Sýpýo r ts ým,--',,ýa@mtnsearch.com ýFierce competition makes decisions tough New player signings a bit slower this year for IceHawks By STEVE LOBLANO The Champion P layer signings 1-ave been a littie slower than usual this pre-season for the IceHawks. However, George Dupent stresses thal's actually a goati thing. "Tise decisions haven't been slower as mucis as tougher,"* explaineti Milton's beati coachlgeneral manager, who hati signeti just three new players anti still hati at least balf-a-dozen spots ta fill as of The Cbampion's holiday deailline Feiday aflemnoon. "There's hee saine guys pusbing for jobs that we really didn't expect ta." While the lceHawks bave lost last year's top tbree gunners in NCAA-bound Jon Oenelas anti Wes Clark, anti captain Dean Strong - wbo's joineti British Columbia's Vernon Vipers - Adanm Pileggi anti Breti Robinson shoulti he able ta fi11 mucis of that offensive voiti. Dupont also expects significantly higiser production out of Mise By STEVE L.BLANC Thse Champion Tlhe Junior Mystics' recent provincial cbaipionsisip cainpaign coulti beat be describeti as dernoralizing tiéja vu. Mirroeing last yesr's performance ai tise tier two sbowcse, tie local ladies placeti fouets - witb a tack of finish cosling tisein bronze. lIn a rensalci clashs witis Napanee - wisam tlsy'ti outâteleti 6-3 lis previous day -ie Mystica lefi 10 numens on base, uselutiing six in scoring position, anti were tappleti 6-2. 'lisb elimiiset tisen froin tis double- knockoul playoff round. We acually culbit tOtem, but Juat coultin'l follow througis," sai manager winning eun anti hanti crafty hurler Eryl Roy Harolti. Morgan ber taugist loss of lie year. Milton ersct a 2-0 tieficit hefore being Thse Mystics would stave off eliminatian elininateti, witb a soliti pitching effort by with a 6-0 whitewash of hast Townsenti Tiffany Steatiran keeping thinga before bowing out ta Napanee. Lintisey respectabl. «Haisalti earnei tise shutoul, as wdli as ber Wisile tise Napanee loss inseket tise second win in as inany tisys. Mystics' official exil, it was an extra- En route ta, tise playoff round, Milton innings defeat at tise banda of Griinsby tisai went 3-1 in prelirninary play - tiropping a was essentiaily lbiser deinise. 6-4 decision ta Waterloo before rebounti- Tiet 3-3 going moa tise eighis tinning, mg witis vuctories over Napanc (6-3), Milton loadei w> lise bases anti carne Townaenti (8-4) anti Alexande Park (9-0). iseaiteeaingly close ta clearing tisei - Lia Landoni higiigisteti tise round- as a tieep fly bail by Jussie Aishfoid was robin entiing blowoul witis a two-run snaggeti by as peetiy rigist fichier ta end tise borner, while Shisanon MacKenzie, Kate raily. Moore ani Keni Race swung bot bats .Momenft lImer (rlmusby would score Use - -tlwoughout tie tomainent as well.-- DeMarchi ibis season. What's of much greater speculation is how tough Milton wiil be up front - a question that will revolve heavily around newly- acquireti winger Shandor Alphonsa. Now an over-age OHLer, having spent three seasons with the Sudbury Wolves, the 20-year-old brother of former Georgetown Raider Aaron Aiphonso brings a soliti 5'il', 195-pound stature- as well as experience and leadership. The Orangeville native collecteti 25 goals and 48 assists over his three-year Major-Junior tenure with a 15-goal, 21-assist campaign in 2002/03 representing his most productive season. "He shoulti be able to put some points up in this league, although he's more of a well-rounded player, not unlike an Ornelas," explaineti Dupant, who signeti the older Alpisonso Friday. "He'l defmnitely add a physical element. He's someone who can finish bis checks." 'The IceHawks' bench boss says the biggest need right now is a seasaneti defenceman ta help stabilize a blueline coep that bas thee 17-year-alds - and peebaps a 16-year-old corne opening night. Saiti Dupant "We coulti probably use another winger. altisough we've got saine depth up front" Thougs keeping tight-lipped about tie tietails, Dupont said ise bati a significant deal in thse wodcs laIe last week anti was misa interesteti in flntiing a replacemenst for ex-assistant coachs leif Bat"ai - wiso recently beadeti west ta pursue a goallending caach position witis Leibridge, Alta. Onse naie bcbg tosseti arounti these tisys in former Miltaon cap- tan John. Nadalin, wiso began coaching two, yeais aga anti bas afready bail saine success witb tie local AA bantains. The lceHawks wrappeti up tisir exhibition campaign beyond preas tim Friday nigist againsi Branmpton anti kick off tise regular season ai borne versus Buffalo Fritiay. Gaine time, as always, ia 7:30 p.m. -Junior Mystics denied provincial medal for second straight season