Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - June 4, 2000, Winnipeg, Manitoba soccer in the land of baseball its hard to pump up interest in today scuba Canada tilt /c2 volleyball Canadas undefeated Streak in the world league of volleyball came to an end yesterday /c3 Gretzky a Coyote no need to howl in despair Winnipeg free press of a editor Buzz Currie / 697-7285 w i Busy week Winnipeg Ger Kelly Stefanyshyn has qualified for the olympics in both the too and 200 metre backstroke. A see Story Page c3 Suzette Fillion of St. Jean Baptiste was one of hundreds of High school students competing in the track and Field championships yesterday. A see photo essay Page c3 Jason Amott is enjoying his revitalization in new Jersey having a Devil of a time Power play screamer gives devils series Lead by Tim Campbell Dallas a it would have been charged As an error in baseball but Petr Sykora a shot that went right through the catching Glove webbing of Dallas stars goalie Eddie Belfour was a hit with the new Jersey devils. The 50-foot Power play screamer stood up As the Winner in the devils 2-1 Victory Over the stars at reunion Arena last night giving new Jersey a 2-1 Lead in the Best of seven Stanley cup final series. Game 4 goes Here tomorrow night at 7 . Cd Csc. Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said there was no blame that Belfour failed to Stop the winning goal because he was Sharp All night making 29 saves. A when we can to take advantage of goal ending like that its telling us we have to pick up the Pace offensively a Hitchcock said. A a it a our ability to cutwork them in their zone that a of the devils defended the Lead Sykora gave them in the second period bottling up the stars until very late in the game. New Jersey also killed off an All important five on three advantage for 49 seconds in the first period. Continued please see devils / c2 by Tim Campbell Dallas a Glen Sather is perceived As the Saviour for the new York rangers but hell have trouble living Down at least one of his trades if Jason Arnott keeps playing this Way for the new Jersey devils. Arnott the 25-year-old Centre from Collingwood ont., was the key figure in last nights third game of the Stanley cup final series turning the game around with a first period goal and setting up Lin mate Petr Sykora a second period Winner in a 2-1 Victory Over the Dallas stars at reunion Arena. A for some reason Edmonton maybe gave up on him a said devils teammate Claude Lemieux after new Jersey took a two games to one Lead in the final. A but ill Tell you he a done really Well for the devils. I did no to realize How Well until i came to this team this year but that line with Sykora and Patrick Elias is one of the top lines in the nil. A right now its their commitment at both ends of the ice especially when they Are matched against other teams top in fairness to Sather Arnott was a disgruntled kid when he asked out of Edmonton in january of 1998, and the oilers did no to do poorly getting Bill Guerin on the other end of the Deal. But at this Point of the playoffs the oilers Are golfing Amott has seven goals and 19 Points and has had a big bearing in two of the three games of this final. A i thought that the Guy who was a dominant Factor tonight was Arnott a said devils coach Larry Robinson. A the just played Arnott did no to see As much of the Dallas line of Mike Modano Brett Hull and Jere Lehtinen last night and that suited him just Fine. A Well i figured to be playing against them More so i guess we took advantage of it a Amott said. His first period goal was one of the strongest plays of the night. Heading through the Middle of the ice with some rare room he split the Dallas defence of Richard Matvichuk and Derian Hatcher. Continued a please see Arnott / c2 this was supposed to be a lament another woe is Canada bit of moaning in Light of Wayne Gretzky a arrival in Phoenix and Glen sathers heralded jump to new York. It was going to be a Bleak assessment about How another two dominoes in a nations losing Effort to keep the nil within its Borders had fallen. Mostly however it was planned to be a Poison penned diatribe directed squarely at the no la a uptight Little commissioner Gary Bettman who had worked feverishly behind the scenes to broker both Gretzky a decision to join the coyotes As a part owner and sathers unfettered release from the Edmonton oilers. Of course Bettmann a intrusion in both instances was clearly self serving. Because How much egg would have been on his face had the coyotes been unceremoniously exiled to Portland after Only four underachieving years in Phoenix remember Phoenix was Bettmann a baby ripped from the arms of Winnipeg hockey fans who could no longer afford to pay the no la a Ransom. With Gretzky on Board Phoenix a nil future is suddenly rising from the ashes. And Sather he a the perfect fit for the leagues most influential Market a flagship franchise struggling in a Media Mecca despite what appears to be an unlimited budget. So in a matter of a few Days Bettman has managed to poke two of his Little fingers in the holes of a dam where the leagues Money and prestige were leaking at an increasingly furious Pace. Now the first reaction of some fervent canadians will be to Label both Gretzky and Sather As carpet baggers who abandoned their roots to dance to the tune of the highest Yankee bidder. Not so. Both men have impeccable histories As staunch defenders and promoters of the nil game in Canada born in their glory Days together with the oilers dynasty of the 1980s. For example when Gretzky was sold by Peter Pocklington to the los Angeles Kings he was savvy enough to realize that establishing the nil in California was crucial step in Landing a . Television contract Rich enough to help finance the mounting losses of Canadian Small Market franchises. The Anaheim mighty ducks and san Jose Sharks followed in the great ones Wake. That elusive television contract a one that might rival the billions paid to major league baseball and the nil a did not. This is not Gretzky a failure however its due to the simple fact that americans As a nation seem to View professional hockey As an olympic event. Meaning they watch a game on to about once every four years. But its Bettmann a unyielding desire a at Canadas expense if need be a to put the nil in enough major . Markets to reach enough potential viewers to enable television to sell enough Beer mini vans and doritos potato chips to pay for the entire process. Hence the significance of Gretzky Landing in Phoenix one of americans fastest growing cities and sathers emergence in new York where every major . Network is headquartered. Continued please see Gretzky/c2 f keeping track bombers Arm women with information Arsenal beware All you football experts and armchair quarterbacks the number of fans in Winnipeg a football Community who can now Tell the rattle off the pros and cons of running a 4-3 defence against a five Man receiver set Yadda Yadda Yadda grew exponentially yesterday Courtesy of the Blue bombers annual Rookie Camp for female fans. Head coach Dave Ritchie and his entire staff pm Lyle Bauer and players Dave Vankoughnett Dave Donaldson Mike Plante Wade Miller Wayne Weathers and Bob Cameron put a number of female fans looking to improve their knowledge of the game through a gruelling one Day Camp at Winnipeg stadium yesterday. It included a tour of the locker room drills physical training and rehab tips and a detailed information session. Above Weathers watches Jody Reinsch tackle a blocking Dummy. At right Laura Kennedy gives Miller a run for his Money. Ken Gigliotti \ Winnipeg free press ;