Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 22

C2 SPORTS Monday, November 2, 1998 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan The StarPhoenix Curling becomes game of big shots "And the curlers are in better shape. Like any bly boring game. Now we're two up and we're other sport, there's better skilled players today because of players before them." attacking. I cant think of an end we Ye run in the last two months." DOUG MCCONACHSE SP Sports Editor Today's rinks are as specialized as a heart replacement team. "Your front has to have the touch to set up the game and your third has to "The three-rock rule has had a tremendous impact," adds Middaugh.

In his mind, it comes down to the two Cs: conditions and confidence. With good conditions, curlers believe they can make any shot And when they do make them, the confidence builds. Soon they'll try anything. Shots that were not even contemplated five shot," says Martin. "And 1 every (great) rink has the 1 horses to get them out of trouble." Ernie Richardson wouldn't last four ends with these suys.

Big Hec Gervais, Ron Northcott and Bob (Pee Wee) Pickering would be facing six by the time they came to throw skip rocks. In their days they were damn good curlers; the best in the world. But in the last 30 years, changes to the sport have been revolutionary. Games have as much strategy as a chess match. The participants are athletes OK, with the exception of Ed Werenich and the money they play for is enough to buy a new 4x4 every year.

Gone are the days of wearing Cowichans. Homeowners wouldn't even clean house now with the brooms teams once used. The game has changed plenty. Heck, it's changing as you read this. Two of the world's best skips, who will be in Saskatoon this week for the $100,000 Husky Oil Classic say the near perfect ice and the near perfect rocks common to today's game have made it a sport for gamblers.

You go on attack, you take chances, and if you're successful, you walk away with $20,000 or Ll chansed. thoueh. The Kevin Martin $40,000 for a weekend's work, says Edmonton's Kevin Martin, who has pocketed $120,000 in winning the Classic each of the last two years. "Big shots are more routine," adds Toronto's Wayne Middaugh, whose (Much Money) rink is $44,000 richer already this season after winning four straight bonspiels. "You're not afraid to try tough shots and go to the wall because drawing the button isn't as tough, even ifyou're facing three or four." 1 Martin says the way he calls a game today has "changed tenfold in five a complete 360." "In the old days, you'd try and get two up and then run the game away.

That made for a horri Wayne Middaugh game still has to be fun. Middaugh says his team took curling a little too seriously last season, especially in a bid to go to the Olympics. "This year we said let's go have fun. With more than $44,000 in their pocket two months before Christmas, what more fun can they have? years ago are routine today. Alberta's Pat Ryan and Ed Lukowich started the trend, Martin says.

"Because they'd attempt those out-of-this-world type shots. Not that they'd make a lot of them, but we'd copy them their good points, and work that into our game. Bryden rink has grand time in Saskatoon, and not done yet A A ml BaflflE for Jacula and his teammates, who also see action in the Lloydminster Super League. They hoped to get a workout; they outdistanced 39 other teams in the process. "We came out to get a little practice and get to know each other," said Jacula, 51, who is in his first year as a senior.

"It worked out very well." Jacula curls with Bob Manners at third, Ed Lee at second and Dave Hancock at lead. They won their first two games of the bonspiel in extra ends and took the third with a last shot "We got some breaks going our way, then as the days went on, we-got stronger as a team," Jacula said. The weekend event is Saskatchewan's biggest-paying seniors cash 'spiel. Humble second in SuperSpiel Vic Peters of Winnipeg edged Brian Humble of Saskatoon 7-5 in the final of the McCain SuperSpiel West bonspiel Sunday in Portage la Prairie, Man. Peters and his team of lead Don Harvey, second Chris Neufeld and third Dave Smith won $12,000 plus a spot in the $100,000 McCain TSN Skins Game on Dec.

12-13 in St John's, Nfld, Humble and his rink of lead Rod Antonichuk, second Wayne Charteris and third Clint Dieno won $8,000. Gerald Shymko of Calder won $3,000 for reaching the championship round. freeze to a Bryden stone at the back of the four-foot, but came up just a little heavy to leave an open tap for the win. "Two feet shorter and Renelle would have had a tough shot," said Holland, who worked her way through the C-side to get to the final. Said Bryden of her last shot "I was digging my fingers into the ice so hard they were starting to hurt" Bryden, who came through the side, is originally from Regina and moved to Calgary because of job commitments.

Stefaniuk and Ford are also natives of Saskatchewan, while Jenkins is a longtime Alberta curler. Bryden said coming back for the Husky Classic is a bonus. "You cant help but thrive on an opportunity to play against the best," she said. "It can't help but elevate your game. In the senior event, Sandy Turner and her rink of third Cordelia Schwengler, second Marilyn Toews and lead Dar-lene Breckenridge defeated Sharon Wankel7-6inllends.

Jacula wins senior 'spiel At the Hub City Curling Club, Dean Jacula and his new rink went 6-0 at the senior men's cash bonspiel. Jacula, who curls out of Lloydminster, beat Saskatoon's Ron Mills in the final and claimed $3,200. Mills won $1,600. It was the first bonspiel of the season By Scott Larson and Kevin Mitchell of The StarPhoenix For Renelle Bryden and company, the trip back to Calgary will be short; just time enough to pack some clean clothes and tell the boss they'll be out of town the rest of the week. Bryden and her rink of third Sandra Jenkins, second Nicole Stefaniuk and lead Cindy Ford edged Amber Holland of Regina 6-5 to win the Park Town Hotel Ladies Classic on Sunday.

The win was worth $7,000 and a berth in the Husky Oil Curling Classic in beginning Wednesday at SaskPlace. "We're coming back on Tuesday," said Bryden, an accountant with Wascana Energy. Tm just thinking what I'll tell the boss The Parktown final was a match featuring old friends. Holland was Bry-den's third for three years. "It was fun playing Holland," said Bryden, who had to make a light tap-back on her final shot for the win.

Added Holland: "We're really good friends and I enjoyed playing against her." After Holland tied the game 5-5 in the eighth, Bryden blanked the ninth. In the 10th, Holland attempted to iiiiiiii SP Photo by Greg Pender In winning the Park Town Classic, Renelle Bryden of Calgary also got a berth In the Husky Oil Classic beginning Wednesday Sizzling start for Contacts, undefeated in 1 1 games ii m. 1 1 1 1 i urn. wwft "Any team can beat any other team," said Mcln By Darren Zary of The StarPhoenix tyre, who is surprised at his team's great start after losing many of the key players like Trevor Bayda, Dean Beuker and Marvin Foth who helped take the Contacts all the way to the Air Canada Cup nationals last spring. "Willow Cree and Moose Jaw have given us a run, as well as the Blazers." Blazers 9, Mailers 4 The Blazers dumped the visiting Yorkton Parkland Mailers 94 on Saturday at Harold Latrace Arena.

The Blazers improved to 7-2-2. Chris Hill and Ryan Carson paced Saskatoon with two goals and two assists apiece. Carter Thomson also tallied twice for the Blazers, who outshot Yorkton 37-31 but trailed 4-3 after two periods. Colby Armstrong, Garett Cameron and Kim Wells also scored for Saskatoon. Justin Keller, with two, Andrew Walbauer and Clint Belitsky replied for Yorkton.

Rob Kemp made 27 saves for the Blazers. Blazers 6, Hounds 0 The Blazers dominated the Notre Dame Hounds on Sunday, winning 64). Marc Neilson had two goals, one of which was a power-play marker, while Carter Thomson, Garett Cameron with a shorthanded goal, Ryan Carson and Brandon Boon all contributed singles. Carson and Tyler Procyshyn each had two assists. Rob Kemp had a busy night in goal for Saskatoon, but stopped all 41 shots.

The game was played in Outlook in front of 325 fans. Contacts 10, Pat Canadians 1 The way the Saskatoon Contacts are going, it doesnt seem like they're ever going to lose a game. "Oh, it will happen," Contacts head coach Jim Mclntyre said after yet another win, this time a 10-1 drubbing of the Regina Pat Canadians on Saturday at Schroh Arena. "The league is tight" Despite league parity, the defending Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League champions are off to an impressive 9-0-2 start What's the secret to the Contacts' success? "I would say defensive play and goaltending," said Mclntyre, whose team also displays an unmatched work ethic. "We got five key kids back (defenceman and team captain) Dustin Lloyd, (goalie) Billy Thompson, Bryce Mawbey, Brad Baron and Michael Broadfoot and I guess that helps." On Saturday, rookie Trevor Len led the Contacts with a hat trick and one assist Baron chipped in with a goal and three assists.

Mawbey had a goal and two assists. Kelsey Muench, Blaine Depper, Trevor Bayda, Rory McMahon and Kevin Broad rounded out the scoring for Saskatoon. Kane Ludwar replied for the Canadians, who fell to 5-5 for the season. Rookie Geoff Mcintosh made 22 saves for the Contacts, who led 34) and 6M) by periods. Still, coach Mclntyre expects a tough go of it this season.

Weybum cooking on power play 3 I because we're a checking hockey team," said Wings coach Dwight McMillan. "It was tough on the flow. "We had to just try and play a checking game, slow it down, get it choppy. We did a good job of that" This wasnt just another game. For the Rage, it meant a chance to escape the basement in the South Division.

For the Wings, it was their opportunity to make sure the Rage stayed put With the loss, Saskatoon fell to 6-14-1. Weybum is 7-11-2. "The guys just don't want it right now," said McCafferty. "We have a good club when we work hard. Penalties are really hurting us right now." Jeff Schaefer, Sergei Sinicin, Mike Weisgerber, Christian Cote and JeffMilliken scored for Weybum, which led 2-1 and 3-1 by periods.

Trevor Wingert and Ryan Becker replied for Saskatoon. The Wings were coming off a 3-2 win Saturday in North Battleford over the North Stars. Johnston was solid in the Weybum net turning aside 41 shots. Saskatoon returns to action Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. against the Melville Millionaires at Harold Latrace Arena.

By Darren Zary of The StarPhoenix Weybum 5, Saskatoon For the Saskatoon Rage, it was a recipe for disaster. For the Weybum Red Wings, it turned out to be their meal ticket For hockey fans, however, it was a game that had as much flow as thick and lumpy pancake mix, thanks to 28 minor penalties called by referee Chris Callaghan. Nonetheless, the Red Wings ate it all up in a 5-2 victory Sunday night in Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League action at Harold Latrace Arena "Just stinky, stinky hockey," said Rage head coach Corey McCafferty, who was less than satisfied with his team's effort Even though it was Weyburn's third game in three nights, Saskatoon could not seize the win. "They were ripe for the pickin'," noted McCafferty. Weybum scored three power-play goals.

"Our team has to win with the power play 301 CONFEDERATION DRIVE SASKATOON WEST STORE PHONE: 384-1212 PARTS PHONE: 384-2800 THE CENTRE AT CIRCLE 8TH STREET, SASKATOON STORE PHONE: 373-3666 PARTS PHONE: 373-8100 A euttoni nyr In yotVyoM1 -mail wMkly AE98-13M.