oN pane’ WHO TO CALL: @ Sports Editor Andrew McCredie 985-2131 (147) NEWS photo Terry Patera WEST VANCOUVER’S Leopold Rodrigo was recently named one of B.C.’s top young track athletes. The Coquitlam Cheetahs’ Track and Fleid club member excelled in both hur- dies and sprints this past season. Bist, 1987 "Lower Metniand’s largest selection of aa Snowboards & Accessories Charlotte Rd. BECCA INE pret Mountain Hwy.) 1717 W. 4th Ave. Orvi MAYBE THE biggest day in Orville Burke’s football career came along on a wartime afternoon in London’s Wembley Stadium. He quarterbacked an all-star team from the Canadian army to a surprise win over a similar outfit from the U.S Army. A longtime North Vancouver resident, Orville died earlier this month. | don’t know if anyone ever got around to asking him how Wembley compared with his two Grey Cup appearances, but I don’t doubt that he found it more satis- fying. He twice — in 1939 and again in 1941 — took Ottawa Rough Riders to two losing East-West finals against Winnipeg Blue Bombers, tvo games in which the “foot” in football truly determined the outcomes. Indeed, as Calgary discovered last Sunday against Baltimere, more games are decided by mis- takes than anyone might imagine. Poor Orville. He was the centrepiece in both Ottawa losses. The first overtime game in Grey Cup history appeared to be in the making on a muddy Ottawa field with the teams tied at 7-7 with two minutes to play. In those long ago days all players went both ways and on this 1939 after- noon Burke was no exception. He also was a punt returner and had the ghastly experience of fumbling, at midfield with 58 minutes gone, a Winnipeg kick. The Bombers’ Jeff Nicklin picked up the ball and ran it to the Riders’ 28. Winnipeg punter Art Stevenson wasted no time in going for the single. Burke was back there to catch ihe ball and December 9 - 30. Festive fights, entertainment and night time steigh ridest Jim Kearney at the Ottawa 10. Stevenson punted —_ — once more and pet the ball right did the only thing he could. He returned the kick, but it went off the side of his foot and into touch out of the park. Final score: Winnipeg 8, Ottawa 7. Two years later Winnipeg was an 18-16 winner, partly because Orville wa: hit in the second half, just as he was passing. The ball popped up in the air and Winnipeg end Bud Marquardt ran it 44 the yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Ottawa fought back to a 15-15 spectato T tie ona pair of field goals by George Fraser. Winnipeg’s Ches McCance made it 18-15. With sec- onds to go and the Riders camped on the Winnipeg 11, Fraser missed a 17-yard gimme. it went for a sin- gle. Final score: Winnipeg 18, Ottawa 16. This detail may be of some interest hereabouts, if only for the fact Fraser's son, whose favorite sport is soccer, also is 2 longtime North Van resident and, indeed, once worked for this paper. Otherwise, West Van’s Annis Stukus probably is the only guy in these here parts who, as a foronto See Wartime page 17 % Samsonite’ ms ate Mhouette System V and yster GLS Hardside ton’ va Fine Leather Goods & Luggage “PARK ROYAL NORTH 926-2563. Grouse Mountain The Peak of Vancouver Fifth treual é December 9 - December 30, 1995 REGISTER TODAY Grouse Mountain, The Peak of Vancouver, invites you to light up the North Shore. Enter your home in the Fifth Annual Festival of Lights and win prizes for the entire family. Every family entered will receive an invitation to the Festival Of Lights ceremony on > — Thursday December 28 in Grouse Mountain’s Chalet. BONUS The top 20 homes, as selected by our judges, will each receive two adult ski tickets. Register in person, by phone or fax before December 9 to be eligible for great prizes. Phone 980-9311 fax 984-6360 6400 Nancy Greene Way, N. Van. V7R 4K9 NORTH CREDIT Fait ingees Communig. Grouse Mountain supports the North Shore Chrisimas Bureau. Contributions can be made at all participating sponsors.