HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-07-03, Page 15Could Eric Lindros be
another Doug Wlckenheiser?
will he or won't he?
That's the multi-
million dollar ques-
tion that circles the
National Hockey League.
Will it s brightest star of the - T by
future, Eric Lindros decide • Fred
he's good enough to play in G roves
the greatest hockey league in
the world or will he continue
to dangle the golden carrot in front of the league's big shots?
My designated hitter here at the Times -Advocate, Ray Lew-
is, mentioned the name Doug Wickenheiser, and pointed out
when he was drafted from the Regina Pats in 1980, he, like
Lindros, was billed as a superstar even before he hit the NHL
ice.
Wickenheiser and Lindros have a couple of things in com-
mon. First, they were both selected number one in the draft
and second, both were at the top of the class as far as the
graduates from the Canadian junior prospects were con-
cerned.
When the Montreal Canadiens tagged Wickenheiser as their
saviour of the future, they had no idea the mistake they made.
His best season was in 1982-83 when he had 25 goals and 30
assists in 78 games.
Wickenheiser's numbers are not impressive for a number
one pick. In 556 games in the NHL he has 111 goals and 165
assists for a mere 276 points.
The Western Hockey League's Most Valuable Player in
1980, the Canadian Major Junior Player of the year the same
season, Wickenheiser compiled 89 goals and 81 assists_ Mtii�
the Regina Pats.
But the Canadiens found quickly he was not the superstar
they thought. Don't blame Montreal, they seldom make a bad
pick. Wickenheiser bounced around for 10 years in the pros
with Montreal, St. Louis, Vancouver, Washington and the
New York Rangers.
Nothing proved: Lindros has proven to absolutely no one
that he can play in the NHL. That doesn't mean he'll fall flat
on his face like Wickenheiser did.
Wickenheiser was like an airplane, he peaked during his
junior career but took a nose dive when he hit the runway.
Lindros is more of a rocket than an airplane, a rocket that's
fueled by a big ego. When picked by Quebec Nordiques in
the draft, he did not put on the club's sweater.
He said it would show a commitment on his part. Lindros
doesn't feel his only option is playing in the NHL. Sony
young man, but what other choices do you have.
The Continental League picked him as the guy to bring im-
mediate recognition to this outlaw league. It's been done be-
fore, remember the greats like Derek Sanderson, Bobby Hull
and Gordie Howe who jumped over to the World Hockey
League?
Getting back to Wickenheiser for a moment do you know
who else was drafted in 1980? Denis Savard went third over-
all and Paul Coffey was sixth,
W?g 5 LiMiroS �S aYati The expansion expansion tearii Sart Jose Sharks took Pat Failoon from
Spokane and the New Jersey Devils got Scott Neidermayer of
from Kamloops. These two guys have got to prove they can
play in the NHL as well, however they don't have the pressure
Lindros docs.
Wherever he plays, Lindros will be an outstanding player.
Whether he will become the next king of hockey, is question-
able.
Hockey has come down to dollars and cents. The owncr
with the most zeros in his cheque book will have the biggest
horses in his stable. Just ask Bruce McNall of the Los An-
geles Kings.
If Lindros flat out says sorry, I'm not going to play in Que-
bec, the Nordiques aren't stupid.
They'll sell him to either McNall or another high roller.
Players who are unhappy don't produce and for the Nordiques
it will be like having a Rolls Royce around that doesn't fire on
all cylinders.
sidelines
Powerstride a no go at Huron Park
HURON PARK - Carole Robin-
son says the state of the economy
is the reason she won't be conduct-
ing her power skating school here
in August.
Wednesday afternoon, Robinson
of Powerstride Hockey Techniques
told the Times -Advocate she only
had about 20 register for her pro-
gram. To make it feasible she said
she'd need about 160 over the two
week program which would have
begun August 2.
"I'm really disappointed because
we run a good program," said Rob-
inson.
She has a similar school in Gra-
venhurst and it is full.
Robinson said she didn't find out
the ice in Huron Park was availa-
ble until February when the Huron
Hockey School decided not to re-
turn after 20 years of operation.
"The timing has not given ample
time, plus the recession. The re-
sponse has been just awful," said
Robinson.
She noted many hockey players
have already planned where they
are going to hockey school.
"Most people are booked into
hockey schools, some of them the
year before."
Robinson advertised throughout a
150 mile radius of Huron Park, but
noted there are several other hock-
ey schools within that area.
Although both the Huron Hockey
School and Powerstride are not at
the arena, Huron Park will be the
site of the Christian Ahtletic Hock-
ey Camp from July 28 to August 2.
Expected at that camp are Jeff -
Bloemberg of the New York Rang-
ers, Adam Burt of the Hartford
Whalers and 22 -year NHL veteran
Dean Prentice.
With the cancellation of the Hu-
ron Hockey School, which was a
five week program, it will cost Ste-
phen Township even more to have
summer ice.
"I think we're committed. They
Made all their plans and arrange-
ments," said Stephen administrator
Larry Brown of the Christian Camp
still coming.
"We have to have a couple of big
users to make this pay," said
Brown.
Robinson will become a very fa-
miliar face around Exeter this win-
ter as she is the skating pro for the
Exeter Figure Skating Club. She
also has also in the past set up and
ran skating programs for the St.
Marys Lincolns and the Exeter
Hawks.
All -Stars drop a close one
EXETER - Despite scoring four
runs in their half of the eighth in-
ning the Western Junior Baseball
League All -Stars came up a little
short in an exhibition game here
Monday night.
Trailing 6-0 at one time, the All -
Stars fought back only to lose 6-5
to South London Tecumsehs in
what, for the most part, was an ex-
cellent defensive game. The only
flaw the All -Stars had came in the
sixth when they committed three
errors.
Both starter Chris Blackman of
St. Marys and Exeter's Scot Rus-
sell who came on in relief in the
third pitched well. London loaded
the bases on Russell but managed
to score just one run.
London's Jeff Dagg scored even
though it looked like Exeter catch-
er Dave Schwindt did manage to
tag him sliding into the plate.
"We should have been out of that
inning, Dave touched him," said
Russell.
According to Russell South Lon-
don and Exeter used to play
against each other in the same
league.
"We've played these guys before
and beaten them," he said.
Russell started the game at first
base and after pitching moved to
the outfield when Exeter teammate
Fred Gregus came on to pitch in the
fifth inning and stayed until the
eighth.
Goderich's Todd Papple didn't
have very good defense behind him
when he started the fifth but once
Gregus came on, Papple moved
over to third and made a couple of
good plays.
Gregus, a hard -throwing lefty
complimented the Techumsehs on
their hitting.
"They've got good hitters, they
hit the low ball," said Gregus.
At the plate, he had an eighth in-
ning single which he stretched into
a double which scored two runs.
Behind the plate, Exeter's Dave
Schwindt went a solid six innings.
Lucan's Steve Nixon and Chris
Smith were moved around and
they, along with Dashwood's Dan-
ny Masse saw lots of action.
Danny's brother Derk surprised at
He's safe
!.
Just misses - Dave Schwindt of Exeter just missed putting the tag on London's Jeff Dagg during Mon-
day's exhibition game in Exeter.
Fastball roundup
Heywood hot, Royals beat Thunder
EXETER - The Exeter Royals
certainly proved one thing Thurs-
day night, they play much better
when they're well rested.
Not only did they beat the St.
Agatha Thunder 9-4, but they im-
proved their South Perth Mcn's
Fastball League record to 10-5.
Earlier this year, the Royals
bowed 6-4 to the Thunder. Howev-
er, that Monday night game came
after Exeter had competed in the
Melbourne tournament where they
finished second.
"This year with the number of
players we have, 1 thought we
could play and not be effected,"
said Exeter manager Fred Cook.
"It drains you mentally, you're
not as sharp," he added.
The Royals got their offense roll-
ing quickly Thursday night when
Dan Heywood stepped to the plate
to start the game and ripped a
home run down the left field line.
Heywood came out of the game
with a solid .320 average and leads
the team in runs scored with 10.
Ho and outfielder Darren Neil who
is batting .370, give the Royals a
good one-two punch leading off.
"I like Danny leading off. He's.
more patient and Darren s an excel-
lent bunter," said Cook.
Heywood added three base hits
for a 4 -far -5 night at the plate and
IN hatwo tbi's and scored a plik
4
Dan Heywood
...big hitter
of runs. Neil doubled on his first at
bat and added a pair of singles be-
fore being replaced by Sandy Hyde.
Exeter's big inning was the third
when they sent 12 batters to the
plate and scored six runs. It was 7-0
heading into the top of the fourth
before the Thunder could get on the
board.
With one out, Exeter starting
pitcher Dan Heywood offered a
changeup to Brad Dietrich and he
put it over the right field fence just
out of Neil's reach.
Later in the eighth, Royals' relief
pitcher Dennis Carty was tagged
for a solo shot by Scou Pfaff. St.
Agatha added one more run in the
ninth off of an error and two hits.
Hodgins helped himself as he had
a pair of hits, one of those for an rbi
in the third inning. Also having a
good night at the plate was Scot
Brintncll who launched a triple in
the eighth inning and Mike Desj'ar-
dine and Brent Dawson both had
doubles.
Desjardinc, playing second base,
made a very alert, double play to
end the game.
Thursday the Royals travel to St.
Pauls to take on the defending
league champion Generals. In the
only meeting of these teams, the
Generals won 4-1.
"Man -for -man we match up pret-
ty well with St. Pauls," said Cook.
The Royals will play a rare Fri-
day night game when they host the
Fullarton A's and head to Mitchell
on Monday.
Basepaths: First baseman Kevin
Lightfoot will be working his way
back into the lineup after being
sidelined for several weeks. He's a
good hitter and with Neil, Hey-
wood and Steve Neil give the Roy-
als a lot of run production from
their, first four batters.
least one coach when he came on to
pitch in the eighth inning.
"That's the first time I've seen
Derek throw and he's got a good
arm," said St. Marys Bill McGirr.
McGirr and Goderich's Tom Fox
coached the All -Stars and despite
the loss were pleased with the ef-
fort.
"Four runs in one inning sur-
prised me but I knew we'd get back
in the game," said McGirr. "We
made our few errors when Todd
was in there and it didn't help."
Lots of
runs for
Express
LAKESIDE - Leading 5-0 in the
middle of the fifth inning, the Exet-
. Express dropped a 10-6 decision
to host Lakeside on Friday night.
Earlier in the week however, the
Express got a pile of runs as they
travelled to Kincardine on Thurs-
day and won 25-10. On Tuesday,
the host Express won a very one-
sided 12-1 contest against Listow-
el.
On Friday, rookie Scot Davidson
worked into the fifth inning, giving
up five hits before giving way to
Barry Baynham.
Exeter got on the board in the
third inning when Davidson led off
with a single, moved on Pete Hee-
ney's single and then an error saw
Rob DIckey get on. Kevin Hem
and Marty Merner singled and the
Express had a 4-0 lead.
Dickey was quick on the base
paths as he not only stole second in
' Continued on page 15
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