The Canadian Champion, Tu.edcay, Dece<nber 21, 1999 -21 *SPoS 'Arbuekie breaks iïnto professional lacrosse By STEVE LSBLANC The Champion Kyle Arbuckle believes interest in professional lacrosse is ready to take off. So Milton's top player has strapped himself in for the ride. The 22-year-old - who played aIl of his minor lacrosse in town - just recently eansed a spot on this coming seasoit's Syracuse Smash. Wbile optimistic about the chances of tuming pro, hie had ini- tially expected to crack the National Lacrosse League (NLL) with thse Buffalo Bandits. That's where bis firat invitation to rookie tryouts came, and where his only ties to the league were - as Buffalo's coaches were the samne guys who guided his St. Catharines majors over thse summer. But Axbuckle was ?ýncouraged by teammates to attend both freshman camps - and discovered a much more appealing scenario awaiting bim in Syracuse. "They (Smash) have very few lefties who can score, so it's a per- fect situation'for me," remarked the soutbpaw shooter, currently in bis final year at the University of Guelph. "Buffalo I think decided on their team back in the summer when I was 20 pounds heavier and still hadn't completely healed from my ankie injury. And anyway, My chances of dressing are at least tive fold in Syracuse.". Arbuckle figures he's picked the ideal time to join the leaguie - as it sits poised to expand, both in ternis of the number of teams and an overaîl fan following. *Right now it's essentially a part- time league with bare minimum salaries for ail but the most produc- tive players. But that could change dramatically, hie said, witb a littie better exposure and marketing. "For my money it's the best sport to watch," hie commented. "Hockey's great, but there's the neutral zone trap plus so much obstruction with hooking and, everything. In lacrosse there's no offaides and nothing to hook onto. The good players are able to play like they're supposed to. It's really exciting." Making Syracuse is the latest achievement in the local star's highly accomplisbed career. He's shone at every possible level including university, major and junior - in which hie helped leari B.C. 'a Burnaby Lakers to the national Minto Cup two years ago. With Guelpb hie was the team's primary offensive threat over the past two years - both of which hie linîshed top five in league scoring. He looks to continue in that role when the Smash's 12-game regular season schedule starta againat Rochester January 8. "I expect to dress for every game and hopefully average a goal a game. I tbink that's definitely pos- sible, especially if I get a chance to play with Paul Gait (league's top scorer)," said Arbuckle. "I think we'Il do okay. Last year the teamn went 3-9, but bast four games by just one or two goals." The Miltonian will iron out bis rookie contract witbin thse next two weeks and likely be thse lineup for an exhibition tilt at Buffalo's Marine Midland Arena December 27. Syracuse's first regular season clash in Buffalo is slated for Saturday, Januasy 29 while tbey'll be in Toronto to challenge the Rock March 3. "I'm really happy and excited about playing pro now. I'm look- îng forward to a long career," said Arbuckle. Merchants break out of slump by thrashing Blades By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Jr. A Merchants found a cure for ail that ailed themn at Memorial Arena Friday. Getting rid of the bad taste in tiseir moutha that was still lingering from consecutive basses including yet another to Streetaville, Milton bull- dozed their way out of a pre-holiday slump by dismantling the punchless Oakville Blades 10-I1. It marked the club's most lopsided win of the year and the third time this season they reacbed double digits. The pasting was a clear reminder of juat how dominating the perennial power- bouse can be and exactly how deep their offen- sive well rnn. The West Conference front-runners hadn't done much to eéxtol these virtues in recent wecks - but made up for bast time as seven different players both scored goals and had multi-point efforts in the team's final battle before Christmas. -We really needed a big win like this," said captain Chad Blundy. "After two losses, it felt great to spank Oakville. Now we've got the momentum back that we'll need for thse Newmarket Sbowcase." Milton was a little lackluster out of the gate and didn't really shift into higb gear until about the midway mark of the opetaing frame - wben defenceman Adam Sturgeon took exception to roughhousing by newly acquired Blade -Dave Burt. AIl Milton The Merchants' young rearguard wound up pummeling bis adversary-in an ensuing fisticuifs clash - which seemed to light a fire under tise hosts. From that point on it was ail Milton. They outshot the visitors 44-15 while mount- ing 2-0 and 6-1 period leada en route to victory. -After s0 many close gaines, it was nice to be a little relaxed on tbe bencis tonight. It was a nice atmosphere," said coacb Marty Williamson. "Also, tise offense bas come back over the past couple of gamea, wbich is a good sign.:' Among other positives were bis charges clear- ly winning the firat period and staying composed ftom start to finish - neither of which they've done on a regular basis lately. Phil Barski registered a seaýon high of six points - netting one goal and adding five assista to pull himself back among the top tbree division scorers - wbile gritty linemate Elliot Altberg delivered bis firat hat-trick of tise year. Standing out witb a goal and three assista was Rob Martin. Ryan Eby tallied twice and added a belper while rounding out tie bit parade witis a goal and an assist apiece were Ryan Canigan, Richard Peverley and Ian Malcolm. Goaltender Joel Cameron's bid for a perfect game was apoiled late in the middle stanza, when hie was caught way outof position and beaten-on an upstairs wrister by Mike Lukaic. Oakville's lone marksmen accounted for rougbly baîf of their shots on net - only a cou- pIe of wbich could have been classîfied as quali- ty scoring chances. Milton now sports a 24-6-1-3 record and are four points ahead of Georgetown. Merchant notes: Veteran Mike Wheelihan was out nursing a sore aboulder Friday. Also missing from the lineup was suspended winger Matt Belanger ... Mike McGrane has been released ... Milton killed off aIl six of their short- banded stints agamnst tihe Blades, whicb boosted their penalty killing proflciency back up to about 87 per cent. DELAY!! OFFER ENDS DECEMBER 31, 1999,4 D'av tu 4~.v/4~I n