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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 19, 2000 - 23 SPORTS t-j" Il NÉ. 876.WINE dVlerchants dump Raiders in opener 8v STEVE LeBLANC The Champion T here's just something about opening night that brings out the best in the Milton Merchants. Well perhaps that might be stretching it a bit. but the local juniors definitely have a knack for kick-starting Ihe year n impressive fashion. That trend continurd against Georgetown Friday. Within the friendly confines of Memorial Arena, Milton delivered a robust performance pretîy much from stsrt su finish and knocked off ast year's regular season conference champs 5-2. The Merchants - who've won their ast four season openers by a collective margin of 35-5 - took the lead a utIle past the midway mark of period one. and wjth the exception of a 36-sec- ond blip maintained it the entire evening en route 10 an insptred victory. "At 5-un-S we were by far the superior team. We came into tonights game more organized and with leso jitters than they (Raiders) did," remarked veteran centre ElliotI Altberg. Skipper Glenn Walsh said he was quite pleased with the younger players' efforts - parsicularly when it came to grit and positional plsy. He added, They showed us that we made some good (recruit- ing) decisions." Cameron cornes through in opener Highlighting Friday's North Halton clash were s Ibrer-point campaign by highly gifted newcomer Flavio Faggioni anct s 25- save night by Joel Cameron. The seasoned goaltender was especially sharp when challenged downstairs asd îumed back every one oS the dozen shots he faced in the second period 10 essentially nix Georgetown's comeback hopes. "Sm still a littie shaky out there, but I îhoughî I got hetter as the game went on," said Cameron. Offensively. Milton showed signs of putting the brakes on a recent trend theyd like nothing better than 10 completely scrap - that of an unproductive powerplay. The Merchants didn't fare well with the man-advantage the past two years - lasI season in particular - but season-opening play suggests the team may be tuming a corner in that depait- ment. They didn't have an awtul lot ot powerplay chances, five to be exact, but capitalized twice with a front-line unit that included no lesa than three centremen whose puck-handling abilities rate among the division's best. "We should have a very seay powerplay out there this season," said Walsh, refemng 10 the joint potential of Altberg, Faggioni, Andy Rozak and gifted winger Shane Remenda. "Teama are going to have 10 stay out of the penalty box against us." The Raiders were largely succesaful in that respect, but couldn't seem to gel into any kind of grove, due in equal partato constant line ahuffling and a lack of intensity from star captain Stace Page. Sophomore Tristin Fairbarn and Campbellville's Daryl Knowles - a rookie with Georgetown alongaide fellow Milton aiea players Dan Rogers and Joah Vanderbreggen - dîd their sconng. Faggioni, arguably the most promising newcomer to the West Conference this seaaon, notched Milton's firot goal and assisted on maikers by Remenda and Rozak. Also lighting Uic larnp were veteran James Coleman and for- mer Port Hope Buzzer Ian LaBrash. Photo by GRAHAM PAINE Merchant defenceman Rick Janco tries to clear Raider Mason Drew from in front while nelminder Jool Cameron looka for the next shot during Friday's home opener at Memorlal Arena. Milton won the game 5-2. Assists went to Remenda, Rozak, Dan DeLong, Dan Bognar and Milton native Frank Fazio - who made some nifty passes and added a fine bit of corner work alongoide second-une mates Rozak and LaBrash. The Merchants didn't escape season-opening play completely unscathed however - as defenceman Chris Rook sustained a separated shoulder in the middle stanza whîch was his second (and certainly most serious) injury in as many encounters with Georgetown. Hes the third rearguard now sidelined for fie local club. who were already without the services of veterans Mike McGrane and Steve Schentag. That leaves utility player Vince Guiducci, who signed with the tears on Thursday, as a probable blueline mainstay for the next littie whîle and the coachîng staff'with two other holes to fil in support of healthy detencemen John Nadalin, Rick Janco and Chad Vinden. Merchants notes: Backing up Cameron this year is retumlng sophomore Anthony Marshall, who should see some play thîs week dunng the team's first road tnp of the year. Tonight Milton is in Streetovîlle aI 7:30 p.m. whîle tomorrow evening they cross the border to face Buffalo at 8: I 5 p.m. They retum home to battie Streetaville Fnday Faggioni la currently nding a six-game scor- ing streak that goes back to the team's exhibition opener against Hamulton The Merchants are looking for families b billet a few out-of-town players. Anyone who can offer accomodations for the season is asked to caîl David Dermo at 875-4444.