Preece reds se a Vw "PAGE Alo, THE HERALD, Wednesday, February 2, 1977 PNWHL playoff format decided _. Kings ‘rubberize’ netminders . ; Kings 9Smithers 5 i Kings 11 Houston 1 “Many knowledgeable hockey ‘. people claim that the more you +Y shoot the puck, the more you'll * score, and the Prince Rupert _; Atom Motor Kings proved the ™. wisdom of that adage in a pair ::. of PNWHL games this weekend ~~ at the Civic Centre arena. * The Kings directed an *; average of almost one shot per - minute at four different net- . minders as they swept past Smithers Totems and Houston _ Luckies by scores of 9-5 and 11-1 =, tespectively on Saturday and a Sunday. % Rupert outshot the Totems by a 46-33 margin in Saturday's #4 game before erupting for 65 # shots on goal — including 24 in each of the second and third * periods — in Sunday's en- * counter with Houston. % Smithers’ Mike Smithson, % who slarted in goal for the _Totems, gave ‘way to Rick “ Marko with the Kings in front 4- «6 Saturday while goalers’ Harvey Lalonde and Gordie Cook were involved in a double switch for the Luckies on Sunday. Lalonde started the game but was replaced by Cook following > Rupert's third goal with 4:55 ” left in the opening frame. However, Cook yielded five more goals by 13:30 of the second stanza, and he in turn yanked himself in favor of Lalonde. The fine twoway play of forward Richard Wright ac- counted for a fair-sized portion of the Houston netminder problems in Sunday's contest. Wright picked up three goals and also added assists on markers by linemates Gord Stephens and Wayne George as he played what was perhaps his Rupert. The Kings’ veteran scored on “poth Lalonde and Cook in the’ first period before his third — and Rupert's eighth — goal sent Cook packing in the second period. Also scoring for Rupert were Art Frenette with a pair and John Vaudry, Rick Spracklin, Dave Allen and Norm Stephens. Those goals for Frenette upped his total to twelve in the last five games. Don Olmstead, who played goal both games for the Kings, lost his shutout with just 6:28 left in the game when Bob LeDuke rammed the puck in from the edge of the crease following a two-on-one Houston rush. The Kings, who went into the game minus the services of defensemen Moe Kmyta (fractured cheekbone) and Al Sidoni (suspension), had their ranks on the blueline thinned even further when captain Allen was helped from the ice in the final frame following a collision with the Luckies’ Wes Westgard's elbow and stick. Allen suffered a possible broken jaw on the play; if he is able to retum to the line-up this season, Allen will, like Kmyta, have to wear a facial protector of some description, In Saturday night’s game, meanwhile, Mike Vannier collected two goals to lead Rupert past Smithers. Also scoring for the Kings were Vaudry, Spracklin, Stu Marshall, Frenette, Joe Ciotoli, and Gord Stephens and Wright. Smithers, who trailed 4-0 and 7-3 after the first and second periods before rallying to make it 7-6 with over seven minutes left in the third period, got two goals in reply from George Lutz * and singles from Greg Zavaduck, Dave Pellows and Brian Young. The Kings took just 18 of the game’s 56 penalty minutes; defenseman Jim McAloney af Smithers accounted for 24 penally minutes on his own. Kings’ coach George Kuntz was pleased by his charges’ performance on the weekend, particularly in Sunday's en- counter, “The club really played well from start to finish in that one,” Kuntz stated. In other matters, the PNWHL executive met this weckend and decided upon a format for the upcoming Fowler Cup playoffs. The executive opted for a format similar to the one used last season; all teams make the playoffs and all will be involved in a best-of-seven quarter-final series. Teams will be ranked one through six in accordance with their regular-season points accumulation with one and six, two and five, three and four meeting in the first round. As the league stands right now, this would mean Rupert will be drawn against Terrace, Burns Lake and Kitimat will do battle while arch-rivals Houston and Smithers will meel in the third series; these matchups could change, however, as the finest game of the year for ° PNWHL’s regular season winds to a close this upcoming week, The three teams which post first-round victories as well as the team with the best regular- season record amongst the three losing teams will then advance to a best-of-five semi- final round. Teams reaching the semis would again be ranked in order of regular-season points ac- cE cumulation, with the top team being drawn against the bottom team while the second and third ranked teams lock horns. The two surviving teams would then meet in a best-of- seven final, The home-ice advantage in the first two rounds goes to the team with the highest regular- season points accumulation; if teams from the league's East and West Division make It to the final, the East Division team gains the home-ice advantage — this latter advantage is slated to alternate from year to year. Loose Pucks: In other PN- WHL action this weekend, Kitimat dumped Smithers 9-6 Sunday while Burns Lake throttled Terrace 16-4 and vick’ attack. Although Pyde blocked 47 shots, the Kings had glove hand to grab a shot and thwart another Rupert - 56 and won 9 to 2. PNWHL officiating at low ebb by Dave Hamilton When two mismatched teams, such as the short- handed Terrace Centennials and the powerful Prince Rupert Kings meet the outcome is predictable. With Terrace losing seven top players their chances of winning are almost nil. Last Wednesday a few faithful fans (just over 100) showed up to watch a Cent-King encounter and, although they didn’t expect a close scoring affair, they ex- cted a hockey game. This idea, however, was deflated by the officiating of Kitimat’s Martin Epp. The fans and teams were con- stantly on his back and there was even evident friction between the referee and his linesman. The referee did not seem capable to keep up with the play and missed many infractions. Following the game both coaches showed _ their displeasure, mentioning that this has been a serious roblem throughout the eague all year long. Many coaches are displeased about officiating, sometimes unjustly, but constant complaining must have some truth. The problem seems to come right fron the league itself, as they appoint the referees for the games. | There are too many inex- perienced officials doing too many games. First hand experience is the best teacher but these lessons should come at a lower level. : "When any two teams tale” to the ice, no matter what age, league or caliber; emotions and even _ frustrations are part of the game and it is not the of- ficials job to try to please both sides. He is there to keep the game under con- trol. All referees miss some calls and most fans accept this fact because no one is perfect, but these misses should not be constant. The league has a problem but does not seem too concerned. The P.N.W.HLL. . does not hold referee schools and do not prepare their officials for what they might encounter during games. It seems the inexperienced officials are getting most of the games and feelings | among the league and team officials are getting tense. Pyde outstanding Last Wednesday the Prince Rupert Kings visited the Terrace Arena and picked up win number 29 as they blasted the Centennials 9 to 2. The Cents fell behind early, being outscored 4-0 in the first period. The Kings got rolling after 52 minutes as Art Frenette scored his first of three. Rick Spracklin fed Dave Allen at the point. Allen fired and Frenette picked up the rebound and slid it by Rob Pyde. It was 2-0 six minutes later as Norm Stephens set up Richard Wright, feeding him at close range. Wright, alone in front, flipped the puck over Pyde's out- stretched leg. Prince Rupert's third goal was from a penalty shot. Cent Defenceman, Mickey Wagner, was called for closing his hand on the puck in the crease. The call was questioned by the Cents arguing that when Wagner played the puck he reached up, from a standing posilion, well over the height of the net. The crease Is only as high as the goal so the puck was outside the goalie’s area when gloved. The argument was in vain and leading scorer, John Vaudry, prepared to take the shot. Vaudry made a fake, then cut back to the short side and slid the puck under Pyde’s extended arm. Just two minutes later Don Gillespie and Vaudry combined to set up Frenette, who banged in the rebound. The second period was closer as the Kings out- scored the Cents 2-1, thanks to the fine play of goaltender, Rob Pyde. At the 1:20 mark Wright sent Al Sidoni in on Pyde and Sidoni fired the puck high into the net. The Cents drew blood at the 5:15 mark as the line of Dave Wakefield, Tim Kolner and Doug Matheson combined. Matheson fed Wakefield at the sideboards. Young Davey then slid the puck to Kolner who was all alone in front and he slid the puck under King goalie, Jerry Kurka. Six minutes later Frenette’ completed his hat trick, scoring with teammate, Dave Allen, in the sin bin. Frenette stole the puck at centre ice and went in alone, beating Pyde after a nice eke. The last period featured four goals, the games only fight and a match penalty. AL the 3:40 mark Cent Tim Kolner and King Wayne George dropped their gloves to engage in fisticuffs. in losing With 2:44 remaining in the game Rupert’s Al Sidoni received a five minute buttending penalty plus a match misconduct. The Kings scored after only three minutes as Gord Stephens between and around the defence before firing past Pyde. mo King Stu Marshall got.on the scoresheet at the 12:16 mark as he picked up Gillespie’s rebound and fired it past Pyde. With just 31 seconds left Wright picked up his second of the game, sliding the puck into an open corner after being left alone in front. With 22 seconds remaining the Cents made it one goal better as Lance - Legouffe found himself alone in front of a wide open net. Barry Heit had carried the puck down the right side and shot from a sharp angle. King goalie Kurka: ropped to freeze the play and the puck slid under him onto Legouffe's stick. Coaches Gord Cochrane and Al Bishop were pleased with Pyde’s performance as young Rob blocked 47 shots. Bishop was displeased with the fact that the referee was from Kitimat as the Cents are only one point ahead of the Winter Hawks. -Houston beat Kitimat 7-4 on Joke Braves 16 to 4. + ager De i stickhandled. Cents in reeord books credited with a pair of assists. The Cents will face either The Terrace Centennials ended their plunge into the basement on the weekend by getting there as they were overwhelmed by the Burns judge was changed and thus escaped the exhaustive chore his replacement endured during the third Prince Rupert on Burns period. Lake in the playoffs Cliff Thorstenson played depending on this weekend's heads up hockey despite the results. humiliating defeat. Kelly Playoffs wilt see the first McCabe managed to bli team taking on the sixth, the the light on three occasions second facing the fifth. and and Lance Legouffe was the, third the fourth. Saturday. Final regular-season home action for the Kings-is Wed- nesday, February 2nd when they host Kitimat Winter In losing the Cents made the record book as they allowed the Braves to score 12 goals in the final stanza. dozen counters. During the second period the Cents netminder- Mario Moretto’ complained to the referee that the goal judge was hassling him. The goal Hawks, none teams ended | ted at ' he Ki ae ree at the end of the first. | - ; , revi eee wee up inet The Braves moved out in Watch for weekend when they travel to front in the second by ab a ' ouston and Smithers. bardment started with the CANADA HERITAGE DAY Braves just about burning out the red light with their EVENTS TWO BIG DAYS February 19th and 20th Logs We know what your Autoplan. needs are. Phone 635-6371 9:00-5:30 Mon - Thur | 9:00-9:00 Friday 9:00-5:30 Saturday a Paragon Insurance Agency 201 - 4630 LAZELLE ABOVE CANADA MANPOWER Pe SCS SS OSS CEES SSS SE SS SF SOOO OL * | | FOR THE LOOK OF TODAY! * * * ¥ the AZOR'S EDG in the - Terrace Hotel BR SEE SE Oe REO OER A SC SE ER SRS HE Specializing in men’s hairstyling Fe RCO NG OSC OM ORC OH aa ER a ST SS SN SHE OT Irma has been barbering in Terrace for the past three years and has just completed a hairstyling course in Vancouver where she graduated at the top of her class. EO DE A RIE RE ERE Old and new customers are invited to come and visit her in the new premises DA SA ah SR URE AOS OMA” SRR. EE Phone 635-2672 x 5 4 x ‘ « 4 x 4 x k 4 « * x x ‘ x k x a 4 * x x x x x x : k x k x k K k x , , | PENTEL ESTERTRIC TESTER EONS NT OT ONE TEN,