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The Canadian Champion, Fniday, OCtober 19, 2001- 23 * SPORTS C Milton delivers Dte -gutsy effort, but bested by Blues By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Whether Merchant coaching changes wilI bning lasting benefits is stili open for debate. But they did pay ouI iumediate dividends in BramnaleaTuesday. iýà In their first gaine under co-owner turned bencb boss Dave Gagner, Milton juniors offered sometbîng to build on with their frnest performance -work ethie wise - this month. Untortunately, that wasn't quite enough t0 put the brakes on their current skid. Poor line changes, careless passing and mediocre netminding were jusi 100 much to, overcome -as the struggling visitors were outdistanceel 7-5. "From an effort standpoint, it was (better), said a cautiously optimistic Gagner. We did make a lot of poor decisions that we have to eliminate, but in terins of determinatton and willingness to stay in the gaine we were solid." The Merchants erased three separate leads before falling 10 thr third-place Blues. Michel Bond and Dan Carcillo each tallird - îwice while their cohorts battled for loose pucks with -this year ailast -unparalleled intensity. On the down side, rookie Sean Samnuel was only marginally bet- ter than during bis debut as the stanting goalie three nights earlier in Brampton. A few 100 many botched breakout attempts by a still et vulnerable and fatigurd defensive unit kept the young tender busy ýL0ca1 set for mucb of the night. Vince Guiducci, Milton's most seasoned rearguard unthei lineup £ these days, left in thse third period with recurring back spasins. fo r b attie Filling the gap down thse stretch was ali-purpose interim captain For the second straight gaine against Milton, Bramalea's Scott Md Betnor M aOW W Neil scored the gaine winner inside the final two minutes of thc Real DWr md Ya Flbbl middle stanza. He also tank the empty-net insurance marker. r.spectlvay In prepmatlon for Former Merchant Vince Lai se cbipped in a goal and an assist for tonfighte Breeders Crw et the Blues. Ronbclc.~.~v~u. Milton's oUier goal was potted by Ricb Meloche. Erin Sbamrock Woodbln. mtc. »whl call-up and Milton native Andrew Kirkland drew a pair of belpers Bilue Java eme and h«o nerIS and looked rather iropressive in bis Jr. A debut. riDon P"Sam (top) NidS up mamn of "Be was solid out there. He bandled Uic puck well and offered so4n gotnohsfvurts- d positional play," Gagner said of Uic young forward. Inldn Do u i s houvwWM The Merchants' five goals matcbed their output froin al tbree gantes lasI week. Shots on golfavoured Bramalea 38-33. whlc ~ ~tlSIf ut ia tme- Merchant notes: Oakville rep coach Brett Sbepley bas been ~ ~ - eeroid aclg clt dvison. brought on board t0 be Gagner's assistant ... Michel Bond's first .v ~ , hoto bygoal against the Blues was a powerplay marker, Uic first in four - ~ ~ .L GRAHMP AINEs gane f ri. His second goal was sbortbanded, number tbree 4- GR HAM AINEfor the teamn Ibis ycar ... Milton will look 10 snap a four-gaine los- ing streak tonight aI home against lasI-place Buffalo. ADVANCEww1C1lrkesG.li Other~Aie Peutestadbl e rs$5g Golf Shoes Pro Forma lrons3-PW Cheque cashing - Currency exchange Sale $3m'9.95 Nw2%OF Ony$.9 Alln l iec Cub Callaway & Ping Demos Jazz Faicat Ladies il 7-hefist<.Olari uý« to I sedmny xride wîth Graphite Shafts Up To 40% OFF Piece sets Witb Graphite Re.$7.5 TyorMd-eceCu Shafts LSale $399.95 Now 20% OFF o20/OF Oer mo y P<Tyo.Md»ecu lbNo 0 F -~~C W(wk%1e kiqh AJcýit I S M ï Lu