August 24, 1991 Time is of the essence. Two weeks and counting. Coming September 7 CASTLEGAR Oe oo ane rs melanie eae Castlegar News SPORTS August 24, 1991 Castlegar News B1 .dramatically different, infinitely improved . A third baseman for Castlegar slo- -pitch team the ed it most at the provincial C mixed slo-pitch champi- onships at Kinnaird Park last weekend. Solid in the field, Kinakin was outstand- ing at the plate for the Ami- gos, hitting .600 over seven games and winning the women’s batting title in the nine-team tournament. SLO-PITCH It’s not called the Year- ender, but there will be a slo-pitch, money tournament at Kinnaird Park today and tomorrow. Eight to 10 teams, including several from Castlegar, will play for the cash in the tourney. Finals will go at the park tomorrow afternoon with playoff action beginning at 8 a.m. MOCKEY The Seattle Thunderbirds will hold their training camp at the C Suddenly, the kid's a veteran By CasNews Staff All of a sudden, 19-year-old Steve Junker is a veteran. York Islanders in the NHL’s June draft. Since a player can’t get a When the Castlegar native returns for his third year with the Spokane Chiefs in a week and half, his role with the team will be vastly cha: x Yes, he'll still be a rugged left winger who bangs bodies (92 penalty minutes) in the corners and puts pucks (39-38-77) in the net. But this year, with the Chiefs’ superstars Ray Whitney and Pat Falloon skating around on big- ger ponds in pro hockey, Junker suddenly has to fill the consider- able leadership void left in their absence. Junker’s aware of the situa- tion and ready for the challenge. “They'll be looking at me to be more of a leader because we lost a lot of older guys,” said Junker, on a break from work at the hockey school Thursday at the Community Complex. “T’m one of the few beara yd coming back, so I’m e: play more of leadership ole with the younger guys coming in.” Three events in Junker’s hokey career over the past year will help him assume that lead- ership role with some authority. One will be a reminder to the younger kids in the Chiefs dressing room every day — Junker’s Memorial Cup ring from last year. The second is increased sta- tus with the younger players after he was drafted in the fifth round, 92nd overall, by the New to an American uni- versity from the WHL, getting drafted is the goal of every kid who laces up his skates in that The third was an invitation, along with 44 other players, to the training camp of Canada’s national junior hockey team in Calgary a week ago. Regardless of how well he did at the camp, (though he said he had a really good one) the invi- tation alone was a confirmation that Junker is considered one of the best 44 junior hockey play- ers in this country. The team won’t be picked until December when 30 of the original 44 players will be asked to another camp, then the final roster selected. And the fact is, if he plays well in Spokane it can only help his chances or returning to the December camp. “I’m just concentrating on having a good season in Spokane. When they’re picking that Gunior) team they basically go with who's hot around Christ- mas time. So if I’m having a good season, the better my When sked his goal for the season, he had just one, and it wasn’t an individual one. “To give Spokane a great hockey club this year.” That’s the very same goal the coaches are counting on Junker to deliver. it was a meeting of the minds at centre court during the girls’ basketball camp school Thursday. A record 92 girls from ages nine to 16 turned up at the 14th annual camp, which is run by high school and other day, was so popular, organizers hed to use the gym at Twin Rivers elementary school serees the SHSS. street from local teachers. The week. CasNews photo by Ed Mills at Stanley Humphries camp, which ended Fri- Back to grind for pros, prospects Training camps a week away By ED MILLS Staff Writer Well, ie a year later for 1 hy early in the season with the New Jersey Devils and spent the rest of the year getting it back starting Thursday. The Thunderbirds, who used to hold their camp here every year but haven’t for several, will host the Memorial Cup championship this year. BASEBALL The Toronto Blue Jays are hitting a measly .240 as a team in a month that’s seen them lose nine of their last 13 games. C: jockey players pe prospects. For some, like David Vecchio and Lorne Kanigan, the year has changed their goals — a pro- fessional career isn’t upper most on their minds. For others, like Travis Green and Kelly Hurd, last season has only hardened their resolve to More Players, page B2 make it to the big time on a NHL team. Regardless of goa quite a year for C. native sons. Steve Junker won a Memorial Cup with the Spokane Chiefs, then was drafted by the New York Islanders. Hurd just signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings after being named Michi- gan Technical University’s ath- FOOTBALL The CFL is losing more than $100,000 every month since it was forced to take over ownership of the Ottawa Roughriders. Some insiders believe the $100,000 to be an extremely conservative estimate and there have been suggestions the CFL has lost close to $400,000. GOLF lete of the year and the hockey team’s most valuable player. Hurd’s teammate Darcy Mar- tini, an Edmonton Oiler draft, was named the team’s best defenceman and still has a year left in college hockey. Kevan Rilcof and Vecchio both got Centennial Cup rings in their rookie seasons with the Vernon Lakers while Kanigan got his second straight with the team in his swan-song season. And David Green made a suc- cessful jump from the hometown Casth Rebels to the Junior A PGA champion John Daly had another bad day on the course Thursday in the opening round of the World Series of Golf in Akron, Ohio. Daly, who gained instant celebrity status with his long drives that won him the PGA, shot a 10-over-par 80 at the Firestone Country Club course. “I think I ony hit two fairways — wel four if you count those over on the other side of the "he said. Penticton Panthers. Closer to the pros, Travis Green made his mark in his first year of professional hockey with ther in Utica of the AHL. When he did return to full health, Vilgrain scorched the AHL scoring better than a point a game. Besides success on the ice, there is another common thread that runs through the lives of most of these players — educa- tion. As they say, it’s not like the old days anymore, the days when a kid put all his eggs in the NHL basket and if he didn’t psog it got a job weaving bas- Except for Vilgrain and Green, who are already making a living in pro-hockey, this group of local players is a prime example of the proven theory of having a career to fall back on. Vecchio, who will play hockey at McGill University in Montre- al this year, is taking his degree in science and wants to go into medicine. Hurd just finished his degree in business administration while Martini is in his final year of that program. and both got the bulk of their education paid for through hockey scholarships. It'll be a degree in business for Kanigan as well and has accepted a hockey scholarship at the University of Alaska Fair- banks while Dane Jackson, a Vancouver Canucks draft, enters his final year at the Uni- versity of North Dakota. Meanwhile, David Green and Rilcof will both play another year in the BCJHL with the stated intention of getting a the New York Islanders’ farm team — Capital District of the American Hockey League. Despite getting caught in the numbers game at the end of the pe ao Green still meneged a clip on a |: Qiu in the ABIL oe Riss abgrad vas not a native but an opted bon Since Serrytng 8 Cast woman, was inj ip to an American uni- versity. For. all of them, hockey is . If it falls into place and able to make a living at it, that’s a bonus. If it doesn't, they've got their bases covered. For their parents, fans, and coceak niuppersers. it’s their progress and cheer them on along the way. KELLY HURD - 23. NHL TEAM .- Drafted in 1988 in the seventh round by the Detroit Red Wings. LAST SEASON: Played his final year of hockey scholarship at the Michigan Technical Uni- verstiy. Won the school's male athlete of the year award and mvp for the hockey team even though a broken ankle caused him to miss the NCAA playoffs. Scored 29 goals and 22 assists. THIS SEASON: Has signed for one year contract w: option year by the Red Wings. Will attend the Wings trainging camp in Flint, Michigan next week. GOALS: Just tto give it his best and make sure he's satified with what he did at the Wings training camp. QOUTES: “I’m optimistic, I'm in pretty good shape right now. Probably the best I've ever been in. “The long term goal-is to eventually crack the lineup in Detroit and have along career in Gey VILGRAIN, 28 NHL TEAM: Property of the New Jersey Devils. Drafted by Detroit Red Wings, 107th over- all in 1982. Played two seasons with the Canadian Olympic Team. Signed as a free agent by theVancouver Canucks in 1987. Traaded to New Jersey by Van- couver for Tim Lenardon in 1989. LAST SEASON: Was injured early in the season with the Devils, recovered and was sent o the their American Hockey League affiliate in Utica. Scored32 goals and 78 points in 59 games. THIS SEASON: Will attend the Devils training camp start- ing Sept. 6 in New Jersey. GOALS: To make the Devils or stick in the big leagues with any team for the entire season. QOUTES: “My goal has always been the same, I want to have a good career in the NHL.” PRY second round, 23rd overall by the New York Islanders in 1989. LAST SEASON: Scored 22 goals 27 assists in 63 games on the Islanders Amercian Hockey League affiliate in Capital Dis- the Islanders ing camp in Long Island, bere expects to start the season in heh minors. Situa- tion may change if Islanders star entre Pat Lafontaine can't agree to a contract with the team. GOALS: To make the Islanders this season and stick withe the team all year. QOUTES: “They're pretty deep at centre with (Ray) Fer- raro, (Brent) Sutter, and (Pat) Lafontaine, but with the way things are going with Patty, i don't know wh: going to hap- pen. I'm always thing positive and hoping I'll be there. “The ultimate goal? I'd like to have a long career in teh NHL and score as many goals as I