Defensive Zome (Aches Deree

Sports Terms for Dummies

Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Term Guru

Pease I know a couple of things about sports, and as a result I get a lot of people who ask me to explain things to them. So, I have decided to answer your sports term questions in a short little column every week. I am not going to do it in a very complicated way, I am just going to give you all a simplistic and basic rundown of what the term means. If you have any sports terminology that you would like a rundown of, or an explanation of, please send them to op.sports@ gmail.com. This week I was asked by a few people about the term icing.

Icing:

No, it’s not the delicious sugary topping on your cupcake. Well, it is, but it is something else too. In hockey, icing occurs when a player on Team A shoots the puck from the far side of the red

centre line into the opposing team (Team B)’s end and across their goal line. Icing is called when a player on Team B, who is not the goalie, touches the puck. Icing can be waived off or negated if a player on Team A touches it before the other team, or if the goalie on Team B touches it.

In European play and some minor leagues, the icing is automatically called when the puck passes the goal line. This is known as no-touch icing, because no touch was needed to determine icing.

Icing is not a penalty, however it is penalised in a way. If Team A iced the puck, they would not be allowed to change lines. This means that all the players on Team A that are on the ice must remain there, while the other team can put fresh players on. Also, the face- off would be brought all the way down the ice into the Team A’s zone.

That my friends, is what icing means.

Canucks Corner

Stephanie Smith, OP Sports Editor

I think I would be a crazy person not to talk about it. It’s been a shining beacon for us the last few games. It’s a supernova arising from nowhere. Yes my friends, I am talking about new- found offensive superstar, Jeff Cowan. Okay, so it’s not like he’s the next Gretzky or anything, but you have to admit, the last three games he has been something of a powerhouse.

It all started March 1 against the Phoenix Coyotes. Jeff Cowan scored a shorthanded breakaway goal. He looked just as shocked as the rest of us did. The next game against the Wild was even weirder. Cowan parked in front of the net deflected a Willie Mitchell shot past Backstrom and into the net.

2 goals in 2 games! But wait, things get exponentially more bizarre. Later that same game, again Cowan parked himself in front of the net, and again deflected a Willie Mitchell shot into the net. It was enough for Cowan’s first career 2-goal game.

Hold on, it gets even weirder still. The March 6 game against Tampa Bay; Jeff Cowan opened up the scoring against Tampa. This got everyone I know thinking that maybe he would do it again. Go for a second and have a second 2 goal game, right after the first. As time dwindled down, it looked like we were just going to have to settle for a 3 game point streak. But with less than a minute left, who scores a goal, his second of the night? Jeff Freaking’ Cowan!

What made this even more hilarious was the event to follow. Some one at GM Place decided that what this game needed was a bra. One lovely lady decided to fling her bra down on the ice in celebration of Cowan’s second of the night. Willie Mitchell holding the thing on the end of his stick skating it to the linesman amidst a chorus of “COWAN!” remains on of the more hilarious things I have seen in the game. From the nicknames he has received on account, I’d say others felt the same. People have been referring to him as “The Milkman” and “Cowan the Bra- barian” among others.

The game March 8, I waited to see if it would happen; if Cowan could do it again. Well, a few minutes into the game, a goal went in, and damned if it wasn’t Cowan! Now, I’m not saying that Jeff Cowan is the man we are resting our playoff hopes on. I just think it’s funny that a player, who has never had a 2 goal game, has two in a row; and a player, who has only scored, at most, 9 goals in one season, is 3 goals away from that based on the play in four games.

This goes to press before I can see the March 9 game, but you can rest assured that deep down inside (okay, not so deep down) I am hoping like hell that Cowan can do it again.

Douglas Sports Corner

Calendar of Upcoming Games

Baseball:

Doubleheader vs. Wenatchee CC. Exhibition game takes place in Wenatchee Friday

March 16 — 3:00pm.

Doubleheader vs. Wenatchee CC. Exhibition game takes place in Wenatchee

Saturday March 17 — 12:00pm.

Men’s Basketball:

CCAA Nationals. Tournament takes place in Truro, Nova Scotia Wednesday March

14 — Saturday March 17.

Women’s Basketball:

CCAA Nationals. Tournament takes place in Edmonton, AB Wednesday March 14

— Saturday March 17.

Cross Country Track:

Spring Break Open. Meet takes place in Edmonds, WA Saturday March 24.

Women’s Golf:

Lewis-Clark State Invite. Tournament takes place at Clarkson Country Club

Monday March 19 and Tuesday March 20.

14

Men’s Golf:

Lewis-Clark State Invite. Tournament takes place at Clarkson Country Club

Monday March 19 and Tuesday March 20.

Women’s Rugby:

Away game vs. SFU. Game takes place in Burnaby Saturday March 17. Home game vs. Ravens. Game takes place in New Westminster Saturday March

17:

Men’s Rugby:

Away game vs. SFU. Game takes place in Burnaby Saturday March 17.

Wheelchair Basketball:

BC-CWBL Finals. Tournament takes place in Prince George Saturday March 16

— Sunday March 18.

Wrestling:

Junior Nationals. Tournament takes place in Charlottetown, PEI Wednesday March

14 — Thursday March 15.

Senior Nationals. Tournament takes place in Calgary, AB Tuesday March 27

— Wednesday March 28.