied twice while Chad Blundy, Jeff Haydar, Kevin O'Flaherty, Nathan Gillies and Troy Walczak chipped in singles. With bis fan club out in full force Friday for family night, Baker put together enough footage for a highlight reel. He popped in two goals on the doorstep and set up line- mates Crowe and Jeff Haydar witb persistent digging to pace Milton to an 8-I blowout over Streetsville. As was the case with Hladysh Saturday, Derby net- minder Terry Lenyk kept tbings interesting early on but couldn't hold the floodgates closed aIl night aIl by himself. His team's lone tally came midway tbrougb the second on an upstairs wrist shot by Matt Sirman. Darren Haydar grabbed assists on a couple of give-and- go rushes with Hutchins and Walczak to equal Janjevich's record. Defensive anchor Mark McPhail meanwhile, picked up three assists to reach the 50- point plateau. Also scoring were Gillies and enforcer Mike Hurst, who gave a respectable accounting of himself this past weekend and finished both games. Merchant notes: Ron Baker is six points sby of posting bis second consecutive 100-point season ... Highly committed defenceman Matt Bannan missed bis high sehool semi- formaI to play Friday ... Seven Merchants have 20 or more goals this season while six have at least 50 points. Photo oy GRAHAM iPAINE Multons Steve Condren proudly hoists bis trophy after completing a banner year as a harness horse driver. Condren caps stellar year with a prestigious O'Brien By STEVE LeBLANC Special to The Champion Steve Condren bas a new title to eall bis own. Canadian harneas racing's top money man for 1997 was also chosen as the Driver of the Year. His coveted O'Brien award was present- ed last Saturday. Jan. 24 at tbe Canadian Trotting Association banquet i n Mississauga. I was ecstatic. It j ust felt great," said the 40-year-old Milton native, recalling bis reaction to the announcement. Consistency is what Condren figures put him over the top for bis first O'Brien vie- tory. He amassed 215 wins last year and more than $4.3 million in purse earnings. He also became only the 11 th driver in the history of the sport to surpass tbe $50-mil- lion plateau. This as much as anything else may have given bim the edge over fellow Milton- based driver Randy Waples - who was also up for the award. Remarked Condren, "Winning the money title might bave had a lot to do with 't. e»e CONDREN on page 19 Or Get 4/8% no limit financing for up to 60 à months 1 ~walbwey hait Ffrst poueai. uducuiliyd.pos~ du. .y. baxd .9E Din IIft'T lu htJ :L998 WToyota Camry eAir Conditioning *Automatie Transmission *Power Windows and Door Locks *AM/FM Cassette Stereo eCruise Control =..... ... LEASE ~9 DOWJN 12500 MRSP *48 MOS., FREIGUT & P.D.E. INCLUDED. $24.978. Ask about our Toyota Grad Program 1 mL unawq hm Fffg Pfflue md ucwity àpud du m ý VM."00%