..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
MARCH 20, 2003
For those members of the Markham Waxers who experienced the emotional pain of a seven-game loss to the Wexford Raiders two seasons ago in the second round of the Provincial Junior A Hockey League playoffs, all is forgotten.

For Waxers goalkeeper Scott Gray, the nightmare of squandering a three games to one lead as a member of the Pickering Panthers to the Raiders in last year's playoffs is now a distant memory.

On Tuesday, those players, along with the first- and second-year members of the Waxers, exorcized any curses the Raiders had cast on them after they captured the deciding game of their best-of-seven South Division final with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wexford at the Scarborough Arena.

For the Waxers, it marked the first time they've had their name engraved on the league's South Division trophy.

"There was revenge for sure," confirmed an elated Waxers' veteran forward Kevin Cribari, who had vivid recollections of what transpired two years ago when he was a rookie. "I thought we had bad refereeing two years ago when we lost to them and we didn't get the bounces that year. This time, we got the bounces. It's a big difference for sure." The third-year centre, who is in his final year with the team, played an instrumental role in eliminating the hex as he set up Ryan Steane's game-winning goal with just under three minutes remaining in regulation time in Monday's sixth game at Centennial Arena, a 6-5 verdict, that set the stage for Tuesday's finale.

On Tuesday, Cribari took matters into his own hands as he deposited the game-winning marker at the 15:15-mark of the third period.

"It was a lucky bounce that I got and I got a shot away. I thought their goalie (Jimmy Healy) was a little weak on his glove side so I just tried to shoot it that way. I closed my eyes and it went in," he said.

An indication of things to come for the Waxers transpired in the first period when they took a 1-0 lead on a goal from an unexpected source in rookie forward Daniel Torres.

"That's what you need in a game like this," noted Waxers head coach Russ Herrington of the contribution the rookie line, which was filled out by Stephen Wong and Nathaniel Brooks.

That margin held up until the second period when the Raiders scored unanswered goals to take a 2-1 lead.

But the Waxers responded to even the count before the period concluded on a power-play goal by Liam Bowen.

That set the stage for a nail-biting finish.

In explaining his recent heroics, Cribari revealed he became focused after his line (comprised of Steane and Bowen) were challenged by club general manager Larry Herrington after they were on the brink of elimination after losing last Sunday's fifth game.

"It was more of a motivation thing for us to step up for the sixth game," recalled Cribari of the tongue lashing they received.

Herrington acknowledged his club's success in rallying after being on the brink of elimination was buoyed by the play of Cribari's line.

"These are three guys who are in their final year of junior eligibility and they didn't want to end their careers just yet. That's what you expect from your veteran guys."

As well, Herrington praised the work of goalkeeper Gray, who appeared to struggle during the series, but came up big when it mattered most.

"That was by far the best game Scottie has played all season. We definitely got a good performance from him tonight," said Herrington.

Handling 33 of 35 shots directed his way, Gray felt vindicated.

"When I played with Pickering last year we were up three games to one before losing to them. Sweet revenge is so good," he said.

Herrington also felt his club fed off of the momentum they gained after Monday's contest, which resembled a game which the team that had the last shot would win.

Having the luxury of a veteran-laden lineup, Herrington expected his charges to respond to adversity.

"We definitely fed off of Monday's must-win situation," he said. "I thought we played with a lot of patience in the final two games. We've got a lot of guys in the dressing room who've been around with this team for a while and they wanted to win. They were willing to do what it took to win. You can't teach that."

Although the club now has the title of South Division champions, they are not standing pat. The Waxers will now face the Wellington Dukes in a best-of-seven league semi-final series with Game one scheduled to be played in Wellington on Friday (Mar. 21) at 7:30pm.

"We don't want to get too high," warned Cribari. "We've only won a division title. We still have a journey to go through." While the players had a good reason to rejoice, so too did Waxers' owner Don Bremner, who first purchased the team in 1994. Bremner was quick to praise the character the team showed throughout the playoffs thus far.

"These guys are amazing, their work ethic, their commitment and their heart...our veterans and our young guys, they were determined. I knew (winning the South Division title) could be done. And it's nice to win it with mostly Markham kids."

As for winning the South Division title, he said it's one of the best feelings he's ever experienced.

"It's one of the best feelings I've ever had next to getting married, having my first daughter being born and then winning the South Division title.

In looking ahead to the upcoming best-of-seven semi-final series, the coaches and players voice no preference as to who they would like to face.

"We don't care and we really don't know what we will see," said Herrington. "Traditionally though, the east is known as a tough, defensive style of division. We're not sure what we're up against." "It really doesn't matter who we meet in the next round. We've just got to continue to play our hears out just as the way we've been doing so far in the playoffs," added Waxers' captain Mark Menonte, who contributed two power-play goals in Monday's must-win situation.

Rounding out the scoring for the Waxers in Monday's win were Bowen with two goals and Tony Rossi.

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