The Prince George Citizen - Tuesday, June 1 7 ,1 9 9 7 - 7

INSIDE

M IC H A E L JORDAN: The Chicago FAX VANCE OLIVER, Bulls star unfurls a championship ban­ 562-7 4 5 3 Sports Editor ner commemorating the Bulls winning- E-Mail 5 6 2 -2441 five of the last seven NBA titles at a re­ [email protected] Local 4 0 0 Sports ception Monday in Chicago. PAGE 9 Bike races never a drag for English

by BRIAN DREWRY Drag Racing Association’s Pro Modified DRAG RACING Citizen Staff overall points race last year but this He has the leather pants and jacket year, working in a new ‘rig’ has set him “We’re treated so well here by the and full helmet like any other motorcy­back a little in the early going. people at the track and the people in SCORECARD cle enthusiast would. Only he rides his “It’s a brand new bike,” English said town that it makes it easy for us to bike for about nine seconds at a time of his Kawaski 1200. “So we’re just try­ come back every year.” and reaches speeds in excess of 200ing to get all the bugs out of it and Donn says Prince George is one of BASEBALL kilometres per hour. there’s been quite a few so far.” the smaller stops, with about 40 racers Bob English is just one of the many English travels the CMDRA circuit, taking part, but it’s always one of the Interleague motorcycle racers who come to Prince which includes stops in Mission, most popular with the racers. “They Montreal 6 Baltimore 4 George once a Kelowna, Calgary, Saskatoon and love the track and the area,” she adds. Atlanta 3 Toronto 0 year to rip down Ashcroft, with his wife Vickie. He says The circuit runs eight classes includ­ ChiCubs 8 ChiSox 3 the straight Prince George is always a welcome siteing Top Fuel, Pro Gas, Pro Dragster, Florida 7 Detroit 3 stretch at North on the schedule. Modified, Pro Modified, Pro Stock, Su­ Cincinnati 4 Cleveland 1 Central Motor- “It’s so well run here and the people per Bike and Street. Boston 5 Philadelphia 4 (10) sport Park in are always so friendly,” English said. This weekend racing fans got to see N.Y. Mets 6 N.Y. Yankees 0 search of speed “But the best thing about racing in two new CDMRA records set at North Milwaukee 1 St. Louis 0 records, tro­ Prince George is the track. It’s always inCentral’s quarter-mile track. Pittsburgh 8 Minnesota 6 phies and cash. great shape and the slope at the front al­ Coquitlam’s Jim Gauthier won the Kansas City 5 Houston 2 “It’s really a lot lows you to just roll down to the start Pro Gas event in a time of 8.164 sec­ of fun and very line. And it’s so long that you usually onds, while travelling at a speed of don’t have to use your brakes at the end, 267.4 kph. TELEVISION thrilling,” English said in between heats of Sunday’s races. “I’ve been do­which helps decrease maintenance.” Rick Dawson of Yorkton, Sask, raced Citizen photo by Brent Braaten ing it for 12 years and every year you CMDRA coordinator Ingrid Donn to a record time in the Pro Stock event. Bob and Vickie English are regulars BASEBALL: Interleague - At- just try to get faster and faster.” says the circuit has been coming toHe won the title in a time of 8.739 sec­on the CMDRA circuit, which , lanta Braves at Toronto Blue Jays English, of 100 Mile House, finished Prince George for four years now and onds, while lighting up the track at stopped at North Central at 4:30 on TSN (cable 16). second in the Canadian Motorcycle it’s been a great experience every time.236.72 kph. Motorsport Park over the weekend. HOCKEY Double whammy on the courtLimo driver

by Citizen Staff ment over the weekend. TENNIS a s le e p a t Chris Simnett and David Meger were Simnett and Meger both picked up the big winners in the hardware de­two trophies as they won their respec­combined with Colin Stewart for an partment at the annual Bud Sports tive singles and doubles events. easy 6-0, 6-1 win over Ricky Prieter th e w h e e l? Prince George Open Tennis Tourna- Simnett had an easy time of it in the and Chris Chanter in the boys doubles Men’s Open fi­ final. nal defeating In the under-14 boys event, Ben Mitten AP photo Graham Baker went on to a 6-0, 6-3 win over Kyle Ol­ BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes owner 6-0, 6-3 and son in the final, while Eric Engstrom cap­ driver in the limousine accident that Peter Karmanos speaks then he teamed tured the men’s intermediate tide with ainjured two and the Monday after the NHL team up with Glen 6-0,6-0 win over Craig McQuarrie. team masseur appeared never to hit unveiled Its logo at Research Fugate to take a On the women’s side, Linda Olson and the brakes and may have been asleep Triangle Park, N.C. 6-3, 6-1 victory Ingrid Witt battled back and forth in the when the limo careered into a tree, po­ over Phil Red­ Women’s Open singles final before Olson lice said Monday. 'Canes show off logo ding and Gra­ came out on top 7-6,1-6,6-0. The driver, Richard Gnida, did not RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. ham Baker in In doubles, the team of Sandra Sut­ have a valid driver’s licence; it had (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes the men’s dou­ ton and Debbie Ward fought back from been revoked after a series of tickets. unveiled their new logo Monday, bles competi­ a first-set defeat to win 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 “His statement was, ' I think I might giving the Hartford Whalers’ dis­ tion. over Jen Clarke and Colleen Kelly. have blacked out,’ which indicates to tinctive fishtail one final sendoff. Meger and Bren- Sarah Grill was crowned girls’ singles me he might have dozed off,” said The NHL team, which moved to don Abercrom­ champion thanks to a 3-6, 6-2,6-4 win Richard Patterson, deputy police chief North Carolina from Hartford last bie staged a pret­ over Heather Paul, while Sylvia Rogal- in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham. month, now features a logo with ty good battle in sky took the women’s novice singles ti­ Patterson and Michigan State Police swirl around a couple of sea shapes. the under-18 tle with a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Tammy Sgt. Larry Richardson said preliminary In the eye of the hurricane is a fly­ Citizen photo by Brent Braatenboys singles final Ayott. examinations show the limo’s brakes ing black puck. before Meger In mixed play, the junior doubles fi­ and steering were working and no oth­ And the team colors — blue, green Ingrid W itt took Linda Olson to three sets before losing came out with a nal was won by the team of Benji er mechanical problems were found. ;and silver in Hartford — are now a in the women’s singles final of the Bud’s Sports Prince 6-4,6-4 win. Hatchwell and Kiwita Salt, 6-1, 6-0 Authorities also say they have found -red, black, white and silver hurri­ George Open Tennis Tournament over the weekend. M e g e r th e n over Daniel Pierce and Erin Bosenberg.no evidence that alcohol or drugs cane emblem. were involved in Friday night’s crash, -Meanwhile, the team has filed a let­ which left defenceman Vladimir Kon-; ter of protest with the North Caroli­ stantinov and masseur Sergei Mnat-i na secretary of state’s office chal­ Habscheid takes over Blazerssakanov comatose and also injured de­ lenging a Raleigh lawyer who has fenceman Slava Fetisov. -staked a claim to the Carolina Hur­ by TRACY ELSAESSER to start. Everything happened so fast, At William Beaumont Hospital COVER STORY ricanes name. Kamloops D aily News now I’m just kind of trying to gather as meanwhile, doctors said Monday they KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Marc Habscheid much information and get as comfort­ n e s o t a were encouraged by the responses of left town 15 years ago on a stretcher. able as I can with it. North Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov to fam­ Monday, he was welcomed back on a “For me, it was pretty simple and — and had a stint with ily members and Red Wings players. red carpet as the re­very obvious if the job was offered tothe Cana'dian Olympic team that sent As for the limo driver, Oakland Coun­ ; U -14s provincial-bound vealed the worst-kept secret in hockey take it. It’s an outstanding opportunity. him to the 1988 Calgary Winter ty prosecutor David Gorcyca said Mon­ and made Habscheid the eighth head I feel very fortunate to have it.” Olympics. day that Gnida had been convicted of ei­ ' Citizen Staff coach in the WHL franchise’s 16-year Blazers general manager Stu Mac­ He won a gold medal with the 1982 ther operating while impaired or drunk - Prince George soccer fans will now history. Gregor said Habscheid brings invalu­world junior team (finishing sixth in driving a few years ago while driving a * have a home-town team to cheer It was a homecoming of sorts for the able experience to the team. scoring with six goals and six assists) limo for the same company that provid­ -for in next month’s Under-14 34-year-old former coach of the SJHL’s “He’s a fellow that is going to be able and played in the 1991 world champi­ ed the one that crashed Friday. I Provincial B Soccer Champi- , who played six to take his experiences in hockey andonships. The players were returning from a ' onships. games with the Kamloops Junior Oilers really relay them to the young players,” After finishing his NHL career in Cal­ golf outing, part of their last day of I Thanks to some last-minute hero- in 1982-83 before heading to the NHL’s said MacGregor. gary, he played with the IHL’s Las Ve­group celebrations of their Stanley Cup victory six days earlier, their first Cup ; ics by Mike Grant in the final game . He’s hoping this time “He has instant respect for what he’s gas Thunder and in Switzerland and around won’t be so damaging to his achieved in hockey. He’s always trying Germany. This past season, in his first in 42 years. The accident occurred at - of the Northern Interior qualifying health. to improve head coaching job, he took a rebuilding about 9:15 p.m. ' tournament over the weekend, the “I got a pass and I had my head down himself person­ Melfort team to a 38-22-4 record. Patterson said witnesses said the * local side will be playing soccer in and I got hit,” said Habscheid, with a ally, and when Habscheid takes hold of a team many limo was moving with traffic, at 70 km- 'July. laugh. “My head hit the ice and I was he’s improving are already calling Memorial Cup con­ h to 100 km-h, and then crossed over * After wins over Terrace and knocked unconscious. I was taken off himself person­ tenders, if not this year then the next. two lanes, struck the curb, careered off - Williams Lake and a 2-2 tie with by a stretcher and I spent over night inally he’s help­ In addition, he lands in a hockey-crazy, a pole and struck the tree head-on. The I the host Quesnel club, coach Dave the hospital — it took me a while to get ing improve victory-demanding town. Any coach witnesses said the brakes were never - Basnett’s squad needed just a tie the fuzz out of my head. That was the the hockey would have to seriously consider hit, Patterson said. 1 with Quesnel in the tourney final last game I played here. It took me 15club.” whether to take a job in a pressure- ; to advance. years to get back to some roots.” H ab s c h e id cooker like Kamloops. - That’s exactly what they got when The Blazers’ announcement at River­was born in “Pressure is in the person, not the sit­ ' Grant hit the back of the net in the side Coliseum ended weeks of specula­Swift Current, but lives just south in uation. All you can do is your best,” he Panis out dying seconds to give Prince tion after Ed Dempsey’s firing May 22. Lac Pelletier with his wife and two chil­ said. George a 2-2 draw. Armed with a two-year contract, dren. “You control certain things and the Habscheid takes the helm of a young The right wing/centre played the thing I can control is to be as prepared of FI race hockey club with great potential to re­ bulk of his junior hockey with the as I can and to work as hard as I can. turn the Blazers to its glory days. . However, in his sixObviously, I do have some confidence “I’m looking forward to it already,” games with Kamloops he amassed 23 in my ability but I’m not crazy enough : W HL fans are heard until fall said Habscheid, poised and confident. points. to realize that I do have a lot to learn. Citizen Staff “You get an opportunity to be a part of Habscheid lugged his gear around I’m going to make mistakes, just like AUTO RACING ; Ask and you shall receive. something like this, you can’t wait for it with four NHL clubs — the Oilers, Min- the players. . At least that is what the Western MONTREAL (CP) — Formula One * Hockey League is telling its fans. driver Olivier Panis will likely be out of - Due to popular demand, the action until at least this fall after fraci ; WHL will return to a full interlock- Phillips w on’t hold Sens hostage turing both legs in a crash at the Cana; - ing schedule for the upcoming sea­ dian Grand Prix. son. Teams in the Western Division by KEN WARREN of $1.1 million, his HOCKEY “It will be six to 12 weeks before he is will now play a home-and-home Ottawa Citizen agents say the Sen­ walking again,” Dr. Pierre Ranger, the series with each of the 11 East and Ottawa Senators general manager ators are unwilling “It’s not my sense that things had orthopedic surgeon who performed Central Division clubs. Pierre Gauthier says the club has been to offer the player broken off,” Gauthier said. “Negotia­ the operations on Panis, said Monday. “Our fans made it clear that a held hostage by teenagers and their the same perfor­ tions take funny turns sometimes. I’m Ranger was careful not to speculate full interlocking format was a pri­ agents too much in the past. mance bonuses of­ not sure at this point where we are at.” about how soon the 30-year-old French ority,” Cougars president Rick In keeping with that attitude, Gau­ fered to previous Gauthier said there are different sets driver would be able to take the wheel Brodsky said. thier was talking tough Monday about top draft picks such of guidelines which can be used when for his Prost-Mugen Honda team. One drawback to the full inter­ the latest ploy in an increasingly bitter as Bryan Berard of it comes to bonuses and it often takes But Ranger did give an idea about how locking format though, is that feud with the agents for unsigned de­ the New York Is­ time simply to agree to a formula. But long it takes most people to fully recover. ‘1 ! there will be an unbalanced sched- fenceman Chris Phillips, saying no con­ landers, Jarome Gauthier appeared unfazed at the would say it’s between two to four months PHILLIPS • ule within the Western Division. tract will be completed “by holding a Iginla of the Cal­ prospect of a long summer of bickering; to heal those fractures and get in shape.” The Cougars will play 12 games gun to my head.” gary Flames and Ed Jovanovski of the and says there’s no chance of a trade. On the 52nd lap of Sunday’s race, each against Kamloops and Kelow- Phillips’s agents, Gus Badali and Florida Panthers. “This franchise has been held upthe French driver hit the wall at the ! na, seven against Seattle and Port- Stacey McAlpine, issued a press release Either Berard and Iginla, in the run­ enough, this team will not be held up to Gilles Villeneuve circuit before ski Tand and just six games each Monday which said they had broken ning for NHL rookie-of-the-year hon­ these types of pressures.” ding across the track and plowing infi ! against Spokane and Tri-Cities. off with the Senators and that their ours for 1996-97, stands to earn anoth­ Gauthier has reason to be confident. a tire barrier. Michael Schumacher, While the official schedule won’t client was willing to return to the Leth­ er $500,000 should either one get theHe holds enough cards to be able to who was leading at the time, was de­ .be released until after the July 16 bridge Hurricanes of the Western award Thursday. If either one is a run­call the agents’ bluff. Phillips has al­ clared the winner after the race was ; scheduling meetings in Kelowna, Hockey League in order to become eli­ner-up for the award, he would get a ready played two seasons of major ju­called because of the accident. 1 dates for the interlocking games gible for the 1998 NHL draft and be $300,000 bonus from his club. nior hockey and played in the Memori­ He’s currently third in points on the have been finalized. picked up by another team. Phillips, selected first overall by the Sena­al Cup final last month. It’s question­ circuit with 15., behind Canadian While the Senators think Phillips tors in last June’s draft, could enter next able whether he could improve further Jacques Villeneuve (30 points) and L should make the entry-level salary capsummer’s draft if unsigned by next May 31.with another year in the WHL. Michael Schumacher (37 points). .