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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 25, 2003- 19 SPORT l S Le t Photo by GRAH-AM PAINE Milton 'A' midget Phil FIey (wth arma out-atretched) celebrates Noie Coutrouzas' second-pelod goal whlle (inset right) Ian Komnack takes down a Tecumseh opponent during game two Sunday at Memonial Arena. Milton won 4»1 to take a three-polnts- - to-anserles Iead. r ' iclgets within sight of OMHA titie By STEVE LBLANC The Champion Anon-stop parade to the sin- bin this past weekend did lit- tde to impede the Milton A midgets' ongoing march toward OMHA gold. Despite playing more than haif of their two- gaine home stand shorthanded, the Action Utility Winterhawks alowed visiting Tecumseh only one powerplay goal and collected three of four possible points to draw within striking distance of the titie. Now halfway towards overali victory in the six-point championship series heading to Tecumseh Friday, Milton was quite undisci- plined tbrough spans of both gaines - and did- n't get any slack from the referee at others. But the chainpionship contenders seemed to feed off the obstacle - particularly during an il-minute penalty to Derek Blanchard in the series opener Saturday night. Winterhawk penalty killers held their oppo- nents to one measly deposit during that pro- longed stretch, after Blanchard went absolutely berserk on a visiting forward late in the second period andi got hiinself ousted for the balance of theweekend. Couplefi with an exceptional- effort frorn goal- tender Tim Johnston, Miltons near-perfect penalty kill waa enough to ensuit a 1-1 tie - that was alinost Iooked upon as a victory, at least of the moral variety. "I thin]c giving up juat one goal during that Il minutes was more of a confidence boost to us than it was to thern," said head coach Chris Brennan, who described weekend officiating as highly inconsistent. "I think we've got themr frus- trated now." The latter comment refers more to gaine two Sunday evening, when the Winterhawks were assessed 34 penalty minutes - coming within a minor infraction of sidelining Brennan for gaine time - yet managed to prevail 4-1. 'We've got al the confidence now that we can beat these guys,' ifltons bench boss added. Johnston offered another topnotch perform- ance and got a little more offensive support - particuîarly froin Dan Lynch, who set up captain Kyle Strong for the first goal and then scored hiinself on a doorstep deposit to make it 2-0. NoIe Coutrouzas and Harley Mouscos wouîd sink second and third-perind bullets to help cement the win, while Tecumseh was effectively neutralized for pretty much all of their power- play time. Assists went to Nic Cashinore, Phi] Foley, Ian Komack, Brett Taylor and Chris Whiting. Saturday night it was Lynch making the lone deposit eight minutes into the gaine. Mouscns set him up with a dynamite back pass made on bis knees. Johnston turned back close to four dozen shots in the series opener, including ine in a 'O-minute sudden death session that solved nothing. Milton now needs a win and a tie to clinch the OMHA titîe. Gaines three and four wiil be played in Tecumseh Friday night and Saturday afteinoon. If necessary, gaine five wilI be played at Memorial Arena Sunday at 8 p.m. Resides missing Blanchard for most of the weekend, the local midgets were also without Tim Anderson, who's out with a' concussion. Steve LeBlanc can be reached at f hamks to: our fams, volumteers, local business supporters, the Merchamts' staff and our falemted players for a terrifie year. See you mext Seasom!