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22-The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 10 , 1998 4ai Wexford in deep trouble By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Milton Merchants juggemnaut roils on. Marty Williamson's charges rubber stamped & another win over Wexford Monday, thumping them 6-1 inside the friendly confines of Memnorial Arena. Blake Frittenburg clipped the Oakville Eagles' wings Sunday and grounded their hopes of captur- ing the 1998 Optimist Toumament titie. The visiting major novices had erased a two-goal deficît and enjnyed snme late momentum before Milton's aniper delivered the game winner with 2:05 remaining. Setting im up was Daniel Lafontaine. The Karmax-sponsored crew won the finals 3-2 - earning tbemselves a little consolation after an OMHA zone champi- onsip loss to Richmond Hill. 'Mie guys played superb defence and our third line really came tbrough in the end," said bead coach Grant Gooding. Goeg Robertson set the stage for Frittenburg's heroics witb two goals in the opening frame. Assisting on the firat was linemate Michael Bruno. Graham Sharp, Kyle Walker and Alex Marshall provided rock- steady defence in front of netmnder Devin Plater. The Winterbawks and Eagles had fought to a 2-2 stalemate in round-robin play wbile Milton claimied 2-0 shutouts over Acton and the Oakville Penguins. Plater and Paul Herder each earned a goose egg. Jeffrey Lowe gave a particularly strong performance throughout the tournament while Jeremy Martin, Travis Montagner and Justin Moir led offensively with multi-point outputs. The major novices' championship win was one of three enjoyed by Milton during the closing weekend of the 1997/98 minor hock- ey season. Atoms awesomne Milton's major atoms surrendered just seven goals in round- robin play and a measly one in the championsbip where îhey spanked Meadowvale 6-I1. Providing stellar cage work was Troy Squance. Haîf a dozen different 'Hawks lit the lamp in the tille bout including David Aggio, Phil Foley, Jake Madansky, Mat Mastrangelo, Kyle Thomas and Cory Whyte. Meadowvale's lone tally came in the final frame with the gainse already out of reacb. Thomas figured in three of four goals in Milton's 4-3 round- robin win over Meadowvale. They also beat Georgetown 6-1 and Burlington 4-3 - on the strength of four-point efforts by Aggio and caplain Steve Ellison. Mike Sanders was between the pipes for both victories. Peewees double Tigers Scoring early and often when it matteoed most, the major pee- wees doubled the Streetsville Tigers 8-4 in the cbampionsbip finals. Wes McDougall and Mike Winiarz led with a goal and tbree assists each while Mitch Boisvenue and Connor Sweeney tallied twice. Also denting the twine were Josb Caswell and Adain Haller. James Kaiser worked the cage. Milton squeezed out a 3-2 win in their initial bout wilh Streetsville before dropping Caledon Hilîs 5-0 and edging Flansborough 4-3 in their other round-robin battles. Kaiser blanked Caledon Huis and tandem partner Nathaniel Murray was in net against Streetsville and Flamborough. Caswell, Blair Britton, Conan O'Brien and Chris Strank gave standout per- formances tbrough round-robin play. Flamhorough tierce Unable 10 capitalize on a second chance, the minor peewee Winterhawks had 10 seutle for second best. esas PEEWEES on page 23 They held a 3-0 stranglehold on the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) champi- onship series at press time - before Wednesday night's probable sweep. Milton killed 21 minutes in penalties and enjoyed a brul- liant 24-save performance from Jeremy Wenzel. The back-up goaltender has reportedly been working extra hard in practice to keep himself sharp. Much poise He displayed exceptional poise in the middle franse with lightning quick toe saves and a big glove save on playoff scor- ing leader John Rumero. "Jeremy and Daniel (Jacques) love to play and both work so hard ail the time," remarked Williamson, whose cagers sport a combined 2.14 goals-agaînst average. 'It doesn't faze the team one bit when 1 throw Jeremny in." The Merchants' bench boss also praised their penalty killing, which is now operating at 90 per cent efficiency and was flawless Monday night. Contributions in this depart- ment came up and down the lineup. Standout efforts were tumned in by Ron Baker, Matt Bannan, Chad Blundy and Shawn Smith. Early start Rich Williams put Milton« ahead 3:22 into the game - roofing one after a give-and-go with Kevin O'Flaberty - while Steve French and Shane Sullivan padded the lead before the first intermission with pow- erplay goals. During this time Troy Walczak added footage to his 1997/98 highlight reel, blowing by Wexford defenders on two occasions before hitting the post and going wide. His persistence paid off mid- way througb the second wben he raced in and redirected a cross-ice pass by French. Milton salted things away with two more goals - by Baker and Kevin Crowe - before former Brampton Capital Erik Zachrisson spoiled Wenzel's shutout bid with an upstairs flip at 9:06 of the third. He and fellow Raider for- wards didn't start forechecking until well into the second, at wbich time a comeback seemed highly unlikely. Big hit Milan Sloboda made the biggest bit of the night - with a hard-charging hip check on Bannan. Mark McPhail, John Nadalin and T.J. Lee were effective as clogging up Wexford's passing lanes and generally keeping them to the outside. Chris Short was between the pipes for the visitors - wbo enjoyed radio coverage through CHEV but little fan support. Milton captain Jeff Haydar sat out Monday, nursing a hmuised hip. He was expected to miss Wednesday's game as well to study for bis university exams. Merchant notes: If neces- sary, gamte five will be played tonight in Wexford ... Ron Baker bas five goals in his last four ganses while Steve French bas scored in bis last three.. Mike Hurst saw action Monday and finisbed the nigbt with just two minor penalties.. Milton bas held their opposi- tion to three goals or less in 19 of 21 playoff games. KNCK N EW«*MSEB«*EPAI*U«*SKATE EXCIAMIE 1#1 TMMUM *.. (UU5)US-7422 Multons minor atom goalie gets some help tram his defencemen as he denies an Erin/Hlllsburg forward Saturday during Optimiat Toumament play. Mlton loat the consolation game 4-2. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Eagles grounded by late goal :li-_ va J&JA UiVIf -Ol?,41S