The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

SPORTSW Haydar's Admirais - ousted by Houston Early playoff exit unusual for Mini By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Darren (Mini) Haydar's first year of professional hockey included 88 games - the second Most in a single season for the local star. But for one used so reaching the NCAA's Frozen Four and playing in Jr. A league championships before that, the 2002/03 campaign ended far too soon. Haydar's AHL Milwaukee Admirais were ousted by the Houston Aeros in the Western Conference quarserfrnals. The second-round sweep, capped witb Saturday's 3-2 Ioss as the Bradley Centre, marked the electrifying winger's quickest playoff exit in - well, ever. "In a way it's been a long season, but we stili should be playing," said Milton's NHL hopeful, who picked up one Iast assist in the series-clinching defeat - bis fourth point ini half-a-dozen playoff games. -We were capable of taking is a lot further, but it just wasn't in tbe carda." While suggesting Milwaukee simply didn't get the rigbs bounices in tbe first two outings against tbe Aeros, Haydar adnsits tbat bis teamn waa clearly outplayed at home Saturday. And tbe AHL Rookie of tbe Year accepta ,Eye on the birdie Dlsop sdlg',Esi Ouoni uSd 8hiun1sahnidQIsnM.<"Mm puy ~~~M W.smÉdW GHA Mohyho chnlns IP M .C. Mi"y Melg Solo.oui. ofUCIPIOI su lSd qgChoman Ptabiy GRAHMPAIN E "You cma never allow y.ourueto be oied,or yo mIt be partial blame, stating that bis own perfomi- ance - along with tbe Admirais' collective effort - waa sub-par in game tbree. He added, "Mhe first two gamnes could have gone either way, but tbey (Houston) deserved to win that last one. They playcd a smarter game." Saturday's elimination aaide, Haydar bas to be feeling prettY good about bis smootb transition 10 tbe AHL. Picking up wbcre he left off at New Hampshire University, Milton's beas known active player quickly established himself as a point-a-gamne contributor and finisbed top-five in overail league scorrng witb 29 goals and 46 assista in 75 games. Along witb getting tbe Rookie of tbe Year nod, he was selected to tbe ail-star game and stood out witb two goals and an assiat. He also got a couple of one-gaine call-ups; to Nasbville. One could bardly have faulted Haydar if he'd been caught up in bis own success - especially when combined witb tbe fact tisat be's now being.paid to play a sport he's thrived as for so long. But the aiways-dependable sniper con- tinued to take bis exploita in stride. "You can neyer shlow yourself to be sat- isfied, or you won's be playisg for very long," stressed Haydar. "Overai I'm happy witb bow my scason wens and hopefutly is's pushed me up a bit ini the (Nashville) depth chart. But I've stili got to go down and prove myseif ail over again." Steve LeBlianc can be reached at sle- blanc@haftonsearchcom Tuesday May 13/03 at 7:30 pmn John Tonelli Arena, Community Room Corne and find out what's been happening throughout 200212003 season ALSO Elections will be held at this Urne for new Board members for the 2003/2004 season. Several Executive & Director positions are open - your help is needed _ MILTON MINOR HOCKEY Annual General Meeting DON"f MISS THE Diý"Bt'T OF OUR I ~~NowI