216 Saturday, June 20, 1992 The National Hockey League be- came that much more reputable last week, and all it had to do was bid farewell to one person. When John A. Ziegler Jr. stepped down as league president, there were probably a lot of hockey people in North America who breathed a collec- tive sigh of relief. Ziegler was not the kind of guy the NHL should have had steering the ship at such a crucial time. With a sec- ond California franchise just a year old, and one in Florida looking like it could join the likes of the Kansas City Scouts and Cleveland Barons even be- fore its first official game, his depar- ture was necessary. Ziegler’s reign of error began in September of 1977, when he suceeded the unpopular Clarence Campbell. From almost the word go, hockey minds wondered how an American- born, senior partner in a Detroit law firm landed such a high-profile job in Canada’s unofficial national sport. Granted, the NHL's head office has a New York zip code, but that means about as much as sticking the Nation- al Basketball Association’s headquar- ters in ‘ Ziegler assumed the position at an interesting time, when the league was going toe-to-toe with the World Hock- ey Association in a losing battle. His credibility rose a couple of points two years later, when the evil. WHA was vanquished and the four re- maining teams were stripped of 99 per cent of their talent as a prerequisite for NHL entry. Since then,. though, Ziegler has spent so much time shuffling his feet the carpeting in the president’s office is probably quite bare in spots. The limelight that Ziegler might have basked in over the WHA tri- umph was short-lived as the NHL lost an American franchise a year later in Atlanta, a team that had only two los- ing seasons in the eight years they called Georgia home. Sure, the Flames are worshipped in Calgary, but the lifeblood of the league is the American dollar, no matter how hockey crazy us in Canada are. And when the Flames left the Old South, they took an awful large amount of U.S. currency away from the NHL. Two years later, Ziegler just sat back and watched as the people in Denver decided the Rockies would look better in new jerseys in New Jer- sey, an area already knee-deep in hockey teams. Yeah, so they didn’t leave the States, but people in Col- orado know all about snow and ice and ~ winter. The folks in Joisey seemed to be more interested in which endzone at Giants Stadium they'll find Jimmy Hoffa pushing up the daisies. With the Devils settled into their new home, the league stabilized and Ziegler didn’t cough up any pucks for Jonny on the Spot JonathanGREEN a while. Over the next few years, the league put out some of the best product avail- able for the viewing dollar. Canadian kids like Yzerman, Lemieux and Gret- © zky joined American ¢lubs and had fans in their respective cities on the edge of their respective seats. With interest growing south of the 49th, the NHL looked like it was ready ‘ to join the ranks of the National Foot- ball League and Major League Base- ball as a good reason to spend a few hours in front of the television or at the local stadium. : But the Ziegler-led NHL seemed to say “Let the product sell itself.” It’s not unrealistic to think hockey could have replaced basketball as the No. 3 major sport in the U.S. with the right people in place. Goodbye and good riddance But those people were working in the NBA, selling the hell out of the likes of Jordan, Barkley and Drexler, and it doesn’t look like they'll be let- ting up anytime soon. ; The league has just ended its 75th season, yet little fanfare was given to such an accomplishment. In fact, how much interest will be created in a league whose teams had honorary captains like Mr. Rogers and Ralph Macchio? A good idea, but poorly exe- cuted. Attendance was down for the sec- ond straight year, thanks to teams like Hartford, Winnipeg and the New York Islanders playing in arenas that were generally two-thirds full. What’s worse is that the league doesn’t seem to be making any concessions or gate equalizations to help out these teams. The capper to Ziegler’s reign was the lousy TV deal the league has in the U.S. The $5 million the NHL gets from Sportschannel America for one season is less than what the Chicago Cubs pay Ryne Sandberg annually. Ziegler’s tenure ends in September which is none too soon for me. Let’s hope the NHL takes the time between now and then to find someone who can make the league competitive with the likes of the NFL, NBA and MLB. If they don’t, then winters will be- come that much longer when Hockey Night In Canada is cancelled because the NHL has ceased to exist. Castlegar Merchants running into trouble That success was short- the lived, as last-place Big O Tire NEWS STAFF The Castlegar Merchants Merchants Wednesday and lost 6-2 to the went out Nite Hawks stay put cere ce have gone from being near the penthouse to being near the outhouse in local fastball. Going into last week, the Merchants were hot on the heels of the first-place Nelson A’s and did themselves a big favor by beating the A’s 10-0. ran them over 9-1 on June 11. The same two teams met again Monday, and though the score was a little closer, the end result was the same as Big O held the Merchants to just two runs in a 3-2 win. And if that wasn’t enough, Valley Royals. In other action this week, Banjo’s Pub beat the Royals 5- 1 and Big O went three with- out a loss, beating Nelson 6-5. The results froma Nelson- Banjo’s double-header were- unavailable at press time. TheNUNMBERS CASTLEGAR MEN'S COMMERCIAL FASTBALL LEAGUE i 4 85:7. 6 5 i hseae Valley Royals Labatts 5 13 TOP 10 BATTERS (25 at-bats) Rod Gretchen, Merchants Jim Nazaroff, Banjo's Mike Nelson, Nelson A's F Darwin Anderson, Valley Royals - Tom Frawley, Labatts. Ely Chernenkoff, Nelson A's Bob Marsh, Nelson A’‘s Ken Soukeroff, Valley Royals Barry Marsh, Nelson A's Joe Chernoff, Valley Royals VALLEY ROYALS AB H RBI Avg. HR et tag _ Oo-oC00-=-00 Z2BABHOO sean an T. Larson fan J J. Rampone : CASTLEGAR MERCHANTS Horning 6 Martini Keraiff Weir Horcoff Gretchin Markin McGregor VOD9MDPOD>DAOAOOD SCOCOCOOCOOMUNMNMAOMAwW+-90 ONa&WOOaN=-0-240 On-CCOCOOH-]-NNHN-— er ene a BSBassssees CSOCOCCOCOOON=Aa F. Loukianoff B. Essaunce C. Zwick D. Savinkoft T. Frauley S. Harrison B. Heric B. Donaldson P. Evdokimoft D. Deschene L. Price W. Salekin |. McMillian J. Tarasoff G. Antignani P. Koochin S§ BSBReSRN8! mah 3B o-ONO0OW ooo N OH0-4-N4-MN0=4-R8CR8MODODODDIDIDOW==NON=4 BNO bho NEWS STAFF The Beaver Valley Nite Hawks are still a part of the Kootenay International Ju- nior Hockey League. In danger of having to sit out a year to get the team’s af- fairs in order, the Nite Hawks held a meeting Tuesday to find a new executive. When all was said and done, the team had filled all 22 executive and committee posi- tions, including Bob Shields as president. Shields said he was ap- proached by league vice-presi- dent Vince Morelli about a ‘month back to run the team. . A former Kimberley resi- dent, he said his hockey back- ground wouldn't allow him to see the Nite Hawks out a year, and run the risk of not return- ing at all. “I just couldn’t see another team going down the tubes,” he said. With the executive in posi- tion, Shields said he’s looking forward to the 1992-93 season, one that will be a lot closer when the team’s new coaching staff is in place. With two candidates in mind, Shields says he’s look- ing for someone to preach the discipline gospel he grew up knowing. “It starts with upper man- agement and works its way down from there,” he said. And ifthe players aren't in- terested in disciplined hockey, Shields says the Nite Hawks won't be the team to play for. “They’re going to get seri- ous or they’re not going to play,” he said. “When you come to the rink, you come to play, not to wave to your girl- friend in the stands. “Beaver Valley is alive and well, and we’re going to kick butt all season long.” @ Saturday, June 20, 1992 178 Locals head west to head south and east I SH basketball stars hoping to see North America this summer see the field reduced to 20 for a tournament in Vancouver. After that, she said the 20 will be further reduced to 11 Jonathan Green SPORTS REPORTER Three Stanley Humphries basketball players will head west this month in the hopes of heading south next month and east in August. Wendy Closkey will be in Victoria while Marcel Dusseault and Ryan Vatkin travel to Vancouver for tryout camps for their respective un- der-17 elite development teams. Closkey was one of 64 girls in the province to receive an invite to the camp, which will Ryan Vatkin said the jump to the senior team this year took her game up a couple of notches. “There’s always someone girls head to Brandon, Man. for the Western Canadian Championships. SH senior boys coach John Wendy Closkey Marcel Dusseault for an all-star tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. in July. Astandout with the SH ju- nior girls last year, Closkey better than you,” she said. “It drives you to get better.” Shortly after the trip to Phoenix, Closkey said the News photo by Jonathan Green Members from Castlegar’s 18 Little League teams gathered at Kinnaird Park Wednesday to thank their sponsors. Sitting, left to right, Brandon Howe (CKQR), James Neill (Cas Realty), Dustin Command (RB's Distributors), Lorne Nedelec (Kootenay Savings), Brandon Grifone (D-Bar-D). Kneeling: Robert Hickey (NRS Realty), Patrick Therrien (Kats Trophys/Johnny’s Grocery), Christopher Ady (Shell), Caleb Krahn (West's), Lane Fellman (Local 480), Mike Stan (Cas Realty). Standing: Dean Jacklin (Legion), Cory, Gordon (Mallard’s), Bart Evans (Cas News), Ryan Byers (Safeway), Ryan McCullagh (Arrow Lakes Air Conditioning). Holding banner: Jason Gallo (West Kootenay Carpets), Jarret Leason (Morrison Painting) EVERGREEN NATURAL FOODS Little Prouse “Prutt Stand Fresh Picked B.C. STRAWBERRIES & CHERRIES NOW AVAILABLE Open Daily 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays ‘til 8 p.m. One mile north of Highway 3A on Highway 6 359-7323 Father's Day Special - June 21 Treat Dad right with Chicken Time's Father's Day Special $2.00 Off All Paks All paks include ... . Golden Delicious Chicken, French Fries or JoJo's and Freshly Made Salads Father's Day, Sunday, June 21 Only. 2816 Columbia Avenue, Castlegar 365-5304 Remember... Anytime is Chicken Time! Ritchie will travel to Vancou- ver with Dusseault and Vatkin to assist coach John Goulet at the camp. Thursday, Ritchie said he had been in contact with Goulet about the type of play- ers needed for the team. He said that Vatkin would fit in nicely as a point guard as he is “a floor leader and can distribute the ball” while Dusseault would work well at point guard as “a shooter.” Ritchie. didn’t think the West Kootenay had had a rep- resentative on the under-17 team before, so the two could break new ground. “It would be nice for us to have one of these guys make it,” he said. The 10 boys selected from camp will travel to Las Vegas for an all-star tournament, then head up to Brandon for. the Western's. 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