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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, March 22, 2005-19 steblanc@haltonsearch.com RI[ogers and Raiders clinch Western titie Milton defenceman wili be back for league semi By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Jt wasn't exactly the way Dan Rogt envisioned winning his first juni c hampionship. But after four seasons with Raiders assit absolutely no playofi success captain Dan R to speak of, the 20-year-oîd 1ý defenceman isn't about to, be picky. 'It's still really exciting,- said the former Ol-L wbo svas sidelined with a twisted ankle Saturday niý when his Georgetown Raiders toppled the Oakvi Blades 3-t at a sold out Gordon Alcott Arena to clir the Provinciat Jr. A Western Conference title in f garnies. '1'mi s0 proud ot the guys." 'Me fact that he'd neyer even made it past the f round of post-season play betore no doubt made championship that mucb ssveeter. Said the six-foot, 200-pound assistant raptain, 'Tim soaking this in big time." Wbile rnissing the last two games against Oakville, Rogers bas been a huge playott contrib- -Golden moment Milton Spulnger Undsay Brtght proudly dispimys thetWo gold medal d elarn.d on vmuit and barsen Ot tttd and final provin- cial qullffr ec.ntly In 'sossUhM a. For a rlowd phote. »e pope 91 Photo by GRAHAM PAINE utor overaîl this year - Jogging a ton of ire tiine and collecting balf-a-dozen points along tbe way. s Although recognizing that knocking off the Bae s in five games was a surprise to many, he stressed that bis Georgetown coborts stepped it up for the confer- ence finals afiter getting a legitimate round two scare from bis hometown Milton IceHawks. ,s"Our forwards or forechecked bard, u defencemen kept it simple stantand Jobn (Barrow) was otag rIt jus t unreal between tbe agor ~ ~'$ ~ pipes after coming back from menigitis." For fellow eMiltonian Daryl cbt Knowles, Saturday rep- îfle resented tbe end of a icb cbampionsbip streak tbat includ- ive ed an OHL Eastern Conference tâte win witb last year's Mississauga irst ____ lceDogs and Western Conference tbe 111111Vgold witb tbe 2002/03 Raiders. 'be Blades' second-leading scorer C eading into tbe finals -witb eigbt -goals and six assists - tbe six-foot tbree-incb. 200-pound power forward bad made a sooner-tban-expected retumn from a separated left sboulder just tbe nîgbt before in Oakville. But despite baving a number of golden opportunities around tbe net botb Friday and Saturday 20-year old Knowles just couldn't mark bis comeback on tbe scoresheet. -Yeab 1 bad a buncb of chances, but some of tbe big- ger scorers like myself just weren't finding tbe back of tbe net," said tbe long-time junior, a teammate of Rogers witb tbe 2000/O01 Raiders. -l still say we bave a better team tban Georgetown, but tbey just wanted it more. Witb Georgetown bosting next montb's Dudley Hewitt Cup and baving an automatic bertb to, tbe provincials, many experts figured tbe do-or-die pres- sure resting solely on the Blades' sboulders would be enougb for tbem to, prevail. So mucb for predictions. - see PARKER on page 21 Milton Minor Basebali Association Registration Milton Sports Centre Located ait the north entranceFI A IG S RA ON for the upcoming 2005 season FN LI~ IT A I N Saturday, March 26, 2005 from 9:30am - 2:OOpm Please bring a birth certificate if new register. Any questions please cail our hotline .. .,.o viit u onine t ww.mitonbaseallorg and download an application form. We ar is ooking for individuals hý-j t r "ýee sted in umpiring games, - - and have opportunities for individuals that are interested in cooching. This is good for communily service hours. ............................................. 1............... ....... .................