24 -The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 31, 2001 iSamue1 earns back-up job with Jr. Merchants By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion The batle for second-string status has been won. At Memorial Arena Tuesday, Sean Samuel clinched the role of back-up goalie for this year's Merchants. The Oakville native g9t the nod - over three other hope- fuis including Erin Shamrock Brad Taylor - folowing a credible second-period per- formance agamnst St. Michacî's. 'h was defmnitely a tough choice this year," said general manager Nick Slawson. Samuels is one of four 16-year-olds who'll start the year with the Merchants. Others meclude Dan Carcillo, Sean Mole and local defenceman Josh Vanderbreggen. Felow Miltonians Christian Nomis, Ian Robertson and Mail Ventura - a late watk- on - were among the final players released from camp. Robertson will hopefully report to the Jr. C Shamrocks and, if so, might see some spot duty with the big club this season. With OHL tryouts removing a handful of this year's regulars froin the ineup Tuesday, Milton was rather punchless up front and- as a result - was disposed of 3 -1. St. Michael's mobile blueliners restricted the hosts to two dozen scoring chances and held thei to, just four in the third peniod to seal the deal. Vteran defenceman Rick Janco made the lone deposit for Milton. He connected on a rather lucky powerplay bounce with about five minutes. left ini the middle stanza for his second goal in as many pre-season gaines. Assisting on the play were veteran winger Shane Remenda and newly acquired gunner Michel Bond - wbo was sceing his ftrst saste of competition siue.. last spring and showed signs of fatigue through the late stages of play. Joe Cooper, Matt McIsaac and Daniel Pegoraro did the sconing for St. Michael's. Tonight, the Merchants will ice a tearn more closely resembling the one they'll start the regular season with when they look for revenge at St. Michael's. Number one goal- keeper Trevor Battaglia will get the start. Expected back fromn OHL tryouts tonigbt are Carcillo, Mole, Mail Bartlett, Richard Moloche and 2000/O01 Western Conference Rookie of the Year Kevin Arruda. Milton wiIl continue exhibition play next weekend with a home-and-home series against neighbouring rival Georgetown. Regular season play begins Sept. 14 at home against Burlington. Fax your team reports and sports story ideàs ta Steve LeBlanc at 878-4943, or drop them *off anytime at 191 Main St. E. Midget Sox off to provincials Milton's midget boys basebail teans will be hoping for a power surge of the more favourable variety this weekend. At Maplehurst Bail Park Monday, Jef Harper's Red Sox were looking to get in one final tune-up ganse for the provincials against visiting Orangeville. But an evening power surge wrecked havoc with the light timer and, subsequently, put the kibosh on evening festivities. Now Milton aims to enjoy a power surge of -.s own design during this weekends Ontario 'AX championships. For the first time this year, alI 16 players on the tier two regular season championship teani will be suis- ing up - and ise of thein are available for pitching duty. "We've got the depth, that's not the problein. We just need quality pitching, especiaily for the sec- ond and third round," sald Harper. His midgets will open thse nine-teain provincial showcase tomight against the toumnament hosts. If victorious, they eam a second-round bye. Heading into this weekend's chamnpionships with an overaîl record of 25-8-1, Milton is heavily favoured to capture a medal. The local midgets last secured provincial hardware two years ago in Sault Ste. Marie, where they struck silver - falling to Stratford 5-3 in the championship finals. MILTON INTERCHURCH SOFTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS - END 0F REGULAR SEASON Teams 1 South Side' 2 HoIy Rosar 3 New Lite 'A' 4 South Side' 5 Milton Bible 6 St. Georges 7 New Lite 'B' 8 Boston 9 New Lite De 10 Knox 1l St. Pauls 12 Grace Game Wins Losses Ties Pts. W% 619 22 19 3 0 y 21 15 6 0 ý9 22 15 6 1 '2' 21 14 7 O 21 14 7 0 22 13 7 2 22 il il 0 21 8 il 2 eaf 22 7 15 0 22 5 17 O 21 4 17 0 21 1 19 1 Thanks to Terry Rowley for sponsoring the league standings. 0.864 0.714 0.705 0.667 0.667 0.636 0.500 0.429 0.318' 0.227 0.190 0.071 Terry Rowley Mechanical Inc. Yor Heating, Cooling and Barbecue Headquarters 905"7&1979 VISIT OUR SHOWROOM * 925 MAIN ST. E., MILTON, UNIT 3 'Custonm sports NOUTHO RIS AMI Aies- AMI Sports no referral requiredt <ail us direct. MILTNLDNTUECCeNIC M i 15 aS. Mslton 90-86-00