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I20 - The Canadian Champion, Tueaday, October 23, 2001 SPORTS ~Savurîn their success CamnpbeM truîner Blai SuMms (1ffl> poucdflIys hW. &rdsr Crown t.phy siter Reai Du" l.(top>ceptuw dt.he -Yeàr.OMdCOR Prnce et Woo*ln FM".y Ste.rlnq t chamiplo vk"oi wus hi -f4mm driver John Csmpbell (.1>0v.) - who won thisa dIvISion on, the nlgbt and sur- passed the $200 million plateau In osr.er meninga For Mul result of t9W Dresder. Crown, see paoe 22. Photos by GRAHAM PAINE 'Merchants deliver fierce finish to beat Buffalo Bv STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants' successes have been built on many solid variables, perhaps the most formidable of which lias been a fierce finish. At home againat Buffalo Friday, Milton got reacquainted wiUs Usat traditionally reliable aspect of its gaine on Use iway to endisag ita longeaI losing streak in several yeara. Responding to what could have been looked upon as a muat-win situation, Use turmoil-riddled locals delivered Usree unanswered goals in Use final frame to topple Use last-place Lightning 6- 3. This victory followed four straight defeats and lited Use defending conference champs - now under Use direction of former NHL'er Dave Gagner -to 5-8. Outshooting Buffalo 16-5 in Use third was by far Use most prornising element of Use night - especially after Use visitors deposited a potential- ly tide-turning equalizer with juat a second remnaining in period two. Jason Harshaw, Senti Malcolm and Shane Remenda answered back with goals to secure Use vicsory. Scoring earlier on were Dan Carcillo, Rich Meloche and Brandon Valente. Sean Samuel, Milton's impromptu starter, tumed aside about swo dozen abots f6r his sec- ond win as a Merchant. His goals againat have come down each might since picking up Use reigns for an injured Trevor Battaglia. r~n Alan on Use plus aide, rookie defencemnan Josb Vanderbreggen offered one of his best performances of Use year and was especially >effective at neutralizing Buffalo's Brian Janke. Fellow fresbmen Carcillo and Meloche were raUser impressive as well. Miltonian Mike Novak Sean Samuel was called-up to fil Use gap on defense left by veteran Vmnce Guiducci - whose back spasma bave resurfaced to furUser hinder an aiready short- staffed blueline unit. Buffalo's goals were scored by Nick Catanzaro, Rick Lynch and Shane Presley. Milton took two warrn-up violation penalties as well as one for illegal equipment Friday. Both types of infractions were firats on tse season for Use teamn. T'he Merchants will now look to put together a win streak, and move back into a playoff spot, this weekend when Usey battle a couple of mid- pack clubs. Friday they host Oakville while Saturday they travel to, Georgetown. Milton lost to both tesais on Use road late last month during Use start of Useir worst stretch in about a decade. Merchant notes: Milton seems to be more of a threat to score shorthanded these days Usas on the powerplay, which is operating under Use 10 per cent range through October. Merohants are Hfalween Mad