8-Trall Times-Friday, July 11, 1980

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-Keith McQulggan photo

The Australlan national lacrosse team looked like a legion of commandos from a science fiction film as they warmed up for the recent
game against Rossland Redmen In full playing attire. Australla Is

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now playing at the world tournament at Vancouver and the Redmen
have two home games this weekend.

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Last week saw Rossland the players and staying overnight
host to the Australian National in their homes.
I imagine that the trip to
Lacrosse team and it turned
out to be a memorable oc- Armstrong, where they were
casion. Not ooly did it attract to play next, was a p-etty
the largest crowd in recent hasty affair, as some of the
memory to the Rossland players were still in bed
Arena but it also gave a big around noon.
boost the fortunes of our
Talking to Neil Murdoch,
Redmen.
who drove them in from
The lacrosse played was of a Calgary and on to Armstrong,
crowd-pleasing calibre and I got the idea that he had
the fans who numbered close enjoyed the task of busing the
to 1,100 were appreciative. team around. He told me he
The last time the arena had a considered them a fine bunch
sports event crowd ap- of young men, worthy
proaching that magnitude was representatives of their great
for the Warriors-Grand Forks country.
I had a chance to talk to one
hockey series of a few years
or two of the players as well as
bac,
The actual score in the the two referees who travelled
game was 12-7 in favor of the with the team. Allan Jennings,
Redmen, with coach John a team member, told me their
Allen once again a very trip across Canada had been
positive factor in the fred- quite an experience and would
be remembered by the players
men 's scoring statistics.
for a long while. He said they
appreciated
the
John had three goals and really
four assists, linemate Ken reception they had received in
Storoshenko two goals and Rossland and really liked the
three assists, while Rob S1DToundings here.
Grant, a real speedster, helped
We in Rossland can aphimself to two goals, single preciate his feelings; you
goals went to Peter Janssen, could travel many, many
Walter Christianson, Hughie miles before you can see a
Small, Mike Amos and Steve more beautiful setting than
Joyce.
our mountaintop town and our
The scoring by the Aussies people are known far and wide
was all done by two players, for their hospitality.
Steve Ellis got five goals and
Referees Greg Miller and
Wayne Little scored the other Bob Benger travel with the
two.
team and assist in officiating
The after-the-game at the games. Both are
festivities carried on well into competent officials and
the following day with some of worked well with our local
the players from "down un- people.
der" accepting the hospitality
I asked Greg about the
of some of the Redmen lacrosse situation in Australia

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and he told me the game is
The boards are only about
played in only three centres knee-high and in some cases
down there, Adelaide, Perth are metal, the backdrop in
and Melbourne. Sydney, the some cases consists of netting
largest city, does not have a instead of wire mesh, the puck
team at all.
ooes not bounce off it but
As we sent them on their drops straight down. The boys
way we wished them a lot of enjoyed the trip, which was
luck in the big tournament in fairly successful but apwhich they are over here to parently hockey is not big
take part. Having seen them business down there as it is
and their style of play, we here.
shall find it interesting to
follow their progress in the
Well, it's that time of the
upcoming tourney.
year again. The first of a
So, it's so-long Aussies! It series of games in the mixedwas nice to have you visit us up slo-pitch league was held
and get to talk to you, it will Monday evening and after the
remain an event long smoke had cleared the score
remembered by all who took read 18-17 for Tongo Taylor's
part in it, even for such a short . crew over one managed by
Babe Laface. This was the
time.
While at the game I got a first but we are assured there
chance to talk to one of the will be more to come.
Excerpts from notes on the
players recently returned
from the hockey trip down event drawn up by Donna Price
under. He told me that the are as follows: The start of the
facilities for hockey down · game was held up awaiting
there are not to be compared the arrival of DoMa who was
with what we are used to in out golfing, Bernie Fourt had
trouble hitting the pitching of
this country.

Roberta Delich - he said she
winked at him every time she
threw the ball - Tim Laface
pitched a strong game for the
wiMers and Sharon Schuck
played well until she had to
leave for work.
She was replaced by a
visitor from Leduc, Alta., by
the name of Harold Gyte,
related to No. 2 Joe. This must
be getting to be some league,
importing players from all
over.
.. Southpaw Zula Laface and
husband Rudy played on the
same team and got along quite
well and Dave Tweed was
happy to see the game end as
his old legs were giving him
trouble catching up with the
balls Sandy hit to him.
It is hoped that Bea Driscoll
will be able to turn out for the
next game. She was missed by
everyone and more fans would
be appreciated. It's lots of fun
to watch Babe trying to clear
his players bench. Wonder
what Babe is trying to tell us?