TheReview Wednesday, February 5, 1992 — A23

Changing tune on Canucks

Okay, okay, okay.

A noted Montreal Canadiens fan, who doubles as a Sidney
alderman, asks when I’m going to change my mind about the
Vancouver Canucks. g

When the season started, I wrote that they were not that great,
and would be hard-pressed to finish with more wins than defeats.
Then in December, I wrote that even though they were playing
well, the Canucks were still not that great.

Whether they are a great team remains to be seen. However, I’ve
come around a bit. Ill concede they aren’t that bad after all.

Much depends on how you define a great team. Surely not
because of one fine regular season. Many good teams during the
regular season bow out with barely a whimper come playoff time.

CAREER YEARS LEAD TO IMPROVEMENT

Much has improved in the state of the union of the Vancouver
Canucks this season, but let’s not jump on the bandwagon just yet.

A playoff spot is assured. The Canucks aren’t knuckling under
pressure, and may even finish first overall. The reason so far has
been the unexpectedly good play from players many thought were
either on their last legs or not that good to begin with.

The example of Igor Larionov comes to mind. Since Pavel
Bure’s arival, he has been a versatile forward who has regained
some of the scoring touch he had when some called him the best
center in the world with the Soviet Red Army regime.

There is also Cliff Ronning, a high-scoring junior who until this
season couldn’t cut it in the NHL. He was part of the package of
Blues acquired last year in a trade that just as easily could have
backfired for presidentgeneralmanagercoach Pat Quinn.

Ronning, Sergio Momesso and Geoff Courtnall were unwanted
cast-offs. At first blush, it appeared the Blues had unloaded their
problems on Vancouver. It hasn’t turned out that way.

: McLEAN THE MAIN DIFFERENCE

When the season started, who could have foreseen the rise of
Jyrki Lumme as one of the league’s top defensemen. As for the
other blueliners, greybeard Dave Babych seemed over the hill,
Gerald Diduck and Dana Murzyn were stiffs for other clubs, and
Robert Dirk was an unknown quantity.

This motley crew has played disciplined hockey most of the
time. When they don’t, the team gets in trouble. When they veer
away from their scripted roles, goalie Kirk McLean if left holding
off opposition charges.

Aside from the emergence of Trevor Linden as a Star, a not
unexpected development, the play of Kirk McLean is the key

_ difference between the Canucks and the other teams jockeying for
- playoff positions in the Smythe Division. — :

McLean has been outstanding in almost every game that I’ve
seen. When the season started, I looked at the goaltending
situation and saw a promising but unreliable newcomer (Troy
Gamble), and someone who was good trade bait (McLean).
McLean’s season mirrors the rise of the lowly Canucks. If he’s not
up to snuff in the playoffs, that’s it. Might as well give the division
crown to someone else. And then the storybook 1991-92 season
won’t have amounted to much.

At least the Canucks have revived interest in hockey on the West
Coast. That’s quite an accomplishment, and we can sit back and
enjoy the season so far, and lap up the victories still to come. I’ll
admit the Canucks are a good team, but whether they are a great
team has yet to be determined.

Football registration set

Canadian football registration
for boys in Grades 3 to 8 is set for
this weekend.

Youngsters can register in the
Spartans-Hornets Lower Island
Football League, which features
three age divisions.

The divisions are Pee Wee
(Grade 7 and 8), Atom (Grade 5
and 6) and Pre-Atom (Grade 3 and
4),

No experience is necessary, and
all equipment is supplied.

Registration is being held rain or

# shine at points throughout Greater
Victoria.

Locally, it is slated for this
Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m., at Lochside Elementary
School on Royal Oak Drive in
Saanich.

Players can also register Tues-

day, Feb. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Players are asked to wear soccer
boots or running shoes and sweats,
as open practices will be held at
these times.

No money is required until after
gear is issued on Feb. 13 and 14.
The fee is $100, with a $20 refund
when gear is retumed.

League co-ordinator Roy Vollin-

ger notes all games will be played
under the lights at Royal Athletic
Park on Fridays and Sundays. The
season runs from March to mid-
May.

It is full-contact tackle football,
not flag football.

He said the league has 500 sets
of equipment, and expects to regis-
ter at least 400 boys.

For information, contact 598-
3235, 388-4803 or 382-0014.

W6 Po CHILDRENS BART pay Farties
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Groups vow
to stay in
Little League

Little League registration is in
full swing in the two Peninsula
organizations, which vow to con-
tinue their allegiance to the parent
Little League organization.

Registration in Central Saanich
Little League continues today and
tomorrow from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30
p.m. at the Majors Concession on
Wallace Drive.

It will also be held Saturday and
Sunday from 12 p.m. noon to 4
pm.

Last year, the league had about
550 youngsters on 46 teams, said
president Wayne Switzer

“We always grow._every year by
a few,” he said, noting opening
ceremonies are set for Apnl 11.

Sidney Little League had about
500 youngsters sign up last year,
said league president Ted Daly.

Registration is scheduled for
Feb. 15 and 16, between 1-4 p.m.,
and Feb. 17 and 18 at 7-9 p.m. at
Sanscha Hall.

There is a rift between some
Greater Victoria Little League
groups and the district administra-
tion, and reports suggest some are
planning to leave Little League for
another baseball organization if
the situation doesn’t improve.

However, Switzer and Daly said
their organizations are committed
to Little League.

“We're continuing on,” said
Switzer, noting Little League is the
only worldwide baseball organiza-
tion.

He said local presidents are
asking for some accountability
with the district administration
and “some co-operation to make
sure the league is operated proper-
ly.”

The dispute “is not going to
hold us up.”

Daly said Sidney’s group is
solidly behind Little League,
although there some difficult orga-
nizational issues to be'dealt with.

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