The Prince George Citizen — Wednesday, November 22, 1989 — 15

Don Schaffer S p o r t s Sports editor

M i t c h e l l Canucks fall to O ilers' new star EDMONTON (CP) - Mark Mes­ j o i n s N L sier has replaced his friend and former teammate Wayne Gretzky as the dominant force for the Edmonton Oilers. h i s t o r y A talent in his own right, Messier SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In was content to play second fiddle runaway voting Kevin Mitchell for nine NHL seasons as Gretzky joined Willie Mays and Willie weaved his offensive magic and McCovey on Tuesday as the only led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups. San Francisco Giants player ever It now appears Messier has ta­ to win the National League most ken it upon himself to lift the valuable player award. Oilers out of the turmoil the club Teammate Will has been in since Gretzky was Clark was the traded to the Los Angeles Kings 15 * runnerup in vot- months ago. ‘n§ by the Base- Messier scored three goals Tues­ ball Writers day night, including the winner at f ‘ Association of 15:51 of the third period, as the ^ .% . / America. Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks \ # Now the 27- 4-3. Messier had two goals Sunday year-old Mitchell night and two assists — including would like to fol­ the winner eight seconds into over­ low in the foot- time — in a 5-4 victory over the MITCHELL ste p s of such Chicago Blackhawks. fleet sluggers as Mays and Bobby Bonds. Mitchell has begun a The seven points pushed Messier, a centre who has gained more rec­ weight loss program designed to ognition for toughness than scor­ add speed, although he stops short ing, into second place in the NHL of predicting he’ll match Jose Can­ scoring race with 38 points — four seco’s 40-40 feat in home runs and behind Gretzky. stolen bases in 1988. “Every year I come out and I Messier has 16 goa’s, second only feel I have to improve on some­ to the 17 scored by Joe Nieuwen­ thing,” Mitchell told reporters dyk of the Calgary Flames. from San Diego. ‘‘This time it’s my “Mess has been super from Day running. I know I can steal more One,” said Edmonton coach John bases than what I have (three in Muckier. “I don’t think he’s ever 1989).” played better.” Mitchell, whose previous high That’s quite a statement, con­ was 22 home runs, led the majors sidering that in 10 previous seasons last season with 47 and 125 runs Messier collected more than 100 batted in while hitting a career- points on four different occasions. high .291. He led the Giants to their “Messier was the story,” said first pennant since 1962, when Canucks coach Bob McCammon. Mays and McCovey played. “When he’s going, he’s a force. The BBWAA panel cast 20 of 24 He’s a guy you’ve got to take phy­ first-place votes for Mitchell, three sically and we didn’t do it. We nev­ for Clark and one for Pedro Guer­ er laid a glove on him.” rero of St. Louis. Messier, like Gretzky, is humble Clark batted .333 with 27 homers about his personal accomplish­ and 111 RBIs in front of Mitchell. ments. He prefers to stress the Mitchell will collect on an unspe­ needs of the team. cified bonus clause in his contract It should be taken for granted, for being named MVP. But he said he said, that the veterans of the the real benefit is the status the Oilers’ glory years share their award gives him in his native San experiences with the new players Diego. on the team. Quebec Nordiques Jeff Jackson (25) falls on his side Tuesday in Quebec after he was accidentally hit by team mate Steven Finn (29) “I’m very happy about it; it “I think as a team we’ve got to means a lot,” he said. “I can walk start talking about winning, we’ve around with my head up, especial­ got to start talking about the ly in my home town. playoffs, we’ve got to start talking “I can walk around and people about the Stanley Cup. will say, ‘There’s Kevin Mitchell. “The only way to be successful Hungry Bruins clip Red Wings He’s the MVP.’ It’s a great honor.” and become a great team is to Not since Brooklyn’s Dolph Ca- play together. Everything else falls by Canadian Press and they’ve played five fewer winner increased the Bruins’ snapped a three-game losing games. streak but retained the league’s milli in 1941 had a player been into place.” Their top scorer is a defence­ unbeaten streak to eight games (7- Goaltenders Rejean Lemelin and 0-1). The Red Wings, who snapped worst record. traded twice before becoming Although Messier was the indi­ man, Ray Bourque. They haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1972. Ca­ Andy Moog anchor a gritty defence a 12-game winless streak Saturday Al Maclnnis, Paul Ranheim and MVP. Mitchell was traded by the vidual standout, the Oilers slipped sual fans would be sorely tested to that becomes even tougher when at Quebec, fell to 5-14-3. Brad McCrimmon scored for the New York Mets to San Diego in past the Canucks with a team name five players on their roster. opponents are greeted on the small Gerard Gallant scored for De­ Flames within 81 seconds in the December 1986 and to the Giants effort. And yet the Boston Bruins are on ice surface of Boston Garden. The troit 31 seconds into the game. first period. Joe Cirella, Sakic and as almost an afterthought in a sev­ Esa Tikkanen contributed a key the edge again. Bruins are 7-1-1 at home, while Cam Neely pulled Boston even in Michel Goulet responded before en-player deal on July 4, 1987. goal early in the game. Bill Ran- While Buffalo receives the early Tuesday’s win in Detroit pushed the second period. Sergei Makarov gave the Flames a ford made some key saves after season hype and all eyes look to­ their road record to an even .500 at 4-3 lead midway through the third coming off the bench four minutes ward Montreal, Boston is quietly 5-5-1. Jets 4 Islanders 3 period. into the second period when start­ striving to leapfrog to the top of To get the winner in Detroit, Surging Winnipeg finished a road Blues 7 North Stars 4 Perez signs ing goaltender Grant Fuhr was the Adams Division. Sweeney carried the puck into the trip with a 3-1-1 record when Doug St. Louis ended a scoreless Bob Sweeney’s overtime goal Detroit zone and went around for­ Smail scored with 2:28 left, giving streak that had reached 2Vi games dazed in a goal-mouth collision. the Jets a comeback victory. It In their usual close-to-the-vest gave Boston a 2-1 decision over De­ mer Toronto defenceman “Borje against Minnesota goaltender Jon troit, the Bruins’ sixth straight Salming. When goalie Greg Stefan was the second time in two nights Casey, scoring on three of their to Yankees style, the Canucks stayed close — that the Jets had erased a two-goal overcoming 2-0 and 3-2 deficits on win. skated out to challenge him, Swee­ first four shots. After having noth­ NEW YORK (AP-CP) — The In other NHL games Tuesday it ney circled the net and dumped the deficit in the final period. Monday ing to show for 60 shots on goal in goals by Greg Adams, Brian Brad­ night, they scored twice to tie the New York Yankees, hurt by the was: Winnipeg 4, New York Island­ puck into the open side, for his sec­ two games against Casey this sea­ second-worst pitching staff in base­ ley and Petri Skriko. ond overtime winner of the season New York Rangers 3-3. ers 3; Calgary 4, Quebec 4; St. son, Peter Zezel, Steve Tuttle and ball last season, signed right-hand­ But the Oilers increased the tem­ and ninth goal of the year. Brind’Amour scored in the first Louis 7, Minnesota 4. Flames 4 Nordiques 4 er Pascual Perez away from the po late in the third period and Breaking off the starting line to­ “It was a classic Bob Sweeney 10:56 to chase Casey. Quebec recovered from a 3-0 def­ Montreal Expos on Tuesday for came up with the winning goal — a ward a 23rd consecutive season type of goal,” said coach Mike Mil- icit to tie floundering Calgary, Casey’s shutout streak against $5.7 million over three years. shot by defenceman Charlie Huddy with a .500 record or better, the bury. “When he’s skating, he’s which suffered a seventh straight the Blues dating to last season end­ The 32-year-old that bounced into the Vancouver team with the blue-collar image is strong enough to keep the puck game without a win. Joe Sakic’s ed at 150 minutes 13 seconds. Rick net off Messier’s leg. tied for third overall in the league. away from the defence.” second goal of the game with less Meagher and Adam Oates added free agent, who The win extended the Oilers With a 12-6-2 record, the Bruins sit Stefan and Lemelin matched per­ than two minutes remaining result­ first-period goals against Kari Tak- : - started spring undefeated string to four games. four points back of the Canadiens formances before Sweeney’s game- ed in the point for Quebec, which ko. training in drug m&p s rehabilitation, flB / ’ _ f j went 9-13 with a ffi, . - m 3.31 earned-run Knights' future unclear M atth ew s new A rg os' COOCh JK average in 33 games for the PENTICTON,ITM'TIP'TVlM B.C.U r (CP) l nr> - \ TVlOThe inrting (today) nolrmrt asking frx- for o a leave of TORONTO (CP) — The Toronto It was third time lucky for Mat­ Expos. B.C. Junior Hockey League may absence. It’s tough to make a deci­ Matthews became the leading can­ Argos have named Don Matthews thews in 1985. B.C. finished the re­ P erez m ade take over operation of the Pentic­ sion like this.” didate for the Argo post imme­ as head coach of the Canadian diately after O’Billovich’s dismiss­ gular season 13-3, swept the Blue PEREZ $850,000 in 1989. ton Knights if the financially The reports of the Knights fold­ Football League club. Bombers in the divisional final and In the Yankee deal he receives a troubled team can’t continue the ing was news to Allison. al. The speculation heated up after outgunned Hamilton 37-24 in the $600,000 signing bonus, a $100,000 season, league president Bruce “You don’t walk away from the Matthews, 50, was named today the Eskimos were upset by Sas­ katchewan in the western final last championship game. relocation bonus, $1.2 million in Allison said today. league,” he said. “If it’s true, the to replace Bob O’Billovich, fired He was fired two years later, 1990 and $1.9 million in each of the The Junior A team will cease league will call an emergency last week after an eight-year stint Sunday. however, by general manager Joe 1991 and 1992 seasons. operations this week du,j ;o finan­ meeting on the weekend.” with the team. The Argos struggl­ He spent six seasons — 1977-83 — Galat with four games remaining “There’s some things you can’t cial difficulties, majon y owner The league may decide to take ed through a 7-11 regular season as the defensive line and lineback­ in the regular season. Matthews control,” Montreal general man­ Herman Hordal said Tuesday. over the team or it could hold a and were eliminated by the Win­ ers coach for the Eskimos. Edmon­ left the Lions as the club’s winnin- ager Dave Dombrowski said. “We “The directors had a meeting draft to disperse Knights players nipeg Blue Bombers in the eastern ton went to the Grey Cup each gest coach with a 56-23-1 mark. had made a substantial offer to (Monday night) and felt it couldn’t to other teams, Allison said. se vfinal. year, winning five consecutive ti­ A native of Amesbury, Mass., he him and had indicated we were go on,” said Hordal. “They (the If the team folds abruptly, it tles. “I r.el, as I did with the B.C. Matthews was named to the was ready to join the NFL Dallas prepared to go higher, but obvious­ directors) were not prepared to put could cause problems both for Pen­ Lions, our goal will be to host the ly, he and his agent (Tom Reich) more cash inj ctions into the hock­ Lions post in 1983 and guided a Cowboys as an assistant until long­ ticton, a well-established hockey eastern final next year,” Matthews time coach Tom Landry was fired. decided New York was the best ey club.” community 260 kilometres east of team that missed the playoffs in told a news conference. “It’s an ‘82 to an 11-5 regular-season finish, Matthews returned to the Eskimos. place for him.” Unless the league r.teps in and of­ Vancouver, and for Hordal, he attainable goal. More Perez, page 16 fers assistance, or „ntess new own­ said. good for first place in the West. More football, page 17 ers are found immeaiLtely, the op­ Hordal’s credibility and credit “This is a very similar opportu­ B.C. lost 18-17 to Toronto in the ti­ eration will fold, tie said. rating could be affected and if the nity to the one I had with the B.C. tle game. “If there is a group out there team leaves any debts, it could Lions.” The Lions went 12-3-1 the next prepared to take on a junior hock­ affect whether the community gets An assistant coach under Joe season, then were beaten by Win­ ARCTIC SNOWPLOWS ey club that’d be great. Until another franchise, Allison said. Faragalli in Edmonton this season, nipeg in the western final. whenever new owners are found, He last heard from Hordal sever­ For dependable performance in the most se­ there’ll be no more junior hockey al days ago and although he was vere weather conditions you can trust Arctic in Penticton,” said Hordal. made aware of financial problems, Snowplows. Just look at these features: “We drafted a letter to go into there was no indication the Knights NATIONAL COACHING J / • 26" high roll-action blade the league office tomorrow morn­ would fold, he said. / • 5 vertical reinforcement ribs CERTIFICATION • Heavy duty trip springs m • All steel welded frame Spruce Kings lose to Millionaires " Q / o ^ PROGRAMME Quick disconnecting hoses • Arctic Snowplows - The ultimate A third-period goal by Kurt Tay­ Mike Collins of Quesnel opened ' in fast efficient plowing. lor Tuesday gave the Quesnel Mil­ scoring at 5:42 to give the Millio­ LEVEL 1 - CANADIAN SPECIAL OLYMPIC THEORY GET THE DRIFT? lionaires a 4-3 win over the Spruce naires the initial advantage. (Adapted for Coaching with Mentally Handicapped Athletes) Kings in the Prince George Colise­ Gord Lennox tied the game for um. Prince George at 17:18. SUNDAY, NOV. 26th From ^99^ per month o.ac. Taylor’s marker past Prince The Spruce Kings moved ahead $1000 down balance 24 months George netminder Glen Nazaruk in the second period with goals by Lakewood Elementary School capped a three-goal Quesnel rally Darren Zinger, and Lennox. Plows to fit GMC, Dodge, International, Ford, Jeep, Chevy and now Toyota and Datsun Pickups! in the final period. The Spruce Quesnel rebounded in the third 950 Kerry Street Kings were leading 3-1 after two with goals from captain Mario periods. Rush, Sean Johnston and Taylor. 11:30 a.m .-5:30 p.m. Elsewhere in the Peace Cariboo Prince George outshot the visi­ P H ~ Junior Hockey League Tuesday the tors 39 to 28. To register: Call Leverne Wyman, 1769 NICHOLSON STREET Fort St. John Huskies defeated the The Spruce Kings travel to Wil­ 564-7855 after 6 p.m. (In the Nicholson Centre) winless Dawson Creek Raiders 12-1 liams Lake Friday to play the in Dawson Creek. Mustangs.