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22 - The Cinhcian Champion, Fda!y Fet>ârusy 26,1999 I.G.Insurance SaureslIrr IM GORDO. L 69 NMais St. Fast, Suite 3 S 875-177 Bullseye for Barrie duo at nationals tnois Dy imA-IIAm PAlNe Aiex and Susan Barrie were rIght on target with national archery medala recently. This despite the tact the duo haven't been competlng that long. Once Milton warms up, watch out By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants are often like a sports car on a cold winter morning. It may take a wbile for both to warmn up but wben their horsepower bits full stride, watch out. Tuesday evening marked one of those occasions. After a scoreleas period and a half, the defending league champs buried four goals in a little over six minutes on the way ta a 5-0 wbitewasb of Hamilton in their best-of-five first round series opener at Memorial Arena. Gaine une *left plenty to ha desired in terins of excitement, whicb wasn't exactly surprising with an ultra conservative Kilty Bees team tbat exhausts every bit of energy on simply backcbeck- ing and clearing their zone. Stili, an all-substance-and-no-style victory was favourable to tbe freewheeling yet higbly sloppy and embarrassing 6-3 regular season-ending lois to Georgetown Saturday. 'That, was a reality cbeck for us, a remiinder that we need to bear down and work bard no matter who we're playing," said sophomore centre Mike Wheelihan, who picked up a pair of assista Tuesday. Veteran Jeremy Wenzei regîstered bis first ever playoff shutout with a competent 21-save perfor- mance. His teammates' defence and discipline were completely in check - particularly the latter, with only a handful of minor infractions taken - and they didn't get discouraged by an initial scoring drought. Added Wheelihan, 'That's one of tse keys to winning. If goals don't corne early we've just got to stay focused and keep, plugging away." Milton got on Use board at 9:42 of Use second when defenceman Chris Bahen deposited a huge rebound past Steve McFarlane, whose superb glove work held tbe final tally to, a respectable level. Capitalizing on one of the Bees' more blatant breakdowns, Use hometown boys cusbioned Useir iead wiUs Usree more goals in 1:56. Lighting tbe lamp were captain Kevin O'Flaherty, Geoff Schomogyi and Jamie Duhrick. Rounding out Use offence early in Use tbird was gritty left Winger Rob Meancboff, who furtber demonstrated Use local team's vast finisbing power by stabbing in a goal-mouth scramble. Defensively it was Matt Bannan, John Nadalin and Ken Robins who set the tone - making auUsoritative tie-ups and effectively screening out attackers. Special teains play failed ta ha rnuch of factor in game one. The Merchants went 1-for-3 witb Use man advantage wbile Hamilton had two power- play chances, and eacb turne were restricted to just a couple of outside shots. Erin Jr. C goalie Mark Skinner played Use mile of back-up as Daniel Jacques was sidelined wiUs the flu. First-round play, wbîcb appears headed for a dlean sweep, continued last nigbt at Mountain Arena. Results were not available at press time. If victorious, Milton can cfinch Use series tonight at home. Game time, as always, is 8 pi. * ee FINISH on page 24 By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion Susan and Alex Barrie are straigbt sbooters, and they've got tbe national medals to prove it. The local mother and son duo each struck silver at the Canadian Indoor Archery Cbampionships, beld over tbe St. Valentine's Day weekend in Windsor. After finisbing fourtb tbe previous two yesrs, a tbird turne out proved to be tbe cbarm for Alex, wbo amassed near- ly tbree dozen direct bits and a two day point total of 550 -out of a possible 600 - in bis pre- teen cub divi- si-on. The Barries brandish .-I got into a their medala. groove eariy and just beld it," said tbe 12- year-old Brookville Schooi student. "My focus was a lot better tbis time. It's a long competition and the trick is not to let any- tbîng distract you." Tbe young marksman doubled as coacb for bis mother, wbo was making bier national debut and didn't exactly bave bigb expectations going in. Sbe said, "I thougbt it migbit be a littie premature for me to enter it 1 bad been doing weli at regionai tournaments and figured if I was going to be at tbe nationals anyway for Alex, I migbt as well comn- pete." Being able to draw on bier son's advice and encouragement, sbe said, was greatly beneficial. This - plus a pretty accurate sbot to boot - beiped bier earn an overail score of 545. "I bad just boped to gain some experi- ence. It came as a total shock after the first day to find out I was in tbird," recalled Susan. Alex - wbose long-range goal is ta compete in tbe Olympica - was even more impoessive ai last summier's outdoor nationais at bis home archery club in Caledon. There bie captured gold while setting four Canadian records for moat direct bits, most individual day points (twice) and hast overail score. Not to sbabby for someone wbo's heen in tbe sport leas tban three years. "You've reaily got to dedicate yourself to it," Alex said. "That, and bave good coacbing wbicb we're formuate to bave at The Archers of Caledon." INO ux»OS91 100% Satisfaction guaranteed. Preferred by mas major insurance companles. State-of-ibe Art, European down draft spray bo>otb BEST IN TOWVNI * Lfetime written paint warranty *Lifetime workmanship guarante. 878u6919 L