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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 4, 200-4-27 IceHawks earn split w" ith disjointed effort Photo by GRAHAM PAINE --Hefty hardware haut Milton iu-Jitsu students proudiy display the first-piace trophies they eamned recentiy at the Southemn Ontario Junior Sport Jiu-Jitsu Champlonshlps. Winners are (front row, front left) Scott Freer, Brandon Vandreumel, Jordan Healey, and (back row, from ieft) Malena Harman, Dan Kelsh, Alexander McNeiiiy and Jake Hetherington. Miiton Jiu-Jitsu also took eight second- place trophies and eight thirds to finish firet overail. By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Can anyone say déja vu? When the IceHawks last battled Brampton and Buffalo in succession they offered a rather disjomnted effort - and in the process got bumbleti by the dead-last Capitals before rebounding to sopple their only cross-border rivals. Just over a mont later the rebuildmgý juin jors bave relîved tbat Dr. JekylI and Mr. Hyde split, furter stifling hopest10upgrade beir rnid- pack status. While the Capitals bave been nowbere near the playoff picture this sea- son, they continue to show Milton that there's nn such shing as a gim'me win in the Western Conference. At lest flot for those content to deliver a second-rate performance, which is exactly what the IceHawks did in Brampton T1hursday night. A lost face-off and subsequent goal against with balf-a-rninule to go cost thern a 6-5 defeat, although huge defensive laps- es and a sub-par outing by Kain Tisi wcre just as rnuch 10 blame. Losing 10 the basernent dwellers was even more concemning Ibis time around, since the IceHawks have beefed up their blueline unit ini recent weeks and were juat five daya rernoved frorn an inspirmng 4-3 comeback win in Oakville. Wes Clark, Jonathan. Ornelas, Ryan Silveira and Dean Strong had a goal and an assiat each, while also denting the twine waa Julian Sanamio. Back ai home against Buffalo Friday, Milton enjoyed near perfect special-teamns play and waa fundamentally-sound overall t0 knock off the Lightnisîg 4-1. Silveira notched the team's ninth short- handed goal of the year, while hie and Ryan Angelow potted powerplay rnarkers. Meanwhile, Omelas lifted bis team leading goal total to 15 laie in the opening frame and Jamie Flury beat bis former club for the third consecutive time with a credible 27-save effort - which was highlighted by a penalty shot denial. Now 12-8, the IceHawks begin another tough part of their achedule at borne agans Burlington Friday evenmng. Sunday afternoon they host Oakville and then bead to Georgetown Novemnber Il 10 face the undefeated Raiders. Steve LeBlanc can be reached at sie- blanc@haltonsearch.com. .Midgets rally to tie Rob Morrow scored at 1-43 Ieft to ive Met s AAùte aWs4- dbyko}Itiit andala Cting BC1âtaping 6kw Sonsoo amsws o0 the mquch=-ned aodc c»-pdeair- l aAusti ~effort oer el -'Hometown rookie deait to Wexford Novak's departure leaves IceHawks with no local players By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion And then there were none - again. For the second lime in as rnany years, Milton's Jr. A hockey club fmnds itself with- nul a hometown player - since last week's departure of Mike Novak. Unhappy with bis ice lime in recent weeks, thse 1 8-year-old defenceman requested a trade around mid-October and was officially dealt te, thse Southeen Conference's Wexford Raiders Thursday. 11 don't think 1 really got a chance to prove myseif here (Milton), but there's o bard feelings. It's jual a belter situation for me in Wexford," said 61%' 190 lbs. Novak, Who for one reason or another didn't live up 10. pre-seasott expectations and was a heallhy scratch tlue limes with Ibis year's IceHawks, including duiing a pivolal road trip to Oakville October 25. While the recent addition of sizable vet- cranblueliners Matthew French and Chis "l'i going to MWs the giys, but it was time to cuit Miy losses andi tae a freh stairt." Cloutier further rninimized bis value in Milton, Novak just didrt't seem lo be build- ing on last year's role as a solid Spot duty call-up. "Mike was having a rough time adapting 10 our system. 1 think he's going 10 be a gond player, but hie juat waan't fit- ting in here," said assistant general manag- er Kevmn Lachance. Added head coach/GM George Dupont, -He saw himseif as- a top-tbiee defence- man, and maybe 1we will 1w on anotlwr team - just flot here right now." Recording four assists and 29 penalty minutes in 15 gamnea with the IceHawks, Novak expressed tome disappointment about parting ways with bis hometown club - especially since be's been a long- tirne teammate of a few of the other rook- ics at the AAA rep level. But in the end, he said, the move is for the best. "l'm going 10 miss the guys, but il was lime 10 cul my losses and make a fresh stani, he adrnitted. "l'm ready for a new challenge." Novak's departure means the IceHawks are likely 10 finish annîher season without a local performer - a notion that's flot exactly relished by anynne assnciatcd with thse teain. But Lachance is quick to point out tIsaI in recent years, a number of tapir- ing area juniors have passed on the oppor- tunity to try nut with their hometown club. Only three local players - including Novak - attended titis year's main camp. Meanwhile, the IceHawks are alan look- ing 10 move forwards David Hammond, Shane Mohr and Ty~ler Sgro - none of whom are currently competing. Seasoned defenceman Mike Jantzi still fits mbt their plans - even wilh the addi- tions of French and Cloutier - aithough hie isn't expected back from a broken ankle injury until sometime nexl month. Steve LeBlanc can be reached at sie- blanc@haltonsearch.comf. HatoI rci.o I uGIal4te, la Th.mpon Bd., Unit 7&8, Milton 5PUMQm ýÂ loth .&nniver@ur-y ÇuJe*J,ý XL2000 Balis aof kmk 17Dozen Bel a