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18S-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, January 28, 2003 Merchants now in sole possession of first By STEVE LeBLANC The Western Conterence penthouse is now the sole property of Milton. The Merchants nudged past co-leader Hamilton over the weekend - due in equal parts to their home-and-homc sweep of Mississauga and Oakville's overtime victory against the Becs Friday. Despite havmng moved mnto the number one spot with jut a wcek to go before the playoffs, Milton will in ail likclihood stili have to secure as least one poins - through cither a win, tie or overtime loss - during Monday's regular-seaton cndmng clash as Mountain Mena in order to lock up ftrst place. Top spot in thc Westsescms particularly benefi- cial this season. Is nos only offert home-ice advantage through- nus the division playdowns, but will alto allow the Merchants or Becs to avoid a potentially gruelmng second-round series against the Georgctown Raiders - who if they dons rcach thecfinals will as least sofien up thc teamn that doca. flred of Empy Promises and~ Euupty Tanks? With 20 Yers xper*ue, we KswW Wbat Customer Serice Mums 2lb You AUTOMATIC DELIVEY OF FURNACE & STOVE OIL SERVING HALTON & PEEL REGIONS ive us a caîl today... Experieuoe tbe d~fference! JOHNSTON PE'rROLEUMS Iudependat Suplier of Quality Sheil Furnace <>1, Steve (Ml, Gasline & Diesel Fuels 600OHarrop Drive, Milton, Ontarlo (905) 878-4188 888-284-9937 top-ranked team as Mississauga's Iceland Arena Sunday cvenmng -when in front of a sparte crowdÀ they dismantled the Chargcrs 8-1. A 4-for-4 powerplay campaign highlighted the lightning-quick hour-and-and-half contest, as did a one-goal, four-assistscfort by Rich Mloche - who is now just three points thy of joining team- mate Brad Efthimiou in the century club. Efthimiou alto stood out with two goals and a pair of helpers, while Milton't oUicr marksmcn were Wes Clark, Jamcs Duhamel, Rob Ricci, Arthur Sawa and Ryan Silveira. While the Merchants didn't dominatc in the thots-on-goal department - like they have pretty much ail season - they fired on ail cylinders for mots of the nighs and exhibited plenty of creativi- \'Nfisisat- lU0iteicd a niucli tiltul ,.iiIeflge i1W nightt carlier as Memorial Arena - where in front of more respectable fan base they kept themselves within striking distance thc whole way before los- ing 5-2. Milton's recently established second line fueled the victory with four goals. Clark amassed four assisss, while Vic Oretkovich and Scott Ransom added three points apiece. B.J. Gallant potted goal numnber two, bis second of Uic scason. Cody Spicer worked botb games to push bis sea- son win total to 27. Merchant notes: Milton bas five players with 25 or more goals this season and will likely finish Uic year with four players over the 75-point mark .The Merchants could bit the 40-win plateau this weekend with wins over Buffalo Friday night and Brampton Sunday aftemoon. A 40-wint-or-more bas been achieved only swo other times in fran- chise history ... Sunday aftemoon't gaine is fan appreciasion day. Gaine time is 3 p.m. ROR.s.p EALN The R.R.S.P. Advantages offered by Bob Lee & Kim Mitchell A Retrement Financlal Speclallet office wlth 28 years of experlence and the coffée.' neyer been betterl " Secu rttyfof investments Up to (0%und guarantees) " com1petiie segreated and mutual funde (ic wlth MnSIl)l " Competitive Q.I.C. lnteoest rates " Personalized ongoing consultations " RARS.P lbans availabie with deferred payments " Appointments available Saturcdays beglrinlng ln February For More Inftormaton Please Contact Us At: Robert (Pie) Lee Insurance Agency gl -' t mm -MM-tàe IvYOI 0100100 ee"=l4Vp e2" -)oý 7«.- mt«4we41 245 Commemlal t Milton,, Ontaro. LOT 2J3 Fax: L fl878-36« lnuwsnce.oom Merc hant ail-stars deliver strong showing The Merchants' ail-stars would have been more than happy to tic one on - and camse within a minute of doing so in Georgetowns Wednesday evening. in front of moretha a thousand spectators at jam-packed Ciodon Alcott Meinorial Mrena, Milton's North/West representatives f4ctored hcavily into a late-nigisi reversai of fortune tisas wipcd out a dhree-goal cushions for the opposing Soutis/East ail-stars. Rick Janco- in bis second straight ail-star appearasice - deliv- ered a beautiful blueline takeaway and picturesque feed to Hamilton's Josb Soares, who put bis ide witbin a goal midway tirough the tliird peri- od. Then Rich Meloche made Uic mi- fiai shos that was converted by Oakviile's Rob Tarantino to square things up as 4-4 with under six min- utes remaining. Heartbreaking finish Meanwhilc, Cody Spicer tumned back South/East snipers 10 consecu- tive limes tlu slow for Uic comceback. Unfortunately, bis bid for a third- pcriud shutout feul just short - as a defensive breadown wiUi 45 sec- onds lefs afforded Brian Inhacek of St. Michael's Uic opportunity to bury a doorstep backband and thus over- shadow the North/West's late-game efforts. Janco also represented bis teant in Uic hardest shot competition and aftcr about eighs tries - due to a tem- porarily malfunctioning tinter - reg- istered a top individual blast of 127 kilometres an hour, seven shy of win- ning shooter Anthony Minicucci of Vaughan. Soares and Wcxford's Luciano Aquino were Uic only two players su record multi-point efforts on Uic niglit. They were named MVPs for Uieir respective teants. The Merchants were also repre- scnted by recentiy acquired aniper Brad Efthimiou, who jus three days carlier in Burlington broke-tise 100- point plateau. Former Milton coachs Marty Wiliamson, now with Aurora, was bchind thse bencis for the North/tWest squad. Milton's four 2002103 ail- stars matched a franchise record, ses back in 1997/98 when local siblings Darren and Jef Haydar, Mark McPhail snd Jeremy Wenzel repre- sented tise teain. Janco and McPhail are thse only local defenceman two make back-to- back ail-star appearances since tise league jsssped to lier 2 Jr. A. See more local sports page 22. MIG Wvelding Ma'dchine uz e h u le-nsole cnecton and a steondarspieIelieIr .4 k (lb e spoee* Air Liquide 310A Steeles Ave, Milton .905-6931211 While quantities last. Particlpating locations only. ~~QUIDE ~~ Induutrln al ...wwailqid.o WaIdIng productswwailqid.o &ýAIR ýLI(QlUIDE r