rrace Arena tar four days last week as we hosted the provincial finals of the results and game-by-game details, please turn to Junior league improves Young hockey players coming out of local minor systems should consider the B.C, Junior Hockey League for its value in providing future scholarships at top educational facilities. This idea was tossed out by B.C.J.H.L. coastal division vice- president David Ferguson dur- ing his speech at the opening banquet for teams and officials attending the B.C. Midget triple ‘AAA’ minor hockey champion- ships at Terrace. Ferguson, who has held his position for the past five years and has expressed no interest in taking on the vacant overall presidency, pointed out that cur-- rently there are 99 league graduates attending university or college in the United States. “We also have 33 ex-players ‘ going to Canadian colleges on hockey scholarships,’ he added. When scholarships are award- ed next week, Ferguson feels a bumper crop will be handed out. “Bight or nine from Vernon Lakers should get free-schooling offers, and five or six from Pen- ticton should also go,’’ he claim- ed. “‘At least three or four from both Richmond and. Juan de Fuca are also expected to catch on in either Canada or the U.S,”’ He told us that every game played is well-scouted, and some youths can expect up toa dozen . offers from different educa- tional institutions. The reason for B.C.J.H.L. players getting scholarships over the higher-caliber Western Hockey League, is that the W.H.L: is not ‘strictly amateur. “The N.C.A.A. (National Collegiate Athletic Association) of the United States ruled some years back that because W.H.L. players gat small weekly stipends (salaries), they can’t be ruled amateur. They're semi- professional and thus not eligi- Badminton results Prince Rupert’s Bob Warren came through with two wins and ‘a runnerup placing at the Ter- ‘race Badminton Club’s open tournament on the March 26 weekend. Warren beat local favorite Mark Flaherty in the men’s ‘A’ final, then teamed up with Flaherty to down Doug Jenion and Chuck Cey in the men’s doubles. He also teamed with Nancy Condon of Terrace to finish run- nerup to Flaherty and his wife Judy in the mixed doubles. Pat West of Aiyansh won the ladies singles by beating Cindy Slonski of Terrace. In ladies doubles, Debbie Coffey and Karen Oldershaw of Prince George defeated Chris Tuomi of Terrace and Jennifer Eastwood of Smithers. ’ ‘B’ Flight winners and run- nersup, in that order, are as follows: Men’s singles — Dan Tuomi, Shawn Mitchell (both Terrace). Ladies singles — Lisa Staf- ford, Karen Oldershaw (both of * Prince George). ~Men’s doubles — Mitchell and Chris Terlesky (Terrace) defeated Casey Tamm and Ed Chung (both Kitimat). " Ladies doubles — Cindy Slon- ski and Lisa Stafford (Prince George) downed Pat West and Diane Cey (Terrace). Mixed doubles — Pat West and Paul Picard (Rossland) over Debbie Coffey and Doug Jeh- ion. ‘C’ flight winners and run- nersup are as follows: Men’s singles — Chris Terlesky over Pau! Picard. Ladies singles — Nancy Con- don over Diane Cey. Men’s doubles — Dave Quinn and Mike Baterman (Kitimat). Ladies doubles — Rosalyn Williams and Lydia Cook (Kitimat) over Sue Chung and Mirja Zammi (Kitimat). Mixed doubles — Chris Tuomi and Chris Terlesky over Ed and Sue Chung (Kitimat). Ice-breaker The Terrace Men's Slo-Pitch Softpall- League has attracted seven teams for the 1988 regular league, but hopes to have at least twice that many for the season- opening SKB Molson _ice- breaker tournament. The regular league schedule will start a few days earlier — May 9. Teams wishing to enter the ice-breaker should contact Ken Nicholson at 635-3870, or Matt Lang at 638-1961. The entry fee is $300 a team, and they’ll be playing for 33,000 in prize money, Players not signed up for the regular league can get team in- formation from Matt Lang, or Graham Scott at 635-2514. ~ A. ble for scholarships. “N.C.A.A. governs all col- lege sports in the States, so there’s no open doors for the W.H.L.” As for the B.C.J.H.L., Ferguson feels it's getting better and better. ‘“We’ve even had a serious application for an Alaskan team to enter the league.” And what about possible changes in the league structure? © Ferguson said they’ve heard rumbles about a possible change in ownership for Summerland Buckaroos, but otherwise the “YJeague is operating fluently. Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 6, 1988 9 Minor Hockey to review age groups The minor hockey revision of age groups three years ago doesn’t seem to have ac- complished it’s goal — or has it? Al Mathews, second vice- president of the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association who is also in ‘charge of the minor hockey end, says there’s pros and cons for the situation. “The change had team division boosted by one year so that, for example, midgets went from 15 and 16 year-olds to 16 and 17 year-olds, and other groups moved up accordingly. The main idea centered on midgets. They hoped to accom- lish a trend towards keeping midgets playing at home, where they would continue their high school education under the watchful eyes of parents. Mathews said it worked to some degree, but the better players in small communities still continued going away to play in the junior ranks. Ontario has claimed the age change devastated their juvenile ranks. Mathews said it hit B.C. hard for the first two years as well, but juvenile hockey is mak- ing a comeback. ‘We're in the third year, and the juvenile program is coming back,’ he said. “This season we increased from eight to 16 teams in the lower mainland, and in your area we saw Terrace and. Prince George come up with juveniles.” At the other end of the scale, according to Mathews, the peewees were ll and 12 before moving up to 12 and 13. “This meant we had to find \ Market something for the 11 year-olds, so we put the 10 year-olds with them and gave this Atom division more or less equal rights as the others so they travel around the province attending major tour- naments,”’ Mathews said some people are not sure that Atoms are beneficial. ‘“‘The question arises on whether the 10 year-olds would be better off in house league play where they have another year to develop skills.’’ A Canada-wide committee has been set up to investigate the age change, and will pass on decisions to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association's spring meeting in May. “We'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages, then come to a decision on going back to the old method or continuing on with the current situation,” - Mathews pointed out. Mathews said it will be decid- ed and not tabled as some feel. He also said that the general thought around this province is for the present age plan to con- tinue two more years, then take another look. As for any major problems in minor hockey, Mathews says the thinking of some parents and organizers should be changed. ‘Tt’s not really a major pro- blem. It’s just that some people must realize that minor hockey is meant to be for fun, not to push individuals into future Wayne Gretzkys. ‘*We want to keep youngsters playing right into adulthood and beyond to oldtimers hockey.”’ — OO Thornhill Grocery — & Meat Wy |