ES: - Harald Ballard, owner of the hapless Toronto Maple 7 "Leafs, insists he has no immediate plans -to.: ifire.: coach Mike Nykoluk: ' | | “There's no damn way | I'm going to fire Mike Nykoluk,” said Ballard prior to his. team's 7-2, National Hockey League loss Wednesday night to the Blacj-Hawks in Chicago. “I don’t give a -damn. what anyone says or suggests, "Firing Mike is not the answer to. the ‘problems ° we've had this year, He's” not God you know. He can’t- make saves or score goals. . “Look, I’m the one who - signs the: paycheques and I'm the one who makes the. decisions,” Ballard ‘added. . “And there will be no. decigion made on ’Nykoluk. until the end of the season —- . and maybe not even then.” 9 i, other games Wed.’ poday it wae Pittsburgh : <> Minnesota - F Ne th Stars 0 ° ‘and Hartford he fers 6," Detroit Red. Winze 6: A.game between ° St. Louis Biues and Quebec- ‘Nordiques was postponed ° until Feb. 26 because of tight scheduling, - “We're just at a point - where our confidence is shot,”* said Leafs captain . Rick, Yaive. after the game. ; Vv sryone | ds worrying about doing things wrong, 80, we're not doing anything it. 7) a deals’ ‘rookie goalie Alan eater, called up from the junior leagues after Tofonto’s 80 loss last Saturday to Washington Capitals, faced 37 shots. icago linemates Jeff Larmer, Tom Lysiak and Denis Cyr each scored one goal, while Denis Savard, h two, Troy Murray and | Gardner. rounded out i Chicago attack, - Stewart Gavin and Bill Derlago’ scored Yor? Toronto, The Dears, Wo diopped to 16-30-6,. twe4 points ,behind fourth-place Detroit, meet the Red Wings | in Detroit on 8 ye: . Chicago improved . to 21- 27-6, ahead of idle St. Louis Blues, into second place in thé Norris, Division. Penguins 4 North Stars 0 . In. Pittsburgh, - rookie ‘goalie Roberto Romang Lae: i “Transactions - SASERALL _Altierican League i Baltimore Orioles sign shortstop Cal Ripken Jr, to a four-yoar, contract, | Basten Red Son name Lou Gorman vice president of baseball operations, , California Angela sign’ infielder «Rick Adamsand plichers Cort - ;Kauiman ‘and Jay Kibba ta one-year contracts. ' Cleveland’ indians algn firat baseman Broderick Perkins, calcher . darry Willard, plicher LeRoy Smith end outlistder Owight Taylor. National Lesgue Cinginnat! Mads sign outfielder Eddie Milner. third baseman Skeeter Barnes and pitcher Brad Lestey to. one-year contracts. Houston Astros sign pitcher Frank DlPine to a one-year coniract. Pittsburgt Pirates sign outfielder dae Charboneau to 4 minor-league contract, BASKETBALL NBA. ; NBA — names Russell T. Granik executive vice-president. FOOTBALL CFL ‘Edmonton Eakimes sign import uglensive back Marcus Fisher, Import wide receiver Kevin Allen and Import: cornerback Darry! Hall, ° Ottwe Rough Riders hive Bick Adams 3 director of player partonnal and special teams coach: trade Import wide receiver Carl Powell and cierto Itneman Randy Fournier to t ewan Roughriders for wide * recelver Dwight Edwards and rookle Import running back Chuck Davis. SAL ° vrizone Wrangiers raclalm tloht end Doug Coren from Memphis Showboats igned him to a mulltveer conte Michigan Panthers trade ‘delecsve end Dave Purletory to Birmingham Stallions for defenuive back ke THortiag: ston defensive: ‘Back. Albert, Gray] | announce that Quarterback: John Lelster and tInebacker James Nealy ~ + left camp. Phitadelphia Stars gain the rlgnta . to defensive tackle Mark Buban from Pithburgt Maulers In return for the rights tc linebacker Ron Crosby. Fitaburgh Maulere obtain. wide. * vecelver Willle Sydnor end defensive back Doug Greene; release centre Ron Veranick, Inepacker Joe Scolt, and defensive tackle Harold Smithy raeched contract agreement with Phitadaiphia Stars over the rights te flnebacker Ron Crosby, Washington Federals sign running back James Atsybarry, and tackle Ea Fulton;: walve punter Otis Culliver. HACKY WHL York Uslandera call Up datenceman Paul Sovtlitiar and Gar ceeoulgan from indianapolis af the antral Hockey League. few York Rangert send qualle Steve Weeks to Tulse. pt the central Hockey Leagues recall goalie Ren Scott from Tulsa, . appeared to have mastered: - Steve- -Toronto, whose training coach: Nykoluk “registered his first ‘NEL’ shutout. ‘as: the : Pénguins | broke @ ‘four-game losing. streak, Gary Rissling, Doug Shedden, -Bob Errey and’ Ron-Flockhart scored for the Penguins, o Whalers. 4 Red Wings 6. In Detroit, Ron: Francis scored ant unassisted “poal with. es Crawford. Scoring’ for. “the “, Red Wings. ‘were’ “Reed _ Largon, I van: Baldirev, ‘with: . two, Blaké Dunlop, Dwight Foster’ “two, * anid, Bob... ‘and’ Lane Lambert, -Podborski. sith. “CORTINA ‘ DIAMPE2ZZO, Italy (CR). Helmut; ~ :Hoeflehiter. appears to have ‘secured, a. place’ on the Austrian Alpine ski team at the ‘Winter’: Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, next. _ Week with his victory in a men’s ‘World Cup’ downhill race ‘today. : Hoeflehner, who clocked the: fastest time: in. Wed: nesday’s final training run; _ the ‘waxes reqiiired to win. on a track slowed this week a. by a new. ‘sow: base, a ‘His’ ‘unofficial ‘time ‘today e was one: _ minute Bl. st seconds, Urs Raehber of Swit- | zerland, a’. two-time ' Cup winner this” seagon, took second place in 1:53.05 with compatriot - Conrad - Cathomen in. third place in © 1:58.06, ° Bill Johnson of the Unite States, who specializes: on: slow trails and was a winner :Over a, similar track this’ year at Wengen, Swit- zerland, took fourth place’ today. in 1:53.17 . with Austrian Peter Wirnsberger finishing fifth in’ 1:53.52, Podborski = of times during the week did ‘little to dispell his disdain for a slow track, finished sixth today ahead of several Europeans who also have shown from past. per: formances "they ‘prefer’ fast traile. "° Ste hebginnd ’ Hofeflehner, who skied - . firat down the 3,000-metre- long course, won by more ' than a se¢ond. ; “He must have really smoked the turas,”’ Johnson observed at the finish line as the Austrian's time - held was never threatened in a sport‘ where differences in placings are usually based on hundredths-of a second. “That's the only way you ean get such a big lead.” ‘The top five racers all -used the same brand of aki, a” with teammate -° confirming the view that the Cortina Olympic un. calls. ~ for weel-prepared and. well- choden skis “and: not the acrobatics - and, daredevil performances preferred by the Canadlatis -and lop European. Alpiners from at Garmisch-Partenkire- -hen, West Germany, last. “weekend was his’ elghth "World Cup but his first-in. almost two years, is one of |. the ‘Olympic favorites’ along ‘Todd Brooker of Paris,. Ont. ~ Olympic hockey team unravelling | - SARAJEVO, Yugoslavia -- (CP) — It’s been a tightrope act from the start for head coach Dave King: try to ‘asgemble a credible 1984 “Olympic hockey team while laying the foundation for 1988, «But the rope has been unravelling at both ends and on the eve of the Winter Olympics Canada’s. medal hopes in hockey seem slender. King has had to tread carefully in his pursuit of players, joust . with the United States’ team af- ficials over their eligibility and, finally, face .:some tough facts about _ the “quality of | his ieam. . mee “leaving for Europe, . assistant coach Jean. Perron said Canadians would have to pldy one of their finest games to beat the U.S. when the feams meet 'in. the opening game of Olympic tournament. “They have improved more than we have,” said Perren, reflecting on ‘the ‘Tate in the third period: to ; give Hartford. the tie: with”. ‘Detroit, The: Whalers:-also: , _ got goals from Ray Neufeld, ~ Risto: ‘Siltanen, Mike Zuke, Switzerland and Austria. . _Podborski, whose vietory’ the | the 7 : American’s 8-2 victory over - Canada in the final pre- . Olympic meetingbetween the two clubs recently. i i SEK OR FEB. 1 3/0/71 7/1) 4) 98a 14/8/39! 9/8) 4 2/3 16/8/5)4| Obal 7/311 (2117 2 17 {3/5| 6 7) 7hal (8/51) 6/219 1 |7 |2 (6/9 |2( 2482 5 1115141010 , bel (116) 5) 7) 7| O88 1 5 /4/6) 7,915 PAIZE BREAKDOWN Henly the tast ai. five tour or thee a digg on your ticket dtd ident: ical foand tha same order aS HE fequiar wenning numbers above. your Mehel 1s cligible to wid Ihecarres ponding pte LASTSDIGITS — Five deilete worth of Express Testy redeamable by presenting Ing WHOLE TICKET ta any participating retuter or by (asl 8 digits WIN _ $1,000 lant 5 digits WIN $100" tast 4 digits WIN $25 following Ihe-claim procedure on thetack of ine tek REDEMPTION OF CASHPRIZES Mor Cash Prizes: Wiener of major piires May claim theur pte Oy following the claim procedure on tha back of the ticks! Other Cosh Prizes: Other cath artes. up to and Including $1,000 may ba casted alany branch oF the Canadian tmperiat Bank of Comenetce inWestan Canada by any parte C:palingretaler, by soy pacieipatingLottery Ticket Centre. of by tolipwing the clamor cedure an ins backol ihe hekat : Yraners must onal ther came and address on the back oF ste teeke! 00 c/4um then pire nan ist ying aultors of ime Foundation, the latter shall reve ! Tho séven bonus numbers lot Western Express tices wilh the above. date arésated batew Complete and ckact numbers only. Tho Wostern Canada Colter) Foundation reserves the fight to substitute & » aNY¥ear ol equivalant value lor the car which won in the event the lalter sa . inetuaea at The thne tne brite claimed. Licensing and indurancenol 7 inclutied. Inthe ever di discrepancy t list, the lator ahall drevail. ani this hist and the olf a ‘Scat? Y Perhaps: but. for. the time heing the Los. Angeles. Kings rookie must,take @ back seat to Bernard King, the hotter . Veteran - ot New York Knicks “ : rag : While Byron Scolt was *; betting-a career-high tor _ tha secohd ‘consecutive “night with 82 points in the Lakers" , 116-108: National (Basketball Association _ Victory,” "aver. - “Denver "Nuggets, . King . “was recording - his , second straight 50-point evening ‘as the Knicks - downed ' Dallas: Mavericks 105-98. “You never. see ‘him showboat or call for the . ball,” .8aid coach Hubie £° Brown, ‘Bernard . is. the consummate | team. _ Player. " . - The last player to: score 50 or mote points on successive nights was. “Wilt | Chamberlain of Philadelphia 76ers, who scored 62, points agairist ..both Cincinnati a Detroit, on Feb. © 17-18, 1964. Rick Barry, Playing and ~ consecutive games. 1967, he scored 60 against Boston‘ on Feb. 14 and. 52 agalnst Cincinnati oh Feb, 16, : King's petforinance on.” 20-0f-28 shooting pushed his career total to 10,016 points and set a Dallas Reunion Arena single- game scoring record, He also scored 50 points against San ~ Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night. The Knicks also got 15 points . from: | Rory ' Sparrow and 14° from ' ‘Truek Robinson. Dallas, which lost for only the fourth time in 22 home games, was led by Mark Aguirre with 27 points. - In other games, Boston Celtics defeated Kansas City Royals 119-110, Philadelphia downed Indiana Pacers 111-103, Seattle 99-98, New Jersey Nets beat San Diego Clippers © 111-106, Phoenix Sun for San Francisco, cwas ; the last player to score 50 or more points in two. In - SuperSonics — edged Milwaukee Bucks | -Blazers 109-106 « ‘and Atlanta Hawks trimmed Chicago Hulls 116-103, Lakers 116 Nuggets 108 - : Scott had 19 at the half . against Denver and then . * sparked a fourth-quarter surge to give the Lakers their fourth straight ‘victory and 11th in the last 12 meetings with . Denver. The Lakers |had five other players. in . double . figures. KareemAbdul-Jabbar | scored 19; Michael Cooper . had 16, Jamaal Wilkes 14, - James Worthy ‘12 ‘and .” Magle Johnson: io points to go with his 17 assists. ’ Denver's. Alex English took game honors with 37 points, Scott made 11 of 18 field goal attempts and 10 of free throws. . Celtics 119 Kings 110 Larry Bird scored 32 points and Kevin McHale . Came off the bench to add 22 as Boston rolled. to its seventh straight victory ‘and 27th in 31. games, ‘With the Celtics leading ‘shaded Portland Trall : 100-99, Dennis J Johnsan hit a tip-in and McHale added a.jumper as the Celtics pulled away. Robert Parish added 21 for Boston and Johnson had 19, 1 Wers 111 Pacers 102° Andrew Toney scored _ 29 points, Jullus Erving 25 - and Maurice Cheeks 24, but Philadelphia needed a’ - late rally to turn back - Indiana. George Johnson — scored -23 points to lead the Pacers. _ SuperSonics 99 Bucks 98 Al ,.Wood’s rebound “basket: with one second remaining gave Seattle its. triumph. Jon Sundvold missed a driving shot but Wood got the rebound and: sank-a fallaway. five- footer. Kevin Grevey scored a’ season-high . 25 points to lead the Bucks, -while Gus- Wiliams and Jack Sikma paced the . Sonics -with 26 and 24, respectively, Nets 111 Clippers 106 Buck Willlams scored five of his 25 points in the last 44 seconds to lite New ” “Jersey. : Williams, 7 ~ added 24 points for the - Nets ‘as the Clippers lost |; : _ Which gave Atlanta the also grabbed.16 rebounds, snapped a 104-10 tie when he hit a'three-point play with 44° seconds ‘remaining... Albert. King . for the 2ard time in 8. road games. ; Suns 109 Trail Blazers 108, Phoenix's Walter Davis * scored eight of his 25. points in the fourth period i and passed the 10,000- point mark for his career. Larry Nance added 24., points — eight in the decisive fourth period — in helping Phoenix win its ; eighth game in a row at home, 5 euers Hawks 116 Bulla 143 © - Johnny Davis led a third-quarter attack lead and the Hawks held on to hand Chicago its fourth’ straight defeat. Davis scored 10 points ‘ir the period and finished with ‘25, Atlanta’s Dan’: Roundfield topped. all { er ae ee ee ne Pe anes Ford Mustang — 1664760 Mercury Topat — 2621410 Chev. Citation: t1.— 1777271. aPontiac Fiero — 1452476 © mChryster Plymouth Reliant — Chrysler Dodge Charger — 2663467 Chrysler Dodge 600 — 1499468 - 1655089 NEAT WEEK S WESTERNEXPHESS ~ | | CARA DAY TICKETS NOW ON SALE!» 5, | - The Feb, Tgame is crucial since both teams are in the same pool and only two - from each group advance to the medal round. . -_The group also includes Czechoslovakia, Norway, Finland and Austria. The other group includes - the Soviets, Sweden, West Germany, Italy, Poland and Yugoslavia. The importance of the’ opening game has been emphasized by the . Americans’ contention that goaltender Mario Gosselin and forwards Mark Morrison and Dan Wood are. ineligible because they, have signed. .. professional Both the Cenadian Olympic Association and the International Hockey Federation have accepted that players who -have played less than 11 NHL games are .not pros, The. Americans haven't. If Gosselin is declared ineligible, that would leave Canada with one goaltender — Darren Eliot. - *- The team already bears little resemblance to the one Selected after .a.. pair: of summer training camps. , Defenceman Joe Grant, a holdover “from the. 1980 team, is out with a broken. _ collar bone, and forwards’ . Gord Sherven (stretched knee jeHgaments) a and i George tytn ‘ Servinis ‘Ice ~ Canada. team. Some of what he has " (broken, thumb) are also'sidelined. All were hurt in a 10-game exhibition series with a team of Soviet Union all- stars, nene of whom are _ expected to make the Russian Olympic team. King also brought in juniors Kirk’ Muller and Russ Courtnall during the series, won by the Soviets T- 21. . ‘Going \ with what he has, King has moulded -Team ‘into a‘ credible is first rate, -; . Defenceman ~- Patrick, © *.a \ University of‘North Dakota . James player, j is expected to crack rt AT ao * former. New York Rangers’ lineup’ after the Olympics. . Jean-Jacques Daigneault, 18, another defenceman, is © expected to go among the _top 10 in the 1994 draft next June, . GOES TO ISLES Pat Flatley; the Olympic club’s best forward, was a first-round ‘pick by New ‘York Islanders in 1982. He's | ‘regarded by that NHL team asa physical player with a coring gift, similar to John Torieltt The team’s results have | indicated there — aren’t enough players of that. — quality to make Canada a. Serious medal contender, J though. ADA pr Pr re { scorers. a-with 26 polnts. i ou TO PRINCE ~ _ GEORGE? ‘Stay with ua for: ° +33" Aight ‘ sinole or double occupancy reguiarratesso.00 - any FRIDAY or SATURDAY children under 15 years freq: 8 Simon Fraser lin. located in Downtown "> . Prince George MOQUEBEC STREET 562-3181 FORRES ERVATIONS ‘ expiry date June30, 1784 — PLEASE PRESENT.THIS..... | ADUPGNARRIVAL . . SU | aeRO ae oe oo ar a." TWO HUNDRED |” . ANDTWENTY-FIVE, DOLLARS That's right, buy a Toro two-stage snow- thrower from a participating dealer before February 20th, and for no extra charge yo you -Peceive your choice ofeither: ¢A Toro Electric Power Shovel, OR who Ey Ce alle en eA ae he LTR AE Rath DU EE and - ‘and this time-limited offer will be over soon. — ¢ A Toro Electric Start Kit and tire chains for. "your new snowthrower. The suggested list price* of both these free extras ranges from $190 to $225.So hurry - down to your participating Toro dealer now forall the details. The snow season ishere * *Dealar may sell for legs. ————