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24 - The Canadian Champki, Friday, April 7, 2000 +SPORTS PMTO POOL ýODUCr8 L. 1305B Steeli» Ave E.87O 21 vMulé making mark on girls hockey 5v STEVE LeBLANO The Champion Victoria Mulé admits that playing with the boys offers a stiffer challenge -and consequently, is more enjoyable. However, to have any type of future in hockey - which has been hier intent for quite some time now - the local youth realized she'd have to make dhe switch to female competitionsaooner or-later. 'I'he boys have always treated mie fine and I like playing with them, but I juat wanted a change this year," said the 12- year-old, who haa hopea of one day going to the Olympica. So was lier transition a step forward or a atep back' Moire paying off That question could be debated.over at nauseam -- but there's no arguing that the move has paid huge dividends for Mulé. She stili skated with the boys this sea- son, as a member of a local house-league aqusd, although the bulk of lier success lias corne with the Halton Hils Twisters. A newcomer to the girls' program, ahe's made an immediate impact - to aay the least - with their minor peewee rep tesm, guiding them to the North Metro League championship st weekend in Etobicoke. Sunday, she single-handedly clinched the title with lier second hat-trick of the year in Halton Hilîs' 3-2 overtime win againat the more established Brampton Canadettes. Remarked Mulé, "It was pretty exciting, that's for sure." Her sudden death heroics - courtesy of a breakaway tally two minutes into the extra session - capped a five-goal week- end in a final four elimination showcase. It also brouglis lier season goal accouti up to an even 40, which represents nearly haîf of the Twistera' seoning this year. An assistant captain and firat-line centre witli te team, she's averaged a goal a game and hasn't gone more than two contesta with- out lighting the lamp. "I didn't have a lot of multi-goal games, but I was pretty consistent ail season," she said. Added father Peter, "Victoria's certainly ose of te better skatera out there, and lias great hockey sente. She seems to know where tise puck's going ail the timne." .Mulé - like many young girls - firat tried lier hand at figure skating. But tisaS avenue was quickly roadblocked. "I couldn't even stand up in figure skates, so early on it was hockey al] tise wsy."1 Coming on the lieds of lier team's championship victory was a chance to meet many of lier idols as Mississauga's Hershey Centre Wednesday evening. Mulé was among a group of young female playera who got the chance to meet Cassie Campbiell and the rest of the Canadian Womien's team, on their day off fromn the world championships. Hopefully tisis provides the local sniper with anme well-timied inspiration - as she prepares for next weekend's provincial finals at Mississauga's Iceland Arena. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Victoria Muid dispisys a puck to slgnlfy the number of goals she'd seorod before Sundsy's Metro Lague finals, whlch she cllnehed for her Hailon HuIs Twlsters wlth a hat-trlck to trlm the Brampton Canadettos 3-2. Latest Chapter written out of big competition Ontauio trotting star Latest Chspter, wlio was scheduled to represent Canada in a series of major races in Scandinavia this spring, will sot lie makisg the joumney overaeas. OJC traîner John Drennan of Burlington made the decision Monday morning, after the four- year-old trained poorly at Mohawk Raceway. "I had a respiratory scoping donc and has breathing passages were quise constnicted. I my opinion, I cannot have isim at bis beat for the trip," he admitted. "It's sot in anyone'a best intereat to send over a non-compesitive horae. Everyose involved is very disappointed with thts tum of events, but 1 just know it was the right thisg to do." In the horse's st outing on Mardi 20 at Mohawk, Lateot Chapter finished a disappoint- ing sixth and was discovered to be leso than healthy following the race. "He just seems to have bast has bloom. His coat is dulI and that's a good indicator that i horse is sot rigit" sald Drennan. "He alan was sot keen when 1 trained him, an it ail added up to an easy decision sot to go." Named Canada's Three Year Old Colt of the Year in 1999, Latest Chapter lias won nearly $350,000 for Veljko Miculinic of Mississauga, Brad and Arnold Shackman of Calgary who share ownerasip with Drennan. Plans had called for Latest Chapter to depart for Norway in early May for the May 14th Oslo Grand Prix with a possible start in Sweden's prestigious Elitlopp two weeks laser. "He's osly had 21 lifetime starts an he's still a green horse," said Dressas. "He bas ta mucli future. Hopefully, we get another chance to go. I'm pretty sure tisas in a couple of weeks he'll be fi ne.,, No decision lias corne from European trotting authorities os a substitute for Latest Chapter. w - LESSONS To ail those who participated in our Winter Indoor Clisses ive wish 3'ou afun and 1 improved golf season! 'eI We have now started our OUTDOOR LESSONS. Clinica and Private available. JUNIOR CLINICS Every Sunday morning starting in May. Register througb the store. 18 Thompson Rd. Unit 7 &8 CLUB FITTINO Clarke's Golf as an authorized fitting center for: TPing, Hogan and Wilson. Call for a FREE Fitting I t: 878-1818 J ', 1X'kKýÉ