' a SPORTS MIRACLE ON ICE Coach hopes for repeat By PAUL WOODS Canadian Press February 1980. Lake Placid, N.Y. The Winter Olympic Games. The Miracle on Ice. Playing before an emotional, home American hockey team pulls off one of the most dramatic upsets in sports history, knocking off the powerful Soviet Union squad on the way to winning the gold medal Dave King thinks about that sometimes, and wonders if history might repeat itself at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. “Those types of successes are always in the back of your mind,” said King, coach of Canada's national hockey team “Some of the most miraculous stories in sports have happened under those circumstances, with the home crowd and so on.” Canadian hockey fans becoming accustomed to success in international competition may have a similar scenario in mind. But it will take something almost as miraculous for Canada to win the gold medal in 14 months. The fact is, the Canadian entry at the 1988 Olympics won't come close to the Soviets in talent. FALL SHORT “We're short of them by a good mark,” King says bluntly of his charges, a collection of youngsters, career minor-leaguers and former NHL fringe players “We're probably going to be the same as we were in ‘84, when I don't think any of our guys could have made (the Soviet) team.” At those Serajevo Olympics, Canada placed fourth with a young squad that failed to score a goal in the medal round The coach demurs when it's suggested his blunt words make it sound as if he’s down on Canada’s chances in 1988. He maintains Canada could win — if his players give the same effort as the 1984 team “I feel very good about this team,” he says. “I'm just being realistic. I'm not trying to snow anyone or create an underdog role.” The “talent gap” between his team and the Soviets won't narrow significantly between now and 1988, King says, because NHL teams won't turn their best young players over to the Olympic program crowd, the King also has to contend with raids from NHL clubs that have already claimed some top prospects. Since last year, he has lost defencemen Shawn Anderson and Brian Benning high-scoring forward Mike Millar and goaltenders Alain Raymond and John Kemp, among others. Even an assistant coach, Ron Smith, jumped to the NHL's New Jersey Devils. FACE SOVIETS Nonetheless, King soldiers on, sending his troops into combat with the powerful Soviets as often as he can. He reasons if his players can't match the Soviets in talent, at least they can get used to that calibre of competition The Canadian team, which just finished a seven-game exhibition series against the Moscow Selects, now is in Moscow for the Izvestia tournament. It returns home for the pre-Christmas Calgary Cup tournament. Canada won three of seven games against the Selects, a team with few Soviet national team members but equivalent to a second all-star team, says King. . “We feel good about it,” he says. “But we're not fooled yy it “There were games if our goaltending had not been great we would have been out of it early.” King makes it clear the goaltending of Sean Burke, a New Jersey prospect, is the key to any Canadian medal hopes in 1988. He'll also have an adequate defensive unit led by Zarley Zalapski, a first-round choice in the NHL draft last summer. It's up front the lack of talent is most evident. With a few exceptions, Canada's forwards consists of hard-working players who can skate, but lack offensive skills. The one wild card King is hoping to play is the possible availability of some current NHLers. He doesn't expect NHL teams to offer anyone that can help significantly, but says some players may sign up on their own in light of relaxed eligibility rules. Randy Gregg of the Edmonton Oilers, an Olympian in 1980, has said he hopes to play for Canada in 1988. And then there's Mike Bossy, the New York Islanders’ super sniper who has also made some noise about playing for his country in the Olympics Sutter may be out ST. LOUIS (AP) — Brian Sutter, captain of the St. Louis Blues, may miss the rest of the National Hockey League season because his troublesome left shoulder is not getting any better. Sutter suffered a broken make the playoffs.” shoulder blade last January, “I'm not thinking anything and missed 34 games. He else,” said the highest-scor spent the summer working ing left winger and most On réWabilitation, and the penalized player in St. Louis shouldér seemed all right al- history though it did still bother him CAN'T WORK Recovery could take two to six months, the doctor says. Sutter, 30, the oldest of six Sutter brothers in the NHL, said it may be two months before he is able to lift light weights, but he still hopes to on the ice. “I was playing. and I was happy,” Sutter said of his 14 games at the start of this season. “There was no doubt the bone had healed.” But in a game Nov. 15 Sut ter suffered contusions to the muscles surrounding the bone. “It was just a case of getting hit in the spot,” he said. Sutter does not believe he returned to action too soon Neither does team physician Dr. Jerome Gilden. “In fact, it was even stron ger in the pre-season physi cals,” Gilden said. “But lo and behold, he comes up holding his arm again.” “(But) until I get total free movement without pain and stiffness in my shoulder and in my back and my arm, I can't touch a weight.” “I have stated to Brian that, with all reasonable medical certainty, I do not see this as a career-ending injury,” Gilden said. Sutter, with 589 points in 702 games for the Blues, broke the shoulder bone last winter when he crashed into the boards with Minnesota right winger Dino Ciccarelli Of the latest injury, in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, he said; “It wa- just again an instance where I wasn't strong or wasn't in a good position. 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Who knows?” “We not only lose a good hockey player, a great hoc key player, but we lost a lot of leadership that we need. “He's just someone that you always look for to take charge.” In addition to Sutter, de “He means a helluva lot, no fenceman Rob Ramage is out question about it,” acting for six weeks with tendinitis captain Bernie Federko said. in the left knee The Blues are keeping pace with the leaders in the Norris Division, though they ob- viously miss Sutter Fishing Report COMMUNITY NEWS WATCH THE ROCK Stanley Humphries secondary school’s boys and girls curling teams competed in the West K y zone playd last d. The boys team captured first place while the girls took second. WINNIPEG (CP) — Glenn (Chico) Resch, a goaltender of some repute himself, glanced across the Philadelphia dressing room and nodded toward Flyer rookie netminder Ron Hextall. “I haven't made this prediction about anyone else, but Ronnie is going to be one of the all-time greats,” Resch said sincerely. “He's going to be up there with the (Terry) Sawchuks and the (Ken) Drydens.” Such praise might swell the head of other first-year players, but Hextall, a Winnipeg native who played his junior hockey with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, quietly takes it in stride. “Coming into this year I knew I could play in this league,” said the lanky goaltender, a leading candidate for rookie-of-the-year honors. “I didn't know this was going to happen.” Hextall blocked 30 shots and was named the game's first star as he backstopped the Flyers to a 4-1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets Sunday. It was his 18th wirr of the year against only six losses and two ties. His goals-against average is a measly 2.47 Hockey runs in Hextall's bloodlines. If he were a racehorse, his pedigree would have trainers drooling GOOD BLOODLINES Rookie has potential Scottie’s Marina reported fair fishing this week with the fishing expected to pick up next week due to a drop in the lake level Following are results of last week's fishing: Lyle McDonald, a 4'/-pound dolly; Walter Miller, a three-pound dolly; Francis McDonald, an eight-pound, two-ounce and two two-pound dollies; Wilf Sweeney, a three-pound dolly. All the fishermen are of Castlegar Grant Saprunkoff of Rossland landed a 1'/:-pound dolly Australian boat may give up FREMANTLE, AUSTRA LIA (AFP) — With harsh words for the organizers, an Australian syndicate threat ened today to quit the America’s Cup. Steak 'n Kidney syndicate chief Syd Fischer said a Royal Perth Yacht Club de cision vital to his Sydney boat was “not in the best interests of the defence of the Cup. “It is regrettable that this committee, cloistered from reality, has lost sight of their objective and made a bureau cratic decision that could well be the one which will cost Australia the America's Cup.” Royal Perth said Tuesday night it had rejected Fis- cher’s proposal for the points slate to be wiped clean for the start of the fourth round of the defenders’ selection series. New-found speed brought Steak 'n Kidney three third round wins, but earlier fail ures leave it little chance of becoming one of the two top Rock islend Place Treil point-getters at the end of round four. “Such a sanctimonious and conservative attitude (by Royal Perth) had nothing to do with winning the Ameri ca’s Cup,” Fischer said in a prepared statement. “It was won by a team of dedicated, lateral-thinking street fight ers who took the stuffed shirts of the New York Yacht Club on and beat them at their own game.” Fischer, one of Australia's most successful offshore sail ors in international com petition, reminded Royal Perth that Alan Bond's Aus tralia II had come from the brink of defeat to win the America’s Cup in 1983. The rival Kookaburra de fender syndicate immediate. ly slammed Fischer for his statement. of a goaltender. Resch agrees His father was Bryan Hextall, who labored nine years in the NHL with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Detroit and Minnesota. His uncle Dennis Hextall spent 13 seasons with the Rangers, Los Angeles, Calgary, Minnesota, Detroit.and Washington. His early exposure to the rigors of an NHL existence helped the younger Hextall prepare for the nomadic life “I think travelling with my dad over the years, I got to know the lifestyle,” he said. “His background really helped, getting the right temperament, the right balance. A lot of young guys coming up have to learn that.” Although encouraged by his family, Hextall wasn't shoved into hockey. “My mom and dad never pushed me,” he said. “With some coaching and some encouragement, I think I made it on my own. I always had the support of my family, but they weren't pushy.” Hextall came to the Flyers camp after posting a 30-19-12 record and a 3.23 goals-against-average last season with the American Hockey League Hershey Bears. He faced the prospect of having to unseat veterans Bob Froese, who led the NHL with 31 victories and a 2.55 goals against last year, and Resch. SOMETHING SPECIAL “We knew we had something special,” said Flyer general manager Bob Clarke, spitting chewing tobacco into a cup. “We weren't giving him a job or nothing, he just won it in training camp. He was playing so well we couldn't take him out of the net.” One of Hextall's greatest attributes is the ease in which he moves his six-foot-three, 174-pound body “For a big man he moves so well laterally,” said Resch. “His hands and his feet are so quick.” Hextall also handles the puck well, shooting it about 30 times a game. He already has four assists this year. The young netminder acknowledges the advice he's received from Resch and Bernie Parent, the great former Flyer goaltender who now acts as an instryctor. “Last year was a real learning year for me,” he said “Bernie came down once a week and helped me a lot Chico tries to help me not to get too high or too low.” Hextall also realizes he's playing for one of the best teams in the NHL. “It's been good, but you've got to look at our hockey club.” he said earnestly. “They're great to play in front of I've got to attribute a lot of our success to our hockey club.” Lotteries The five winning numbers drawn Saturday night in Lotto B.C. were 8, 11, 12, 21. 39. The bonus number was 17. There was one winner of the $337,496.70 jackpot The second-prize pool, awarded to those matching four regular numbers and the bonus number, had one win ner of $1,522.50. The third prize pool, awarded to those matching four regular num bers, had 68 winners of $78.30 The winning numbers for $100,000 each drawn in B.C.'s Pacific Express Lottery were 473047, 842266, 075883 The free play number was 1 In the event of a discrep ancy between these lists and the official lists of winning numbers, the official list will prevail winning HANGING ON... . Castlegar figure skating club members take a spin around the rink at their annual party held Monday. Also in attendance was Santa Claus. NEW OWNERS Celgar GM speaks By JOHN CHARTERS Wilf Sweeney, general manager of Celgar Pulp Co., was the feature speaker last Tuesday at the Castlegar Rotary Club dinner meeting. Sweeney said he has been asked recently a number of questions about the pulp mill's new owners: Who are those new owners? What are their plans? How are the mill employees taking the change? “First, let me say that I think I speak fairly for all the employees when I answer that we feel both excited and optimistic,” Sweeney said And with good reason. The mill was purchased from Westar Timber Ltd. by a joint venture that is 50 per cent owned by CITIC B.C. ina International Trust and Invest ment Corp. B.C. Ltd.) and 50 per cent owned by Power Consolidated (China) Pulp Co. Power Consolidated is in turn owned 50 per cent by Power Corp. and 50 per cent by Consolidated Bathurst Inc. These owners are presently making plans and commit ments which will ensure the continued operation and security of the mill, and enhance the economic future of this area, Sweeney said. They are, for example, taking up the anti-pollution commitment made by the previous owners and embarking on a 10-year $42 million upgrading program Loss of free agent Jack Morris wouldn't be joining them as a pitcher The Twins rejected three Morris contract proposals Tuesday and sent the home. town hero packing to New York where he will meet with the Yankees on Thurs. day “I think it's a shame on the Twins’ part for not signing him,” pitcher Bert Blyleven said. “He's worked on a long term contract and he’s pro- duced “That's the hardest thing to (understand), that they player lets down fans MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Many Minnesota Twins play ers expressed disappoint ment when they learned that don't realize his capabilities.” Manager Tom Kelly was philosophical, saying the Twins didn't lose anything because they never had Mor ris, a St. Paul native. “(Signing Morris) probably would have made me a lot smarter manager,” Kelly told the Minneapolis Star and Tribune from his New Jersey home. “You'd be foolish as a manager not to want a player of Jack Morris's talent and capabilities.” Still, Kelly said, he was satisfied with the Twins’ prospective five-man starting rotation, which tentatively includes Blyleven, Frank Vi ola, Mike Smithson. Mid-Week Wrap-up Pee Wee Reps lose one, tie one By CasNews Staff Castlegar Pee Wee Reps tied one game and lost the other in a double header over the weekend against Trail On Sunday the Pee Wee Reps dropped a 6-2 decision in Castlegar Derek Kazakoff and Frank Strobel were the goal scorers for Castlegar while the assists came from Nino Da Afee, Green led the way for the Castlegar team by scoring two goals, while Danny Stelek, Rileof and Greg Pope managed singles. Assisting on the goals were Rilcof, Strobel, Kazakoff, Steleck, Shane Me DaCosta, Derek Lalonde. The next game for the Pee Wees will Dustin Rileof and HOCKEY ne WALES CONFERENCE Patrick AT THE PLAZA ¢ Weetern Conedian Company From the Deli Bar for your Christmas Festivities Black Forest Ham... Turkey breast... Octoberfest meat loaf... Luncheon meat... «. Santa is coming to SuperValu at the Plaza, Saturday, Dec. 20 — Il a.m. - 5 p.m. FERRARO'S costing $4.2 million a year, Sweeney said. The owners are also preparing a mill modernization equipment replacement program with an outlay of about $3 million a year. Furthermore, headquarters for the mill will be located in Castlegar with mill management essentially in the hands of a joint management committee. That is to say, there is no longer a head office in Vancouver. In the course of questions and discussion, Sweeney indicated that the recovery boiled program will be undertaken in three phases and involve the latest technologies and inovative concepts. This will involve improved combustion in the furnace, computerized controls, the construction of a seile model furnace to be followed by the construction of a full-scale operating unit at a cost of around $4 million. Sweeney also indicated that under the new agreement the mill will no longer be required to take logs from widely dispersed areas of the province and would instead be buying a good portion of its round log supply locally. This, he said, would ensure a steady supply of wood at the least cost available. Under another section of the agreement are the mill's output will be sold on the world market. Sweeney said, “The pulp market is very cyclical and why we are currently seeing an upswing we are coming from the lowest power most of us can remember. We must be prpeared for the next downturn and be are sure that we are in a good portion to ride it out.” “I feel with the new management, that we are in a good position to do so. Our association with one of the most successful copmanies in Canada and with the largest expanding economy in the world today augers will for Celgar Pulp Company and for Canada.” Asked for more detail about the name of the company, he replied, “The trade name Celgar Pulp has a good international reputation. With the planned improvements, we hope to achieve still higher quality and consistency.” The speaker praised the efforts Kootenay West MP Bob Brisco and Castlegar Mayor Audrey Moore. It (the sale) marks an important link in Canada-China trade relations,” he said, “and it is confirmed by the fact that within hours of the signing of the agreement congratulatory telegrams to Mr. Fei, President of CITIC B.C., were received from Prime Minister Brian Mulroney The chairman of the joint management committtee is Ashok Narang, a senior group vice-president from Consolidated-Bathurst and the vice-chairman is Mr. Fei, president of CITIC B.C. They will alternate every two years in these positions Ray Felx, vice-president of manufacturing for Consoli dated-Bathurst, is also a member of the joint management committee and has been named designated officer, respon sible to the committee for the Celgar Pulp Mill Sweeney has been appointed general manager of the pulp mill. He said his job is essentially the same as before with e broader responsibilit In thanking the speaker, Don Wickett said, “I have always admired your positive approach to anything you undertake and this is fully reflected in your address tonight.” WE Betis Mee wep ole, 4 Me. we; aie Fe TEE: FERREIRA: PIER RIEX a PLAZA STORE CHRISTMAS HOURS CLOSED Christmas Day & Boxing Day Pythian meeting success Kootenay Temple No. 87 Pythian Sisters held its first meeting of the month Dec. 11 in the Masonic Hall. Prior to the meeting, ap- proximately 32 members and guests attended a dinner at the Fireside Place. Routine business was dealt with at the meeting. A dona- tion of $200 was given to Clay Castle towards the purchase of a stove for the students to learn the art of cooking. Another $200 was donated for a worthy Pythian project. On Dec. 16 several of the Sisters went to Raspberry Ledge to present Mandarin oranges to the residents and to sing Christmas carols. Final nominations of new officers for the ensuing year was held: Most Excellent Chief is Rose Soberlak, Ex- cellent Senior is Jean Jones, Excellent Junior is Joan Marks, manager Kae An- dreashuk, secretary Jan Neumann, treasurer Inis Me- Adam, protector Pat Verzuh, guard Carol Churches, pian- ist Edith Wilson, past-chief Myrtle Thomas, captain of degree staff Fran Moffat, clerk of works Kae Andrea- shuk, one-year trustee Laura Dewis, delegate to grand Jan Neumann, alternate Lil Neu- mann, installing officer Lil Neumann and press corres- pondent Myrtle Thomas. After the meeting Christ- mas carols were sung fol- lowed by the opening of Christmas gifts and secret pals gifts. Secret pals names were revealed. Draw for the raffle took place with the following win- ners: first prize of $100 — Barbara Watt of Castlegar; prize of $50 — E. Hood of Trail; third prize of $25 — Brenda Blackmer of Delta. Refreshments were pro- vided by Rose Soberlak, Joy Saunders and Lil Neumann. The next meeting of the Py. thian Sisters will be Jan. 8. HOMEGOODS FURNITURE WAREHOUSE Tues.-Sat., 9:30-5:30 Chine Creek “Drive a Little to Save a Lot” NOTICE From B.C. Hydro The navigation lock at the Hugh Keenleyside Dam will be CLOSED TO BOAT TRAFFIC ON DECEMBER 25 AND JANUARY 1 Holiday SAKE! At Classic Fabrics we ere more than just @ Fabric Store . . . see us for Great Gitt Ideas today! FABRICS 25-50% 100% SILK $798 STYLE PATTERNS 2 for $1.00 TABLECLOTHS & ra Oe OTS Many More In-Store Specials! CLASSIC FABRICS 1114 - 4th Street Castlegar * 365-3214 AVery Good Year. . Thanks to You, Castlegar! December ist, marked the first anniversary of AirBC’s operations in Castlegar. It has been an exceptional year — thanks to you We want you to know that we appreciate your business and we've enjoyed serving you From the entire AirBC staff in Castlegar, Lucy, Lola, Petra, Rhonda and Helena A to all our new friends in the area It Was Season Passes iN SALE AT THE TICKET OFFICE 362-7384 * Unibody ond frame repoir * 10% Discount to senior citizens * ICBC Clowms Costa, Strobel and Kevin Rilcof. be Sunday when they host Spokane at On Saturday the Pee Wee Reps the Pioneer Arena. Game time is 10:15 managed a 5-65 tie with Trail. David a.m. | OPEN SUNDAYS ef 11:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. 53 4 RE PIRI RIE AIRE FPL ERE FIRED