TH E CITIZEN , Prince George — Friday, December 9,1977 — 13 Sports B.C.FIGURE SKATING of North Shore thrives by MIKE TRICKEY narrow lead over Dale Willard of Victoria sorts Citizen Sports Reporter in pre-novice men’s singles. by Ron Allerton The B.C. section figure skating champ­ Solheim has 31.77 points and 15.5 ordi­ ionships are turning into a showcase for the nals, while Willard has 31.57 points and 13 North Shore Winter Club. ordinals. After one day at the Coliseum, the North John Ivanich of North Shore is third. Gordie Howe really didn’t take a long time between goals Vancouver club has leadersor co-leaders in Tracy Michael of Coquitlam and Kerry 999 and 1,000. seven of 10 events. Spong of Vancouver lead the novice dar.ce The world’s most remarkable athlete never has been in Interior clubs found the competition stiff, competition by a comfortable margin. much of a hurry. as the best placing was ninth by Vernon’s The pair has 57.2 points and six ordinals, In 1963, before many of today’s National Hockey League Kim Schmidt, in pre-novice women’s sing­ compared to runners-up Karen and players were even in the league, Howe needed 12 games to les. Leonard Warkentin of North Shore, who break Maurice (Rocket) Richard’s all-time goal record of Kim Scott, a Kamloops native now skat­ have 55.2 points and 13 ordinals. 544. ing with the North Shore Winter Club, set Vanessa Howe and Jeffrey Mawle of Vic­ So Howe, who will be 50 March 31, wasn’t the least bit the tone of the day early by taking the lead toria are third. concerned when he went 10 games between 999 and 1,000. in senior women’s singles after compulsory Martine Vigouret of North Shore teamed In fact the goal had more meaning for the press and How­ figures. with Killarney’s Alan Atkins to take the e's New England Whalers’ teammates than it had for him. Scott totalled 34.56 points, with 10 ordi­ lead in the junior dance event. People were suggesting Howe is over the hill and should nals, for a slim lead over clubmate Heather Vigouret and Atkins received 92.2 points retire. Anderson, who has 34.44 points with 11.5 and 12 ordinals, to go ahead of North He is such an incredible athlete, don’t be surprised if he’s ordinals. Shore’s Melissa Goodman and Tim Dunbar still playing 10 years, or more, from now. Darcee Feenie of North Shore is third. who has 90.0 points and 14 ordinals. There have been other cases of athletes playing at 50 and North Shore’s Jim Szabo opened a good Cheryl MacDonald and Tony Preston of older, but never in a game as demanding as hockey. lead over clubmate Ken Moir in senior the Vancouver Racquet Club were third. Howe has never had a problem with toughness and dura­ men’s singles. Connie Hill and Bill O’Neill were impres­ bility, but says it’s the injuries and travel that weardown pro Szabo has 35.08 points and eight ordinals, sive in taking the lead in novice pairs com­ hockey players. to Moir’s 33.44 points and 13 ordinals. petition. Part of Howe’s amazing story is his ability to pace himself. Joyce Fordyce accumulated 32.56 points The North Shore Winter Club pair total­ Often he looks like he’s loafing. and 10 ordinals, for a slim lead over Joan led 38.7 points and five ordinals, compared But he has such anticipation and puck sense, he is rarely Pavelich of Kerrisdale. to Vanessa Howe and Jeffrey Mawle of Vic­ far out of the play. Pavelich has 31.32 points and 15 ordinals, toria, who managed 37.2 points and 10 ordi­ Another reason for his remarkable scoring achievements vyhile third place Yvonne Anderson of nals. — and a fact not widely known — is he can shoot equally well North Shore has 30.92 points and 21 ordi­ Sheri Poirier and Marc Warbrick of left or right. nals. North Shore are third. And with a wrist shot — he rarely uses the newfangled slap Coquitlam’s Henri April has a big lead In the final event of the night, North shot invention. over a trio of North Shore skaters. Shore’s Sharon Hallett and Craig Pearce Gordie Howe has been a pro hockey player since he was 18 April has 32.52 points and seven-and-a- totalled 26.6 points and eight ordinals, for a in 1946 and now, more than 30 years later, he still has a half ordinals, to lead Dennis Coi with 30.92 comfortable lead over Eric Thomsen of reputation of not being a good one to tangle with. points and 17 ordinals and Leonard War- North Shore and Susan Gowan of Hollybum When a young Edmonton Oilers’ player made the mistake kenton with 32.32 points and 20 ordinals. in the senior pairs. of slashing Howe on the wrist after a whistle, Howe reached The pre-novice women’s singles is the Thomsen used to skate with the Prince over another player, picked up the defender and deposited biggest event with 24 entries, including George club. him on the back of the net. Judy Lowrie of Prince George. The second day of competition began at 7 Howe said he didn’t know if the “kid meant to hit me, but I Jennifer Chant of the Victoria Racquet a.m. today and will conclude about 9:15 want him to remember that I didn’t care for it.” Club leads with 30.54 points and 25ordinals, p.m. When Howe was with the Detroit Red Wings, for years he while clubmate Lisa Patterson is close be­ Tonight’s events include the junior men’s was rated the best fighter in the NHL, although he was rarely hind with 30.5 points and 22.5 ordinals. compulsory skate, juniors’ original dances, challenged. Tami Porowski of Cloverdale is third. senior men’s and senior women’s compul- Many people say he could just as easily have been a fine Lowrie is 18th with 25.24 points and 67 sories. professional boxer, or baseball player. ordinals, however, one of the five judges Skating goes from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Whalers’ coach Harry Neale does a good analysis of Howe Citizen photo by Dave Milne rated her performance second to Chant’s. Saturday, with the parade of champions at when he says “He doesn’t think he’s anyone special." Marcus Solheim of North Shore has a 7:30 p.m. Recently, after playing four road games in five nights, Sharon Hallett and Craig Pearce practice in the Coliseum hall. Howe was one of only six players to show for an 8:30 a.m. practice. Neale hid his skates, so he couldn’t work out. IN THE NHL Howe, with typical modesty, doesn’t even pick himself for his all-time all-star team. His choices are Bobby Hull, Guy Lafleur and Rocket Richard as wingers, with either Milt Schmidt or Phil Es­ Quick blitz buries Blues extended their unbeaten string posito at centre, plus Doug Harvey and Bobby Orr on de­ by Canadian Press like that early in the second Pronovost was unimpressed period, it might have been a with the game, saying the to 15 games with third-period fence and Terry Sawchuck in goal. For a while Thursday night, goals by Bob Miller and Rick Who else would pick an NHL all-star team without select­ St. Louis Blues looked respect­ different story.” Barons, last in the Adams Divi­ In Buffalo, Gary McAdam, sion, were disorganizied “and Middleton providing the winn­ ing Howe? able as they battled Montreal ing margin. Neale says “Greatness is measured by quality of perfor­ Canadiens. who replaced Richard Martin then we got disorganized.” mance and durability. Howe is the greatest athlete any of us But as time wore on in the at left wing on the French Con­ In Pittsburgh, Syl Apps, The Middleton-Jean Ratel- have ever seen.” National Hockey League con­ nection line, scored twice as traded to the Kings by the Pen­ le-Teriy O’Reilly trio clickeo test, it became increasingly the Sabres stretched their guins last month, had a goal for four goals and seven assists. apparent that the Blues belong unbeaten streak to six games. and two assists to lead Los “ We were very weak defen­ One of Howe’s lifelong goals was to play with his sons, where they are—in the cellar “ Playing with those two Angeles to its fourth victory in sively and that’s what cost us Mark and Marty, which he has been able to do. of the weak Smythe Division. guys (Gilbert Perreault and five games. Don Kozak had the hockey games,” said Next he may play with a grandson. Bob Gainey’s goal at 3:56 ofRene Robert), you can’t help two goals for the winners, sec­ Wings’ coach Bobby Kromm Don’t laugh. the second period ignited a but get scoring chances,” said ond in the Norris Division nine after Detroit’s seventh con­ Mark’s wife Ginger is expecting a baby about the time three-goal blitz in 66 seconds McAdam. points ahead of third-place secutive setback. Gordie turns 50 and, if it’s a boy, he just might decide to play that carried the Canadians to Buffalo coach Marcel Pittsburgh. The Bruins another 20 years. an 8-1 triumph in one of five NHL games.