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The Citizen, 1999-12-01, Page 8S ports PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1999. From the sidelines Not strictly an NHL issue By Hugh Nichol Gary Bettman brought the National Hockey League into the 20th century. Since his inception as commissioner, Bettman has guided the league through successful expansion into non-hockey markets such as Florida, Anaheim, Nashville and Atlanta, negotiated the league’s first USA national network television contract in 20 years, signed agreements with the International Ice Hockey Federation allowing NHL players to participate in the Winter Olympics and extended the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NHL Players Association to the year 2004. It is however for his economic policies which helped stabilize teams in Buffalo, Long Island, Los Angeles and Tampa Bay that I am placing my faith in Gary Bettman to maintain our Canadian presence in the world of professional hockey. At the Dec. 7 Board of Governors meeting in Florida, Ottawa Senators owner Rod Bryden will make public his decision on whether to sell or move his franchise, a decision largely based on Bettman’s success at influencing Canadian politicians. For myself, hockey is a passion, and I honestly believe the heart and future of the NHL rests in Canada. Unfortunately I also understand the reality that without government assistance NHL teams will find it impossible to operate north of the 49th parallel. We have already lost franchises in Quebec City and Winnipeg. Edmonton and Calgary have long been in economic difficulty. And rumours continue to surface that the Vancouver Canucks will migrate south, possibly to Portland, Ore. While Bettman has stated the league has done all it can to help through the establishment of a Currency Assistance program. Group Two Free Agent Equalization, and restructured television rights, he continues to EMPHASIZE the NHL is not looking for subsidy but rather a method of fair treatment for Canadian teams competing against the almighty American dollar. At present there appears to be two Brussels Atoms lose to Bayfield The Brussels Atom Reps handed Bayfield a 4-2 loss on Nov. 27 away. With both teams scoreless in the first. Bayfield took the lead in the second. Brussels rebounded, how­ ever, with two quick goals from the stick of Mitch Blake to end the period with Brussels up by one. Bayfield tied it in the third, only to have Matt White score the go- ahead goal, followed by James Roberts goal with 16 seconds on the clock to seal the victory. Assist went to White, with two and Andrew McDonald. The game had lots of end-to-end action with Kyle Gibson making many great saves to help his team on the way to the win. key areas open for discussion and while sources indicate Prime Minister Jean Chretien will back any plan to help Canadian teams he will do so only in co-operation with the provinces. The first option is the possible creation of a new NHL sports lottery as a direct source of revenue. Federal Industry Minister John Manley favours this idea, stating that an NHL lottery would be a voluntary tax, that it would be the peoples’ choice on whether they buy tickets and therefore would not directly involve taxpayers’ money. The second option is municipal property tax relief and a reduction of the amusement tax levied on NHL games. Ontario Premier Mike Harris believes provincial tax breaks will never happen but with a political eye on the next election did pass legislation allowing individual municipalities to create a special property tax category for privately- owned arenas. In effect Harris downloaded the ultimate decision to the municipality involved but then in a complete surprise announce­ ment also stated the province would match dollar for dollar whatever property tax the municipal government forgoes. Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman says there is no way he will cut taxes for the Air Canada Centre but did suggest tremendous savings would be possible if the Greater Toronto Area became a province of its own. The regional government in Ottawa however is solidly backing the proposal probably because a recent study suggested that while the Corel Centre pays $7.4 million in property taxes the loss of the Senators would be worth a deficit of $1.4 billion over the next 10 years. Whatever the outcome it must be remembered this is not strictly an NHL issue. The SkyDome, Maple Leaf Gardens and even the London Ice House are privately owned and in time if the new ‘Municipality of Seaforth Highlands’ fails in its attempt to standardize recreation fees, who is to say the former BMG arena will not be home to a private business. The only definite is that if the politicians are involved any decision will not be cost cutting, for many a taxpayer has gone broke on the money his elected officials have saved him. BLYTH SNOWTRAVELLERS Beat the December 1 price increase on trail permits. Cost $120.00 on or before Dec. 1 After Dec. 1st Cost $150.00 If Sold On The Trail Cost $180.00 Available at these locations: Radford’s Auto, Farm & Industrial Parts Ltd., Blyth & Brussels; Radford Farm Equipment Ltd., Londesboro; Grand View Restaurant, Blyth; Sticker s. Auburn. On his tail A Blyth Novice dogs a Howick player as they round the Blyth end during this match-up at the Blyth Lions Novice tournament on the weekend. (Vicky Bremner photo) Blyth Novices win tourney C An exciting match-up for the C championship completed Blyth Novice Rep team's showing at the Lions tournament this past week­ end. The squad’s first game was a whitewashing of Mitchell on Satur­ day. Blyth took a 3-0 lead going into the first with unassisted goals by Ken Plunkett and Tony Bean, then another Plunkett marker with helpers from Byron Broome and Claren Yuill. Jonathon McDowell got in on the scoring in the second, with an assist from Brett Courtney. McDowell then tallied two unassisted in the third period to complete a hattrick and finish the game at 6-0 in Blyth’s favour. The second game was a nailbiter that ended in a 3-2 loss for Blyth. After a scoreless first period, Mildmay got on the scoreboard sneaking one past Anthony Peters in net. McDowell answered with an unassisted goal just a minute later to tie it. Blyth took the lead in the third with Lee Watkins scoring from Tony Bean. Then with three and a half minutes left in the game, Mild­ may lit the light to tie it once again. Going into overtime, Mildmay managed one more to take the win. The C championship against Howick was a bam burner for the hometown squad. Blyth took a 2-0 lead going into the second with goals from Curtis Robertson and Bean. Watkins assisted on the Robertson eoal. It was turnabout in the second as Howick tied it with two of their own while shutting out their oppo­ nents. Things got scary in the third, when Howick took a one-goal lead early in the period. Robertson answered at the 7:02 mark, with assists going to Watkins and Bean. Bean put his team ahead once again, scoring unassisted with just a minute of play remaining. Seconds later, with thejr goalie pulled in GLOW-IN-THE-DARK BOWLING Fridays 7:30 pm -12:30 am Saturdays 10 pm -12:30 am Sundays 3 pm • 5 pm /sfs Smoke-Free Sundays ncrediboyvir Only *3.25/Game inci. tax*** The pint gtewf The b»lla g/owf You'll glourt SUPER FAMILY SUNDAYS! Smoke-Free ~ 1 pm ■ 7 pm Glow-in-the-Dark - 3 pm • 5 pm "Bowl 'em over when you host your next party! Call 524-BOWL f2695J 204 Huron Rd., Goderich We support your local Minor Hockey League SportShots- Tired of the same old thing? Hockey if filled with action...and so are good hockey photos! This is an opportunity to get shots of your future stars...in action! Wallet size to Poster size, there are packages to fit any budget. It's a great gift idea! s Minor Hockey Pictures Sunday, December 5th from 7p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at BMG Ice Surface Other sports community players welcome For more information contact Jim McDonald at 887-9607 favour of the extra player, Howick tied it and held on to the final buzzer. After 10 minutes of overtime, no goals had been scored so the game went to a shootout. Bean and Derek Youngblut both got one past How- ick’s goalie. The opposition man­ aged to only get one past the rock-solid defense of Peters, giving Blyth the 6-5 victory. The team thanks the Blyth Lions for the sponsorship.