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PEPP-1ALK

A trip to the East Kootenay Rossland. We stopped in
is always something to Cranbrook for a Chinese
remember, especially when smorgasbord, that's quite a
you travel with Neil Murdoch. combination of nationalities,
When you travel in this ain't it? As I said before,
fashion you · never have to when you travel with Neil it's
worry about your welfare, it's comfortable, so we got home
just like All-State, you are in safely and in good time.
good hands.
Two or three important
The past weekend was
spent in the company of the notes to wind up this week.
Rossland Warriors. The boys Karen Lecuyer called me the
didn't add any points to their other night to pass along
league standings but they some information regarding
earned a lot of respect to their ·an organization called Trail
image in the East Kootenay. Community Action. Nov. 21 in
Sure, they lost both games on the Cominco Arena this
organization will promote an
their trip but they never quit.
They knew when they went · Old-Timers Hockey Game
in there that they were going with the proceeds to go to
low-income
to run up against two of the benefitting
teams which could cause families in the direction of
them a lot of trouble. They got helping these people enjoy the
it too. This Sparwood-based recreation facilities available
team, they· call them the Elk to people in a better financial
Valley Raiders, play the game position in our area.
We would like to say that
in a very physical fashion.
The game Saturday evening this sounds like a pretty good
was not one of the best- idea, it would be a good thing
officiated games I have ever to give your support.
witnessed. The officials
allowed the game to get out of
Carol Albo wished me to
hand and they never did get it pass along the following note
under control.
re Business Ladies Curling.
Tempers on both sides were Looking for another good
running pretty high and the season the women will hold
consequent result was a game open house at the Curling
which left a lot to be desired Rink at 7 p.m. Nov. 3, that's
as far as fan enjoyment was this coming Monday,
concerned.
come one, come all ladies,
Sure, the Sparwood fans you're welcome.
enjoyed it, naturally they
Meanwhile a group of older
would. I actually believe the citizens, namely the retirees,
team is trained to use the held a meeting on Tuesday to
heavy end of the game in the decide various questions
intimidation process and their regarding their curling
fans eat it up. In such a case, future. Some decisions were
you need a firm hand on the arrived at, cost per person to
game and that was definitely enjoy the grand old game for
not in evidence Saturday
night.
The Sparwood Arena is a
spacious building though the
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with
lla'ry

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Pepper

the coming season, when and
how they will be able to enjoy
it and certain technical
problems that plague any
organization.
Suffice to say that the
retirees will once again be
alive and curling again this
season, opening day is
Tuesday, Nov. 4 at'l0 a.m. If
you have never tried it before
and you are retired and would
like to give it a whirl, come on
out and give it a try. I'll bet
you'll be glad you did.
During the past week I
received a clipping from
"Chow" Sdao in Penticton
from the local paper. It was a
report on the resignation of
the BCJHL referee-in-chief
and his thoughts on the
subject of officiating in the
Interior Division.
Pat Clarke, the gent in
question, is a former NHL
linesman and should know
whereof he speaks. He says
that getting knocked by
everyone from the managers,
through owners, coaches,
players, fans and the media is
all the thanks they get for
giving the game the best they
knowhow.
Clarke is talking of his
league, but I do think that he
could be a mouthpiec~ for a
whole lot of officials
throughout the country. Officials are a much-maligned
species, I think we all tend to
lay the blame for a bad game
on the men in th~ striped
shirts and most of the weight
of our arguments lands on the
fellow with the red armbands.
One of his arguments is that

officials should be moved
around the league so that
people would not have to
watch the same people in
action all the time. I have
brought this subject up on
occasion with local officials,
the answer. "Where will the
money come from?"
Surely there must be money
for this sort of thing,
distances in the divisions of
our league are not that great,
a neutral referee and local
linesman for each game
should not be that moneyconsuming.
I have to agree with Cll;lrke
on a lot of points he makes.
The sooner the league moguls
start taking note of some of
the ref's gripes the better it
will be for all concerned,
particularly the fans,. the guys
who pay the shot.
I have this clipping at
home, if you would like to
read it let me know, it's worth
more than the time it takes to
read it.

you need a firm band on tlie
at, cost per person to fellow with the red armbands.
game and that was definitely arrived
enjoy the grand old game for
One of his arguments is that
not in evidence Saturday
night.
The Sparwood Arena is a
spacious building though the
seat setup is not to my liking.
H you sit on the bottom seat in
the stands you have to bounce
up and down on your seat to
see what's going on. They
have a metal guard rail in
front of the seats and it's a
real problem to get your eye
on the play. They have lots of
room, why not use it to advantage.
Back to Cranbrook, where
we stayed at the Coach House
Inn, coach Buhr allowed a
little get-together where the
boys and their mentors were
allowed to get together for a
littl frivolity. I think the boys
enjoyed it and I feel that these
kids have something coming
to them.
They are not professionals,
although you'd think, watching the games at the arena,
that that was the category
they were playing in. I know,
I have sat with two of the
Warriors harshest critics for
so long that I have trouble not
allowing my thinking to get
tangled up, too.
Sunday we travelled to
Invermere, the home of the
Columbia Valley Rockies.
This was a game in which the
things which make hockey
such a great game were in
evidence, good end-to-end
hockey,
spectacular
goaltending and absolutely
top-notch officiating.
And, what do you know, I
got a nice warm seat. The
arena in lnvermere has the
same type of heater as we
- BIii Turner photo
have at home and I sat right
under one of ·them. I never Bart Camaratta, with Warrior captain John
even went down for coffee Caron, relaxes during a break in the action.
between periods.
The Rockies are a fine
young team, they happen to
have one of the finest young
hockey players in our league
playing for fhem. Barry Luce
is his name and you have to
1,,,1;.,.,.,. th_at tbi

vonn

man

things which make hockey

such a great game were in
evidence, good end-to-end
hockey,
spectacular
goaltending and absolutely
top-notch officiating.
And, what do you know, I
got a nice warm seat. The
arena in Invermere bas the
same type of beater as we
have at home and I sat right
under one of "them. I never
even went down for coffee
between periods.
The Rockies are a fine
young team, they happen to
have one of the finest young
hockey players in our league
playing for fhem. Barry Luce
is bis name and you have to
believe that this young man
should become a prime
candidate for pro hockey.
I'm not setting myiself up as
a pro scout but the things I
see in this young man make
me feel that be bas what it
takes to make the big time.
The Warriors bad a lead
after one period but although
they bad a big edge in shots
on goal throughout, they ran
into a young man by the name
of Frank Close, who played a
really fantastic game in the
Rockie net.
Don't take anything away
from our boy, Hoss Drake,
who was not much short of
spectacular with bis showing.
He wasn't as busy as Close
but be was pretty adequate.
I never cease to marvel
over the play of Bart
Camaratta. They put him up
against the big man on
Sunday and be handled bis
task pretty well. During the
first period be kept the big
fella under control; why they
changed the plan, or did they?
I have to wonder, because the
little fella was enjoying
himself and doing quite a job
on Barry.
Anyway, it ended 6-3 and
we were on our way to

- BIii Turner photo

Bart Camaratta, with Warrior captain John

Caron, relaxes during a break in the action.