The Prince George Citizen -Friday, November 29,1991 - 13

Don Schaffer 562-2441 S p o r t s Sports Editor Local 517

Flames goalie s a v e s f a c e

by JIM MORRIS 1 when starter Mike Vernon fell Canadian Press ill. CALGARY — Calgary Flames Wamsley, who improved his re­ goaltender Rick Wamslcy evened cord 2-1-0, said he has had to bite his record against California his on tongue often this year. Thursday night. “ Very much so,” he said. Unfortunately for him, more “ If you want to create con­ people will remember his loss troversy, the opportunity is there. I against the San Jose Sharks,haven’t the been like that my whole expansion team’s first NHLcareer. If I’m unhappy, I think I’ll victory, than his 23-save perform­go to them (management) first.” ance against the Los AngelesTheoren Fleury had a goal and Kings in the Flames’ 5-3 victory. three assists to pace the Flames as they handed the Kings their first In St. Louis, the Blues defeated the Quebec Nordiques 5-2 in theloss in five games. only other NHL game Thursday Wayne Gretzky, who assisted on night. all three L.A. goals, said the Kings were disappointed with the loss The likeable Wamsley sighed but not the team’s efforts. when asked about being the an­ swer to a trivia question for the“ We played pretty hard, we just rest of his career. made a couple of mental mis­ takes,” he said. “ I think that’s too easy,” he Paul Ranheim, Gary Roberts, said. “ It’s a team game. I’ve neverRobert Reichcl and Mark Hab- taken credit for my wins. I don’t scheid also scored for the Flames, take all the blame when we lose.who improved their record to 2-3- I’m the goalie of record . . . but I 2 over the last seven games. don’t consider it my loss.” Tony Granato with a pair andL.A. Kings’ centre Wayne Gretzky gets checked by Calgary Flames’ defenceman Jamie Macoun Thursday at the Saddledome. Wamsley paused, then smiled asJari Kurri, on the power play, he recalled that 4-3 loss at the Sanscored for the Kings, who outshot The win leaves Calgary fourth in shoot on a two-man breakaway, Francisco Cow Palace. Nords 2 Blues 5 Brendan Shanahan added a goal Calgary 26-23. the Smythc Division with 26 feeding the puck to Dave Christianand an assist for the Blues. “ On the other side, it wasn’t Gretzky has 11 points, includingpoints, two less than the third- In St. Louis, Brett Hull pulled for an easy goal with 1:33 to go. fun.” seven assists, in his last three out­ into a tic for the NHL goal-scoring place Kings. Playing in front of a selloutThe San Jose Sharks visit the Wamsley made only his fourthings. lead of 19 but passed up chances Calgary Flames at 5 p.m. Satur­ appearance of the year Thursday,Before the game, a moment ofThe Kings played their first to get more. crowd of 17,960, the Blues finallyday on CKPG (channel 2, cable and one of those was a 37-secondsilence was held in memory of game without coach Tom Webster, Hull tied Quebec’s Owen Nolan got tired of playing catch-up. They3). The Chicago Blackhawks visit eye blink against Vancouver lastBob Johnson, the former Flameswho was suspended for 12 gamesfor the league lead with a first-pe­took the lead for the first time inthe Vancouver Canucks at 7:30 Friday. The Flames were forced to coach who died Tuesday of brainWednesday for throwing a stick atriod goal. He had a chance 11 to games and were ahead 4-0this evening on Radio C101 (FM give him his first start since Nov.cancer. referee Kerry Fraser Nov. 16. break the tie but elected not to before the Nordiques scored. channel 101).

Colts’ Armitage back B.C. VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS by DON SCHAFFER Quesnel goalie Matt Kollc was Sports Editor the victim of Armitage’s heroics, Dave Armitage seems to havestopping 33 of 35 Cranbrook shots Trojans take com m and early survived his Wcndesday-night and still taking a loss. Stories by tend a family funeral. Trojans’ coach Randy15-10, 15-8 to Robron of Campbell River and scare. “ We didn’t play that well (Wed­ DON SCHAFFER France said he was happy to win that match.beat Hatzic of Mission 10-15, 15-11, 15-13. Armitage, the Cranbrook Colts’nesday),” Cranbrook coach Colin Sports Editor “ I was a little worried about that one,” he“ We were lucky,” he said Thursday night. goaltender who leads the leaguePatterson in said after Thursday’s It was business as usual once again forsaid the Thursday night. “ But they (Little Flower)“ We’re just not playing good volleyball. We goals-against average, blankedgame. the “ I’m not taking anythingD.P. Todd Trojans Thursday at the B.C. A Adidn’t play well in the first game, and wewere really flat, not into the game. Tomorrow Quesnel Millionaires 2-0 Thursdayaway from Williams Lake, but we girls’ volleyball championship in Vanderhoof.slipped a bit in the second while they picked will be different.” in the only Rocky Mountain Juniordidn’t play the game we should The Trojans went 3-0 and were only brieflyit up. All three teams had their toughest matches Hockey League game played. have. challenged in their opening-day round-robin“ They’re not as bad as 15-2. The secondearlier today. Todd played Southgate, Poppy Armitage was knocked out matches at Nechako Valley Secondary School.game was a good one.” and Vanderhoof before meeting the Clarence briefly after a first-period goal­ “ You can put it down to Fulton Maroons of Vemon, expected to be whatever you want, but we were Todd, the No. 1-ranked defending cham­ France said Humphries had an excellent mouth collision in Williams Lake pion, beat Little Flower Academy of Vancou­ one of the toughest teams of the tournament. Wednesday and was pulled from standing around in the third period. start, but his team pulled together in the sec­ ver 15-2, 15-12 before beating Smithers 15-8,ond game. “ Fulton looks very tough,” France said. the game. The Mustangs won thatWe were up 4-3 after two and I 15-5 and Stanley Humphries of Castlcgar 15- “ They’re probably the strongest team we have game 7-4. guess we figured it was going to 12, 15-4 to go 3-0 in its pool. “ The big girls blocked us well in the first to play in our pool.” game,” France said. “ We played more to­ But Armitage was back in formcome to us, but Williams Lake has Also in Todd’s pool, the host Nechako Val­ The Viqueens also were set to face Hum­ Thursday, stopping 27 shots in hisa good club.” gether in the second game. We just had a few ley Viqueens went 1-2, while in the otherproblems we had to correct.” phries, Fulton and Smithers, while on the first shutout of the season. Patterson said his team got backpool, the Duchess Park Condorettes went 2-1. other side, Duchess had yet to play second- “ Their goalie just playedinto its defensive groove Thursday Todd is tied with Clarence Fulton atop pool The host Viqueens didn’t fare nearly asseeded St. Patrick’s of Vancouver, third- great,” Quesnel coach Terry Ryanand is looking forward to tonight’sA standings with 3-0 records, trailing arewell. They fell 15-10, 15-8 to Southgateseeded of Femie, Spring Valley of Kelowna and said after the game. “ They win Stanley Humphries at 3-1, Southgate 2-2,Campbell Nc- River, beat D.W. Poppy 15-7, 15-3John Barsby of Nanaimo. game against the Prince George and lost 15-13, 11-15, 15-10 to Little Flower. their games on defence, not of­Spruce Kings, at 7:30 at the chako Valley 1-2, Little Flower Academy 1-3, “ All our matches tomorrow (today) will be fence, and they’ve got really solidColiseum. Smithers 0-3 and D.W. Poppy at 0-4. The St. “ The first game this morning, well, it wasvery difficult,” Gorbahn said. “ I think the goal tending.” Pat’s Celtics top pool B at 4-0 followed byjust too much noise, too much volume for girlsthe will really be up for them.” Mike Minnis scored on a “ We know Prince George is the Robron of Campbell River at 3-0, Femie at girls,”3- coach Ray LeMoigne said. “ The girlsThere are no games tonight, with teams at screened shot 32 seconds into the team in the league to beat, and we1, Duchess Park 2-1, Spring Valley and Johnplayed really well against Little Flower, but theit tournament banquet. After today’s play, first period, and that proved to be figure they’re going to be tough inBarsby at 1-2, Hatzic of Mission and Elphin-just wasn’t quite enough.” teams will be divided into championship- and the winning goal. There was their no home building,” Patterson stone of Gibson both at 0-4. Meanwhile, Duchess coach Dana Gorbahnconsolation-round pools. Playoffs begin Satur­ more scoring until 17:58 of thesaid. “ We’re just going to come in Todd’s opener was a real test for the team,said his team struggled in its first threeday morning, with the championship-round third period when Ryan Cainand try to give them a good since provincial-team setter and team captainmatches. The Condorettes took a 15-6, 10-15,matches at NVSS and the consolation matches notched a powcr-play goal. game.” Joanna Jenkins had to miss the match to15-13 at­ win over Elphinstone of Gibsons, lostin Fort St. James.

Sick S pruce Kings C o u g ars slow starters in V a n c o u v e r The College Heights Cougars didn’t get thesaid of the first two matches. “ We dumped Dawson Creek virtually fell from medal con­ face big w eekend start they’d hoped for at the B.C. AAA high(missed) 12 serves, and that’s not like us. tention at the AAA boys’ championship. school girls’ volleyball championship in North“ In the first game against Mount Doug,South we Peace fell 15-12, 15-9 to host G.P. by LEE ANDERSON most of the guys back today. We Vancouver. really turned all that around. The secondVanicr and 15-1, 15-9 to Mountain of Lan­ Citizen Staff had 11 skaters yesterday and more The Cougars, ranked sixth entering the tour­game, I think we were still reeling from thegley. The Penguins have two more matches to The Prince George Sprucetoday.” nament, lost their first two matches beforeshock of the reversal, but in the third gameplay, but are 1-4. Kings’ biggest opponent this McNamara said James Makowi-beating defending champion Mount Douglaswe pulled it out. We were up 8-6 at the weekend may not be the Cran­ Only the top four teams advance to cham­ chuk and Darren Watson are outof Victoria to keep their playoff hopes alive.switch.” pionship-round play. brook Colts, at the Coliseum onwith leg injuries. WaLson hurt his “ The girls didn’t play well, but they Mount Douglas is coached by former Friday nor the Fort Saskatchewan showed a lot of character winning that Duchess third Park player Jack Taillon, Masson■ At the A girls’ championship in South Slo- Traders, here Saturday and Sun­knee during practice prior to last weekend’s road trip to the Peace match,” coach Ray Masson said Thursdaysaid. can, FortS l James is 1-2 after defeating day. Their biggest opponent may night. “ It was a really important match. It wasCollege Heights played L.V. Rogers of Nel­Bulkley Valley Christian and losing to Charles turn out to be a little bitty bug. country. Makowichuk, who sus­ a big win to knock them off.” son, Semiahmoo of Coquitlam and JohnBloom and host Mount Sentinel. Ron Petti­ The flu has ravaged the teamtained a knee injury in a collision with Garry Vallentgocd of Fort St. College Heights started with a 15-10, 15-11Oliver of Vancouver today. Its biggest matchgrew of Dawson Creek is 2-1 with a wins since returning from last is tonight against No. 1-ranked Richmond,over the David Thompson and Brentwood Col­ John on Nov. 8, underwent knee loss to host Handsworth and then fell 15-13, weekend’s road trip to Fort St. 15-7 to Centennial of Coquitlam before beat­only team to beat D.P. Todd entering thislege. Petigrew scored only one point in a two John and Grande Prairie. Mariosurgery on Monday. His re-entry weekend’s provincial tournaments. game blowout at the handsS lof Thomas LeBlanc was out of commission ing Mount Douglas 15-5, 3-15, 17-15. date is uncertain. ■ In Courtenay, the South Peace PenguinsAquinas. of all week and it was thought for “ Things weren’t going our way,” Masson time that he might have contracted“ We’re awaiting the doctor’s re­ mononucleosis, said generalport, but it’ll probably be at least manager Len McNamara. Christmas,” said McNamara. “ He thought he had mono, but The GM announced several C ollege of N ew C aledonia facing he doesn’t,” said McNamaratransactions: Former Pacific Valve Thursday. AA Midget King Larry Helgason Kurt Taylor, LeBlanc and as­joined the team prior to the Peace sistant coach Renzo Berra have d o or d ie situation in p layo ff hunt country trip where he notched on been hit hardest, said the Spruce This weekend could be the end of the Only the top four teams make playoffs.we’re competitive come the end of the sea­ Kings chief. But McNamara saidassist Mike Thompson and third- string goalie Marty Loring were struggles of the College of New Caledonia’sWithout big weekends, both city teams could son.” other players including centre Troy be out of the running for post-season play. released this week while former men’s and women’s volleyball teams — or it CNC plays host to the Canadian college Johnson, defencmen Rick Kooses could be the end of their playoff hopes. and goalie Mark Thom and EricFort St John Huskies Mike Van men’s and women’s championships in March. Both teams get host berths. O’Brien among others have de all Kamp is trying out with the The CNC teams are both mired in the bot­ “ We’re almost in the position where we missed practices this week, but Kings as a free agent, but will nottom half of the standings in the B.C. Collegeshave to win all the rest of our matches to fin­The women’s team plays Capilano College should be on the ice this weekend. play this weekend. Athletics Association volleyball league. Theish in the top four,” said CNC men’s coachtonight. Saturday, both the men and women “ There are some who still might men are 2-5 and in eighth place in theirRay 10- Masson. “ It’s going to be tough. play at the B.C. Institute of Technology and at be questionable Friday, but they’re ■ Grande Prairie’s Grant Jobe was team league, while the women are 2-6 and“ But even if we don’t make it, we’re goingVancouver Community College’s Langara all starting to come back to prac­traded to Fort SL John for Steve ninth in their 11-team circuit. to want to improve our level of play so campus.that tice,” said McNamara. “ We hadWeepers Thursday.