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Th'e Canadian Champion, TuesdaY, February 1, 2000-17 Marchants goaltender JosI Comeron gratis a $hot whlle Charger Jason Francis looka for a -rebound at Missîsseuga'. lçelend Arena Sunday. Milton gave another lackluetre effort on the road end lost 4-1. This essentlafly coot themn top spot ln the conference for the fUret tUîne ln four years. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Unless there 's a miracle__. 1Merchan.ts can kiss first place goodbye 5v STEVE LBBLANO The Champion The Merchants have given far too many second-rate efforts this year. So perhaps it's only fîtting that they'Ii- finish no better than second best. Barring a minor miracle this week, the local teami w on't be repeating as regular season champions in the Provincial Jr. A League's West Conférence. Wt1l mark the first lime in four acasons that they don't take top spot. Milton unofficially surrendered the titie at Missiasauga's Iceland Mena, Sunday. Failing to bwild on a couple of decent performances earlier in the week, they were physically and offenaively uninspired in losing to the Chargers 4- 1. "We've consistently not shown up for roadl games," sairi head coach Marty Williamson, whose team now stands at 28-12-2-3 with four games remaining. "We no-showed again tonight." The Merchants' skipper admitted that the moat worrisome aspect of the loss - which left themn holding onto third spot in the division - was that il didn't come as s surprise to any- one. Not tisai falling to an eighth-place club has become moutine just yet, but over the past three months bis team's effort and chemistry have heen so sporadic that humbling defeats are no longer shocking. Added Williamson, "We've (coaching staff) tslked until we're blue in the face. These guys juat don't get how poorly they're playing at timea. There's no sense of urgency." While Phil Baraki and R ichard Peverley's absence certainly cut into the offense, the locals should have had more than enough fire- power available to busy Mississauga. But instead they had 10 rely on bantamn caîl- up Kevin Amida just to get on the scoreboard. Mississauga potted a couple of goals in the opening frame - taking advantage of some sloppy defence by their guests - and added one each through penioda two and three. Netminder boel Cameron was a little shaky at timea, but also made trime huge saves that prevented what could actually have been a bloworst. At home Friday. Milton was imuch stronger 10 begin their weekend series with the Chargera. A Family Niglit capacity crowd 55W them jump out to an early lead andi go on bo win 5-2. T'he Mesthants eased up in the second, but were solid overall. Andrew (Jibson delivered his best goaltnding effort to date -. holding the fort durng his team's brief letdown. Leading up front was Ryan Casigan. Now, splitting lime beiweejs right wing andi the point, hie did a great job jumping inso tse rush and was rewarded with two goals. Ian Malcolm and Mike Wheelihan had a goal and an assist apiece while Erin call-up bel Petkoff' gso lit the lamp. Dan DeLong and Ryan Eby each drew a pair of assista. Mississauga's scoring came in the st seven minutes of play, once the final verdict was already decided. The Merchants need t0 step thinga up a notch now if they hope to steal second place away from Bramptons andi secure home-ice advantage for rousnd two of the playoftb. A two-game home stanid tbis weec, staffing tonîght against Burlington, gives them a fair shace at flnishing up în the numnter two spot. Merehant notes: Phil Barski, out w ith a concussion, will undergo exansinatios later this week and wili probably lie outtisatil Use play- offs >... Richard Peverley and Chris Kerr - nursing Use flu and a baâback respectively - will likely returnthis weekend _~ Ryan Carriganhai eight goals in January. This marks twice Use number lie scored Usrough Use first thmee m6nths of Use season. Dear Mr. Kevin Wood, Vie wanted to write te let you know how pleased we were with the service 'In particular, we were esstremely inmpressedl with our saleaman, Christian purhaing until December..w wan'ted '0 make sure that we were gettingt Ofe ie eewie l tteonl te opa n ý aothe service they W. look forward to a long relatlontlp wlth wou and you stff.