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.Merchant pair featured in Bell Symnpatico Olymnpie commercial Carrier, Ovcjak play opposing captains for Canada and Finland By STEVE LeBLANO The Champion A few hours before gamne time agamast Oakville Tuesday, David Ovcjak sat down ta relax in front of the TV. What hie saw stwing back from the screen was a mighty familiar face - well, make that two. Thase well-known mugs were bis own and that of fellow Milton Merchant Rick Carrer, who're part of a Bell Sympatico Olympic comrmercial that hegan amrng this past week. "You only sce Rick and t for about a sec- ond, but it was really cool," Ovcjak said just prior ta Tuesday's 5-4 cameback against the red-hot Blades. The graduating juniors were approached earlier this month with the opportunity ta audition for the comrmercial - anc of three shot for the upcomîng 2002 Winter Gamnes - and for both, it waa simply a no-bramner. Said Ovcjak, "Maria (Forgione) came and asked us if wc wanted ta he in a com- mercial. 1 sald 'sounds gaod ta me'." He and Carrier play opposing captains in the commercial - with Carrier wmnning the face-off that Ieads ta a 3-2 Tcam Canada victory over Finland. Threc differ- cnt versions of the commercial wcre shot - with the game being viewed by bar patrons, a youngster in his roomn and a taxi driver - althoagh ta date only anc haa aircd. The Merchant dua beat out mare than anc handred hopefuls for their spots. Their seg- ment of the com- mercial, shot two weeks ago, took about 15 hoars ta film St RIck Carrier B rampton 's Battalion Centre. "It was certainly différent. It's sur- prismng ail the dif- ferent angles they shoot at and how long it took. They - had cardboard cusous of people that they put in about a million different posi- tions," said David Ovcjak Carrier. But Milton's chief agitator definitely cnjoyed the experience and truc ta his ini- your-face nature, came away with an amusing little tale from the audition. He recalled with a smirk. "The director want- cd ta sec us serimmage and this other guy high-sticked me twice. 'he second time t had ta tum around and ask him (quite tirm- ly) ta stop. 1t had ta apologize ta the director after- ward, but t guess hie Iiked what hie saw (from me)." Ovcjak also enjoycd thc commercial - thc second he's been part of in thc past twa years. Bis first waa for an Intemnet campa- ny in 1999, whilc thc towering winger has been on a movie set aa well, aa a secarity guard during Uic filming of Sylvester Statione's Driven. "tt's reaily sarprising how long it takes just ta shoot a 15-second spot," hie sald. The Merchants and other players in Uic commercial were recruited by Miltonian Steve Martin's Elite AUhite Management - a growing sports agcncy catermng ta tel- evision/fllm production. DATE DIVSION Canada's largest junior hockey league will not compete for a national champi- onship Uiis spring. Thse Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) announced last weck that Uic 36-team Provincial Jr. A Hockey League (PJHL) will nat have a representative in eiUier the AiI1-Ontaria Dudley Hcwitt Cup or Uic national Royal Bank Cup. Though rumnours had been circulating for several wceks regarding Uic league's wiUi- drawal, it was only made officiai January 16 - much ta Uic disappointment of many wiUiin Uic PJHL. Decision disappointing "tt's much ta my chagrin Uiat a 12Ui- hoar accommodation cauldn't be made," sald Merehants GM Nick Slawson. 1I think Uiere's always gosng ta be a question mark as ta if Uic pravincc's best teamn was represented at Uic Royal Bank (Cap)." The PJHL's wiUidrawal camnes on Uic heels of this season's addition of Uic Superior Intemnational Junior A League. Under Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) raIes, Uic Thunder Bay-bascd lop had Uic right ta inject itacîf into Uic Dudley Hewitt Cap/Royal Bank Cap picture - even diaugis its a flrst-year leagsîe and from a quality of campetition standpoint, is not considered on-par wiUi Uic PJHL or NorUiem Ontario Jr. A League. Said Slawson, "Fmom what l've been told, it's (Superiar league) eqaivalent ta javenile hockey. I don't Uiink they poise a sîgnificant challenge." With Uic addition of Uic Superior league, PJHL officiaIs feit Uiat due ta time and fmrancial restrictions, Uieir league would be unable ta adjust its schedule to accormmo- date another series. Therefare, the NorUiemr and Superior league winners wil] bardie for Uic night ta represent Ontario as Uic 2002 Royal Bank Cup in Halifax. Said Ontario Hockey Association President Brent Ladds, "The conclusion ta Uiis recent scenaria is truly regrettable. The Royal Bank Cup is a grcat sponsar and Uieir national champianship a tremendous event. Our fuast choice would have been ta be Uiere." Whilc Slawsan undcrstands Uic reason- ing behind last weck's announicemrent, hie had hoped Uic PJHL wauld 'suck it up' and find a way ta stay in Uie national champi- onship picture. Future uneertain He added that while Uic PJHL is cxamsin- mng Uic situation for next year's Royal Bank Cup, Uiere's no guarantce Uic CHA will welcomne Uic league back. -I Uiink we'vc wcakened aur position by droppmng out" hie said. "Thse CHA may not choose ta have us next ycar. But that's a draatic stcp and hopefully it won't came ta Uiat." On Uic plus side, Uic 2002 PJHL playoff schedule won't have ta be as condenscd aa in previaus years - when sevcn-game series were often cramnied mnto a lu or Il day period. The Canadian Champion, Fniday, January 25, 2002-23 'Cagers in tough minor bantamai came up winlcss i I irim gan at dm reoent Hutavilo Hurrican Tourasameîit - 1osing to Kingston, an 1 ilw1I di Aaron Hnataw stood out wi* a &um pùà -pi" Tbey wEiR S0 infumbat W où eeia in GelO HOUSE LEAGUE RESULTS TEAM SCOE TEM JAN 19 PEEW MAJOR TOWNE DENTAL CROUP 5 SCOOTERS SNACK SNAM 4 BRIAN'S AUTO REPAR 5 ROSSIXXON RNANCW.L 7 PEEWEE MINOR DREM CAR GARAGE 3 CANADIAN IRE 2 PRESSE LAW OFFICE 3 HOME CNEMA 3 W1N20 NOVICE GOIFE RED 2 GOODFEGREE 4 GOODFE BLACK 8 GOOGUFE BLUE 5 SHMPRS DRUG MART 4 NUTECH RECRUITERS 1 BRIANS AUTO REPAIR 8 AUSTEN NOBLE INStIlAMCE 5 IANI19 ATOll GUS MOWBRAY 4 SEARS 4 GALLNGER FORD 5 UON'S CLUB 4 BRIANIS AUTO REPNR 6 MCCUAIG INSURANC 4 lAN18&20 BANTAN BRIANSAUTO REPAIR 12 ROMERAT&T 6 SUNNY OASIS 6 0ENOUIPLTD. O OENTRICUT 7 NUTECH RECRUITERS 4 JAN 21 1 SENIOR 0005 à DENTS KWIK KOPY KEY CENTRE MILTON CIRRSLEDmD JOHNSON CONTROLS KENTUCKY FRIED CME Ma#t Lild Tsck For ail your advertising needs ... contact yaur~ "Qb1ampion" Advertising Rep 878-2341 riSPRINGFIELDI1 U PHO0L ST ERY Recoveuing Fumiture Since 1973 Realdential & Commercial SpeclaIIzIng In antique worc Decorative, fabrica to choe fromn High denalty cuahion foam & foamn mattres 370 Main St. E. 905-876-5694 Milton, ON Leave meaage for Larry Provincial Jr. A league won't get shot at Royal Bank Cup this season