Edmonton Journal from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada • 70

F2 EDMONTON JOURNAL, Friday, November 26, 1982 Time for Oilers to bite back Barry Westgate ago, too. The Oilers played the next night in Detroit, as if they'd had the Last Supper. Mio was bombarded with 29 shots in one period in a 5-3 loss. "The way my folks are, it'll be like an Oiler booster function," said centre Tom Roulston. "There will be a lot of blue and orange around.

If my mum had an Oiler jersey she'd probably wear it, too, but I haven't been able to get her one. There's not a whole lot of Tom Roulston models around." With a game tonight against the Jets, the Oilers need some pulling together as a team. They haven't played well in two weeks, since they beat the New York Rangers 7-2. Since then, other teams have feasted on their mistakes and lack of enthusiasm. There's no other way to explain a 3-3 tie By JIM MATHESON Journal Staff Writer WINNIPEG When you've gone four games without a win, the lack of success starts to eat away at most teams.

It comes as a result of being carved by the coach, not to mention the paying public. That said then, it's about time for some food for thought for the Edmonton Oilers. Surely they could use a night out to chew some fat, or at least some prime rib. Which is probably why the team trooped, en masse, over to Chez Roulston Thursday night for a rare team meal. At last report there was no turkey on the menu, which is just as well.

They've already had three of those in a row at home. Hopefully, the results will be better than the last home-cooked meal that Eddie Mio put on in Windsor three years with Vancouver or a 9-7 loss to Quebec or a 3-3 draw with Washington, all at home. They've been terrible, plain and simple. "We want to keep everybody together," said coach Glen Sather. Goodness knows that hasn't been the case in the last three games.

They've played as a collection of individuals in a fog. Giveaways galore, little backchecking, little enthusiasm. "The team is starting to lose confidence in themselves," said Sather. "Against Washington, we got up 2-1 and started to worry and withdraw. Our success has always been based on attacking teams.

You've, got to be aggressive. I'd rather be a lion, even for a day, than a mouse for life." Presumably, they'll talk about such things at Roulston's. They need a kick in the butt. In the past three games, half a dozen players each night have booked off. It's different players each game, too.

The Oilers and Jets have had two meetings, both lopsided scores. ON THE BENCH Roulston's parents are both doctors. If you were grading the Oilers over 24 games, you'd have to say Charlie Huddy and Randy Gregg have been the steadiest defencemen. Wayne Gretzky and Dave Lumley the most consistent forwards. Oiler centre Marc Habscheid got some bad news with his brain scan.

"They found some sort of irregularity and he has to go back to be checked out again," said Sather. Habscheid has been bothered by headaches since he hit his head on the ice in a game with the Kamloops Oilers a few weeks ago. Andy Moog will likely be in goal tonight. Kittle Topps in the minors Bossy's late goal saves tie LIKE SEVERAL other Eskimos in recent years, receiver Tom Scott suffered in this year's Schenley voting for being part of a team effort. His loss to Condredge Holloway in the Outstanding Player voting does not relate in any way to the worth of his season.

far as we know, our man in Toronto, Cam Cole, still has all of his hair. reported from there this week that Eskimo wide receiver Waddell Smith was upset at dropping a couple of passes in last Sunday's gut-wrencher against Winnipeg. Indeed. Had Smith caught that first long throw from Warren Moon, on the second sequence of downs, it would have been 10-0 and counting, and quite probably a different kind of a ball game altogether. would have been that, too, had Larry Highbaugh not reacted just in time to fall on the ball in the end zone after Bomber kicker Trevor Kennerd had missed a field goal and then come within a twitch, that's all, of recovering his" own kick.

Highbaugh's hot-dogging antics in the end zone have been squelched in the last season or so, and this incident was a perfect example of why the Eskimo coaching staff was right to put the lid squarely on him when it did. It was close. weather will be better in Toronto this weekend, so Eskimo coach Hugh Campbell can put away that outfit he wore last Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium. Please, Hughie! It had to be a new low in coaching attire, He had so much on, he looked like a green Humpry Dumpty. And as for those overboots! Hughie isn't exactly twinkle-toes when it comes to shoe sizes and these items were, well, spectacular! if it's raining, he could show up on the CNE sidelines with an umbrella.

No pretentions, this fellow. to Tom Scott for a moment: Scott's true worth to the Eskimos this season was often what his presence on the field meant to the other receivers. The passes he didn't catch, but others did, were frequently as much Scott's due as anybody's. In the crucial last weeks of the schedule, the Eskimo game plan was not geared to make Scott stand out particularly; but to use him to make the work easier for others. That was rather too much to expect the majority of ihe Schenky voters to consider.

is at it again. He's pointing out that only once in 20 years has a club lost a Grey Cup on its own ground. would be a bad joke, wouldn't it, if this was November, 1934, and the Grey Cup game was coming up Sunday at Commonwealth Stadium? As it will be, in 1984. This isn't weather for football, it's weather for flying to Hawaii. One of these years the CFL will get burned or I should say frozen badly enough, during its playoff schedule, to be forced to do something about starting the season earlier.

There is no real reason why it can't be done. Quite apart from the hardship the CFL's usual playoff weather lays on the paying I customers, it seems ridiculous to me that the important two or three games of the season are "usually severely impaired on the field by the 'weather conditions. As far as I am concerned, until the hidebound CFL hierarchy comes to its senses, every Grey Cup game from now on ought to be I played in Vancouver's domed stadium. an interesting point of view on Thursday, that the "Eskimos are coming to the end of the 'longest drive in their history'. John Korobanik of Press says that for the Eskimos the "playoffs began last Labor Day with the 32-20 loss to the Calgary Stampeders.

He has a point. Then, in last place at 3-5, the club was faced with having to win all eight remaining games to be sure of a playoff spot. That the Eskimos made it work, points to one of the remarkable comebacks in CFL glad I'm not in Toronto this week. that Argo superconfidence would be wearing. usually the same in Vancouver.

Give them a porting inch and they'll have themselves in the Super Bowl by as early as next week. That's better being in Winnipeg, I suppose, where the fans give up two games early. By NORM COWLEY The award may be courtesy of Topp's chewing gum. But it has nothing to do with blowing bubbles and it's not for children. This year, it's for Ron Kittle the Edmonton Trappers' power-hitting outfielder last summer and it marks the highlight of his professional baseball career.

Kittle was today named the Minor League Player-of-the-Year for 1982 by both Topps and the Sporting News. "I felt after the year I had that I had a real good shot at it," he said from his home in Gary, Ind. "But I'm still excited about getting it. "It's the top honor in minor league baseball. I'm hopeful it'll lead to more." Other award winners include such current big leaguers as Tim Raines (1980), Champ Summers (1978), Ken Landreaux (1977), Jim Rice (1974), Tom Paciorek (1972), Bobby Grich (1971), Don Baylor (1970) and Johnny Bench (1967).

Kittle became the third Pacific Coast League player in four seasons to receive the coveted award the others being Mike Marshall of Albuquerque in 1981 and Mark Bomback of Vancouver in 1979. Kittle batted .345 while becoming only the second PCL player in 25 years to slug 50 home runs. He also finished with 144 RBIs in his first year at the Triple A level, "I don't think most of us realize what an accomplishment it is to hit 50 home runs at the Triple A level," said Trappers president Mel Kowalchuk. "It may be a long time before we see it done again." The 6-foot-4 Kittle, however, may disagree. "I had similar stats in Double A.

I figure any level I play at, I can duplicate those stats. I figure once it's done, it can be done over again. "1 just thank the Lord for allowing me to stay healthy for the whole season although I might have done better if my thumb was a little healthier (he suffered from an aggravating bone chip in the joint area for most of the season)." Kittle hopes to play in the major leagues next summer after getting a taste of it when called up to the parent Chicago White Sox in September. "I don't think anything is going to stop me now," he said. Journal News Services Islander 1 Bruins 1 Mike Bossy scored on a long slap shot with less than four minutes remaining Thursday night to lift New York-Islanders to a 1-1 National Hockey League tie with Boston.

After taking a pass from Bryan Trottier, Bossy unloaded his shot before reaching the Boston defence, standing up to meet him at the blue line. The shot trickled in off goalie Pete Peeters's glove, spoiling his bid for his second shutout of the season. The assist was Trotlier's 500th of liis NHL career. Bossy's 20th goal was only the third shot on goal by the Islanders in the third period. After a scoreless first period, the Bruins went ahead on a power-play goal by Barry Pederson at 12:17, 21 seconds after Brent Sutter was penalized for hooking.

Set up by Peter McNab and Keith Crowder, Pederson connected for his seventh goal of the season. Nordiques 3 Flames 2 Wilf Paiement's 20-foot shot with less than two minutes to go gave Quebec a 3-2 victory over Calgary, Quebec's first NHL triumph in Calgary. Quebec's other goals came from Anton and Marian Stastny, with Lanny McDonald and Kevin LaVallee replying for the Flames. Paiement, a Toronto Maple Leaf last season, took a pass from Andre Dupont that had deflected off Calgary's Phil Russell and fired past Reggie Lemelin to give the Nordiques their 11th win of the season against nine losses and two ties. The game left Calgary with nine wins.

Mike Bossy scores his 20th 1 2 losses and four ties. scoring chances in the third period. It was a frustrating defeat for the They took a 1-0 lead in the first period Flames. They had several excellent and ended the second even at 2-2. Early opening for indoor track season ENTER THE JOURNAL'S SPIRIT OF Several of Alberta's top track and field athletes are expected to compete in the Edmonton Olympic Club's warm-up meet Saturday at the Kinsmen Field House.

The meet, which opens the Alberta Track and Field Association's indoor season, is being held two weeks earlier than usual. But runners like Calgary's Doug Wournell, Jillian Richardson and Scott Robertson along with Edmonton's Adrian Shorter, Jack Suggett and AH Taylor should be in attendance. Brian Rhodes, who recently won the Canadian intercollegiate Athletic Union's cross-country championship in Sudbury, is also expected to participate. The meet is scheduled to get under way at 1 1 a.m. and should wrap up about 6 p.m.

CONTEST A stepping-stone chance for Bears COLOR A CHRISTMAS PICTURE WRITE A CHRISTMAS STORY Here's a chance for Journal readers, young and old, to share the spirit of Christmas in this special Journal contest. There's prizes of $200 each for the winners with a matching $200 paid by the Journal to the charity of the winner's choice. First and second THE CITY OF EDMONTON ANNUAL HONORS AND AWARDS PRESENTATION The City of Edmonton Awards Committee invites individuals and organizations to submit nominations for the following civic awards: PERFORMING AND CREATIVE ARTS AWARDS To honour individuals or groups who gain national or international acceptance or recognition of outstanding achievement in the literary, visual andor performing arts. 1. Nominees must be residents of Edmonton.

2. Nominees must have received national or international recognition. 3. Candidate should have demonstrated considerable discipline, skill or training. OR gained recognition by a qualified board of adjudicators or judges.

PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL ADVISORY BOARD CITATION To honour an Edmonton citizen who has given long voluntary service to recreation or culture. 1 The award is open only to individuals. 2. Nominees should be giving or have given outstanding volunteer service to parks, recreation or culture over a period of years. CULTURAL AND RECREATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARD To honour those individuals or groups who have contributed significantly to the Edmonton community over the period of the proceeding year.

Two Categories: 1. Culture 2. Recreation Awards will be presented at the City of Edmoton Annual Honors and Awards Dinner to be held in March, 1983. Nomination forms may be obtained from Candice Stasynec, 428-8434 runners-up in each category win $25 CHRISTMAS PICTURES Color a Christmas picture, the way you see Christmas. There's competition in four categories under 8 to 12; 13 to 18; and over 18.

Winning pictures will be published on the front page, December 24. CHRISTMAS STORIES Write about your most memorable Christmas in 600 words or less. The winning stories will highlight our Christmas edition, December 24. Story contest has two categories under 18 and over 18. By HEATHER LaROI Journal Staff Writer To call the series do-or-die is certainly premature.

But to deny that it could be pivotal would certainly be foolhardy. I The University of Alberta Golden take on the University of Huskies tonight in the first of a two-game weekend series at Varsity Arena. Possession of first-place in the Canada West University Athletic Association may be at stake. "If they (the Bears) win both games this weekend," said Huskies' poach Dave King, "they have a good jhot at waltzing into first place (over the season), with the rest of the pack just running along behind them. "Alberta has a real edge on everybody in the league now, especially playing at home." If the Bears (currently 5-1) were to sweep the series, they would open an eight-point lead over second place Saskatchewan (3-3).

However, if the Huskies were to win both games, they'd force the Bears to share top spot. The opposition should appear familiar to both teams one advantage of playing back-to-back weekends. The Bears and Huskies split games last weekend in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan trounced the Bears 7-0 in the first matchup. "I think it was probably a bit of two things," explained King.

"One, Alberta was not overly sharp and two, we had a particularly good night." Bears' coach Clare Drake agreed with the assessment. "They played an exceptionally good game," said Drake. "We just sort of collapsed and couldn't stop it. Then it kind of snowballed on us." In the second game, Bears withstood an inordinate amount of time playing shorthanded to rebound for a 3-2 victory. "We always seem to get quite a few penalties when we play in Saskatoon," said Drake.

"It's a little bit unusual. We play fairly aggressive hockey, but I don't think of us as a penalty team. I hope it doesn't continue." There were no complaints, however, with his squad's penalty-killing. Bears allowed Saskatchewan only two powerplay goals in 11 opportunities. "Our power play was pathetic," said King.

"That was the big difference." or by writing to: 9 The City of Edmonton Awards Committee Co Edmonton Parks and Recreation Department 10th Floor, CN Tower 10004-104 Avenue Send your entry to Christmas Art and Story Contest, The Edmonton Journal, P.O. Box 2421. Edmonton, Alta. T5J 2S6. Contest entry deadline: December 17.

Journal employees and families are not eligible for this contest. Edmonton, Alberta TSJ 0K1 Attn. C. Stasynec in tne Edmonton Journal (pmonton.