Calgary Herald from Calgary, Alberta, Canada • 23

Sports CALGARY HERALD Monday, September 27, 2004 C3 CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE QBs prepare to draw straws XT' -K 1 I i Ted Rhodes, Calgary Herald Michael Souza, left, chatting with Marcus Crandell, wears a question mark at Stampeders practice Sunday morning. With the arrival of Khari Jones, the club's three rookie quarterbacks face an uncertain future in Calgary. 'Riders return to playoff territory Saprykin makes strides for Red Army HOCKEY Oleg Saprykin isn't wasting any time showing off for his new employers. The former Calgary Flames left-winger already has three goals in four games for CSKA Moskva of the Russian elite league. Saprykin, who was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in the summer, skated in 187 regular-season games for Calgary, the National Hockey League club that had drafted him 11th overall in 1999.

Meanwhile, Flames centre Marcus Nilson has no points and 12 penalty minutes in two appearances with Djur-gardens IF Stockholm of the Swedish elite league. Injury-ravaged Colts mauled by Huskies FOOTBALL The injury-depleted Calgary Colts bowed 30-13 Sunday to the homestanding Edmonton Huskies to remain winless in Prairie Football Conference play at 0-6. "I'm really proud of the guys," said Colts head coach Dave Diluzio. "They competed hard, battled to the end." With receiver John Kanarowski starting the game at quarterback due to injuries to Jason Borodenko and Brian Bergsma, the Colts led 13-5 at halftime on a Kanarowski rushing major and two field goals by Perri Scarcelli. "They came on in the second half and we weren't able to finish a couple of chances," said Diluzio.

"But considering our injury situation, I thought the guys played an excellent game." The Colts finish the season Saturday night at McMahon Stadium with a game against the Winnipeg Rifles. Hannett, Dawson win goalball gold PARALYMPICS Canada defended its title in women's goalball, swimmer Benoit Huot won his fifth gold medal and Paul Gauthier won Canada's first-ever gold medal in boccia Sunday at the Paralympic Games. Canada, with Calgary's Kelley Hannett in the lineup and Janice Dawson on the coaching staff, was the defending Paralympic champion in goalball, but hadn't beaten the Americans in a competition final for three years before Sunday, when the Canadians prevailed 3-1. "We were playing such a great defence," centre Amy Alsop said. "They just could not find any weakness to score on us at even-strength." Canada was sixth in the medals table with 63 medals (24 gold, 18 silver and 21 bronze) on Sunday.

China continued to lead with 122 (51 goals, 43 silver and 28 bronze). Canada's swimmers won eight medals, including three gold, on Sunday. At the track, Lisa Franks of Saskatoon won the gold in the women's 200-metre wheelchair sprint for paraplegics. Singh sets new PGA money mark GOLF Vijay Singh is running out of firsts to take away from Tiger Woods. Singh broke the PGA Tour single-year money record Woods set while winning three majors in 2000, holding off Stewart Cink to win the 84 Lumber Classic at Farmington, by one shot Sunday for his third consecutive victory.

Singh's eighth championship this year pushed his money total to $9,455,566 US in 26 events, surpassing Woods' $9,188,321. At Auburn, Christina Kim made a charge on the back nine Sunday, shooting a 6-under 65 at the Longs Drugs Challenge for a one-shot victory over Karrie Webb and her first LPGA win. At Cary, N.C., Craig Stadler delivered some good news to the rest of the Champions Tour: He won't be playing next week. Stadler won his third straight tournament on the circuit, claiming the SAS Championship with a tournament-record 17-under-par 199. American Ideal equals track record HORSE RACING American Ideal equalled Stampede Park's 1:55.1 track record for two-year old pacers in Sunday's Premier's Colt Stake division.

It was set by Tajma Hall in 2000. American Ideal, a $72,000 Kentucky yearling (owner Mac Nichol, trainer Jim Martin, driver John Chappell), overhauled pacesetting Weekend Bernie (Rod Hennessy) by 34 of a length with a 28.3-second closing quarter mile. In thoroughbreds, jockey Richard Hamel rode La Belle Fleur ($65.50 to win) to victory in Sunday's $40,000 Delta Colleen Handicap at Vancouver. Winning trainer Frank Barroby and co-owner Ernie Brarthwaite are both ex-AI-bertans. Jockey Quincy Welch and Alberta owners John Elick and Cecil Peacock finished up the track in the B.C.

Derby. One of Souza, Jones and Denison will have to go JOHN DOWN Calgary Herald Matt Dunigan made a big decision when he made THE trade. Now the rookie head coach and general manager of the Calgary Stampeders has to make several more. Right off the bat, there's a surplus of quarterbacks five to be precise in newly-acquired Khari Jones, veteran Marcus Crandell and rookies Tommy Jones, Michael Souza and Tommy Denison. Crandell is easy.

He suffered a hand injury during Friday's conquest of the B.C. Lions will spend the rest of the season on the injury reserve list Khari Jones is easy, too. He'll start in the Stampeders' home date with the Toronto Argonauts on Oct. 16. That leaves a short straw for one of the rookies.

"I told the guys this morning one of them would have to go," said Dunigan. "I'm very open with my guys, always am. "I laid it on the table that we're getting too many here that's the nature of the beast and they understand that." Souza, who rallied the Stamps in their upset of the Lions, would seem to be safe. He's pencilled in, at least for the moment, as the starter in Wednesday's joust at Toronto. "That's the plan for now," admitted Souza of his newfound starter status.

"It's a short week. We're keeping our package real simple. They've got a great defence and we'll take what they give us and try move the balL" Souza sees the arrival of Khari Jones as a big plus. "We lost Marcus in the last game and that's going to hurt us. He's kind of older, an experienced guy who settles all us rookies down and I think Khari will help take over that.

"I'm real young, Tommy's young, Denison's young so it'll be good for us with that kind of leadership. He's been around, done it all, like Marcus, so having those kinds of guys around is a positive even if it means less playing time." All-star defensive lineman Joe Fleming, fullback Scott Regimbald and second-year safety Wes Lysack were dealt to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for Jones, fullback Randy Bowles and a fourth-round draft choice. The Stamps automatically will plug Regimbald's position with Bowles, although probably not for Wednesday's game, and appear to have all kinds of depth on defence to fill the other vacancies quite capably. "I think Bowles could be the sleeper in the deal," said Dunigan. "He's hard-nosed, aggressive and gung-ho." The Stamps have been utilizing a three-man defensive rush but with the recent return of Demetrius Maxie and the expected return of the injured Antwone Young for the Oct.

16 game, they should remain solid when you include Garrett Smith and Sheldon Na-pastuk. So is it an easy adjustment? "It is and it isn't because you're losing one of your real good soldiers but yet we have some very fine soldiers here who are ready to go," said defensive coordinator Denny Creehan. Matt McKnight took most of the first team reps Sunday at Lysack's position but Terrence Moore and Pascal Mas-son also have credentials. "Wes is obviously a big loss but we have an abundance of talent to draw from and fill that void," said Dunigan." JDOWNISlTHEHERALD.CANWEST.COM Up next The Hitmen welcome the Central Division-rival Lethbridge Hurricanes on Wednesday (7 p.m.. The FAN 960 radio) at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

The weekend brings a three-city jaunt through Saskatchewan Prince Albert on Friday, Saskatoon on Saturday, Swift Current on Sunday. Scorr Crwckshank, Calgary Herald Summary First Period 1. Calgary, Getzlaf 1 (T omanek) 1:16 2. Calgary. Getzlaf 2, 19:42 (sh) Penalties Flatters RD (roughing) 634, Moscaluk Cal (holding stick) 1234.

White Cal (high-sticking) 18:15. Second Period 3. Red Deer, Fraser 2 (Kurceba) 1:34 Penalties Ladd Cal (cross-checking) 4:02, Rogers Cal (holding) 4:43, Herman RD (slashing) 8:42. Fraser RD (unsportsmanlike conduct), Getzlaf Cal (roughing) 95L, Flatters RD (interference) 12-50, Johnson RD. Moscaluk Cal (fighting) 17:46.

Third Period 4 Red Deer, Phaneuf 3. 15:49 Penalty Getzlaf Cal (roughing) 12: 10. Overtime No Scoring. Penalties None. Shots on goal by Red Deer 19 Calgary 13 10 1-31 Goal Red Deer Festa (T.l-O-1)-, Calgary: Bowles (T.0-1-1).

Power plays (goais-chances) Red Deer 0-5; Calgary. 0-3. Referee Rob Matsuoka. Linesmen Bryan Ambrogiano, Cam McMillan. Attendance From CI Trade: Fleming 'a great pro' "Joe was a great pro, a great leader in the locker-room, in the defensive meeting room and on the defensive field," said defensive co-ordinator Denny Creehan.

"He called lots of things. He worked hard, was there every day. You just can't say enough good things about him." Regimbald, unlike Fleming, was ambushed. "My name wasn't kicked around as much as Joe's or Lysack's and when it did happen I was a little bit surprised but that's the business," said the 28-year-old native of Montreal, who was marking his fifth season in Calgary. "I knew something was going to happen I just didn't know which one of us was going to go.

It ended up with my name being called so I go to Winnipeg and play some football." It's the first time Regimbald has been traded. "It's tough on one hand you're sad to leave the guys you've gone to battle with for so many years and it's exciting on other hand because you get to go play for a playoff contending team. "Hopefully both teams get what they need out of it and everybody's happy at the end of the day." JDOWNTHEHERALD.CANWEST.COM "Everything worked out for us this weekend, we just had to go out and do our part," Roughriders centre Jeremy O'Day said after the game before Taylor Field's 24,410 patrons. "Some other teams did us favours, but we're not out of the woods." The Roughriders improved to 6-8-0 with their second straight victory. Roughriders defensive back Santino Hall's third-quarter interception set up a go-ahead touchdown by Matt Dominguez, who was playing his first game since returning from the NFL's New York Jets.

"If I had caught only one pass and we won, I'd be happy," said Dominguez, Saskatchewan's leading receiver in 2003. "It's all about winning. And it seemed like everybody was feeding off each other." Although Saskatchewan remained in fourth place in the Western Division, the team technically took possession of third place in the Eastern Division and the CFL's wild-card playoff berth by moving ahead of the fourth-place Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-7-1) and fifth-place Renegades (5-9-0). The teams ahead of Saskatchewan in the Western Division standings the B.C. Lions (9-4-0), Edmonton Eskimos (7-7-0) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-8-0) lost their games last week.

Rebels get early-season jump on Alberta rivals DARRELL DAVIS CanWest News Service REGINA The Canadian Football League playoff race is getting tighter than an old wedding suit, thanks to a topsy-turvy weekend that ended with the Saskatchewan Roughriders wriggling into it with a 36-22 victory Sunday over the visiting Ottawa Renegades. Troy Fleece, Canadian Press Saskatchewan's Matt Dominguez brings down a 17-yard TD pass. day, they each scored once. And goalie Gerry Festa didn't allow a third-period goal on the weekend. "We play these guys 10 times," noted Fraser.

"Having a comeback is always good, but having a comeback against the Hitmen they're a very good hockey team." However, it's going to be an awfully long winter unless the Rebels overhaul their starts. They were outscored by a combined 6-2 in the opening 40 minutes. "It's pretty tough to win hockey games when you're only playing a period or two at a time," said Fraser. "Guys just weren't assertive enough right off the hop that includes every guy. You've got to be ready." And the white-clad visitors clearly weren't, allowing two first-period goals to Ryan Getzlaf.

Fraser scored in the second period, Phaneuf capped things in the third. "In attention to our detail, we were sloppy," said Sutter, whose boys kick off a five-game journey Friday, going through Regina, Brandon, Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw. "But then we tightened up and played a lot better. Our focus was to give ourselves a chance to win in the third that's how we looked at the second period." SCRUtCKSHANK a THEHERAUXCANWEST.COM HITMEN GAME STORY Red Deer 2 at Calgary 2 SCOTT CRUICKSHANK Calgary Herald There's enough good news to keep the Red Deer Rebels from panicking. Forced into playing catch-up, they still managed nearly maximum point production against the Calgary Hitmen during the Western Hockey League's opening weekend.

And the Rebels did it the hard way overcoming a 4-1 deficit Friday to bag an overtime victory in Red Deer; erasing the Hitmen's two-goal lead to earn a 2-2 tie Sunday at the Pengrowth Saddledome. "It's only two games into the season," said Rebels boss Brent Sutter, "but to get three points against your No. 1 All that, Sutter pointed out, despite the fact that his team is younger than last year's edition, despite the fact that he's re-tooling the blue-line. "But we've had a few guys in that dressing room really dig their heels in," said Sutter. "You need leadership and your core guys have to be the important players for you." The identity of those players is no mystery.

In Friday's rip-roaring comeback, captain Colin Fraser and Dion Phaneuf accounted for six scoring points. Sun Herald's Three Stars Calgary Ryan Getzlaf Supplies the hosts with first two goals of the game, both in first period. 2. Red Deer Colin Fraser Scrappy veteran boosts Rebels' fortunes with second period's lone goal. 3.

Calgary LW Lee Zalasky Never stops moving, overager draws penalties, forechecks like a madman. Turning point Down by two at the first intermission, the Rebels are sparked by their captain. Fraser, from in close, snaps the puck over 6 Scott Bowles' shoulder to get the visitors on the board and to put hope in their minds. The rejuvenated Rebels, who kept the Hitmen without a shot for the first half of the second period, scrape out a hard-earned point Roster report Calgary Paul Gentile, LW Cody McMullin, LW Isaac Reid. RW Aaron Roberge and RW Konstantin Pushkarev were the scratches.

The Hitmen lost the services of rookie RW Keegan Dansereau and Andy Rogers to an unspecified injuries. Red Deer Colbi Zavisha, Matthew dine. RW Jordan Knackstedt and RW Chase Lai Mxrf were scratched. ONLINE EXTRAS Jeffrey Loria's Marlins arrive for what could be Expos' final homestand. Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver crow over boxing defeat of Roy Jones Jr.

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