Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 18

B2 SPORTS The StarPhoenix Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Saturday, September 13, 2003 Hilltops scramble for backup quarterback Tyler Knudsen breaks leg in practice, two other QBs on team are rookies By Cory Wolfe of The StarPhoenix The Saskatoon Hilltops have suddenly become more fragile at a time that is usually reserved for healing. The season ended for backup quarterback Tyler Knudsen on Thursday when he broke his leg during the team's Ice Bowl, an annual bye-week scrimmage for non-starters. The Hilltops have the Prairie Football Conference's top passer in Bret Thompson. How ever, he's now backed up by two 18-year-old rookies, Tyrell Kerpan and Trevor Barss. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do," Hilltops head coach Tom Sargeant said Friday afternoon.

"I'm still thinking about Tyler. I just got back from the hospital a little while ago and right now I've got a kid in low spirits." Knudsen was scheduled to have surgery Friday night at St. Paul's hospital for his injuries which include a broken fibula, ligament damage and an ankle dislocation. With the fourth-year pivot in an awkward position, a teammate fell on Knudsen's lower leg. 'Tyler gave us a lot of confidence and you don't realize how important someone is until you don't have him anymore," said Sargeant.

Fifth-year slotback Justin Kelly, who came to the Hilltops as a quarterback, might be the first to back up Thompson, if necessary. Unofficially, Kelly has been the team's third-string quarterback on the road. "If we had an emergency situation, Justin would be the kid we would throw into that fire," said Sargeant. "He's a great kid; a kid you trust." The Hilltops must declare their roster for next weekend's game in Regina by Monday. The injury to Knudsen raises concerns that opposing teams might take more liberal runs at Thompson, who is also the Toppers' leading rusher.

"I've always been worried about that because he's such a talent and a lot of times people go after talent," said Sargeant. 'That's always been a concern for me and I don't think anything is going to change now. "If anything, we're going to have to coach a bit smarter and maybe not run certain plays where Bret might be vulnerable." The Hilltops have been cruising through the PFC with a 5-0 record. That their depth chart took such a painful hit during a spirit-building scrimmage doesn't sit well with Sargeant. "I'm (ticked) off with myself more than anything," he said.

"(The Ice Bowl) is a good idea; we've done it for a couple of years. I guess sometimes good ideas punch you in the mouth." EXTRA POINTS: DB Tyler Baier is also shelved for an indefinite period with a shoulder injury. He will not play next weekend when the Hilltops visit the Regina Prairie Thunder. Knudsen Brier rinks secure bigger payday Try' berta's north and south playdowns, plus city playdowns in Saskatoon and Regina. The Brier route carries an added advantage because the winner earns a berth in the trials for the 2006 Olympics.

Martin, who plays out of Edmonton, may skip The National for playdowns if he doesn't get a Trials spot out of the Canada Cup though he says he's currently undecided. Defending Brier champion Randy Fer-bey, an ardent opponent of the boycott, is also affected by the conflict. So is John v. SP Photos by Gord Waldner get a whole herd of tacklers after the St. Joseph Guardians offence variety package Morns, who moved to Calgary recently.

"Our goal is to qualify for the Olympic Trials, and the best way to do that is by trying to go through the Brier," Morris said Friday. "That's our first goal. If we have a choice between a Grand Slam and southerns, I think the choice is pretty obvious for us." Good for curling Saskatoon Slammer Bruce Korte would also likely choose playdowns if he has to pick one, though he has an out if he curls in a rural area that doesn't run up against the Slam. Regina's Glen Despins, Saskatchewan's other Grand Slam curler, says he'll play out of any region that lets him enter both events. National chair George Regnier said Friday that he hadn't had a chance to look at the situation, and he was hesitant to comment until he had more information.

"We'll have to talk to the Grand Slam people and see what they say," Regnier said from his Prince Albert home. Meanwhile, the WCPA's Saskatchewan vice-president said curling is better for the two-year struggle. Dean Kleiter noted Friday that curlers now have four big-money Slams to compete for, plus the CCA's upstart Conti nental Cup and Canada Cup He also feels the professional Tour is much stronger now than it was a couple of years ago when it faced collapse due to lack of sponsorship. "I'm very excited about it," Kleiter said of the agreement. "It's the best news I've heard about curling in many, many years.

By Kevin Mitchell of The StarPhoenix Curling's new peace plan was officially unveiled Friday to mixed reviews, both glowing and skeptical. The Canadian Curling Association and World Curling Players' Association ended a controversial two-year scrap that saw many of Canada's top teams boycott the Brier in favour of a four-event Grand Slam. Those renegade teams can now rejoin the Brier playdowns. Their holdout netted extra cresting at the Brier worth $10,000 per team, plus bonuses of $30,000 for the top two squads, $20,000 for third place and $10,000 for fourth. "To have the players stick together and get respect or force respect is huge," said Slam curler Kevin Martin, who played a high-profile role in the dispute.

"These changes weren't going to happen without being forced. It's been 40 years in the making and there's no way this would have ever happened without the players sticking together and making changes happen. The players should be very proud of themselves." On the other side of the stitched-over rift stood Yorkton's Gerald Shymko, a vocal critic of the Brier boycott who was banned by the World Curling Tour in 2001 after refusing to sign an exclusivity deal with the Grand Slams. A public outcry forced the WCT to lift the ban on Shymko and a handful of other teams. "I personally don't think the boycott was worth it," said Shymko, who represented Saskatchewan at the 1999 Brier.

"Obviously, (the WCPA) signed because they probably couldn't get any more. The Slam people realized that the Brier was alive and well the last two years, and still drew huge crowds. "They thought they were going to hurt the Brier, they saw they couldn't, and we have a deal. (The 2004 Brier in) Saskatoon was going to be sold out one way or the other, whoever was playing." The lifting of the exclusivity clause for those signing Slam contracts could be bad news for The National, which will be held in Prince Albert from Jan. 22-25.

That event conflicts directly with Al Setoguchi By James Shewaga of The Brandon Sun Blades 4, Wheat Kings 4 BRANDON, Man. Rookie forward Devin Setoguchi scored his second and third goals of the pre-season to help the Saskatoon Blades earn a 4-4 tie with the Brandon Wheat Kings in Western Hockey League exhibition action on Friday night. The 16-year-old forward, selected fifth overall by the Blades in the 2002 WHL bantam draft, cashed in a rebound to score the tying goal with 6:37 remaining in the third period. The teams complete the home-and-home exhibition series tonight at SaskPlace at 7 p.m. Wheat Kings rookie Tyler Straut-man scored the lone goal of the first period at 1:29, driving hard to the net Paul Olynick, Robbie Many and Andrew Cumming, with his second of the game.

Mount Royal remains tied for first in the West Division with a 1-1 record. Evan Hardy 17, Mahoney 7 A 100-yard punt return by Derek An-dreychuk kicked off the scoring for Evan Hardy. With a 7-0 lead going into the second, Hardy struck again with Kevin Verishe-gen rushing for a two-yard touchdown. A one-yard run by Adam Balkwill cut the lead to 14-7, but that was close as Mahoney got. Henry Hernandez added a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.

Evan Hardy improves to 1-1. Mahoney is 0-2. on the double for Blades in pre-season game Jordan Marcotte of the Mustangs can't escape the clutches of Mitch Regier ahead 9-7. The St. Joseph offence took over, getting touchdowns by David Wionzek, for Brandon.

Jaeger went the distance for Saskatoon to turn aside 26 shots. NOTES: Wheat Kings Tyler Dyck, 20, made his pre-season debut after returning from a free-agent tryout with the NHL's Washington Capitals Blades RW Adam Huxley, 20, and LW Marcus Paulsson, 19, were also in the lineup after returning this week Martensville AA Hockey Tryouts Pooujoo Cantamhor 9fl 9flfl1 at 1 1 'ftfl am Bantam September 18, 2003 at 5:00 p.m. Midget September 28, 2003 at 3:30 p.m. For more information, nlaaea Harrall at 933-421 8 after 5:00 p.m. Mount Royal Mustangs Guardians' SP Staff St.

Joseph 42, Royal 7 The St. Joseph Guardians improved to 2-0 in the Saskatoon High School Football League with a 42-7 victory over Mount Royal Mustangs on Friday night. Both teams came into the game after shutouts in the season opener. With a field goal and a single point by Curtis Gudet, a safety by the defence, a safety by the special teams, and five touchdowns by four players, a well-rounded team effort paid off for the Guardians. Mount Royal's punter conceded a safety to open the scoring for St.

Joseph. The teams then traded touchdowns, ending the first quarter with a Guardians toguchi wheeled and fired from the slot to beat Hilton on a 4-on-3 power play. The Wheat Kings replied at 4:05 when Mark Derlago converted a nice cross-crease pass from Tyler Dyck on the power play for his third goal of the pre-season, but the Blades answered when Setoguchi banged home a rebound at 13:23. Nichol stopped 20 of 21 shots in 30:23, while Hilton made 16 saves De La Hoya vs Mosley 8:00 p.m. In the Lounge on the Big Screen Cotnarof 23RIA Mylwyld 244-7777 QGE) from NHL camps with Washington and the New York Islanders, respectively Brandon dressed only seven veterans, while Saskatoon had 10 veterans in the lineup Saskatoon is carrying 28 players, including three goaltenders The Wheat Kings and Blades meet in the regular season for the first time on Oct.

3 at SaskPlace. Join a League Openings for Men's, Mixed Open Leagues daytime evenings. Also Monday Supper League at 5:30 p.m. 10 games 10 suppers done by Xmas. Hub City Curling Club 653-1306 and lifting a shot over top of sprawling Blades netminder Brett Jaeger.

Mark Shefchyk gave Brandon a 2-0 lead early in the second period on a penalty shot at 4:49 after Blades blue-liner Steven Later was called for throwing his stick. Swedish import Marcus Paulsson beat Brandon net-minder Mike Nichol on the power play to get the Blades on the board at 6:18. Rookie Wheat Kings centre Codey Burki replied with a power-play marker of his own at 10:23. The Blades battled back to cut the lead to 3-2 when veteran Adam Houle hammered a slapshot past Wheat Kings netminder Brant Hilton at 17:18 of the second period. The Blades evened it up 3-3 just 1:27 into the third period when Se CTsftElftisHfiifBi.