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The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 12, 2003- Bi SPORT IMike Novak vIceHawks be2in ays he'a his tiret full e er o ih season with n wya o ih the lceHawkS. ,-Novak ready for challenge By STEVE LBLANO The Champion Having cnjoyed a smail tante of Jr. Abhockey an an occanional cail-up wiUi last year's IceHawks, Miltonian Mike Novak knows fuil well Uiat size mattera. And starting tonight, be'll. look to use cvcry bit of bis own for what bie bopes wiil bc a succeasful firat full scanon wiUi bis hometown team. 'l thinit my size wiIl be a big anset, especially since we're kind of a smnalicr team," said Uic 18- year-old, who as 6'3" and 190 lbs. is Uic club's biggest bomegrown defencemnan in recens mcmtory Addcd defensive coach Tom McCarthy, "Naturally wiUi bis size, we'l look to Mike for aone gril and to do anmte police work around Uic net." Bcing Uic only local player on Uic 2003/04 IceHawka, Novak saya; be feels an added motiva- tion to give a little somcUtiing extra every nigbt - sicc for Uic irat time i several years bc'l ha comn- peting in frot of people bc's grown up wiUi. Remnarked Uic longtime Toronto Young Nats blueliner, -ITbere's deflnitely an extra incentive to play bard every gainc and nos to disappoint Uic fan." Novait han an awfuliy stiff challenge ahcad if hie bopea to meanure up - imspact wise - wiUi sucb bomctown defcnccmen an Mark McPbail and John Nadalin. But as leant one member of bis new teamn halieves Uiat's a possibilisy. "Recause of bis age ha's got anmte NCAA inter- est, but if hie wcre to stick around (for two or tbree years) ha'd dcfinitely have Uic potential to fit in with those guys," suggested assistant GM Kevin Lachance. "Mike's a very effective defenceman wbo can take guys out along Uic wail. WIUi bis reacb bie doca a good job wrapping guys up and ban sbown a wiilingness to stick up for teammates." That lait attribute wiil ha particularly important over Uic ncxt several weeks wbile blueline tougb- guy Mike Jantzi recupcrates fi'om a broken ankie. "Banically I'm an anything-for-Uie-team type of player wbo'a very responsîble in bis own end," stressed Novais, wbo turncd down a chance to join Uic OHL Sault Ste. Matie Greyhounds in order to play for bis homnetown club and pursue a university scholarsbip. Wbilc size is wiUiout question Uic Milton-breil - se LOCAL on page 82 Open with big tilt against Raiders By STEVE LOBLANC The Champion C al it a painful trend, or a trendy pain in the butt. Try an they migbt, the IceHawks just can't seem to escape September without one of their defencemen suffcring serious injury. Six blueliners in as many years have made a trip to sickbay within the firat montht of tic seanon. Mike Jantzi now joins an unfortunate fra- temnity wbose ranks'include John Nadalin, Ken Robins, Chris Rook, Chi Krieg and B.J. Gallant.Mela former Buffalo Lightniing tough-guy has thc distinction of nos even making il past exhibition play - as hie went down with a broken ankie at lant weckcnd's Vaughan Toumnamrent. Out for up to tbree months, bis voîd could be Uic biggest feit to date - sicc Uic local juniors brought him aboard to bolster their physical presence, which lant year was a definite wcakncss. "He's ccrsainly somcebody who would have addrcssed diat need," admitted heail coach/GM George Dupons. "However, there's two ways a teamn can intimidate - cither througls toughncss or speed and compctitivencess. 1 think wc probably fit Uic second part of Uiat." Jantzi's absence aside, thc newly- appointed skipper - who'll. be aided by retumcce Jcff Battah, Rob Wilson and for- mer NHLcr Tom McCarthy Uiis season - is visibly esscouragcd by bis now nearly- flnaized lincup. I particular, hie stressed, Uic IccHawks should have Uic most cffective goaltcnding tandem in Uic conférence wiUi seasoned pick-ups Kain Tisi and Jamnie Flury. "I'm not sure wc neccssarily have Uic bcst goaltendcr in Uic division, but wc've gos Uic bcst goaltcnding situation," Dupont said of bis nctmindcrs, both of wbom. have playcd more than 70 gamnes apicce at the Jr. A level. 1I think these guys are reaily gomng to push each other. We don't have an csab- lished number one goalie... we've got two.', Whilc tbey'll be bard-pressed to match last year's offensive numrbers. the 2003/04 IccH-awks may well surpass their predeces- sors in another crucial area. Explamced Battali, "I'd say wc could be even stronger on the penalty kill, especial- ly with guys like (Jon) Omnelas and (Dean) Strong back and Wcs Clark baving steppeil up his defensive efforts an of late." Led by captain Lec Swailow, Milton will look to veterans like Clark and recently- acquired Georgetown Raider Ryan Angelow to shoulder much of the offensive load. That is, at least until potential future stars e-e COACH on page B2 Gaine ie: 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Last meeting: First gamne of season Who to watch: Each playmng against their former club for the first tume since a huge pre-season trade, IceHawk Ryan Angelow and Raider Phil Sbrocchi wiil no doubt be eager to make an immediate impact and begin building on big 2002/03 campaigns. The skinny: Georgetown is an heavily stacked - or more - than laat year, but the IceHawks have a knack for winning seaaon openera, having done an the lait six years. Expect a clasaic grudge match to stars the new year. Champion's pick: Milton by a goal. LiIiOIh~'LO1uuuc1~qIIMImMoUi R!?L FALL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM Location: Bishop Redmng H.S. - Boys & Girls Tuesdays 1-1/2 1fr. Session Ages 7-10 yrs. 7:00 - 8:00 pmn Wednesdays 1- 1/2 1fr. Session Ages 11-14 yrs. 7:30 - 9:00 pmn FEES: $115.00 for first child in a fan'nly - $105.00 for each additional Dates: September 23 - December 10, 2003 Milton Youth Basketball 420 Main St. E./Suite #558 Milton, ON, L9T 5G3 For more information cail Bian Schroder: Phone: 905-876-1588 Fax: 905-875-4684 Registration night » September l6th, 2003 at 7:00 pm at Bishop Reding, High School, Outside Gyms First corne, first served basis Make cheque payable to MILTON YOUTH BASKETBALL CRUISE INWTO EÇPRINWG wlthw Our Duo EÇPECIALS A + L :(ý1: :D:Ejý Industriel gesse w.alilqUlde.com, WaIdlng produots