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The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, Juno 23,1998 -23 Mavs show grit in run-up to playoffs By STEVE LeBLANC weeks left in the regular season. intensity, said head coach Jim Leworthy, whose The Champion Milton currently holds the upper hand with one team now sîts at 15-5. "he powerplay is starting The Jr. B Mavericks were the c.omeback kîds more win. to work for Li aind everyon seems to be ding this past weekend, stealing vitory out of the Fîring on ail cylinders, the Mavenicks enjoyed a theirjob. hands of defeat twice to solidify their tier 1 playoff potent powerplay as well as production from each Milton was even more effective with the man- spot. of their top performners Sunday. advantage at home Friday. Sconing six tîmes on Shutting down the opposition in the late stages Craig Hedley unloaded with four goals and eight powerplay stînts kept them in the game of each contest, they rallied for wins number 14 assisted on the insurance marker while Jimmy while an 1 lth hour rally put themn over the top in and 15 and regained second place in the West Leworthy Jr., Cory Leigh and captain Andrew an 1l - 10 squeaker over Elora. Division. Hartholt aIl had a handful of points. Leworthy Jr. provided the heroics inside the last Sunday afternoon Milton notched three unan- Fleming drew two assists before sinking the go- three minutes, breaking to the mididle and sliding swered goals down the stretch - including Russ ahead goal. Graham Darling finished the gamne one in low. It was his fourth of the game and first File pholio Fleming's winner with 4:11 remaining - to trim with three helpers. at even strength. Jeif Daw Six Nations 10-8. Recording bis third win between the pipes was After having struggled offensively for a couple Te victory gave them a 3-0 season sweep over Andrew Dowdell, who was temrfic in the first and of weeks, Leigh tallied twice in the last eight min- the Red Rebels. The two teams are likely to meet final periods, holding Six Nations to just a pair of utes to even the count. D a w c u ts in the first round of the playoffs and are still bat- goals in eackngitu and showin artt lotd mor start4 song ag and get a n e w d e a l lnfo oeforavnaewt utto Wer ikn tuan hwnalomoeseRBUDopge2 -from INKS on page 22 logical of which was a career in finance. * * -That's what 1 earned a degree in at U- Mass Lowell. ll tell you though, the thought wasn't very comforting," recalled the former Milton Merchant star. "So many graduates have such a jump on me that it would have been tough to get any type of job, much less a good one." Weighing bis options was about aIl Daw could do during the 1996/97 season. He saw little ice time during his first few months with the Edmonton Qilers' farm teamn and at one point was even sent down to Wheeling, West Virginia of the East Coast Hockey League. What's transpired since, however, is a complete turnaround that rivaIs that of even the most dramatic rags-to-riches sto- nies. And waiting'at the end of a sensational sophomore year was a brand new two-way contract between Edmonton and Hamilton that was signed, sealed and delivered last week. The deal presents Daw with bis first real opportunity to crack the Qîlers' lîneup. Financial terms of the one-year contract are not being disclosed. Said Daw, It's a big relief. For the first time in my professional career I know m where F'il be playing at the start of the summer rather than the end." The Burlington native excelled at both ends of Uic ice this past season. He was the Bulldogs' best defensive forward and top scorer. A plus-minus total of 28 - Uird best in the AHL - along with 28 goals and 35 assista in 79 games served as proof of bis all-around ability. Daw - who pîayed four seasons with the Merchants - credits an extended playoff mun in 1997 and more opportunity offered by Hamidlton's coacbing staff with bis improved play. No matter how weIl he performed, how- ever, a one-way deal with Hamilton pre- vented him from being called up to the Qulers. This restriction made for some pretty frustrating moments while Daw watched linemates Scott Fraser and Doug Friedman earn trips to the show. Not only does his new two-way deal eliminate this obstacle but recent shuffling in Uic organization has opened things up even more. "Edmonton just dealt away Tony Hrkac and Mike Watt and didn't replace them with other centremen so things just opened up," said Daw. '1l be coming into camp *j with some real credentials now and with my strong defensive game I'd say my. chances of making the Qilers are pretty gooti. «I've just got to get myseîf into a couple of exhibition games anti force them to like