THERE'S been a fot
of heated talk hately
about kids and hockey.

Pve heard some parents
complain that the game is
too rough, that coaches are
inevperienced and untair,
and that sportsmanship is
Virtually non-existent on the
ice.

As a parent of nwo minor
hockey players, ve detinite-
Iv seen same of this.

And Ive heard other par-
ents rave abour the excep:
tional dedication of coaches
and plivers, and about the
lorty values that are appar-
ently promoted through the
Sport; things like courage
and sportsmanship and -hon-
our. Aappily Pve seen same
of this too.

Most minor hockey asso-
ciations are run by volun-
teers, usually parents of play-
ers. These volunteers aren’:
all perfect, but I believe they
arc, for the most part, well
meaning, and [ think ther
deserve our support for theie
commitment to our kids
to the sport of hocke

And, to be honest, I've
really enjoyed most of the
minor hoe ¢ been
involved in. |

Dear Editor:

Tt was re
the “Making waves®
(Oct. 11).

Denis Mason s fetter, pub-
lished on Nov. 2 in response
to the editorial, Is the
same Kind of ‘misinformed
positioning that the editorial
takes to task.

Mr. Mason believes the fast
ferry project “made a labour-
ing start right from scratch.”
To the contrary, for an indus-

. whose development only
began four y ago, progress
has been outstanding.

The only “labouring”
involved is the commitment
of more than 600 dedicated
workers from six B.C. ship-
yards and Catamaran Ferries
International, as well as the
participation of otl B.C,
and international = marine

‘ hing to read
” editorial

———Shannon
‘Humphreys

Close to
home

Asaparent [ve been an
ardent fan. As a team man
aver, Uve had the chance ro
feel like Twas mak Ag areal
contribution, But by, ar my
Most exciting caperience in
minor hockey (other than
the time | tried to beat up a
mom from the opposing
team} was the one game |
got to be coach.

T got my opportunity to
do this last season. The
opposing team had come a
Jong way to play our team
on a Saturday afternoon, As
luck woukt have it, both of
our coaches were away for
the weekend nd, duc toa

Pofavailable dads, I
assigned to the bench as
temporary coach,

It was an opportunity I
seized with both excitement
and trepidation. [had no
coaching experience, but 1
knew if F could stand the

industries. Mr. Mason insults
their continued expert
involvement in’ this project
when he uses words such as
“fumbling” and “fledgling.”
Mr. Mason asserts that BC
Ferries’ inte in the new
fast ferry design began “years
after high peed catamarans
were already an established

tional high speed catamarans
began seat off Tasmania
in 1990.

Only four vears later, BC
Ferries announced its inten-
tion to join this revolutionary
trend in fast carrier construc
tion. BC Ferries and CFI are
at the leading edge of this
international venture, not
years behind.

: Mr. Mason’
in a “some-

phreys gets

smell of thar many players
atogether at ance | mutht
wet have the Kind of stuart ex
tanes to do the job,

One of the ouher mothers

tested Tgive the bows a

me speech. vou know,
them up tor the game.
ing deep to tind
seme words of taspiration
tor the lads. T said, in nv
big, strong vote OR boys,
score goals and be nice!

There was a tremendous
sense of excitement ay we all
put our fis together vind
shouted, “Go Team!”

“We're working 4 three
line system with neo centres
Mrs. Humphreys,” a kid
intormed me.

“Call me Coach.” EP said,
patting the kid on the back.
“Now, who Knows what a

vstem with nwo

“Don't worry, Mom,”
said my own bow, “just open
the gate wher we need te
change shit

The game vot off tea
great siurt, with our team
scoriag almost right away,

Twas completely cough:
utp in the action. Twas one
of the guys, smacking pla
on the back as they tumbled
panting through the gate

location” for
delivery to international
clients, B.C. is an internation-
al hub of marine trade, with
Vancouver's harbour teeming
with vessels from around the
globe.

Any fast’ ferries sold te
international buyers would

sly take the same well-

led routes that these ves-
sels already follow.

Mr. Mason is skeptical, and
is entitled to be.

T would close oniy by
ing that he need not ta
word for it,

I would instead encou
him to travel on the Pa
when it comes into service
and judge the vessel for him-
self
T.C. Ward
President and CEO
BC Ferry Corp.

what remote

Order No. 12613 from
Foreign Assets Control,
Department of U. S. Treasury
of Customs, Service for

Public Auct on of

Location: Masonic Hall, 1763 Bellevue, West Vancouver

Date:
Time:

Sunday, November 22, 1998
Public viewing from noon, Auction at 1 p.m.

Ail itenis clear of liens and encumbrances. Each item properly labelled. Winners
responsible for GST and PST. 15% handling charge to be added. Terms: Cash, Visa, MC,

Amex, certified cheques. All sales final.

onte the bench, and sheour
ing words of encouragement
ta the skaters fighting Tor
the puck on the ive.

IPvou over want an edu
aiden about what minor
hockey is lh abou, work a
Rantam league hockey
bench. Here are justatew of
the things [ learned:

Hokey plavers spit afor.

They don’t care if the spat
ends up in their own te
mask, they spit anyway
spit on the ice, on the
bench. on thenwelves, and
on each other. As coach, I
tel f should spit too,
although 7 sas careful to spit
only on the ice, and onl
when TF wanted to punctuate

‘indignation at ong of the

hey

STs sWedar a

They swear at each other,
atthe other team, they sw
at reterces and at thenselves.
They swear, breathlessly,
excited|y, duickly nd loudly.
Being on a hockey bench is
like being ata big swear-a-

Lh

then

the ranks. and barked outa
tow spectaeddar cues cen
nations that had even our
own plivers wide eved with
Ippreciagen,

Hockey plavers are diving
to geton the tee, and dving
to vet off the ice

Vhev jump around
demanding to goon, and
then Mam their sticks on the
ice beg ing to come off.
Thew're never happy.

Ry the end of the first
period the scare was 5 to |
tor our team, which was
great, but T fetta litthe sorry
tor the guys on the other
team, so when one of their

vers made a good shot en

I cheered.
“was the instant
fous reaction
trom my own bench.

CVCRL Sy ve vitor t Ww the
ether teant”

“DT otelt see TV tor them |
exphuned. “Pivas tust rvaing
to be nee.”

There is ne nice in
hockes.” ong of my players
informed me

“OR. no more Mrs. Nice
Girl” E promised, spitting
on the ice.

By the end of the
we had a decisi Stor
over the other team. TE com-
posed mvuself tora moment
to give the guys a post-game
speech,

“Good game, bo
congratulated them,
gO home and clean vour
reoms,”

Call me crazy, but as a
coach, I'm working on the
whole boy.

Imp

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