Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 6, 1998, Winnipeg, Manitoba A Nesbitt Burns Jack Sutton Ecsi senior investment advisor 204 949-2508 or 1-800-506-0005 retirement amp Post retirement investment planning specialist for stat Combe Art resp analysis Call today Scott Taylor losing the Scott Mitchell lottery a winning move for Vikings /c2 hockey the Manitoba Moose Arentt taking anything for granted near the top of the Ihl standings /c3 Curling medical problems upstaged the roaring game at yesterdays play Downs /c3 Winnipeg free press it a editor Julian Rachey / 697-7285 i whistlers last cup austrian ski Star Hermann Maier packs up after Lousy weather on Whistler ski slopes forced officials to again postpone the world cup downhill race. Some say the Pristine . Resort wont get another Chance where the cup is concerned. A see Story Page c3 Kodiaks Lions tops at the net River East Kodiaks took Home the provincial Kaaa girls championship last night squeaking by mennonite Brethren Hawks 3-2 in a two hour Marathon. Meanwhile Gle Lawn Lions took the boys title 3-1 Over Brandon a Crocus Plains plainsman. A see Story Page c3 it i a ure after producing a bumper crop of world class women skaters Canada has hit a dry spell by Laurie Nealin for the free press Brandon a what a wrong with our women that a the million Dollar question on the minds of coaches officials fans and Media As Canadas elite female figure skaters continue to languish in International Competition. Since Josee Chouinard graduated to the pro ranks in 1994 after posting four consecutive top to world finishes including two fifth placings her successors have struggled to crack the top 20. Still Chouinard says she is optimistic Canada will have a contender come the 2002 olympic games. A the potential is out there. In be seen it in the Young skaters a she says. In the meantime Canadas four year International drought continues with no immediate Relief in sight. In Manitoba the women a dry spell has been even More severe. Today in Brandon when the Best female skaters from the Western half of the country take to the ice in search of a 1999 Canadian championship berth Manitoba will be the Only province not represented. Nineteen Long years have passed since Winnipeg a Heather Kem Karan won her second National Crown to Cap a career that included a 12th-place world ranking. Two years later in 1982, Minnedosa a Diane Ogibowsky made her impressive senior debut at the Canadian Ogibowsky was Manitoba a last serious contender. A ups and Downs for Manitoba at the Central Canadian championships /c2 championships finishing fourth behind Ray Thomson and olympic Silver medallist to be Elizabeth Manley. But when Ogibowsky gave up her quest for a senior title in 1985 to marry Philadelphia flyers goalie Ron Hextall Manitoba had no one waiting in the wings and has yet to produce another contender. So what a the matter with our women Brandon a Marilyn Partrick who coached National Novice and Junior Champ Ogibowsky throughout her career says its not a Lack of Talent. A a we be had some excellent ladies skaters but they always put it together when it counted. I think the skating is Superior at the lower Levels now and we can Only Hope continue on into seniors and Well get Back to what you could Call a the glory years. Skating has its Hills and valleys and unfortunately we be been in a Valley for a few Partrick a 33-year Veteran of the ice wars suggests role models and a hunger to Excel Are also key ingredients in a champions mix. A sometimes i think our skaters Arentt hungry enough to go out there and attack this a Partrick says. A when you find someone with the whole package a the desire the dedication and the wonderful work habits a and who is super hungry to be a Champion you put that together and there a no stopping someone like that. A Success Breeds Success so once we get somebody making a name for themselves i think Well find it easier to get the next one a continues Partrick who shaped her son Jeff into a senior menus contender a decade ago at the same time Hamiota a Lyndon Johnston was hauling Home National and International pair skating medals. Heather Kem Karan Antymniuk now 40, a Winnipeg lawyer and coach of Manitoba Stop Junior woman Jessica Fontaine wonders if Manitoba girls suffer from a Lack of Confidence. A i think that Diane and i proved that Manitoba skaters can make it a Kem Karan Antymniuk says. A it does no to come Down to a coaching top and above Post Kymm four consecutive top to world finishes / continued please see Page c2 32 Al Maht Tosa this is for Pride this is for prime wow a orld Junior ockey19s9cofn for tickets Call Winnipeg 780-seat toll free 1 888 780-seat Brandon 204 726-3555 1999 world Junior hockey championship Winnipeg a Brandon a Selkirk a Portage la Prairie december 26,1998 january 5,1999 Winnipeg single game tickets now on Sale i $12 $20 $25 each a a a each a a each a a each amp Ltd it a it ;