12 - The Prince George Citizen - Monday, February 1 5 ,1 9 9 9

CITIZEN SPORTS Fax line: 562-7453 JIM SWANSON E-mail: [email protected] Sports Editor Ted Clarke, 562-2441 ext. 401 562-2441 Brian Drewry, 562-2441 ext. 402 Ext. 400 DIRECT SPORTS LINE: 562-3101

McDonald’s pain worth the gain!

Lew is w ins her sixth Icew om an title in record tim e

by TED CLARKE 2 :0 0 :2 0 , better than six minutes faster her from her record sixth title. CURLING Citizen staff than the old Iceman standard she set in A record 505 participants took advan­ Tavis McDonald’s toenails were turning1994. tage of warm, sunny conditions in1 2 theth M orris defends jr. title black as he stood on the pool deck at the Carol Daubeny of Vancouver was theannual event. Prince George Aquatic Centre. second-quickest woman in 2:01:56 andAnita Doherty of Prince George defend KELOWNA (CP) — Ontario’s John After 15 kilometres of pounding theLisa Storey of Prince George was third ined her masters women’s tide with a time of Morris became the first men’s skip to pavement, an eight-kilometre ski race, and2:01:56. 2:19:13, ahead of second-place Marina win back-to-back Canadian junior a 32 laps on skates around the Kin CentreMcDonald took advantage of fast ski con­Lipinski (2:21:43) and third-placj curling titles in 44 years, beating ice surface, he figured the 800-metre swim ditions at Otway Nordic Centre but made upSuzanne Sharp (2:49:43), both of Prinfce B.C.’s Jeff Richard 7-3 on Sunday. in the pool would offer some relief in Sun­most of his time on the1 0-kilometre run. George. Hometown favourite Ron Empey Morris and his Ottawa rink of day’s Prince George Citizen Iceman. When he started the run, he was 90 seconds won the masters men’s race in 1:59:56, Craig Savill, Jason Young and Brent Too bad about those muscle cramps. Butbehind the top skier, Chris Paulson of Princewhile Lauri Karjaluoto (2:10:20) and Lariy Laing pulled away by taking three the pain McDonald felt in his legs during George, and caught him about three kilo­Johnson (2:10:38) were second and third in the seventh end for a 6-3 lead. the swim was soon forgotten once hemetres from the Kin Centre. respectively. His third counter on the 12-foot climbed out of the water to learn he was “The snow was fast but not as fast as I In team results, Sun Lovers (Erika ring required measurement. the Iceman men’s champion for the first expected it to be so on the second lap I letThomson, Kim Moore, Linda Brooks, Morris is the first back-to-back ju­ time. a bunch of guys go by me on the hill. I de­Danielle Fisher, and Lorelei Fitzpatrick) nior winner since 1954-55 and only “It feels really good to win — I love thiscided to make my move on the run.” won the open women’s title; Hart Boys the third in history. race, it’s just such a fun race to do,” said Meanwhile in the women’s race, Lewis (Joel Alberts, Ryan Attwater, Geoff Duck, In Sunday’s Canadian junior the 29-year-old Prince George forester,said the key was her improvement in the Jesse Tate and Ryan Hickman) were the women’s final, Quebec’s Marie who finished the race in one hour 44 min­ski event, which she attributed to a lesson open men’s champions; Just Right (Hans France Larouche won her first utes 28 seconds. • Paulson gave her on the slopes. Erasmus, Brian Nemethy, Trevor Ras­ Canadian women’s junior curling ti­ “Forestry is in a bit of slump right now“I got a two-hour lesson in skate skiingmussen, Eric Goodwin, and Tammy Wil­ de in five attempts on Sunday with and I’m only working two days a weekfrom so Chris Paulson and man, did that son) won mixed open; Vais’ Old Gals (Val a 9-2 win over Nova Scotia’s Mered­ I’ve had lots of time to train.”. make a difference,” said Lewis, who fin­ Anderson, Heather Long, Sherry Pooley, ith Doyle. Larouche’s win is the first Ray Wagner of Vernon was second over­ished her ski in 26 minutes. and Maggie Thornhill) claimed masters ever junior title for Quebec women. all in 1:46:10, just ahead of third-place Lewis caught Daubeny with about 400 women’s gold; Quo Vadis (Harry James, Larouche’s team from St. Foy, Que., wuzen pnoio oy uave mime Richard Harrison of Smithers. metres to go in the five-kilometre run andDave Drysdale, Matt de Nys, Frank Blues) which includes third Nancy Belanger Chris Paulsonf i n i s h e d Kathy Lewis of Prince George racked upwas in pool 24 seconds ahead of her. Lewiswon masters men’s; and The Wise Guys and Valerie Grenier, will represent third in the open m en’s her sixth Icewoman overall woman’s titlealso complained of cramps in the pool and(Rob Blackwell, Barry Barone, Myron Gor­ Canada at the world junior champi­ class at Sunday’s Iceman in record-setting time. The 39-year-old UN­at one point had to stop and massage herdon and Linda Piovesan) top the mixed onship in Sweden on March 20-28. with a tim e of 2:17:55. BC professor blasted through the course inleg but the delay was not enough to keepcategory.

NBA Rodman to sign Gretzinger locks up Brier berth w ith Lakers by BRIAN DREWRY squad up 6-3 but a never-say-die INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Citizen s ta ff McAulay and his team of Brent Pierce, Dennis Rodman is expected to be A great third makes things easy for Bryan Miki and Darin Fenton, clawed in a Los Angeles Lakers uniform the skip. their way back with two in the sixth. Tliesday night against the Charlotte Bert Gretzinger has never had it so But when McAulay missed a double Hornets, a source close to the team easy. take-out in the eighth leaving Gret­ said Sunday. The Kelowna skip got yet another shot-zinger to score a pair and go 8up-6 , The source, who spoke on the making clinic Sunday from formerthe writing was on the wall. Gretzinger condition of anonymity, said latePrince George resident Bob Ursel and blanked the ninth and cruised home Sunday he expected Rodman to now the two, along with rinkmates Markwith the hammer. sign a contract “late tonight, tomor­ Whittle and Dave Mellof will take their “I got us in trouble in the eighth and row, or Tliesday at the latest.” act to the Labbatt Brier in Edmonton. it was too late to recover,” said The Lakers first expressed an in­ Gretzinger, backed by a partisan crowd McAulay, who beat out Lower Main­ terest in the sevemtime NBA re­ of about 1,700 at the Multiplex, chalked land rival Dale Duguid8 - 6 in Saturday bounding champion two weeks agoup a couple three-enders early in the finalnight’s semifinal. “But their whole team when he met with owner Jerry of the 1999 Safeway Select provincialcurled extremely well. They’re going to Buss for dinner. men’s curling championship and thenbe a great (representative) at the Brier.” Rodman, who has led the league hung on to defeat defending-champion As for Ursel, who, along with Whittle in rebounding for the past seven Greg McAulay of New Westminster 8-7. and Mellof, will be making his first ap­ seasons, didn’t attend the Lakers’ Like he did all week long to help the pearance at a Brier, winning a provin­ 101-99 loss to Indiana on Sunday. Kelowna rink to a first-place finish andcial title in the city where he got his a 6-1 record in the round-robin, Ursel start is almost too good to be true. made every shot he was asked to, leav­ “This is so sweet,” added Ursel, who SCORECARD ing the veteran Gretzinger with noth­ spent six years living in the Spruce City ing more than draws and hit-and-rolls. in the early ‘90s. “When I found out the HOCKEY “If Bob missed a shot I would like to provincials were in Prince George I was Today’s Games know when it was,” Gretzinger said, after pumped. And now to win it all. It just Brandon8 Cougars 2 collecting his sixth B.C. title but first as doesn’t get any better than this.” Seattle 5 Portland 4 (OT) skip. “He was just fantastic. He either set Ursel, who joined Gretzinger’s rink Red Deer 5 Medicine Hat 0 up something or cleaned up everything.”last summer, says playing with such an Regina 4 Saskatoon 4 Ursel got it started in the third when experienced skip has brought the best Lethbridge 4 Swift Current 2 he hit two incredible shots including a out of him. “Bert just keeps you so re­ Tri-City 7 Kelowna 3 tricky bump and roll to the button laxed to and then when you need a big Saturday Results leave Gretzinger lying two with twoshot from him, he comes up with it. It’s Cougars6 Moose Jaw 2 shots to come. All McAulay could dojust been a ton of fun curling with these Regina 4 Lethbridge 2 was put up a guard to prevent a totalguys and now we get to play for it all.” Swift Current 3 Medicine Hat 2 (OT) disaster but Gretzinger came away IN THE HACK: With 1,500 at the Portland6 Kootenay 4 with three, to go up 3-1. Multiplex for Saturday’s semifinal the Seattle 2 Spokane 0 Ursel helped set up another three-en- organizing committee was plenty hap­ Calgary 7 Prince Albert 5 der in the fifth to put the Kelowna py with attendance. Tri-City 1 Kelowna 1 BCHL Sunday Results M acD onald’s crew had fun Langley 4 Victoria 3 by BRIAN DREWRY “But we just seemed to have one real South Surrey 4 Powell River 2 Citizen s ta ff bad end each game and that cost us.” Saturday Results Hindsight is 20-20 and no one knows Despite the shortage of wins, Mac­ Merritt 4 at Quesnel 2 that better than Sandy MacDonald. Donald says his rink had a ton of fun Burnaby 4 Powell River 3 The Prince George Golf and Curling and that’s really all you can ask for a Spruce Kings 9 Trail 2 Club skip admits his rink was just hap­foursome that was only put together in Vernon 5 Penticton 4 py to have made it to the 1999 SafewayDecember. “We just threw this rink to­ Chilliwack 4 Victoria 2 Select provincial championship in theirgether for zones so to make it out of In­ NHL own back yard. But after winning twoteriors and win a couple at provincials Sunday Results round-robin matches and coming closeisn’t all that bad I guess. Detroit 4 N.Y. Rangers 2 in a couple others, MacDonald knows“And we really enjoyed ourselves. Philadelphia 4 Colorado 4 his rink belonged with the big boys. The organizing committee did a terrific Anaheim 5 Phoenix 1 “We just didn’t curl well at all and if job and playing in front of the home­ Saturday Results we had, who knows,” said MacDonald, town crowd was a lot of fun.” Phoenix 4 Colorado 1 after finishing the round-robin with a Despite the good time they had over Chicago 6 Toronto 2 10-3 loss Saturday morning to eventualthe five-day event, the provincial ap­ San Jose 3 Tampa Bay 1 champion Bert Gretzinger to finish uppearance might be the first and last for N.Y. Islanders 2 Buffalo 2 with a 2-5 record. the local foursome, which includes Citizen photo by Dave Montreal 4 Florida 0 “And if we win that Friday night Darren Smale, Rob Clarke and KevinBert Gretzinger of Kelownadirects traffic while opposing skip Ottawa 2 Washington 1 match (against Dale Duguid) the Sat­ Smale. “I don’t think we’ll be back to­McAulay of New W estminster watches during the fourth end of New Jersey6 Carolina 4 urday morning game then becomesgether next year, but you never know,”final at the Safeway Select B.C. m en’s curling cham pionship. Edmonton 3 St. Louis 2 huge instead of a mean-nothing. MacDonald said Pittsburgh 3 Nashville 2 (OT) Dallas 3 Los Angeles 2 Vancouver 3 Boston 1 Kings send Smokies down the trail BASKETBALL by BRIAN DREWRY half over en route had just three. NBA Citizen staff to a 9-2 win. “Some of the penalties were penalties Sunday results Sure, the Prince George Spruce Kings “We seem to and some were not but we’re not going-tO San Antonio 89 Chicago 76 are a mile in front of the Trail Smokecome out sluggish harp on it,” Kings coach Dale Marquette Orlando 85 Milwaukee 82 Eaters in the standings and had won all against these guys Philadelphia 78 Atlanta 70 said, as his team moved three points clear six meetings between the two clubs every tim e so of third-place Penticton in the race for Vancouver 96 Dallas 92 heading into Saturday’s matchup at the tonight we decided Indiana 101 L.A. Lakers 99 home-ice advantage in the first round bf Coliseum. well before th the playoffs. “We wanted to be the ag­ Golden St. 105 Portland 100 (20T) But don’t let the game that we Minnesota 95 L.A. Clippers 73 gressor and we definitely were and when p ap er fool you.going to come out you play an aggressive game you’re going Saturday Results The Smokies have firing,” said the Phoenix 107 LA Clippers 104 (OT) to get a few penalties.” been a thorn in Kings new-foundTrail goalie Brady Robinson looks at the puck Kings Jeff With all Trail’s power plays, Lyman Seattle 105 Denver 92 the Kings’ side scoring machine, Rowland dumpedinto the net for his team ’s third goal. Miller had to face 41 shots and put for* every game, Chris Rowland, af­ ward another strong performance. hanging around ter chalking up two goals and two as­Kings’ defence combined for five goals TELEVISION until late in th e sists. and 1 1 points. But this night belonged to the guys third — or even And just like weeks past, the Spruce It was a good thing the offence was that aren’t always noticed — the Row­ HOCKEY: NHL — Vancouver overtime like last weekend — beforeKings’ offence got a huge boost from itscoming from unusual sources becauselands, Kam Kryzanowskis (two assists) Canucks at St. Louis Blues at noonthings are decided. defence. Paul Fisher and Brad Fast, referee Terry Shaw made sure the Kings’ and Mike Lalondes (one goal, two as­ on CTV Sportsnet (Cable 18). Every game that is, until Saturday. A who was playing up front yet againsnipers didn’t get a lot of ice time. Lead­ sists). “I think these last few weeks BASKETBALL: New Jersey Nets pumped up Kings team came out gunsthanks to the absence of injured for­ing scorer Mike Stutzel was sent to thehave been a huge confidence booster at Miami Heat at 5 p.m. on TBS blazing this time and hit the Smokies wards Noel Burkitt and Ryan Thies, showers just 1:48 for hitting from be­for the guys that don’t normally see a (Cable 33). for three goals before the period was supplied the first two goals. Overall the hind. 'fhe Smokies had a whopping ninelot power-play or penalty-killing time,” power plays, while the Spruce Kingsadded Marquette.