..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
WAXERS READY FOR THE PLAYOFFS AFTER KEY WIN OVER THE SPIRIT
In explaining the success attained by the Markham Waxers over its last 10 games, Markham Waxers head coach Russ Herrington said his club has carried out what he says are the three C's.

Character, commitment and chemistry are the three elements Herrington feels his club has provided in winning seven games while tying two and losing just once.

Included in that torrid stretch was a 6-4 win on Friday, the club's fifth in a row, over the Stouffville Spirit at Centennial Arena. More importantly though, the win enabled the Waxers move a step closer to nailing down third place in the South Conference and home ice advantage in the first round with a 26-18-2-0 mark.

"Having character, chemistry and commitment are great things to have going for you going into the playoffs," said Herrington. "I like the feeling that we have in our dressing room now. As long as the guys stay committed, the other two C's will fall into place."

The Waxers could easily have folded the tent in Friday's game against the Spirit, who had already clinched third place in the North Conference, with the absence of several key players prior to and during the game.

With Mike Harding (shoulder injury), Jesse Boucher (thumb injury) and Mark Mitchell (who was ill), out prior to the game, the Waxers' absentee list grew substantially during the course of Friday's game. Steve Nobili hurt his thumb after going into the boards while Jason Fraccaro hurt his knee late in the second period. Adam Doucette received a game misconduct along with Spirit goalie George Eliopoulos after getting into a fight in the second period. Mark Menonte was also ejected from the game for being an instigator in a second-period fight and will receive a one-game suspension.

If that wasn't enough, the Waxers entered the third period down 4-3. However, the character of the team surfaced in the final 20 minutes when Derek Doucette delivered two goals, including the eventual game winner, and Jason Young added an empty net goal to ice the game. Jason Duffy and Paul Robinson scored first-period goals that saw the two teams play to a 2-2 tie through 20 minutes.

"I thought we played well right from the get go, we moved the puck pretty well and I thought we played physical when we had to and we forechecked well. But we made the big plays when we needed to," cited Herrington. "All in all, it was a great game. It was the type of game that brings a team even closer together. Even with the bruhaha in the second period, to come back without some of our key players it was nice."

The Waxers will play its final home regular season game on Friday against Pickering Panthers at 8 p.m. in what will be Graduate Appreciation Night. Prior to the game, the Waxers will honour eight team members who will play their final home regular season game. Among those being honoured are: Jimmy Ball, Alex Stoyan, Robbie Burrows, Kevin Tompkins, Andy Schofield, Adam Doucette and goalkeepers Rick Marnon and Dan Leclair. Stoyan, Burrows and Ball have been with the Waxers for three years while Tompkins is in his fourth season. Marnon, Leclair, Schofield and Doucette joined the club this season.

WAXER'S CAPTAIN NAMED MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Kevin Tompkins was named co-MVP of the South Conference along with Scott Misfud of Thornhill when the league announced it's regular season award winners. Tompkins, enjoying his fourth year with the Waxers recently represented the Waxers (along with Jimmy Ball) at the Ontario Provincial Junior A All Star Game..

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