The Prince George Citizen - Wednesday, March 13,1991 - 17

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

CANADIAN JUNIOR NORDIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

W eary skiers w elcom ed by fresh snow

by BILL SEYMOUR in 14 days — was beginnning to take ais another skier just returned from Ger­junior ranks, the junior women’s cham­Tuesday. "We are not talking about Citizen StafT toll. many. With three top-10 finishes at last pionships is expected to be a wide-openmedals.” year’s championships in Ottawa, DeA­ Tired and jet-lagged members of the “ I’m pretty jet-lagged out,” Luhta said affair. Brook Latimer of Thunder Bay, One of his skiers disagrees. Peter Canadian cross-country ski team arrivedTuesday. “ It’ll be pretty tough but hope­breu says he’s happy with the progress heMarie-Helene Martin of Boucherville,Oszadzsky of Rossland was part of the in Prince George Tuesday for the nationalfully I'll be looking at another aggregatehas made in the last year. Que., and Nancy Dassie of Beauport,bronze medal winning relay team in junior nordic championships, which beginaward.’’ “ If I can match that consistency this Que., are among the top-ranked women. Charlottetown. Oszadszky is racing in Thursday at Otway. A veteran of four previous Canadianyear but move up in the placings thatKari Matson and Stephanie Orydzuk,junior boys, the biggest and what some championships, Luhta, 17, enjoyed a two-would be great,” DeAbreu, 19, said both of Prince George, are also racing inobservers say is the most competitive Most of the 181 skiers expected were event at the championhsips. in the city by Tuesday, their arrivalyear reign as the overall champion amongTuesday. the junior womens’ events. greeted by about 10 centimeteres of fresh juvenile girls. This year she makes the He will likely have to beat Chris Blan­ “ I think medals are a possibility,” he jump to the junior category. chard of Montreal, runner-up last year toBut medals are not a priority for B.C.said. "They are likely because I have snow. The accumulation not only covered team coach Peter Saar. Even though his Three Prince George skiers — Natalie Quebec teammate Donald Farley of Lor­ raced everyone before.” the icy trails of the Otway ski centre but team won two golds and one bronze at heaped relief on nervous organizers whoCiolfitto, Joanna McHugh and Lizaraine, Que. With Farley now on the But even Oszadszky concedes the the Canada Winter Games last month, hadn’t seen a centimetre of snow fall inTimmermans — will also be competingCanadian senior team, Blanchard is junior boys’ gold is Robin McKeever’s to Saar says his contingent here is different almost a month. in the junior girls events. viewed by many as the heir apparent to lose. McKeever of Calgary took gold and and the emphasis isn’t on hardware. The national team members straggled Ontario skiers are expected to fare well the junior men’s tide. silver medals last year and was Canada’s into the city just days after a completingat the championships, for skiers 14 to 19 World junior competitor Ken Bristol of“ Here we have a relatively inex­ top performer with a 32nd in the 10-km the world junior championships in Ger­years old. The 40-member Ontario team Saskatoon is another skier expected toperienced team in that more than 50 perclassic last week in Germany. many. Leanne Luhta of South Porcupine,is anchored by a core of top skiers. lead the junior men’s pack. cent of the team has never been to a Said Oszadszky, “ He’s pretty much O nt said a heavy schedule — seven races Robert DeAbreu of Deep River, O nt, With B.C.’s Debbie Steizer out of the junior championship before, ” Saar saidout of our league.”

M atheson leads Leafs hoping junior curlers LEDUC, Alta. (CP) — Sean stealing six points in the last three N orth Stars fa ll Matheson won the bronze medal atends for an 8-3 win over Toronto’s By The Canadian Press Lafleur, 39. “ We owe it to the the Canada Winter Games at home Deborah Green. The are re­ fans. I don’t think there’s a guy in in Prince Edward Island, but he’s In other games in Round 12, fusing to go quietly. this room who wants to finish last looking for bigger and betterTara Brandt of Edmonton and The Leafs have all but wrapped and get Lindros. We want to win.” things at the Canadian junior curl­’s Jill Staub won to stay up last place in the Norris Division The Leafs have no chance of ing championships. close to Smith at 5-1. Brandt beat and the only way for the strug­landing Lindros, having traded The Charlottetown rink took Tara Coulterman of Sault Ste. gling franchise to qualify for theaway their first pick last season to over sole possession of top spotMarie, at Ont., 6-5 and Staub edged Stanley Cup playoffs is for thethe Devils. the Canadian juniors Tuesday withKatie Arsenault of Ste-Foy, Que., Minnesota North Stars to suffer a North Stars 5 Sabres 2 a 7-4 victory over Steve Eddy of6-5. total collapse. Dave Gagner continued his Halifax. Shellan Baranieski of Nipawin, But the Maple Leafs won month-long hot streak with his “ This just seems so much big­ Sask., defeated Marsha Wier of Tuesday night, beating the only37th of the season as Minne­ ger,” Matheson said. “ I had a Halifax 9-4, Allison Maclnnes of NHL team worse than they are, the sota won its fourth straight. The funny feeling in my stomach allKelowna, B.C., beat Sheila Ducey Quebec Nordiques, 4-3. North Stars extended their home game. I was really calm and col­ of Comerbrook, Nfld., 10-2 and Minnesota, meanwhile, main­ unbeaten streak to 12 games (10-0- lected at the Canada Games, but I Lynn Ann Callaghan of Charlotte­ tained its 14-point lead over the2), one shy of the club record. feel tense here. I feel a lot more town got by Janet Sian of Yellow­ last place Leafs in the Norris Divi­ Canadiens 4 Penguins 4 pressure for some reason.” knife, N.W.T., 7-3. While Matheson was winning sion with a 5-2 victory over the Jamie Leach and Kevin Stevens Behind New Brunswick, Alberta . scored late in the second period to his sixth straight game to improve and Manitoba were Saskatchewan to 6-1, two other rinks — Rob Elsewhere, it was: the Montreal lift Pittsburgh. The tie snapped the at 4-2, B.C., Quebec and Northern Schlender of Leduc and Grant Canadiens, 4;Penguins team-record 11-game Ontario at 3-3, Nova Scotia, New­ Dezura of Maple Ridge, B.C. — 3, Washington home winning streak, but it moved foundland and Ontario at 2-4, who were tied with him heading Capitals 2; Calgary Flames 5, the Penguins within three points of Prince Edward Island at 1-5 and into the 13th round fell to 5-2. Winnipeg Jets 3; and Los Angelesthe first-place the Territories were 0-6. Kings 6, Philadelphia Flyers 0. in the Patrick Division. In another game, Jason Repay of ■GLASGOW (CP) — The “ We didn’t want to lose this Whalers 3 Capitals 2 Thunder Bay, Ont, pulled into a Canadian entries at the world Hartford ended a nine-game three-way tie with Alberta and one,” said Leaf forward Peter junior curling championships re­ Zezel, who netted the winner at winless streak as John Cullen and B.C. for second spot with a 4-2 mained undefeated today. 12:10 of the third period. “ A Terry Yake scored 57 seconds win over Winnipeg’s slumping game like this means a lot with apart in the second period. The James Kirkness. Noel Herron of Kingston, O nt, that Minnesota series coming up.” loss snapped Washington’s five- “ I was all right for the first improved to 5-0 with an 8-3 The Nordiques may have lostgame unbeaten string and the three games,” said Matheson, a victory over the United States in the contest of the NHL’s weakest Capitals remained tied with New calm, pensive sort off the ice. the morning draw. The Americans teams, but the outcome may bearJersey in the race for the fourth “ But for the past while, I’ve been dropped to 3-2. fruit. The Leafs are the only team and final Patrick playoff spot. Mats Sundin of the Nords Is checked by Leafs Dave Ellett.pretty tense. Emotions are runningScotland took its 4-0 record into that stood between the Nordiques Flames 5 Jets 3 pretty high. an afternoon draw against Ger­ and Eric Lindros, the talented star Calgary extended its unbeatenin the overall standings as Kellyapiece from Marty McSorley and “ The better you’re doing, the many. of the junior Oshawa Generals streak at home to 17 games as Hrudey stopped 26 shots for hisSteve Duchesne. more in the back of your mind Atina Ford of Regina also im­ who is a sure bet to go first overallDoug Gilmour set up the go-aheadsecond straight shutout. The you’re thinking, ‘geez, I’ll get a proved to 5-0 in the women’s in the June draft. and insurance goals to beat Win­victory gave the Kings 91 points, The New York Islanders visit bye to the final if I keep going likecompetition with a 9-4 triumph The Leafs are nine points clear nipeg. The Flames improved to 16- one more than Chicago and St. the Edmonton Oilers at 6:30 this.’ But you’ve just got to go oneover the United States, which of the last-place Nordiques with 0-1 at the Olympic Saddledome Louis, and kept them two points this evening on ITV (cable 2). game at a time.” dropped to 3-2. only nine games remaining forsince Dec. 22. The Jets have lost ahead of Calgary in the Smythe The Flyers visit the Vancouver After 13 rounds, Prince Edward five of their last six games and are Island was 6-1, followed by B.C., Switzerland was next at 4-1 after both teams. Division standings. DefencemenCanucks at 7:30 this evening on beating Italy. “ It would be nice to win more2-7-1 in their last 10. provided most of the offence for BCTV (channel 12, cable 11) Alberta, and Northern Ontario at games and finish the season on a Kings 6 Flyers 0 the Kings, who got two goals 5-2. Ontario was 4-3, followed by Herron takes on the Italian men good note,” said Quebec’s Guy os Angeles took over first place Manitoba, Quebec, Nova Scotialater today, while Ford and her and Newfoundland at 3-4. rink have the rest of the day off The Territories and New Brun­ and play Italy Wednesday morn­ swick were 2-5 and Saskatchewan ing. Q uebec team leads worlds figureswas 1-6. On Monday, Ford’s foursome On the women’s side, Heather defeated Denmark 8-2 and Ger­ (CP) — Isabelle Bras- The champions retired last autumn,Smith of Sackville, N.B., ran her many 12-2, and Herron downed record to 6-0 earlier Tuesday after Germany 7-2. seur would have gone airmail if leaving the Canadians ranked No. she’d had a stamp on her forehead. 1. lifted her at the “ We really weren’t prepared for waist, tossed her in the air and Saskatchewan curlers their retirement,” said Eisler. “ We dropped his hands to his sides as she spun with her face Vz3 metres wanted them to stay so we could above the ice. compete against them again. It putlead championships “ There’s no way I’d go up a hitch into our preparations. AllVICTORIA (CP) — Sas­ Buckle of New Brunswick 9, there,” he said afterwards. of a sudden we were No. 1. It putkatchewan and Manitoba con­Wynn 8. “ He’s got the hard part — he’s extra pressure on us.” tinued to dominate the men’s divi­ In the ninth round, it was: Korte sion Tuesday at the Canadian got to catch me,” said Brasseur. For Ball and Bombardier, plac­ 8, Buckle 4; Ursel 7, Clark 4; seniors curling championship. Their split double twist helped ing eighth in their worlds debut Denney 8, Carr 5; and Moon 7, Benno Korte of SaskatchewanBarry Shearer of Nova Scotia 7. the Boucherville, Que., team to was exceptional. first place in the original program and defending champion Jim Ursel “ Our Achilles’ heel today was segment — worth one-third of the “ In the warmup I felt really of Manitoba were each 7-1, fol­ that we allowed two three- lowed by Bill Clark of Alberta at total mark — of the pairs event at calm because we had nothing to enders,” said Wynn, who is play­ the world champion­ lose out there because of it being5-2. ing in his first national cham- ships Tuesday night. our first year,” said Bombardier. On the women’s side, Emily pionshp. The Vemon skip is 4-3. Famham of Saskatchewan and Eila The free-skating final — worth Hough and Ladret made one sig­Brown of Northern Ontario were “ Those were the first three- the other two-thirds — is tonight enders that we have allowed here. nificant mistake. tied for first at 7-0. Shirley Tucker as the national champions try to of Alberta was third at 6-1. “ When we came here, we win Canada gold medals in the “ I didn’t shift my weight back Barry Shearer of Nova Scotia thought that we could be con­ event for the first time since Barb on a double Axel and I popped a got off to a quick start against tenders. Our next two games (Sas­ Underhill and Paul Martini in single,” said Hough. Ursel in the 11th round, stealing katchewan and Manitoba) will de­ 1984. “ We knew we were taking a three in the first end. But Ursel cide if we’ll be around in the play­ Kurt Browning of Caroline, chance this season with the pro­stole single points in the eighth offs.” Alta., begins his quest for a third grams we designed but we like to and ninth ends, then two in the straight world title when the men’s Famham, the 1989 senior cham­ try to push the sport a little bit in­10th end to win 8-6. pion, beat Jean Beardsley of On­ singles event begins today. stead of everybody going down theKorte drew to the four-foot Stacey Ball of St. Thomas, Ont, tario 12-3 in eight ends in the same path,” said Ladret. against two in the 10th end to ninth round, then defeated Carmel and Jean-Michel Bombardier of defeat Doug Cameron of Prince Laval, Que., were eighth in the In the dance event, Maia Usova Marshall of British Columbia 11-5 Edward Island 6-5 in the 11th in the 10th round. 2Vt>-minute pairs original. Chris­ and Alexander Zhulin of theround. tine Hough of Waterloo, Ont., and held the lead. Team­ In the 11th round, Famham had John-Mlchell Bombadler lifts Stacey Ball In original program. In other llth-round games, it Doug Ladret of North Vancouver, mates and Sergei was: Al Deimage of the Territories a bye while Brown had a ll- 5 win B.C., were 10th. marks from 5.6 to 5.8 of a possiblehurting his left knee playing Ponomarenko, the defending8, Larry Wynn of British Colum­over Madeline Belbin of New­ In the dance, Jacqueline Petr of6. 0 for execution of requiredpickup hockey. champions, were second, withbia 7; and Dennis Byme of New­foundland and Jean Skinnero f Winnipeg and Mark Janoschak ofmoves, and they got from 5.6 to Nadia Mishkutenok and Artur French-Canadians Isabelle and foundland 6, Clark 5. Nova Scotia edged Tucker 7-6. Bramalea, Ont., were 10th after the 5.9 for artistic impression. Dmitriev of the Soviet Union werePaul Duchesnay, skating for In the 10th round, it was: Dave Also in the 11th round, Joan compulsory waltzes and rhumbas. “ We can’t skate any better in second place. France, third. Moon of Quebec 8, Brian Carr ofMacKay of Quebec beat Shirley Michelle McDonald of Abbotsford,given the pressure we’ve had on Last year, Ekaterina Gordeeva Northern Ontario 5; DougMorgan of the Territories 6-4 and B.C., and Martin Smith of Wood- us this season,” said Eisler, who and won gold, with Cameron of Prince Edward Island Maxine Vaughan of New Brun­ stock, Ont., placed 16th. missed a month’s training after Brasseur and Eisler second and Coverage begins at 8 tonight 10, Byme 2; Bob Denney of On­swick defeated Marie Gaudet o f Brasseur and Eisler received Mishkutenok and Dmitriev third. on CKPG (channel 2, cable 3). tario 8, Deimage 7; and Dave Prince Edward Island 13-7. x