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24-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, June 8, 2004 Maraderskick off season wi*th shutoutwi Rocky season continues for Mavs By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Mavericks' Iatest defeat could be seen as both unacceptable and understandable. Cougbing up a five-goal Iead against Uic offensively- cballenged London Blue Devils inside Uic final 14 minutes of regulation- and eventuaily losing in overtimne - wasn't exaclly looked uponI favourahly by Uiose aI John Tonelli Sports Centre Friday night. Many would argue Uiat Uere was sixnply no excuse for Uic late - and complete - collapse, wbich dropped tise hosts to 2-Il. However, Uere are oUsera who'd contend Uiat Uic loss could bardly be considered surprising. Afterall, Uic Mavericks have been realisticaily out of Uic playoff piclure for weeks now. And with Uic recent firesale of top snipers Kyle Goertz, Ion Sweetland and Paul Pedulla, Ueir already meager scoring punch bas heen alI but wiped out. Milton very much resembled a tean wiUi little left 10 play for I down Uic stretch FFnday - bcing outscored 7-2 in Uic Uird peniod and then eclipsed in Uic extra session. In serious ireat of finish- ing wiUi Ueir worat record in franchise bisîory, Uic Mavericks gave up three straigist powerplay goals bo London aI cmunch lune en route to being trimmed. Blue Devil Brent Yosî led wiUi seven goals, includ- ing the game winner about four minutes into over- lime. For Milton, Mike Novak delivered a bat- trick whiîe ncwly-arriving rookie Wýler Pelîzer -acquired along wi cash from Oakville for Sweetland and Pedulla - showed strongly wiUi a goal and two assists. Friday's loss came wiUiout Uic services of head , coach Trevor Reid, whose son James was undergoing surgery for a serious leg injury sustained in a game wiUi Uic Jr. A Orangeville NorUimen. Goertz, who's expected 10 make Uic jump 10 Jr. A ncxt season, has been sold 10 Spartan. The Mavericks begin a week of division match-ups toniglit at home againat Mimico, starting aI 8 p.m. 1-Derbys to host '06 Royal Bank Cup Miltonian David Dermo alrcady has one 'Iier 2 Jr. A national championsbip appear- ance under bis helt. But next tne he'll he running Uic show. The long-tinie hockey executive - now Streetsville's gencral manager since departing Uic Milton IceHawks last fail - confirmed late last monUi Uiat Uie Derbys bave been awarded Uie Royal Bank Cup for 2006. Streetsville was given Uic nod over Prince Albert, B.C. at Hockey Canada's annual general meeting over Uic Victoria Day Weekend in Thunder Bay - wbere among oUier Uings il was announced Uiat Uic red line will be removed from minor hockey. Tbis wiIl mark Uic first time since 1995 UsaI Ontario bas hosted Uic national show- case, and Uie first tume since 1983 Uiat it's been held wiUin Uic GTA. "It's great for Uic fans around here," said Dermo, who was part of the Milton Merchants' Royal Bank Cup trip 10 Nanaimo, B.C. in 1998. "I Uink Uic fact Uiat it (national tournament) basn't been in Ontario for a long lime certainly worked in Our favour." Dermo, Streetsvillc owner/bead coach Randy Gumbley and assistant coach John Lang made Uie presentation in Thunder Bay May 23 and were given Uic Uiumbs up Uic next day. The 2006 Royal Bank Cup will he held in early May at Uic Brampton Sports and Entcrtainment Centre, since now suitable facilities were available in Mississauga. The announicement came just eigbt days afler Marty Williamson and Gregg Carrigan - the arcbitects of Uic '98 Merchants' drive - led Uic Aurora Tigera 10 Uie Royal Bank Cup tille in Grand Prarie, Alta. Miltots's OPSAA tiuck and field coipetitor wem't qute up to par in Etàbicoýe Sawrday. Bislsop Reding's Julie antomo ansd Sahj Patel of Milton Distte were sasable tb eqaal personal besta nd subsequeaty missed the finals in ther respective events. Both placed igils. lanterne did sein tbe "tior girls long jump with a beat leap of 4.62 mettes - delivexed on ber final aUnsllpt An OFSAA altemmae lsst y= in the junior girls 400mn, sbe's Coach praises defense J l L,- By MURRAY TOWNSEND Special to The Champion For only Uhe second Uie in their history the Marauders can dlaim to be undefeated. And for Uhe first tinie ever they can dlaim a shutout - wiUi an impressive 16-O victory over the North Bay Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at Milton District High School. It was Uic second consecutive homne-opeming victory, and fea- tured a dominating performance by Use revamped Milton defense. If anyone thouglit head coach Bany Emo was exaggeratimg with his pre-season predictions for this squad, Uiey had better think again. North Bay was Uic fourUi place team last season - and Uic third bighest scor- mng - and Uiey could do next to Il 4 mw tdm nothing offensive- Iy. don't"bmk hers a uuu In "The defense was stellar," thlefl Wthat £cm 'un the enthused Emo. "I ba or<wtbr>w t gidu. don't Uink Uiere's ....................... a team in this league that can run the bail or Urow it against us. There was great penetration from Uic defensive line and Uie secondary did a great job of covering their receivers." The Maraudera were led by Jason Nunez, who had two inter- ceptions, a fumble recovery, and over 100 yards in punt return yardage, includmng a 50-yarder. Nunez - who joined Uic Maraudera juat a couple weeks ago, after Uic Mississauga Wolverines folded - was modest about bis contributions. "It's a tribute to Uic defense. Everybody else was doing their job, so Uiey had nowhere to irow." Yeah, but two interceptions and almnost a Uird? 1I was just lucky." Upon further review, Nunez may get lucky, but it's not on Uie football field. He was Uie league's MVP last year and led Uic league ini interceptions. If he's not Uic NFC defensive player of Uic week, Mean Joe Greene has joined Uic Oakviile Longhorns. "We' re just getting used to each oUier," added Nunez. "We're going to gel better." Offensively, Uie Maraudera marched Uic length of Uic field on their first possession, led by fiery quarterback Domenic Camnastro. Greasing bis way irough for good gains was Steve Lubin, one of Uic league's top nishera last season. Camastro also hooked up on passing pîsys wiUi Andy Taylor and ail-star Crispin Bancs, who hauled in a great one-handed catch at Uie four-yard line. An unsportsmanlike penalty moved Uic team back and Uiey had to seutle for a field goal by Len Watins - bis first of three on Uie day. "Penalties are Uic only negative," sald Emo. "We took our- selves out of field position and had 10 seule for field goals, oUier- wise it could bave been 35-0. Some of Usat is expected early in Uie season.1 T"Me touchdown drive had a couple ground gains and a pass to Lubin, but il was a decision lo go on fourth and a couple yards Uiat was Uic key, wiUi Camastro tinding Taylor open for Uic first down. That led 10 Uic debut of wbo Uic team. bas dubbed "Tie Nigenian Nightmare", Tony Okorodudu - an excbange student from Nigeria who zipped in wiUi Uic touchdown. Later, hie used bis speed t0 break off anoUier good gainer. The running back position is almost ridiculous in its depth. Playing sparingly because of an injury was Jon Nedeîjkovic, a Uree-tinie ail-star and last year's leading rusher, also over frm Mississauga, and former CFLer Mike Mailot. Is fact, Uiere were up to eight polential starters not in Uic ineup, according 10 Emo, due to injuries or because Usey bad missed Uic previous practice. Mayor Gord Krantz kicked off the season for Uie Maraudera and FaUier Mark Curtis belted out Uic national anUsem. Then Uic Maraudera took over Uic game - something Uiey appear capable of doing more often tbis year. Milton travels t0 Oshawa Saturday evening 10 take on last year's league semnifmnalists. BR's- flxs provincil qualifier ln two yeat& Meanwhile, Patel wun't quit. able to equal dt 1.65m hlgh jump he manaed to qualify for OFSAA - setling for 1.6Omaon his second tzy amotsg tise oidget boys. T/irack duo struggle at OFSAA