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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 21, 2003- 19 Merchants take bite out of visiting Hounds By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Fans at Memorial Arena Thursday night got a gen- uine taste serving of the wild, wild west. The west part was delivered equally by the hometown Merchanits - who just a few days earlier became a co-leader of the Provincial Jr. A League's Western Conference - and Saskatchewan's Notre Darne Hounds, Milton's most westerly opponients this year. And as for wild - weIl despite a liat jet Iag from the touring Hounds, Memorial Mrena was tranisfonned into something more closely resembling the O.K. Corral, with enougb botb-guns-blaz- ing, frce-for-all firepower to make even the Earp brothers a littie nervous. The much-anticipatcd exhibition tilt - the first of three on Notre Dame's Ontario swing - ended with an 8-6 decision for the division-leading Merchants. The highly-entertaining clash attracted a season-high 600-plus fans, who were drawn as much to appearances by Hockey Night in Canada's Ron MacLean and former Maple Leafs great Wendel Clark - a Notre Damne alumnus - as to Uic on-ice action. Milton 's shoot-out victory was due in large pani to a six-goal surge that began in Uic dying moments of the first pcriod - to wipe out a 3-0 Notre Darne lead. Said Hounds captain Paul Geiger, "I's a little faster here. They've (Merchants) got some really quick guys, and wiUiout the red line you've always got to be watching the guy behind you." Echoing those sentiments was visiting head coach Rene Lemire. "This (shoot-out) was very uncharacteristic for us. 1 don't thirsk we've given up this many goals in a game ail season," Notre Dame's bench boss remarked. "Milton really took off on us in Uic second there." Fourteen different players lit the lamp in the explosive seesaw battle, which was highlighted by a shorthanded breakaway deposit from standout Merchant Scott Ransom - who along wiUi Rick Janco topped Uic scoring with a goal and two assists apicce. The Merchants were physically outmatched against their Saskatchewan focs, but showed a litile more spark overall and worked the big outlet pass to full advantage. "It was great to play with Uiat type of atmosphere (near capaci- The Merchants' much-anticlpated exhibition ty crowd). We came out a littlc slow, but overali 1 think we showed clash wlth Saskatchewan's Notre Dame Hounda we can play with top teama in other leagues," said Vic Oreskovich, featured plenty .of on-ice action as welI as an one of eigbt scorers for Milton Thursday. appearances by Hockey Nlght in Canadas Ron Also denting Uic twine for Uic Merchants were Wes Clark, Macean and tormer Maple Lens great Wendel James Duhamel, Brad Efthimiou, Ryan Silveira and Rob Ricci - Clark. Aboya, tme ex-NHL autographe the running who ignited Uic tumaround at 18:49 of Uic first by burying a widc- shoe of 1 -month-old Alex Kllllngbeck. At top angle rcbound. Cody Spicer dclivered Uic lion's share of Uic goal- right, Marchant Scott Ransom celebrates his tcnding, while rookie Alex Evans worked Uic last 17.19 minutes to shorthanded goal in the second perlod while Ve put Uic fmishing touches on Uic victory - stopping al cight shots >-* ~ Oreskovlch (centre) baffles In front of the Hounda' fired his way aftcr Uic hosta drew witbin a goal.ne.tritMfo'RchMlceaglswt Thursday's comcback victory plus an 11-3 blowouî over ja n en t Md Not'sre Dameplayer Ingone 0fthe Brampton Uic following night pusbcd the Merchants' bome-ice night's rougher moments. win streak to 18. Overail, Milton is 22-1 at Memorial Mrena this season. Photos by GRAHAM PAINE MILTON VS MISSISSAUGA fridayir January 924 @ 07:SOpm Came at Mémorial Arena - Thompsonq Road Mgocusin on . -401- sOur Shoot to STErEAS. FORD LINCOLWNN %ýJ"W Imm* a