Al18 -The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, April 11, 2006 SPORTS SPORTS EDITOR: STEVE LeBLANC e-mail sleblanc@haltonsearch.com Ellison gearing up _ for Royal Bank Cup Despite longshot status, host Derbys shouldn't be counted out, says local winger By Steve LeBlanc CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF Steve Ellison bas neyer been one ro put too much stock in what the so-called hockey experts have to say and perhaps thats just as well. If be dtd, the 20-year-old Miltontan would ltkely, be looking upon next tnonths Royal Bank Cup (RBC) witb dread rather than as the once-in-a-life- ttme opportunity that it is. Part of tbe team thatîIl host tbe Tier 2 jr. A nattonals at the Brampton Poweraid Centre May 6 to 14, Ellison and bis Streetsville Derbys are betng given practtcally no chance for victory - at least accordtng ta, talk at local arenas and recent postings on a popu- lar Internet forum. To hear somne fans tell, the Derbys bosts won't just fali short of a national title. but %wmll faIt embar-rasstngly short. At one potnt there was even somne speculatton that Streetsvtlle would hind otself wvitb a severely depleted Iineup by the time the RBC rolled e around, wit a lengtby layofi causing some players ta simply ]ump ship. "Idon't know wbere that came from - everyone bere knows wbats tn front of us and wbat a big opportu- GRAHAM PAINE CANADiAN CHAMPION nitv tbts is ,- satd the tbird-year nigbt IN PERFECT FORM: Locally trained at the Cead Bua Fighting Arts Centre, f vis Stojko competes in the 18 to winger, wbose RBC hosts arc now tn 34-year-old traditional kung fu advanced forms at Saturday's Greater Toronto Martial Arts Championships at John the late stages of a two-and-a-balf Tonelli Sports Centre. Looking on (at right) is his Grandmaster, Sifu Lore King Hong. Stojko won both the forms tnontb htatus before the nationals - event and his weapons class, and went on ta be crowned grand champion. The event featured roughly 300 com- baving hecen elimtnated in ftrst-round petîtors - including others from the hast club as well as the Milton School of Jiu Jitsu and Fighting Griffin Martial Provitnctal jr. A playoff actton by Arts - and raised about $9,000 for Rose Cherrys Home for Kîds. For another photo at the event, see page A20. Georgetown Fehruarx' 21. "Basmcally $ 29.99 * LubeOil & Plusc$290e o Filter Chane 1 FEE oUl ofwindshield Washer FIuid + other fluid top ups Factory Parts! - Discount Prices! e + Dtapeal + t.xuu - Sue dealer fer detaila. Mout cr/uuvn . 9W. . y ' Jfyi Steve Ellison we're just trying ta ignore the cnittcs and stay facused." Ellison need only look back ta last spring ta tbrow a gmant-size monkey wrencb mnto the naysayers'no-chance- in-hell -for-Stre tsv lie outlook. Mucb ltke this years Derbys, the 2005 RBC bost Weyburn Red Wtng sat around for two montbs after heing put out tn the round anc - but brougbt it aIl together once the countrys top teams bit Saskatchewan. "Anytbmng can bappen ait this level, I tbtnk the Milton lceHawks going out in the second round proves that," satd Elltson, referrtng ta bis bometawn club's sbocktngly-early departure fromt the playaf[s. "Anyhody can heat any- body. Sure were not the mass talented team out there and we've taken some bumps this season, but tf everyone hnings 100 per cent. we've got no doubt that we can compete." That opttmism stems partîx' from personal expermence, since the formner Halton Hurrtcane ts no stranger ta *see BREAK on page A20 200C* R,-%TES s ýS.04) SIIiII.00 't-iliors Fri. Sat & Sun () 1) S W.00 1 a 1% bu-1 f ýýdà, bc 1,- 7, ýiian, u, -,ti oo m 1 i