+

SHY MARK FITZPATRICK was paraded through Kitimat, to the
delight of his many fans, during the recent Mark Fitzpatrick Day.

ARDENT MARK. FITZPATRICK FANS had the opportunity ‘to |
: practice: their: Shots into a special net at Kitimat's recent Mark
Fitzpatrick Days. a

An educated guess from the
flow of hockey fans at Tamitik
arena the afternoon of June 9
would indicate that the NHL’s
New York Islanders added close
to 1,000 Kitimat youngsters to
their book of ardent fans, And
the man responsible is Mark
Fitzpatrick.

They came to praise home-
town hero Fitzpatrick and add
posters, team pictures, programs
and special balloons to their col-
lections.

Mark, in his. first full season
with the Islanders, shared net-
minding chores with Glenn Hea-
ly. He took part in 49 of the
Islanders’ 80-game regular
schedule. His young and upcom-
ing team gained the 16th and
final playoff spot, but lost out to
cross-town rivals (New York
Rangers) in the opening playoff
round.

Following a noon-hour open
car parade from the Chamber of

Commerce building to Tamitik,
Mark with teammate Allan
Kerr, goalie coach Billy Smith
and hockey school mentor Vic
Lemire spend more than two
hours signing autographs at
Tamitik.

Mark Fitzpatrick Day also
featured kids shooting at a
special net, watching a video
tape of Mark in action at New
York, and gorging themselves
with hotdogs and pop.

From an outsider’s viewpoint,
celebration chairman Ivan Ball
and his committee of locals
deserve the highest praise for a
job well done.

The shy, 20-year-old Mark
agreed to take part in Kitimat’s
“major event of the year’’ back
in March, and it took that much
time for Ball and his group to set
it all up.

When the visiting - celebrities
arrived on Friday, they were
welcomed with a wine-and-

Mark Fitzpatrick Day - June 9th

cheese party at Riverlodge.

Saturday morning was a
special breakfast at Hirsh Creek
Golf Club. Then it was an open-
car parade from the Forest
Avenue Chamber of Commerce
building, down Haisla Hill to
Tamitik: where hundreds of
youngsters eagerly awaited
them. That night was topped off
with a dinner and dance at
Riverlodge with proceeds going
to the Kitimat Child Develop-
ment Centre.

Sunday was for Mark, his
family and close friends. They
enjoyed a fishing trip down
Douglas Channel, but ardent
fisherman Mark was skunked.
Then they wound down with an
afternoon barbeque.

Billy Smith spend his spare
moments slashing golf balls at
Hirsh Creek (unlike his NHL
career where he was noted as the
‘stickman’ to opponnents.)

MARK FITZPATRICK, Vic Lemire, Ivan Ball, Alan Kerr and Billy Smith pose behind a welcome sign
erected just outside Kitimat city limits in honour of Fitzpatrick.

_ HOMETOWN. HERO Mark rk Fitzpatrick and team-mate Billy Smith signed thindreds of autograph =
"for enthusiastic fans at a recent celebration in Fitzpatrick’s honour,

we |
2 detail a! Set cay: fie