The Ottawa Citizen from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada • 98

F2 THE OTTAWA CITIZEN SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1989 Sports flaiiFfe's Volts snap Olympiques WSM DD1 IMgl CASEY Citizen -iv Staff fill 4S3 wiiii guwuiv: Voltigeurs 8, Olympiques 4 -m i Citizen staff -m DRUMMONDVILLE Huls 11-game Quebec Major Junior Hockey League winning streak i came to an abrupt end last night I when the host Voltigeurs broke close game open in the third perj- od. -t Drummondville clung to period leads of 3-2 and 5-4 until early in the third when the Olympiques surrendered a short-handed goal. Hull's play sagged from that point on and the Voltigeurs added two more insurance goals. "It (short-handed goal) had a bad affect on us," Olympiques assistant coach Guy Charron said. "When you allow a short-handed goal when it's 5-4, it really makes it tough on a team." Craig Martin, Martin Gelinas, Ken MacDermid and Andy Ross scored for Hull.

Jason Glickman tended goal for the first two periods before giving way to Johnny Lorenzo. The Olympiques' next game is scheduled for Sunday in Verdun. Frechette helps Gee-Gees shut: down Marauders Gee-Gees 5, Marauders 3 Citizen staff 5 TORONTO After almost a year, the Maple Leafs' wait for Wendel Clark may be nearing an end. His back remains tender, but Clark appears to have recuperated enough from the mysterious ailment which has sidelined him since last Feb. 4 for him to get a taste of NHL action in the near future.

"We hope that within two weeks Wendel will be back in the lineup." Leafs general manager Gord Stellick said Friday. Clark had just returned from yet another doctor's appointment. "We do not expect the old Wendel but we hope he could help us on the fourth line or on the power play," said Stellick. "We have to see if he can withstand the pain and play through it. If he can't then we'll write him off for the rest of the season." The impatience for Clark's return is growing steadily.

He signed a new $300,000 contract in the off-season even though he was injured. The sports adage is that stars are supposed to play hurt and Clark is compared to the legendary Charlie Conacher in the Leafs' press guide. To see Clark speed around Leafs defencemen and whistle shots past their ears during practices, yet still be unable to play games has fueled criticism. The Leafs need Clark more than ever. They're not only fighting for a play-off spot, but they're also fighting for respectability.

Clark is a proud athlete and it's his pride which makes him such a valued leader. At 23, he isn't prepared to alter his bold and brash style to be cute and clever. "I see no reason to change," said Clark as he watched the Leafs prepare for tonight's game against the Canadiens. Under George Armstrong, who appears to be a babysitter more than a coach, the Leafs are playing with more enthusiasm and zest. Clark would give them the presence which so few players in the NHL can match.

"It's his attitude," said Montreal centre Russ Courtnall, who went to Notre Dame College with Clark and later joined him on the Leafs. "He'll challenge anyone and it rubs off on everyone else. Put Wendel back on that Toronto team and they would playing at least .500." Heading into tonight's game, Toronto has only 15 wins in 44 games. Clark's injury was apparently triggered when he pushed himself too hard in a weight-training session with Team Canada in 1987. When he reported to the Leafs' training camp, he was in pain.

After scoring 34 and 37 goals in his first two seasons to establish himself as the club's heart and soul, he played only 28 games last year, scoring 12 times. Without Clark the Leafs plundered back into the depths of mediocrity. "We not only miss his skills," said Stellick, "we miss his quiet leadership, his heart the things that are so essential in this club now." The Leafs sent Clark to specialist at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minn. He was examined by a back authority in London, England. The medical staff at the Wellesley Hospital have all examined him.

"They all agree there's no structural damage and that has been soothing for Wendel," said Stellick. "They all agree there is no miracle cure other than physiotherapy." The overwhelming consensus of the medical people is that Clark's injury is the result of scar-tissue buildup near the base of his spine. "The last five or six years I've played through a lot of injuries and my body's been forced to compensate for them," said Clark. "I didn't take things off when I should have." Clark plays only one way and that's all-out. His passion for the game is unique, according to Courtnall.

"I've never seen him take a vacation at the end of the hockey season," Courtnal said. "As soon as the season's over Wendel goes back to the family farm Islanders' great By Rick Mayoh Citizen staff writer They were lined up by the hundreds halfway around the Civic Centre Friday. Quite a few were decked out in New York Islanders' colors, carrying many of the 3,500 posters handed out to the Ottawa 67's largest crowd of the season 4,353. They held out the posters, copies of the book Boss, magazines, pennants, hockey cards, hats, autograph books, even a dollar bill. And Mike Bossy signed them non-stop at a brisk pace.

"No problem," he said, when asked if his fingers were giving out. The Islanders great seemed more disappointed than the fans ation started things off by honoring two area people, who have distinguished themselves over a number of years. Recognized for outstanding achievement and dedication to the sport of hockey were Cornwall's Dalton Gadbois and Hull's Dr. Ottawa earned a convincing Ontario Universities Athletic AssocE; ation hockey victory over McMaj ter Friday in Hamilton. The Gee-Gees were sparked by, from Luc Frechette, who chalked up a pair and one assist, including the winning goal at the 17-minute" mark of the third period.

Others Gee-Gees goals came from Jean" Lepine and Wayne Ershine, both" on the power play, and Simon Massie, who scored into an empty'; net. Frechette and his teammates-outshot the Marauders 43-23. Berthol Lavoie was in net for Ottawa. The win gives the Gee- Gees a 3-12-1 season record, well; behind league-leading McGill's ossy makes plea to put Wayne Cuddington, Citizen the NHL's top stars some. "Granted it's not like game conditions, but he has taken some good bumps," said veteran defenseman Brad Marsh.

"We want him back and we need him. "But we also realize it's better to have Wendel back and ready for the stretch run down the playoffs rather, than a few games now." in minor Mike Bossy draws a crowd add spark NHL .4 Wendel Clark still has the and starts preparing for the next season." Stellick said Clark is working harder now than if he were playing. Clark's daily routine includes morning and evening physical therapy sessions, practising with the team and weight training. "It's very disappointing for everyone to see me practise with the team and not. see me charms fans who had patiently worked their way to the front of the line when Bessy had to leave to conduct a ceremonial faceoff.

So the honorary chairman of Minor Hockey Week in Canada, pictured on the posters returned to spend much of the first period signing autographs and visiting with disabled fans as the 67's took on the Belleville Bulls. Christopher Hand, a seven-year-old left-winger with the Almonte Centennials tykes, could only shake his blond head after meeting Bossy. He had waited more than an hour to get Bossy's signature on a hockey card from Bossy's 1977-78 rookie year and on another card issued last season. There was no doubt he figured it was time well spent. Guy Morissette.

Gadbois has spent 25 years in the game at all levels and all roles, including builder, coach and referee. Among the positions Morissette has held in his long association with the sport was President of gave Kilrea the key to the city. "I certainly appreciate the honor," Kilrea said. "I'm very proud to have it. It's going to go right on the wall.

It's something you'll always treasure." Kent Hulst scored two goals for Belleville and singles came from John Porco, Scott Thornton, Ken Rowbotham and Richard Fatrola. Jerrett DeFazio led the 67's with two goals. Pat Howie, Mike Griffith and Troy Binnie completed their scoring. "We could never get to the point where we got ahead," said Kilrea, whose club plays in Toronto today and in Oshawa Sunday. "We played at three-quarter pace most of the game.

We just seemed to be fumbling with the puck." "When you shut down Andrew Cassels and Mike Griffith on the power play five times, it certainly helps your chances," said Bulls' coach and GM Danny Flynn. desire that made him one of play," Clark said. "It's an aching pain. It aches every time I skate. When I push too hard it tightens upon me.

It can't be pushed. I know it's getting better but it's still not good enough to play." Clark is skating without the support of a brace and in recent workouts he has improved significantly. His skating is strong and swift and his shot always fear fun back the Quebec Ice Hockey Federation (1979-83). As for Bossy, the CAHA could not have come up with a more representative figure to associate with minor hockey. On and off the ice, Bossy has stood for whatever is good about the game.

Now that a back injury has forced him into premature retirement as a player, Bossy says he has a great interest in the direction minor hockey takes as it moves into the 1990s. Bossy's largest concern is that too many kids are not trying their hand at the game, not like 25 years ago when Bossy was a kid and playing hockey was just something every kid had to play. "We've got to look at it that things have changed," said Bossy. "There's far more opportunities for kids than we I was young. Then there's more problems with parents as life has become a little more complicated." Bossy believes several points made in the controversial Ther-rien Report on the state of the sport in Quebec have merit.

He alluded to the recommendation to ban competitive hockey at the younger ages though he played competitive almost from the first time he started playing. 'Other guys' Capitals 5, Oilers 3 Citizen news services LANDOVER, Md. It was the "other guys" who led Washington on Friday night. With their four leading scorers silent, the Capitals got second-period goals from John Druce, Dale Hunter and Mike Millar as they outscored Edmonton 3-0 in the second period en route to victory over the Oilers. The victory extended the Capitals' unbeaten streak to seven games, 5-0-2.

"The guys who scbred tonight aren't the guys we count on to score goals," said Washington right winger Dave Christian. "When they score, it's a bonus. But we're winning hockey games and finding ways to win, and maybe that's just one of the ways." With the score tied 2-2, Druce put the Capitals ahead to stay with his fourth goal of the season 7:47 into the period. Hunter scored his 10th to; make it 4-2 I II z-i record. hockey Paul Latour, Citizen at the Civic Centre Friday to Capitals goals from Bengt Gustafsson, who 2 scored his fourth shorthanded goal this season, and Kelly Miller.

Islanders 5, Devils 3 EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -Rob DiMaio, called up from the minors less than a week ago, scored his first NHL goal midway through the third period to break a tie and give New York a victo ry over New Jersey. The victory allowed the Island ers to break a three-game losing streak and was their first in Jl road games this season against Patrick Division foes. New York was 0-9-1 going into the game. DiMaio, a 20-year-old native of Calgary, took a drop pass from Randy Wood in the right faceoff circle, took one step and beat Devils goalie Sean Burke with, a wrist shot high to the stick side at 9:24, giving New York a 4-3 lead.

Islanders goaltender Kelly Hrudey was spectacular throughout, making 40 saves, and Bryan Trottier clinched the win with an open-net goal 36 seconds from the end. i By Don Campbell Citizen staff writer The slogan for this year's Minor Hockey Week is: "Learning the Skills and Having Fun." As a player, Mike Bossy had little problem with the skills part. Throughout his life, stardom and Bossy were synonymous. As a pro, he was the game's best right-winger throughout most of his career. As for the fun part, well, a lot of that went out of the game for Bossy as early as in midget.

"By midget a few incidents had arisen that left me wondering whether I wanted to continue playing," Bossy said Friday at a press conference to kick off Minor Hockey Week, for which Bossy is the Honorary Chairman. "By midget hockey had become almost a business to everyone involved. "In the last little while I've sort of come to be convinced we shouldn't have competitive hockey up to peewee at least. We've got to get the kids back to playing hockey and enjoying it. As adults we have to find a concept that is going to do that." Minor hockey associations across the country will celebrate the week in different ways.

The Canadian Amateur Hockey Associ- Bulls crash Bulls 6, 67's 5 By Rick Mayoh Citizen staff writer Two more points would have made it a perfect evening. Although Ottawa surged in the third period and kept pressing until the final buzzer, the 67's were unable to catch Belleville. The 67's drew 4,353 spectators, their largest crowd of the season, as they helped kick off Minor Hockey Week in Canada with honorary chairman Mike Bossy and honored coach and general manager Brian Kilrea for his 500th win in the Ontario Hockey League. Bossy was presented with a 67's jersey with his No. 22 on it by Ottawa co-owner Earl Monta-gano.

"It's hard to say something that hasn't already been said," said OHL commissioner Dave Branch, who presented Kilrea with a painting on behalf of the party night for 67's league between the first and second periods. "I really wanted to be here," said Branch, who arrived at the Civic Centre with three minutes left in the first period. He had come from Detroit where he attended the funeral of Barbara Karmanos, the wife of Windsor Spitfires' owner Peter Karmanos. "You think of 500 wins and 1,000 points. But it's much, much more than that.

It's Brian's style of play, his teams' disciplined appoach, hard work ethic and character. Playing the game the way it should be played. It's something for other coaches to look up to." Ottawa co-owner Howard Darwin presented Kilrea with a silver tray on which was inscribed: "In recognition of 500 regular-season victories coaching the Ottawa 67's in the OHL, an OHL record established Dec. 31, 1988." Ottawa mayor Jim Durrell with 2:22 left in the period while the Capitals enjoyed a two-man advantage. Millar added his fourth of the season on a power-play with 43 seconds left in the period.

"We need contributions from guys like Mike Millar and John Druce if we're going to be successful," said Washington coach Bryan Murray. Washington outshot the Oilers 36-14. "What did we get? 14 asked Edmonton right winger Jar-ri Kurri. "That's not a good effort by us. You have to give them credit.

They played very smart hockey." Craig MacTavish scored at 7:55 of the third period to pull Edmonton within 5-3. Craig Redmond and Glenn Anderson had first-period goals for the Oilers, who lost their second straight. Washington got first-period.