/SKEENA’ AN
ROB BROWN

Last minute gift ideas

F YOU'RE casting around for a Christ-
mas gift for the sportsman, sportswo-
man. or sportskid in your life. ['ve come
to your rescue with my tenth annual
giftmas suggestions.

But first, let me make it clear that I'm old
enough to have witnessed the first shopping
malls sprout like fungi in the wet soil of this
‘province's lower mainland. I didn't like them
then and I'm uncomfortable in them now.

As for the big boxes, those mammoth, con-
formist temples of consumption, I cringe before
them. awe struck and unwilling to enter for fear
that in so doing I may, unknowingly become a
participant in something that may some day be ;
the downfall of us all, ;

That's right. {"m the old fudd who goes from
small shop to small shop. browsing through the |
unfranchised goods of that endangered species
known as the small businessman. and [°m here
to tell you that there are treasures there and a!
rare cormmodity called service - nat assembly:
line service, but the kind where the clerks do,
their best to see you're happy and genuinely '
mean it when they ask how you are or wish you !
a good day. |

My first stop of the season was at Misty
River Books where [ found three copies of Chal-
lenge of the Wilderness by George Tomlinson
nestled among a large collection of bocks about
the history of Terrace and the north coast.
George Tomlinson is the grandson of Robert
Tomlinson Sr. one of the first missionaries to
settle in this area. and the founder of Meenski-
nisht, a pioneering village that occupied the
area now known as Cedarvale.

Tomlinson doesn’t pretend to be a great his-
torian, but the adventures of his ancestors and
their neighbours are so compelling it’s hard to
put the book down.

On the shelf above Tomlinson’s opus I found
Notes from the Century Before, Arthur Hoag-
land’s diary of his stay in Telegraph Creek, Ha-
zelton and points between during the sixties. It’s
a wonderful book full of great scenes and rhyth-
mie writing that will appeal to anyone who
spends a lot of time in the wilderness or dreams
about doing so.

At Redwing Shoes, Pat MacDonald has 4 se-
lection of outdoor socks you won't believe. She
also carries Yak Trax, a steel and rubber grid
that straps over your shoes and helps keep you

standing when the highways and byways are as -

‘slick as centre ice at GM Place, And, if you

want something unique, utilitarian and beauti-
ful. Pat has scarves’ she and Trudy Rafuse
weave.

At the North Coast Sportsman the Murrays
have a fine deal on Sage outfits for beginning
fly fishers. They also carry Tilley hats, including
the model 1 wear in the picture on the left and a
new ball cap model, For anglers, Tilley is the
best skypiece, and. what's more. if you wreck
one (very hard to do) theyll replace it free.

Benson's Optical sells Solar Shades, fabu-
lous polarized sunglasses that fit over regular
specs. Not only do these glasses protect fishers
from the calaract-causing glare of the water.
Solar Shades have polarized panels on the side
that enable you to penetrate the secrets of the
depths better than any other sun glasses I've
used. ;

The Misty River Tackle Shop on Agar had an
incredible variety of outdoor merchandise suit-
able for gifl giving or stocking stuffing. This
summer, my sister-in-law took her family and
ours to the wilds of Deer Lake in Burnaby to
hear the Vancouver Symphony. Over her shoul-
der she carried a bag with.a built-in cooler full
of food and compartments containing the cutlery
and dinnerware for the sumptuous meal we pro-
ceeded to eat. They have a similar portable
cooler and dinnerware set at Misty River. This
js just the thing for camping or a summer fishing
excursion with the family.

Every shelf at Misty River had something
that would make a nice little gift. If you're ad-
verse to disposable plastic, like [ am, the refill-
able windproof butane lighter made by [roda is
ideal. especially for setting a fire or lighting a
hand warmer on a winter ouling.

The Martin classic fly box with a hemostat
pin reel, and clippers on one side and place for
flies on the other.is another neat contraption to
fill a stocking. The Head Cement System made
by Loon Outdoors. a dispenser keeps toxic
fumes and spillage to a minimum, is just the
thing for the rabid fly tier, Misty River. has it
too, along with a dizzying array of gear for the
drift or spin fisher.

Fish Tales Tackle carries Patagonia outdoor
wear ~ incredibly good stuff. And all three.
tackle shops are. staffed. with really knowledge-
able staff to help ease your gift buying stress.

Merry Christmas, eh.

TERRACE STANDARD jae

M@ On the court

CALEDONIA KERMODE Lee Johnson has been a sharpshooter for the
team in AAA high school basketball action this season, including strong
performances from three-point territory. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO.

lent.

“There's more than a
metre of snow out there,”
says Snow Valley Nordic
Ski Club spokesman Mark
Forgie. He and other club
members are gearing up
for the annual open house
held at the trails Jan. 3

Flaherty ©
in Swiss
tourney

Goalie makes Spengler team

FORMER TERRACE resident Wade Flaherty is off
to play goal for Canada's entry in this year’s Spen-
gler Cup tournament taking place in Davos, Swit-
zerland.

Flaherty is 6-2-1 with the American Hockey League's
Milwaukee Admirals this year, posting a 1.88 goals
against average and a .92.9 save percentage.

During 120 games in the National Hockey League
with San Jose, the New York Islanders. Tampa Bay,
Florida and Nashville, Flaherty is 27-56-9 with a 3.51
soals against average. _

The tournament takes place Dec. 26-31 and the Cana-
dian team is the defending champion from last year's
contest.

Also on the team are ex-Canucks Dixon Ward and
Lonny Bohonos as well as Jeff Shantz and Sebastian
Bordeleau: A good number of the team plays in Switzer-
land’s Elite League. ,

Veteran broadcaster Gary Green is Canada’s head
coach. He was also coached the NHL’s Washington Ca-
pitals from 1979 to 1981.

Cross country ski trail
conditions excellent

CROSS COUNTRY skiers
have been hitting the trails
at Onien Lake since the
beginning of December
and conditions are excel-

from 12 noon - 4 p.m.

The open house gives
newcomers and veterans
alike a chance to tour the
trails for free, take advant-
age of some instruction
and discounted ski rentals
are also available.

Skiers are also able to
take advantage of night
skiing seven days a week
now that the newly in-
stalled trail lights are on
from 5-10 p.m. nightly.

Terrace atoms take third in Smithers

Contributed
TERRACE ATOM division's Acadia North-
west went to Smithers for a house tournament
Dec. 13-14.

With I] plavers and three games to play in
the first day. they came out in full force
against the Hazelton Bulldogs.

Goalie Bradly Duarte picked up a shutout
on the way.te a 10-0 victory over the Bulldogs.

Dawson Leblond and Brandon Stella each
notched a pair goals, with singles coming from
Bret Aikins, Katie Wraight. Kyle Gray, Zach
Anderson. Jason. Vandevelde and Kody Keller.

Game two proved to be a much harder’and
mare closely matched game with Kyle Gray in
goal against Smithers’ Hoskins Ford.

The game ended in a 3-3 tie with Brandon

Stella getting a hat trick for the team’s goals,

The last of the three games of the day were
against Smithers Credit Union.

The team had to play hard, fast and ageres-
sive hockey.

Bradly Duarte played goal and yet another
game ended in a 4-4 tie, with goals being
scored by Jason Vandevelde and a hal trick
from Dawson Leblond.

With two ties and a win, Acadia placed
second in their division and were heading for
the playoffs the next day.

Kyle Gray played in goal for the playoff
game and was ready from the moment he ska-
ted onto the ice.

Acadia was matched with Northcountry [n-
surance from Smithers, and a match it was,

The score was tight and the clock ran out on
regulation time with the two teams even at 2-
2. Kyle Patterson and Jason Vandevelde both
scored for Terrace.

Gray stayed in goal for the ensuing five-
player shootout, and stopped every shot that
came his way.

4 Kyle Gray scored the winning goal for Aca-
ia.

Keller was also named the defensement of
the team for the tournament in honour of Cody
Boot, after whom the Memorial Tournament in
Smithers is named. ;

Acadia came home. with third-place and
memories of a great hockey weekend.

Coahces were Lawrence Stella. Ed Gray
and Kevin Patterson.

.

_| @ Grace on blades
“CONCENTRATION marks the faces of Kelsey Wilcox (left) and
Riley Baverstock (above) jast Wednesday as they out figuras on
the Ice of the Terrace Arena. Local figura skaters put their skills .
on display at the club's annual Christmas show, JEFF NAGEL PHOTO