18 — Wednesday, May 10, 1995 ~ North Shore News

From page 17

100.000 und Saskatoon was about 40,000. And except for Vancouver, their rinks held 5,000 or fewer,

The demise of major league hockey in Canada’s smafier cities was inevitable, just as itis today. But with a difference.

The WHL. was a rival league, in competition with the NHL for the best available player talent. And it wasn’t further burdened by a Canadian dollar worth only 65 cents American.

Today it's all one league and the owners of the 26 teams are described as partners ina common enterprise. But hardly a level ice surface, given the huge gap in the value of the two countries’ curren- cies.

Yet, these so-called partners — or at least the 18 team owners in the U.S. — will have nothing to do with revenue sharing as a means of ensuring the overall viability of the league.

With partners like these, who needs enemies?

Essentially, the now American- owned-and-operated NHL doesn’t give a continental hoot about Canada except as the source of 65% of its player talent. Except for Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, by the start of the 21st century this country will be relegated. in the hockey sense, to a role of hewers of wood, drawers of water and exporters of raw materials. O Canada, it is to weep.

In a nation where less than one percent of the population knows the name of our prime minister, ‘and where marketing the product has become more imporiant than the sport itself, what sort of draw- ing power do Canadian teams have? Close to zilch.

The American segment of the NHL doesn’t need us. It would rather have teams in Denver, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Houston.

Vancouver can give thanks. ironically, to the fact the Canucks now are 60% owned by John McCaw, an American with bags and bags of those 100-cent American eagles. Inasmuch as he also owns 60% of GM Place, he will hardly be tempted to move the team south to his hometown, Seattle.

CLARIFICATION

THE PHOTO accompanying a recent Athlete of the Week story was not of Sentinel student/athlete Maélie Ricker (pictured above) but that of her wack and field teammate Kathryn Peck.

All apologies Madile.

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NAME: Andrea Statatakis SCHOOL: Windsor GRADE: 12 Sport: Sr. girls’ soccer POSITION: Midfielder COACHES: Steve Garland and Gordie Simpson,

Andrea scored at least one goal in Windsor’s last three games, including the only goal in a 3-1 loss to Argyle which decided the North Shore title.

NAME: Mike Andrew SCHOOL: Carson Graham GRADE: 12 SPORT: Sr. boys’ rugby POSITION: Second row COACHES: Doug Barker, Mike starred in Eagles’ Victories over Richmond 26- 3 (to clinch [st place in Vancouver & District Tier | league) and St. George's 13- 7, He also scored two tries as Carson beat Brentwood 45-5.

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