—. 26 — Wednesday, January 7, 1998 - North Shore News Storm chasing north shore news @ SPORTS Griffins fall 6-1 to league- leading Ridge Meadows NEWS phote Cindy Gcodman NORTH Van Storm player Rob Tokawa (top left) battles for the puck with an HC Slovan Harvard Bratislava player during exhibition action Monday night at Lonsdale Arena. The visiting Slovakian team lost to the Bantam A Storm. NORTH Shore Griffins management figured their first sea- son in the Pacific Junior International Hockey League would be a tough one. Little did they expect, however, that their on-ice woes would be exacerbated by an off-ice power struggle for control over the team. The simmering feud between Griffins owner Ken Wilson and former vice-presi- dene and general manager Phil De Grandpre boiled over prior to Monday night’s 6-1 loss to the Ridge Meadow Bones. The police were called, a litle pushing ensued and lawyers names were bandied around. A litile history. De Grandpre and Wilson joined forces last spring with a shared dream of bringing junior hackey back to the North Shore. (The Flames ieft the North Shore Winter Club four seasons ago for Maple Ridge.) Hard work by both paid off as the league granted the North Shore a franchise in the Tier 3 junior league. Thae’s when the problems B cheap seats started. De Grandpre was issued a two-year suspension by the B.C. Amateur Hockey Association for an incident with a referee while coaching minor hockey last season. In addition to preventing De Grandpre from coaching, the penalty forbade him from having any involvement with minor hockey — including the Griffins. The Sutherland secondary instructor hired North Van lawyer Jay Straith to appeal the ruling, which was subse- quently reduced to 34 months. He began serving the suspension on Sepr. 15. At midnight on Dee. 34, De Grandpre was clear to pick up where he lett of f with the Junior B team. However, while he iad the league's blessing, De Grandpre was not welcomed back with open arms by Wilson. In fact, when Wilson saw De Grandpre setting up a public address system prior to Monday night’s game, he approached his former GM and told him co leave or he'd call the police. De Grandpre refused and two of West Van's finest were summoned. “Here’s a guy who calls the police ta ask me to leave,” De Grandpre said during the first intermission Monday night. “L think we're dealing with an irrational man here. He thinks he can run a junior hockey club out of the back- seat of his car.” (Wilson could not be reached for comment to press time Tuesday morning.) The police spoke with both men separately, told De Grandpre not to play the public address system, then left. For the rest of the game both men stood at opposite sides of the arena. According, to Straith, who also happens to be on the Griffins board of directors, the dispute hinges on two aspects of ownership: the tranchise and the corporation. “The disagreement is to who owns what,” Strath said yesterday morning, adding that he hopes common sense — Off-ice power struggle a , distraction for Jr. B Andrew McCredie Sports Editar andre@nsnews.com THE North Shore Griffins were hoping the new year would her- ald a fresh start. But Monday night at West Vancouver Arena, the strug: gling Junior B hockey team revisited the ghosts of 1997 as they dropped a 6-1 decision to league- leading Ridge Meadow Flames. Coupled with Saturday night’s 10-6 road loss to the Richmond Sockeyes, the Griffins 1998 record ts 0-2. Their season mark is 4-26- 1, good for cighth-place in the cight team Pacific Junior International Hockey League. “We had our chances, but we have to score on those chances if we're going to beat a team like Maple Ridge,” Griffins head coach Norm McNamara said following Monday night’s loss. Despite being manhandled by the bigger, and older, Flames the Griffins did play some solid hockey. “We can skate with them and I think in the third period we had our chances, but they have four good lines and they can score goals when they have the chances,” said McNamara. Through the first 20 min- utes the Griffins used their speed to overcome the Flames prevails. Asked what his take on the dispute is, Straith laughed and said: “That’s why they call it ‘minor’ hockey.” Stay tuned. Reading is the most important skill your child terechecking, while North Shore onetminder Jordan Sigalet kept his team close with some spectacular goal- tending. The Flames opened the scoring at 4:32 in the first when Michael Rosa slid: the puck under Sigalet after get- ting a few chances in frant of the crease. But the Griffins answered back with just over a minute lett in the first period as Jon Vanzella picked up a loose puck in the slot and beat Flames goalie Eric Lapp with a rising wrist shot. The Griffins kept it close for six minutco into the second period — then the dam broke. Three unanswered goals in a nine-minute span sealed the game for the Flames. Two more unanswered markers in the third were the icing on the cake. “Their best part is they transition really well,” MeNamara said of the Flames. “As soon as they force a turnover thevre in the offen- sive zone right away.” With just 10 games left in their inaugural season, the Gritfins have little chance of making the plavoffs. But McNamara still. expects improvement: “I think we should win four out of the next 10 games. I've seen a lot of positives.” The Gritfins travel to Seattle on Sunday tor a game against the Northwest Americans. : North Shore's next home game is Monday (Jan. 12, 7:45 p.m.) against Port Coquitlam Buckaroos. (fare includes tound trip) % i Christmas Holidays and Weekends Deports Mohawk Gas Station at Parkgate Departs Mt. Seymour Rental Shop , 9:000m 10:00am 12:30pm 1:30—m 3:30pm 4:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm For more information will ever learn. At Sylvan, we pinpoint your child's needs and develop a personalized programme that not only builds reading skills, but self-confidence as well. In fact, 8 out of 10 Sylvan students improve their reading level by one academic year in 5 months. Call today to start your child toward a more successful future. Sylvan eC Learning entre’ Success is learned North Van. 985-6811 West Van. 926-3365 “ READING * Waminc * Mat