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4 4 -- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, Sept. 24, 1985 editorial com Should Be Mandatory The minor hockey season in Canada is hardly underway and already there is a report of an 18 year old British Columbia youth who died from a hockey injury. The youth, a member of the Abbortsford Falcons was taking part in a team scrimmage when he fell face forward across the skate blade of a team mate. The freshly sharpened blade slashed his throat and despite emergency surgery at a nearby hospital, the wound proved to be fatal. Two Quebec players died in similar fashion last year. While great steps have been taken in the past few years to improve the protective equipment worn by young hockey players, the throat area has been largely neglected. Some protective equipment is mandatory. The Port Perry Minor Hockey Association won't allow a player on the ice unless he/she is wearing a proper helmet and face shield. And even the very youngest players are decked out in full padding from gloves to atheletic cup. But the throat area, exposed the way it is, and so vulnerable to stick, skate or flying puck, is left un- protected unless parents buy their youngsters a throat or neck collar. These padded devices simply fit around the throat like a collar and are fastened by Velcro. They are readi- ly available at sporting good shops and range in price from $10 to $30. That's a pretty cheap investment to pro- tact one of the most vulnerable areas of the body. Helmets became mandatory in minor hockey many years ago. the full face shield within the last decade. How many serious injuries or deaths have been avoided because of these pieces of equipment? Obviously, 1t 1s time for the CAHA and the provin- cial associations right down to the local organizations to make the same step when it comes to throat protec- tors. Like the helmet and face mask, they should be mandatory But until the rule 1s changed, parents should see to it that their youngsters (no matter what age) are wear- Ing the protective collar before they step on the ice. It should be as much a part of hockey equipment as gloves and shin pads, more so. As 1s usually the case in matters like this, the B.C. Junior Hockey League now insists that all players wear them. Had that been in effect two weeks ago, an 18 year old might still be playing hockey, might still be alive. Until minor hockey associations make the protec- tive gear mandatory, coaches should stress the impor- tance of it, and parents should make the common sense decision to invest a few dollars in something that could save a young life. Tuna Salad What in the world was federal Fisheries Minister John Fraser thinking last spring when he over-ruled in- spectors in his own department to allow one million tins of 'suspect' tuna to go on super market shelves? Fraser was on the hot seat in the House of Com- mons last week as Opposition members demanded an explanation. The minister conceded that the $800,000 worth of tuna didn't meet inspection tests for 'texture and aesthetics,' but insisted there was no threat to human health. But there certainly must have been something wrong If Armed Forces chefs refused to accept about $100.000 worth because of the powerful smell The decision to allow the tuna on the market under the brand names of Ocean Maid and Bye the Sea was allegedly made after meetings with Fraser and New Brunswick premier Richard Hatfield who feared 400 jobs in his home province would be lost if the processing and packing plant followed through on a threat to shut its doors Whether the tuna was indeed a health hazard may never be known, but the whole aftairr. dubbed by some as 'Tunagate," has left more than just a bad smell The fact that a Cabinet Minister over-ruled inspec- tors in his own department undermines the confidence Canadians must have in the men and women whose job it 18 to test the quality of all kinds of food products sold in this country and abroad (Turn to page 6) - COUNT 16 DOWN THUG YEAR HARRIET... AND VM BORED, GOLETS LAND ON PORT PERRY ANDO BUG EVERYONE! es EST 0) w)) Jf / C= TL aT TEN PORT PERRY STAR g5/8 wy, chatterbox by J. Peter Hvidsten 40's A GREAT AGE Well, it finally happened. Yours truly reached that elusive age, "The Big Four-0." Turning 40 wasn't nearly as traumatic as I thought it would be, even though I was warned time and time again by those who had attained this golden age, that it's all downhill from here. As a matter of fact, during the past week, many pleasant and fascinating things have happened in my life. Take Saturday, September 14th for instance. My wife Nancy and | were attending a wedding for some close friends of ours in Lake Placid, U.S.A. There were a number of other Port Perry friends in attendance and after the wedding, we all gathered in a bar called the Handlebar Saloon for the reception and party. It was here, during Larry and Linda Emmerson's very special day, that the bride and groom honoured me by presenting me with a very special hat, tuxedo t-shirt and a cake with a ver-r-r-r-y large candle in the middle. I couldn't believe it! It was their wedding day and everyone in the bar was singing 'Happy Birthday" to me. It all seemed like the attention was going to the wrong person, but then if you know Larry and Linda, they always get the last laugl.. The Monday before we left for Lake Placid, things were their usual frantic pace around the Star as we piec- ed together the pages of another newspaper for prin- ting early Tuesday morning. Annabell had been fighting the flu-bug all day and was not feeling very well, but she hung in like a real trouper. I had told her numerous times to go home, but she insisted on sticking it out until the end, which hap- pened to be about 10:00 p m Monday night It wasn't until the next day that I realized that her special dedication that night was so [ wouldn't see the ad the staff had put in the paper wishing me a 'Happy 40th Birthday The half page ad sported no fewer than four pictures of me ranging from the time I was about 15 months un- til I was 20 years of age (with lots of hair) In all fairness. | deserved what they did to me. as on two earher occasions I have been the instigator of similar ads against staff members reaching this same ripe age Then, on Tuesday. September 10, the boys' pro- vided some more fun and frolic for my special occasion A group of 20 headed off to Toronto in a bus to see the Blue Jays against Detroit. and when we all got aboard the bus at the rear of the Star. once again | received a surprise This time. the bus was decorated inside with balloons, posters and streamers indicated | had reached that ripe old age of forty and there was more singing, cake and food. Reaching the ball park, we took our seats and it wasn't long before I heard, *'look up there." Look I did, and to my astonishment, there was an airplane flying around the CNE Stadium, pulling a sign that read '*Hap- py 40th Peter Hvidsten - Port Perry." They even manag- ed to spell my name correctly. Just this past Tuesday, the staff and I were mail- ing this weeks issue of the Star when a colourful clown and her little sidekick came in clutching a large bunch of balloons wishing me a Happy 40th Birthday. When I broke open the balloon, containing the message, I choked a little as I read, 'Happy Birthday Dad, love Sherri Lee and Jannine." A present I shall always remember and cherish. So, you can see, my turning the big "Four-O"" has not been traumatic. In fact, I will have nothing but plea- sant memories for years to come. Thanks to all of those people who went out of their way to make this a very special birthday. OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBOURS There has been a real furor recently over the way Canada's national anthem was booed at a baseball game in the recent Blue Jays-Yankees Series held in New York. In addition to the disrespect for our anthem by the fans, a double insult was added when singer Mary O'Dowd forgot the words to **O Canada' in the middle of her performance. Since then, both singer Mary O'Dowd and U.S. Am- bassador Thomas Niles have apologized to Torontonians and all Canadians for the booing, stating that 'most New Yorkers were as deeply offended as were Cana- dians by the reaction of some fans to the playing of the Canadian national anthem" [ am sure that what the ambass24~- stated is true. as attending the Emmerson wedding in Lake Placid, New York last week, we witnessed nothing but affec- tion by the Americans towards the visitors from (Canada At one point during the reception some of the New York visitors broke into song with 'God Bless America' and when they finished, we began to sing *'O Canada ~ To my surprise many of the American guests sang along with us and cheered at our anthems end These 1 am sure are the true Americans. Those boorish fans who booed our national anthem can be found in any country including Canada To blame the ignorance of a few on a whole country would indeed be an unfair situation