HOME GAME SCHEDUL MAY Wednesday May 6 Burnaby Lake Vednesday May 13 New Wesrminster Salmonbellies Wednesday ‘May 20 Maple Ridge Burrar Wednesday Ms v 27 Coquitlam Adanaes JUNE Vednesday June 3 Coquitlam Adanacs Wednesday June 10 Victoria Shamrocks Wednesday June 17 Burnaby Lakers Wednesday : June 24 Maple Ridge Burrards JULY Wednesday July 8 Victoria Shamrocks Wednesday July 15 — New Westminster Salmonbellies Wednesday July 22 Burnaby Lakers AUGUST Thursday July 30 New We: Salmonbellies minster Adl games start at 8 pau. at the Lousdale Recreation Centre. Friday, May 1, 1998 — North Shore News — 35 we " WEWS photo Cindy Goodman _ ROOKIE North Shore indians bench boss Rod Jensen leads his squad through a workout at Lonsdale Arena last Tuesday night as assistant | coach Lance Baker looks on. The Indians start their 1998 campaign in Burnaby tonight and play their first home game next Wednesday at8 p.m. Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsnews.com THE North Shore Indians are set to do battle on the lacrosse floor again: But matching their 1997 season may be a tall order after the squad not only made the playoffs but also advanced to the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) championship series where they bowed out to eventual Mann Cup champions, the Victoria Shamrocks. During thar season, the team also persevered through the death of its coach and a league ruling that took away five of its wins. Bill Munroe collapsed ar the conclusion of an Indians contest at Maple Ridge and was pro- nounced dead a short time later upon his arrival ac hospital. Later the league disciplined the team for allegediy using an ineligible player by taking away five of its wins. The Indians responded by stringing together several Victories to close out the season and made the playoffs nevertheless. A calmer season may very well be in store for them, bur they'll have to get through ir withour several k ey members of last year’s team. Most noticeably absent will be last year’s top scorer Curt Malawsky who has since signed with an eastern-based team. Paul Gait, who aiong with brother Gary are two of the greatest players to ever play the game, will also not be back, Gait suited up for only cight of the Indians regular season games, but was a fan favorite and set up several memorable head-to-head encounters with € Shamrocks squad Chiefamong the re new coach Rod Jensen who takes over from last year’s interim bench boss Lance Baker. Indians management chose rookie Jensen to step in and lead the team in what may very well turn out to be a transition or rebuilding year. Jensen, 35, played nine seasons for the Burrards when they were based in Vancouver from 1983-"92, In 1990 the team advanced to the Mann Cup, but did nor win. After his retirement, Jensen spent wo years away from the game, but was back in the thick of it by 1995 when he joined the Senior B Ladner Pionce “Pm moving ahead with caution,” said Jevsen in reference to his new team’s depleted and still unde- termined roster. “The problem with the Indians is the players are from all over the countr “It’s a little bit frustracing because we don’t have a lot of guys yet,” he added. In years past a full complement af players was usually in pla by the five-game mark. The team’s front office staff has also undergone an overhaul, Making his debut with the team is NEWS ‘photo Paul McGrath GARY Gait of the 1997 Mann Cup champi- ons Victoria Shamrocks fights off a Joe Rosa check in last season's campaign. Toby Baker who takes over mar' keting: The ener: getic Baker is starting the season off with a bang. First up is an Indians golf tournament at Furry Creek on May 2. The tournament is sold out and he hopes he'll: be able to transfer thar enthusiasm into. gate’ rev- enue at Lonsdale Arena, home of the Indians. sponsors © help foot the bill for his efforts including Future Shop Corporate Sales, Boston /2, Wolfe-Chevroler Geo Oldsmobile, BC Rail Group of Companies and Ratclit¥ and Company ; “We want to put on a really good show fof~ everyone this year,” said Baker. “l want people to e we're the only game in town so we want to raise our protile in the community.” ‘To that end, Baker has instituted several Indians promotions. Chief aniong these is a 52” television giveaway during the home-opener as well as the use of several billboards owned by the Squamis Nation. Admission to the game auromatically qual- ities fans for the airplane toss berween the secand and third periods to determine the winner. “Toss che jet for the set,” as Baker calls it. The billboards are meant to advertise not only the Indians but also that week's promotion, startir with the television set and later moving on to a trip to Reno for two and more. The beer garden will also help to s, y drinking patrons who vil find it located in brand new digt on the arena’s opposite side. As for the talent of the floor, the Indians can definitely count on the return of John Rosa and redd Karanchik, both of whom were named to cond team all-star squad. "1997 standouts Brian Baker and Mike Morridian will also return to join two former members of the Pioneers whom Jensen has brought with him. The Indians top two picks Bryce Lamourcux and Aaron Harrison have managed to hold their own in preseason and are also expected to stick with the clut The new look North Shore Indians make thei. 1998 WLA season debut tonight +s they take to the floor against the Burnaby Lakers and open at home the following Wednesday against the same team.