The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

/ SPORTS DISTRIBUTO 71 MAIN ST. S., GEORGETOWN 873-0500 IAIN ST. S. Gf (ENTRANCE OFF REAR PARKING LOT) 873-2441 The Georgetown Chrysler Raiders’ off-season quest for a top- notch goaltender has begun. The Central Ontario Junior B West Division team held its first “summey skate in Brampton on Thursday, with one of the partici- pants being none other than goalie Jason Sirota, the one-time Raider who is back in Ontario this year after having played Tier II hockey in B.C. last year. Carmello Giurleo capably tended goal for Georgetown last season and was a major reason why the Raiders fin- ished fourth in the overall standings and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. However, he’s expected to catch on with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sudbury Wolves, who sent Giurleo to the Raiders during the 1991-92 cam- paign. Raider general manager Finn Poulstrup was pleased to see Siroti. take to the ice at Terry Miller Arena, and made no bones about hoping to sign the 20-year-old for the upcoming season. “If we can get Jason, we’ll have one of the best goalies in the league,” Poulstrup said. “You've got to figure having a 20-year-old goalie with Tier II experience gives you someone to build your team around. “A good goaltender gives you the privilege of being able to teach your team. Without one, players tend to scramble and not hold their posi- tion. You can’t win that way. “We feel it would be a real coup if we could sign Jason, or at least someone like him.”” Coach Charlie Hanman agrees. “You need a stopper, a veteran- type person who gives you that con- fidence you need,’ Hanman said. But goal isn’t the only position that requires an influx of new blood. With only seven players returning from last year’s squad, including just two defencemen, Poulstrup and coach Hanman are looking to fill a lot of vacancies. However, Poulstrup isn’t about to press the panic button. “Every year in Junior B_ you're looking to fill a lot of spots,’’ he said. “Last year we only had six returning players, so we're actually in better shape this year.’” One player Poulstrup doesn’t hope to have back is defenceman Mike Wilson, the Brampton native who was Sudbury’s sixth-round pick in this year’s OHL draft. “We'd certainly love to have him back, but Mike would be more valuable to the Raiders by sticking with Sudbury and playing well for the Wolves. “Sudbury talked to us about Mike before drafting him, and we told them we thought he could make it up there. By doing that, Sudbury would possibly look at Georgetown as a place where players will devel- op and be able to step right into the HL.” But Wilson isn’t the only former Raider graduating to higher hockey grounds. Defencemen Tom Viola and Charlie Humber, along with forward Scott Humber (the two Humbers are twins), accepted hock- ey scholarships in the United States, which Poulstrup feels only further solidifies the Raider program. “J just as soon have two or three kids develop and go on to stick at higher programs than have a lot of them go there, only to come back,’ Poulstrup said. “The real goal of Junior B hockey, as I see it, is to provide the players with an oppor- tunity to go on to bigger and better things. “That, really is what this is all about.”” Obtaining top-notch goaltender top priority irota catches Raiders eye NOTES _ The Raiders have added Bert Osborne as an assistant coach, replacing Mike Marcolini, who stepped down after last sea- son.... The Central League will be anxiously awaiting word from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association on just where the Metro Junior Hockey League fits into the overall scheme of things. On Monday, it was reported that the former outlaw league had recon- ciled with the CAHA and was once again affiliated with the national body. But CAHA president Murray Costello wouldn't say whether or not the Metro League will continue to operate as a Tier II loop or drop down to Junior B. Costello said the matter should be cleared up some- time this week, which will undoubt- edly result in the Central League gathering for its own meeting to discuss the matter and any possible ramifications that may arise. Green earns roster spot Curtis Green has caught on with the Canadian senior men’s base- ball team. {The 21-year-old catcher was one of 20 players named to the team last week after the two-week training camp in Windsor. Last year Green was invited to try out, but had to pass because of a bro- ‘ken finger. | The six-foot-four, 205-pounder |was one of four catchers in camp, ‘but was the biggest prospect [behind the plate and was only one ‘of two left-handed batters. | Green will catch for the national lteam, but offers coach John \Upham a lot of versatility. In his ifirst two years at Troy University jin Alabama, Green has played first ‘base and been a designated hitter, while also having been a third baseman during his tenure with \Georgetown’s former Junior Eagles club. The Canadian baseball team will take part in a number of exhi- bition games, including a four- game series with the American ‘Olympic team. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Canada takes on the Americans at Millington, Tenn. On Thursday, the two teams meet in Louisville, Ky., before finishing, up with a contest at Veterans) Stadium in Philadelphia, t * = Curtis Green Re-living 1987 season won't happen with decision of councils John Malinoksy has vivid memories of the last time a Canadian Football League team folded, and is glad he doesn’t have to re-live them, now that Oskee WeeWee lives in Hamilton. Five years ago, the Montreal Alouettes folded on the eve of the 1987 reg- ular season, ironically just two days after playing an exhibition game against Hamilton, the team which featured Malinoksy on its starting offen- sive line. The Ticats averted a similar scenario Thursday, when regional and city councils accepted a proposal from a local ownership group to transfer the franchise to community ownership. That concluded what had been a cloudy seven months since owner David Braley put the once-proud club up for sale after he reportedly lost $5 million since he took over the team from the late Harold Ballard in 1989. Hamilton fans have stayed away from Ivor Wynne Stadium the past two years, due to the current economic climate as well as a poor on-field product (9-27 combined 90-91 regular-season record). No less than four other groups expressed interest in purchasing the Ticats, including another local consortium, the Ghermezian brother (who owns the West Edmonton Mall), Jerry Buss (owner of the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers) and Montreal sportswear: mogul Ted Fletcher. “This does remind me of the Montreal situation,” said Malinosky, who now owns and operates the Tim Horton’s business in Georgetown. “There was no way the CFL could go with just seven teams this year. (Losing Hamilton) would’ ve been too much.” ‘The league did have contingency plans (either going with seven teams or accommodating a Ticats move), but wasn’t about to operate the franchise, much like it did with the Ottawa Rough Riders over the final 14 weeks of the 1991 season before an owner was found. Malinosky, who finished up his 10-year CFL career with two seasons in the Steel City, including the 1986 Grey Cup champion Ticats, feels com- munity ownership offers definite advantages. “ think people and businesses won’t mind. contributing money to a com- munity-owned team because they know the money is going back into the community and will create jobs,’’ he said. Malinosky glad Tabbies staying put ‘The recession has claimed its share of victims in Hamilton, absence of the Ticats reportedly would take away $30 million from the local economy. “But things look positive now for the team and I hope they can-turn it around.” Malinosky may have more of a stake in the Ticats than just being a for- mer player as Tim Horton’s is reported to be a member of the present own- ership group. While admitting he didn’t know for sure if Tim Horton’s was involved, Malinosky said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was. * “The head office is in Hamilton and it would be a way of giving some- thing back to the community as a sign of appreciation to the people for their support,” he said. Malinosky said he has nothing but pleasant memories about his tenure in Hamiltor “The n. Ticats are a great team with a great tradition,’’ Malinosky said. 4 i and the Georgetown businessman John Malinosky proudly displays the Grey Cup ring he won in 1986 as an offensive lineman with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. With the decision last week to transfer the Ticats to a non- “A lot of jobs that you and I don’t see would be lost,’” Malinosky said. profit community group Malinosky's Grey Cup ‘memories won't fade with the folding of the once proud franchise. “The people always seemed to enjoy having you there, and they knew all of the players and followed their careers, which is something I always liked. “When I played in Hamilton, I was in the twilight of my career, which I think made me appreciate that sort of thing more.” As a former player, Malinosky said the uncertainty surrounding the club before Thursday’s decision was probably on the minds of the current Ticats. However, it probably didn’t weigh on their minds as much as people think. “In football, you're not promised a long time or a good time, just time, and you know that when you sign along the dotted line. As a football play- er, you're in the entertainment business and play by a different set of tules.””