24-The Canadian Champion, Friday, May 6, 2005 3 -ý,"ICame 7 heartbreak Photo by GRAHAM PAINE -Sandwiched An E.C. Drury player gets manhandled by a St. Thomas Aquinas opponent while trying to bring down her teammate dtJring girls rugby play at EC Wednesday afternoon. The host Spartans went on to win 20-5. 'Conflict strike Team 's ability to run competitive programt at issue as handful ofplayers denied their release By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Most teams don't experience dissension until the season actuaiiy gels underway. Miiton's midget rep lacrosse squad hasn't had 10 wait tbat long. Whliile stili 10 days away fromn opening their 2005 campaign, Use Maverieks, are divided on wbether or flot Usere's enough players 10 mun a competitive pro- grain. Holding the belief UsaI numbers are just too few 10 do so, a bandfui of players bad requesîed releases lasI monîb in order 10 try out for teams in neighbouring communilies. Tbey've since been denied hy both Milton Minor Lacrosse and Zone 8 -with the latter refusaI handed down April 28. While appreciating UsaI everyone is siînply 'doing their job' and folowing the local association's ino release poiicy, Jeif Lecky -whose son Ryan is among Usose invoived -remains clearly frusîrated with Use situation. *'ey say they've got 14 players available, but m-ost of the practices so far' bave bad a doicis or less,- be explained. "And when you factor iin that uone player bas a 10-ganse suspension ibis ye.ur aid thse lack oft cominitineni last season. ilsere's just isît cîsougis (play ers) to ruit a inidget teain pi opet ly. Another teani failier of onîe of use fisc pl.uyers. \slu, wsîsed flot to be identified, agreed svîîb ibis assess- ment. "They (MML) may say tiiere's enougli. but sve par- -enm*onuw 'bettei'Y - -i - ' - ý -................- 101 naly Uar anau 1-us By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion If Daîren Hlaydar didn'* base a deep appreciation for jusi bosv iuch dîlference one gaime can make before Sunday evening, be certainly does now. Lasi spring Multon's AI-L veteran and bis Milwaukee Admirais needed a seventh gamie to finaliy dispose of the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in opening-round play -and go on to capture their first Calder Cup. oneMgilauke thed C irsntround Moncke ad in eteinnairt ould series 10 the limrit Sunday, oniy this lime the oulcome didn't go in Haydar's favourS4 NZ as the revenge-minded Mighty Ducks capped a huge series tum- around by prevailing 4-3. So in essence, tille defense efforts ended before lbey reaily got a chanceI 10 begin. As if squandering a lbree-games 10- one bamimerlock svasn'l heartbreakin enougb. fice AdmiraIs surrendered the gaine wiiining goal on a raîber innocent lookiîig dump in ssiîh jusi 13 seconds ienaîining afber bat- îling bac k froîn a 3-t0 defîcît. -We case (heinile:" said a dejid I-as dur Mind.iy afîci noon. -bey (C'incinnati) grabbed the inonseniurn and ris ss iti iil I bey iouîk the finesse out ot our gaine and basically played the ssay ibey needed uIo l'or the ss în." While admitting ibat Brian Finley had a i-ougbI ride early on Sunday -giving up tbree goals in tihe first six minutes of play -iHaydar fet fie Admirais' netiminder took a little 100 much biamne for the loss. -The Miilwaukee papers ripped him, apart. which l'in fot suie svas compieiely Justi fied." The 25-year-oid rigbt winger said the series came down 10 who had the better powerpiay on eacb night -which wasn'î his Admirais dlown the stretch. He stressed that Cincinnati wasn't taken iighily once a senies strangle- hold was estabiished. "Anytime you're try- ing to send a tearn home for the season that's usually the toughest wifl t0 get. We knew they weren't going 10 quit." Whiie no doubt offering - ttle solace, Haydar's person- ai performance in the series was Dae hcertainiy credibie. He SHaydar stood out with a goal and W an assist in game seven te, rfinish round one svitb seven points - jus1 onîe behind teamn scoring leader Simont Ciamache. -I didiit know svhai t0 expect comin" back from tlie ankie injuiy. but i actîîally teli rejus eiîated and preiiy gou." bc said. lcanils bi'.tllows Miltoitian Scott Beril and bi' ECHL Treîîîon Titanîs es ened ibeîî league sernfinal series wsiih Alaska ai one ganie apiece by blastîng the liosi Aces 7-1 Wedriesda5. The 28-year-old lett 's itger assisted on the lirst goal. Came three îs ini Trenton tomnorrow. Sr. Sox' skipper cautiously optimistic about year ahead ïUM* (ici v a i s Gorge Moore feels tbai if everyîbîng sboes to fIll." m ia e L v ia IS alîs into place, bis Senior Red Sox cuîuld A fess other players -iîîcluding catcher be betier than last season. Ryan Davisoni - nay only be available on _________________________________ That's certainly something 10 get exciied a part-time basis, leaving the Red Sox about, given that the 2004 squad reacbed somewbat lacking in the depîh department "It's a travesty. They're not IookJflg COBAs final four and feul just short of for now. out for the ids but for the league."l winning the Ontano 'B' championship. However, Milton's manager points out ................................... 1........ But with a number of 'up-in-the-air'sce- that his pitching staff wili he significantly ,JEi umg nanios stili facing his teain heading mbt stronger thas last year. Reaaons hehind tisat ______________________________ omorrow's season-opening doubieheader. outiook include tise fact that Nathan Tamni the Red Sox skipper is holding his wiii he back full lime - and However, MML registrar and director Cindy encouragement in reserve. should be one of the ieague's Bennett said thal along with tise 14 players currently "Tisere's s0 many things i few effective closers - whiie on hoard, there's a few others expected t0 corne over just don't know about yet," said up-and-coming huriers Malt from Haiton His. Moore, whose charges hegin .Dickson and Mike She remnarked, 'We have more than enough comrmit- with ganses against Etobicoke Grahauskas have another ment 10 mun a tean. I don't sec that there's a probîemn and Erindale tomnorrow after- year under their heits and are here." noon aI Ninth Line Park. "I likeiy 10 loss more 'effective' Mavericks assistant coach Steve Mazzocato echoed shouid have a better idea of wbaot's innings this season. those coriîents, stating. "'We've got enough players wisaî in about three weeks." Crafty veterans Ian Zettie, Adam and everyone's pumped and ready 10 go. 1 think we 've Among Use biggest unknowns rigist now Finkbeiner and Brent Kostal beip rounded put the issue hehind us." centres around wbether or flot tise local oui a pretly credibie unit. But Ryan Lecky doesn't believe so seniors wili have access 10 the haif-dozen "Hitting is another area where the expe- "I don't agree aI al. We've had 10 or il guys oul for potentiai junior APs wbo, with no Milton rience really cornes mbt play," expiained the praciices and that's just flot enougis." team 10 compete on this summrrer, have Moore. "With Nick Aalhers back this year Although Jeif Lecky said he's flot looking to slamn gone 10 Etobicoke. and Taylor Lawton once again hitîing the anyone in panticular over the issue, be feels his son 's COBA is expected tu hand down a deci- hall well we could he hetter at the plate, chances for advancement in lacrosse are been sup- sion on Ibis fairly soon. although that's somneîiing in always con- presseti wiîh the iteent denial for release. Also, Moore had expected 10 gel a few cemed about." "Il's a travesty. They're flot looking ouI for the kids graduates from, lasi year's juniors. but cor- Tise Red Sox wili have a few new faces but l'or the leagLIe." rently bas a commilmient trom only Evan in the lîneup as well witb Marc Sgrignoli Thse players involved can stl appeal thse decision Jeans -wbo'll fill ai leasi some oif void of' tise lntercounîy Guelph Royals and wîîlî tise Ontiario Lacrosse Association. lefi by OUigoing catcher Seaui Bush. Waierdosvn's Kîp Keitis, plus coachine Holuîveri tbree o ic Isebe have indîcated thai Miltoîn luises fel tssarters Chiris duties ssilî be aided by Scott Gadd and because ofi the eîîsî iiîvilved ansd sliîn chsance nf the (ougbliii and Tîîdd Devlîîî io ssurk corn Moore's broiber Gerry. rtiiiiý,beig oerunidthe do'tplat t eercsemjitenis. svlile reliable slugger Jeff Miltn coîstinues an exiended seasos iblis I ual uî ption. MacLeod is tryiing oui wsils a semi-pro club uîpenuisg road trip Monlday nighî iii Ryan L-ecky remains uîsdecided, stating, "I don't 11 Medicine Hat, Alberta and may flot be OaLville and is back aI Brian BesI Park kiios. Fiii lii sure i's svorth it. especially since limes available untîl laIe summiner -if aI al. May 23 foi a Victoria Day doubie-beadet rurnning rmnrteul jîiii mslcnh~ esiîîy. . .Rcarked Mî :Those uw soneW'gatslimn 1 Il i