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The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 29, 2003-27 o ~ ~ '1,' f i -~ t' 'Y/I IÇ Il I -, 3 ~4l i New arena nearing completion Construction on Miltons new arena - seen here through an artists conception - is just slightly behind sched- ule heading into the holiday weekend. Hockey and skating groups are expected to assume occupancy of the two- pad arena by the start of October. The Milton Sports Centre also includes three meeting rooms, a banquet hall and gymnastics facilities. Among those using the new arena wilI be Milton Minor Hockey, the AAA Halton Hurricanes and the new girls hockey program, which will be aff iliated with the nearby Halton His Twisters. Forgione targets ECHL club IceHawks owner looks to expand his hockey stable By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion So what's next for Mario Forgione? Well, now that be owns teamns at the lwo bigbest levels of Canadian junior hockey - including the Tier 2 Jr. A Milton IceHawks - the next logical step would be acquiring a semni-pro franchise. And the auto parts manufacturing mag- nate says that's exactly wbere his interests lie these days. While he hasn't abandoned hopes of tak- ing over the financially-ailing Toronto Argonauts, Forgione revealed earlier this week that is sports/ensersainmnent consor- tium 's attention is currently directed at a couple of Amnerican-based semni-pro clubs - with the most viable option residing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). "Our chances are 50/50 for acquiring a team this hockey season. I'd say within two years we'iI definitely be in the ECHL." MAM 0FOIGIOM "Our chances are 50/50 for acquiring a teamn this hockey season,' he suggested, while keeping tight-lipped about the spe- cific organizations being targeted. "I'd say within two years we'll definitely be in the ECHL." Forgione began building bis hockey empire in the spring of 2001, when he bought the then Milton Merchants from longtime owner Brad Grant. Acquisition number two came this past spring in the form of the Mississauga IceDogs. The hockey enthusiast stresses that he has no plans to selI either seamn, regardless of bis possible future involvement in the ECHL or CFL. Regarding efforts to buy the Argos. Forgione said bis management team is still dcveloping its purcbasing strategy and that there's no rush or urgency on bis pars - espccially with autumn approacbîng and bis interests sbifsing back 10 Canada's favourite pastime. 'We're not in a big bunry. lIts not a mat- ter ot acquisition at aIl costs." The lceDogs takeover, he satd. bas gone quite smoothly so far and that wbile there's as yet no officiai affiliation between bis two hockey stable-mates, the IceHawks sbould benefit from the ownership connec- tion. Added Forgione, "Tbings bave been gomng welI. I think we've been doing a good job grooming people on the manage- ment side of tbings." Forgione 's IceHawks play an inter-squad game tonigbt and kick off the regular sea- son at home against Georgetown September 12. Stes'e LeBlanc can be reached at aie- blancý@haltonsearcýh.com. Sr. Sox aim for Ontarj*o three-peat Be gin provin cia/s tonight By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion C' an the Senior Red Sox pull off a provincial Tic a oss t hai question si! heetotaking shapc tonigbt. \ss nn the\ -.îîîîrc sto'fif îi(ooî itn round uic oi the cluh. u i s iiitri 1 .' irn1 siiion riip'. sîiL i. c l Isit; I.i. h u Cb.de .Icîi ovcr toc p;î i iO solhniet .11 snodoi uht nun-rx to koý-P ibat title mli .1.l Whiu iC csi col slor, tIMMLcithas hfid a Jlutlsomel1iii udifiet- cnt irom thec ast- as Ibis sseeckcods showscase is sur ýi do - manaser (icor2e Moore says s ilio's one underlying thcrne that links ail ex cols eni Iis ma2nîtudc. lits alssavs a marathon.' siressod the local seniors' skipper. "There*s a loi ol hall to play. The key s it you can gel on a good run. The Red Sox hcad loto thu nine-[eam loumameni ssîti nearly a full complement. mîssing only work-committed veteran Nick Aalbers plus oewcomers Andrew (noe and Murray Lo"eîî. Stalwart Mati McCandless. a siandout at the lasî two champi- onsbip drives, remains questionable ssith a recently-susîaînedi groin injury. Available toe01ithe gaps are a few junior call-ups, the most capable of wbom these days is solidi slugger Jordan Jeans. Meanwhilc. Milton bas ail haît-dozen ot its pitchers ready to go - includiog reliable workborses Adam Fînkbeiner, Josb Camipbell and Ian Zetîle. If victonious in round one. the Red Sox will hailte the winner of the North Woodslee-Oakvîlle clasht. They've beaten boîh teams thîs year. Among other opponents standing in their way is two-time Ontanio 'Bchampion Kendal. Moore cxpects many of the clubs in Courtwright to be more sea- soned than bis own. However. wbeîî is comes to igb-stakes expe- nience, Kendal might be the only team that measures up to Milton. 1I tbink we match up well with anybody and bave a very good chance," he said. 'We're definisely going down there with the intention of winning it. The key isste ges enough bits to go with our defense and pitching." Another determining factor will be Miton's ability to put a radier ego-bruising first-round COBA playoff loss to Erindale behind them. Remarked Moore, 1I think we've wiped that out. We just gos caugbt napping (agamnst Erindale), but we're ready to go now." Ontario 'B3'gold would be a suitable conclusion to a Senior Red Sox seasuli that bas already been marked with the teamn's first wmn- ning record ini league play since 19810. The provincials run througb until eitber Sunday or Monday, depending on the weatber. Steve LeBianc cao be reached at .leblanc@haltonsearch.com. 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