22 - The Canadian Champion, Filday, April 2, 1999 AA minor atoms thump Oakville;e take crown By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Tri County tities rained down for the AA Winterhawks last week, as a trio of local hockey teams secured cham- pionship gold. Here's a look at how each squad clinched the finals. Minor atonas Draina may have opened the door to triumph, but it was dominance that ushered it in. After consecutive 3-2 wins - which followed and a bei(flescries operuing defeat --Mioris A-A minor atomo thumped Oakvillc 5-0 to take the crown with style. Connor Mitchell's natural hat-trick in the sec- ond period and a flawless goaltending effort by Brendan Duke highlighted a fiette finish for the Wallace Pontiac-sponsored club. Amassing a goal and four assists was Luc Hartwick while the other tally came off tse stick of Jordan Gleed. Attentive defence and solid hustle were put forth by Use boys ail Use way. Two nighta earlier it was Matthew Binnington who buried the biscuit with 52 seconds remain- ing in Use first overtime session to lift his teain past Oakville. Impressive cage work was delivered by Michael Sullivan. Before Usat, Joel Gard provid- ed the heroics in gaine two, wiUs the winning marker notched midway through Use Usird. Minor peewees The Halton Lift Truck 'Hawks survived a late rally by Brampton Sunday at John Tonelli Arena to, take Use best-of-three rubber match 4-3. They surrendered two goals in the final few minutes of play, but in the end a sizable lead established earlier on was just too much for Useir opponents to overcome. Favourite bows te Corcy Clarkson made sonne key pad saves down the stretch to minimize Brampton's upris- ing and preserve Use win. Leading offensively with two goals and an assist waa Robbie Wilson, who sank Use evential gaine winner at the end of the second peniod. Setting him up each time waa David Aggio. Rounding out Use scoring wete captain Daniel Lynch and Kyle Stmong. The locals showed a lot of creativity up front with nifty passing and exciting rushes. Overaîl they were effective at getting to Use net while Useir defence and posi- tional play were generally good s well. e ee BANTAMS on page 23 Team back Ghost of Sweepall on track Ghost Of Sweepall outdistanced race favourite Bet Lady in the stretch to win the $126,OW( Darasel Pacing Sertes (13Us annual> by a quarter length Saturday evening at Mohawk Raceway. DogBondoetewnerfrtanrMr tel Btaell. bis l$-year-old son Michael and Bruce Newton own the four-yea-old daaulitet of Csnstuck, who bas now ban*e4-$21,000 lfetime and $12,000 thsyear. For Brown - fresh off a vlctosy in the Cam Fll Final last weekend ai Wood ne with Liglnship Hanover -it was his fister Dasel Seies victoiy. Off ashe econsd favouie, hot of Sweepl1 pail $7.10, The exactor with Best Lady seond rturned $9.60,while the treator withDunoansMArsplace tisd wa worth $3&. EARLY ýAVE Big!e OI0% apah W , a, C mdt an f ,.0. 0.ta ftom , hEgy Pu.,hm, mo,09,.made W *o, m h 15 andApl 11. 19990 Iotk dmg ftecm.& ntallni-adfmeepnaMdt ýb em n ntle tteeoe C- , nom-. h , othl, p-in.1 fflee cati for a fret in-homne estimate (905) 469-0570 or 1-888-687-6871 FOR THE SEASON COME. SHOW us HOW YOU DRIVE i e from MERCHANTS on page 21 nights - with a hard-fought 4-3 win that was delivered courtesy of discipline and a dynamite performance by goalie Jeremy Wenzel. The crafty cager made a pair of game savers in the final frame - with sensa- tional glove and blocker work while hie was grounded - and stopped 28 shots overaîl. "I thought I deserved a better fate the previous evening, but Collingwood is use to playing in front of the big crowd up there and I knew they'd just keep com- ing," recalled Wenzel, who dmopped a 5-2 decision in gamne five despite a more than competent showing. "It's a whole different bail game in our bamn. I knew if I could just put in the same effort the guys would overcome the challenge." The Merchanta went ahead 6:13 into the contest on a blueline rocket by Ryan Carrigan. Matt Bannan and Ryan Robichaud then cuahioned the lead - with similar type goals - in the second period. While the team waan't nearly as domi- nant through the later stages of play, they were effective on the penalty kilI and unlike the previous evening didn't shlow themselves to become mentally unglued by the clutch-and-grab Blues. Said captain Kevin O'Flaherty, "Marty (Williamson) told us before the game that we had to stay out of the stuff after the whistle and keep the game flow going "Collingwood deserves credit. They neyer quit." Depositing the eventual game winner at 5:51 of the third was workhorse Chad Blundy, who roofed a long-range rebound left by Mark Beisel. Ken Robins also aasisted on the play while O'Flaherty fin- ished the night with two helpers. Setting sip aIl three Collingwood goals, including two within a 2:23 span late in the second, was captain Rene Dorval, who demonstrated fmnishing power and face-off prowess the entire series. Tuesday in Collingwood, the Merchants' first try at claiming the series waa denied with a 5-3 loss. The league finals are set to begin Sunday at Victoria Park Arena at 7:30 p.m. Gaine two will be held Tuesday at Memorial Arena with an 8 p.m. start Bank of Nova Scotia HOME BUYRS SEMINA&R See our ad in Tuesday, April 6 M iWu 662 3RD LUNE u MILTON, ONTARIO ra aladgetfet- (South of Derry) (905) 693-0303