cjt rjcnt 4 ripmistsfiaxs js b from page 1 aeatfpaiideatoroto it f vit- u3rits j a j rt in th ftnrf thsonk wtmww tin in ftismm watrhinv i djmjamm nxl kftlk nlaifcffc ittfi rb xrvr vbut jn the end joseph who grew up in sharon watching oh his right eyebrowina separate incident c f affranchise that had mostlybefuddled its fans for returning to the maple leafs this past seascmks a free than three decades r agent and inking a twoyear plus an optiotfcontract thomas obyiously rtwas a great decision and worked out great- said this season was by far the most enjoyable iri his profes saidjosephqesdayr the mofningafter the leafs were dis- sional career which has included stops with thechicago missed fronvstanley oipdutat hanflspf the buffalo blackhawks new york islanders and new jerseydevilsr this was the most fun ive everjhad in hockey i cant say enough about the group ofguys the guys bent over backwards for each other y j v jft joseph made great decision sthe genralcpifeeisus rigjit ijbwjs that are excited again about the leafs in this city stevethomas t seriously hurt shoulder before buffalo series jvi j ip- i rbuhd of the playoffsthje plfier jteahis interested in signing joepn missed the playoffs altbgemer v c joseph meanwhile received the lions share of credit forjeadlng the toronto franchise to ethirdbest record iri the eastern conference and a berthin thesemifinals you have to believefthe leafs have received their moneys worth so far thats definitely an easy question said kris kmg josephs regular carpool partner s during the season curtis everyone knew what kind6f goalie he was to play against but uritilybu see him practise and in games you arent two consecutive seasons suffice to sayithetdrohto maple leafs gotthe best of the jv4 vi vv greumesfreegeht immmlwtaxoxun on the day joseph signed a 24miuion contract to tend f ver looked t he d jj believed this was net for the leafs some observers felt he had settled for the come to i hate to lose i s not anice feeling look- reauysure consolation prize since the leafs had missed thtf playoffs for m e and seeing buffalo celebrating but you just established our identity as an offensive team when a ncpnl hopetocaptoeitandrememberfornextseason goahe can bail you out as many times as he did it makes a dif- save for the flyers whom the leafs eliminated in the first fe the fact is joseph along with a number of other factors including the offseason acquisition of head coach pat quinn and player additions such as bryan berard and steve thomas shot the leafs back to respectability in a city that loves its hockey team but has been spumed so many times the trick now of course is ensuring the franchise contin ues to move in that direction we came a long way and turned a lot of heads agreed joseph definitely the bar has been raised and expectations will be high well be thinking stanley cup right off the start of training camp a terrific regular season followed by a successful playoff run the closing of fabled maple leafs gardens and the dawn of a new era at the air canada centre are solid cornerstones for the franchise heading into the nextmillennium the general consensus right now is that people are excit ed again about the leafs in this city said joseph it was a great year to be a leaf thats for sure put a classified advertisement to work for you of 2944331 economist sun stouffville tribune palmer sbros fr heating 3 rair conditioning t- installation 905 4707563 stouffville tribune c a yourbes v youre invited to gt in heaven f a special message sun june 6 1115 a n markhani bible chapel 50 cairns dr oil raymerville coffee at 11 a m no offering or collection i this weekend l i i l l uf i i praetie bunkerputting green 3301 atofcham rd ijust sduttfststleles vj 4i6 2998688 j 4fin a vy- rv-vftttn- yin v i ii r in fv ict ii wcv j i 1u ftjwavbiieflbte