a6 Saturday, December 19, 1992 @ = Saturday, December 19, 1992 178 It is said that it is better to give than receive at Christmas time and that couldn’t be any truer. Whether it’s a gift or as a favor or just doing something nice for some- one, it feels good to know you’ve made someone else’s day a little brighter. Seeing as St. Nick is a very busy man, he needs all the help he can get so your friendly neighborhood sportswriter is offering his space to hand out some holiday gifts. So, as I bulk up to squeeze into the company’s Santa suit, here’s a quick peek at what some people will be find- ing under their trees this year. To the Castlegar Rebels: Wins, wins, wins. These guys have already exceeded expectations, but why stop now? They've shown they can beat everyone in the league, so let’s see it continue. To the people who continue to park in the fire lane at the Com- plex: A complimentary visit to one of our local optometrists. The problem looked like it had been cleared up when I addressed it three weeks ago, but a visit to the Complex Tuesday proved otherwise. Why is it so hard to make out the words ‘Fire Lane’ on the signs along the front of the Aquatic Centre? They're pretty legible, and the visibil- ity in the area is quite good. I have been told the city is respon- sible for patrolling the area, but I haven’t seen too many of these vehi- cles with tags under their wipers. To L.A. Kings owner Bruce Mc- Nall: An extra large wheelbarrow to cart home all the cash he'll get for the new franchise awarded to Anaheim. Seeing as Mr. McNall owns the NHL rights to the area, he gets half of the $50 million Michael Eisner’s Dis- ney group is coughing up to stick a team in California Angels country. And speaking of wheelbarrows, give one to new NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. The emigre from the NBA will need it for the $25 million from Disney, plus the $50 million the league will receive for Blockbuster Video magnate Wayne Huizenga’s Miami franchise. Please, let this be a sign that the NHL is finally getting the attention it deserves in the U.S. To Claude Vilgrain: An employ- er that doesn’t treat him like a leper. To the Spokane Braves: A healthy bout with losingitis that puts them in danger of missing the KIJHL playoffs. The league’s lone American entry, the Braves might start playing the game like it should be played if it looks like they might not be attending the post-season prom. Some of the stuff they’ve pulled against the Rebels this year has been pure bush-league, but what happened in Rossland last Saturday was pretty heinous. To quote one of our typeset- ters, “Real class.” To Felix Belczyk: Success away from life on the national ski team. on the Spot JonathanGREEN A quick chat Wednesday with Castlegar’s biggest name in skiing discovered the newlywed is spending his retirement running ski schools around Vancouver and Kamloops. To Cal Murphy: A heart that keeps on ticking and a digestive sys- tem that can stomach CFL expansion south of the border. A man about as thrilled with U.S. teams playing the Canadian game as most kids are about brussels sprouts, the Winnipeg general manager will need both if he wants to live to see an- other Grey Cup. To Eric Lindros: A skeleton key. You never know when some police- man might snap a pair of bracelets on you, so it’s a good idea to always car- ry one. You know, like a condom. To hockey fans in Hamilton: Even more patience. Dressing up in the Santa Claus suit The folks in The Steel City must have felt snubbed when the NHL gave expansion teams to Ottawa and Tam- pa bay last year. Now, with the an- nouncement that Anaheim and Mia- mi are next up, they’re going to have to take a number once more. Sure, they’ve got Vancouver’s minor league team but when you want filet mignon and all you've got is chuck, the appetite isn’t quite satisfied. To Travis Green: A permanent dressing room stall at the Nassau Vet- erans’ Memorial Coliseum in Union- dale, N.Y. The 21-year-old Castlegar native is doing his second tour of duty with the NHL Islanders, and a name plate that isn’t made of masking tape might make a pretty good Christmas gift. To the coaches at Stanley Humphries: A gym floor that doesn’t transform when it gets wet. After a pipe burst at the local high school last month, the gymnasium be- came better suited for swimming rather than volleyball or basketball. When it dried it became apparent that court sports were out of the ques- tion, even if it would have given the home team a distinct advantage. To the Kootenay Computers: See the Castlegar Rebels. Last year’s Castlegar Recreational Hockey League champs, the Comput- ers have struggled this year. A victo- ry here and there could see them giv- ing Shell and the rest of the CRHL a fight for first place. Junior Rockers kick Kaslo NEWS STAFF There’s an old joke in sports that refers to a blowout game as being close — and then it starts. That joke became reality for the Stanley Humphries ju- nior boys basketball team Wednesday. Entertaining the Kaslo Ea- gles at Kinnaird Middle School, the Rockers might just as well have gone home after the first quarter. Scoring early and often, the hosts walloped their guests 93-9 as Grant Mosby led the way with 15 points. Coach Doug Hickey said depth played a big part in the win, as 13 players scored. “It was a real good game for the kids on my bench,” he said. said. The Rockers jumped out to a 32-0 first quarter lead, then added 18 more before Kaslo made it 50-2 at the half. Stanley Humphries in- creased the lead to 70-8 after three and it was all over but the crying. Hickey said the final score was deceiving. He said there was no effort made to embarrass Kaslo, felpelelpelpelpeljelfelfelfeljelpelfeli where Grand Forks rang up the score and said he wouldn’t let that happen. “I’ve never forgotten that,” he said. “Even if you get the opportunity, that’s not the point of the game.” Later that night, the senior boys met their Kaslo counter- parts and beat them 71-50. Coach John Ritchie said his guys overcame a sluggish start by experimenting. “We changed our defence up a bit and went away from man- to-man,” he said. And it worked, as Ritchie said the Rockers broke a 10-10 tie after one quarter and slow- ly broadened the gap. “We sort of ran away in the second quarter and kept it go- ing in the third and fourth,” he A team short on practice time, Ritchie said they haven't been able to work on some of the finer points of their game. He said because of that, they've had to rely more on their mental game and it paid off Wednesday. “That was the first game I’ve seen in my stint here where we've been intense for the whole game,” he said. “If we Castlegar's Caring Christian Community extends a friendly welcome to all who are alone during this joyous season, for a wonderful CHRISTMAS DINNER DATE: December 23, 1992 TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: Community Complex Pickup your free ticket at the Salvation Army, 110-3rd Street or Castlegar Community Services, 1007-2nd Street This advertisement provided courtesy of the Vilgrain says hi to Ohio Jonathan Green SPORTS REPORTER The runaround continues for Claude Vil- ain. A key part of the NHL's New Jersey Dev- ils last year, the summertime resident of Castlegar found himself on the outside look- ing in shortly after the 1992-93 began. Saying he’d been told it was “a business decision,” the 29-year-old was sent to the Devils’ American Hockey League affiliate in Utica, N-Y. But Vilgrain said the only busi- ness decision was one to save money. A free agent at the end of last season, Vilgrain filed for arbitra- tion when he and the Devils couldn’t come to terms on a new contract. But before it reached that stage, he said Devils’ general manager Lou Lamoriello demoted him to prove he didn’t deserve a salary increase. Claude Viigrain And because most of those players are castoffs, Vilgrain said they aren’t motivated to go anywhere else and this has had an ef- fect his play. ‘Tm not producing as much as I would like to but I’m on a last place team,” he said. And that’s got to hurt when you still have designs on returning to the NHL. “Most of these guys were just looking for ajob, they’re just hanging on,” he said.“I have to get up and play hard every night to get out of here. “Sometimes it’s tough.” Vilgrain said as much as he likes Cincinnati, he’d be happy to leave if it meant saying good-bye to the organization. But that won't be easy, because the Devils still own his rights and Lamoriello’s the one holding all the cards. Vilgrain said he’s made it known he wants out but isn’t get- ting too much help. “I know theyre not trying be- “(Lou’s) going to try to influence the arbitrator,” he said in an Oc- tober interview. “He’s pretty sneaky.” And that seems to have worked because Vilgrain’s case has yet to reach arbitration. In the mean time, he’d been cooling his heels in Utica before another bit of shocking news hit him at the end of November. Deciding that the younger players need- ed more playing time, Utica sent, Vilgrain and three others to the International Hockey League’s Cincinnati Cyclones, one step fur- ther from the NHL. Reached there Wednesday, Vilgrain said Cincinnati is an improvement over Utica but not in a hockey sense. “There’s a lot more to do, but it’s tough to enjoy a city when you don’t really want to be there,” he said. A team with no major league affiliations, the Cyclongs get players anywhere they can. cause there are teams that‘have been calling but nothing’s hap- pening,” he said. But Lamoriello said that isn’t the case. “His agent has had the opportunity to talk with every team in the league,” he said from the team’s offices in New Jersey Thursday. “I talked to his agent last week to see if they had anything and he hadn't.” Lamoriello said Vilgrain had been made available without compensation in the league’s waiver draft, but there weren’t any takers. He said that because of his age and the way the Devils’ depth chart looks these days, Vilgrain’s chances of returning to the big club don’t look good. “That's up to Claude really,” he said. “The chances of him coming to New Jersey are re- mote at this point unless he puts up some numbers in the minor league.” 90 Camera (Samyang) SAvE $100 Now 2 0% Oo PHOTO ALBUMS Capture the Moment Forever Turn your Favorite Picture into a Precious Gift: $199 1 0% Oo BINOCULARS FREE GIFT WRAPPING WITH ANY PURCHASE Sunday Opening Dec. 20 - 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The HO EXCELLENT Castlegar Savings Credit Union is able to assist you with getting the best return for your investment dollars. For more details, contact either location of CASTLEGAR SAVINGS CREDIT UNION “Your Community Financial Centre” 601-18th St. Ga 3026 Hwy. 6 Castlegar Slocan Park 365-7232 226-7212 NEW CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE IN CASTLEGAR Dr. Jerry Gallo is pleased to announce that his chiropractic office will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays (starting on December 15th) 1444 COLUMBIA AVE. low Shersty Motors) PHONE 365-0001 For Appointment Chiropracti care is covered under Medical Service Plan and no referrals are necessary, so drop in! NE EIEN NE NTI Merry Christmas and Happy New Year We would like to thank all our customers for a very successful year. We will be continuing our policy of competitive prices, friendly services and free consultations. Our customers are repeat customers, so give us a call you won't be disappointed. aca Jewellery Consultations « Se eee rer dl Castlegar, B.C., VIN 2M1 a 1694 Silverwood Cres. Fi You provide the love, We provide the magic. Ph. (604) 365-3910 be Welcome in the... 21st CENTURY NEW YEAR'S EVE BUFFET 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Includes Seafood CHAMPAGNE BUFFET NEW YEARS DAY 10am soa 1 2° Start the New Year with a dining difference! Closed Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 & 26. OF | The Fireside Restaurant pointing to Mosby’s contribu- tion as top scorer. Hickey said he learned a lesson from a previous game keep the intensity up, we can compete with anybody.” Dan Kooznetsoff was top scorer with 17 points. er lews °Picture°Place HH PHOTO GIFT CASTLEAIRD PLAZA - 365-2211 For reservations call 365-2128 1810-8th Avenue, Castlegar afajejel(elelalrelye i