Well, it's that season of the
year again, it's the time when
we like to say "All the best"
to all our friends and
associates from over the
years. This column has
proved to be an excellent
OK, enter Doug Buhr, with
medium for me to do just
that. During the 52 weeks of only his playing background
to his credit. For my money,
the year I get the chance to
air my views on a variety of Doug showed a lot of inmatters, mainly in the sports testinal fortitide to accept the
job, faced as he was with a
vein, but I'm not pinned down
to this and have tried to make mixture of boys who had
played for McLellan and
a practice of espousing
anything which I consider is apparently gave it their best
going to benefit our city and. effort for him and a bunch of
youngsters who had to start
the surrounding area.
In the process I have met from scratch.
Watching the Friday and
and made friends of quite a
number of different people. Saturday night games against
That they don't always agree Creston and Cranbrook I have
with my point of view doesn't come to the conclusion that
matter too much, I'm ready my own opinion, for what it is
to listen to any arguments worth, is that it's not the
then evaluate them on what I coaching or the systems that
think are their merits. are to blame for the Warriors'
Arguments all have more sad showing this rebuilding
than one side and all should season, but the mental lapses
of the players that is to blame
have a right to be heard.
At the present time there for their own downfall.
In the Cranbrook game,
are at least two lines of
thought on the progress or against a big well-drilled
team, there were numerous
lack of it, of-our hockey team;
one side of the argument times when there were two
takes the stance that the and three players battling one
coaching of the team at Colt player for possession of
present is not strong enough the puck right out in front of
"Hoss" Drake and in a lot of
while the other says it isn't so,
that the coach is antagonizing those cases the Cranbrook
some of the player~ by player would come up with
adhering to a line that if you the puck and get a clear shot
don't want to go all out for the on goal.
club then you are better · "Hoss" came up with some
sitting on the bench or even of them but you can't stop 'em
all; it happens to the pros
staying home.
Talking to and listening to, when your defence gets
both sides I find both muddled up. In kids so young
arguments have a certain it's nothing to be ashamed of
basis in truth. I think per- to have i! let-down in the
sonally ·that the club is still tough going and if they learn
suffering from the rebuilding something from it that's one
blues, from what I've been helluva plus, I think.
I've heard various players
told when Lloyd McLellan had
the club there were those maligned for not giving it
players who couldn't accept their all, and one is that same
his sometimes cutting "Hoss." How anyone can say
criticism in the room but that about a rookie goalie who
continued to play for him has had the first-line job
because of his acknowledged forced on him by cirknow-how of the business of cumstances, playing behind
coaching. When he I stepped what up to now has been the
down the club had to look for most porous defence in
someone else. I've been told Warrior history, is more than
that the original choice.for the . I can fathom.
I only hope that the team
job, Dave Limacher, who had
excellent references from his wiTh start coming together in
work in various sports time to make the playoffs but
coaching jobs, needed only a it is a pretty vain hope right
few exhibition games to prove now; you could almost say it
to himself that he had opted . would have to be a miracle.
Still on hockey but taking a
for something he couldn't
handle to his own satisfaction. different tack I talked to Chief

with
Harry

Pepper

penalties, have really helped
to clean up a previously
impossible situation.
Arnie encourages club
' coaches to bring any
problems they may have to
his notice. He says his door is
always open to them and to
date a number have taken
advantage of his offer; he
also thinks fan attendance is
on the upswing at junior
games, a fact which pleases
him highly.

The Retirees' curling club
held its Christmas party in
conjunction with the Ladies'
club and again it was an
unqualified success. A lovely '
meal and a good choice of
refreshments were produced
and taken care of and there
were four-end curling games
featurin~ mixed teams from
both clubs.
Two rounds of preliminary
games were run off and then
ARNIE SHERWOOD
the eight survivors battled for
... justifiably proud
the prizes, Fanny Albo and
her rink of Rich Watkinson,
'Referee Arnie Sherwood Fran Zanussi and Tom
Monday morning regarding Mitchell capie out on top with
the officiating in the KIJHL. Joan Feeney and her cohorts
Arnie is, I believe, justifiably Arnie Vanness, Leanne Paul
proud of his corps of officials and Jim Mauchline second;
and he tells me that a lot of Dorothy Fines with Norm
the improvement in the of- Harry, Beryl Davis and Jack
ficiating can be attributed to Hook . took third spot and
the establishing of the · area Marge Burnett with Dave
supervisors, Jerry · Green in Tweed, Jean Cormack and
the Spokane area, Dave Ernie Brown came in fourth.
On behalf of the Retirees I
Murray in the West and Carl
Johansen in the East. These would like to thank the
people attend as many games women for their efforts. You
as possible and if problems know sometimes I think W(
arise . they are right there to can learn a lot from them
help correct the situation as about curling;too. ·
quickly as possible.
One note· which does not
He told me the ·unfortunate
incident at Nelson a while strike a happy chord has to
back has resulted in the deal with the actions of the
suspension of Terry Maglio Cranbrook team in their
and Grant Saliken of Nelson dressing room after Saturday
and Ian Douglas of the night's game. Vandalism on
Warriors until Jan. 4. They the property was uncontrolled
will also be absent when the by those people in charge of
teams meet in a back-tO-:back the team and a bill for
series Jan. 18 and 1~. Arnie damages will be forwarded to
feels that the league gover- the club. It is a sad comnors by their prompt action in mentary on a · team which
cases in point have gone a performed so well on the ice
long way towards cleaning up that they have to resort to this
the game as far as the KIJHL sort of tactic in the dressing
room.
is concerned.
Rules enacted in the league,
Now to all my friends
Arnie thinks they are firsts in
the CAHA, mandatory five- throughout the Kootenays I
minute penalties for slashing, want to wish one and all the
.cross-checking and high very best for the Christmas
sticking and the automatic season and throughout the
one-game suspension for 1980s.
God bless you all.
three fights or misconduct

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