* SPORTS IGODN6ManS AtSue3 Second chance * Merchants get new lease on li*fe ý'Hadwar hal fo HoPhoto by GRAHAM PAINE '/Hadwae hat fr Hgarths Scott and Tammy Hogarth of Flghtlng Griffins Martial Arts pose with their lateat flood of tro- phies, captured rec.ntly et the AmerlKlck Nationale ln Atlantic City. Tammy took fUret Un weapons and tradilonsi forma whlle Scott was firat Un open forma, second ln weapons and third ln traditional forme. By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants lost the battie but could stili win the war. One night after surrendering their West Conference titie to the Bramalea Blues - which toppled them four gamnes to two - Milton got a brand new lease on life. It came by virtue of the now much cher- ished wild card seat, given to tbemn after Collingwood trimmed Coucbicbing 4-3 Tuesday in game seven of the central division finals. Milton was the confer- ence loser with the best playoff winning percent- age, which is how tbey advanced. This sets up a Milton- Collingwood clash, which began st night in Collingwood and contin- ues this evening in Milton. Game lime ia 8 p.m. Marty W In the other semnifinal showdown, Bramalea faces the eastern champion Pickering Pantiers. "It'll be tbe biggest nigbtmare for tbis league if we're given a second chance," promised bead coach Marty Williamson Monday at Victoria Park Arena, after bis club dropped a 3-2 gaine six decision to the Blues. The Mercbants no doubt bave motiva- tion going for tbem now, but in order to tumn opportunity into prosperity it'll take a lot more creativity and pbysicality than bas SO far been brougbt to the table. Both were in short supply tbrougb the previous round, particularly in the finale. Milton refused to carry the puck ali evening, instead relying on the dump and chase as well as long cross-ice passes tbrougb the neutral zone wbicb quickly became predictable and manageable by the Blues. Efforts in their own end - despite a lack of pressure on tbe blueline, wbere alI three goals againat were scored - were far more imprssive. Milton' s defencemen afforded their bosts only 17 shots on Jeremy Wenzel, wbo made some big saves tbrougb perioda one and two. Netting tbe game winner at the 10:20 mark of the third was Scott Neil. Captain Kyle Amyotte assisted on tbe play to cap an awesome performance wbich included a powerplay goal and some topnotch penalty killing. "This feels great to finally beat these guys," said Amyotte, a fourth-year player in thse league. His well coacbed, well disci- plined hockey team prevented the Merchants fromn pulling off a conference cbampionship three-peat. "Not once did we ever figure that having Mike (Cammalleri) out would kill our chances. Everyone else just stepped up and made it The Merchants evened the score twice down the stretcb and received a lot more fan support despite being in Bramalea's barn. StilI, it neyer quite seemed that the visiting UIemson crowd's energy trans- ferred to thse bench. Scoring Milton's final equalizer was Chris Rowan, wbose wide angle anapabot squeaked tbrough Nathan Maraters' pads and over thse goal lime. Before that rearguard Chris Baben banged in a cross-ice redirect at 13:04 of the second - just moments after their fifth powerplay bad expired. The defending provincial champs went O-for-14 with the man-advantage in thse last tbree games of the series. The Blues were almoat as ineffective, going l-for-13. Scoring leader Ed McGrane picked up two assists in game six. Bramalea' s other goal, delivered mid- way tbrougb the firat, was registered by Darryl Baker. Game three of the Milton-Collingwood senies is set for Sunday in Collingwood at 7:30 p.m. wbile game four will be beld Monday in Milton at 8 p.m. If necessary, game five will be Tuesday in Collingwood and game six would be played Wednesday in Milton. A seventb and deciding game is slated for next Friday in Collingwood. 1