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20 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, June 9,1997 TH CNAI HAPON TUS. tN ,19 League is larges t Size does malter. Provincial and Metro Jr. A teama were officially ihrown together Thursday 10 cre- aie what promises 10 be the moat competi- tive league in Canada. Now titled the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, it' a the largeat league at any level acrosa North America. The merger - which followed two months of negotiations - waa initially conditional upon Metro cutting loose their three American franchises: Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Niagara. As it tumed out Pittsburgh was the only teamn dropped from the 36-teamn loop, set to be realigned mbt three conferences. Joining the Milton Merchants in the West are the Caledon Canadiens and the Niagara Scenic. Burlinglon, Bramalea, Brampton, Georgetown, Hamilton, Mississauga, Streetsville, Oakville and Vaughan comprise the rest of tIhe division. Instrumental in the merger was Merchants owner Brad Grant, who dou- bled as the Provincial Jr. A board of gov- emors chairman duing the negotiations. Brantford is doubled by Milton Road warriors is a term that's becoming appropriate for Milton's bantam lacrosse team. Last week in Brantford they won their ihird consecutive away game, doubling the Posse 10-5 10 remain unbeaten after week three of thse regular season. Jordan Lumb was rock-solid in the cage, restricting the hosis 10 two goals or less in each period. Enjoying the biggest lice of the scoring pie with four goals was Kyle Goertz while Clem D'Orazio tallied twice. Chipping in singles were Jon Ram, Rick Gallinger, Ian Robertson and Josh Vanderbreggen. Kevîn Corbin was the key set-up man -with four assista. The Traders Custom Brokers-sponsored crew sai at a near perfect 4-0-1 afier the win. Their biggest victory of the season so far came in a 4-3 decision in Owen Sound, once again with Lumb standing taîl in goal. Craig Hodgson and Michael Novak recorded two points each in the win. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Jason (Ieft) and Todd Bouwman are cruising ta success in the competitive field of BMX racing. The brthers bath cracked the top 10 in their 1998 debut last month. Trio has very few opening day jitters Talk about making a good firat Iimpression. A trio of local ridera - rookies on the National Bicycle League (NBL) circuit - A cracked the top 10 recently ai their ini- tial competition of the year. Alex Brancier, 13, enjoyed the besi resulta of the three with age-clasa main draw Oiniahes of second and third at the Great Lakes Nationals in Pontiac, Michigan. The W.I. Dick School studen's impres- sive debut came on the sîrengih of his innate instinct for clearing jumpa. "Il felt really good 10 do so well,"' said Alex, who'd been riding a BMX for a cou- ple of years before diving into officiai competition ihis apring. A couple of hia fellow Wildcata, broth- ers Jason and Todd Bouwman, helped complele the strong representation by Milton. The younger of the two, i 1-year-old Jason took the runner-up spot on the Oirat day of racing and followed up with a fifth- place effort. Todd, 13, managed sixth and eighth place finishes. He said he was pretty scared the firsi lime he negotiated the course ai Track 2000 in Drumquin but that now il feels greal 10 gel out there. He added, "I's both as hard and as fun as il looks." Jason can aiteat 10 the Oirsi part of that comment. Juat a few weeks into the season and he's already austained his Oirsi injury - a hyperextended left knee courtesy of a spill during a clinic Sunday momning. -see LOOKING an page 21 Toyotas H # June Deals Are Here!a *speed manual transmission or i i48%*Air Conditioning *Auto Transmission e AMIFM Cassette Stereo . . .. *AMIFM Cassette Stereo -Dual Airbags 69.eClC 60140 FoId Down Rear Seat *intermittent Wîipers ninh nlce ndl . 1e.8 litre DHC 120 H.P. Enie 198 c41r@Ia VE LEASE $*pu LEASE $22 * pu DOWN $SU MRSP _______________________ _DOWN $1 950 MRS ilsMQSotFlEG f&PAE.lINCLUDEDm, "0 4 MLm. mhast.F ment ad om i ueu o a . hWc M buI . d& in àà of0.07 9 ..MiM TucCE d CvIIIIt48MNOS.,FREIGHT &PAIE.INCLIJDED. Three goals against Mavs in one minute By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion 'he Jr. B Mavenicks' sparkle is starting to fade. Friday night a solid yet far from spectacular performance cost them a 12-1l defeai to the Guelph Regals. The bass, just the first this year ai Tonelli Arena, makes Milton losers in three of their last five games. While this rough patch isn't likely to cost them their Founder's Cup playoff spot, il has put a cramp in the momentum buili up over the firsi half of the season. The Mavericks - now 11-4 and second behind Owen Sound - should have had enough of that momentum to prevail Fniday, especially afier taking a 4-0 lead in the opening 12 minutes. But in one of the worst single-miùnute showings in team history, they stood by and watched the Regals answer back with three in the closing 24 seconds of the firsi. Two of the goals came wîth under 10 clicks lefi on the dlock. Milton enjoyed a two-goal lead well mbt the final frame as well but faliered once again. Held scoreless over the last il minutes, they relinquished the tying goal at 15:40 and the game-winner with 90 seconds remaining. Guelph's hero was Paul Richter, who punched one through the ive-hole wiîh a long range sidearm. He also played one of the staring roles with four goals overaîl. Pat Martin, Jason McGarr and Josh Beecraft helped fuse a robust attack while Josh Marcoux - recently traded by Georgetown - caused a number of key tumnovers down the siretch. The Mavericks' loss was that much more disappointing seeing as goaltender Andrew Dowdell came up with one of his besi efforts in receni weeks. A litile mooe protection in front of him - as witnessed the pre- vioua week in a 12- 10 viciory over Owen Sound - would surely have ipped the scales in favour of the home ieam. As usual captain Andrew Hartholt anchored the offense for Milton with four goals and two assista while Cory Leigh and Graham Darling each tallied twice. Biyan Jackson showed strongly with three assista. Picking up two helpers apiece were Ruas Fleming and Jimmy Leworthy Jr. Maverick notes: Andrew Hartholt is juat eight goals away from surpaaaing last year'a benchmark of 55 while Cory Leigh will surely triple his 1997 total of 13 before the seaaon's end.. Milton will travel to St. Catharines îwice this week to face the Spartan Warriors. Their first trip is tonight (Tuesday) ... Saturday they hoat Wallaceburg ai 8 p.m. Cold wind blows The under-12 Magic had their season opening jets cooled in more ways than one. Not only did Milton have 10 conîend with bone chilling winds ihat blew up north but also the ice cold poise and prowess of Owen Sound. The elementa proved insurmountable as the Tim Horions spon- sored crew was doubled 6-3. Robbie Wilson spoiled Owen Sound's shutout bid with two quick goals in the second haîf while Mark Boycott cloaed out the scoring in the dying minutes of play. Tuming in a steady if not spectacular performance in net was Jamie Webb. ,POI, TSe"";l