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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday February 27, 2001- 17 S PORTS m i rO A AM PA N Merchants captain John Nadalin takes Mississauga's Bernie Scanlon out of the play averime ta take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semnifinal series. Game three will during garne iwa ait lceland Arena Sunday. Milton siaged a laie rally and win the game in take place ionighi in Milton ai 8 p.m. '/Merchants take 2-O series lead on Mississauga By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants have already secured one titie this season. Now tl looks like îhey'll have an oppoflutîtty bo contend t'or another. This aller a second siraîght wînning weekend ihat placed the regular season champs within striking distance of a trip bo the Western Conierence finals -~ and a chance to add to iheir hardware haut. Backsiopped in fine tormi hy Joci Cameron, Miltoîn lstcked ofii secoînd round play wîîh a coru- pie of low scoritîg sictories over Mîssîssauga. Glenn Walsh's charges capped the weekend in dranîaiic tashîîîn -raltyttîg ici eclîpse (lie Chargers 3-2 in iiserttnie ai lceland Arena Sunday. Dctenceitai Vîtîce Guiducci prsidcd the herics les,, thati a tîttnute itt suddctî dcath wheîî tus innocent- looktng hlueline Ilirater b.,Ai honirr.ur nertininîler Trevr Battagîta's lif pad and înicktcd over the goal fie. The cxtra session deposit punciuated an exil- ing comcback by the visitors, who denled the iwine lwîce in the last nitre-and-a-halt lminutes of the tird pcrtod. Dan DeLotîg iniiiated the reversaI of tortunes hy burying Dan Bognar's doorstcp lettovers. Then Andy Rozak, Mition's mosi prolilic playott pertormer since Darren <Mini) Haydar, scored in sinîttar style wittî just over a minute lif in regulaton. The Merchants' laie upnising injecied excite- tient mbt what was tor the miosi pari a raiher dul evcning clash - ai leasi until the hosis polled goal nunitber îwo midway through the final traîîîc and rcarguard Rick Janco iheti sluggcd il oui with Mississauga's Marc Davison iii an attempi ici shake up his teammales. Cameroti inade two docen saves on the îîîght and for the sixth consccutîve gaine hetd fic opposition under the threc-goal mark. Beatingr hîm were Gratiam Linîdsay and icît Loucks. Fellow Charger Chis Curran assîsi- cd on holh efforts. Despile a third- pcriod breakdown ai Memorial Arena Fniday, Milton won the series opener 4-2. A slrong stant and fair amount cil discipline factored mbt the win - as did lhree-point per- tormances hy Rozak and rookie sensation Kevîn Arruda. Rozak buried goals one and lhrec. on a break- away take and upsiairs backhand, and sel-up Amiuda's powcrplay tally laie in the firsi. A sholhrandcd goal by Bognar - sent iii on a big tead pass lrom Chis Rook - highlightcd the opentng tilt. as dîd the spiritcd play ot chccking Winger Jantes Coleman. On the down side Fniday, Milton did case up considerably in the third and wcre out chanccd by Mîssîssauga 12-3. Chins Yipp tallicd iwice down the stretch for the visîtors to make things înteresting. Battaglia got the hook aller second-period play alter giving up four goals on 16i shiîts. Meanwhilc, Camneron turncd asidc 23 shots and was espccially effective when challenged down- stair.. Milton has so tar been the more disciplined of the two leams and bas donc a goxs. job of ncu- tralii'ing big guns Mike Oliveira and Blair Jarreil. Gaine three of the series wilt goî lonighti n Miton. Gaine limie is t8 p.m. Mississauga will hosi gamne tour ai lcctland Thursday ai 7:30) p.m. Merchani notes: Joci Cameron wcflt tour- and-a-hait periods wihout giving up a goal hctwccn thc opcning traîne ot round one's gaine seven and the third period ot round two's opener .Andy Rozak teads West Conterence playîîtl scoring with nîne goals and 20) points. Kevîn Arruda sits seconrd on the tcaîn wîth tour goals and 14 points. AM Milton Miner flockey Association MilonMnorCoacbm&ps Requir ed 200,112002Seasofl ____ Hoce I A!Pssociatio0n 11mMI1o ùNmwiS lockeyAssociation îs now accceng ____ OC , tapplications for Coaches for the 2001-2002 sieason._ Application arc available at ThompsOn Arena, or by contacting TW=mie Parcels (905) 876-083.