y SPORTS

FIStrIC IS A FOCK sy cesssicremm

t 2004, the Dallas Stars selected Vancouver Giants defenseman Mark Fistric in the first
round of the NHL entry draft. It was a landmark day for both Fistric and the Giants, as it was
the first time in Vancouver’s short WHL history that they had had a player chosen in the first
round.

Fistric, who is now 22, had been the Giant’s backbone. He was their captain and
best defenseman. While he never put up Bobby Orr like numbers, he was always the most
reliable player on the ice. He could fight, and he could hit like a truck.

Fistric, who stands at an imposing 6’2 and weighs in at a solid 232 pounds, played
four full seasons with the Giants. Over 214 Western Hockey League games, all with the
Giants, Fistric put up pedestrian offensive numbers. He only scored 11 goals, but what he
was truly valuable for was his leadership qualities and his fierce physical game.

During his four seasons here, Fistric had penalty minute totals of 81, 192, 32 and
148. The reason for his dip to 32 wasn’t due to any calming down on the ice. He shattered
his jaw twice in the 2004-05 season and was restricted to only 15 games.

After he graduated from the Giants and the WHL, Fistric moved to the Stars’
American Hockey League affiliate, the lowa Stars. He played a complete campaign with
them in the 2006-07 season before splitting last year between Iowa and Dallas. He suited up
for the Stars 37 times last year and while he didn’t score, he established himself as a force to
be reckoned with on the blue line and a future fixture in Texas. Dallas even kept him around
for the playoffs, where he played nine games.

Currently, Fistric is ranked as the organization’s third best prospect, behind only
fellow defenseman Ivan Vishnevskly and center James Neal. Fistric has attained that spot
due to never ending hard work. He is a phenom in the weight and conditioning rooms, and
it is perhaps for this reason that his hits have become more powerful and destructive. Dallas
considers him, correctly, to be a future leader. Fistric has also worked hard to improve his
once questioned skating abilities. He now has a smooth stride to combine with his powerful
shot and crisp passing skills.

While Fistric isn’t projected to be a future Norris Trophy winner, he is expected

 

to become the type of player anyone would want on their team. He can more than fulfill the
rough-and-tumble, physical style defender’s role Dallas has set out for him.

From a defensive standpoint, Mark Fistric is the best player in Vancouver Giants’
history. It’s pretty cool to see another local junior hockey graduate step up his game and
make it to the NHL. Whichever team he spends the bulk of his career with will be more than
happy with the investment they’ve made in him. Every team could use a Mark Fistric.

 

 

Lance Armstrong returns

H.. one of the most dedicated and inspiring figures in the history of any sport, and he’s
coming out of retirement to make history again.

Lance Armstrong, 37, announced his retirement at a tearful ceremony not long after
winning his seventh consecutive Tour De France championship in 2005. However, it now
appears that retirement doesn’t suit the tough Texan who hasn’t ever listened when other
people have told him to quit.

Armstrong is the survivor of brain, lung and testicular cancer. Aside from victories on
the bike in the Tour De France, Armstrong has picked up numerous awards from a variety of
media outlets and organizations throughout his remarkable career.

After beating cancer, Armstrong made a dramatic comeback. Doctors had once given
him less than a ten percent chance of survival, but that wasn’t stopping him. Armstrong
began his legendary assent to the history books in 1998, when he stunned the world and
captured his first Tour De France title.

Every year following that one, experts, analysts and pundits anticipated his downfall
and predicted his failure. However, they were all wrong. Lance Armstrong just kept
winning...and winning, and winning.

In 2005, at 34 years old, Armstrong decided to end his storied career. He had won
cycling’s most grueling and intense race a record seven times straight, breaking a mark that
many thought would stand the test of time.

The reasons for Armstrong’s otherworldly success are many. He has raced with a
very strong U.S. Postal team, and he trains religiously. Unlike many professional riders,
Armstrong’s sole focus is the Tour De France. He rarely takes part in other races, no matter
how big or prolific they are. That allows him to train and prepare for months before the
actual race ever begins.

Before stage one ever begins, Armstrong has navigated the course more times than any
other rider. He knows the terrain inside and out, every twist and every turn. He knows when
to ride hard and when to take it easy.

After retiring, Armstrong kept busy. He devoted his time to the Lance Armstrong
Foundation, which is a benefit to survivors of cancer. He has talked about getting involved in
Texas politics and has revealed an eventual desire to become governor of the Longhorn state.
One major achievement Armstrong had during his retirement was the creation of another
charitable foundation. Athletes for Hope, which is devoted to getting professional athletes
involved in charitable work, was founded by an all-star’s whose-who list of athletes. Besides
Armstrong, the group also included Muhammad Ali, Tony Hawk, Mario Lemieux, Mia

By Garth McLennan

Hamm, Andre Agassi, Cal Ripken Jr. and many others.

Earlier this month, Armstrong made the public announcement that he would be making
his return to the Tour De France in 2009. He has stated that his goal for his return is to raise
more awareness of the effects of cancer.