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(The (Laihibtan Statesman W EDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1997 SECTION TWO / , The victory is the first for the local team - Darryl Gage, Robert Partington Peter Lomax -- after plan inq fifth last season. The skier was face-down and unconscious after a head-on collision collision with a tower. He suffered possible possible spleen and spinal injures. His vital signs were deteriorating quickly. But, within 20 minutes, members of the Oshawa Ski Club's Ski Patrol had assessed the injuries, given initial first aid and loaded the "victim" onto a toboggan toboggan for transportation to an ambulance. ambulance. The "accident" described above was only a simulated injury. It was staged at a recent competition for Ontario ski patrol teams at Hidden Valley, near Huntsville. And, while the scenario was invented in order to test the skills of the patrollers, their response was the same as it were a life, rather than a silver trophy, that was on the line. Each three-member team had 25 minutes in which to ; respond to the accident and move | the victim safely off the hill. Their score was determined by how they responded to the accident. The team of Darryl Gage, Robert Partington and Peter V; Lomax -- all patrollers based at the Oshawa Ski Club in Kirby -- came away with the Ontario championship. championship. They will go on to compete compete at the national level. They were among 12 teams vying for the provincial title on February 22nd. The victory is a first for the local team, although they placed fifth last season. In addition, the Kawartha Zone, which includes the Oshawa Ski Club, placed first in Ontario. Its member clubs encompass Dagmar, Lakeridge, Devil's Elbow, Skyloft, The Ranch, Sir Sam's and Kawartha Nordic. "We're here because we care," says Robert Partington, when he describes the work of the Ski Patrol. Those same words can be found on the door of the Ski Patrol hut at the top of the Kirby hill. "We do everything the ambulance will do," Partington adds, in describing how the patrollers assess a victim and render initial first aid on the hill. There are 56 ski patrollers at Kirby and about-6,000 in Canada. THE BEST -- Members of the Ski Patrol team from the OshaWa Ski Club display the trophy they won late last month to clinch the provincial championship. From left are: Robert Partington, Darryl Gage and Peter Lomax, team leader. The group is coached by Cindy Cameron. The volunteers leam to rescue injured skiers with a 13-week training program which concludes with an examination requiring a mark of 75 per cent in order to pass. Each year, the patrollers must pass an examination in order to remain in the program. Partington adds that you must, of course, be a good skier to even be considered for the program. Those who want to join are first assessed for skiing ability, after which they'll be shown how to work with the toboggans used to move injured persons down the hill. The Ski Patrol tends to see mainly leg injuries -- such as twisted knees and sprains -- among skiers. For snowboarders, wrist injuries are most common, especially among those who aren't wearing proper wrist protection. The most common times for accidents are between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., as skiers seem to get a little tired and become more prone to accidents. "We're always looking for people," people," says Scott Cameron, Vice President of Training for the Kawartha Zone, in reference to the need for volunteers. Qualified persons persons who wish to join Ski Patrol could be ready to work as patrollers at the start of next winter's winter's ski season if they begin now and pass all of the requirements. For further details, Cameron can be reached at 263-4636. It's All Over for the Eagles in Game Six by Chris Rourke Staff Writer "Realistically, we'll have 12-14 players backup," Eagles General Manager, Mike Laing, returning. We'll probably bring back Jonathon told The Statesman. Now that the season is over for the Forest and look for a local goaltender to be the "Essentially we'll build on the nucleus of Bowmâvni lie Eagles, they have _■ 12-14 players, and the bal- begun to look toward the 1997-98 ance ~ 'We want players who The Eagles lost 5-2 on Monday night to the Newmarket 87's in game six of their Provincial Jr. A quarter-final series. Newmarket won the series four games to two. Steve Blais, with his sixth of the series, and Niall Maynard, with his third, scored for the Eagles on. Monday. Adam Armstrong chipped in with two assists. Scott Stephen and Rustyn Dolyny with two apiece, and Moe Alvarez scored for the 87's. All three also added two assists each. "I'm very proud of the players. They gave everything they had and showed a lot of character," a dejected Eagles head coach, Guy Jacob, said following the game. want to be Bowmanville Eagles. Out of town players players play for themselves." Laing admits he's not going to spend so much time with out of town players who don't understand understand the Eagles history. THE SCOOP - The Eagles will be holding a press conference in the next two to three weeks. Laing will announce the direction the hockey club will be going in regards to the coaching situation and other matters...Jay Cannings led the team with nine points in the playoffs. Steve Blais, Niall Maynard, and Adam arm- strong all chipped in with "Many thought we'd go out in four straight, but we proved them .... wrong." ELIMINATED -- The Bowmanville Eagles bowed out of the Provincial Jr. A ei ght points apiece. The process of working league playoffs on Monday night on home ice after suffering a 5-2 loss to the $6© BRAXAflL towards next season ahs already Newmarket 87's. Newmarket won the best-of-seven series in six games, begun. ••• Page 4 Series at A Glance Newmarket 7 Bowmanville 1 ■ ban» i Bowmanville 6 Newmarket 5 i xsme <ù Newmarket 10 Bowmanville 3 Game 4 Bowmanville 8 Newmarket 4 Game 5 Newmarket 11 Bowmanville 2 Game 6 Newmarkets Bowmanville 2