The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

-~ *_SPORTS____ýT Merchants can't lock up first place against Blues By STEVE LeBLANC Special ta The Champion The battle for first rages on. The Merebants had a chance to lock up top spot in tbe West Conference Sunday, but instead suffered tbrougb a power fail- ure and felI 3-1 to Bramalea Blues. 'bis kept Brampton's bopes for stealing first in tbe Jr. A loup alive, witb just a week remaining in tbe regular season. Milton now bolds a slim une-point lead, wbicb tbey'll look to stretcb to three tonight at borne against Oakville. Tbe Capitals could take over first if Milton loses and they win tbeir last two outings against Bramalea and Vaugban. Offensively challenged tbroughout tbe afternoon tilt at* Victoria Park Arena, tbe Mercbants needed a two-man advantage in tbe second to spoil Jason Gaggi's sbutout bid. Tbey failed to capitalize on eigbt otber powerplay opportunities and a total of 35 shots. Despite speculation tbat late-season line cbanges are tbe cause of recent scoring lapses, skipper Marty Williamson believes a lack of mental focus is to blame. "I don't tbink tbe shuffling is tbe prob- lem. Tbey're struggling mentally and devi- ating from the system," be said. Blues captain Kyle Amyotte proved to be Milton's biggest nemesis Sunday, as be has ail season long. He figured in a pair of first-periud pow- erplay goals - just four minutes apart - and sank an empty net insurance marker in the dying moments of tbe game. Scoring for bis team were Mike Henderson and rookie of tbe year Mike Cammalleri. Milton's lune tally came from captain Jeff Haydar witb assista drawn by Ron Baker and Kevin Crowe. Bramalea sophomure Dave D'Ammiziu tumed in a robust performance and belped neutralize newly acquired Merchant defenceman Raitis (Razor) Ivanans. The Blues did a great job clogging up the passing lanes and blocking Milton shots while shorthanded. Friday night the Merchants had an easy urne with Mississauga and hammered out an 8-2 decision for their 4th season win. While not exactly spectacular - even with an eight-point outburst - Milton's powerplay produced three goals, a high over the past several weeks. Eight différent Merchants lit the lamp încluding supporting cast members John Nadalin, Rich Williams and Jasen Hopiavuiori. Darren (Mini) Haydar sank number 66, on a tic-tac-toe rush wîth Kevin O'Flaherty Marty WiIiamson and Jeff Hutchins, who both scored as well. Other goals were registered by Baker and Troy Walczak white Ivanans was a plus two in bis Merchants debut, with assists on Walczak and Williams' tallies. Milton lost Shane Sullivan for two games in the third as the instigator in a brawl with Chargers' loose cannon Ryan Digby. Daniel Jacques was steady in the cage for botb outings this weekend. Merchant notes: Matt Bannan and Mike Wbeelihan represented Milton in last Wednesday's Future Stars Game in Bramalea.. Nathan Gillies bas verbally committed to Union University white Mark McPhail is talking with Obio State. Bus goes to running date in Peterborough Milton and area runners competmng at the upcoming Peterborough Half- Marathon Febniary 22 may want to get in on a traspotation offer by Th1e Rwunnng Comipany. The Oakville-based business is organizîng a bus to take participants to and from the 2Odsaniwal race. Seat reservations and full informa- tion a be â~tained by contacting The Running Cosnpany's Steve MoKinnonat 815-1952. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Happy Milton Springer gymnasis (-r) Kristen Deumer, Christina Shipowick, Amy Williams and Ashley Quinn showed off their medais on the weekend. Quinn strikes double gold Tbe Milton Springers Novice 1 team enjoyed a gold ber newly polisbed "baîf on, baîf off' vault in tbe Pre- rush recently in Oakville, witb Ashley Quinn acting as Junior l A class. top prospector. Sbe also gave impressive performances on bars and The l0-year-old gymnast struck gold on both bars fluor, for fourth and fiftb place scurings. and ber floor routine. Coupled witb silver-medal Teammate Valerie Massel hung on to ber beam rou- showings on beam and vault, sbe reacbed the top of tine for a no-fall effort wbich gamered fourth place in the podium again in the Novice 1IOA overaîl standings. tbe Pre-Junior lB division. Her efforts led ber squad to a first-place team finish Striking silver on bars in tbe Junior 1 A loup was I 3- at the second Central Region Provincial Qualifier. year-old Alicia Robinson, whose vault and fluor mou- Age-class teammate Kristen Deumer was close tines netted fifth place marks. behind with second-place marks in the all-around - Well-rounded Alexis Stoffels, 12, bad a solid day in due mainly to bronze-medal performances on fluor ail events - witb fifth place finishes on vault and and vault. fluor, and sixth on bars and beam as well as in the Fifth-place finishes on bars and beam contributed to Junior lB all-around. ber success. Christina Shipowick tumed in a solid beam routine and beat ail challengers. She also eamned fourth on fluor as well as in the overaîl scoring. Vaulting ber way to I OB division gold was Amy Williams, who added fourth and sixth-place marks on fluor and bars respectively. Eleven-year-old Heather Gibb captured bronze with for bars and vault. Veteran Springer Vicki Cbliszczyk reached the podium with a bronze medal in the Open 2 beam event. She placed fourth for fluor and fifth for vault. The team's third and final qualifier is slated for next month in Guelph. *AM/FM X995 TaboutTercelT2yota *A/MCassette eInt. Wipers *Body Side Mouldings *Digital Clock e60/40 Rear Seat *Full Wheel Covers * ~h .a4Su.u ~h.F gpp.i..du oiâ md vu dUN*WbLMube LEASE ç S,&m LeaIng $1 3 Om *4JoFMElc& P.DINClJDD. MRSP $14184. vu