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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 12, 2002-23 Bertoli's elbow injury haits hot streak and nixes eaul up to AHL Miltonian hurt for second time since April By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Scott Bertoli sure has lousy timn- ing when it cornes to injuries. Not that there's ever a good occasion te, land in sick. But twice in the past eight months now, Milton's ECI-L veteran has found himself hurt at particulariy unfavourable periods - both crucial points in his semi pro career. First a tom knee ligament cul is playoff mun short in early April. With Bertoli and a handful of other key regulars unavailabie for the second round, the Trenton Titans were easy pîckings for Atlantic City - los- ing in three straight. Most recently. a hyper extended elbow -sustained lae last month- put the brak,-es on an early-season tear for the gift- ed left Winger, who prior to the injurv sat top five in league scoring sith 13 points in nine games. As il this wasn't bad enough. thealient carne less than two weeks hefore a poten- tiai eall up to the AHLs Milwaukee Admirais. Hoping 10 fil a bit of the gap left by pro- moted forwards Cameron Mann and Vemn Fiddler, Admirais skipper Peter Horachek - who coacbed Bertoli in Trenton iast sea- son- actuaiiy Friday caiied about the possibiiity of enisting is former star, not reaiizing he was sideiined. Bertoli disappointed 1i knew if Peter had' the opportuntty, he wouid eaui me up. It's just untortunate the eaul came now," said Bertoli, who's expeet- ed to be oui for another four 10 six weeks. It's disappointing. but at ieast there'li stili be pienty of hockey ieft when 1 corne back. "Missing the piayotffs ast year was tougher. Thats what you play lor ail sea- son and to have that taken away was a bg- ger biow.' This marks the second inissed opportuni- ty 1 o onHorachek and lIow Miltonian Darren (Mini) Haydar in Nlilss aukee ibliS season. Bertoli had initially heen ins'ted Io the Admirais' training camp in September, but due to the high number of Nashville for- wards sent down lu the AHL, that tryout window quickly closed up. Nevertheiess, Horachek continues to hold the former Ivy Leaguer in high regard and wouid not hesitate to cali upon his services- should the opportunity present itseif again.1 Said Milwaiîkee's hench boss, "Scott's talented, smart and detinitely warranted of an opportunity to play in the AI-L. It's been a tough go for him lmaking the climb) s0 far, but he's got a lot of character and is deserving of the chance." Miltonian Scott Bertoli was on quit. the early-season hot streak when a hyper-extended eibow ianded hlm on injury reserve for the second tUrne in eight months. The aliment aiso quashed an opportunity ta get cailed up the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirais. File photo by GRAHAM PAINE Pay-back cornes twice for revitalized juniors By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion This past weekend was one of payback for the Merchants. With Georgetown and Oakvilie provid- ing the competition. Milton exacted revenge for successive losses carlier in the month with hard-fought wins over their two regional rivais. The wins- numbers two and three in a newiy-estabiished streak- allowed the local juniors 10 both take over second- place in the Westemn Conference and maintained that position. The 16-5-1 Merchants have been playing fromn behind as of laIe and are starting 10 prove they cao tbrive with- ouI benefit of any early lead. They erased four separate deficits over their last two outings- both home games - en route to consecutive victortes. The biggest of these came against neigb- bouring powerhouse Georgetown Friday. Exorcising any remaining demons from last Tuesday's 7-2 drubbing aI Gordon Alcoti Memorial Arena, Milton overcome ils guesîs size and stick work 10 triumph 6- 4. Netminder Cody Spicer weathered a few first-period sîorms and tumned back more than tree dozen saves overali in one of is more inspiriog and purposefuilooking efforts of the season. Captain Craig Macdonald sank the game winner- picking the top lefi comer on the backhand with 5:19 remaining - whiie the hosts other marksmen were James Duhamel, Pat Lee, Rich Meloche, Arthur Sawa and Tyler Shremp. Until Meloches empty netter in the dying seconds of play. neither team led for more than a goal in round two of the baIlle of north Haiton- which featured a litîle more zip and better fan support than the nitial sbowdown. The Merchants moved int second place wiîh the win and hung 0010 it two days later with a 4-2 decision over the Oakviiie Blades, who had restrieted them 10 one goal a week eariier. The rematch looked 10 mirror that from the onset, with a rather chippy opening frame ending with the bosts trailing i-0. But Meloche and Sawa struck from close range in the second - each knotting the score- whiie Meloche later posted is îeam-ieading 23rd goal of the season with an upstairs snapsbot 10 put the locais ahead early in the third. ion Ornelas's short- banded taiiy four minutes later - the resuit of a key pass by aflemoon stand- ouI Duhamel - pro- vided an al-important insurance marker that took the wind ouI of the visitors' sails. Spicer was rock soiid but not quite as beavily tested in lifting bis season win counî to 12. In Brampton Thursday, Milton wrapped Up a three-game road trip by outdistancing the Capitals 7-5. Back-up cager Alex Evans recorded the victory wbile standing ouI with a hat-trick and big night in the face-off circie was Vie Oreskovicb -wbo bas quickly deveioped mbt a sîurdy centerpiece for the clubs top scoing unit. Milton will look 10 make il four in a row and maintain second place îonight in Streetsviile. Game ime is 8 p.m. Merchant notes: Miton's 16-5-i record marks the teams best start since the 1998- 99 season ... Defencemen Phil Sbrocchi, BiJ. Galiant and Emerson Mish ail find themselves on the injury ist Iis weekend ..Milton is on the road Iis Fridav in Burlington and retums 10 Memoriai Arena Sunday aI 3 p.m. to face Bramalea. Please fax your sports reports to Steve LeBlanc at (905) 878-4943. 09 (MTP SHOPFOR AiLLYOUR ADU T OMBTAUUW2 ~~YY~T mu Huge Selection of Movies, DV's ~ Toys, Lingerie & Magazines www.exxxoticaaduItvldoo.com - ----- i MILTONr --------- FREE X"X 42 Bronte St. S. - 905-693-8509 1 4I E MOVIE RENTAL $ 0 F I WHEN YOU SIGN -UP BURLINGTON *'WITH iUCHS frEENEW 596 Plains Rd. 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