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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, August 29, 2000 -21 t. e-i.y - l Mita homeIN vMerchants start pre-season with a comeback win Photos by GRAH'AM PAlNE CempbgIlivle etalons Baienoed Imago (lefI) and Apeches Punie were reonty nemied to Oh. Cmnadien Horee Raelng Hail of Feume. VLocaI staiiîons na-m ed to racing hall offame Compbellville's Glengate Farms now boasts two Canadian national hall of farners fçllowing the latest induction ceremnony, held recently at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto. Standardbred stallions Apaches Fame and Balsssco4*Image -who both stand stud ai th~e local fta -were among seven new nsembers, four heraas andti ae people, to jolis the Caisadian Hom eRacing Hallof Faine Asagusi 17. Apaches Fame pulleti a major coup for. Canadian racing 10Oyears ago wben hie became the firai Caasadlan-slred borse 10 capture the $1 million North Ainerica Cup. Traineti antd driven by William 'Mud"' Fritz, the I 3-year-oild paacer was a dominant race horse, retiring wlth nsisore than $1 million is cancer esen- ings andi has bee aqble to pasa on bis ability to bis sons anêdaaghters fa ev*4eed by such chamnpi- on offspring as Twin B Champ, Legacy Of Faine andi Odies Faine - Canada's 1998 Horse of the Year. If ilsese credentials weoen't inipressive enough, hie was, also voteti top borse on the Ontario Sires Stakes circuit for the past 25 years. "Apaches Faine is the inost sougbt afier paciasg sire in Onstario and currently sires about 150 mares a year," saiti Glengate Farina manager Doug Nash. Meanwhile. Balanceti Image bias long been regardeti as the foreinoat trotting stallion in Canada - anti for gondi reason. Owned by tbe BaLanceti Ismage syndicale, the 22-year-oid - wbose single-breeti fee stands at a wbopping $20000 - bas sired sontie of Uic inoat well known troutera in North Aisirica. His prestigious offspring liai includes Goodtines, Glorys Comet anti Im"ecble Imrage. His son Biilyjojinsbob - already a hall of fainer - establisheti Balanceti Imnage's reputation worldwide wben be became Uic irst Canadian- breti trotter to, capture Sweden's Eltiloop., Jusi recently, bis son Yankee Paco becamie Uic tirst Canadian-sireti boise i 75 years to wîn, The Hambletonian. Saiti Nash, "Balanceti Image bas totally domi- isated i t roffing tanksa asnd bis semen is not oniy aought ail acroas North America, but ail over Europe where tiey only race trouera." By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion The Merchants powerplay-ed their way to victory in pre-season opening competition Friday. Within the friendly confines of Memorial Arena, Milton scored three limes in the last fine minutes of regulation - twice with the man-advantage - in rai- lying f0 beat the Hamilton Kilty Bees 4-2. A rash of third-period penalties by their guests allowed the local juniors to salvage what was otherwise a lacklustre and uneventful performance that was viewed by oniy a few dozen fana. "There waa sorne ruaI out there tonigbt," admitted Nick Slawaon, Milton'a director of hockey operationa, who said the team is about balfway toward being picked. -These guys aren't quite back into game shape and it was the third game for Hamilton. They (Bees) were a littie quick- er." Nevertheless, Slawson aaid he's more optimisfic about this year's club now than hie was juaf a couple of weeks ago - espe- cially when if cornes f0 scoring ability. A lot of that bas to do with the teamas fwo newest additions f0 the forward lines. Centre Flavio Fagionia - who came over from Italy t wo years ago and spent ast season wifh the Orangeville Jr. B Crushers - is beiieved [o posseas great puck-handling skili s and an incredihly soft touch around the net. The 18-year-old provided evidence of that by winning moat of bis face-offa and jamming in a low snapsbot for goal num- ber one Friday. *'Flavio bas among the best banda I've ever seen. He does things wifb the puck that you just don't see at this level," said Slawson. 'Once be gels acclimatized f0 tbis level of hockey, belIl be a major offensive threat." Also aigned on for act ion is right Winger Shane Remenda - anof ber 18-year-old who corntes f0 town from the Guelph Jr. B squad. A particularly strong skater wifb well- rounded offensive skills, he's expcfed to be a solid contribufor up front. Said Slawson, "These two guys could work well fogether. We're looking ai them possibly forming a uine." Meanwbile, Mike McGrane, wbo ieft the feam eariy ls year, ia back for another fry as a hard-nosed utility player - sometbing the locals could certainiy use witb the bass of graduafing workhorse captain Cbad Biundy. Other veterans in the lineup Friday wce James Coleman, Dan DeLong, John Nadalin and Anthony Marsall - who split the netminding work with bopeful Frank Doyle of the Guelph Jr. B's. Eacb ailowed one goal and made about a dozen saves. Number one goalie Joel Cameron did not play, while also, sitting ouf was centre Elliof Alfberg. Milton's other goals were scored by Kevin Arruda, Dan Bognar and Acton's Joei Pefkoff - who like Milfonian Frank Fazio saw limited play witb the feam lasi year and is now boping to graduate to fuil- time duty. Marchant notes: Eligibie refurnees Matt Belanger and Ryan Rasmussen are currentiy trying out for feama in Moncton, New Brunswick and Greece rcspecfively ..Milton continues exhibition play tomor- row night in Hamilton at Loften Arena. Multon's pre-season achedule also includes a much-anficipated bome-and-home clash witb the Georgetown Raiders, wbo pre- vailed during lasf year's exhibition stand wifh a win and a fie. The Mercbants will be looking for revenge sfarting tonight wben tbey bost game one at Memorial Arena. Game dime is 8 p.m. Game two is set for next Saturday (Sepf. 9) in Georgetown at 7:30 p.m. __ ____________Leae,*or2001 COROLLA CE pe ot o 48 -Ontario Bulit 4W40 Split rear seat 'Air conditioning _________________________________titfht Ls -Power door iocks *AMèFM steme wfti CO includes t ight & PDE *Advanced 125 HP VVT-J enin 'Full wheei cover wIh'75 d~. Autoaetc iranonieuion -Body aidie mouidingu MÂ Nioeh quipe Ai« $18,085 MSRP 'Oued on 48 amo wawey he Pl49 prpM seaxriy depouit due an dsey M" e n eMeon a ddtimW al <Suet $0.07 i onicii nToycts Corll CE. Eairs Aug. 31M