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The Scugog Christian School celebrated its last school day before the holidays with an afternoon of skating at the Port Perry Arena. All the students and teachers enjoyed the afternoon out of school to spend with classmates and friends. PARTICIPATION NIGHT Burnett eyes a playot George Burnett figures the month of January will tell the tale as far as his Niagara Falls Thunder is concerned. Since taking over the head coaching job of the Thunder in late November, Burnett has taken the team from dead last to sixth in the OHL's Emms Di- vision, including a five game winning streak that culminated with a 6-5 victory over Sudbury just before Christmas when the team got a break for the holiday season. And how does the Port Perry native like coaching in "Honeymoon City?" "Well, it's great when you're winning," he told the Star last Thursday evening at the Scugog Arena as he watched the MoJacks and Bowmanville Eagles clash in a Junior C tilt. But he called the Thunder schedule in the month of Janu- ary "brutal" and the next four weeks likely will determine if the team can hang on to sixth place and the final playoff spot. If you have been considering learning karate but keep postponing it, mark this date on your calendar. Come and join in with others in the same situation. This is a special night to help you feel comfortable. Bring some loose clothing and en Ol N U S ! Mom and Dad, learn with your children ... AL L AG ES ! " self-defence and exercise FR E E ! This Introductory Class is FREE, No Obligation! JANUARY 9th at 7:00 PM MASONIC LODGE HALL Queen & Lilla Streets, Port Perry (across from Presbyterian Church on Queen St. Port Perry) 985-0205 ant. off berth As of last Thursday, the Thunder had 22 points, one up on Windsor and the Sault, and nine back of North Bay. Staying in sixth place will be Burnett's priority for the rest of the season. When he took over the team 11 games ago, the Thun- der had the worst goals-against record in the league. Burnett said getting the goals against down to about four per game has made a big difference. He started this hockey sea- son as the assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals. When the head coaching job in the Falls became availa- ble, Burnett jumped at the chance. I was interviewed at 7:00 in the morning, and that night was behind the bench for my first game," he said. But he quickly secured the gervices of Randy Hall, an old friend who was coaching Junior Bin Lindsay, to work as assist- Burnett is also handling managerial chores as well. And he called the chance to work with the Thunder an "excellent opportunity for myself and Randy." The only real downside is the separation from family. Burnett and Hall have taken up residence in a hotcl close to the Arena where the Thunder play home games. Burnett's wife is continu- ing to live in Oshawa and Hall's wife and four children live near Lindsay. Burnett's contract with the Thunder is for the remainder of this season. After that, he said, he'll be discussing next season with the owner when this cam- paignis over. After playing Junior hock- ey in London and with the McGill University Redmen, Burnett returned to the Port Perry area, taught phys ed at PPHS and started coaching in Uxbridge. He then spent two full sea- sons behind the bench with Port Perry MoJacks, taking the team to its first ever berth in all-Ontario finals in 1987-88. He admitted that when he landed in Niagara Falls five weeks ago, there was a fair amount of turmoil, and there have been several player chang- es since. But he's more than pleased with the progress. "A month ago, the team was nine points out of that last playoffspot." The Thunder will be in ac- tion in Belleville Jan. 6, and some Port Perry hockey fans are making plans to take in that game. Others will head to the pa- latial Copps Coliseum in Hamil- ton late in January to catch Burnett and the Thunder in ac- tion. Asked for his opinion on the block-buster deal that will bring 16-year old whiz-kid Eric Lindros to the Generals, Bur- nett said obviously it is going to be good for Oshawa and the en- tire league. Lindros will bring fans to the General games at home and on the road, but Burnett specu- lated that ovar the long haul the Sault club will benefit. Oshawa gave up three quality players, a couple of draft picks, "future considerations," and a reported $80,000 in cash. "The Generals gave up a lot to get him "said Burnett. CC I) EE EEE ER) a ests