ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS... Two North Shore athletes have made the nomination list for the 28th Annual Sport BC Athlete of the Year Awards. Diver Paige Gordon, of West Vancouver, and North Vancouver hockey star Paul Kariya make up two-thirds of the Senior Athlete of the Year short-list. They are joined by Derek Porter. a Victoria rower, The winners will be announced at the Sport BC Award banquet at the Hotel Vancouver oa Saturday, Feb. 26. NORTH VANCOUVER MINOR HOCKEY... A draw is being held by the North Vancouver Minor Hockey Association to raise money for hockey programs on the North Shore. First prize is a totally reconditioned 5.0-litre V8 1980 Mustang Ghia. Tickets are $2 each or three for $5. and are available at the follow- ing North Shore locations: Centennial Auto Body. Central Auto Brokers, J.D. Auto Repair, Mr. Transmis- sion and OK Tires. All pro- ceeds go towards North Vancouver Minor hockey. ‘She draw will be made on Monday, Jan. 24 during the Midget Scholarship game. NORVAN... The Vancouver Metro League resumes play this week following a break for the ‘holidays. Norvan triv- els to Burnaby on Sunday, Jan. 23 to take on the Norwegian Seamen’s Centre. Kick-off time is 2 p.m. at Kensington Park, SOFTBALL REGISTRA- TION... The days of suminer may still be a few months away. but the North Shore Softball Association is start- ing the season soon. The orga- nization is holding registration for boys born between 1975 and 1986 at the Lynn Valley Centre (1199 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver) on Saturday. Feb. 12. from 10 a.m, to 4 p.m., and Sunday. Feb..13, from noon to 4 p.m. Another registration weekend will be held at the same loca- tion and with the same times on Feb, 26 and 27. The associ- ation is also looking for umpires and couches. Call Jack Hubbard at 987-BALL (2255) for more information, SKIING... North Vancouver's Aimee-Noei Hartley contin- ues to impress on the Lifestream Cup aipine circuit. posting four podium appear- ances in a5 many days. The Grouse Mountain skier fin- ished third in the first hwo GS events, then put together wo first-place showings on the final two days of competi- . tion... The Kokance Boardercross Champion- ships shreds onte the North Shore this Saturday. Jan. 22 a Mount Seymour. Call the mountain at 986-2261 for details. Local volleyball AS BECKY -Rose says, there arent too many sporis you can play in your bathing suit. The 3f-veur-old North Vancouver resident should know, By A.P. McCredie Sports Reporter As one half of Canada’s best women’s beach volleyball duo, Rose is existing as a pro beach vot isyball player in a country not known for its endless summers. “We kind of consider ourselves like the Jamaican bobsled team.” she says of her and teammate Monica Luegs’ current position, Unlike the infamous Caribbean winter athletes. however, Rose and Lueg are no pretenders to the crown. Both are experienced university players —- Rose at Montana State and Lueg at the University of Winnipeg — and their play last year on the surumer outdoor circuit earned them the honor of being the official spokeswomen for beach volleyball in Canada. Both phiyers are relatively new to the Lower Maintand. and from what they've seen they’re glad they made the move west, “We've got more support out here than we would if we were based in Toronto.” Rose says, adding that the mild weather on the coast lends lo year-round outdoor practice time. “We've been so wel- comed here. The people are a breed that party hard and play hard.” In talking with the affuble pair. one gets the impression they. too, love to live in both those worlds. The focus for the team this year is the North American Jose Cuervo tour and the recentiy expanded A & W Canadian Tour, Rose and Lueg will also travel to Russia in June for the Goodwill Games. But the big prize is the 1996 Auanta Olympics. where beach vol- ‘Teyball will debut as a media? sport. During the recent rains, the ath- letes practiced in the gym at the Mickey McDougall centre. Lueg. 25. said a highlight of training at the North Vancouver recreation centre was teaching four kids how to shag balls. Rose has been sponsored by Clearly Canadian for the last two years, but the team is currently shopping for title sponsorship for the upcoming season. “As the official Canadian num- ber-one team we will have guaran- teed interviews on TSN, so we think we should be able to attract a eS a Py 5 yar SETALS Wednesday, a ese NEWS photo Cindy Goodman NORTH VANCOUVER resident Becky Rose (right) and teammate Monica Lueg are the current number-one ranked beach volleyball team in Canada. serious sponsor.” says Rose. whe admits that the business of the EE EE STE ERY beach is often as important as the business between sandy lines. Local sponsors include Logotex and Beyond Beachwear. Big league lacrosse comes to North Shore HOT ON the heels of their all-Canadian Senior B cham- pionship season. the North Shore Indian Lacrosse Club has been included in the Western Lacrosse Association (WLA) expansion plans. By A.P. McCredie Sports Reperter Club president Frank Baker made the announcement at the team’s annual banquet faust Friday night that the club's bid to pump to the province's preniier lacrosse league had been accepted. The North Shore club was once part of the top league back in the °30s and “40s. “Yoostifl have old-timers approaching me who remember the glory days of iucrosse on the North Shore in the 1930s." Baker said. “The native presence helped make ita big fan attraction back then, and PE think we can help res- urrect fn support with this club.” The cream of the 1993 President Cup chatipions will form the core of a team that Baker promises will quickly adapt to the quicker, more-skilled league. A press release issued by the WLA hints that Baker has been in discussion with John Tavares. the Brampton Excelsior player who has led his team to consecutive Mann Cup victories, and is consid- ered by many to be the best lacrosse player in the world. Standout players from last sea- son like Codd Katanchik, Brian Baker and goaltender Dwight Maethce will form the framework for the Senior A Indians. Baker ang general nimnager Privk Kirby will alse be active atihe upcoming WLA draft. Last season’s head coach Lance Baker remains behind the bench for the Indians. Rookie WLA Commissioner Randy Radonich is excited about having the Indians in the Jeague: “The Indians bring history. uadi- tion and many dedicated and expe- rienced lacrosse people to the league. Their entry will be a plus not just for North Shore lacrosse fans. but forall fans of the game.” The tndians will play their home games on Monday nights. beginning in the spring. at the 1.500 seat Lonsdale Arena in rth Vancouver.