The Vancouver Sun from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada • 48

D3 The Vancouver Sun, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1 992 HIGH SCHOOL TtJLief Mouat tackles Vancouver College, tradition LYNDON LITTLE Vancouver Sun Tradition never scored a touchdown. Or kicked a convert But don't underestimate its power at any level of football. By all odds, Vancouver College Fighting Irish and W. J.

Mouat Hawks are two evenly matched football teams, all primed to vie for the provincial double A title when the B.C. high school finals are played Wednesday at B.C. Place Stadium. But there is where the similarities end. While the Irish will be attempting to add yet another volume to the school's already well-stocked library of grid lore, the Hawks are simply hoping to author their opening chapter.

"A win Wednesday would definitely be a major boost to our school in terms of building a tradition," says Mouat head coach Denis Kelly. "It would be something unique for our school, something we could all take pride in. "We certainly can't match College in terms of tradition. Hopefully, though, we can get something started of our own." Opened in 1975, Mouat, from Clearbrook, is a school in search of an athletic identity. It has long languished in the shadow of the more established Abbotsford Senior Secondary.

That fact served as significant motivation in the decision to start a football program in 1987. "The two guys at the school who were most responsible for starting football were Jim Latham and Tony DeWitt," explains Kelly. "They found a lot of good kids were leaving the school to attend Abottsford RALPH BOWER-EYES ON THE PRIZE: Eyeballing provincial high school Andrew Irving (Vancouver College), Derek Orr grid titles in Wednesday's finals are, from left, Darren Mario Venafro (John Oliver), Mike Horan (STM), Alex' Rowell (Mouat), Jerome Pathon (Carson Graham), Lando (College) and Jamie Calhoun (George Pearkes). Driver Foyt reluctant to seek retirement A reluctant A.J. Foyt again hinted that the end of his racing career may be at hand.

But as in the past, he couldn't quite bring himself to rule out one more try at the Indianapolis 500. The four-time Indy winner, walking with a limp from serious injuries that have limited his racing schedule the past two years, named young Robby Gordon Monday as his team driver for the 1993 IndyCar series, including Indianapolis. "Indy's been very good to me," said Foyt, who has driven at the Speedway the past 35 years and will turn 58 in January. He deferred any questions concern-ing an official retirement announcement. "It's going to be a new experience for a lot of guys.

Right now, we're going to give Robby 110 per cent, and try to get him going fast." Gessner takes prize Former provincial Tankard runnerup Brian Gessner of the Royal City Club defeated Abbotsford's Milt Sinclair 7-3 in the championship game of the $23,000 Labatt's Golden Ears Curling Classic Monday night. Gessner, runnerup to Bernie Sparkes in the 1987 Tankard, reached the final with a 6-3 tri-umph over Dave Senft of Abbotsford while Sinclair advanced with an 8-6 semi-final victory over Doug Marshall, also of Abbotsford. Earlier Monday, Sinclair beat Bruce Law of the Royal City Club 7-6 and Gessner topped Gary Sigurdson of Surrey 5-3. Gessner's winning rink takes home $7,500. Pacer destroyed Bret Hanover, who retired as the richest and fastest harness-racing horse of all time, died over the weekend at age 30.

He had been suffering from colic and was humanely destroyed Saturday night at Castleton Farm, where he had stood at stud. Bret Hanover won 62 of "It (tradition) is a bit of a help," concedes the Irish coach. "I know iViot frAm on It titer orroirtcf Tivf ft'" 1 Dame when they had all that success; double A three seasons ago. Last year, they made it to the provincial quarter-finals before losing to Notre Dame. This year, they upset the No.

1-ranked Jugglers in the quarters and last Friday earned a spot in the finals with a 21-10 triumph over Richmond Colts. "We feel we have a total (football) program going now," says Kelly, himself a Vancouver College grad because they had football." With aproximately 1,300 students, a stadium across the street and a good weight room and physio facilities, Kelly and his assistants have all the necessary tools. But building a football program doesn't happen overnight. That's why a win Wednesday would be a major plus. The Hawks started out in single A football in 1987 then moved up to and former assistant coach.

"We've also got grade eight and junior teams. The whole school's pretty excited about us being in the final. Our school has top programs in other areas, such as music. But football helps raise our profile right across B.C." College head coach Paul Dal Monte recognizes the value of tradition. NHL guuig iur mem.

dui, comes down to the players." The double A final is scheduled for an 8:45 p.m. kickoff. That game will be preceded by the grade eight tinal. -Wll- mm mm Philly's phenom maintains grip on rookie honors iviiee mjmy leaves-- Lindros on bench for at least a week Associated Press CANADIAN PRESS BLUE BOMBER g.m. Cal Murphy, recuperating from heart transplant, waves to fans at Eastern final.

It was Murphy's first game since July surgery. CFL Eskimo veterans look for hope Canadian Press EDMONTON They filled big green garbage bags with the remnants of a football season cut one week too short piled up pens, dirty old socks, good luck charms and pictures. The Edmonton Eskimos lost their fourth West Division final in the last five years Sunday, but veterans Blake Dermott, Jim Sandusky, Blake Marshall and others were looking ahead to next year in the CFL. "I was telling the guys three weeks ago we're going to make it," said Sandusky, the peppy wide receiver who was among the most upbeat of the Eskimos Monday as they cleaned out lockers and met one last time. "We've got a lot to work on next year, but we did a lot this year to build on for next year.

Our goal at the beginning of the season was just to get into a position where we had a shot at going to the Grey Cup." The Eskimos got off to a 7-2 start and first place in the West, but then they ran into the Calgary Stampeders and injury problems. The Stamps beat them here, although Edmonton won the next week on Labor Day. Quarterback Tracy Ham and Marshall, the bruising fullback, suffered injuries and the Eskimos lost six of their last nine games, barely beating out Saskatchewan for third place in the West. They managed to eke out a 22-20 victory over the Roughriders in the western semi-final when Dave Ridg-way slipped attempting the game-winning field goal on the final play. But Calgary turned the tables Sunday.

"Every year you've got to make changes," said Dermott. "We obviously weren't good enough this year, but we were very close, and a lot of people didn't think we were going to be this close." Cowtown refuses to describe game as duel with Dunigan CALGARY With every recounting of the 1991 Grey Cup story, the legend of Matt Dunigan's courageous performance seems to grow. His ailing shoulder shot full of painkillers, he rallied some say willed the Toronto Argos to a 36-21 win over the Calgary Stampeders. The Stamps will meet Dunigan in another Grey Cup this Sunday. But they aren't buying the matchup against the now-Winnipeg Blue Bomber quarterback as a duel against the "the guy who beat us last year." "I certainly don't believe Matt Dunigan beat us last year," said Stampeder linebacker Matt Finlay.

"If you look at the stats last year, they had 175 yards in total offence." Calgary head coach Wally Buono was just as blunt. "I don't think you can under estimate the emotional lift a team gets from a guy who's playing even though he's beat up," said Buono. "But his will had nothing to do with us not catching kickoffs, with us not tackling the Rocket on kickoffs." A day after Doug Flutie had secured the CFL's West final with a winning touchdown run in the dying seconds to cap a 77-yard drive, his Calgary Stampeder teammates were still marvelling at the magic man's abilities. "Unbelievable," said Finlay, who along with the rest of the defence had presented the dazzling little pivot the defensive game ball. Doug's the only person, probably in the world, capable of doing that.

Any time left is enough time for Doug. He certainly is a miracle worker." Calgary centre Doug Davies sprained his right ankle Sunday and missed three series. But he is expected to be ready for Grey Cup. GARY KINGSTON Campbell counts on Eskimo future CAM COLE Associated Press No matter how well guys like Teemu Selanne, Dimitri Kvartalnov or Felix Potvin perform, the NHL's rookie-of-the-year award is Eric Lindros' to lose. When Lindros joined the Philadelphia Flyers after sitting out last season because he refused to play for Quebec, the Calder Trophy winner for the league's top first-year player became a virtual lock.

Although Selanne, Kvartalnov and Potvin are off to flying starts, Lindros is living up to his great expectations. Lindros came into the league as the most heralded player since Mario Lemieux in 1984. And he hasn't disappointed, with 15 goals and 13 assists in 20 games while playing on the Crazy Eights line with Mike Recchi and Brent Fedyk. The teenage phenom suffered stretched ligaments in his left knee against Buffalo on Sunday, but is only expected to be out of action for a week. The players are so named because they are linked by the numbers on their jerseys: 88 for Lindros, 8 for Recchi and 18 for Fedyk.

Selanne, one of many good European imports in the NHL, got Winnipeg fans excited with a three-goal outing only five games into his pro career. "He will be able to break open a game by himself," Jets assistant coach Alpo Suhonen said about Selanne, a right-winger who led all rookies with 16 goals in his first 20 games. The Jets paid a lot for Selanne, but he appears to be worth his $1.5 million signing bonus and $400,000 yearly contract. "I just try to do the things I'm good at," said Selanne, who scored 72 goals in 86 games the past two seasons for Jokerit of the Finnish league and was the Jets' No. 1 draft pick in 1988.

"You just have to work hard and do what you can do well." So far, he has looked good to Winnipeg coach John Paddock. "He can be a star player," Paddock said, "and later in his career he can be a solid leader." Selanne was named rookie of the month for October. Kvartalnov has been another of the early-season rookie leaders while playing on the top Bonanza Line at Boston with fellow rookie Joe Juneau and Adam Oates. Juneau, another rookie-of-the-year candidate from the Canadian Olympic team, scored a point in each of the Bruins' first 14 games. He had eight goals and 17 assists after 18 games.

"They don't have to dump and chase because they've got so much speed through the neutral zone," assistant coach Tommy McVie said of the Bruins' top line. "It's such a dangerous line that it looks like they might score every time down the ice." Kvartalnov, a left-winger, had 12 goals and 10 assists after 14 games. "He certainly loves shooting and he's good at it," Bruins dofenceman Kay Bourque said about the rookie from Russia. "All three guys eomple- 68 races and $922,616 during his career from 1964-66. Reports mistaken The Canadian Press distributed erroneous reports Oct.

24 and Nov. 1 saying 21 NHL clubs, the NHL pension society and Manufacturers' Life Insurance Co. were ordered by the Ontario Court of Justice to return about $25 million plus interest in surplus pension funds to former NHL players who retired before 1982. In fact, Manufacturers' Life was represented separately and no claims were made by the players against the firm. Bargains abound Judy Nelson, former companion of Martina Navratilova, has sold jewelry, furniture and art work from her years with the tennis star.

A weekend auction raised more than $200,000 for Nelson who lived with Navratilova from 1984 until last year. Their relationship ended in a bitter court battle last year. A $46,000 dining set brought a necklace with heart-shaped diamonds that retailed for $12,000 fetched $3,250. Threat grounds team A flight carrying the Benfica soccer team to a European Cup game in Moscow was called back to the airport 20 minutes after takeoff Monday because of a bomb threat, officials of the national airline TAP said. Airport officials ordered the flight back to the runway after police learned that Portuguese TSF radio had received a message threatening the flight.

The plane, carrying Benfica players, coaches, journalists and fans to a game against Russia's Dynamo Moscow, was searched by police after landing. No explosives were found and the flight was cleared for takeoff. Montana mending Joe Montana, his surgically repaired passing elbow finally showing signs of recovery, will be added to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad this week, rejoining club workouts as the scout-team quarterback. Montana, who remains on injured reserve, will play the role of Philadelphia quarterback Randall Cunningham during the club's practices on Wednesday and Friday, 49crs coach (ioorge Seifcrt suid Monday. Barrassobcst Goalie Tom Rarrasso of the Pittsburgh Penguins was named NHL player of the week on Monday after winning three straight games and posting the 17th shutout of his career.

Edmonton Journal General manager Hugh Campbell says he has too much work to do in Edmonton to consider leaving the Eskimos for another job in the Canadian Football League. And he's counting on Ron Lancaster sticking around to help him get it done. But Lancaster hedged Monday when asked if he would definitely be back as head coach. "Right now? I don't know what I want to do," said Lancaster, who was rumored late in the season to be considering giving up coaching and returning to the CBC broadcast booth. "Those were just rumors, and I tried not to answer them because it always comes out wrong.

I've had no discussions with anybody about anything, and that even goes for coaching here. I don't believe you can do two things at once, and I found I had enough things to do as long as this season was in progress." However, Lancaster has been made aware that the job is his if he wants it "Yeah, pretty well. That was about the extent of our conversation," he said and Campbell has no reason to think his former Saskatchewan Roughriders teammate has soured on coaching. "I haven't seen anything in any way, shape or form that even hinted he was wanting to talk about it in a negative way," said Campbell. "I think he's done a great job and seems to be growing in the job with every game." He gave Lancaster and his staff high marks for developing "esprit de corps" among the players, as well as for adapting to adverse weather conditions and getting the maximum effort out of their players in Sunday's heartbreaking 23-22 loss to Calgary in the Western Final.

VOORHEES, N.J. Rookie sensa-' tion Eric Lindros of the Philadel-1 phia Flyers will be out of action for at least one week with a left knee, the team said Monday After putting the 19-year-old 1 through a magnetic resonance imag'v ing test, team doctor Arthur Barto-, lozzi said Lindros had suffered just a sprain, not a tear, in Sunday's 4-4 tie against Buffalo. .7 The injury will keep Lindros benched for at least a week and maybe two not the four to six envisioned in the worst-case scenario. "It's not a big deal," Lindros "It's not a big production." Just 1:40 into the game, Lindros and tammate Mark Recchi sand--' wiched Buffalo defenceman Petr Svoboda against the boards. Lindros landed awkwardly on his left knee and could not get up.

Lindros came to Philadelphia 1 bearing the weight of great expecta-. tions and has lived up to his billing he was tied with Mark Roc" chi as the team's goal-scoring leader" (15) and is second in points (28). Lindros was tied with Teemu Selanne for the rookie scoring lead before the injury. He walked gingerly at practice Monday and wore a brace that extended from his thigh to mid-calf. "The brace looks scary but it's not a big deal.

I get injured all the time," he said. He says the injury won't make him change his aggressive style of play. "This is the way I've played since I was a kid," he said. "I can't change my style. I'm not going to be effec-tive if I change." The Quebec Nordiques chose dros as the No.

1 overall pick in the 1991 NHL entry draft, but he refused to play for them. He was eventually traded to Philadelphia. for six players, the Flyers first-round draft picks in 199 and 1994, and $15 million. ment each other; they've been scary out there. Afier five years in the Soviet elite league, Kvartalnov enjoyed an award-winning year in his first season in North America, earning MVP and rookie-of-the-year honors in the i International Hockey League last season.

Kvartalnov signed as a free agent with the San Diego Gulls and led the IHL with 60 gouls and 58 assists for. 118 points. Potvin has been a pleasant surprise in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs. The second-year pro was expected to return to the Leafs' American Hockey League affiliate in St. John's.

But injuries to Gnanf" Fuhr and Rick Wamsley elevated Potvin to No. 1 status and he's responded. STAMPS: Burr under Calgary players' saddles Continued from D7 really had only one or two changes during the season. You know what the guy beside you is going to do. Everyone depends on each other." Finlay, who already has a long list of ticket requests from relatives in the Toronto area, says he's not surprised to be facing the Bombers.

"I actually picked Winnipeg at the beginning of the season to be in the Grey Cup. They've always had the great defence, they've got one of the most solid offensive lines In the league, they picked up Dunigan and they added Richardson in mid-season." Now all Finlay and his mates have to do is stop them. points and net yards in the entire CFL. Five Stampeders made the West Division all-star team on defence, including Finlay, the 30-year-old weak-side linebacker. Fiery and intense on the field, the six-foot-two, 225-pound native of Toronto is a compassionate softy away from the helmet-jarring part of his life.

In fact, he and defensive tackle Kent Warnock, a six-foot-seven, 270-pounder, opened up Gentle Giants last off-season, a company specializing in home and pet care. "We're a better defence than we were last year," says Finlay. "We've played together a year now and we Bomber quarterback Matt Dunigan missed both regular-season games between Winnipeg and Calgary. But despite his return and the climate-controlled conditions inside the Sky Dome, Stampeder head coach Wally Buono doesn't expect the Bombers to shelve the ground game. "You better dance with who brung you," said Buono in a bit of homespun colloquialism.

But if the Bombers bring Richardson and mix in a healthy Dunigan, Buono can counter with a dominating defence that allowed the fewest.