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agi Asay paEATee team

 

Where is the Moose?

Chris Yu

 

The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano,
Japan are unlike any other because for
the first time ever NHL players will be
allowed to play for their countries. The
Canadian squad is full of some of the
best players in the world. They have
names like Paul Kariya and Joe Sakic,
who are two of the most dominant —
players in the NHL, and the team also
has some players who are true hockey
legends. These players are guys like the
Great One, Wayne Gretzky, and one of
the greatest defensemen ever, Ray
Bourque. Out of all these great players
there is still one name that is not on the
roster. I am talking about the “Moose,”
Mark Messier. There are many reasons
why the Moose is not on the roster, one
of these is the age factor. The only
problem with that reasoning is if they
did not take Messier because he was too
old, why did they take guys like Gretzky

 

Volleyball:

with an 8-3 record.

Basketball:

Coming Events:

 

and Bourque? Gretzky is not in his
prime, and even though he is good
enough to get the job done, he is only
making the big bucks in the NHL
because he is the Great One.

Another reason why Team Canada
does not include Mark Messier is
because of the need for role players. The
team needs those guys who are going to
do the dirty work like fight for the puck
along the boards or take a beating in
front of the net. The argument for role
players is a bunch of bull because with a
team with that much talent, you have
all-star calibre players being made into
role players. This can be seen in the
most recent tournament, the World Cup
of hockey in 1996. That team had
players like Steve Yzerman and Thereon
Fluery who are both great offensive
players bejng put in a checking role.
Messier is the kind of player who would
do anything for the good of the team,
even if it meant being a role player.

The volleyball season wrapped up on the weekend, with each of our teams finishing in fine form.

The women’s team took on the TWU Spartans on Friday, February 13, crushing them in straight sets 15-8, 15-10, 15-5.

This win gave the Royals a 9-1 record for the season, tying them for first place in the BCCAA with the Malaspina Mariners.

Douglas took the top spot, however, based on an advantage in games won 28-27.
The men’s team went into Friday's game holding a one game lead over their opponents in the BCCAA, Trinity Western.

The Royals sleepwalked through a 15-8, 15-10, 6-15, 15-10 victory over TWU, securing their place atop the BCCAA

Friday, February 13, the women’s team traveled to Trinity Western to take on the Spartans. Carrie Rogers poured in 21
points and Tammy Neufeld chipped in 10 points as the Royals won 64-53 with only seven players.

The men’s team, holding the sixth and final playoff spot in the BCCAA, suffered a tough loss on Friday to Trinity
Western 90-87. Jon Fast had 21 points and 5 rebounds and Rob McClelland dropped 19 points and 8 assists for the Royals
who now cling to a one game lead over TWU for the last playoff spot in the BCCAA.

Friday, February 20, Douglas hosts wrestlirtg training against the National ‘Training Centre and Saturday, February 21, the
BC junior wrestling teams trials will be held at New West.

Another reason why Messier was
excluded from the Canadian team is
because of his dominant leadership
qualities. This theory was brought up by
Neil Macrae of The Vancouver Province.
In most cases, I think Neil Macrae is full
of it. I do agree with Macrae on this one,
though his theory has to do with the fact
that one of the guys organizing the team
is Bobby Clarke who is also general
manager of the Philidelphia Flyers. He
made Eric Lindros, who plays for the
Flyers, the team captain. This is nothing
but an attempt to motivate Lindros. If
Messier was on the team the leadership
of Lindros would be overshadowed.

Not including Messier on the
Canadian team was a big mistake. I will
admit the guy started off this season
slow, but right now he is on fire. A
Canadian team is not complete unless
Messier is on it. @

 

 

‘The World Cup, the
biggest sporting
event on the planet,
takes place in France
This suyner. Lt starts
“Jane 10 and ends July
12. The final is at the
NEW BO, OOO sear
Stade de France in
Saint-Denis. Starting
this issue and continu-
Ing anti the end of
the senester, Hanish
Knox and Honan Sanaie
Will be Presenting
their World Cup pre-
dictions, group buy
group. This Week We
Preview Group A—-
“Brazil, Scotland, No-
FOCeO, and Norway).

 

File Photo

On the move.... Slammin’ down the court.

World Cup: A Preview

_ HONISh'S Predictions

Hamish Knox

Honan’s Predictons

Homan Sanaie

 

x “Brazil @)

This is a no-brainer. With two-time FIFA Footballer of the Year Ronaldo and 51
cap veteran Ramario leading the attack and wonder goalie Taffarel manning the
goal, Brazil is primed to defend its 1994 title and capture an unprecedented fifth
World Cup. Brazil will also be riding the emotion of losing to the US in the Gold

Cup.

x-N a3)

Even though they have only qualified twice for the World Cup (1938, 1994) this
group is weak enough (behind Brazil) for Norway to move on. Striker Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer leads the scoring attack, while Jahn Ivar (Mini) Jakobsen, Gunnar Halle
and Stig Inge Bjornebye command a strong midfield and defense corps. Norway’s
one weakness could be in goal, where starter Thomas Gill has played in only four

international matches (caps).

Scottand G7)

They have never advanced past the first round of the World Cup in their previous
seven attempts and the streak will likely continue in France. With striker Ally
McCoist questionable for the World Cup, Scotland will have to rely on its defense
to win games. Scotland does have a chance to advance if it can beat Norway on June

16 and Morocco on June 23.

Morocco (15)

Their ranking is way too high, considering who they had to beat to qualify. They
came out of a weak African qualifying group, in which they only slipped past
Ghana on a 3-2 aggregate. The strength of this team lies in its young, but experi-
enced, defense. Nourredine Naibet is only 27 but he already has 84 caps to his
name. Joining Naibet on defense are Abdelkrim Hadrioui (25 years old, 49 caps)
and Lahcene Abrami (28 years old, 36 caps).

x “Brazil d) :
Defending World Cup Champions with Ronaldo, Romario, and Taffarel, Brazil
should easily win this group. Defending champions will be tough to beat.

cre (3)

This is also the second straight World Cup appearance for Norway. Many of
Norway’s players play in the English Premier League (Stig Inge Bjornbye and
Oyvind Leonhardsen for Liverpool and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Manchester
United). Norway was in the “Group of Death” in USA 94. The only reason
Norway did not make it to the Round of 16 was because of goals for. Norway has a
big psychological edge over Brazil—they defeated Brazil 4-2 in Oslo on May 30/97.
Norway has never made it past the first round.

Norocco (15)

Second straight World Cup for Morocco. In USA ’94, Morocco lost every game by
one goal. Morocco is a young and fast team that could surprise a lot of people. With
goalkeeper Abdelkader Brazi and defender Nourredine Naibet, Morocco could
make it to the second round. Morocco played Brazil on October 9/97 and lost 2-0.
Morocco’s best finish was when they made it to the Round of 16 in 1986.

Scotand (3?)

Not enough experience in big games. They had a fairly easy group in qualification.
Need to ride on goalkeeper Andy Goram’s back if the Scots want to get past the first
round. The way Goram is playing for the Glasgow Rangers this season, Scotland
will be lucky if they get thirdplace in the group. Scotland has never made it past the
first round.

FIFA World Rankings in Parentheses (as of February 17th, 1998)

(&«- Advances to te Round of i)

 

10 February 18, 1998 The Other Press