25 — Sunday, September 21, 1997 — North Shore News

Abbotsford
Pilots

IT?Sgoing to be a slow and steady year for
the Abbotsford. Pilots, but coach Darren
Naylor says they'll do well at the finish.
<The other teams might be faster out of
: the gate ‘than we are, but we'll be competi-
: Naylor: eports. “We've got a very
_ young team.”
The Pilots’ have half a. dozen returning,
jy: led “by last year's’ league points
leader Steve-Reeves and: fellow vet Craig
-Beamin laylor plans to build strong lines
around those two and wingers Tim Knight
‘Albe polainen,
SE ¢ Pilots” Achilles-heel is squarely on
the:blue line, which is filled with shiny new
fac sand y very little experience.

ong: but: teachable,” he -

(Th defence) will be improved..

have ‘that many _new. guys.

ing ae the fold, it takes a while for the

come together, but everyone's get- .

‘Home: MSA Ar n2, 2323. Emerson Sty

botsford

eve: many, of tiie players we

Verve:

eC P :
ayed for the Ridge Meadows .-
‘Abeoesford eons, respectively,

(O ‘Californians and a Czech may ‘make

the Grandview Steelers a contender... .

“The trio‘could be key in turning around -

“the. ‘last. place” squad.:-Ryan Hollweg and
~Anthony’ Sedler,: roller-hockey _ teammates
Los. Angeles, willbe welcomed for
“their skating prowess.
Thomas’ Ulirych from the Czech
Republic didn’t make it in Junior A with
¢ Steclers’ affiliate Langley Thunder, but
-PIJHL‘couid be his-home away from
“hom
-* Goaltending is a wildcard, ‘The Steelers
are auditioning several new faces, but hope
jason: Montgomery ‘will rejoin the team
‘fom “hilliwack Chiefs’ camp.
:Pormer head. coach Jason Mortimer has
returned after a year’s hiatus as a co-coach to
“assist. Tovmsend and his son Dean Mortimer.
Home: Trout Lake Arena, 3350 Victoria
fancouver..
Games: Sundays (7:30 p.m.) or Fridays
8 Bm. .) Tel: 874-5912.
: 996-97 record: Sixth, 13-24-3. Missed
oS playoffs. ;

‘Team profile coupil

Abbotsford Times; ee

north shore news

z a ‘Ridge Meadows
y Flames

CAPTAIN Stu Trimble, a 20-year-old cen-
tre, is back for his fifth season with the Ridge
Meadows Flames after | peng 24 goals and
40 assists for 6+ points last year.

His favorite linemate, league-lcading

- scorer Rod Alfegretto, is looking to win a

Junior A job with the Nanaimo Cli Pers.
PIJHL teams will weep if the 42-g

returns to the Flames. Acrobatic goalie
Varian Kirst will get some help from former
Parksville netminder Eric Lapp.

Head coach Pete Crowther became gen-
eral manager during the summer to concen-
trate on recruiting, and has two exciting
rookies to show for it: centres Mike Ressa,
and Kris Mattice.: With Sean Crowther tak-
ing over from his dad behind the bench, the
Flames have the lineup to_ battle PoCo
Buckeroos for first place.

-Home: Cam Neely Arena, 11963 Haney
Place, Maple Ridge.

- Games: Fridays or Saturdays (8:30 p.m.)
Tel: 469-2522.

1996-97 record: Fourth, 19-19-2. Lost

semi-final to Port Coquitlam 4-2.

Bob Macha ofthe Richmond News with files from Andrew McCredie
ison, Coquitlam Now; Mark Booth, Delta Optienist; and Brik Rolfzen, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Tixacs. .

North Shore.
Griffins

DESPITE being one of two new teams in th
PIJHL, the North Shore Griffins have a 30.
year hockey tradition behind them.
The Nor-Wes Caps got the North Shor¢
junior hockey. puck rolling in 1967."
However, when the North Shore
were extinguished in a move to Maple Ridg

four seasons ago, local junior hockey. players

had no choice but to sign up with teams
other Lower Mainiand municipalities.

All that changed when Griffins’, team”
owner Ken Wilson and team GM Phil De ©
Grandpre committed themselves to renewing
that proud hockey. tradition (De Grandpre
has since left the team). .

Wilson and head.coach and general man:
ager Norm’McNamara are guarded about :
first-year expectations, but a playoff berth is
the one goal they have set for the new tcam.

McNamara is counting on some solid sup-

port from the goaltending tandem of Jordan
Sigalct and Tomo Uchida.

Home: West Vancouver Arena, 786 22nd
Ave., West Van.

Games: Mon. (7:45 p.m.) Tel: 925 6056.

NORTH Shore Griffin defenceman
manages traffic during’ opening G
night Junior B action.

in : West Vani: We’ "re: BC
here’ th middie ;

“key” returnees,’ such

McCombie, Scott: Bailey, and Jon: Vanzella.

The blueline ‘looks: stocked with solid‘

ON BpCo" :
15-jearold — — Rich

small blucliner who came. via L thbridge’
Western Hockey League training cam
Head coach and ‘general,
Kerr is very pleased. with the:
rookie crop. “We like to think ‘our reputa
tion for developing players is hel ing i us; but
I don’t think we can. answer at,” “NOt
Kerr.
Home: Port Cc uitlam ‘Recreation
Centre, 2150 Wilson Pi., Port Coquit
Games: Sat. (8:30 p.m.). Tel: 465-928
3996-97 xecord: Fist lace,
Won championship 4 4-1 over Richmo

North Shore News; Miz Th