The Canadlian Champion, Tuesday, Auguat 21, 2001- 19 SPORTS ~Merchants.look to beef up their offensive ranks Could have seasoned gunners in line-up as early as today By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The Merchants' 2001/02 sconing well shouldn't run dry as often as it has in recent years. That is, if a couple of pre-season deals are green-lighted this week. Skipper Glenn Walsh wouldn't divulge just who his junior squad- has targeted for acquisition - since both trades were stillinii the works as of press time yesterday - but said the players are stand- outs in the Ontario Provincial Jr. A League. He even went so far as to state that the additions would be on par witb that of Andy Rozak, Milton's 2000/01 regular season and playoff scoring leader who was scooped up around this time last year from the Streetsville Derbys. "With the guys we've got coming back and those we're hopmng to acquire, we should be deeper offensively," suggested Walsh, whose charges ran hot and cold scoring wise tbrough much of last season. Mlilton's head coach also said that he's extremely pleased with PhOli bYdROfl Pffl what he's got in training camp right now - that with the excep- A«Xe JWW« PMM mm roM)M««WdIsý h«60- " *O tybWIw « * qo» <9M lion of an al-purpose defensive anchor like graduating captain Med L " «Mw f omvwe PMmy nioitoh"wQ M W «»» blhet Mwo **SIW U B *kM UI John Nadalin, there aren't 100 many weaknesses on the defendmng Poeu êmmla ecrl* o S dh. conference champion Merchants. Remarked Walsh, "There's lest unknowns at this point (comn- <"i ,,' ~pared to last year). We're more confident with the guys we picked <Porenta m-ea at Surmner 'ames u vrtesme. Amnong those are former Mtssissauga Chargers goalkeeper su ýwAcWednesday hews rMa aU* =bd f Wlpm Trevor Battaglia - who'll be number one between the local pipes Thechwpýo mur i n the100 tesyk -bu M wfl toga this season. Looking 10 back hlm up are three i 6-year-olds, mnclud- J= « «e ade wvsof dm m.ilalwm=sg vmelty br'oe ina tune f .i ~608. ng Enin Jr. C veteran Brad Taylor, whom Walsh bas been highly lat «katth Cnaa umne Gme.PSwssy Mvde mthe oge uSùcgkaswll. impressed with thus far. Wbie ot uie aleto uc w'Ibm 100m < t Sst*eyle) was ajjgtti "I've been pleasantly surprised by aIl three," he said. "It's gomng pMomsjitgjç.Iwt104athekmgboo- 10 be difficuit choosing a back-up." dso n g, bIut ias bçon a lS sao As for eligible retumees, the only question marks are centre Rick 'yarod wmmn aeseuedaa broome medal," she ssud. Ferroni and rearguard Adamn Sturgeon. meda eah tiet he ook o de pol. mboed rlaywimFerroni is in negotiations with a team in British Columbia while He 1fnst hukvib performance Sturgeon remains hopeful that the OHL Sudbury Wolves will trade wasreeredforth 5-mtr Porenta enjoyed a golden swcep im himn soon - and essentially allow bis Major-Junior hockey career fteesqdo P7iday olght - when s. tem scffl"1iipn and actually gave 10 fmnally begin. d*voda iere i" aMbroe br uickstt iane m the 50m nftesutyle Already departed ftom the local club is Flavio Faggioni, who's rac-lng dock witii Manioba's - ncaoeissg liae 4%50tnsfreestyle gone home 10 compete in htaly's professional ranks. Everyone else Fri Cardashs b talc. sllvu nsthe tulay race mnd no iatig h last leg - players, coaches and support staff alike - will be back. womna's dr- vsioan.ins a sizzling 25.96s tehall> Teins As for local hopefuls still battling for the few remaining master "BàayEis took an extra stsioke at the cend and I ju ntmbn st a new mot record, spots, general manager Nick Slawson said forward Christian *1* d hewa1 t bhat t Cfh e taçlld. "It 85 tteniy $Sewas 15515fy as. in4xiv.e aoesngliae410X0m Nonis and blueliner jan Robertson - botb of whom sbowed elm d*whok wya tltle lay, dolivellD a 57.56s effort t hat <quaRd anohe strongly in tis past summer's Ontario Under-17 camp - have Mwe & 6.0sshwmS- veshdoedo,y by dm4-M f-X i"11*M od f hrprvincial fmmw been impressive. a scon of hmindvidel eacmai, rd just i at W a o lsa1tostouring seous 10Q.ay crss- WII>#fln at home against the Vaughan Vipers. Game lime is 8:30 p.m. Their carler t te inEto"e.eoug Edontn an Ne Yo in oveb«.regular season home opener is slated for September 14 against Burlington. Miltonu uir AmbuisscudOp e1~ee - P o Excitement fun & travel o Contestants mcay be Mée00* Meet new people o 17 yecars of age by ,ii~ (4e: sEnhance leadership & August 16, 2001 /~9~ ~O communication skills o Competition August 29th 148th Milton Full Fair 1SoiNI S S bar fic t90-7-68 opiku yu Spiaiof r tdy Sept. 21, 22, 23, 20011 I' 4aFà&RG Cancmete CANADA m" OPEN SATURDAY SEASGNALY.OSERS MUST SE PLACES OS 5 PM T IROA -95 7642