HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-05-03, Page 9________Sports
From the sidelines
Going head-to-head with the opposition
By Hugh Nichol
Lyle
Abrahams
believes Toronto
is the best
hockey market in
the world and is
willing to
commit $32
million to prove
it. The money would be used to
renovate the CNE Coliseum into an
11.000 seat, state of the art, multi
use, entertainment centre, and
beginning in 2001-02, the new home
for his professional minor league
hockey club.
Abrahams, the majority owner of
the inactive International Hockey
League Phoenix Roadrunners
franchise has shown interest in
moving the club to Ontario’s capital
city on one small condition - the
pre-selling of 37 luxury boxes,
priced between $44,000 and $70,000
per annum over four, seven, and 10-
year leases.
Can Abrahams succeed at
competing head-to-head with the
Leafs? Supporters of the move are
quick to point to the success of the
Detroit Vipers, Chicago Wolves and
Philadelphia Phantoms,
conveniently forgetting that the
World Hockey Association, Toronto
Toros were competitive and featured
popular ex-Leafs such as Frank
Mahovlich and Paul Henderson yet
they lasted only three seasons before
moving to Birmingham Alabama.
Toronto is literally married to their
blue and white, for better or worse,
in sickness and in health, they have
filled the ancient Carlton Street
Cashbox and now the new Air
Canada Centre to capacity since the
1940s.
Yet despite this insatiable appetite
for anything Maple Leaf, a second
team in Toronto is not a public
relations impossibility. The price of
tickets has cleansed the ACC beyond
the financial capability of the
average fan, the “I” is considered by
many to be the elite of the minor
hockey leagues, and the Phoenix
Roadrunner franchise is not an
unknown identity in the world of
professional hockey.
Personally the Roadrunners
hockey symbol has always been one
of my favourites although I will
admit the hockey stick waving
pheasant looks more Woody
Woodpecker than the Warner
Brothers created cartoon character of
the Bugs Bunny show. Secondly I
became interested in the desert city’s
hockey fortunes during the late
1960s when a family friend by the
name of Jim Paterson spent three
seasons playing in Phoenix during
their Western Hockey League era.
There is also intense competition
outside the NHL circle for the
Toronto entertainment dollar. Every
game the Raptors play is an
exhibition of the enormous talent of
Vince Carter whose sophomore
season performance attracted sell
out crowds on a regular basis while
the Toronto Rock are repeating last
year’s championship performance in
front of 16,000 people, also on a
regular basis.
The question is are these people
converted hockey fans or has their
interest in sport always been
elsewhere? If so the Roadrunners
biggest challenge will not be
competing against the National
Basketball Association or the
National Lacrosse League but rather
co-existing with the GTA’s major A
hockey franchises currently located
in Brampton, Mississauga and St.
Michaels College.
Although it was only at the local
level, I have been directly involved
in all aspects of a two team, same
city scenario.
I played for both the Wingham
Ironmen and the Wingham
Intermediate Royals when they were
in direct competition with each
other; I coached and managed both
the Brussels Bulls and Brussels
Crusaders during jsach other’s
existence and last season I assisted
the first-year Wingham Senior
Spitfires.
While a select few will attempt to
create conflict the arrangement is not
impossible. Thtf key is not to
criticize your opponent, concentrate
on your strengths and never forget
that in today’s world there are
different strokes for different folks,
even at the professional hockey
level.
A delightful shower was held at
Ila Cunnigham’s home for her niece
Susan Gross - the bride-to-be. There
were a number of guests from the
area.
A letter of best wishes from the
community was read to the bnde-to-
be by Kay Lapp. Then numerous
gifts, mainly for kitchen, bathroom
and bedroom were presented to her
by friends. The couple will be
residing in Guelph and are wished
all happiness.
A Flowery Romance contest was
given by Bernice Gross and florists
and gardeners were busy. Then
Linda Plaetzer led a bingo game.
The bride will need a trunk to take
all these suggestions.
Susan thanked everyone for the
lovely gifts and her Aunt Ila for
inviting all to her home for the
evening.
Lunch was served by the hostess
and the Walkerbum Club before the
happy group left for home.
Hurricanes do well
at recent swim meet
FROM AUBURN
Silver Tops host
Swinging Seniors
On April 26 the Silver Tops were
guests at Londesboro for a
sumptuous potluck dinner with all
the trimmings. The Blyth Swinging
Seniors were also guests.
After dinner there was
entertainment. Lois Haines gave an
amusing reading about little mice.
There was an excellent band and
also a sing-song. Lynda Lentz was
the pianist. Aubrey Toll favoured
with two excellent solos.
Cards were then played.
Laughter, theme
of minister’s talk
The Huron Hurricanes competed
at the Division III Team
Championships in Etobicoke.
Forty-two swim teams from across
Ontario competed and each team
was allowed 20 swimmers.
In the girls 11-12 division, Valerie
Otten made her best times in her five
races, the 100-metre back-
stroke, the 100-metre breaststroke,
the 200-metre freestyle, the 100-
metre butterfly and the 50-metre
freestyle.
In the girls 13-14 division, Laurie
Vandendooi did her best in each of
her five races<also. She placed 14th
in the 400-metre freestyle with a
time of 5:10.48. Her sister Kellyann
made her personal best times in the
100-metre backstroke and 200-metre
freestyle.
Megan Lee had strong swims,
placing 23rd in the 100-metre
butterfly with a time of 1:28.95.
In the girls 15 and over division,
Elizabeth MacGregor placed 28th in
the 400-metre freestyle with a time
of 6:18.05, and got 33rd in the 100-
metre breaststroke.
Sarah Datema earned fourth place
in the 800-metre freestyle with a
time of 10:22.99, and got 14th in the
100-metre butterfly and 100-metre
backstroke.
The Knox United congregation
was invited to worship by an organ
prelude with Nancy Park as organist.
The first two verses of Give Me
Oil for My Lamp was sung followed
by Rev. Paul Ross talking to the
children who had come to the front.
Rev. Ross spoke about laughter and
added to this by wearing a clown’s
hat.
Scripture was from Genesis 21.
This was about Sarah who gave birth
to a son when her husband Abraham
was 100 years old.
Then in Luke 6, Jesus told the
disciples the poor and the weak shall
be blessed.
Rev. Ross’s sermon was Two
Stories by Sarah Elizabeth. He read
them from his daughter’s book and
spoke of what can happen when a
meaning is misunderstood. However
people have to learn to laugh. It is a
necessity of life and one must use it.
On April 26 at 1:30 p.m. Bible
Study was held at Knox United. Rev.
Ross continued with discussion on
the Methodist union back in 1925.
Marie Bergsma invited the group to
her home on May 2.
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