Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 15

Monday, November 16, 1987 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Star-Phoenix Sports B3 Bobcats, inspired by Skinner, surprise Huskies of the Alberta Pandas with a 57-56 win at the Education Gym on Saturday. "Everything was positive this weekend," said Huskiettes coach Trade McAra. "I don't think this has happened for a long time." Alberta held a 27-21 halftime lead, but Saskatchewan took control early in the second half and established a six-point lead. "I was surprised at how quickly we came back," said McAra. "We knew we didn't play well in the first half.

Winning Friday gave us that extra confidence that we could come back and win." Pat Lofstrom, was the Huskiettes' top scorer with 17 points. "She had her best game this year," McAra said of Lofstrom. "She got everything going for us. She's been struggling offensively and defensively, but everything came together for her. She was very aggressive on offence and hit some key hoops." Andrea Karwacki added 12 points for Saskatchewan, while Cheryl Galenza led Alberta with 15.

The Huskiettes will play host to Victoria this weekend. "We got to keep moving on, we can't stop here" said McAra. "These were big wins, tough wins. This should help us, even against the tougher teams, have more confidence as a team." In men's action, the Huskies won the Manitoba Bisons Invitation Tournament, defeating To. ronto Blues 90-70 to finish with a 3f 0 record.

Byron Tokarchuk, who scored 31 points against Toronto, was named the tournament MVP. Volleyball Alberta Pandas scored a 15-13, 15-3, 10-15, 15-10 win over Saskatchewan Huskiettes in Canada West action In Edmonton on Sat; urday. The teams split their two game weekend series. and Ken Morrison took advantage of a five-minute cross-checking major assessed to Thompson. "From our point of view, we held them to two goals on that power play and that was good," said Arnett.

"It kind of set the tone for us, that we were going to be aggressive. We could see in the warm-ups that they weren't as sharp as they were the night before, and as long as we could be more aggressive we could make it interesting." Troy Sambrook and Trevor Thomas scored power-play goals for Brandon to tie the game in the second, before Larry Korchinski deflected Ken Lovsin's point shot for the Huskies' third extra-strength marker. Kevin Mantell scored early in the third period to tie the game 3-3. "A tie game in our building in the third period, that should be our game," fumed McEwen. "I sensed in the second period that our guys had some doubt that they would win.

It was like there was some panic on the bench. That's my fault, maybe they think I'm panicking. I should have them thinking that even if we're two goals down, we're going to win." "We saw they were tight," said Thompson, the Bobcats' captain. "In between the second and third, we talked about how the pressure was all on them because of the way they routed us. We just had to play hard and it paid off." John Ziemanski turned in a solid performance in the Brandon net, stopping 30 shots, while Greg Holtby finished with 18 saves for Saskatchewan.

The loss was Saskatchewan's first at home in six games this season, and dropped their overall mark to 54-1. Brandon is 3-7. Basketball Last year it took the Saskatchewan Huskiettes their full schedule to win two games. This season, they accomplished that their first weekend by completing a sweep Powell foursome curls up a storm By Ken Juba of the Star-Phoenix Put Brandon Bobcats assistant-coach Tom Skinner right up there beside Knute Rockne when you're talking about inspirational speeches. One night after Saskatchewan Huskies bombed the Bobcats 15-2, Skinner lit a fire under his Brandon team which propelled them to a 54 upset win over the Dogs at Rutherford Rink on Saturday.

"I just stepped aside and let Tom go," said Brandon head coach Mark Arnett. "He was really fired up. He called this game a '10-year He told them '10 years from now, when you're talking to your kid and he says, 'Dad, were you a good hockey it's not the games when you scored five goals you'll think of. It's the times you had to dig down for something." It would have been very easy for Brandon to roll over and play Coffey bitter TORONTO (CP) Paul Coffey is more bitter than frustrated about the impasse in contract talks with Oilers' management and the holdout defenceman has all but ruled out ever playing for Edmonton again. "With each day that goes on, it makes me more and more mad that they are doing what they are doing," Coffey said Sunday.

"It makes it almost impossible to go back and play for the same guy who's doing the negotiating. "The way things have went, probably the best thing for me and the best thing for them is for me to be traded from the hockey team It has gone on a way too long. Any athlete will tell you there is a time when you have to move on and I think my time is now." Coffey said neither he nor his agent, Gus Badali, have heard from Oilers owner Peter Pock-lington nor general manager Glen Sather since they rejected a contract proposal two weeks ago. The native of Toronto is staying with his parents and trying to keep in shape by working out with two area Junior teams four times a week. Coffey believes money is no longer the issue for Sather.

"It has become a personal thing with Sather if he trades me, I bet he'll try to get the worst deal possible for me." If Sather won't trade him, Coffey would like to play for Canada's Olympic hockey team. But Sather has already ruled that out. Sather has said it's impossible because Coffey would have to clear waivers and "every team in the NHL would try to pick him up." Coffey noted former Oilers goalie Andy Moog and defenceman Craig Redmond of the Los Angeles Kings joined the Olympic program with little difficulty. "If they (Edmonton) are not going to trade me, I don't think they can rob me of my rights to play for my country," Coffey said. "You can't tell me Andy Moog was waived through the NHL.

There is just no way. "I definitely would like to play for the Olympic team. It is on the top of my list." dead after Friday's debacle the Huskies played like that was expected but the Bobcats refused to surrender Saturday's game. Even after Ken Morrison's second goal of the game gave Saskatchewan a 4-3 lead with less than eight minutes remaining, the Bobcats battled back. Jeff Smith snapped a shot past Greg Holtby on a two-on-one to tie the game, and Bruce Thompson intercepted Marty Hillis's clearing pass in the Huskie zone and netted the winner with 1:08 remaining.

"Everybody except our players knew Brandon was a better team than they showed the night before," said Huskies coach Brent McEwen, who was visibly upset by his team's performance. "I should have made sure they were better prepared for it. It's my job to make sure that enthusiasm is there, and I didn't do it." Despite their lethargic effort, Saskatchewan managed a 2-0 first-period lead, when Dan Leier for 20 minutes without their C03Ctl6S. "We've been struggling," Dale Hawerchuk said. "We lapsed a couple of minutes tonight.

We've just got to get home and win." Kelly Kisio, Marcel Dionne, Brian Mullen and John Ogrodnick also scored for the Rangers, while Andrew McBain, with two goals, Paul MacLean and Ray Neufeld tallied for Winnipeg. Sabres 5 Maple Leafs 4 Defenceman Phil Housley scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season to spark the Buffalo Sabres to a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Buffalo goaltender Jacques Cloutier stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced. Adam Creighton, Doug Smith and Ray Sheppard scored for the Sabres. Al Secord led the Leafs with two goals, while singles went to Ed Olczyk and Dale Degray.

Flames 8 Canucks 4 Three third-period goals by Brett Hull sent the Calgary Flames to a 84 win over the Vancouver Canucks. It was Hull's first three-goal performance in" the NHL. Other scorers for the Flames were Brian Glynn, Mike Bullard, Carey Wilson, Brad McCrimmon and Hakan Loob. fly Heather By Bob Duff of the Star-Phoenix There was a general consensus among the spectators during championship event play Sunday at the Labatt's Lite women's curling classic. That consensus was that the Karen Powell rink was curling up a storm.

Comments like "that Powell rink is really curling well," or "the Powell rink is shooting the lights out," could be heard from the crowd gathered at the Nuta-na Curling Club for Sunday's final. So, perhaps it wasn't totally surprising when Powell and her rink picked up top money in the richest women's cash bonspiel in the world with an 114 victory over Saskatoon's Heather MacMillan in the final. Powell, from Grande Prairie, and her rink of third Mar-cy Balderston, second Tina Listhaehge and lead Lianna Martin, subbing for regular lead Jarron Savill, happily accepted $8,000 in prize money for their victory. However, they weren't as ready to accept the praise of the masses without introducing a bit of self-criticism. "We played pretty good, but I don't think we played as well as we can," said the 23-year-old skip.

"We got a lot of breaks. It always seemed that when we missed a shot, so did the other rink." The foursome formed one of the youngest rinks in the 'spiel. Balderston is 22, while Martin is approaching her 20th birthday. Listhaehge is the oldtimer in the group at 26, giving the rink an average age of just 22.5 years. "More and more, you're starting to see the younger rinks beginning to emerge and do well," said Powell, who won the Alberta provincial title last year.

Sunday's final was a close affair until the eighth end, when Powell stole four to take a commanding 94 lead. "The seventh was a good end for us," assessed Powell, whose Tink scored two to take a 54 lead Stan FISCHLER Special for the Star-Fhoenix OpinionCommentary A NOTORIOUS LOOK-ALIKE: Charlie Bourgeouis of St. Louis Blues is said to have a look-alike, and he won't like this one. The double's name is Richard Speck, a notorious mass murderer who was recently denied a parole request after his crime of 20 years ago. The Calgary Sun defends poor Charlie, claiming the only thing he ever murdered was "good taste in wardrobes." BORN-AGAIN CAPTAIN: Jacques Demers, who won the Adams Trophy as the coach of the year last season, acknowledges that the team's success ultimately will depend on Steve Yzerman, 22-year-old captain who tallied 31 goals and 90 points last season.

"He's a superb captain," says Demers. "Without wanting to put undue pressure on him, I think this year he's built himself up so he should be even stronger. Sure he is young, but age doesn't deter jP5t 'We played pretty good, but I don't think we played as well as we can" Karen Powell in that end. "But, no doubt, the eighth was the key." Looking at four counters, MacMillan wrecked on a Powell guard with last rock. "I was trying to come around (the guard)," said MacMillan, who had successfully executed an open draw for two to take a 3-1 lead in the third end.

"I think the weight was right, but the 'rock seemed to move more than my first one did. But that's the breaks of the game, I guess." Despite her loss, MacMillan and her rink of third Kim Arm-bruster, second Laurie Secord and lead Bev Beckett were anything but downcast with their second-prize money of $4,600. "It's better than $1,500 or $2,700," said a smiling MacMillan. MacMillan advanced to the final with a 6-5, 11-end triumph over Linda Moore's Canadian-Olympic rink. MacMillan scored one in the 10th, then stole one in the 11th for the win.

Powell moved into the final with a 10-6, nine-end victory over Calgary's Jill Ferguson. Powell also beat Ferguson 9-3 In one of Friday's two A-event qualifying games, as well as in last year's provincial final to earn Alberta's berth in the Scott Tournament of Hearts. Moore and Ferguson earned third-prize money of $2,700. Quarter-finalists Heather Howard and Laureen Lang of Saskatoon and Karen Fallis and Darcy Robertson, both from Winnipeg, each took home $1,500. Defending champion Lori McGeary of Saskatoon was eliminated in C-event play Saturday, dropping a 7-6 decision to Edmonton's Deb Shermack.

mine leadership abilities, and Steve is a natural leader." LUCKY SEVEN: Marcel Dionne, who took a gamble on his future asking for a trade from Los Angeles Kings last year, now sees a series of lucky sevens ahead of him. "This is my 17th season, I got my 700th goal and I'm behind Phil (Esposito) who had 717," Dionne said. "And I passed 1,700 points. I've been to Vegas, so I know if you shoot seven, you win." LITTLE PRINCE FOR A NIGHT: Among the most popular Blackhawks is 5-foot-5 goalie Darren Pang. During a recent trip, a mixup at the hotel left Pang with a huge double suite.

"I was king for the night," said Pang. "I played the role to a T. I even wore the robe and it fit. It must've been a kid's size." TRUE INTENTION: "He didn't mean to break it. He just meant to hurt me." Kings' centre Bernie Nicholls after Blues' Doug Gil-mour broke his finger with a slash.

BABY BOOMER: "I'd like to see the guy have a family of 15." Jets' coach Dan Maloney after defenceman Peter Taglianetti scored his first NHL goal last week, a day after his wife delivered their first child. MacMillan made all the right calls S-P Photo by Richard Maq'an until the final Stars tougher than ever Rangers end eight-game skid mm JMnmtom NEW YORK Having acquired Terry (The Scrapper) Ruskowski and Basil (Rambo) McRae, the Minnesota North Stars are tougher than ever. "We're calling it the Chuck Norris Division," says Ruskowski. "If the other team gets rough, we have some people who can counter that." North Stars coach Herb Brooks added: "Hockey is a contact sport no, make that a collision sport." Brooks doesn't mind tough players "as long as there is some skill and thought process involved. Otherwise you're discrediting the fastest, most creative game in the world." WALL STREET CRASH DELAYS NEW GARDEN: Last month's stock market crash, which saw Gulf and Western (Madison Square Garden) stock drop 22 points (a 26-per-cent drop that amounts to $1.3 billion), will affect the opening of a new Madison Square Garden at least until 1993.

BRAND NEW FLAMES: Asked what Winnipeg's playoff victory over Calgary last year meant to the Flames, Jim Peplinski replied: "Not much. I've never been much of a believer in that year-to-year stuff. Beating Edmonton two years ago didn't help us much last year, did it? Every year's a brand new one." S-P Services Walt Poddubny scored two goals and the New York Rangers ended an eight-game NHL losing streak, their longest in 24 years, with a 64 victory over the Winnipeg Jets 64 Sunday. New York was 0-8-1 in its last nine games since Oct. 24.

The loss extended the Jets' current winless streak to six games (0-5-1). Poddubny was making a return to the New York lineup after missing Saturday's game in Pittsburgh with a bruised left foot. "Michel (Rangers coach Bergeron) just said to do what you can," Poddubny said. "In the third period, my foot started hurting." Poddubny, like many of the Rangers, was relieved to finally win a game. "It was nice to get the gorilla off our backs," he said.

"We Elayed well the last few games ut we weren't able to get a break." Bergeron said his team generally played well enough to have won the last four games. "Tonight, we checked pretty well," he said. "Everybody paid the price." The Winnipeg players, unhappy with their winless streak on the road, held a closed-door meeting Walt Poddubny Tony Tanti, with two goals, Willie Huber and Garth Butcher scored for Vancouver. Blackhawks 5 Oilers 4 Steve Larmer broke a 3-3 third-period tie with Chicago's fourth power-play goal of the game, leading the Blackhawks to a 54 victory over the Edmonton Oilers. The win was only Chicago's third in 11 games, but boosted the Blackhawks into a first-place tie with Toronto in the Norris Division.

The Oilers lost for the first time in their last seven games. Troy Murray, Dan Vincelette, Rick Vaive and Doug Wilson also scored for Chicago, while Esa Tikkanen, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Graves and Charlie Huddy scored for Edmonton..