SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012 | WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA Sports 11 Former B.C. Lions head coach Gushue chases Brier title Buono captures Stukus Trophy with inexperienced team Dan RALPH Donna SPENCER little bit of, what’s the word, vari- ability I guess. We could be really The Canadian Press The Canadian Press good or really bad. We’ll find out SASKATOON — Brad Gushue pretty soon.” TORONTO — Five Grey Cup Third Mark Nichols was the championships. Four Annis Stukus sounds like he’s wrestling be- tween aspiration and expectation. remaining member of Gushue’s Trophies as the CFL’s coach of the triumphant Olympic team until year. And yet Wally Buono believes The skip of Newfoundland and Labrador has a young team with Nichols decided last year he need- the B.C. Lions might be better off ed a sabbatical from curling. without him as their head coach. him at the Canadian men’s curling championship starting Saturday Second Russ Howard has been Buono was a runaway winner a commentator on TSN’s curl- of the 2011 coach of the year hon- in Saskatoon. It’s a completely different lineup ing coverage for several years. our Friday, receiving 45 first-place Lead Jamie Korab most re- votes from the 56 voting members than his team who won Canada’s first Olympic gold medal in men’s cently coached his province at of the Football Reporters of Cana- the Canadian women’s curling da. Paul LaPolice of the Winnipeg curling in 2006. You don’t win an Olympic championship. Blue Bombers and Kavis Reed of Gushue has a new front end the Edmonton Eskimos were the title at the age of 26 without brashness, however. this season with Adam Casey, 22, finalists. at second and 26-year-old Geoff Buono was a clear sentimental Now 31, Gushue doesn’t want BUONO to be counted out of the running, Walker at lead. Ryan Fry, 33, choice given he resigned as head played second for Gushue at the coach a week after B.C.’s improb- off-season it has a head coach But Buono won’t be spending a even though his team is consid- ered a more distant contender last three Briers and now throws able Grey Cup championship to who can deal with everything,” lot of time there admiring the lat- third stones. concentrate full-time on his GM Buono said. “When I was doing it est addition to his hardware collec- behind former champions Glenn Howard of Ontario and Kevin Koe Gushue will skip his province at duties. Buono didn’t look far for his most of my energy was put into be- tion. the Brier for a 10th year, includ- replacement, promoting defensive ing a general manager, scouting, “I’m not into a lot of this stuff,” of Alberta. “I guess we’re one of the teams ing six straight times since win- co-ordinator Mike Benevides. personnel, contracts, business. he said. “My wife has a little bit of ning Olympic gold in Turin, Italy. For nine seasons, Buono was the “For me it has been very, very what looks like a shrine set up but fighting for third spot,” Gushue said dryly. “Everyone is saying He was runner-up to Howard in Lions head coach and GM, which helpful and very good to have that’s for her. 2007 and third last year in Lon- he said meant the club went much Mike. He takes care of a lot of “For me, it’s more about the Koe and Howard in the final. I guess we’re in the other bunch. don, Ont. Gushue finished first of the off-season without someone things and from that perspective memories, the relationships. I in the preliminary round in Lon- to co-ordinate coaching respon- hopefully two minds are better don’t wear my Grey Cup rings, I “Obviously we feel we have a chance. Otherwise we wouldn’t don, but lost in a playoff game to sibilities because Buono was too than one.” never have. I’ve received the com- Howard and to eventual winner busy being the general manager. But Buono wasn’t feeling overly missioner’s ring, I don’t wear that be here. In past years, we’ve had much more experience on the Jeff Stoughton of Manitoba in the Now, with Benevides on board, sentimental Friday. He says the and it’s not that I don’t appreciate semifinal. that situation has been rectified. trophy will be on display at home it. To me, the memories and emo- team than this year. There’s a “The organization today might in a room his wife has set up for his tions are what are important to be better off because during the football accomplishments. me.” Struggling Maple Leafs fire coach Wilson Chris JOHNSTON spiralling down the standings to The Canadian Press 11th place, five points out of a playoff spot, and sealed Wilson’s TORONTO — The Toronto Ma- fate. ple Leafs are turning to a new voice Burke’s relationship with Car- after firing coach Ron Wilson. lyle goes back to 2005 when Burke Former Anaheim Ducks coach hired him as coach in Anaheim. Randy Carlyle was named as Wil- In the most successful season in son’s replacement on Friday night. Ducks’ history, and with Burke at General manager Brian Burke the helm, Carlyle guided the team made the move after watching the to their first-ever Stanley Cup Leafs crash out of the Eastern Con- championship in 2007. ference playoff race over the last Carlyle, 55, spent seven seasons month. as coach in Anaheim and led the “This was not an easy decision team to five playoff appearances. for me to make,” said Burke in a Only Detroit’s Mike Babcock has statement. “I want to thank Ron for more playoff wins than Carlyle’s 36 WILSON all of his hard work and dedication since 2005-06. to our organization over the past The Sudbury, Ont., native was Centre to conclude a recent homes- four seasons.” fired by the Ducks in December tand. But eventually he was forced As recently as late January, the after a rocky start to the season. to move in another direction. Leafs appeared to be well on their Burke remained loyal to Wilson “The talk in town doesn’t really way to ending a playoff drought until the end – continuing to de- matter,” Wilson had said earlier in that stretches back to 2004. But a fend the coach after fans chanted the day at a Leafs practice ahead 1-9-1 skid starting Feb. 7 sent them “FI-RE WIL-SON!” at Air Canada of a game Saturday in Montreal. Cats sharpen claws Citizen staff When the Cougars and Chiefs last met, in October in Prince George, the games ended in a 2-2 tie and a 7-3 Before they can start thinking about playoffs, the win for the Cats. Cariboo Cougars have one last test to pass. And it will This weekend, the Cougars will have to be mindful be a tough one. of two Chiefs players in particular – Adam Rockwood The Cats play their final regular-season games in the and Jamie Waddington. They are currently first and B.C. Hockey Major Midget League today and Sunday second in the MML scoring race. In 38 games, Rock- in the Lower Mainland. The second-place Cougars wood has 16 goals and an eye-popping 65 assists, (24-8-6) will skate against the third-place Vancouver good for 81 points, while Waddington has 28 goals Northeast Chiefs (21-13-4) in what should be a per- and 72 points in 38 outings. fect tune-up for the post-season. The Cougars are being led offensively by Eli Jarvis, Today’s game is in Burnaby and the rematch will be who is eighth on the scoring list with 22 goals and 52 on the ice in Delta. points in 37 games. The Cats have already clinched second place and Playoffs will start with the quarterfinals next week- a bye to the playoff semifinals, while the Chiefs are end. The eventual playoff champion will face the Al- locked in a battle with the Okanagan Rockets (19-11- berta winner in a regional showdown, which will be a 8) for third spot. The third- and fourth-place finishers qualifier for the Telus Cup national midget champion- will earn the right to host best-of-three quarterfinal ship tournament. This year’s Telus Cup is April 23-29 series. in Leduc, Alta.