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20-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 26, 2002 '-Drury wrestling 'AA' major bantams dispose of Caledon to reach OMHA semnis By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion It's final four timne for Milton's AA major bantamns. The Halton Lift Truck Wmterhawks' OMHA semnifinal bcrth came to fruition at Memorial Arena Friday evening, when in front of a sizable hometown crowd they disposed of the Caledon Hawks 4-2. A concentrated offensive outburst, sharp goaltending and tomne late composure - wbile the visitors delivered a handful of behind-the-play cheap shots in a futile bid to mentally unglue the local lads - com-_ bined for the game-four series-clinching victory. "Everyone did the job I askcd of them, even the APs," sald head coach Eric Ellison. "It was a great effort toight." The Wunterhawks' bcnch boss was par- ticularly impressed with bow lis troopa resisted retaliation - something, hie stressed, hadl been required since gaine one with Caledon. "It's been like that ail series, but the guys reaily came through," hie added. Milton broke a scorelesa stalemate late in the second period with three goals in juat a minute-and-a-half, then denied their come- back-minded guests the tying goal with a crucial penalty kill and a few dynamite saves by Corey Clarkson. Workhorse defencemnan Mark Galick sealed the deal with an empty-netter in the final two seconda of play, after captain Robbie Wilson won perhaps the biggest face-off of the season in bis own zone with nine ticks left on the dlock. Galick and Wilson buiied the biscuit just 17 seconds spart mn the middle stanza - each converting a short-range rebound - to cushion a lead establishcd by Sam Tomilinson's five-hole deposit. Milton gave its opponents a little too much room to maneuver through the fiast period and had to rely on Clarkson to bail them. out a couple of tinies. The Wmterhawks retumed the favour in thc second, liniiting Caledon to three shots with a much more effective trap. Overail, Clarkson stoppcd 22 shots for the win. Milton's gaine-four assista went to Adam Clerici, Brent McCrimmon-Iones and David Tielemans. Helping clinch the series were cail-ups Matthew Buck and Robbie Hunt. The Winterhawks set tise stage for the series win by toppling Caledon 4-1 Wednesday. Robert Smith was hctwcen the pipes for Uiat one - standing tail wiUi about two dozen saves - while ighting thc lamp were Tielemans, Tomlfinson, Wilson and Kyle Scott. The major bantamas, one of two local squads stil aive in the OMHA playdowns, will now face Uic Oakvîlle Rangera. Oakviile wiil have home-ice advantage by virtue of their one-point edge over Milton ini thc regular season. Nail-bting victory over Bra'mpton puts 'AA4'midgets into semifinals BROOKVILLE MEN'S MASTERS SLO-PITCH LEAGUE Registration o alwk Inn, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, March 2 For more info, contact Day. Baille 519-856-2421 Tom Charron 905-854-0558 Early Registration $130 includes 2 banquet tickets Welcome Bacle & Congratulations! Ken Armstrong on your coaching accomplishments for the Finnish SCurling Team at the Sait Lake City, Winter Olympics. from your co-workers at HJM Insurance & Financial Services Milton, Burlington & Guelph offices. By STEVE L.BLANC The Champion A sigh of relief washed over Uic crowd shortly after 10 p.m. As homctown spectators hcld their collective breath at Memorial Arena Friday, Milton's AA midgets hung on hy Uic nar- rowcst of margina to sow up quarterfinal play against tise flrst- entry Brampton Battalion. The Milton Toyota Wmterhawks'5-4 squeakcr - wbich offered fans young and old plcnty of ncrve-wracking moments through Uic third period - ailowed Uiem to reach Uic OMHA's version of Uie final four for Uic fiast time since 1997. Amie Pareels, Milton's coach thcn and now, was no doubt rid- dled wiUi anxiety down Uic stretch as bis tcamn was outchanced hy Brampton 10-4 in Uic final frame and had to, nurse a one-goal lead for more Uian seven minutes. But Uic local midgets have come through when it has reaily counted - winning Uic majority of Uicir playoff encounters by juat one or two tailles - and did so again Friday. Two goals on two shota midway through Uic third turncd out to, lic Uic différence for Uic hosta, who scooped up ice time normally reserved for Uieir junior counterparta and enjoyed Uieir biggest fan-hase of Uic season. An Adam Rutz hat-trick and night-long play-making clinic by Kyle Burreil - who coilected Uiree assista in an impressive gaine- four performance - powered Uic midgets to victory. Ruts capped bis scoring surge wiUi Uic gamce-winner midway through Uic Uiird. Along wiUi Burreil, Chris Strank alan assisted on Uic play. Milton's other two goals wcre boUi posted by Juian Ricci, who notched a pair three nighta carlier to put Brampton on Uic prover- bial chopping block. Single helpera wcnt an Derek Blanchard, Lee Fnittenburg, Michael Wmarz and capsain Connor Sweeney - who along with Brett Turner provided rock-solid defense Uirough Uic fiast two periods. Kyle Gocrtz weathered a few storros and made 28 saves overail to, record bis second wmn of Uic week for Uic semiffinal- bound Wmtcrhawks. TIhe local midgcts - who've won nine of 10 poat-scason gaines - wiil now face Stoney Creek for Uic right an, play for OMHA championship gold. 'A midgets open new playoffs with win Milann's A midgeta stili have one more tide an, chase. And initial efforts toward Uiat end proved favourable at Memorial Arena Saturday evening, when Uiey trimmed Elora 4-3 in Uieir flrst Tri County playoff encounter. The Wmterhawks - one of two teamns eliminatcd from, Uic OMHFA quarterfinais last week - squandcrcd a Uiree-goal lead, but restored Uic upper hand late in Uic sec- ond and nuracd it suecessfuily Uic ret of Uic way. tan Komack pottcd Uic winning taily, wiUi help fromn Barry Kosmalaki and Brian Pepper. Also seoring were Kenny Hume, Dustin Smith and Brett Taylor. Captain Chris Seto assisted on the first and Uiird goals. Sanpping 27 shota for Uic win was Tun Johnston. Milton didn't come away completely unscathcd howcvcr, as Uirec players eamced suspensions during a Uiird-period brawl. Kosmalaki and Taylor are gone for Uic next Uiree gaines while Thomas Patrick wil miiss one. The Wmterhawks continued Tri County playoff action last nigbt in G3uelph. TIheir ncxt home gaine is Thuraday at 8 p.m. against Georgetown - whomn Uicy knocked off in Uic OMHA's flrst round. arn eprt ideas WoStt Le8Ianc at 57#el* M. Milton Girls Basebali Let's Play Bail!!! FINAL REGISTRATION SAT. MARCH 2 from 9am - I 2pm Gil In theW FOYER 0F THE MILTON LOBLAWS '98 BlastbaiI $25.00/Piayer '961 97 Jr T-Bail $50.00IPIayer 94f 95 Sr. T-Bail EEB '92/'93 Rookie Bail $95.0O/Player '89190191 PeeWee $45.00 2n, player in famnily «86187188 Bantam $30.00 3,1 player in famiiy '77 - «85 Womnen's **Ask about our REP Teams for PeeWele and Bantam (ovefiand piiehing with mguiabma sized basabail For more inf cail Mauiette O 905-878-7Q64 or Anne O 905-878-2565