THE CITIZEN, Prince George — Tuesday, February 23, 1982 — 15

GRETZKY WANTS TO BE AROUND WHEN HIS M ARK FALLS Buffalo would rather not see record set there BUFFALO, N.Y. (CP) — Edmonton Oilers had ice time stoppage in play so Esposito and NHL president John Ziegler scheduled for a light workout today in preparation for their can present him with the puck. game Wednesday night against the Sabres, who w ill try as best On April 5,1971, the day after Esposito scored his 76th, Dick they can to thw art Wayne Gretzky’s attempt to set a National Beddoes wrote in the Globe and M a il: “ Never, maybe, w ill we Hockey League single-season goal scoring record. 5 6 2 - 2 4 4 1 see a shooter who scored 76 goals in one year as Phil Esposito Sunday night in Detroit, Gretzky matched the 76 goals Phil Sports did this year. It was never possible before, never in any age." Esposito scored for Boston Bruins during the 78-game 1970-71 Eleven years later, Wayne Gretzky is the maybe. season. Gretzky has played 63 games of the 80-game schedule Esposito beat Montreal Canadiens goaltender Phil Myre for and besides his 76 goals has 95 assists for 171 points. horizon to wipe out his mark. football game. When the defence loosens and he sees daylight, three goals in the 78th and final game of the 1970-71 season to Mike Bossy of New York Islanders is in second place in the “ There’s no question it'll be broken. I hope to have he’s an peppering the puck at tho opposition goaltender. reach 76. Gretzky was 10 and playing peewee hockey in Brant­ scoring race with 44 goals and 63 assists for 107 points. opportunity to be there.’’ Esposito. 6-1 and 210 pounds, could be compared to a footballford, Ont., at the time. “ Records are made to be broken and that’s what the game The Sabres pose a formidable obstacle. With Don Edwards team’s fullback. Relying on cornermen like Wayne Cashman Seven years later, when he joined Indianapolis Racers of the and life is all about — progress,” Gretzky said Sunday night.in goal, Buffalo has allowed only nine goals in its lastand four Ken Hodge, Esposito would park him self in the slot, waitdefunct World Hockey Association, Gretzky was a scrawny kid "Whether it’s track and field, swimming, hockey or baseball. games. for a pass and fire the puck home. Many of his goals came onmany said would never withstand the rigors of the pro game. “ Records are always made to be broken, whether it’s five Gretzky and Esposito share the record today but there is power plays. Esposito pinpointed what he feels is the reason Gretzky has years from now or 10 years from now." little else in common as far as playing style goes. Esposito was 29 and in his ninth pro season w h e n M p Jsurvived. re d Gretzky said he has no delusions that, if he eclipses Esposi­ Gretzky, 5-foot-ll and 165 pounds, is all over the ice, feeding76. Gretzky is 21 and in his fourth pro season. “ He does something a lot of athletes wish they could do — to’s record, another player someday will not appear on passes the to his teammates like a quarterback tosses passes in a Esposito w ill be here and, if Gretzky scores, plans call for aconcentrate. He totally concentrates himself on that game.”

WHALERS BLOW 3-0 LEAD SIX CLU BS VISIT Stars succeed in shootout Hosts strong BLOOMINGTON, Minn. then we came storming (AP) — Minnesota coach back. Maybe we let them off Glen Sonmor was fuming.the hook in the third but we in gym meet “Defence! What de­ still got two (points).” fence?” Sonmor said after Minnesota’s bad start his North Stars won a shoot­had the North Stars down by MARK ALLAN out with Hartford Whalers 2-0 at the end of the first Sports Reporter 8-7 on Monday night in periodthe and 3-0 early in the only National Hockeysecond on goals by Hart­ Travel is expensive, so the Prince George School of League game scheduled. ford’s Dan Bourbonnais, Artistic Gymnastics brought the competition here. “ The only positive thingChris Kotsopoulos and PGSAG outshone six other clubs during the that came out of this was Doug Sulliman. weekend at an invitational meet featuring 90 gym ­ two points. nasts from North Vancouver, Kelowna, Terrace, But at 8:59 of the second “ It’s not nice to see. ToMinnesota winger Dino Cic­ Fort St. John and Quesnel. give a team 38 shots in our The Prince George Gympix were a second local carelli, who scored twice, rink is horrendous. club competing. ended Minnesota’s drought “ We get ahead and go PGSAG members garnered numerous medals and and started a four-goal goal crazy. You’re not going their domination was most obvious in the argo surge in a five-minute span. to go far in the playoffs like Next Steve Christoff (under 12) division. that.” banked in a goal o ff Hart­ Ginger Ferns and Cori Rustad were one-two in the The North Stars, 25-19-18, ford goalie Mike Veisor, provincial stream all-around argo class, while Shel­ have led the Norris Division then Steve Payne knocked ley Carlyle was fifth and Tracy Eberherr was sixth. from the first day of the sea­ in a deflected pass for the There were 16 entries in the division. son. Now with 18 games left tie. Defenceman Curt Giles Hartford Whalers’ centre Don Nachbaur (left), a Prince George minor hockey Denise Clowater was first in bars, beam, vault and in the regular season and puta the North Stars ahead at graduate, uses his stick to slow Kent-Erik Andersson of the North Stars. floor exercises, sweeping top honors in the open com­ 13-point lead over St. Louis14:06 when he banked a shot petition. Blues, they appear a shoo-inin off the foot of Hartford’s But less than a minute later itclinched. But Hartford’s his 43rd goal of the year on for the playoffs. Garry Howatt. Carol Connor of the Gympix was second. Minnesota defencemanBlaine Stoughton scored another on power play 13 “ We’ve got to start play­ But the Whalers, who sit Trina Corby was third in the provincial stream Gordie Roberts tied it up.a power play with 16:13 to seconds later and almost ing some defensive hockeyat the bottom of the Adams tyro (under 14) group. Smith put them in frontnarrow the gap. At 17:40, slid a shot past goalie Don before the playoffs,” said Division w ith a 16-30-14 re­ Natasha Williams and Lange Popoff tied for first in again, scoring his 38th goalMinnesota’s Al MacAdam Beaupre in the final minute. centre Bobby Smith, who cord, tied it on Kotsopoulos’ the less-demanding regional stream event, while of the year after a kick-pass scored the game winner at collected four points onsecond a goal of the night. With Hartford coach Lar­ PGSAG clubmate Cristin Corneille was fourth in a from Al MacAdam.- 17:40. goal and three assists. “ I The Whalers opened the ry Pleau in Hartford with a field of 16. thought I was in the OK Cor­third by taking the lead Ciccarelli got his 46th But Stoughton gave viral the infection, assistant Janice Schuett led Prince George entries in the ral for a while. again when Howatt scoredgoal at 11:12 and it North Stars a few more bad coach John Cunnif ran the midget (under 10) overall standings with a third “ We had a bad start but 41 seconds into the period.appeared Minnesota hadmoments when he scored team. place showing, with Nicky Stiles fourth and Debbie Strasdin sixth among 15 entries. Cori M itchell won tyro top honors, with Lianne Cooper runner-up and Donna Sigfusson of the Gym­ FOR TRAVELLING H aw ks visit Kings pix third. PGSAG was the only club to enter gymnasts in the high-level national stream competition and Karen Cash available in P C JH L sem i-final Schulz topped two clubmates. Cheryl Ormond was next and Krista Loewen was City money m ight be available for Prince George The Prince George Spruce Kings face outscored Dawson Creek 86-80, getting third. athletes, but for only one more week. the Fort St. John Golden Hawks, not the the nod for th ird place. The Prince George travel grant committee w ill accept Dawson Creek Kodiaks, in a Peace Cari­ The Spruce Kings, who won their third The all-around scores from Saturday were added applications until next Tuesday for travel grants to boo Junior Hockey League semi-final.straight PCJHL regular season title with to Sunday's results to determine placings in each of teams or individuals hoping to attend Western Canadian a 44-12 record, play the Golden Hawks in the four exercises, with Rustad achieving the best or national championships. A misunderstanding led to the belief the second playoff game Saturday at 8:30 performances Sunday. Applications must be made before the event, so com­the Kodiaks had edged Fort St. John for p.m. in Kin One, because the Coliseum is She scored 8.8 and 9.1 to win the argo gold in vault, petitors should include estimated expenses, method ofthird, earning the right to meet the first being used for the Prince George Figure while Ferns was runner-up and Diana Stever was qualifying and the location and date o f the event. place Kings in a best-of-seven series third. Rustad was also first in bars and third in floor, Skating Club’s annual ice carnival. For more information, call John McMurchy at 563-starting Friday at 8:30 p.m. in the Prince A third game is tentatively set for 8:30 while Ferns was tied for second in bars, second in 8802. George Coliseum. beam and second in floor. p.m. Sunday in the Coliseum, but the However, the league’s tie-breaking for­ Carlyle was fourth in bars and tied for third in game will be played in Fort St. John if mula gives third to the Golden Hawks, beam, while Eberherr was fourth in floor. either team sweeps the first two games. who finished the 56-game schedule tied Clowater took top spot in all four events in the open Meanwhile, the Kodiaks visit Grande with Dawson Creek at 31-25. class, w ith Connor runner-up in vault and beam and Gingras in trouble Prairie tonight to begin their semi-final third in bars and floor. The Kodiaks and Hawks split their 16 against the second place North Stars (39- encounters this season, but Fort St. John17). In the tyro age group, Corby was first in beam, for staying at home third in vault and bars and fourth in floor. “ We certainly did the best,” says meet head scorer MONTREAL (CP)-D e­ is called upon, said B.C. SU RVIVES SH O CK Elwyn E arl o f PGSAG. “ We were really happy. fenceman Gaston GingrasGrundman. “ It takes competing against other regions to see o f Montreal Canadiens has Gingras was expected to what they’re doing." been fined and rep ri­accompany the Canadiens Bad news shakes rink manded for refusing to jointo Quebec City for a game She says national stream competitors travel to the National Hockey against the Nordiques SWIFT CURRENT, defeat Wade Macrae of points to shut out Nova Sco­ more meets than provincial or regional stream gym ­ League club for a weekendtonight. Sask. (CP) — Todd G ray’s Prince Edward Island 7-6. tia 6-0, Ontario scored two nasts, so the Prince George national stream athletes in the 11th end to beat Sas­ game against New York Gingras refused an orderBritish Columbia rink In other fourth-round have a good idea how they’re doing compared to katchewan 8-6, Alberta got Rangers, managing direc­from Montreal coach Bobshook o ff news of the illnessgames, Steve Petryk of other clubs. by the Territories 6-4, New­ tor Irving GrundmanBerry to join the club inof lead Doug Portfors toAlberta de­ stole three in the foundland edged P.E.I. 7-6 The less-competitive provincial and regional announced Monday. New York because he said feat Saskatchewan 8-4 and third end and two more in and New Brunswick stole stream competitors don’t usually get the exposure, he was fed up with playing a emerge the only unbeatenthe fourth for a 9-5 victory Grundman made the singles in the ninth and 10th but Earl says the weekend meet helped show them backup role. Gingras, whorink after four rounds o fthat the knocked Eric Montford announcement following a ends to edge Quebec 6-5. how they’re doing. has appeared in only 14Canadian junior men’s curl­of Manitoba from the un­ late afternoon meeting with Those results left B.C. “ They’re right up there,” she says happily. games this season, was told ing championship Monday.beaten ranks, L arry Phil­ the disgruntled player. alone on top with a 4-0 re­ Prince George gymnasts compete next at the B.C. by Berry before Saturday’s Portfors was taken tolips of Quebec defeated Tre­ cord followed by Manitoba Winter Games March 4 to 7, then visit Fort St. John “ He has been fined and game that he would sit outhospital and news that he vor Mcllwaine of the Terri­ and Ontario at 3-1, Northern March 13 and 14 for regional selection for the B.C. reprimanded for his actionin favor of rookie Gilbertwas diagnosed as having d i­tories 7-5, Kent Saunders of Ontario, New Brunswick, age group finals. C itiirn phoUi hy Ilrtirk (iublr and Gingras has accepted Delorme. abetes came as a shock to Nova Scotia beat Roger Newfoundland, Nova Sco­ The provincial elite championships are in Prince Tracy Dietrich, 11, o f the Okanagan Kokanees that he must abide by the Gingras also was told tohim and the rest of the B.C. Mason of New Brunswick 9- tia, Quebec and Alberta all George A pril 16 to 18 and the Gympix invitationalfrom Kelowna stretches to the utmost in a rules and regulations ofattend the practice Monday,rink. 3 in eight ends and Lome at 2-2, Saskatchewan and meet is here May 15. manoeuvre known as needlescale. club and that he will be but he instead visited However, Gray, Greg Henderson of Newfound­ the Territories at 1-3 and ready to play at anytime he Grundman for a showdownKastas and Mike Slattery land nipped Scott Hender­ P.E.I. at 0-4. meeting. shook off the news, stole twoson of Northern Ontario 5-4. Asked whether Gingras points in the seventh end In today’s fifth round, In the third round, B.C. would face disciplinary ac­and scored three in the which begins at 1:30 p.m. defeated Northern Ontario LEAFS HURT M ORE AT HOM E? tion, Berry said: "He’llcer­ ninth to beat Doug Marks of CST, it w ill be B.C. versus 8-5, Manitoba stole five tainly be fined by me forRegina 8-4. Manitoba. missing the plane.” While B.C. calm ly went W a t t appreciates Canucks7 victory Gingras saw some ser­about its business, John vice during the unbeatenBase of Ontario calmed streak while Delorme was himself after a heated con­ by Canadian Press theory it happens here more often that it does of the reasons behind St. Louis Blues’ dis­ “ 1 1 1 h e l p c r e a t e recuperating from a shoul­troversy in the ninth end to in most rinks. appointing season. Tom Watt, head coach o f Winnipeg Jets, der separation. make a crucial final shot to “ The referees know there usually is a super­ Mann and the Blues’ Wayne Babych got into sent a thank-you note to Harry Neale, his coun­ your ow n personal terpart in Vancouver, following the Canucks’visor watching them work here,” Nykoluk a fight during a pre-season game and Babych win over Chicago Black Hawks recently. said. “ They like to hand out that first penalty came out of the tussle with a damaged shoul­ The Jets and Black Hawks are battling each to the home team as an indication they are not der. At this stage last season, Babych had 48 WHY WAIT UNTIL other for a playoff spot in the National Hockeyinfluenced by the crowd.” goals. Now he has 14. RRSP” League’s Norris Division, while the Canucks FEBRUARY 28th are holding down third place in the Smythe The only injury suffered in the Leaf game Call today last Saturday night was toGary Dornhoefer, Gretzky honored Division. BUY YOUR R.R.S.P. NOW Watt, who was assistant coach with the the former Philadelphia Flyer who now is a commentator for Hockey Night in Canada. His as player of week Canucks last season before taking on the head Under Section 146 of the Federal Income Tax Act you are allowed to put aside 20% ol your taxable income to a max­ GERRY LEWKO coaching post with the Jets this year, was back went out of k ilte r when he picked up his MONTREAL (CP)— WayneGretzky, luggage. imum ol $5,500 a year. If you are a member of any Com ­ obviously pleased his former team knocked who equalled the National Hockey pany Pension Plan your R.R.S.P. maximum amount will be o ff the Black Hawks, who are one point ahead League’s goal-scoring record Sunday to reduced to $3,500 per year. 5 6 4 - 2 3 1 0 o f the Jets. P au l Mulvey, whose demotion by Los cap a 15-point performance in three We represent a number of Life nsurance Company's that Nejle, one o f the more colorful coaches inAngeles Kings caused such a commotion, has games, was named the NHL’s player of offer very com parable interest rates and services. the league, tersely replied: “ Awaiting further been with their American Hockey League the week Monday for the period ending For more information call, Rad Gajic, orders on who you want us to beat next.” farm team at New Haven, but hasn’t been Feb. 21. The 21-year-old Edmonton Oilers playing. centre fired six goals and added nine 4 Toronto coachMike Nykolukwants to get a assists, scoring five points in each game. NoKtbK KnigKtjjR PERSONAL hold of statistics to show how frequently the Jimmy Mannof Winnipeg Jets, who is in His sixth goal of the week was his 76th of 1259-4th Avenue, Prince George, B.C. 564-4401 FINANCIAL PLANNING Maple Leafs get the first penalty in games trouble over the injury to Pittsburgh Pen­the season, which tied the record set in Life License with Commercial Union played at Maple Leaf Gardens. He has a guins’Puul Gardner,is an accessory to the one 1970-71 by Phil Esposito of Boston Bruins.