SPORTS sux SPORTS KEY NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST K.C. picked to repeat Playfair celebrates anniversary GOLD MEDAL WINNERS . . . Castlegar Dairy Queen Bantam hockey players won the Nelson spring in- vitational tourney. Front row (left to right): Clint Swanson, Tyler Loo and Jeff Beck. Middle row (left to right): assistant coach Len Fergie, Derek Cherry, Jim By MIKE RUTSEY Mcleod, Jason Kendall, assistant coach John Loo, Daryll Furey, A hkin and Earl . Back row ( Darren Grewcock Tired Canadians prepare for tourney By MIKE RUTSEY STOCKHOLM (CP) — Bleary-eyed and brain-fog- ged, Canada’s entry in the world hockey championship conducted its first workout Tuesday night. “Just another travel day for the Kings,” quipped de- fenceman Jay Wells after a one-hour skate that followed @ 16-hour trip from Toronto FT vif NHL teams which failed to qualify for Stanley Cup play- offs. Reinforcements will ar- tion rive once more players be- was not a case of him being a - Simon Legree. “We need all the practice BANKING JUST GOT ‘The Canadian Press ~ Few teams have been treated as shabbily as Kansas ‘one team in each division pops up as a surprise team and in "86, it will be the A’s, Their major acquisition in the offseason was the City Royals, the World Series chi By winning baseball's American League pennant the World Series in such dramatic fashion — ae from 3-1 deficits against both Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals — you'd think thé Royals and the Western Division of the junior circuit would finally be given a measure of credit. But no. In the aftermath of the Royals’ first-ever World Series victory, the critics proclaimed Kansas City was nowhere as good as either Toronto or New York Yankets, the 1-2 AL East finishers in 1986, and no real match for St. Louis Cardinals in the NL East. The critics maintain the Royals won ohly because pitching in each series, that it was more a case of Toronto and St. Louis crumbling than Kansas City winning. It is because of that pitching corps they'll repeat as winners of the West in 1986, thereby giving them their eighth divisional crown in the last 11 years. With the exception of Texas Rangers, who appear to have a lock on the basement, the other five teams are equally balanced. KANSAS CITY ROYALS: There are six good reasons why the Royals will repeat — Bret Saberhagen, Charlie Leibrandt, Danny Jackson, Bud Black, Mark Gubieza and Dan Quisenberry. A better pitching staff cannot be found in the AL, with Los Angeles Dodgers being the only other team approaching the Royals’ depth and talent. OAKLAND A'S: This club is short on starting pitching and has inexperienced catching. But each year ip 1 and colorful Joaquin Andujar, who won 21 games for the Cardinals last season. MINNESOTA TWINS: The Twins, a team many pundits picked to give chase in 1985, shuffled to a disappointing 77-85 season. The team made its major acquisitions for 1986 during the 1985 season, when they dumped Billy Gardner as manager and replaced him with former Baltimore pitching coach Ray Miller and later, pried right-hander Bert Blyleven from Cleveland. SEATTLE MARINERS: A team definitely on the rise, the youthful Mariners could vault into second spot if all the pieces fall into place. For Seattle to challenge, though, it has to get left-hander Mark Langstom back to his rookie season of 1984 when he went 17-10. CHICAGO WHITE SOX: Chicago's main problem stems from a dubious starting staff that last season was supported by veteran Tom Seaver, 16-11, 3.17 ERA. Seaver, though, wants to move closer to his home in the east and if new general manager Ken Harrelson can accomodate him, it will leave a large void in the starting rotation. CALIFORNIA ANGELS: The Angels just missed winning the division last year, finishing one game behind the Royals in what may have been the best managerial job of Gene Mauch’s lengthy career. But in °86, baseall's wheeze gang may suffer a collective stroke. - ‘TEXAS RANGERS: And then there's the Rangers, who finally appear to have some front-office stability and long-range commitment to a rebuilding process. Jays not favored By MARK HARDING ‘The Canadian Press They won't dash to a 35-5 start and won't finish 15 games ahead of their nearest rival as they did in 1984, but Detroit Tigers will once again rise to claim baseball's American League East Division title in 1986. The major league's toughest division will again be a clash of the Titans. This is no place for the unarmed and outmanned to trespass, so let's dispense with the armies in Cleveland and Milwaukee. The troops in Toronto and Boston are hollering for the medics before the war has even started. In New York and Baltimore, the battle cry is for improved pitching to support the offence. Once the war has been waged and the smoke clears, the East Division flag will again be raised in Detroit. Toronto, Baltimore, New York and Boston each will have provided but fall by the wayside 24, a muclp better pitcher than his 7-17. record and 3.57 earned-run avérage with San Francisco last season would indicate. TORONTO BLUE JAYS Like the Tigers, Orioles, Brewers and Yankees before them, the Blue Jays will learn this year just how difficult it is to remain at the top of this heap. One of the club's weak points is at catcher, where Ernie Whitt (.245, 19-64) has back and shoulder problems as a result of carrying the workload after Buck Martinez (.164, 4-14) was felled last season with a broken right leg. The other sick bay is in the bullpen, where left-hander Gary Lavelle (5-7, 3.10, 8) has more needles in his left elbow than a voodoo doll, and right-hander Bill Caudill (4-6, 2.99, 14) is hampered by a strained muscle in his right shoulder. The rest of the bullpen, including late-season hero Tom Henke (3-8, 2.08, 13), Jim Acker (7-2, 3.23, 10) and Dennis Lamp (11-0, 3.32, 0) is healthy, but can't do it alone. Earned-run king Dave Stieb (14-13, 2.48) leads the starters and is joined by Jimmy Key (14-6, 3.00), Doyle Alexander (17-10, 3.45) and a healthy Jim Clancy (9-6, 3.78). BALTIMORE ORIOLES Let's put an asterisk beside the Orioles, led once again for a full season by fiery Earl Weaver, and proclaim them the division’s darkhorse to win it all. The starting rotation of Scott MeGregor (14-14, 4.81), Mike Boddicker (12-17, 4.07), Storm Davis (10-8, 4.53) and Mike Flanagan (4-5, 5.13) can’t possibly produce those b in i seasons. NEW YORK YANKEES The Bronx Bombers the best-known names in the game (Dave Winfield, Rickey Henderson, Don Mattingly). but the release of veteran knuckleballer Phil Niekro and the Joss of Britt Burns with a chronic hip problem for the season , Out of this club. It's the: same old» laments av (Fenway; where the fence-busters and line-drivers telt their way to 10-8.and 97 losses. The club's 81-81 record and 4.06 ERA in 1985 are safe numbers to predict once again in 1986. CLEVELAND INDIANS The only upset in this division will have the Indians finishing ahead of the Brewers. How they'll do it with a pitching staff that had the worst ERA (4.91) since the 1962 New York Mets should prove delightfully interesting. MILWAUKEE BREWERS Robin Yount's in centre field. Former Cy Young winners Pete Vuckovich and Rollie Fingers are history First baseman Cecil Cooper had elbow surgery. Five rookies face the prospect of making the club. But, like the Indians, there are a handful of players who will help this club win at least as many games as it did last season. Mets too good to beat 5°h By WESLEY GOLDSTEIN ez, Darryl Strawberry and With MASTERPLAN™, you get the convenience of a teks credit card shoppi PP and access, (where applicable), benefits of handling your purchases plus the through your Credit Union chequing account. That means you can keep track of all your monthly purchases on your one Credit Union statement. MASTERPLAN™ gives you a Credit Union MasterCard card, but your line of credit is attached to your chequing account, not to the card (as it is with other bank cards). That means as long as you have money in your account to cover your pur- chases, you don’t use your credit. And if you do use it, you'll pay Credit Union interest rates, not bank card interest rates, and you'll pay it only for the time it’s in use. If your Credit Union has automated banking machine facilities, your Credit Union MasterCard card doubles as your cash access card. Plus, you can get cash with your Credit Union MasterCard card at arty of more than 102,000 banking offices throughout the world. Fishing Report The first annual Kootenay Lake Dolly derby on the North Arm of Kootenay Lake went off successfully. There were almost 300 entries and 72 dollies were weighed in. The Mid-Week Wrap-up ‘The Canadian Preas George Foster is going to respectively), helped St. literally run to the pennant and a World Series iH : He k H ?i \ era starting season and they remained in Hitting? Any batting order was a controversial deal, but that includes the likes of Jay Tibbs, Andy McGaffigan Gary Carter, Keith Hernan- and John Stuper should be able to match Gullickson's 14 free agency at the end of the year, so they will have even “more the Expos will be right in there. If not, look for the team to finish third. Any team that drops from first to fourth in one season might be tempted to make wholesale changes. The Cubs cliffe, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout, Scott Sander- son and Dick Ruthven all went on the disabled list during the same period in May, the Cubs endured a 13-game losing streak and fell into the lower half of the standings. When the pitchers are in form, the Cubs are a good team. They have superstar in second baseman Ryne Sand- berg, and solid performers in first baseman Leon Durham, catcher Jody Davis, right fielder Keith Moreland and Cincinnati hopeful of winning West title By JOHN NELSON says Dodgers manager Tom The Associated Press Lasorda. “This year will be The talent is there, so the no different.” key may be attitude. And In fact, on the strength of Cincinnati Reds player-man- their pitching, many are ager Pete Rose hasa jumpon picking the Dogers to repeat the others in that depart- in 1986, something no West ment. Team has done since the “I think if our guys come Dodgers:in 1977-78. back with the same attitude ATLANTA BRAVES they left with in 1985, we There was a changing of have a good chance of win- the guard in Atlanta. Bobby ning the West,” Rose con- Cox moved over from the tends. American League after man- Los Angeles Dodgers won aging Toronto Blue Jays to the National League West by within one ganie of a World 5% games over Cincinnati Series berth. He'll be the last year, but with almost all Braves’ general manager the teams in the division on with Chuck Tanner the new the rise, it’s time for a field boss. shakeup. If it weren't for some un. certainty on the staff of got Denny from Philadelphia BASKETBALL $1,000 prize went to Mrs. Dawn Cooper from Cranb with a 18 pound 9ounce fish. A close second was Bud Carison from Kaslo with a 13 pound five ounce fish and third was Ken Boyse from Edmonton with a 13 pound Dolly. Hidden weight prize winners were Ron Jackobsen from Beasley, B.C., Barney Johnson from Marysville and Keith Langhorn from Nelson. Draw prizes were won by Ken Rad cliffe from Nelson, Bernie Clarkson from Nelson and Oto Bertie from Taber, Alta. The Dolly Derby was particularly interesting in that many of the pro fishermen had no luck at all. This was attributed to the fact that they normally fish for rainbows and don’t have the slower speed necessary for successful dolly fishing down pat. Hooray, it’s Spring! Out in the grass, behind a dead stump, if ‘Attentic Oty SE52 vuzass #eRse 8 TRANSACTIONS BASEBALL 2 Sesees SRRREE | eesne seeses seats Seeeey F Golden TACs 120Portiond 114 LION'S HEAD SPORTS and Gullickson from Mon- treal to help out veteran hurler Mario Soto and rookie 20-game winner Tom Browni ning. The Padres can't help but be a little disorganized this year. Manager Dick Williams packed his bags in a dispute with the front office during Even with this new talent, SPring training, leaving the however, the real key could jb to Steve Boros. rest with two holdovers, Dave Parker and Nick Esas ky. Parker had 34 homers and 125 runs batted in last year; he needs another year like that. At the same time, Esasky needs to improve from the 21-homer, 66-RBI season of 1985. LOS ANGELES DODGERS “We've managed to do very well in the pitching department over the years,” NEW IN TOWN? * Swing clinic for two SAVE vr10 $145. GOLF THE HEADWATERS OF THE MIGHTY COLUMBIA RIVER! Three nights in the Fairmont Lodge Value $255.00 Six days unlimited golfing Boros has at least one bright side — some pretty good pitching. On the field the Padres must fill some infield spots, like third base, but the real problem is speed. HOUSTON ASTROS Playing in the Astrodome, the Astros generally have been a team built for speed. Not last year, though. In 1985, the Astros stole only 96 bases, better in the league than only San Diego and Atlanta. Another prob- lem is pitching. After Mike Seott, Nolan Ryan and Bob Knepper, there aren't any proven major league star- ters. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS There doesn't appear to be any way out of the cellar this year for the Giants, despite some player moves that could help. The starting pitching prob- ably will give new manager Roger Craig fits, but at least he has a good bullpen with the lefty-righty combo of Mark Davis and Scott Gar- relts. PAR 72 GOLF PAC Value 114.00 4 & 5 | yet fy inating fees, a trio of stakes for two-year-olds will offer the highest overall purse. The 1986 Spokane Futurity, with 1,070 nominations, will carry a record gross purse of $62,800 if 10 horses start in the October 12 event. And both the Juvenile Mile-Hers and Juvenile Mile- His in late September will have estimated ‘gross purses of $40,000. Added money of $15,000 is offered for these deductions, exemptions and the least tax possible. From TH Special wes inestioate 20 acces op ime # | 7700 YOU COULD GET MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR AT: HéR BLOCK snl THE INCOME TAX SPECIALISTS. Open 9a.m.-6p.m. Wook — 9-5 Soturda: 1444 Columbia 365-6151 or 365-3347 ed Newspapers The newspaper communicates by use of the eye, through which the major amount of information is @ received. Hom the lelevnson Bureey of Adveriming (9 competsior of both WELL SHOW YOU HOW It takes planning to control your finances, pre- pare for your retirement and take care of your childrens’ education expenses. But it can be done, and done in such a way that you can enjoy an improved standard of living and tax benefits at the same time We can show you how. Kootenay Savings is now offering the services of Jim Ryckman: a Profes- sional Financial Planner. He can help you develop an understand- ing of your present financial situation, provide a personal analysis of it, and make you reasonable financial goals and make plans to meet them Kootenay Savings’ Personal Financial Planning service is completely confidential and provides you with a “financial road se, map” for your life: a personal plan with your goals in mind ‘Your initial consul tation ts free and there's no obligation Let us show you how easy and helpful personal fi nancial planning can be You owe it to yourself to find you have an old car that’s due for the dump, phone 365-5690. We'll give it a FREE tow (in the Castlegar area) ye'S TOY, s ‘Ne AUTO WRECKING aware of options you have in building for your future This will enable you to set © Two special wind-up dinners © Unlimited use of Hot Pools TOTAL VALUE Getting MASTERPLAN™ is the easiest of all. . . out more. Call Jim Ryckman at our Financial Management Centre today, 368-8291. Or inquire at any Branch LET US PUT OUT THE MAT FOR YOU! s mate, ACOME Wty THURSDAY Value HOCKEY—NHL: Stoniey Cup playolts, Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers, 6:30 p.m., channel 9. SATURDAY BASEBALL—MAJOR LEAGUE: New York Mets vs. Philadelphio Phillies or Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals, 10 o.m.. channel 6. GOLF—MASTERS TOURNEY: Third round live trom Auguste, Go. 12:30 p.m., channel 7 HOCKEY—NHL: Stonley Cup playotts, Voncouver Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers, 5 p.m., channel? $445.00 ONLY $150 PLUS Welcome Reception and Golf Competition Rates per person double-occupancy. Available mid-week Mar 21 to hone 19, and Sept. 1 to Oct. 30, 1986. Air Charter Golf Direct to Fairmont net : 4 Gourme’ | Accommodations AA" Hiking Luxury / a Swimming : ae shing Squas' - , » Plu ANZ, ail A Dir Raque tball oust “ 4 ‘ c , om running this ad toro 1 Joyce 365-3091 Kootenay Savings Trail - Fruitvale - Castlegar - Salmo - South Slocan - Nakusp - New Denver - Waneta Plaza - Kaslo C5 Castlegar Savings : CREDIT UNION brochure or tario to B.C. INFORMATION 204-0746 o« 264-6001 TIONS ONLY: and Sanh 1-600-603-4979 Public Service of Calgary RESERVA Aha. BC Let's make our new system work for you!