eer 14 Wednesday, December 2, 1992 Lust thinks eight is great Jonathan Green SPORTS REPORTER Although they didn’t bring the provincial title home with them, coach Don Lust says the Stanley Humphries se- nior boys volleyball team have no reason to hang their heads. “There’s nothing to be up- set about,” he said. “They fin- ished eighth in the province. “They did alright.” One of 16 teams at last week’s Mission tournament, the Rockers came in looking to recapture some of the suc- cess that saw them become the No. 1 ranked team in B.C. earlier in the season. Things looked good for the locals in the early going, as the team came away with five wins in its seven round-robin games, all but one going the maximum three games. Lust said the level of com- petition was one the organiz- ers had never seen before. “It was the closest provin- cial championship they’ve ever encountered,” he said. “Almost every game went three games. “It was amazing.” In the round-robin, the Rockers got a good taste of what volleyball in B.C. is re- ally like. They kicked things off with a win over Delta, then fol- lowed that up with victories over teams from Fort. St. John, Terrace and Winder- mere. The win streak came to a premature end in the next match with Victoria’s Mt. Douglas, a two-straight loss that left Stanley Humphries sitting with a 4-1 record after the second day. Coming out Friday, the Rockers continued to stumble by dropping their second straight, this time to Surrey’s Queen Elizabeth. They turned things around a little in their last round- robin game with a victory over eventual winner KLO of Kelowna to finish at 5-2, good for fourth place in their pool and a trip to the champi- onship round. But any hopes of advanc- ing to the title game were squashed in their final game Friday with a two-game quar- ter-final loss to Powell River’s Max Cameron. Lust said the Rockers weren't on top of their game against the Powell River op- ponent, but chalked it up to fatigue as much as anything. “They didn’t play as well as they could have, but it’s a long tournament,” he said. “It’s hard to get yourself up for four days.” With the loss, Stanley Humphries could do no better than fifth, something denied them by: Courtenay’s G.P. Vanier, which relegated them to a seventh-place match with Delta — a match the Lower Mainland won to avenge the earlier loss. Though the speed at which the Rockers went from being a contender to finishing eighth might have frustrated some, Lust found some good in it. “There’s nothing wrong with finishing eighth in the province,” he said. “It’s better than the 13th (place) last year.” Meanwhile, over in Kelow- na, the Mt. Sentinel senior girls came in ranked No. 1 and hoped to end their cham- pionship in the same position. Unfortunately for the Wild- cats, 11 other schools in the province had different ideas. Waltzing into the semi-fi- nal undefeated through the round-robin, the Wildcats came up against Barriere of Kamloops and when the match was over, Mt. Sentinel found themselves on the out- side looking in. “I think it’s safe to say it’s a letdown,” coach Joe Moreira said. “It’s still a letdown three or four days after the fact.” Without wanting to sound overconfident or arrogant, Moreira said the team went to Kelowna with title on their minds and that a bronze- medal just wasn’t what they were looking for. “On any given year, for the Mt. Sentinel senior girls to be playing in the bronze-medal match would be an achieve- ment,” he said. “This year, that wasn’t the case. “Our goal at the start of the year was to win a provincial championship.” But that win would have to wait until next year, as Mor- eira said his squad fell apart in the semi-final. He said the calm, cool, col- lected look on their faces through the round-robin turned to one of fear against Barriere, or at least it looked like Barriere. “It became quite clear that we were out on the court play- ing like we were facing a bunch of ghosts,” he said. Moreira said the fear translated into numerous un- forced errors and, with Bar- riere playing just well enough to win, Mt. Sentinel pretty much beat themselves. With the loss, the Wildcats moved into the bronze-medal match with Abbotsford Chris- tian and came away witha 15-12, 15-10 win. Moreira said as disap- pointing as the loss to Bar- riere was, rallying to finish third helped to cap off an im- pressive year. “We played a good bronze- medal match,” he said. “It was a satisfying way to end the season.” Junior Rockers come up short in final NEWS STAFF The Stanley Humphries junior boys volley- ball team came within one step of calling themselves the best in the West Kootenay over the weekend. Unfortunately for them, though, their coun- rts from Nelson are the ones who now hold that distinction. Facing off in the final of the West Kootenay Championship Saturday at Selkirk College, SHSS was looking to avenge an earlier round- robin loss to L.V. Rogers, but the effects of a tough semi-final match were evident in defeat. Coach Grant Apostoliuk said a gruelling showdown with Mt. Sentinel kept his squad from giving the Nelson school a better run for their “J don’t think they were any better for us,” he said. “It was just a case of us having a hard- er semi-final than they did. “We were pretty spent.” : One of eight teams competing, Stanley Humphries finished the round-robin with a 2- 1 record after wins over Salmo, Slocan’s W.E. Graham and the loss to Rogers. Finishing second in their pool, the Rockers advanced to the championship round for a date with Sentinel, the first-place team from the other pool. Getting past the Wildcats after close to an hour-and-a-half, Apostoliuk didn’t consider the win a shocker. “I wasn’t surprised really,” he said. “All the time we played them this year we beat them, so I wouldn't consider it an upset.” But any hopes of doing the same to L.V. Rogers never materialized, as the weary Rock- ers were swept in two games, 6-15, 13-15. Although the team didn’t spend too much time in the limelight through the year, Apos- toliuk said he wasn’t surprised by the show- ee Skill-wise, we were probably the best skilled team there,” he said. “We played well.” ‘ SVC stumbles in playoffs News photo by Jonathan Green SVC’s Mike Perra sets one up in RSVC warmup action Monday. Although they fought a good fight, SVC fell to Nelson 6-15, 15-13, 14-16, 12-15 to bow out of the league playoffs. @ Wednesday, December 2, 1992 @ Castlegar native happy in the International Hockey League Jonathan Green SPORTS REPORTER A man whose frequent flyer points would have rivaled some high profile ex- ecutives last year, Kelly Hurd has been pretty much of a homebody in 1992. A member of the Detroit Red Wings’ organization, the 24-year- old Castlegar native spent a fair bit of time in airports last season, shuttling back and forth between the big club’s affiliates in Adiron- dack, N.Y., and Fort Wayne, Ind. This season, Hurd was given the choice of which city he would like to play in after being cut in Kelly Hurd — Hurd cool with the Komets games. Reached Monday at home, Hurd said he is comfortable with the idea of playing in one city, and it’s showing. “I think it’s worked out better for me,” he said. “You get into a rhythm.” Like the majority of minor lea- guers, Hurd said he wouldn’t mind a call from the big club. But with the Red Wings doing well and more than enough play- ers to go around, he said that probably won't happen any time soon. “They’ve got so many players in transition right now in Adiron- dack and Toledo so they’re quite busy,” he said. Playing out his option with the Wings, Hurd said he is looking training camp and, without hesi- tating, chose the International Hockey League’s Komets in Fort Wayne. “I played there last year and I played a lot more (than when I was in Adirondack),” he said in a September interview. “I’m playing out my option this year so I want to play as much as I can.” And play is what Hurd has been doing for the Komets, an affiliate of both the Red Wings and Winnipeg Jets, putting 11 goals and six assists on the board in his first 20 forward to continued success this year in the hopes of attracting attention from both the big club and other teams when his contract expires at the end of the season. “I just want to keep on scoring and keep playing a regular shift,” he said. “I’m setting my sights on a contract for next year.” With life going well on the ice, Hurd said he’s been able to relax off the ice as well, and this has made him, wife Sherri and daughter Daryl a happy trio. “Things are going good.” SAYING HIS PRAYERS? Although he looks to be asking for help from up above, Castlegar Red Army's Bob Larsh is just picking himself up from an encounter with the net. A request for assistance might not have hurt though, as the Red Army dropped an 8-5 decision to their Trail opponent in Oldtimers tournament action Sunday. News photo by Jonathan Green ohell reclaims top spot with win over Computers the first seven games without mercy. But things have been any- thing but merry for the Com- puters of late, and things got even worse Monday when they lost their fifth straight, NEWS STAFF The Selkirk Volleyball Club became the first casu- alty in Regional Super Vol- ley Challenge action Mon- day at Selkirk College. Facing the regular season champs from Nelson, SVC put a good fight but went down 6-15, 15-13, 14-16, 12- 15 to bow out of post-season action. RSVC president and SVC member Mike Perra ac- knowledged the good game that Nelson played but said the lack of some key players made his squad vulnerable. “We're just not a very good team,” he said. “It’s pretty hard when you don’t have a setter.” Perra said SVC just didn’t play as a team in the early stages but, pointing the final score, said they eventually came together as time wore on. “We steadily improved in the match,” he said. “We played really well toward the end. “I’m happy with the im- provement.” Playing with a full team, SVC looked to have the ad- vantage over short-handed Nelson. But, to Perra’s amaze- ment, the disadvantage had no affect on the outcome. “They played really well,” he said. “I was surprised for only having five.” With the win, Nelson moves on to the RSVC final against the Kootenay Volley- ball Club. KVC_ knocked off the Brew Shop Border Bros, in the league’s other semi-final Tuesday. The final is set for the col- lege at 8 p.m. Monday. NEWS STAFF The Kootenay Computers are in line for a big haul from Santa Claus this Christmas, because they’ve been a lot nicer than naughty in recent Castlegar Recreational Hock- ey League action. The defending champs were destined for St. Nick’s lump-of-coal list when the year started, losing just one of 15-10 to Shell. Niki Hyson led the attack for Shell, scoring four goals and adding two assists while Kelly Keraiff and Lorne An- derson each had three goals Green awakens from NHL dream W@ Local returns to farm after making pro debut NEWS STAFF Somebody must have pinched Travis Green, be- cause the dream he’s been having came to an end Satur- day. Living the life of a Nation- al Hockey League player, the 21-year-old Castlegar product spent the last two weeks with the New York Islanders after being promoted from the club’s American Hockey League affiliate in Troy. N.Y., Nov. 17. Over that time, Green ap- peared in five games, finish- ing with one goal, no assists or penalty minutes and a plus-minus of zero. He was back on the farm following Saturday's. game with Philadelphia and made an impression in his return, scoring the overtime winner in a Capital District victory over the Springfield Indians Sunday. : Reached at home Monday, Green wasn’t thrilled about returning to the minors but Travis Green NHL Debut Tour Nov. 17 - Nov. 28, 1992 G P Pim +/- Nov. 19 at Boston 0 i?) Nov. 21 at Calgary 1 (0) Nov. 22 at Edmon.0 Nov. 24 atWpg. 0 Nov. 27 at Phila. 0 NHL TOTALS 1 realized that the sun will still come up tomorrow. “Tm a little disappointed I guess, but you've got to keep going,” he said. Green said the look at life in the big league earned him a wealth of experience, both on and off the ice. He said that after meeting with Islander coach Al Arbour and his staff, he has a better idea of what it takes to stick with the big club and will work on that for the next time. “Everybody had individual meetings with me, and they were all positive,” he said. “They more or less told me I’ve got to keep working on lit- tle things.” One of those little things was keeping up with and be- ing involved in the play, some- thing Green admits to not do- ing all the time. Without realizing it, he said he would resort back to the pace of the AHL, a trick that won’t endear too many prospective players to the coach. Knowing that and more, Green said what he learned in his stint with the Islanders will serve him well not only back in the minors, but upon his return to the big club. “I was just starting to feel comfortable, and I know the next time I get called up I'll feel that much more comfort- able,” he said. “I’m confident I can play (in the NHL), whether it be with with this team or somewhere else.” And whether it’s with the Islanders or one of the 23 oth- er NHL clubs, Green disocov- ered something he'll en- counter wherever the hockey road takes him: the auto- graph seeker. “A few people did ask,” he said. “It was pretty neat.” CASTLEGAR RECREATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (As of Nov.20) were Shell 75 Press.Wash 5 Sports Centre 5 Computers 4 Banjo's 3 and three assists. Rob Hill was the Comput- this is you, Congratulations! ers’ top gun, scoring twice and adding four helpers while Dan Walker had three goals and an assist. Shell scored early and often in victory, going into the dress- ing room after one period lead- ing 6-1 and they never looked back. Last night’s result between Castlegar Sports Centre and Castlegar Pressure Wash was unavailable at press time. You've won dinner for two at Taylor's Place Family Restaurant ($20.00 value) and two tickets to a Rebels home game. Pick up your prize at the Castlegar News, 197 Columbia Avenue. Taylor's Place Family Restaurant Featuring Doukhobor Cuisine SS 908 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar 365-5516