30 - The Canadien Chamipion, Frlday, Deeember 3,1999 Photo by GRAH4AM PAINE E.C. Drurys WiII Van Duyn (loft) - a flve-y.ar wrestllng veteran - stands wlth promlislng rookles Alex Brancler, Mail Knock and Jesse Ronan. Ail four were gold medals In season openlng compeiion. 'Another superb start for Drury Brand new season, saine old succeas. The E.C. Dnsry High School wrestling teamn has picked up right where ihey it off lasi spring - dominating thc compe- tition. Larry Jaroslawski's grapplers once again started the year in commanding fashion - capiuring two dozen medals, nearly haîf of which were of the gold variety, during their opening weekend. Lasi Fniday, Drury claimied the men's open crown ai Guelph Ceniennial. Tbree indîvidual title wins and seven other top four placinga paved the way for overaîl triumph, as Uic local squad finished well ahead of runner-up Georgetown. Brampton Centennial, 1999 OFSAA champs, took third. Leading the hardware haul for the vic- tors were defending national champions Kevin Heffron and John McCari - who each grabbed gold, as did fellow veteran Nick Barkley. Sean Burnham and Tom Gallinger each struck silver while bronze medals went to Ryan Fania, Rory McDonell, Will'Van Duyn and Andy Wadeson. Rounding oui the top four finishers was Mati Devries. The Sparians also collectid four golds and ended up second overall in the cadet division - thanks largely to golden per- formances by rookies Alex Brancier and Mati Knqck. Also reaching the top of tIhe podium were sophomores Jason Landry and Jordan Lumb. Mike Devries and Julian Sericchi came away with bronze while placing fourth were Mati Hamn.eti, Andrew Kerr and Andrew Patterson. In Hagersville Saturday, Drury's nine representatives ail secured medals. Van Duyn won three straight matches to record bis first open championship while also taking gold was Kevin Moore in the cadet class plus rookies Hamnett and Jesse Ronan in the bantam loop. Milton Dynamo Gary Ferrer, an affilli- ste star wrestler who's shone at both the provincial and national level, moved up an age group to take a gold as well. Mîke Devries, Chris Guard and Chris Holmes ail grabbed silver. Coming home with a bronze was Mati Devries. 4AIIWp e v5w off ma -cfCpeu OP vIo Wdofl ,41P,'f.cfl prMAd M.oi -S V' gof n ýï Merchants win an%"Lother in OT By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants' least experienced player is quickly becoming their most reliable perfonner in the clutch. Richard Peverley - one of just two team members, and the only skater, without a full year of Jr. A hockey under his belt - deposited a long range wnister 11 seconds in sudden death to beat Bramalea 4-3 Wednesday. It was the second time in as many home games with ihe Blues in which the rookie winger provided overtime heroics - as wel as ihe third occasion in eight days where hie came up with ihe winning tally. The 17-year-old, whose confidence level must he on the rise with so much crucial ice time lately, has lit the lamp five times in the past four gaines and now leads the team in gaine winning markers with four. His latest goal was doubly significant - since it also gave Milton the win it needed to pull even with Georgetown for top spot in the Provincial Jr. A League's West Conférence. ses MILTON on page 31 ~Peewees persevere Six straight wins equaled one glorious berth to international competition for Milîon's AA minor peewees. The Co-Steel Recycling Winterhawks comhined responsible defense and timely offense to go unbeaten at lasi weekend's Silver Stick Qualifier. This advanced them to the big show late next month in Markhamn. Milton clinched the regional title in dramatic fashion - edging the Mississauga Terriers 4-3 in double overtime. Pmoviding the heroics in sudden death was Cîsyton Holman. Luc Boltuc, Mati Chuchmach and Kevin Parker were the other marksinen. Although not as nerve-racking, quarterfinal and semnifinal play was equally competitive. The 'Hawks oeached the final four by doubling Toronto's Ted Reeve 4-2. From there, they outlasted the Etohicoke Canucks 5-3. Nine différent players lit the lamp over this stretch, illustrating the team's great scoring depth. Earlier in the weekend they reigned supreme over their divi- sional opponents - heating Rochester (6-1), Belleville (3-1), and the Mississauga Homets (2-O). Scott Collard was the team's top producer for the entire toumna- ment with two goals and six assists while close behind with thoee goals and four helpers was Chuchmach. Netminders James Connor and Austin Vandenboomn combined for a goal-against average of 1.66.