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BY MIKE HAYAKAWA Staff Writer Is it true good things come in thiee's? The Stoufiville Distn'ct Secondary School Spartans senior boys’ hockey team hopes there’s validity to that adage when they open a York Region Athletic Association tier one semifinal series Wednesday. The Spartans’ opponent in the best-of- thtee is the team they defeated in the York final the last two seasons, the archâ€"rival Brother Andre Cardinals. Only this time around, the Markham school appears to be the far superior team on paperhafingfinjshedfirstintheFastDivi- sion with a 6-1-1 mark. Playing in the same division, the Spartans finished fourth with a 2-4-2 mark. Stouffville kids clash on ice” in high school playoffs, again The Cardinals won both head-toâ€"head encounters. The two teams also met at the Sir Oliver Mowat 'I‘oumament in Scarborough with the Cardinals prevailing in a shootoAut.” “It's définitely 5 good rivalry." Spartans head coach Jamie Hewitt said of the meet- ings the two clubs have had over the last few There are also neighbourhood bragging rights at stake. Brother Andre’s roster always includes Stouflville residents, many of whom play on rep teams with some of the Spartans. Hewittâ€"acknowledged his team will face an uphill battle this time around. _ “I’ve always said that Brother Andre would be the team to beat. They won our division this year," he said. SpldtgetsdateValenfine'seve For the Stouffville Spirit that was the million-dollar question fac- ing them as they waited to find out who they would be facing when the Ontario Junior Hockey League Cenâ€" tral Division playofis commence. W111 it be the Wellington Dukes or Markham Waxers? They found out last night (after our deadline) who they will play. (Go to yorlaegion.com for updates.) Occupying last place in the Gen- tral Division, the Spirit will play the first-place team. The Spirit had a say in their fate as they concluded their regular season yesterday at the sec- ond-place Markham Waxers. The Waxers moved to within one point of the first-place Wellington Dukes after defeating the Dukes in a shootout 43 Thursday in Markham. A Dukes win or Waxers loss would have the Spirit playing Wellington. A win by the Waxers and loss by the Dukes would award Markham first. The Dukes were to conclude their regular season in Toronto against the St. Michael’s Buzzers last night. “It doesn't matter who we play. They’re both great teams and are well coached. We just have to show up and play every game," Spirit head coach Mark Ioslin said. Spirit general manager Ken Bur- rows said if his club plays Wellington they would start the series on the road Sunday at 7:30 pm. If the Spirit play the Waxers, the series would begin Monday at Markham Centennial at 7 pm. The Spirit has home ice Thursday and next Saturday, but was still trying to procure a third home night. Underdog SD88, Brother And ne meet for third straight season If the thh-seeded Spartans hope to pull of! the upset against the second-seeded Car- dinals, Hewitt said a couple of things must fall into place. For starters, he said they must receive some timely goaltending from Chris Pennanen. “He's good," Hewitt said of his Grade 12 netminder. “He'll have to give us a steady game and he has that potential. He’s had a great year for us” The Stoufl'ville peewee Clippers got 06 toagoodstart at the 50thrannual Quebec Pee-Wee International Hockey 'Ibumament by winning their first game over 'Itois-Lacs Phoenix (Quebec) 4-1 in Quebec City Friday. Evan Smith scored the lone goal of the first period at the 40-seoond mark to give the Clippers a 1-0 lead. The Clippers’ Chris Jarrett scored the lone goal of the second frame. After "Rois-Lacs cut their deficit to within a goalinthethird,theClippersgotumnsweted goalsbyBobbylamirandeandChfisWaIet. Matthew Carrick, Robert Armstrong. Eric Peewees win Quebec tourney opener Stoujfville Sun-'l‘ribune I Saturday, Feb. I 4. Zambri. Spencer Roberts, Lamirande and Josh Burkholder assisted. Cam Nowikow was in net The Clippers resume play Monday against the Connecticut Wolves at 8:50 pm More than 2,000 players from 16 countries areplayingin fivedivisionsClosetolDOO graduates ofthe tournament have gone on to phyhtheNPlAClipperteamwonadivision title at the storied tournament in 1986. Wmmgflengucha