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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2005-02-03, Page 9THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005. PAGE 9. Brussels Midgets tied with Zurich owners of the Edmonton have publicly stated that the players agree to a salary Bring hockey back to Canada Hockey is Canada’s national winter sport, but with the cunent gridlock between the owners and the players, the biggest loser is going to be teams based in Canada. If these teams suffer, then the people of Canada suffer along with them. The Oilers unless cap. they may have to sell to local investors, sell to Americans, take a leave of absence for a year from the league, or fold the team. The owners of the storied Montreal Canadiens are worried about their future if (here is no salary cap. And. the public seems to be on the side of the owners on this lock out. In 1994. the public was on the side of the players. If the Oilers and Canadiens are worried about their future, what will happen to the Calgary Flames and the Ottawa Senators? The two strongest Canadian teams, financially speaking, are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks. With 24 Stanley Cup titles, losing the Montreal Canadiens would be akin to Major League Baseball losing the New York Yankees Not only would Canadian fans be hurt by the lack of teams in Canada, but Canadian players would also be hurting. More players may have to go to Europe to play, or perhaps a professional league can be developed in Canada, with Canadian teams only. The Stanley Cup final would not mean anything, at least to the die hard hockey fans in the Great White North. How many times could Toronto play Vancouver in an exciting Stanley Cup series? Where would the Canadian teams be re-located? San Antonio. Texas, Las Vegas, Nevada, New Orleans, Louisiana, Jacksonville, Florida or Houston. Texas? Who would be interested in a Stanley Cup final series between the San Antonio Buzzards and the New Orleans Deltas, not only in Canada, but in those two cities, especially in June? NHL commissioner Gary Bettman certainly wouldn't care. As long as the league can get a lucrative TV contract from a major U.S. network, that’s all he is concerned about. The players, especially those born in Canada, or those playing on Canadian-based teams, must realize that Canadian teams cannot financially compete with ,thc American teams. But. the best all- around hockey players in the world are still from Canada. With a legacy of players like Howie Morenz, Rocket Richard, Tim Horton, Johnny Bower. Bob Orr. Bob Baun. Bill Barilko, Jean Beliveau, Guy Lafleur. Ken Dryden the Sutter brothers and Steve Yzerman along with Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, the future of Canadian players should be strong. But. what about may enforce a only policy. Maybe it’s invested in the future. A IO-team league could be established — five in the east and five in the west. Teams in the east would include. Ottawa. Montreal, Toronto and Hamilton and St. John’s from the AHL. In future years, teams could be added in Quebec Maritimes. Teams in the west Edmonton. Calgary and along with Winnipeg and Regina. Teams from Victoria and Saskatoon could be added later. If players from the NHL wanted to come to Canada, they would have to get used to being paid in Canadian currency and forget about the multi- million-dollar contract. And of course, they would play for the Stanley Cup. The Americans can find their own trophy to give away annually without putting anyone’s name on it — just like the Super Bowl. Canadians — players, fans and owners — have to stand up and be counted, demanding the return of hockey at the NHL calibre within the borders of Canada and they demand the best teams playing for Lord Stanley’s mug. the owners? They U.S.-born players time Canadians country’s hockey and the would be Vancouver Stewart scores winning goals Cole Stewart of Blyth was back in the Wingham Ironmen line-up this past weekend, and he scored the winning goal in each game as the Ironmen posted two more wins in their quest for a second straight Western Junior C Hockey League regular season title. Slewart scored early in the third period of Saturday’s contest in Mount Forest, to give the Ironmen a 5-2 iead. The Ironmen hung on for a 5-4 decision over the hometown Patriots. In Friday’s contest at the North Huron-Wescast Community Complex. Stewart scored two second period goals to help the Ironmen take a 4-1 advantage into period three on their way to a 5-2 decision over the Stayner Siskins. In the game in Mount Forest, Luke Williams scored for the Ironmen as Drew Slumkie scored for the Patriots. Second-period goals by Vlatt Hill, Chris Stanley and Justin Bussell propelled the Ironmen to a 4- 2 lead after 40 minutes. Andrew Rogers replied for Mount Forest. Slewart scored at 2:51 of period hree, with Eric Love and Derek 3rice scoring for the Patriots. Wingham and Stayner traded goals n the first period, Jamie Chester for he Ironmen and Adam Corvari for he Siskins. Stewart then netted a pair for the ronmen, both assisted by Chester ind Shawn Walker. Nick Filsinger .cored for Wingham with one second ett in the period, with Stewart and <ack O’Krafka getting the assists. E F B U A R Y A four-goal second period enabled the Brussels Midgets to score a 4-3 decision over the hometown Zurich squad to even their WOAA playdown scries at one game apiece. Game one of the best three of five scries was played Saturday at the Brussels. Morris and Grey Community Centre, with Zurich posting a 2-1 decision in overtime. Cory Chapman scored what proved to be the winning goal in Zurich on Sunday. Wade Stephenson had a goal and two assists, while Chris Jutzi and Steven Ropp each had a goal and an assist. Greg Bowers collected a pair of helpers, with Scott Phillips earning one. Kyle Gibson played another great game in goal for Brussels. Il was another excellent team effort. Zurich scored a goal in each period. The team received a strong effort from each player on Saturday, but it was not enough, as Zurich recorded the win in extra time. Stephenson scored the lone goal for Brussels, in the second period, with help from Bowers. Game three in the scries is set for Sunday at 6:30 p.m. in Brussels, with game four set for 8: ID p.m. in Zurich on Feb. 9. Game five, if necessary, will be played Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in Brussels. Brussels won their first playoff round in three straight games, defeating Howick 4-2 on Jan. 25 at the Howick Community Centre. Breiit Wheeler had a goal and two assists, with Matt White and Cory Chapman getting one goal and one assist each. Bowerts added an insurance marker with 48 seconds remaining in the game. Chase Chapman picked up one helper. Free throw winnersFree throw winners Seventy-five competitors from area schools took part in the annual Knights of Columbus free throw competition held Saturday morning at the Wingham Public School gymnasium. Advancing to the district competition this Saturday at St. Anne’s Catholic High School in Clinton, are, front row: Andrew Lindsay, 12-year-old boys, Brussels Public; Julia Jacobs, nine- year-old girls, Sacred Heart and Sheena Haines, 10-year-old girls, Wingham Public. Back row. Natalie White, 11-year-old girls, Brussels Public; Ben Underwood, 10-year-old boys, Turnberry Public; Amy Coulthard, 12-year-old girls, Wingham Public; Robyn Reid, 13-year-old girls, Wingham Public and Evan VanderWoude, 13-year-old boys, Wingham Public. Absent: Jesse Deans, nine-year-old boys, Turnberry Public and Brett Brophy, 10-year-old boys, Sacred Heart. (Jim Brown photo) Think Twice-Thin Ice •T* Don't use your SNOWMOBILE AS A SUBMARINE. 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