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+ B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September.13, 2006

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638-7283

MARGARET SPEIRS

’ snch oak fol! |
K! QAzz AM Tow CALL Pos

_ROB BROWN _

First class en a

ugh , tells me ‘he is coming to Ter-
‘race to. fish the Copper River.
“You want some company,? I ask.
i. Bh Yeah. Sure. That'd be nice. He says.
iw. |. I’ve been thinking of making a trip to the Class
~ One section of the Copper, I tell him. 2
. Never been there, he says.
.. | — -It’s-an hour drive, I say, surprised by the apolo-
getic tone that’s crept into my voice. .
Hugh tells me that it’s OK, adding that he’d
like to 'make the drive. See you in about.an hour,
~ he says. +
‘Til then, Tsay. . ;
Then I hang up the phone and u: use all of that hour
of ‘to get my tackle in order, finishing just as his green ©
‘[° Ford rounds the corner onto'my street. :
"We make our. way through town then over the
Old Bridge. There are seven sockeye fishermen
working the Ferry Island-Riffle.
_ The river is too blue and too low for tis time ~ KEVIN FLET CHER, one of the Riverkings three co-coaches, prepares to drop the puck during a scrimmage at training c camp p Sept, 6 at the

_ of year, the kind of fiow suited for the ice-rimmed Terrace Arena. Ryan Watson, front left, and Chris Brown, right,. get ready for game play to begin. MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
days of fall when only | a few yellowed | leaves still:

hug the trees. -
“Eamagtte, | THO to share coact ling dui ies
. ~ Task him what he’s done over “the summer. tT.

- «P|. Spent most of it inside, he says, not doing
“4a JP emuch.

os The mushroom shacks are open. Hugh, who y - ae
, _ knows more than I do, a lot more, tells me they’re | ° a 7

buying boletus, chanterelles and lots more besides

wwe

i RR eee DA we RG AN

i
{ | pines these days. By DUSTIN QUEZADA : in Terrace during the 1980s. He captained the AA men’s champs, is the barometer for success.
' Turn here. Moments.after, we cross the Kleanza — — teams as player/coach until the former league’s “Our goal is to have a championship team,” '
' Creek: Bridge: THERE WILL be anew mix behind the Riverkings demise around 1990. This will be his first job said Carlsen. |
' “We climb gently then steeply. Hugh reads the bench this season but the man calling the shots is strictly as a coach behind a bench. Fletcher says Kitimat has the advantage of two:
road bed and concludes that big trucks have used it not new tothe team. * McCleary, 24, played the last two seasons with sheets of ice and in order to nullify that, the key
: recently. He switches on his radio and directs me to Kevin Fletcher, an assistant coach to Trevor _ the team as.a checking forward but will undergo, for the Riverkings is to get younger and better
‘ the book of frequencies in the glove compartment. Hendry the last two years, assumes the role of two shoulder surgeries this fall. With no coaching _ conditioned.
‘ I find the frequency. Hugh keys it in. A voice head coach for the team’s third season inthe Cen- experience to his credit, he says he’ll help out in The team has a new affiliation with a local gym-
: | tells us he’s passing the six kilometre board with] tra] Interior Hockey League. any way he can. | nasium and will be trained by a personal trainer. The
, | aload. He’ll be helped by co-coaches Doug Richey “I’m a motivator, I'll work on making sure the team is also expected to have weekly practices.
5 Good to know, Hugh says. ; and former player Andy McCleary. guys are focused and paying attention tothe small. Fletcher says last week the coaching staff is in
> 8 Soon we're bumping up a steeper grade still. On Fletcher downplays the head coach label. things.” said McCleary, adding he can be a bridge _ no hurry to pare down the roster dramatically.
; | our right the road falls away a couple of thousand “We're all co-coaches, there’s no real head to the younger guys. . “We’ve learned from past experience that you
; | feet, probably more into the canyon. coach,” he said, adding the head coach title is The team had two official skates last week and can’t have too many bodies,” said Fletcher, add-
‘ My neighbour, Chuck Love, used to haul logs | strictly a “paperwork” one and a necessity under new, younger faces have appeared. ; ing it’s difficult to evaluate new players after two
‘ | outta here back i in the eighties, in winter too, tell | “ Jeague rules. « » © Owner and goaltending hopeful Burny Carlsen _ skates.
; | Hugh. co oe . Fletcher, who also appeared as adefenceman  sayshe’s happy to see them. > As of press time, the Northern B.C. Challenge
i Brave guy; says Hugh. oo in two games for the team last year, says the three “Last year, there were more bodies and less Cup had been cancelled due to the Smithers Steel-
: Skilled too, I add. coaches will each add their own expertise and will | - talent. This year, there’s more talent and less bod- heads pulling out of the annual. tournament but
1 | =. It's still overcast when we leave Kleanza and de-_ share working team practices and the bench dur- . ies,” Carlsen said. : team officials here and in Kitimat were hoping to
- | scend the Nogold Pass and turn east up the Copper. ing games. . He added the league is turning into a “25 and —_ use the booked ice times for a home and home
; Valley. The 42-year-old Fletcher says--the coaching ‘under” league and that last year the players’ aver- _ pair of exhibition games.
: _ The.matchwood mess of the years when Skeena staff will preach a defence-first philosophy. : age age was 34. . That would mean tentative games in Kitimat
, Cellulose first cut the grade has been replaced by “We want.to teach the young guys to play a With a potentially younger squad, the team is Friday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. with a return match in
' fields of Christmas trees not all that t unpleasant to | two-way game,” Fletcher said. “You want to hoping it can.better last year’s finish. Terrace fin- Terrace Saturday, Sept. 23 at’8 p.m.
' look:at. ‘score goals and make the fans happy | but it's de- ished second in both the regular season and the ~~ The league released a tentative schedule last
t I pick one of the gentler routes to the river out fence first.” - playoffs, losing the league championship to the week that would see the Kings open the season at
: | of deference to Hugh’s many body- -breaking work | Richey, 44, played a half dozen years with a rival Kitimat Ice Demons. home to the expansion Hazelton Wolverines Sat- .
. } years and his sedentary summer. ‘| previous incarnation of senior men’s AA hockey - Kitimat, two-time CIHL and provincial senior urday, Sept. 30. _

‘ We thread our way through a devil’s club flat,
.* | leaves yellowed now, and hike up a steep slope,

=eece eee | Locals embrace cannery race Top two

. a .
ie AL the tap we veal from the faint scents of last year. By MARGARET SPEIRS was upwards of 70. he'said. ri d e rs to
" I'm really out of shape, says Hugh. a = The | km fun run, the only one in If it does rain, the race goes on and
[ Ttell him thére’s no rush. . _ | MORE LOCAL runners have registered the northwest. is free for kids who will the after race festivities will move in- com t
ay There are blue huckleberries everywhere. U sue or the hid annual own Paci ‘receive a medal and t-shirt just for par- doors. ; heat a pe e
rn annery road race than from anywhere ticipating. “People can stay overnight at the
om any the pears h ai ieee ari p y this thme | else in the northwest. “We encourage kids to wear their cannery’s accommodations “and enjoy THE TOP TWO RIDERS |
a ot ee bok to urn, an yr eran That’s. the word from organizer shirts so you get a sea of blue at the breakfast the next morning before the from northwest —_clubs
‘ 8 The descent to the river is welcome. Hugh fishes Steve Merrick, who thought up the idea start. _he says. ; -” _ Taces. Showers will be available for bavivationat Gymkbane sat
‘ through the pool with a nicely crafted surface fly. or the race near Prince Rupert and gets Adults are welcome to walk or run runners to freshen up after their race. the Thornhill Communit
1 Athis insistence, I pluck a delicate blue-tinged more excited about it every year. the | km free run and older children— Aid stations with water will be avail- Grounds Sept. 16. y
“ fly of his invention from a box of beautifully craft- Although he didn’t know the num- can take on the 5 km. able for all runners and walkers and the "On - ar - Mull
as dressirigs — coppery stone fly imitations, delicate ber of locals already registered. he says =. Two youth under 10 years old and — cannery restaurant will sell coffee. h rganizer leone uner
ay bees — and fasten it onto a long leader , Terrace runners have embraced the race about a dozen between ages 11 to 15 Bike patrols will be present on the from P to "G come riders
. ‘" I fish the wet like a dry, looking up from timeto | 3S their own, which could help boost ran the 5 km last year. course to provide assistance and auxil- ‘T°™ lub in F corer and the
. “1 time to watch Hugh in the i ail of the pool framed by | the competitor numbers this year, The top three in each category will iary RCMP and paramedics will be on 0 Th UD In Fraser de °-
e “Toh on walls. set against the ereen flanks and “The goal is to be the biggest fall receive medals and a trophy will be hand. € top two riders from
. le re Al k de 8 f th oak P. : race in the northwest,” he says. awarded to the fastest overall man and _-The North Pacific Cannery road the Totem Saddle Club to |
‘yp TuBse fy st an 4 ime of the dt wa ich : Merrick finished second in his age woman in the 5 km, 10 km and the 12 . race takes place this Saturday, Sept. 16 take part m the five event — .
i The fly stops oe m connected to a his. si. group for the last two years in the 1/2. marathon (21 km). at the cannery outside Prince Rupert. . gymkhana include: Masters
A Hugh umes. ack slowly, pulls ee i release marathon and 5 km and believes he Runners and walkers are invited to The 10 km walk and 1/2 marathon riders Dan Muller and Kathy
ap tool then slides it down my leader until the collar J could win this year. bring their dogs as long as they” te kept start at 11 a.m. and the kids fun run be- - Kowalsky, Seniors riders.
ve envelops the nen fish h tarily in th He says most of the ‘“‘gazelles”, or onaleash. — : gins at 11:30 a.m. Lory Howard and Lyn Rem-
we h an ler - tn oar into ha dows arly ky fast runners, won’t be participating this Parents with strollers are welcome The 5 km walk, 5kmrunand10km Pel. Junior A riders Neoma
af shallows Men Cisappears Into shadows So quick'Y | year due to other commitments, mean- and if more than two or three parents run begin at noon. Patterson and Samantha
ny] at s hard to believe it was there. ing the “penguins”, or slow runners, _ bring their children in strollers, a sepa- Runners can register ‘at Farwest Koopmans, Junior B riders

Chelsea Chillibeck and Mi-
challa Heighington, Junior
C riders Craig Penfold and

‘t There’s more, I say.
a Hugh agrees. A lot more, he says.- -
a * The. clouds are gone now, but. flickering light

_- will shine with hardware at the finish. _ rate category will be formed so they Sports i in Prince Rupert from 5 p.m. to
“People who haven’t won medals can win medals for themselves and ’. 7 p.m. this Friday and on race day from

" will win medals,” he says, adding it _ their young passengers. 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the cannery. ,

" only reaches part of ue a he sal h i d will be great to have winners who ‘tun The weather generally co-operates More volunteers are needed and vol- Isabelle Heaman and Junior
a} Teatsome nuts and wash the salt away with co for the heck of it. ; with the runners. unteers will be accepted on race day. DP "ders Cassie Penfold and

wy. Water. Hush is into a fish. I finish ck th The race is one of a few to actually “It's been absolutely gorgeous.” Everyone who runs or volunteers Jennifer Rempel.

Hy Thee Pe is it ‘ 4 . Refi tive but t ha take place at a historic site, and the day Merrick says of past race days. _ receives a free t-shirt, free entry to the The day will include the
return the Oo oest it b Oe. ‘he 4 We while 4 | is more about fun than competition. Last year’s temperature reached. cannery for the day and the post-race Dash for the Cash, where

. blush that eet he ns een in , © river a wile. “People e-mail meand tell me how 17 C with sunny skies. Everything, salmon and halibut barbecue. Spectators bid on riders to

wt it’s beautify an ake L 9 ll much fun they had,” he says. including the awards ceremony. took For more info or to volunteer, call “1? with prize money di-

“ Glad you could make it, I te him. We'll come He welcomes runners of all ages. place outside. _ Steve at 250-624-2116, 1-800-663- vided between rider, bidder
J} again. saying the youngest competitor has “In fact. a couple of Prince Rupert 3202 or e-mail canneryroadrace@hot- and the new arena. For more

info, call 635-9401.

: Then we make the slow trip back.

been only three years old and thé oldest. people complained it was too warm,” miail.com.

d