_SKEENA- ANGLER ROB BROWN Midwinter break or fishing, February is too late and too early: F too late for the summer and winter steelhead which have been in the river for many months and are suspended, nearly inanimate, in the deep holes of the darker pools, ripe, unwilling to bite and best left alone; toc late too for the nomadic char that follow salmon in search of eggs and flesh; too early for the ghostly steelhead that glide into the river in March; and for the cutthroat trout in search of silver showers of salmon fry. In January the land turns cold and hard. I’m sure the season is done, but warm air sweeps across the land; soft rain falls; ice and snow recede; sun pours into the house, and I start to think there might be an Opportunity after all, ' Pawsome, my haywired Thomhil! retriever/col- lie races around the yard frantically trying to herd Shadows she mistakes for sheep. Too much pent up energy. I think. After some frantic waving and pierc- ‘ing whistles I get her attention. Truck, I say emphatically. She cocks her head. Fishing. Truck, I say, trying another tack. It works. She lopes to the tail gate. I open the canopy door. She springs inside. The tires hum on bare pavement. I sift through possibilities before deciding the Kalum affords the "only reasonable opportunities. I turn at Deep Creek hoping the ice has broken up enough to make fish- ing possible, : “As we near a spot WEiVGs ished; many ti eras overheats andybpgins.ba Petore, Fawsome, overheats ancsopains. basking, It's, ‘aehiph*pitched: bark."The ‘canopy; walls: ruffle.thé sound enough to make it tolerable, We roll past a lab and a mutt. They give chase. Pawsome gives them the deeper bark reserved for dog greetings. We park. The snow on the trail is hard, but it will be rotting in the bush, The trail will probably soften as ihe days wears on. I know snowshoes will be an encumbrance but take them to be prudent. _ There are plenty of tracks on the trail. Most of them turn north at the fork. Only two pairs turn. south. 1’m grateful for them, My suspicion is Troy Bangay and the obsessive American steelheader, “Scott, laid them down when the snow was softer, and worked hard when they did it. Every few steps some of them sink down a foot or more, I avoid these potholes and stay up by stepping carefully in the shallow tracks. A murder of agitated crows announces my approach to the mouth of Deep Creek. The tracks continue downstream. It’s only a hundred yards to the river. Pawsome is pouncing and sinking; I will too, bul, since there will be a wade at the end to it I slog the short distance. The river is low. The wade is shallow and fast. I: make it then carry on downstream. The sun has lit - the ‘river, turning it gold. It glances off the riffie ‘below forcing me to squint. Where the two channels meet, [ try another wade. Fingers of cold grope through the layers of clothing. The water is too - deep, ] turn back and make my way up the awk- wardly sloped bank with the assistance of my staff. -. The effort is rewarded. A great sheet of ice Spreads out between me and Digger’s. Pawsome Tuns off and returns at full throttle, slip sliding, almost knocking me off my feet, then takes off ‘again. This commotion alerts a convocation of eagles; I count eight as they spread wings and lift themselves into the air then light upon the spongy branches of the naked alder grove lining the river at Beaver Flats. ; What were they doing on the ground? The ice at ‘the river bank has broken off from the shelf. It’s two ‘and three feet thick and is stacked like fat sheets of glass. I guess the birds were after bits of salmon car- ‘cass, fast frozen and now thawing in the preternat- ural sun. . [fish carefully but catch only the bottom a few times. Concluding that this arm of the river is too low, I gingerly "step over the shelf and wade to river right, At Deep Creek - things look a little more promising, but frozen tracks tell “ meit’s been heavily fished. The sun slips behind the old ski hill chilling the land suddenly and killing my appetite for ‘angling, I make my way back, cross, fasten on the snow shoes and crunch through the bush to the far channel. ~ With my expensive snow shoes off, tied together and hung around my neck, my staff in my left and and my rod in the right, J set out, slip and find myself bobbing down- stream, rod in hand and snowshoes drifting out of sight and -. | sinking, The cold water is like a hard punch in the gut. I "|. gasp, get to my feet and grab the snowshoes as they are dis- appearing, then stumble to shore. Now it’s really cold. ~ When I’m drained E lash the shoes back on then set out for the truck. It’s a mile away but I purposely keep up a vig- orous pace and arrive sweating, ; ~. “Spring, [tell the still bounding mutt, is not here yet. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 9, 2000 - B7 Fs -g38-7283 B@ What arush Christian Desierto runs the ball up court during a basketball game against the Ketchikan Kings at Caledonia Friday, Feb. 4. The Kermodes and the Kings played to a two or three point spread in the game’s first three quarters. The Kermodes let their offence slide in the last quarter to finish the game 75-87. Kevin Braam, back after a month-long injury, led the Kermodes in points. B.C. MIDGET AA HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS: at} it Mey thy ® OE A Sr" hard-hit and it’s probably the closest”’ thing to professional hockey Terrace has, So when the midget AA provincial championships were confirmed here March 19-24, there were more than a few excited hockey fans at the arena. “It’s an opportunity to ’ host the province and put on a show,” said three-year midget coach Roger Harris, who calls midget hockey (for 16 and 17-year-old players}, the Cadillac of hockey. “These guys only play at home four weekends a year.” Harris says the boys will have an opportunity to play every day of spring break. Several junior-league scouts, some of which have already expressed interest in the players, will also be among the 500-600 people in town during the event. “They can showcase their. talent in front of the people who need to see it,” he said. As host, Terrace gets: an automatic birth to the tour- nament but they still plan on earning their spot by winning the zone cham- pionships later this month. The team sits -in third place in the league behind Smithers and Kitimat, Terrace Minor Hockey is looking for sponsors and ’ Age: Andrew McCleary 17 Helght: 5’8 Weight: 155 pounds Born: Sapt. 1, 1982 Terrace, B.C, olunteers to hep the pro- vincials run smoothly. Tf you, or your business can help, call Brian Downie at 635-5617, Julia Mitchell at 615-0118 or Cathy Fren- ette at 635-4984. wie Our featured players: in this week’s issue — Andrew McCleary, Ken Eyjolfson and Brick Karrer —repre- sent the midget front line. Karrer plays right wing while Eyjolfson is a center and McCleary plays both those positions, depending on where his coach puts him! Besides playing hockey at the Terrace Arena since . he was four years old, Brick Karrer says his fa-— vourite hockey players are the Hansen brothers from the movie, Slapshot, The §°9 and a half, 150- pound player has gone unin- jured this season and says he’s spent only six minutes in the penalty box. He shoots right and has scored six goals and nine assists this season. wow Wearing number 11 on the ice, Ken Eyjolfson, says his favourite NHL player is Tie Domi, because he’s fun to watch, Eyjolfson, who’s also played hockey here since he was four, has got to be a B.C, boy because his NHL team of choice is the Van- Brick Karrer Age: 17 Height: 5'9 Weight: 150 pounds Born: Feb. 26, 1982 Terrace, B.C. - oach.expects scouts here . . 4 ‘couver Canticks, “~ — Eyjolfson claims he's°a scoring machine, racking up 19 goals and 32 assists this season. He has also spent 68 minutes in the penalty box and, somehow, has taken on the unusual nick- name of “Chicken Man.” We didn’t ask why. ww Our next featured player is 17-year-old Andrew Mc- Cleary, whose self-de- scribed nickname is “Gonzo.” At 58, 155 pounds, Me- Cleary says his favourite ‘professional hockey players are Theo Fleury and Ma- thew Barnaby. “Theo Fleury worked like a dog to get where he is," says McCleary. And Barnaby? Well Barnaby's cool for a completely differ- ent reason — he just gets under your skin. , And when McCleary picks an NHL team, he’d choose a winning Canadian one, the Toronto Maple Leafs. “Tt’s the only quality Ca- nadian team left,” he says. If you're looking for Mc- Cleary an the ice during provincials, check out jer- sey 16, He shoots right and has scored 16 goals and 21 ass- ists this season. McCleary has spent 35 minutes in the penalty box this year. Ken Eyjolfson Age: 16 Height: 5'9 Welght: 160 pounds Born: Oct. 4, 1983 . Terrace, B.C. Sports Scope Basketball invitations THE GITWINSIHLKW Athletic club invites commun- ity basketball teams to participate in any and all of three basketball tournaments this winter, The Gitwinsihlkw Winter Classic runs Feb. 18-20, for boys and girls 17 and under. There is an $100 entry fee and the winners take home trophies. Then, on Feb, 25-27, the club hosts the Battle of the River Open Money Tournament. Cash prizes will be awarded to winners of the mens and womens open divi- sions. And the under 10 and under 13 boys and pirls di- visions will be given trophies. On March 10-12 the club hosts their Snowball Clas- sic and dance for boys and girls in two under 10 and under 13 divisions. Winners will relieve trophies, For information on the above tournaments call Brad or Marvin at 633-2240 and 633-2325, For billeting call Alan at 633-2247, tr wor The events cumulate into the Nisga’a Nation's annual Easter Classic Basketball Tournament at New Aiyansh’s new recreation and cultural centre April 24-27. The tournament features an annual team parade led by the Harmonic Silver Band and Nisga’a dancers as weil as an awards dinner and closing ceremonies. The trophy and money tournament also features li- censed referees from outside the valley. Entry fees are $350 for both the open men’s and open women’s divi- sions, The fee is non-refundable and must be paid three weeks before the tournament starts April 24. Cali Brad Tait (633-2240), Trevor Stewart (633-2203) or Alvin Wright (633-2381) for more information, At Shames this week THURSDAY, Feb. 10 is Kitimat Monkey Business Day at Shames Mountain with discount ticket and rent- als upon presentation of a company business card. Then, on Saturday, Feb. 12 Shames hosts Chicks on Sticks, a ladies ski, fitness and nutrition course with video analysis. All skiers are asked to be intermediate or advanced skiers. The course returns to the mountain March 4, Call 638-0828 for more information. And Sunday, Feb, 13 promises to be busy. Shames hosts the two-for-one Sweetheart Special for those wear- ing red, , fbed race. = 6 the we The Vertical Challenge is a fund-raiser forthe Shames f° ski or board in one day and win prizes, See the Shames Mountain ticket counter for pledge forms. And don’t miss out on the bed-race. The lifties chal- lenge everyone to a bed race at 4 p.m. Build a sled or bed on skis or boards. Get three teammates and ride down Panhandler. Only one person of four gets to oper- ate the brakes! Prizes will be awarded for best time, best bed and best costume. Need transportation to the hill? As always, the McDo- nalds Ski Express bus leaves Terrace Saturdays, Sun- days and non-instructional school days at 8 a.m. The bus leaves Shames at 4 p.m: and costs just $3 each way. The hill boasted good to excellent. conditions all last week under sunny skies and mild temperatures. Mid- week snowpack last week hovered around 246 centi- metres mid-mountain and 150 centimetres at the lodge. For up to the minute hill conditions cal! the Shames Mountain sno-phone at 638-8754. Think more snow’ SKI TRAILS AT Onion Lake and at the Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club are open, tracked and in great condition. All 30-kilometres of the tails are packed and tracked and ready. Dress for the weather and enjoy! Hirsch Creek Golf and Winter Club trails in Kitimat were washed out as of Thursday last week. Whilc its still possible to ski on the golf course tracks during ‘daylight hours, the night lights were scheduled to stay off until Kitimat gets a proper dump of snow. Skiers are remin- ded to stay on the tracks and pray for snow! ' The Kitimat Cross Country Ski Club is busy preparing for the Alcan Marathon, an annual charity event for the Heart and Stroke Foundation on Feb, 19, The race starts one kilometre south of Onion Lake at 11 a.m, for 15-kilometre or less racers and 10 a.m, for skiers participating in the 30-kilometre event. All races take place in the classic style. Pledge forms are available through local sports stores. Call Bemadette at 635-6456 for more information. eT Sco reboard Terrace Men’s Hockey stats to Jan. 30/2000 Oldtimer League GP W L TPTS GF GA SRO Blues 28 17 6 §& #39 131 a7 Northern Motor Inn 27 1344 3 #29 #11 ag Terrace Timbermen = 24 9 10 «6 «B30 3g Terraca Subway 28.4618 3 19 109 418 Rec League GP W tL TPTS GF aa Back Eddy Bullies 27 18 8 4 87 127. ag Precision Bullders 26 1469 3 31 #83 40 Chapter One Aarog 256 13.10 2 28 94 74 Canadian Tire Canadians28 10 13 3 29 BO 96 All Season's Lighting 26 11 14 0 22 100 tio White Spot 616 4..13 47 26 the Vertical Challenge and the Shames Lifties }..... Mountain Ski Club. See how many kilometres you can [° ‘J’