Griffins hammer Steelers By Andrew McCredie Sports Editor andrew@nsnews.com THIRTEEN proved the charm for the North Shore Griffins, as the rookie Junior B hockey franchise won its first-ever league game Monday night with a commanding 9-5 win over the Grandview Steelers. Staring a 0-12) season record in the face as they stepped on the West Van Arena ice Monday night, the Griffins had their work cut out for them against a strong and experienced Steelers team. Grandview drew first blood six minutes into the game, but the home team Griffins answered back three minutes later when Ryan Arnold tied the game with an unassisted marker. The equal- izer lit a fuse under the Griffins, and by the end of 20 minutes North Shore was up 4-1 on goals by Jens Keiling, Dennis Sudo and Clayton Whitman. The home team took that momentum into the second when Whitman scored again just 26 seconds into the mid- dle period. Both teams would score three times in the second, giv- ing the Griffins a tenuous 7-4 lead going into the final peri- od. Stefano Rossi and Mike Blades had the other two sec- ond period goals for North Shore. Griffins head coach Norm McNamara and assistants Gord McNeely and Greg Van Unen no doubt had but- terflies as the Steelers moved within ovo goals at the 15 minute mark, A week earlier on this verv same ice, the Griffins had blown a avo goal lead in the final nine minutes in cheir 4-3 loss to the Seattle Northwest Americans. But the Griffins held the fort with some great and smart, defensive work, In the final 90) seconds, Arnold and Shane Klein added the icing on the cake WHITMAN: three points for the Griffins with a pair of goals. Griffins netminder Dave MacPherson faced 25 shots, | while his | counterpart Michael Place had 29 shots directed his way. With the 9-5 victory the Griffins are now 1-}2 head- iag into Saturday night's ; away game against the Port Coquitlam Buckeroos. North Shore’s next home game is Monday night against the Richmond Sockeyes. Game time is at 7:45 pam, Prof North Shore Soccer Development Assoc. to tend grassroots By Andrew McCredie Sports Editor andrew@ansnews.com YOU can’t argue with success. Just ask Brian Clamp, the coach of a North Shore boys’ under-13 bronze minor-league soccer team. “Our first game we lost 8-0, then we brought Tom on board because I could see our guys needed help in the skills area,” said Clamp. “And then we lost 6-}. Then we drew a game “And then we won a game.” And just fast week, Clamp’s boys tied a team from a higher division. And just who is this miracle worker named Tom? Well, if you follow) soccer in Canada, youll know the name Tom MeManus. In addition to serving as an assistant coach with Canada's women's national team, MeManus has seen stints as a pro league head coach (with the Winnipeg Fury), a university coach (MeMaster), and a provincial coach (Ontario, Saskatchewan). And now we have him on the North Shore. McManus is the director and head coach of the North Shore Soccer Development Association, a unique program designed to raise the already high level of play on the North Shore. “I'm very happy to be here; this is where soccer is booming,” McManus says of the North Shore. “I love the kids’ enthusiasm. Ic could be pouring down rain yet every kid will show up.” “Any other province I've been in you usually would get a phone call if ie looked like rain. Here, there are no phone calls. And that’s the way it should be.” To put it mildly, Tom McManus has made a believer out of Brian Clamp, who says, “Ninety percent of our success has been because we've had a professional coach helping out. “He's teaching basics, bur he’s teaching them in a very modern man- ner,” Clamn says, “The boys are actu- ally competing with cach other with regards to their skill levels, and what happened is the team is coming north shure ne @ SPORTS NEWS photo Paul McGrath SOCCER development association head coach Tom McManus (lower right) is taking local soccer to an even higher level. Joining McManus are (left to right) the national team’s Silvana Burtini, asso- ciation chairman Dan London, Jacob Hanson and Metro Gerela. together.” Which is just what) association chairman Dan London and a number of other local soccer parents and coaches had in mind when they set out Gridiron rivals set to knock helmeis A high school football Saturday's winner plays the season is full of “big” games. And for the Handsworth Royals and the Windsor Dukes, this Saturday's 1:30 p.m. mecting is the biggest of the “hig” ones. The Royals beat Windsor 20-13 in the B.C. double-s final last season. Net surpris- ingly, the Dukes, under bead coach Jay Prepehek. have been looking forward to Saturday's game since Last December. And while the afternoon game at Handsworth might not be for provincial bragging nights, there is stil much at stake. The winner will take first place honors in the dou- ble-A Northern Conterence, and with it a number one seeding inthe B.C. champ oaship tournament second-place team trom: the Interior Conference; the Jos- ing squad takes on the see- ond-place team) tram) the Seurh Conterence. “Phey look really: good,” Prepchuk said of Joe Bell's Rovals. “I think ifs going to be oa real battle. Just like Last year at BC. Place.” As for the revenge factor, Prepehuk says he’s had ne trouble getting his team up tor the Handsworth game: “f didn’t think about it that much, bat the Kids are really talking it up.” The Pukes downed the Sentinel Spartans 17-6 last Friday. while Handsworth didn’t evens have to get dirty in their Saturday pame against Ald ‘ove: the Royals won by forfeit when Aldergrove tated te field a fail team - Andrew MeCredts to establish the development program. “The concept fer the association is a full-time, year-round educational resource aimed exclusively at soccer to provide education, coaching and olay- er developinent: irrespective of the level of play,” London said. “1, and many others, have become involved with coaching teams because my child was on a team. If you can walk and chew gum, vou're a coach.” According to Londen, the associa tion will provide the best possible level of training, for these coaches so that ac the grass-roots level players will be provided the best possible opportunity to learn. “And as they progress up, fet’s enhance the skills of the coaches, let's provide those children who have got the opportunity the best training and a seamless involvement into the all-star programs for the province's teams. And international teams,” London added. The not-for-profit association's budget for the first three years: is, according to London, approximately $124,000. “B.C. Soccer is committed to $21,000 over three years and soccer clubs on the North Shore chat are members of this new organization have all: signed three-year commit: ments — basically on a $1.75 to $2 per player contribution.” In return, soccer players, coaches and referees will receive top-notch ee advice from a number of accomplished coaches and players. McManus says women’s national team members Wendy Hawthorne and Sylvani Burtini, tormer 86er Nico Berg and Rene Para, Canada’s top referee, have all said they weuld help out with coaching duties. As to the biggest challenge he faces in launching this program, McManus says it is the E-word: “I think just get- ting over this mentality of grass roots and clite. I can go to any club and spend half-an-hour talking about the association and what we’re doing. And [can spend ewo minutes talking about development squads that we'll be working with, and everybody will sav ‘Oh, you're just guing to be working with elite players.” “Weill, ’'m not. In fact, almost since I've been here, Pm doing two or three sessions a night, and highest age group [ve done is under 16. [ haven't seen a Metro (select) team yer.” The second biggest hurdle will be finding a full-time facility for the asso- ciation. Currently, McManus works from an office at Capilano College. . NEWS pots Terry Peters WINDSOR Duke tight end David Wilks (left) attempts to evade a Sentine! cefender during the Dukes’ 17-6 win over the Spartans last Friday in Northern C “ference double-A senior football action. The Dukes play Handsworth Saturday.