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22-The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 1, 1998 Make way westerners, the Merchants are BC-bound. Much like they have been all season long, Milton is now flying high aboard Air Canada's Flight 101 -- headed for their bijgest challenge in team history. While their week-long itinerary will surely include some rest and site seeing along Canadas picturesque coastline, chasing down the coveted Royal Bank Cup is firmly stationed at the top of the list. Hard to believe that the Merchants, the whipping boys of local junior hockey not that long ago, are actually competing for a national title. But when a guy like Brad Grant puts his heart and soul into a club, surrounds himself with some of the top hockey minds and goes after talent like there's no tomorrow, rags to riches stories can and do happen. While their 1997/98 can already be claimed a success after last Friday's All-Ontario triumph, the Merchants may just have enough left to add to their hardware haul. They've certainly played more hockey than their Royal Bank Cup rivals and are long since past the point where much can faze them. And while two of their opponents have previous national expe- rience, Milton is guided by a coaching staff that's been seasoned at just such a high level tournament. Throw in an injury-free roster and unparalleled determination and you've got a team that at worst will make us proud -- and at best will make us champs. àA ~ 4~ IS11IOSOIERCHN POOT TERE INDUSTRIAL - COMMERCIAL e POLE LUNE SOLAR 24 Hour Service: (905) 876-2519 400 MOROBEL DR., UNIT 1, MILTON Oed Luck in X m 1 m a 1