UPEI Playoff Possiblities

Panthers head into the second season

If the regular season has one purpose it is to show what teams hold top dog status in their respective leagues. But the league games are always a buildup to the true test of a teams ability; the post season. Playoffs are what it is all about, if you can’t perform when the money is on the line then you’ ll just be another case of ‘‘what could have been’’ and all of the hard work that you’ ve put forth throughout the year is tantamount to nothing. Regular season titles mean little if you don’t have a league championship to show for it. With the end of the season fast approaching for the Panther’ s various representatives in the AUAA, I felt it’d be a good time to look at what the second season holds.

Women's volleyball —

***The womens’ season is over with the team finishing its AUAA year with a 2-14 match record, having a 13-44 game record. The ladies showed some positive signs at the end of the year though, playing better and picking up both of their wins in the final weeks. The question for Joe Ryan is not one of desire; these girls play to their maximum level, and that. shows there is hope for next year. Rookies Nanci Forgeron and Rachel Larivee have shown promise, while sophmores Tish Rose and Sherri Farquharson have both shown improvement in their games.

Men's hockey

***The ice P’s are in the playoffs but heading into this past weekend’s final two games, their opponent and position was still up in the air. They are in a tie-with St. Thomas for third place; if they can win their final two games, they’ll finish in third and open at home against the Moncton Blue Eagles, a team that they’ ve had rough physical games with all year. If they fall to third then they’ll open at home against the-first place (and nationally ranked) UNB Varsity Reds. They have the ability to beat both teams; but the easier path goes through Moncton. The Panthers will have some key members of their squad back for

the playoffs; rookie Mike Harding will miss the first game of the playoffs because of a six game suspension he suffered against the Eagles, and defenseman Brian Grouchy will be back for the first game of the playoffs after missing the final three games of the season due to a suspension he gained for fighting in a game versus UNB two weeks ago. Another rookie, defenseman Brett Kowan, hopefully should be back as he is rehabbing a dislocated shoulder he suffered in January.

Billy McMillian has seen some good things this season; seeing the team improve greatly from last years 5 win campaign and evén being ranked nationally early in the season. John Nelson, Jim Somnez, K.J. White, and rookie Daryl Lavoie were all named to the Tim Horton’s All-Star game two weeks ago, and all four Panthers garnered points in the game. Nelson was named as the game’s MVP, and White wore the captain’s ‘‘C’’ during the contest. While Nelson and White have been among the league’s leading scorers (Nellie at seventh with 42 points, and K.J. good for nineteenth place with 36), it’s the play of forwards Jim Somnez and Jason Denomme that has been pleasing. Both wingers have emerged into dangerous prime- time scoring threats who have the ability to knock in goals every night out. Freshman Lavoie has been a steadying influence on the blueline; with the scoring touch and puck handling skills needed to start the rush. He’s making a strong case for the AUAA’s newcomer of the year award. Dave Lemay (his usual blueline partner) has shaken off the rust of having to sit out the first semester, and is rounding into the form which made him so highly touted in the last few games. The pickup of ex-Red and Charlottetown product Forbie McPherson has strengthened the frontline with McPherson becoming a sniper in the slot, knocking in goals, and setting others up night in and night out. His experience with UNB will help the rest of the team out as it heads into the playoffs.

Next week....Mens & Womens Basketball

Sports feature

Canada since its’ inception as our

AUAA Hockey

Kelly Division

W L x GF GA: PTS Acadia 19 1 3 159 TO: 2 AS Dalhousie 16 7 1 142 81 33 StF X: 9 3 od 97 120° 19 St. Mary’s 9 13 1 105 122-19 Cape Breton 1 21 1 61 138i 253

MacAdam Division

W i T GF - GA PTS UNB 16..;..4 4 152.84 36 Moncton 1s} 3 162”* 106: 35 UPEI ll 11 1 hMipa ta 23 St. Thomas 11 12 1 98 7% 96: 23 Mt. Allison 2 21 0 73 169 4 Games Wednesday Mount Allison at UPEI, Civic Centre, 7 pm St. Mary’s at Acadia, 7 pm ~ St. F.X. at Dalhousie, 7 pm Games Friday UPEI at Cape Breton, 7:30 pm UNB at Mount Allison, 7:30 pm

Moncton at St. Thomas, 8 pm Games Saturday

St. F.X. at ST. Mary’s, 2 pm UNB at Moncton, 7 pm

Acadia at Cape Breton, 7:30 pm

AUAA Women’s Volleyball Standings

MW ML GW GL PTS

UNB 11 2 35 13 py) St. F.X. 11 3 35 21 py) Moncton 10 4 36 17 20 St. Mary’s 9 4 31 20 18 Mt. Allison 8 5 29 22 16 Dalhousie 7 6 27 20 14 Acadia 3 11 14 38 6 UPEI 2 14 13 44 4 Memorial 1 13 16.2. 41 2 Results Sunday

St. F.X. 3 Memorial 1 (15-7, 15-6, 9-15, 15-3) Moncton 3 Acadia 0 (15-4, 15-11, 15-13)

Results Saturday

St. F.X. 3 Memorial 2 (9-15, 15-17, 17-15, 15-6, 15-12) Moncton 3 Acadia 0 (15-4, 15-11, 15-13)

Mount Allison 3 UPEI 0 (15-8, 15-6, 15-7)

END REGULAR SEASON

The changing — face of sports

By J. Jones - This past week, there were riots in the stands of an Italian soccer | game. Now this in itself is barely noteworthy and far from newsworthy, with the exception of the fact that there was a murder in the stands. This is a newsworthy story, but there is more: the victim was fatally stabbed by a fan of the opposing team. The murder itself is overshadowed by this so-called motive. No other reason. No money was involved, no Mafia connections were reported (although there were calls for re- venge), no other crime was committed except for a difference of opinions between two soccer fans. : een

What could have possessed someone to kill for the sake of sport? It is improbable that the game itself could have provoked him, since the sport isnowhere nearas violentas other popular sports, such as hockey, rugby or football. In soccer, there is physical contact, but it is not as essential to the game

There have been countless inter- provincial hockey games in

national game, but there are no records of a murder taking place in the stands of any stadium. this lead me to believe that there is a rising degree of near tribalism in sports today, with the only excuse

for violence is the fact that “‘He is

different from me,” or at least in _ Europe.

as in hockey or football. Also, with a few rare exceptions, there is no killing in any of the sports mentioned.

The context of the game is possibly a factor. Heated rivalries between teams are the backbone of professional sports -- for example, who would pay to see a hockey game between Canada and Cuba? There is little possibility ofa serious contest there for any Canadian hockey fans-- those who go would only be there to see a generic hockey game, not a super-charged, intense match like that between Canada and the USSR in 1972. However, Italy is one country. Sure the teams are from different regions, but that isno excuse. There have been countless intet- provincial hockey games in Canada since its inception as oul national game, but there are no records of a murder taking placé in the stands of any stadium. This leads me to believe that there is arising degree of near-tribalism in sports today, with the only excuse for violence is the fact that ‘‘He is different from me,” orat least in Europe. I hope I never live to see the day a Toronto Maple Leafs fan is killed simply because he was exercising his free will by attending a hockey game in Montreal.

Perhaps the ‘mob-mentality’ of soccer caused this trag- edy. I donot imply the involvement of organised crime in ay

continued on next pag?

8

February 7, 1999