» ~ 64 - North Shore News - Wednesday, November 22, 2000 ——~ SPORTS Pitre, Gray add North Shore flaveur to fledgling NWhi team Jan-Christian Sorensen News Reporter Porensen@nusnews.cam THE Vancouver Griffins women’s hock- ey team is flying high in its inaugural season. ‘Two players with North Shore ties are kev reasons. Alana Gray and Sherti Pitre are fixtures on the semi-profes- sional National Women's Hockey League (NWHL) team thet began play this September, The team is currendy play- ing an exhibition season against GRIFFINS coach Sytvain Leone prefers coaching women’s hockey. university-level teams and South Coast Hockey League teams before becoming the official tenth addition to the NWHL next season. The team is 10-4 so far this season. Pitre has kicked in with one goal and one assist while Pitre has potted four goals and assisted on 15. The franchise is owned by North Shore hockey enthusi- asts Phil DeGrandpre and Diane Nelson. DeGrandpre, who played professionally in Finland, was GM of the short- lived North Shore Griffins team that called the Pacific International Junior Hockey League home. While the NWHL has a heavy presence in Quebec and Ontario, che Griffins are. the first Western Canadian team to surface in the standings Gray, 25, was bern and raised on the North Shore but recently moved to Coquidam, where she’s teaching at Clinton elementary, She graduated from Handsworth in 1992 and was aorester player on. the school’s field hockey squads during her tenure there. The Griffins forward) said the team is coming. through some initial growing pains with thing colours. “We're all just plaving together for the first vear and you can already tell that we've improved a lor since the beyin- ning of the year, We have a really well-rounded team” Left winger Pitre, agreed. “We're practising and we're reaily getting a lot better,” she said. Where Gray just: left: the North Shore, Pitre has just relocated here trom Surrey. Resides the North Shore players, the team alse sports National team member Nanev Drolet and several players from the U.S. and Europe. Both Pitre and Gray said they were pleased with the growth of women’s hockey and the fact that its no longer painted as women tving to play a man’s game. “[ think it’s definitely more accepted now. And FT think that has to do with more young girls playing,” said Grav. “When [owas vounger there weren't the opportunities to play hockey like there are now.” Gray said the sport is every bit as aggressive as men’s hock- cy. “It’s pretty fast skating and people are pretey surprised by the amount of contact. We've had some pretty intense games so far.” Gray started playing hockey five years ago in a natural pro- gression from ringette. From 1989 to 1998 she was a regular feature at the Ringette Nationals. Head coach Sylvain Leone said he’s been pleased with the quality of play exhibited by the young team thus far this sea- son. “They're doing as well as 26, NEWS photo Julle Iverson THE young Vancouver Griffins National Women’s Hockey League franchise counts two North Shere players on its roster — winger Sherri Pitre (left) and forward Alana Gray. can be expected. The biggest thing is that you're dealing with 20 new bodies, there's only four or five girls that have plaved together as a group betore.” Leone has coached Pitre for the past two seasons, when he helmed the Killarney Knights AAA female hockey team, and said she’s quickly establishing, herself as a leader on the tam. “She's been working so hard. Even in the offseason, the eight weeks berwveen rookie camp and main camp we chal- lenge all the plavers to come to main camp in shape and her fit- ness was tops. She’s one of our most dedicated players.” And while it’s his first sea- son with Gray under his wing, he’s also been impressed with her dedication and drive. *She’s got built in her a work ethic that rivals anyone Ive ever played) or ever coached before in the past. She leads by example and she just works so hard. She’s one of our top players and is going to be a very important part of our team.” Both girls have a high level of confidence in Leone's coaching abilities, as well. Gap men’s cagers split weekend pair From page 63 of last season’s BCCAA play- offs. Sounding the call to arms was Kate Begley with 12- points and nine rebounds and Chancey, who put up 18, grabbed 15 boards and col- lected three assists and five blocks. The team’s next game — and the bragging rights for first place heading into the Christmas school break — comes this Friday at home against league-leading Langara. On the men’s side, the Blues were double-overtime losers to Kwantlen 117-112 on Friday but toppled Douglas 79-71 the following day. “I always try to keep my emotions level during the long season because every team gocs through a series of highs and lows but this weekend truly was an emotionally exhausting experience for all of us,” said head coach Paul Eberhardt of the Friday night loss. Choyal Brown scored 37 — going !1-for-1] from the line — and collected seven rebounds, while Jeff White put up 21, including five three- pointers. On Saturday Brown was at it again, netting 32 points snd seven boards. The team now sits at 3-3 ir, league play this season. Tomorrow, the men travel to Langara for a game before heading to Coen: D'Alene, Idaho for the North Idaho Cardinals Thanksgiving Classic tournament. 4342 The Blues women’s solley- ball team split a pair of games on the weekend and now sit at 6-2 on the season. The women defeated Canadian Bible College 3-0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-14) in a no-sweat matchup Friday night before losing 3-2 (25- 21, 23-25, 25-19, 21-25, 15- 10) to Douglas on Saturday. The Blues set a team record with 21 aces on Friday night. They also collected 45 digs. Individually, Shannon McGregor had six kills, Robin Zeibell collected half a dozen aces and Meghan Thompson was good for 11 digs. On Saturday the Blues missed 16 serves at the line en route to their loss to Douglas. In that game, Kara Loy had 15 digs, while Janine Almeida put up 18 kills and 18 blocks. The women next travel to Langara for a Saturday night matchup. “He's a wondertil coach,” said Pitre. “He’s really a pres- ence out there. He knows his stuff and he knows how to deal with the female side of hockey. He knows how to get acruss to the girls and bring out a better player in people.” Leone said the difference between coaching men’s and women's hockey is black and white — and given the choice, he'd rather helm a women’s team anyday. “Cd be surprised if 1 ever went back fo minor hockey on the boys side. Women, they automatically give you respect and the beneht of the doubt. You can walk in and start teaching and they'll start respending right away. “When there's guys in there you've got to deal with all the attitude. It’s a big part of hock- ey at that age and a lot of play- ers really nced that to perform well, but it’s a challenge to handle those 20 individuals.” This Saturday the Griffins take on the Vancouver Canucks alumni in a charity game at the Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby. For more intorma- tion, visit the team at .