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The Canadian Champion Friday, October 29, 2004-23 -ports @1Wnc0haltonsearch.com /The Price is right for IceHawks Rookie enjoying strong start with hometown club Photos by GRAHAM PAINE Seen liera in action againat Oakville and (inset riglit) in a more relaxed mtate, native Miltonian Mati Price lias been qulte impresaîve In has jump ta Jr. A hockey. 'Hawks turn back Buffalo Exîending tbeir unheaten streak 10 four gamnes across the border Monday nigbt, the lceHawks amassed four second-period goals toi sink Buffalo 6-I. Half-a-dozen different Milton players lit the lump. witb recently-acquired Andrew Dias recording bis tbird multi-point game inside a week witb a goal and two belpers. Back-up tender Parker Van Buskirk was between the ptpes and bas n0w given up just ne goal in 84:50 min- utes over two gaines. Milton struck twice witb tbe man-advantage an4 didn't really encounter the rougb play Ibat's tradition ally corne witb trips tu Buffalo. Monday marked tb ftrst tinte in Il games that team scoring leader Sbando Alphonso failed to gel at least a point. Now 12-5-I and in fourtb place in tbe Wester Conference -just a point bebind third-plac Hamsilton - the lceHawks are off tonigbt but bost special exhbition tilt witb St. Michbacîs tomorro, evening aI Memonial Arena. Game lime is 7:30 p.m. By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion F inally, a homegrown suc- cess Story. For the most part, Multon's Jr. A laithful have heen deprived of this since delensive stalwart John Nadalin wrapped up a cham- pionship-rich tenure in 2001. Enter rookie Mont Nrie- who barring any unforeseen circumstances wili ho tbe first native Miltontan in îhre years to play an entire season for the local juniors. However. that's litely to he the least of lts accomplisb- monts during a 2004/015 campaign that's already got fans and oppontents alike sitting up and taking notice. "Hsexceeded my expectations of himt and rigbt now is a clear cut favourite for Rookie-of-tbc-Year in the West," said IceHawks asststant general manager Kevin Lachance, wbo's been high on Price since bis ban- tamt days. Added team scor- ing leader Sbandor Alpbonso, 'Mant's been doing great - really making an impact early. 1 don't think you could ask for mucb more ouI of bim." That last remaek refers largely te0 a Point- a-gome pace tbat continued witb a goal and an assist in Monday's 6-t sictory over Buffalo. Currently second tn team scoring wtth stx goals and 13 belpers in 18 games and sinting at an equally-impressive + 11 - Price bas been about as consistent as aný Western Conference 16-yeae-old in recen: J memory. witb bis longest offensivt -drougbt lasting a mnere two games. o 'Scoring tbose îwo goals in the bomi er opener was a big boost," said tbe NCA/ Division I -bound centre, wbo's exception n ally quick and reads tbe play as well as an: e bometown forward since Jr. A star turne a NHL bopeful Darren Hayda. "Il alway ox belps te, get it donc rigbl off the bat." And baving other bigbly-gifted fresbma hurt cubher. He noted. "I think there's some beatthy competition among us. We push each other. What's parttcularly encouragtng about Price is that a good chunk of is production bas corne against the West's 'Big Three'. He counted lwo assists -including a ntlty set-up on Jason Dopaco's overtime winner in a huge 4-3 decision over Georgetown September 24. and notched a potential third-period min- ~ner in a beartbreaking 6-4 loss t0 SOakville October 17. "Matt's relentless and bas really shown up in the big games. Some of the veterans can leam fromn bim," remarked head coacblgeneral man- ager G eorge Althougb Price has been impress- ing bis new coach- ing staff since day one, a weekend of back-to-back over- lime victortes laite last month spoke volumes about their faitb in bila. T'he former Oakville Rangers AAA star saw îwo shifts in botb sudden deatb dcci- sins and has been out for plcnty of key sit- uations ever since. -That was kind of an eye opener. You don't always gel a lot of fecdback from coaches, but that kind of showed the confidence tbey've got in me. Il feit pretty good." Noted Lachance. -Witb Matts speed he's really suited te, the four-on-four play of overtime, and witb bis carly-season pro- > duction il's really ot that surprising George would trust himn out there in those crnuil situations.' Already being courted by several top Division 1 scbools for 2006/07 play, the I ltb grader is visiting Boston College î oday and will cbeck out the University of s Michtgan next weekend. He expecîs to, bave a dectsion made on bis posî-second- n ary schooling within the next month or so. Getting the flu shot has neyer been more important. Or easier. We've ail seen what can happen when serious înfectîous dîseuses învade our society. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is an infectinus diseuse that cornes with new strains every year, some more deadly (han others. But unlike somte other infectious diseuses, the flu is largely preventable. Just get your free flu shot. It's neyer been eusier. Or more important. See your doctor, local pharrnacist, employer or cail for a clinfic near you. 1-866-FLU-'N-YOU TTY 1-800-387-5559 www.healtt.gov.ofl.Ca Let's Beat the Flu! @Ontario