The Prince George Citizen — Saturday, January 3, 1987 — 11

MARK ALLAN S p o r t s Sports editor

Canadians shone brightly in 1986

by MARK HARDING field, Waldo is to synchronized swimming Returning to West Germany in October, in the American League East Division an impact on the Canadian sports scene Canadian Press what Johnson and Wayne Gretzky are to the Edmonton native and her champion with an 86-76 won-lost record, 9V^ games in 1986 was the national soccer team, their fields. The native of Beaconsfield, horse M r. T came from behind to win the behind the Boston Red Sox, while Montre­ Canada’s first entry in World Cup tourna­ Canadian athletes, often ignored by the Que., hasn’t lost a solo event since the final event of an international Grand Prix al was fourth in the National League East ment history. Although outscored 5-0 in international sports community, went to 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and in 1986 competition. with a 78-83 mark, 29^ games behind the its three games, the team was highly the world in 1986 and proved that they she won the national solo title, the Com­ The list of Canadian women to excel New York Mets. praised for its play and Canada was firm ­ were among the best. monwealth Games duet crown and the both at the national and international le­ The League teams ly placed on the world soccer map. The calendar was dotted with brilliant world duet championship, both with Mi­ vels wouldn’t be complete without men­ that represent ana Toronto It may be a while before Canada has a individual performances abroad by the chelle Cameron. tioning diver Debbie Fuller of Pointe- fared little better. While the Alouettes fin­ world soccer title, but global curling likes of sprinter Ben Johnson, synchro­ Graham, often overshadowed by the Claire, Que., swimmer Allison Higson of ished out of the playoffs with an abysmal crowns seem to have found a home in nized swimmer Carolyn Waldo, skier Lau­ feats of the men’s national ski team Toronto and middle-distance runner Lynn 4-14 record, the Argonauts finished first this country. The men’s and women’s ti­ rie Graham and equestrian Gail Gree- members, grabbed centre stage in 1986. Williams of Vancouver. in the Eastern Division with a 10-8 record tles won in 1985 were retained in 1986 by nough. The Inglewood, Ont., native won a pair of On the men’s side, swimmers Alex Bau­ but were ousted from the playoffs 59-56 in Ed Lukowich’s Calgary rink and Marilyn The individual spotlight during much of World Cup downhill titles and placed sec­ mann of Sudbury, Ont., and Victor Davis the two-game, total-point playoff against D arte’s foursome from St. Catharines, the last 12 months has been on Johnson, ond twice and third three times, the best of Kitchener, Ont., cross-country skier the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ont. the soft-spoken speedster who blazed showing by a Canadian female since Nan­ Pierre Harvey of St-Lambert-de-Levis, One title that failed to remain in the across finish lines from Osaka, Japan, to cy Greene won her second combined Que., and figure skater Brian Orser of The Ticats then travelled to Vancouver to meet the Western Division-champion hands of a Canadian for long was Trevor Ottawa in times that earned him the bil­ championship in 1968. Penetanguishene, Ont., were major par­ Berbick’s World Boxing Council heavy­ ling as the world’s fastest human. In the second downhill race of the 1986- ticipants on the Canadian and internation­ Edmonton Eskimos in the , where they pulled off one of the biggest weight championship. The former Halifax At the Goodwill Games in Moscow in 87 season, Graham won at Val d’Isere, al scenes in 1986. upsets in Cup history with a 39-15 win resident lost the belt to American Mike July, Johnson posted the second-fastest France — the same day Rob Boyd of Many of these athletes pooled their ta­ over the heavily favored Eskimos. Tyson in his first defence. time in history for the 100-metre sprint — Whistler, B.C., took the men’s downhill at lents to form a team that hauled in 51 Berbick was stripped earlier in the 9.95 seconds — and then went to Edin­ Val Gardena, Italy. It was the first time gold medals at the boycott-plagued Com­ The Canadian Interuniversity Athletic ear of his Canadian title, which belonged burgh, Scotland, where the Jamaica na­ Canadians had taken a m en’s and wo­ monwealth Games, finishing second be­ Union football championship between the riefly to Edmonton’s Ken Lakusta but tive won the Commonwealth Games gold men’s World Cup downhill race on the hind Britain in that department. Overall, British Columbia Thunderbirds and West­ now is in the hands of Willie de Wit of in the 100. same day. the Canadian team won 115 medals to fin­ ern Mustangs was also one of the best During the indoor season, Johnson won Greenough became the first woman — ish third behind Britain and Australia. games in the country this year. The Gr?nde Prairie, Alta. six of the eight races he entered and re­ and the first Canadian — to win the world Meanwhile, Canada’s two major league Thunderbirds, who finished the season as Inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall corded a world-best clocking of 6.50 se­ show jumping championship, held at baseball teams, the Toronto Blue Jays the No. 1-ranked team in Canada, erased of Fame in 1986 were skier Ken Read, conds in the 60-metre sprint at a meet in Aachen, West Germany, in July. The win and Montreal Expos, each contended at a five-point, last-minute deficit to defeat former M IL and CFL referee Red Storey, Japan. made her a sensation in Europe, where various stages of the season for their res­ the second-ranked Mustangs 25-23 for the swimmer Graham Smith, former NHL Although her sport doesn’t receive the equestrian events have a higher profile pective division titles but eventuallv ran Vanier Cup title. goalie Bill Durnan and thoroughbred own- international recognition of track and than in North America. out of gas. The Blue Jays finished fourth Perhaps the only winless team to make er-breeder Jean-Louis Levesque. mixup most memorable by Canadian Press favorites going into the frame. Hamilton won the Grey Edm onton. looked loose in its Cup, Toronto received the go- final practice, traditionally ahead for a domed stadium the team’s time for some play­ and Blue Bomber ful fun. receiver James Murphy proba­ ”1 never met (defensive line* bly got some grief from his man) Dave Fennell but I know wife. 1 don’t like him for retiring,” The first two events pro­ red-faced offensive guard Kurt vided lots to talk about in Chapman said after his Eski­ 1986. The third was probably mo teammates stripped him the direct result of one of the and left him lying at midfield. more memorable lines of the ‘‘He started this and it seems year. I have to take over. “Winning the Schenley is “ I had no idea they were Canada's 1986 champions the best thing that has ever going to do this. If I knew, I would not have come to prac­ (clockwise from left): Ben happened to me,” Murphy said after winning the Schenley tice.” Johnson/ the world's fast­ Award for most outstanding In Toronto, the Blue Jays est man; Carolyn Waldo, player in the Canadan Foot­ got the news that the Municipal Board had given world champion synchro­ ball League. “This is even bet­ ter than making love to my the final go-ahead for a domed nized swimmer; Laurie w ife.” stadium. The announcement Graham, top downhill To make matters worse, came as rain delayed the start of a doubtcheadcr against the skier; Ed Lukowich, Sil Murphy mixed up the names o f his wife and son in his ac­ New York Yankees. ver Broom winner; and ceptance speech. “It would be great if they Marilyn Darte, women's The Tiger-Cats also were could build it within the next half hour,” quipped Paul world curling champion. excited after drubbing the Edmonton Eskimos 39-15 in Beeston, the Jays’ executive the CFL championship game. vice-president of business ope­ Hamilton defensive back rations. Lance Shields, an import, was In boxing, former Canadian so excited he forgot that 12 champion Trevor Berbick men play the Canadian game, stunned the ring world when telling a reporter the lopsided he upset American Pinklon win was the result of 11 men Thomas for the W’orld Boxing working together on the field. Council. The win came as no Owner sa* surprise to Berbick, who had vorcd the victory and couldn’t predicted the outcome. resist a dig at a local rival. “ I don’t need luck for no “ I ’ve enjoyed every minute duck,” he said. of being in Hamilton and On the baseball front, Na­ enjoyed the Hamilton people,'’ tional League batting champ he told the people of Steel* Tim Raines called a three-year town as they applauded their contract offer from Montreal champions. “Thank God, I worth a total of $4.8 million didn't get the (Toronto) Argo­ US unfair and embarrassing. nauts.” ‘‘It makes me wonder if The Tiger-Cat victory came they really want me,” Haines on the heels of a 59*56 aggre­ said. gate triumph over the Argo­ Offensive lineman Michael nauts in the CFL Eastern fi­ Schad, picked in the first nal. Hamilton rallied from a round by CFL’s Ottawa 26-polnt deficit in the second Rough Riders, also had con­ game to stun the Argos. tracts on his mind after he “On any given day, they was picked in the first round had a big night,” Toronto de­ of the National Football fensive back Carl Braxley League draft by the Low said. Angeles Rams. The Eskimos thumped B.C. “ I can honestly say Ottawa to advance Into the Grey Cup is pretty well out of the pic­ and were comfortable 12-point ture right now,” Schad said. Oilers lose but still get attention

by GRANT KERR teams realize now that there is Roy had a sparkling goals- Calgary obtained in a late-season (for Brad the winner of the Canadian Press always the chance to beat them.” against average of 1.92 in 20 trade from St. Louis, was the top Park), Jacques Martin of St. as the top goalkeeper. Louis (for Demers), Terry Simp­ The first all-Canadian Stanley Strangely enough, in the year playoff games, playing every playoff scorer with 12 goals. Vet­ Right winger Mike Bossy of the son of the Cup final in 19 years is best re­ when the Oilers failed in the minute for the Habs in four se­ eran right winger Lanny McDo­ New York Islanders won the (for the retired ) and membered for the team that playoffs, Edmonton’s Glen Sather ries, to easily earn the Conn nald added 11 more for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for John Brophy of the Toronto Ma­ couldn’t shoot straight in 1986 was named winner of the Jack Smythe Trophy as the most valu­ Flames. gentlemanly play and centre ple Leafs (for Maloney). rather than the unlikely Adams Award as the best N H L able player of the playoffs. The Oilers never seemed to of the Chicago Coaching changes after play opponents for the championship. coach. Lemieux. a cocky and often ir­ practise what they preached. Black Hawks captured the Frank ritable right winger, scored 10 began this season included Tom The , the two- Wayne Gretzky continued to Sather stressed a more con­ J. Selke Trophy for defensive hoard the NHL’s individual aw­ goals in the playoffs, including Webster taking over for Ted Sa- play by a forward. time defending champions, were two in overtime and two more servative defensive game in the tor of the , Sa- the team with the poor aim. They ards, taking his seventh straight playoffs, but the players contin­ Bob Froese and rookie Darren as the that proved to be game-winners. tor replacing who were upset in the second round of Naslund darted his way to 19 ued to bolt for wide open spaces replaced with the Jensen of the the playoffs by the rough-and- league’s most valuable player and ignored checking responsibil­ combined to earn the William M. ana the sixth consecutive Art playoff points, the silky-smooth , and Terry tumble , a team Smith added 15 more and the de­ ities, which proved costly in the O’Reilly for Butch Goring with Jennings Trophy for team - ignited by the thoughtful coach­ Ross Trophy as scoring champion seven-game Calgary series. keeping following the unfortunate with a record 215 points and an­ pendable Robinson led the de­ the and Tom Web­ ing of Bob Johnson. fence which allowed Roy to post “Their players followed instruc­ ster for with the New death of netminder Pelle Lind­ other record 163 assists. The eventual champions were a 15-5 record in the playoffs by tions from Bob Johnson,” said York Rangers. bergh in an auto accident late in the , seventh The 1986 hockey year provided stopping 92 per cent of opposition Edmonton assistant John Mucki­ Other changes involved two 1985. in regular-season play in the Na­ a ray of hope for many NHL shots. er of the Flames. “Ours did not.” general managers. Often-injured winger Charlie tional Hockey League, who ra l­ teams. The Oilers were human There was almost an equal Now the NHL is waiting to see replaced Craig Simmer of the Boston Bruins won lied to the inspired goaltending of after all, rookie amount of satisfaction for the if the Oilers can mend their Patrick in the Ranger front office the Bill Masterton Memorial Tro­ rookie for unexpec­ Steve Smith accicently banked a Flames, the and ways. Checking and defence were and Bowman was sacked again in phy for perserverence, sports­ ted success in the playoffs. pass into his own net for the se- Campbell Conference champions. only marginally improved early Buffalo, this time in favor of his manship and dedication, while Montreal swamped a weary ries-deciding goal against Calga­ They proved the Oilers weren’t in the current season. The team assistant, Gerry Meehan. high-scoring centre Mario Le­ Calgary team in five games in ry, and the Stanley Cup finalists invincible. Calgary reconfirmed that couldn’t shoot straight might Defenceman Gary Suter of Cal­ mieux of the the final, winning the last four, were teams that finished sixth that fact again this fall by win­ once again shoot itself in the foot. gary, a freshman from the was named the top player by the but the spotlight in the playoffs and seventh in the overall stand­ ning four straight league games Meanwhile, the NHL proved to University of Wisconsin, won the NHL Players' Association. belonged to Edmonton after the ings. against Edmonton. be dangerous ground for the as the The ho­ failure of the Oilers to deal with The Canadiens won their first The Flames used rookie goal- coaching profession. Five new top rookie, while smooth-skating nored three retired players by in­ the adversity of the Flames. Stanley Cup in seven years tender Mike Vernon in playoff head coaches were hired during Paul Coffey of the Oilers gained ducting defenceman Serge* Sa- “ I ’m not sure we would have through the goalkeeping of Roy, victories over , the off-season and four more once his second straight James Norris vard, now general manager of won the Cup if Calgary hadn’t Robinson’s leadership on defence Edmonton and the St. Louis the 1986-87 schedule began. Memorial Trophy as the top de­ the Canadiens, centre Dave Keon first beaten Edmonton,” said and some timely scoring by de­ Blues. Vernon had a 12-9 playoff Named to lead teams during fenceman. of the and L arry Robinson, backbone of the pendable Mats Nasluna, rookie record and a respectable 2.93 the summer were , whose net- defenceman Leo Boivin, who Montreal defence. “The Oilers Claude Lemieux and the resur­ goals-against average. of the Jets (replacing Barry minding led the New York Rang­ played for several NHL teams, will be back, although the other gent Bobby Smith. Joe Mullen, the right winger Long), Jacques Demers of the ers to the playoff semifinals, was including the Bruins and Leafs.

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