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Nice, late gift for Bramalea's Blues By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion If the Merchants wish to hold on to their remaining tities, they can iii afford another giveaway like the one Tuesday night at Memorial Arena. The defending provincial Jr. A. champions - who have -already relinquished their conference crown and are now playing the role of underdog - coughed up a 3-1 lead on Bramalea in the last few min- utes of regulation time. Milton then surrendered a third straight goal 5:09 into sudden death for their most heartbreaking loss of the playoffs. .This knotted the league finals at one win apiece and allowed the Blues, who are intent on emptying their rivais' trophy case this spring, to regain both momentum and home ice advantage in the best-of-sevenI rematch, which continues tonight at Victoria Park Arena. Milton's late collapse spoiled what was otherwise an inspiring performance, arguably their best within the past couple of weeks. Through much of the evening the Merchants were in clear control, with sharp goaltending by Jeremy Wenzel, a fierce checking gamne and the resurgence of their powerplay, which accounted for al three goals. The Merchants also managed to neutral- ize their opponents' speed wbile players JrryWne like Mark Beisel, Ed McGrane and RyanJsmyWne Robichaud sacnificed their bodies in order drew two belpers for his second three- to win comer battles and sustain pressure point effort in post season play. in the offensive zone. McGrane delivered the opening tally late A few too many rash penalties down the in the flrst. He sank a huge rebound left by stretcb, however, would open the door for Chris Rowan. Bramalea's uprising. Other assiats went 10 David Csumrik, Captain Kyle Amyotte drew bis visitors Nathan Gillies and Geoff Scbomogyi - witbin one on the matn advantage, burying wbo was the team's most reliable sniper a blueline sbot tbrougb traffic at 14:25. tbmough thse regular season but has dented Moments later retumning spark plug John the twine juat once in his last dozen out- DiBatista dnilled a spinning bst in the inga. bottom shelf for the equalizer. Even more surprising is Rysti Eby stili The stage was then set for defencemnan being without a goal this late in the play- Darryl Baker, who capped the Blues' offs. comeback win by beating Wenzel with an Merchant notes: Milton's usual third- upstairs wrist shot midway through the period domninance is on temporary hiatus. first overtime session. Tbey've been held scoreless through thse Also scoring for the winners was final statiza in their ast two games.. Roberto Orofiamma, with David Peca Milton has played 22 post season games s0 picking up a pair of assists. Rookie TiJ. far. Last year they competed. n 29 before Aceti backstopped the club to victory, reaching the Royal Bank Cup, which this making 26 saves along the way. season will be held in Yorktots, Milton used the point to tally twice in Saskatchewan ... Milton' s Matt Bannan thse second and looked to be beaded and Bramalea's Mike Cammalleri could be towards tbeir firat decisive playoff win back for tonight's contest, which starts ast against Bramnalea. 7:45 p.m. Gasie four of the league finals is Registering goals 18 minutes spart in the set for Sunday at Memonial ast 8 p.m. witb middle frame were captain Kevin gaine five going the following evening in O'Flaherty and Ryan Carrigan, wbo also Bramalea at 7:45 p.m. isik pays off for Repeat old conqucats or explore new worlds. Sound. That was the scenarto facing Milton Springers' The 1 1-yea Natasha Brancier ai the start of gymnastics season. claiming gold On the one hand, she could have retumned to thse sive half-on, h inter-club scene wbere she bad shone brigbtly over the From there, previous two years. on floor 10 cai Her altemnative? Throw caution to the wind and leap eamn a bertb head first into the challenging and prestigious arena of in Oakville. provincial competition. "We are ai The more venturesome path was eventually chosen, ments this ye and paid buge dividends at the third and final Central Campbell. "N Region Qualifying Meet, beld recently in Owen 0 s Bran cier r-old gymnast started out with a bang, in the Pre-Junior 1 vault for hier impres- alf-off handspring routine. Brancier took fourth on bars and fiftb pture bronze in tise overaîl standings and o next month's Ontario Cbampionships 1 very proud of Natasha' a accomplish- ~ar," said Springers' head coach Janet atasha worked extremely bard to get bier te ALTERNATES on page 23