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'AA' midgets sidestep disaster in regular season-ending play By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion Heading into regular seaton-endsng play against Burlmgton Saturday, Milton's AA rnidgets had ail the ingredients in place for a lopsided victory. But servtng OflC Up proved much tougher than initially expect- ed. Though managing to secure the win and lift their record to a much-improved 19-7-2, Amie Parcels' Toyota Winterhawks had to dodge a couple of late bulleta in order to corne out on top. Averting disaster during aftemoon action ai Burlingsnn's Applcby Ice Centre, Milton escaped a bad Ime change and rough- mg infraction unharmed before dcpositing a Isat-minute empty netter to trim the severely shortstaffed botta 3-1. Kyle Goertz backstopped the visitors to victory - turning aaide two dozcn shots and delivering three impressive glove saves to fend off the uncharacteristically competitive Eagles. Fie should have had a littie more breathmg room down thc stretch, but the local midgets botched half-a-dozen powerplay opportunities throughout Uic afiemoon, includmg a two-man advantage in Uic third period. The Milton tender's shutout hid waa spoiled on a point shot that ricocheted off his pad and laboured ita way over Uic goal une - with about nine-and-half minutes rernaining. Michael Winiarz scored Uic game-winner, with a poke check steal at his own blueline and a bottorn thelf wriater on the entuing hreakaway. Paul Szafer made the initial depotit six minutes cacher - corn- pleting a nifty tic-tac-toc play - while Uic tnturance marker waa notched by Scots McLaughlin. Likc Parcels, Connor Sweeney waa back from a one-game sut- pension and offered a stabihizing presence on Uic blucline. The Winterhawks captain waa particularly effective during one-on-one battles, an was defensive panner Chris Strank. Meanwhilc, Ryan Pilarczyk's hustie off Uic bench during a bad line change Uiwarted a breakaway intide Uic fmal four rnmutes of play. A 5-for-S penalty killing campaign also factored into Uic nar- row victory. Shots on goal favoured Burlinglon 25-21. Milton was still awaîting word on who its first-round opposition would be at prcss time ycstcrday aftcmoon. The Canadien Champion, Tueaday, January 15, 2002 -15 Please fax Sf1 of your te*m reports and sparts 'tory ideas to Steve LeBlanc at 878-4943, or d~p thm off anytime at The Champion. Strong effort at tourney by the 'AA' major atoms Reached quarterfinals at international showcase Miltons AA major atorns cnjoycd plcnty of memorable moments at the recent Onawa International Hockey Festival. Unfortunatcly, a tnp to the final four was not among thcrn. The Wallacc Pontiac Buick Winterhawks delivered an inspircd effort during quarter- final action, but just couldn't fend off a late assault by L'Intrepide de Ottawa. Thece goals against in Uic third period sealed Uieir fate, as Uic local lads were top- pIed 5-1. Wade McGinnis tank Uic lone goal, wiUi hclp frorn Brayden Abrahain and Scott Stover. Coach Brian Abrahain called for two stick measurements in Uic third in an attempt to nasTow the gap - and while penalties resulted each Urne, no reversal of fortune followed. Milton fared much hetter in round-robin play - adjuating rather weIl to Uic no body-checking rule and winning its ftrst two games to ensure a berth to Uic quarter- finals. The 'Hawks donned Uieir rally caps in Uic toumament opener, hattling back frorn a two-goal deficit to outlast Rideau-St. Lawrence 4-2. Stover fuelcd the comeback with a pair of deposits. whilc posting one apicce wcrc McGinnis and Kris DeINin. Then Stover tallicd twicc again to hclp bis atoms knock off the Warren Park Eagles 4-I. Milton asnassed four unan- swered goals in Uiis une as wcll after falling behind early. McGinnis drew twu aasists while single rnarkers went to Abraharn and Kyle Jobnson. WiUi round Uiree of no conacquence to pool standings, Uic l-lawks were lest Uian stellar and felI to Kingston 5-1. Stover extended bis toumament scoring streak to three gaines with bis fifth goal of Uic week- end, whîle scttîng him up were McGinnis and Matt Elliott, Mîlton finished Uic toumament wiUi Uic fewest penalty minutes and tecurcd tome bragging righta during Uic akilîs competi- tion. Taylor Prestidge was namcd top gualie and Abrahain - happy nut to be facing bis own ncttnindcr - came away wiUi Uic top scorer award. Prestidge also repreaented his teani in Uic toumamcnt's alI-star gaine, as did Stover. Over 1,000 fant took in Uic conteat. Send in photos 10: ~EM~ ~Eanaban qEt>arnpwn 191 Main St. E. PO. Box 248, Milton, ON L9T 4N9 'A' atoms finish in fourth Milton's A major atoms ran Uic gamut over Uicir final thrce games of Uic regu- lac teanon - securing a win, losa and draw to finish fourth. flic Karmax Wtnterhawks highlight- cd Uit stietch drive wiUi a 9-0 panting of Hespler Friday. Nick DiGiallonardo wan challenged a mcanely four tues during Uic evening clash, but did have tu make une nifty glove save to preserve bis shutout. Five third-penod goals put Uic higb- flying visiturs well out of reach. Daniel Lewandowski turned a bat- n-ick and added an ansist wbile rnatching Uiat four-point total wiUi two goals and a pair of helpers wan captain Jacob Goode. JonaUian Riding alto tallied twicc, while singles were recorded by Ryan Cheeseman and Eric Gottwald. Back at home to cîoae out Uic seaaon Sunday, Milton hcld two separate lcadt but had to seule for a 2-2 stalemate wiUi Georgctown. The tymg tally came wiUi jutt half-a- minute remaining. Parker MoU backstopped Uic 'Hawks while Lewanduwtki and Jeff Black lit Uic lamp. Jordan Haggart dclivcred an outîet pans on goal number two. At home lant Tuesday, Mou tunicd back two dozen shots but receivcd nu offensive support in a 1-0 defeat at Uic hands of Guelph. The lune deposit caine wiUiin Uic opening minute of play on a doorstep seramble. Marshall Vince and Cal Wollanton offered dynamite defense to help keep Uieir team in a position to rally. Milton flnishcd wiUi a league record of 15-6-3.