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24-The Canadian Champion, Friday, Febnuary 6, 2004 ;Soorts Nbseach.cm IceHawks kick off playoff run tonight PffloDy Çm55,f PHAMlINE AUl wranllpped up E.C. Drury's Jesse Ronan (Iocked Up) finds hinmeIf ln s too-close-for-comfort situation wlth Clyton Sereres of the NWO wrestling club Sunday mornlng, during a 60-kilogramn match at the Ontario Junior Champlonehipe at ECD. Ronan bat the match and placed slxth overali, as dld fielbow Spartan Matt Knock. Kevin Tyrer alec represented ECD and went 1-2 on the day. Milton's chances difficuit to cali By STEVE LOBLANC The Champion Predictimg the IceHawks' post-season success is especially challenging tIs season. Aflerail, there's as many reasons toi doubt a lengthy mun as believe in one. Possibly the biggest strike against Milton's juniors- who begin the play- offs against Miasissauga tonight at Memorial Arena - is that they'll be Gm e without head coach Gae Fe6 George Dupont for Gain 2 Feb 7 the entire first-round, Gaine 3 TBA and beyond. -Gaie 4 Feb Il3 He still has 11 -an 5 Fb1 gamnes oemaining on -Gie6 Fb1 his 16-game suspen- ifin e1 sion, which was pun- -i ishment for thse team's early-season hazing rituais. Naysayers wiII also point to tIse fact that the 32-15-02 IceHawsek have very few playoff-seasoned individuals - ai least as tIse junior level - sehile some feel that they still don't measure up physically with potential upper-crust opponients like Georgetown and Oakville. And Isaving tinished fouats tis season, Milton almost certainily won't have home- ice advantage beyond dse opening; round - another point in enieis' favour. But then an equally encouraging playoff pictwre could be painted as well - espe- cially since the IceHawks have heen arguably Use most-improved team tlsis ses- son, and Use Isottest in the second-half . Since mid-November, Milton has lost just four limes (excluding protested I defeats) and only twice with recently- acquired OHL graduate Thomas Lee between the pipes. And now that former Bramalea Blues Brett Robinson and Adam Pileggi are on board, the IceHawks appear toi have the offensive depth needed to compete with any team in the West. Confidence sbould be another key asset, since they've beaten every potential play- off opponient in the conference - includ- ing top-seated Georgetown - at least twice this season. But ahove ail the positives, ai least accordmng to assis- tant general manager Kevmn Lachance, is the IceHawks' sheer effort - something that's certainly heen ait M emio ri a (7:30 p. m. up to Par over the ai Mississauga (7:30) st two or three ai Memonial (7:30) montha. ai Missîssauga (8:00) "Bottom line is ai Memorial (7:30) this tearo works ai Mississauga (8:00) hr. Wr kill penal- ai Memnonal (8:00) ties and do other lit- essary due things weIl. If you outwork teamai, you can beat them," stressed Lachance. Milton heads into the playoffa; with a couple of West Conference award wmnners, announced earlier this week. Sophomore Jonathan Omnelas was named Most Improved Player, having more than tripled his 2002/03 numbers with 35 goals and 32 assists in 48 gamnes this season. The RPI-pound winger got the nod over former teammate James Duhamel, who really camne into his own with Mississauga this year. Meanwhile, Matlhew French took Defencemnan of the Year honours. 'Me cor- nerstone of Milton's bluelmne since coming on board in Oclober, hie recorded 19 goals and 20 assists i 39 games - while play- ing a huge role in the team's defensive progress tlirough the second half.