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-r 18 - Th. CmanenChampIon, Tueaday, December 7. 199 «Merchants sweep series with big rallies By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion The Raiders drew first blood, but the Merchants responded with a knockout blow. That was how the action enfolded in both halves of ibis past weekend's emotionally charged home-and-home sbowdown between the two top teains in the Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League's West Conference. Milton - delivering what could very weIl prove to be a watershed moment in their season - climbed oui of an early hole each evenîng to eamn the sweep and reclaim sole pos- session of firsi place. Jool Cameron They squeaked by 3-2 Friday ai home and then iriumphed 6-3 Saturday on the road to move four points ahead of their regional rival. "We played really honesi hockey Ibis weekend," said coacb Marty Williamson, wbose ieam is unbeaten in nine games and now stands ai 21-4-1-3. "We dominated over the last iwo periods of both games and didn't get aucked into their antîca." Georgetown led by iwo goals after period one of eacb contesi - 2Z-O Friday and 3-1 Saturday - but from that point on their momentuin and offense were completely crippled. That was mainly the doing of ioel ~ £ Cameron Friday. The Merchant goalie gave bis firsi legitimate masterpiece of the year, stopping 34 of 36 abois to steal the viciory for bis tearn. His efforts were aMlcm bigbligbted by dynamite glove work and a 14-save performance in the second period. Remarked Canieron, "It was by far my besi game. I was the mosi focused for ibis one and could really see everytbing oui ibere." Phil Barski led the uprising - figuring in aIl three goals. The Merchants scoring leader notcbed two ofibhei bimself, including tIhe gaine winner wbicb camé less than a minute into the final frame. Beating Raider Jeff Hladysb for tbe tying ially was steadily improving defenceman Chris Kerr. Milton's lest îwo goals came on the powerplay - as did the second one by Georgetown. Raider goals, deposited four minutes apari in tbe lirai period, were posted by Mike Knoepfli and Tristan Fairbain. .They outchanced Milton for mucb of the nigbt but juat couldn't find the net after ieir opening ouiburai. Saturday Georgetown rode an even greater bigb early on, pot- ing two goals in the final minute of period one to go up 3-I1. But once more, their bouse of carda came crumbling down. This time around, it bad more to do witb iheir opponenta' suffo- cating defence and team work than stellar netminding, altbougb Cameron ceriainly offered a credible performance. Also, Milion's big guns were able to produce wbere ibeir coun- terparts couldn't. Sniper Ian Malcolm ibanked bis 21 st and 22nd goals of the year and Barski scored on the powerplay to extend bis point-getting - sireak to 11 gaines. Meanwbile, division scoring leaders Stace Page andI Jeff Seeda were held off the scoresheet Saiurday and finiabed thse weekend Photo by HERB GARBUTM Marchants' Phîl Barakl (rlght) bailles for posseession wlth Raider Corey LeClalr In Georgetown Saturday. Milton won the gamne 6-3 and swept the home-and-home weekend seules. witb juat one essiat apiece. "This wes a îougb îwo gaines for us. Milton wes the better team in four of six periods and tbat's wby ibey came up witb the wins," admiiied Seeda. "But I don't think this will make or break any- one's season. We'll come back bard thc nexi rime. Tbcre's always another day." Rounding out the Merchanis' bit parade Saturday were Dan DeLong, Rob Martin and anpbomore rearguard Adam Sturgeon -wbo deposiied an ice-lengtb empty netier for bis firat marker of the year. He wes the lest regular player on the club to break the goose egg in the goal column. Special teama play proved to be a major factor. Georgetown capitalized on only one of 14 powerplays while the Merchants went 3-for-9 and added a sbortbanded goal. 'Me Raiders respond- ed to ibeir two bisses by firing bencb boss Jay Anderson. Milton's next challenge comes tonigbt in Brainalea. Gaine lime ia 7:45 p.m. Merchant notes: Baraki now bes exactly 50 points and sis top ibree in West Conference scoring ... Defenceman David Csumrik blm left the tesmn to deal witb some family matters. It is unknown wben or even if be'll retum ... Centre Jeff Petberick was released recently. His card, plus those of fellow cestoffs Mike Clarke and Luc Lamoihe, were banded in during Wednesday's initial cut down. Captain Cbad Blundy was moved over to a Jr. C card and one empty card wes also banded in ... 0f Milton's seven basses, only one bes come at home ... The Merchants boat Buffalo Friday and travel to Burlington Sunday. THE'NEW YEAR 2000 MODELS HAVE ARRIVED 1, - Cà au Pn ~uui.aumm