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'mfm mi» awAw- ■ L'.. - < Vi' Walter durhamrcgion.com THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ AUGUST 17,2005 ♦ PAGE 13 Sports ■ Eijc Canadian Statesman ♦ durham-egion.com Brian McNair Will Big E's career come full circle? *. One thing hasn't change about Eric -Lindros from the clay lie first put on -an Oshavva Generals uniform to today: »He's still fiercely determined to con- "trol his own destiny. « It just doesn't seem so annoying -now. v As much as he electrified this com- , 'munity when he suited up for the Generals Generals and led them to a Memorial Cup fin 1990, the immaturity lie showed -by refusing to play for the Sault Ste. -Marie Greyhounds should still rankle 'those who believe in (he integrity of 'the draft system. - - He didn't learn much - or perhaps he •did - by the time it came to be drafted •into the NHL, as again he refused to Zplay for the team that selected him, the 'Quebec Nordiques. ' Lindros ended up in Philadelphia, -where he reached one Stanley Cup -'final and did nothing productive in : the series, while those he was dealt •for ultimately turned the Colorado : Avalanche into a powerhouse that won two Cups. • i - • ' r; His career has been remarkable, to "be sure, but he hasn't lived up to the 'Next One label, falling well short of 'the accomplishments of Wayne Gretzky Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. L After exploding onto the scene with 'a rare combination of brawn and skill ;and winning the Hart Trophy as MVP in the strike-shortened 1994-95 sea- ■ son, Lindros went on to become the [fifth fastest player in.league history to "reach the 500-point milestone, accorn- 'plishing the feat in his 352nd game in ►1998. c' Then the injuries took hold, most 'notably a string of concussions that 'now totals eight. The whitiy Lindros re-emerged in 2000, when, angered with the way his injuries were being treated by the Flyers, Flyers, he turned down the team's qualifying qualifying offer and demanded he be dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs. .It didn't happen then, of course. Instead, he sat a out a full year before being traded to the New York Rangers, ' where he spent three mostly unremarkable unremarkable seasons. ; Now that Lindros.is finally able to control his fate, it's ironic few other : suitors came calling. He got his wish, 'to play for the Blue and White, but the |$ 1.55-million contract lie signed is «far less than one might have expected "from a 32-year-old with such proven 'potential. ; The burning question now is this: •How much does the Big E have left? ! Well, that will be determined on the ice beginning in October, but judging judging by his off-the-ice demeanour last jvveekjie seems to have finally grown ►up at least. , * It was refreshing to hear him speak [passionately about his brother and jokingly about skating with his head ■iip. He seems a much more humble •person, but still with the desire to win .in a hockey-rich town, as he did with [the Generals 15 years ago. j! Now if lie can bring his career full jjircle and lead another tradition-laden 'Club to the promised land, his Hockey Hall of Fame status will be cemented. Redmen hit the links P OSHAWA - There are still a few "spots available for the annual Brooklin [Redmen golf tournament this Saturday Saturday at the Columbus Golf and Country Club. [, Cost Is $100 and includes cart, silent auction and steak dinner to follow. follow. The Major Series Lacrosse team will also recognize Its annual award pinners that day. i' For more Information, call Bob Vesey at 905-655-3022 or the Redmen Redmen hotline at 905-668-3932. Brunt leads strong cast into Hall of Fame BHS teacher among six new inductees BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor CLARINGTON - Bill Brunt humbly asks "Why me?" and the easy answer is "Why not you?" Brunt is one of a deserving group of six that will be inducted into the Clar- inglon Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 22, at the. Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex in Bowmanville. Along with the longtime longtime Bowinanville High School teacher and coach, the Hall will welcome the Courtice Secondary School soccer team from 1971, the Bowmanville Eagles team of 1978-79, rifle shooter William Hockin, as well as Mosport International- International- Speedway and the Darlington Men's Soccer League in the honorary category. When Brunt received the call informing informing him of his selection, he admits it was unexpected. "I was quite taken aback. I asked why me? A lot of people, did the same thing ■ as I did." Brunt retired in 1995 from the only school he ever taught at; starting at Bowmanville High School back in 1960 when it was located on Queen Street, the same location'how serving Grade 7 and 8 students as Bowmanville Senior Public School. When BHS opened at its Liberty Street location in 1972, Brunt went along with the move, staying-put until he retired a decade ago. During that 35-year span, he guided thousands,of young athletes, both as the head of the phys-ed department, and as à coach'of varsity teams, taking the helm at one time or another of just about every team that ever wore the school colours, both male and female. "1 never said I did well, but I did coach them all," he laughs of his vast experience. experience. His coaching philosophy was developed developed early on, and didn't waver through- ' out, endearing him to the students who played for him. "I always felt any person who came out to play should have an equal 'opportunity 'opportunity to play at the school level. That's what we tried to do as best we could," said the 67-year-old Bowmanville resident, resident, adding, "I had trouble cutting anyone," The induction ceremony on Oct. 22 will be the third in Clarington, bringing bringing the number, of inductees to 22. Legendary hockey analyst and the creator creator of Peter Puck, Brian MacFarlane, will serves as Master of Ceremonies, while Walter Gretzky is this year's guest speaker. Others making the grade in 2005 include: Courtice Soccer Team (1971) Having opened its doors in 1961, it look just 10 years for Courtice Secondary Secondary School to register its first OFSAA Retired Bowmanville High School teacher Bill Brunt will be one of six new inductees into the Clarington Sports Hall of Fame on Qct. 22. provincial championship, as the soccer team turned the trick in 1971. Busloads of students and teachers made the trek to Birchmount Stadium in Toronto to cheer the team to victory in the championship championship game. ■ Bowmanville Eagles (1978-79) Established in 1968, the Jr. C hockey club won its first Ontario championship at the conclusion of the 1978*79 season, season, sweeping Kincardine four games straight in the final. Crowds filled the old Bowmanville Arena on Queen Street during the entire playoff run that also included series wins over Little Britain, Port Perry, Cobourg, Gananoque and Penetang. ' William Hockin He was the winner of the highest honour in rifle shooting in the British British Empire, the King's Prize in 1913. In 1927, he captured the Prince of Wales prize, the second highest award in Bisley. After his death in .1932, his wife donated most of his trophies to the Sergeants Mess of the 48th Highland ers, where Hockin had been promoted to Sgt. Major in 1923. Mosport International Speedway The home of motor racing in Canada for more than 40 years, the track has served as one of the premier facilities in the world, hosting a number of races at all levels. Darlington Men's Soccer League The league held a gala celebration this year in celebration of its 125th anniversary. anniversary. Darlington is the oldest continuous operating soccer league in Canada. Generals gearing up for training camp Brad Selwood expects OHL training camp to be very competitive BY BRIAN MCNAIR Staff Editor OSHAWA - Brad Selwood is starting to get excited about the prospect of this year's training'camp for the Oshawa Generals. With little in the way of options available available at last year's smaller camp, his first as the generals' GM, Selwood believes the competitive juices will be flowing much more freely at this year's, which is expected to draw some 60 potential players to the Civic Auditorium beginning beginning Aug. 30. "1 think a lot of people will be pleasantly pleasantly surprised at the competitive level of the camp," says Selwood. "We're stoked about it," Two players who will not be at camp arc overagers Ryan Gibb and Matt Pun- turcri, who Selwood has placed on the trade wire. With Gibb's departure, the team will look to 19-year-old Carlo DiRicnzo and recent import pick Stefan Gmuwilcr to vie for the No. 1 spot, with rookie Ben Thomas the likely backup. But Selwood still seems uncertain about the state of the crease and would like to upgrade after last season's inconsistency there. In fact, he admits he made a pitch for David Shantz, who ended up being dealt from Missis- - sauga to Peterborough. Peterborough. At OHL general mangers' meetings last week, Selwood , acquired the rights to Whitby's Phil, Mcllhonc from the Sudbury Sudbury Wolves in exchange for an eighth round draft pick. Mcllhone, a 1987-bom left-winger drafted in the fifth round in 2003, finished second in scoring for the Pickering Panthers last season with 22- 23-45 numbers in 42 games. , Selwood also has permission from Windsor to invite Steve Ludzik Jr., the Spitfires' fifth-round pick in 2002, to camp, If lie makes the team, a deal will then be worked out. The son of former former IceDogs' coach and NHLer Steve Ludzik played Jr. B in Niagara Falls last season. Peterborough Petes forward Corey Gault, who is caught in a numbers game on a strong Petes roster, may also be acquired for a late round pick, Selwood says. Beyond his desire to land a goalie, Selwood Selwood will also be looking to fill a third overage spot with only John Neal and Justin Allen coming back as 20-year- olds. Having plucked three 1988-born players players in the most recent OHL draft, Selwood says he wouldn't be surprised surprised to see at least six' ■ ne.w draft picks come out of the camp and make the team this season. He has also scoured the country for potential free agents and hopes to land a keeper or two there. The newcomer who will generate the most excitement, of course, is John Tavares, who was deemed an 'exceptional' 'exceptional' underage player and chosen first overall by the Gens in the draft. Tavares, who will turn 15 three days before the start of the season, has already added about seven pounds of bulk since he was drafted, weighing in at 187 according to Selwood. Coming off a last place season of 15- 48-3-2, Selwood is under no grand illusions illusions about the upcoming campaign, the first full season - he hopes - under head coach Randy Ladouceur, who replaced Bob McGill midway through last sea son. "We will be thrilled, and I think the fans will be thrilled, if we make the playoffs," playoffs," Selwood says. "I still think we're a year or two away from where we want to be. It's slow and steady." GENERALLY SPEAKING: Defenceman Devereaux Heshmatpour has still not returned Brad Selwood's calls, leaving his late-season departure as a mystery to the GM. A key part of the trade that sent goalie Dan Tlirple to Kitchener, Heshmatpour was considered a strong professional prospect, but was passed over in the recent NHL draft... The Generals' training camp begins with physicals and fitness testing Aug. 30 and takes to the ice the next day... The first of six exhibition games is Wednesday, Sept. 7.against the St. Michael's Majors, 7:05 p.m. at the Civic... Oshawa opens the regular season Sept. 23 in Kingston, the first of four straight road games... The Generals' home-opener. is Friday, Oct. 7 against the Peterborough Petes at 7:35 p.m... Although final word won't come until more meetings later this month, it appears the OHL will adopt most of the NHL rule changes immediately, immediately, including the elimination of the red-line and the tag-up rule for off-sides, and a shootout following overtime. Size of goalie equipment will remain as is for one more season.