FRIDAY
August 16, 1996

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New rinks late; 500 kids on hockey wait list

. By fan Noble
~ News Reporter

“YOUNG hockey players in
North Vancouver wil! be frozen
-out of the sport for another
year.
~ Ice rinks that were scheduled to be opened
this September on Tsleil-Waututh (Burrard
Band) land have been pushed back to July or
August next year.

That means the waiting list for children’s
hockey in North Vancouver will remain at 500,
said Dan Morrison, who sits on the board of the
North Vancouver Minor Ice Hockey
Association as past president.

“It’s incredibly frustrating,” he added, say-
ing some young hockey hopefuls have been on

« Waiting list for up to six years, “Ten kids are too
many, but to have 400 to 500 is mind bog-

gling.” The league has 750 children playing the
game — 375 more than seven years ago.
Coaches complain that there are roo many kids
an teams, but the league has to get as many
children playing as possible, said Morrison.

-To compound the league's squeeze, many
children recently left the embattled North
Shore Winter Club, which demanded members
cough up thousands of dollars to retain their
memberships. The club, which has a hockey
program that produced current superstars Brett
Hull and Paul Kariya, is trying to buy back its
facilities and is raising cash for the purchase by
charging members and signing up new ones.

‘To alleviate the pressure on local ice groups

this year, North Vancouver District will subsi-
dize young rink users. The district has commit-
ted to purchasing $22,000 of ice time for the
September to December period and $14,000
for the winter session,

See Burrard page &

sold Max’ Grassi left the North Shore Winter,Club this
r. when the.club hit members for a hefty fee in an cffort to buy the

mits owners. ::

ow sits on'the North, Vancouver minor hockey association’s waiting list. Phil
father, said Max’s, chances. of playing in the {eague in the coming year
even though’ he’s been on the waiting list three years.

eaves Grassi with unpalatable. 0)

inter club and’ pay $180 monti

be less, but still onerous for Grassi, a fireman

tions. One is to finarice a'$3,500 initiation ’

‘dues. At the Burnaby Winter Club, costs”

an ‘casy proposition for anyone who has money,” he said. “That's a hell of a

tem to:have, in place.”

Max foves’ going to hockey games. “He'd be devastated if he didn’t ;

00 Bik Marine Dz, W. Van $85-9311

s ice situatiGn deteriorate too”

4h

Gardens pat

Saturday: Clondy with sunny breaks
High 20°C, lew 12°C

NEWS photo Paul McGrath :-

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Max Grassi is one of about 500 North Vancouver youngsters

who may not get to play hockey this year. Two promised rinks in Seymour won’t
be ready until next year.

By lan Nobie
News Reporter

A North Vancouver man
éscaped without injury
Thursday morning when
a B.C. Rail freight train

clipped his van in West

Vancouver.

A van took $3,500 to $5,000
damage after hitting a train.

It marks the third accident within
a year between B.C. Rail trains and
passenger vehicles in the municipality.
The drivers of the vehicles have been
charged in all of the accidents.

In Thursday’s collision, the 32-
year-old driver was issued violations
for failing to stop at a flashing signal
and failing to stop for a rrain within
500 metres at The Dale crossing near
Lighthouse Park.

Both charges carry $75 fines.
Police would not release the name of
the Woodword. Carpet and
Upholstery cleaning driver, who

declined an invitation to speak to the
News.

B.C, Rail communications officer
Jeanine Aylsworth said the flashing
lights and bells at the crossing were
working when the accident occurred
at 9:37 am. The train was moving
between 29 and 32 kilometres: per
hour (18 to 20 miles per hour), said
Aylsworth, .

The freight train was delayed 30
minutes while police and tire crews
were at the scene.

See Ambleside page 5