Vaan Aa aa bop ENON auaNap gaye an eae Page 8A The Castlegar Sun Wednesday, May 3, 1995 he Castlegar Sun WEDNESDAY, May 3, 1995 SPORTS RON NORMAN Sun Editor The way Shaw Cable packages channels came under scrutiny at a recent Castlegar council meeting “Why do we have to take channels we don't want?” Mayor Mike O'Connor asked Steve Lake, Shaw Cable's regional manager from Cranbrook “There's a lot of channels on there I don"t want.” O'Connor said in order to get a channel he wants, he is forced to take “all these other channels,” “Why can't I just buy the chan nels that I'd like to have?” Lake said that Shaw Cable's channel packaging is restricted both technically and by the Cana dian Radio-television and Te ‘ CG “Technically, we're con strained at this point in time as to how we can package channels.” He pointed out that “a> la carte” packaging, where sub scribers pick and choose individ val channels, is costlier to deliver Lake noted that when TSN was launched several years ago it retailed at $9.95 a month, plus a converter rental “That is the kind of pricing regime you can get with single, a la carte channels because of the cost of delivering them to a smaller base and because of the cost of the equipment to receive them.” He said Shaw Cable is now able to offer a “full slate of chan. nels” that includes TSN for half the price. He said that's possible by using “trap” technology. “Trap technology is a technol ogy that takes out groups of chan. nels and stops them from coming into your home.” Lake also predicted that with the advent of digitally encoded signals, boxes that sit on top of TV sets (set top boxes) will be required for even the basic cable service “At that point in time, when Some quick facts about Cable: _ * The first cable license peta sor se was for almo, Castlegar second + Shaw Cable bought out the Castlegar Cable system, Cable ‘West, in 1982. * Shaw goes into 4,000 Castlegar homes and 17,000 in the West é * it has 1,5 million sub- Scribers across Canada. * There are 11 regional Some fast facts about Shaw Cable employees, eight of whom are stationed in Castlegar. + Shaw paid $30,000 in prop- erty taxes last year in Castlegar. * Shaw provided more than 200 stuffed toy bears in the Kootenays as part of a pro- gram to help children in criti- cal situations, such as a car accident or a fire. + Shaw provides free closed caption decoders for hearing impaired subscribers. + Shaw has invested sonx 31.5 million in its Castlegar building on south Columbia Avenue.- ~ the signal is digitally encoded and the decoding equipment is readily available, then technically we will be able to offer channels on an a” la carte basis,” However, he noted that the cable industry is also restricted by CRTC regulations. “There is a number of regula- tions that we have to adhere to.” Among them is one that stipu- lates that U.S, services must be linked with Canadian services. For instance, the Arts and Enter- tainment channel has to be pack- aged with a Canadian channel. “It doesn't mattef what Cana- dian service it is, but it has to be packaged with (a Canadian ser- vice).”” He said the same applies with ine American channels WGN and "BS. “We are not authorized to sell those services unless they are packaged with a Canadian pay television service.” Lake said the CRTC makes those regulations “to ensure the viability of Canadian program- ming.” He pointed out that the small satellite dishes that are available in the U.S. and will be on the market in Canada in September have the technological ability to offer a* la carte services. And the Americans do not have the same kind of packaging regulations as tn Canada. “But they still sell their signals in packages, because for them, even the administrative cost of breaking out individual channels is enough of an incentive for them to package them and for them*to offer them at a lower price.” O'Connor questioned why Shaw Cable doesn’t return to the old system where it allowed sub- scribers to pay one price for the signal and have the signal on more than one TV. Now subscribers must pay for two boxes, O'Connor said, which COLOUR MAKES A DIFFERENCE! Derek Chartres (L) of Hall Printing and Chris Tricker from KOOL admire a full colour laser copy from the Canon Colour Copier. CaAMNOM NP8530 Hi-Speed copier with sorter/stapler kel recently installed a CaNOni colour copier at Hall Printing in Castlegar as well as a Congratulations to Hall Printing [ from Kootenay Office Outfitters 365-7454 Shaw Cable channels questioned Shaw Cable's community 10 channel was on the air all weekend fr ‘om the 1995 Wi Kootenay Trade Fair at the ‘Community Complex. — doubles the cost But Lake said the old system was too easy to bypass. “The theft rates were about twice the penetration rates,” he said. “So twice as many people were Stealing the signal as were buying HALLMARK OFFERS: Decorative Accessories Writing Instruments Puzzles Mugs and more! Just for the graduate. PLAZA I.D.A. Castleaird Plaza “Your Neighbourhood Drugstore’ 365-7269 it. It was just am unacceptable technology for us. It didn’t work Tt wasn’t secure.” Lake also noted that the signals from U.S. networks have deterio- rated over the last several years “A lot of that is due to growth in the signal traffic,” Lake said. HURRY IN FAST! COLOUR COPIES $ ? 25 * ie AJ *8% x 11 save up to $1.70 ea. Save $1.00 0n 11x17 & transparencies. MAY 19,95 j A \ BLACK & JUST GOT Check out ournew Canon NP8530 BETTER SALE IN EFFECT AT CASTLEGAR OFFICE ONLY. TS PRINTING 1434 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-5433 ‘SUN STAFF PHOTO / Jeff Gabert Shaw Cable receives its Amer- ican signals at the top of Granite Mountain. Between Granite and Spokane there has been a lot more develop- ment which has produced more sources of interference, Lake said. He said Shaw Cable is present- ly building a microwave system that will take the signal from near Salmo and will run it back to Castlegar on a fibre optic feed. “That will allow us virtually studio-quality feed on all U.S. networks.” 301 - 11th Ave. (Tulips Building) 365-5191 —% See us for all your natural gas or, propane fireplaces; appliances; > furnaces; sales & installation. FREE QUOTATION 1008 Columbia Ave., Castlegar 365-3388 Uniforms & Jackets 365-2210 ‘ide entrance Gerick ‘Sports Col. Ave. Castiegat go8ceakr SER c.. 753 Bobcat and 9 ft. Backhoe Hourly Rate: $40.00 + No Travel Time on Larger Jobs ¢ Fully Insured Kerry Streichert Se. 309-7395 Sugar and softball Castlegar girls find everything nice isn’t always spice JEFF GABERT SR It’s spring in the West Koote- nay and that means an abundance of green leaves, blossoms and ball leagues. With so many play- ers and so many fields it's hard to keep track of everything and it is very easy to overlook a little known association of 222 players. Castlegar girls have always enjoyed playing ball of any vari- ety but that has never been more clear than this year as the Castlegar and District Girls Softball Association has seen its membership swell. The associa- tion now boasts 18 teams in a league of their own, including six senior teams. “It's fantastic,” said Girls Soft- ball Association President Bev Maloff. “I can’t believe the amount of girls that want to play.” Girls Softball is split into four divisions in the recreational league. The first is T-ball which has girls age 5-7. There are 36 T-ballers this season and three teams. Girls age eight and nine play in the junior division. There are 60 juniors this year and five teams. The intermediate division has 46 girls and four teams. Its teams have girls age 10 and 11 The senior division is by far the most popular with over 78 girls age 12 and older competing on six teams. Maloff said overall registration has improved from last year when 197 girls were involved in the softball program. She says the increase was not unexpected but doesn’t believe it will continue She sees the overall registration levelling off but with an increase in the lower age divisions. The association also boasts three competitive teams which travel to various tournaments throughout the year. The Pee- wee team consists of 15 girls Sidelines Having a Sporting Slocan Spring and Summer She has waited all winter to pound a ball like this. age 14 and under while the Ban- tam team has 13 girls age 16 and under. The Midgets are age 19 and under and usually con- sists of 12 players. All three tgams are currently being cho- sen with final cuts slated for the end of the week. Maloff is pleased with the par- ticipation but isn't surprised “Girls just want to learn to play ball,” said Maloff. “Besides soc- cer and field hockey, there's no other sport available for girls in Castlegar.” Things have changed a lot in girls softball since Maloff origi- nally became involved back in 1986. She remembers the constant battles to get good equipment and is proud of how the association has worked to change things. She makes sure every team has good equipment now and that just adds to the fun, which is what the girls are there for. And, of course, it’s fun for Maloff as well. “Watching them progress from T-ball to seniors is just fantastic,” Jenny Terry is just one of 222 Castlegar girls enjoying the sport of softball this year. SUN SPORTS PHOTO / Ron Norman said Maloff. “They learn so many skills and they gain so much knowledge about the game “We also get girls who have never played ball before and the other girls always help them to get better. By the end of the scason the new girls can hold their own.” The girls softball season start- ed April 19 and will run until June 21. Their biggest tourna- ment of the year will be the annu- al wind-up tournament which will be held in Castlegar on June 25. Canucks take advantage of a Jackson attack JOUN WAWROW Sterling News Services His excitement is tempered. The newness of the experience - called up to the National Hockey League - has worn off. Scoring goals, sitting in the same room as Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden; the travel; playing before 16,000- seat packed houses: they all seem old hat to him. Dane Jackson, afterall, has been here and done that What's to get excited about when there’s a further task - stay- ing in the NHL for good - at hand? “I don’t know,” said Jackson the day after he was called up to the Vancouver Canucks last week. “Maybe it’s because I've done it before. “TI don’t even know if I'll get a chance to play.” He was much the same after he got his chance to play in his sec- ond straight game against Calgary Sunday, and wound up scoring his first NHL goal of the season. “Any time you score it feels good,” said the 24-year-old Castlegar native. “But I wasn’t quite as excited this time as I was the last time,” You see, the last time was spe- cial because it was his first It was the middle of Decem- ber of 1993 and Jackson was bouncing off the walls of a Cal- gary hotel room, unable to sleep, waiting for the Canucks and his chance to arrive. And, four nights later, after he scored his first an@ second career NHL goals all in one game, he had to put a towel over his face to con- ceal his smile during the second intermission. Sunday, the only towel he carried was the one to wipe off the sweat from a hard-earned 6-4 victory. So what could be construed as ambivalence on Jackson's part is teally more of a conscious effort to keep things at an even keel With the playoffs here and more important things on head coach Rick Ley’s plate than deal- ing with the needs of rookie hopefuls, Jackson understands that his chances are limited. “T'll try to play the same way as I always do,” said Jackson, simply. “I know my primary job is to check and bang and make things happen.” The rest, he hopes, will fall into place later. “Maturity,” said Jack Mcllhargey, Jackson's minor league head coach with the Syracuse Crunch. “This was our third year togeth- er and I knew from the previous two years that he was a leader.” It was McIlhargey who had enough confidence in Jackson to make him captain of the Crunch And he didn’t make his deci- The cae Wy \ \ best always strike ; / Ni j ; ‘ vii! iil/ m+ | er Senior bowlers Derek Hai The Castlegar chapter of the Youth Bowlin: last Saturday afternoon with four bowlers gaining special recognition with the top averages for the year. From left: Junior bowlers Alana Pion and Robin Duke, and 71 / ndley and Stacey Planidin. g Council held its annual awards picnic SUN SPORTS PHOTO / Jeff Gabert sion simply because Jackson was the oldest member of a very young team. “Just because you're a veteran doesn’t make you a captain or a leader,” said Mclihargey. “(Jackson) works hard on the ice and off the ice. He’s intelli- gent. He’s a good role model for the younger guys coming up.” Proof of Jackson’s maturity came in October, when he joined the Crunch after the Canucks training camp was cut short by the impending NHL lockout. Jackson, by many accounts, appeared to have a shot at mak- ing the Canucks out of camp That chance was spoiled by the extended players lockout Come January, when the season finally began, Jackson appeared lost in the shuffle and wouldn’t get the call to go to Vancouver until April Jackson responded, putting together a 30-goal, 58-point season. And now he’s back. His goal Sunday, the sixth of his NHL career, was done in pure Jackson fashion. Dishing the puck off to fourth- line teammate Christian Ruuttu. Jackson went to the net. Battling for position at the right post Jackson got his stick on Ruuttu’s shot, deflecting it over Calgary goalie Andrei Trefilov's shoulder to open the scoring. “That's usually how I score Going to the net,” said Jackson “I get the tip-ins and rebounds and whack’em in close. ‘I don’t score too many flashy ones.” added an unflashy bu! secure Jackson. “I play within m. limitations.” This mantra has been ingraine:! in him - in part from Mclihargey. “If you talk to him,” MclIl- hargey said, “tell him to keep playing his game. Do the little things.” And Jackson is certainly thank- ful of those. After Sunday's game he was asked about his goal. Pausing to think, Jackson looked up and said, “I like being here.” That thought was excitement enough. The Slocan Valley Recreation Commission is always looking for ways to spice up the spring and summer months. Many of their events have already started but they are designed so that people can drop in at any time and still enjoy the values of recreation. The Mt. Sentinel High School hosts Womens Volleyball every Tuesday from March 28 - May 30 at 7-9 p.m. for anyone interested in spikes and blocks. Monday and Wednesday see a of players at the school during the same time period from March 27 - May 17. Men's Floor Hockey takes the stage on Thursdays from 7- 9 p.m. and runs March 30 to May 18. The Winlaw School Gym is the site of both Mens and Womens Volleyball. The women own the floor every Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. March, 30 to June 29 while the men play Wednesday nights until May 17 from 7-9 p.m. Brent Kennedy School has also got into the action when they host Mens Basketball on Tuesday nights 7-9 p.m until May 30. A Real Police Chase Cc RCMP is p ipating in the Law Enforcement Torch Ruh Campaign this year which raises funds for the Special Olympics. It is anticipated this year that all law enforcement Torch Runs across Canada will raise $1.5 million for the program which gives id with mental an opp y to partici- pate in organized sports. The run is scheduled for Sunday, June 11 at 10 a.m. along 6th Avenue. The race will start at the chamber of commerce lot and runners can pick their distances. Pledge sheets can be picked up at the Castlegar detachment or at The Castlegar Sun. Whether you run or walk or how far you go, participation is the key. If you can't run you are still encouraged to pledge, even the smallest amount will bring a smile to a Special Olympians face. For more information call Const. Jeremy Knight at 365-7721 Saving the Goalies from Summer Boredom Goaltenders from all corners of B.C., Western Canada and around the world will be converging on Nelson this summer at Ian Clark's Goaltending Schools. Schools in the Shuswap and Cowichan Val- ley have proved highly successful in the past and now Clark has expanded right here in the Kootenays. Programs will be held dur- ing the week of July 24-28 at the Nelson Civic Centre for all age groupings and more than 250 goalies will likely take part. lan Clark and his staff hope to achieve their ultimate objective of pro- viding participants with the finest level of goaltender jnstruction available while at the same time providing an environment for per- sonal growth and development. For more information give Ian a call at (604) 743-3660 or call toll free at 1-800-667-9044. You can’t spend the whole summer on roller-blades. Ladies Nite on the Links April 25 was the first official Ladies Nite of the season at the Castle- gar and District Golf Course and 41 women took advantage. The game of the evening was a shotgun scramble of 10 teams. The win- ning team was Ida Price, Janice Phipps, Laurel Webster and Liz Dambrough with a score of 39 while Sharon Bystrom, Susan Giles, Annette Bojay and Sara Polovnikoff were hot on their heels in sec- ond. Third place went to Rita Gorkoff, Sharon Peracock, Jane Polovnikoff and Sandra Peregrym. As always, Ladies Nite continues to welcome women of all skill levels from the beginner to the “semi- pro” with weekly prizes given out to all categories. So get away for an evening of golf, dinner and apres golf chatter. Upcoming events include the Castlegar/Trail Ladies Challenge on May 9 and Clarice Ladies Calcutta on May 20. Call the Castlegar pro shop for details. In-line for a Great Time The good folks at Mallard’s know how much fun it is to play roller hockey. They also know how frustrating it can be for beginners. That’s why they are sponsoring a Roller Hockey Camp May 13-14 at the Castlegar and District Recreation Complex. Instructors from the National In-line Hockey Association will be on hand both days to teach kids the basic skills necessary to play roller hockey. Satur- day’s session is designed for kids age 7-10 years while Sunday is for kids 11 years and up. Both sessions start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Registration can be made at Mallard’s in Castlegar. Rampaging River Otters Return The Robson River Otters Swim Club is once again preparing for another season and they are still accepting registrations for the 1995 season as well as the “Learn to Swim” program. Kathlene, Mario and Martin are coaching this year and have pledged to pro- vide the highest quality instruction for all swimmers. For more information call 365-2374. Answering the Baseball Cali Baseball B.C. will be holding a multi-faceted camp for 14-18 year old players in Cranbrook May 13-14. It will be an identification, evaluation and try-out camp for three of Baseball B.C.’s programs. The first is the Zone One Summer Games Team which is made up 16 and under players who will attend the Games in Penticton July 27-30. The second program is the “Fall Classic” team which will travel to Vancouver the third weekend in September. Players must be 17 and under. The final try-outs being held are for the B.C. Selects team which will be made up of the top 40 players in the province. The team is made up of 18 and under age players and the final cuts will be made after another camp in Penticton in June This area has seen three players selected to the team the past two years with two of them continuing on to make the Canadian Youth Team. All coaches interested in coaching should also attend the Cranbrook camp. For more information call Brian Hamagami at 489-1448 or Brian Pipes at 367-7157 Enjoying the Green at Christina Lake The Third Annual Selkirk College Foundation/Sunshine Radio Golf Tournament is happening this weekend and there is still room for you to sign up. The tournament is being held Sunday, May 7 at the Christina Lake Golf Club and will include a continental break fast, 18-holes of golf and a steak dinner. The tournament takes th format of a five-person scramble with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. For more information call Fae Lee at the Selkirk College Founda tion at 365-1240. When “to play or not to play” is the question. You'll always find the answer in the Castlegar Sun sports section