By Scott MacDonald Take away the best backcourt in the conference, a first team all-

AUAA shooting guard and one of the best playmakers in team history, two of your top inside performers, and your key reserve point guard and you leave George Matheson with many shoes to fill. Considering that this team relied heavily on those key players, it’s hard to imagine that they’ II stay at the level which made them AUAA fi- ae

AUAA season due to a badly sprained ankle ‘which required a cast, but he should be ready after Christmas. Newson will be an off-the-bench sparkplug with his scoring and. shooting skills; an instant offense player. TOSH grads Pete Richard and 6’7 Greg Lucas have stepped up their games in the preseason and are impressing many fans with their hustle and desire. Richard’s jump shot is a thing of beauty, and he can swing between both

backcourt positions.

al (ora e Lucas isanimposing fig- wild card slot) away : ‘t Fr P th ure down low: he can from the ov playoffs <n rr a n ‘ eC rs swat away shots with his last year. owever, long arms, and hasa nice Morrison has designed asketball outlook | wmarungjumpinsiae anew system which will | a 7 Harrison Trimble grad

exploit UPEI’s long range firepower, and has implemented a pressing defensive scheme which will run some clubs into the ground.

66 former AUAA rookie of the year, Curtis Robinson, will be the spoon that stirs the Panthers coffee this year. C-Rob will be relied on for scoring, rebounding, and leadership for the youthful Panthers. Robinson, if he plays every night, can explode for 30+ points with a multi-faceted offensive game that combines a sweet jumpshot with Kevin McHale-like post moves. ;

The other key player is fifth-year shooting guard Craig ‘‘Sky’’ Walker, who is replacing Raham Dixon and his 20 ppg average. Walker is one of the most underrated guards in the conference; he’s got amazing jumping ability, a deadly perim- eter game, and the best finishing moves this side of Mortal Kombat Ii. If Walker’s not playing suffocating defense, he’s playing Sega.

Ch’town Rural grads Peter Lawlor and Jason Kielley compose the remainder of the starting frontline. Lawlor cankill a team with his deadeye three-point shooting. Kielley is an agressive defender at the power forward slot and can score inside and out with remarkable ease. Second year man, 58 Kevin Mitchell, had replaced Darrell Glenn at the point but has been moved to the role of sixth man where he can use his lightening quick speed to pace the uptempo Panther attack off the bench. Mitch is another of the Ps’ long range gunners, and has NBA JAM-like jumping ability.

Soph forward Dougie Newson has yet to see action in the

Kevin Hansen is an- other of the P’s walking wounded. He has missed games so far this season with a severe charley horse. It’s also caused him to miss over two weeks of practice. Hansen is a versatile player who can play inside or outside.

Morrison has brought in four new faces (see FAB FOUR) to play this year, and all have seen extensive time so far. Scarborough’s Michael Moore can light it up from downtown with Glen Rice-like shooting, and moved into the starting lineup in this past weekends gamevs. St. FX. Rural grads Steve Lawlor and David Mullally both come from a quality high school program which has produced a long line of productive AUAA players, including both of their older brothers. Mullally puts his 6’6 frame to good use inside, and has range on his jump. Lawlor can explode for points from beyond the three point arc and has good defensive skills. Shane Walsh played at ST. FX and can handle the ball, backing up Mitchell atthe point. Walsh is another Panther bombardier who’s not afraid of taking it to the hole.

The Panthers finished off their preseason with a 5-1 record, with the only blemish being aloss toa large Brock squad, who appear to be one of Canada’s topteams this year. They split their first two AUAA games; beating UNB 102-82, and then losing a heartbreaking 103-102 gameon a Christian Laettner- esque turnaround jumpshot by Bryan Elliot. Coach Morrison hopes for better things in the new year with the expected return of 6’4 power forward Brian McLennon, who missed first semester this year due topersonal reasons.

Guard, 671

Charlottetown Rural

Averaged 24 ppg in grade 12...excellent three point shooter... PEISAA league MVP...member of 1994 PEI Junior team...1993 Eastern Canadian Juvenile tournament All- Star...can score on anyone...CHRS Male athlete of the year 1994. plenty of range on his shot...complements that with slashing drivesto the hole

Shane Walsh

Guard, 672

Westville High

Amazing scorer in high school...averaged 36.5 ppg in grade 12...in playoffs for grade 12 knocked in 44 points a game, Including a 56 point effort...two time male athlete year at Westville High...can handle the ball well at the backup point Suard position. ..likes to take it to the basket...played at ST. FX

=e

7

Forward, 676

Charlottetown Rural

Good shooting touch for a big man...has the three in his game...first team all-star at Coal Bowl and Gray Cup during high school...played on many provincial teams...averaged 18 points and 9 boards a game in grade 12...League and Provincial all-star in grade 12...was one of the Fab Five from this summer’s Provincial Junior team with teammate Lucas.

Guard, 6

Mother Theresa

Won a plethora of awards and named to many all-star teams in the Toronto area...Toronto second team all-star “94... member of regional provincial team in 1994...94 average: 24 points, 9 boards 7 assists...93 average: 26 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists...has hit as many as 8 three pointers in one game...scary range on his shot...rapid fire release

—

***Mens hockey is in excellent shape, bursting out of the gate

with a 6-3 record good for second place in the MacAdam

division, one win behind Moncton (whom the Panthers have

already beaten twice-once in exhibition and once in regular

season action this season). The Panthers’ potent goal scoring

attack is averaging 8 goals per contest, while they are surrender-

ing 5.4 goals against. The Panthers’ impressive crop of newcomers have made an immediate impact. Frontliners Mike

Harding and Tyler Ertel have made heavy dents in the scoring

columns so far this season. Talented freshmen blueliners Brett

Kowan and Daryl Lavoie have contributed with some timely

goals, and Kowan has collected a fair share of assists, including

two in last Sunday’s 8-5 win over UNB. Team captains K.J.

White and John Nelson share the scoring lead with 20 points

apiece, Lavoie and Jim Somnez are tied for third with 17 each.

***The women’s basketball team had an excellent preseason, going undefeated against fairly weak competition. They went

5-0 with two wins against St. Thomas (which is not yet. an

AUAA school), a pair of victories over an improved UCCB

team, and a tight win over the potentially playoff-bound SMU

Huskies. The Lady P’s have also played several practice games against both teams of senior women allstars, and against some male senior players.

November 22, 1994