16 - Wednesday, June 22, 1994 - North Shure News

SIDELINES

SOCCER AWARDS... Three North Vancouver residents received major honors at the annual British Columbia Youth Soccer Association Awards Banquet earlier this month.

Brent Mossop was one of 12 scholarship award winners, presented tc graduating sec- ondary school players who intend to pursue post-sec- ondary education.

For her commitment to the game on the North Shore, Joan Herrin was one of six recipients of a merit certi cate, presented to individuals nominated by member district associations in recognition of outstanding service to local club or district organizations. After a number of years as an active parent of players in the district, Herrin stepped-up her involvement to chair the North Van Lions Gate Soccer Club. She was recently elected chair of the North Shore district, a post she. will take up when her duties as manager of the provincial under-17 girls’ team are complete.

The 1994 Coach of the Year award, presented for out- Standing achievement and ded- ication to youth, went to Gunther Frey. A coach on the North Shore since the late 1970s, Frey has taken teams to no less than six provincial finals. In 1985, his under-14 team won the Canadian Club Team Championships at the national finals in Richmond. His latest achievement was winning the Coastal Premier Cup under-19 division title in a thrilling overtime victory this spring at Kinsman Stadium.

STREETBALL 1994... Canada’s biggest basketball event is looking for volunteers to work as court monitors and to help with player registra- tion. The Streetball 3-en-3 event is being held at B.C. Place July 8-10. Court moni- tors keep time and score of games throughout the day, so basic basketball knowledge is required. Also, a full-day com- mitment is needed. Volunteers receive a t-shirt, baseball cap and lunch during the day(s) they work. For more informa- tion contact Basketball B.C. at 737-3032.

UBC BASKETBALL... Handsworth Royal guard Jeff Sharma wil! be playing for Bruce Enns and the UBC Thunderbirds this fall. according to the university's sports department. Joining the 6°3° Sharma are Vancouver College guard John Dumont. Pitt Meadows’ forward Curtis Mepham and guard Michael Lubin from Edmonton.

“We are extremely happy with this group of guys,” stat- ed Enns following the announcement. “We lose three starters this year but the new blood should make for a com- petitive camp and a great start to the new year. With entrance requirements petting tougher and tougher, it's encouraging to see players with high marks still finding time and energy for team sports.”

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NEWS photo Brad Ledwidge

NORTH SHORE Indian forward Chris Driscoll fires a shot at the Burnaby goal during the indians’ 9-8 loss to the Burrards at Lonsdale Arena on Monday night. {t was the fourth straight game in which the indians had lost by just ona goal.

Indians lose another squeaker

Fourth straight one-goal loss keeps Indians in the basement

THE NORTH Shore Indians must think there is a curse on their freshman season in the Western Lacrosse Senior A league.

By A.P. McCredie Sports Reporter

For four consecutive games the Indians have been on the losing end of one-goal decisions.

The latest was a Monday night home game against the Surrey Burrards, in which the Indians

outplayed the visitors but still ended up with no points in the standings. On Saturday night the Indians lost 10-9 to Coquitlam.

“t think we'll approach the league and ask them to shorten the games to 50 minutes,” quipped Indians’ general manager Frank Kirby, in reference to the fact that his team has been leading most of their games late in the third period.

But the joke belied Kirby's growing frustration with the team and the referees.

Indians’ goalie Dwight Maetche was given 4 match penal-

ty in the second period for interfer- ence in a play similar, to one the night before by the Burrard goalie that carned him only a two-minute minor.

“Last night was the worst [ve seen it,” Kirby said of the calls. “You have to wonder when the ref is the brother of the Burratd‘coach, und the commissioner (who assesed the match penalty) has a s6n on the Burrards.” aa

Kirby plans to voicehis con- cerns with the leagup“about the match penalty in a wieeting with league officials.

North Shore 12

GP WL

Team New West 11

Surrey 12

Victoria i

Burnaby i

8 3 8 4 Coguitlam 12 7 § 7 4 3 8 2

10

Native athletes keep culture in their sport

A.P.

VIEW FROM THE CHEAP SEATS

AMONG THE lacrosse fans present at Monday night's

North Shore Indians’ home game were 26 spectators who had travelled thousands of miles to see Canada’s nation- al summer sport. Well, maybe not just to see lacrosse. but they came all the same. Members of the New Zealand Dragon Boat team Poneke, in Vancouver for the annual Dragon Boat Festival, were invited by the Indians to auend the game. Phe interest for the Kiwis in the game was to sce first-hand a tradidenal Canadian sport, and also to see a traditional native sport.

Like Canada. New Zealand was

dirst inhabited by native people. And

also like Canada, the culture of ihe natives, Originally trampled by colo is making a comeback in the day-to-day lives af New Zealanders.

The Poneke team has a number of Maori members, so the chance to bring together native athletes from around the world was too great for the Indians or Poneke to puss up.

Prior to Monday night's game against the Surrey Burrards, the captain of the Dragon Boat team Was presented with ap Indians’ game jersey. Then pkivers from the Indians exchanged small gifls with the paddlers, The Kiwis then took their seats in the stands. Ht did't ike long for the "Qobs” and “Abs” to start.

“They sure do Knock each other around, dontthey?” Poneke team manager Alistair McDonald said in the beer garden (where else?) after 20 minutes of play.

“Lthink there is an element back home who would really love to play this game.” added a Maori paddler, who likened box lacrosse to hurly,

the trish stick and bail game. “I was really impressed with the native national anthem being played before the game, and how well received we've been by the Indians.”

While in Portland for a Dragon Boat festival last week, some of the team found themselves in a bar (where else?) watching gatite seven of the Stantey Cup final.

“You could really tell we weren't from around there because every lime there was a body check, our table would erupt in winces and groans,” one said of another clearly Canadian cultural moment. “But, after a while we realized that the hard hits were just part of the game,”

I thought to ask if they had heard of Don Cherry, but | didn’t. Too much Canadian culture for one night.