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a T-------- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, May 2¢, 1987 -- § 3 Viewpoint \ by John B. McClelland ® FINAL THOUGHTS ON OUR NATIONAL GAME I got a chuckle last week listening to a sports report on a Toronto radio station. The announcer ran through a recap of the previous nights' opening playoff game between the Oilers and the Flyers. Then just before tur- ning to the baseball scores he quipped "with a little luck this (Stanley Cup) series will be over before the next hockey season starts." He hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. I'm a great fan of hockey and the NHL but I have to admit that I'm '"'hockeyed out" after six solid weeks of playoff games. My interest in the Stanley Cup final is flagging bad- ly, and I'm not alone. A iot of my friends who are true hockey fans all winter tell me the same thing. They've simply seen enough by this time of year. As the month of May disappears into June, who wants to sit in front of the tube and watch a hockey game? There are a lot of serious hockey commentators tell- ing the NHL that the season is just too damn long. The league had better take a hard look at the playoff for- mat which starts out with 16 teams in best of seven series. By the time the'final series rolls around a lot of fans like myself are just too tired to care or watch. That's too bad because the final series for the Stanley Cup should be the crowning glory of the hockey season. If die-hard fans like me have to struggle to sit through a game, what about all the marginal fans? I wonder how the TV ratings for the final series are holding up? If indeed, interest across the country is flag- ging at this time, surely the networks and especially the Sponsors must be concerned. Maybe the real pressure to shorten the series will have to come from the spon- sors. After all, they are the ones putting out a lot of dollars for the TV broadcasts, and they want to be darn sure a lot of people are watching. I would suggest that the league re-structure things so that the final game for the Stanley Cup is played no later than May 1. This could be done either by shorten- ing the regular season or altering the playoff format. But May 1 should be the cut-off date. As things are now, the Flyers and the Oilers could still be playing on June 1. And that's ridiculous. Still on hockey for a moment, I tuned in the final game of the Memorial Cup between Oshawa Generals and the Medicine Hat Tigers. Maybe the teams had an off-day, for in my opinion, the game was a total dud. I have never seen so much grabbing and hooking. The tempo of the game was at a snail's pace, and there was a lot of pushing and shoving after each whistle. In fairness to the teams, the game was marred by the fact that fans in the Oshawa Arena constantly threw stuff on the ice, which slowed things down further. But I could not help but think that if that game was the show-case of Major Junior hockey in Canada, then _the sport at that level is in serious trouble. I was not While I'm talking about hockey for the last time un- til October, there is another aspect creeping into the game which should cause alarm to anyone who enjoys the sport for its speed and finesse. "Clutch and grab' has become the latest buzz-word on how to win games. The Flyers do it. So do the Detroit Red Wings and the Leafs. The St. Louis Blues are masters of the style and most astute observers believe the Montreal Canadiens won the Cup last year by deploying this tactic. ¢ I'm not sure what the ise definition of "clutch and grab" is but it's along the lines of finishing the check y, ing more than a shoulder into an opposi- tion forward and generally doing anything within the rules (and outside the rules too) to slow down the opposition. i It also means dull hockey. Heck, even the Oilers who built a team around speed, finesse, pin-point pass- ing and constant motion aré turning to clutch and grab when the situation calls for it. And my favourite team, the Montreal Canadiens, who just a few short y a were known for the fire-wagon brand of hockey, are now using those lead-footed players called "grinders." ve coaches somehow reached the conclusion that "clutch and grab" will prevail over speed and finesse? I sure hope not. A couple of years ago when the Oilers were on a roll, the name of the game was speed, and the way to win games was to use this speed in a wide- open, daring, style that stressed attack. Don't get me wrong. I can enjoy a close checking game. What I don't enjoy is a game played between the blue lines. Clutch and grab kills the tempo of a game. This style leads to numerous whistles, which in turn slow (Tum to page 6) 1 impressed. . Ww Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO .: Wednesday, May 30, 1917 y Dr. S.J. Mellow was in Toronto attending the meeting of the On- ledical Association, where he represents the Ontario County ation. : Butchers in town, owing to the scarcity of help, will close their shops on Monday and Wednesday afternoons of each week. 45 YE AGO Thursday, May 28, 1942 The Honeydale W.I. held a miscellaneous shower in honour of Miss Helen Edwards, who is about to be married. 2 * Hogg and Lytle of Port Perry, unloaded a car of wheat and a - car of cement during the week. Mr. Fred DeNure and family, also Rev. J.A. MacMillan family, have taken up residence in Port Perry. At the Unitéd Church Anniversary, two noted speakers, Rev. Dr. R.P. Bowles and Dr. Millson, spoke to large congregations at both services. Mr. Charles Reesor will represent the 1.0.0 F. at the sessions held in the Royal York, Toronto. Congratulations to Mr. Drew McCulloch, Epsom, on his marriage to Miss G. Aynn, Toronto. - 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 30, 1957 Miss Karel Espie received her Gold Cord, highest award in guiding, at the Port Perry United Church. Miss Jean Williams, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Williams, received word that her 150 word letter, "Why I would like to meet , Pat Boone," made her a winner. At the regular meeting of Port Perry council it was moved and seconded that the Fire Hall be wired for a fire siren. It was also mov- ed and seconded that the Police be given two weeks holidays with pay. F. Allan Reesor, Port Perry, graduation student in Music, University of Toronto, will receive an honour award of the Students Administration Council at a Garden Party following Corivocation ceremonies. 20 YEARS AGO Thursday, May 25, 1967 Bonnie Malcolm; a Cartwright High School student and Arno Heayn, a Port Perry High School student, won first and second prize, respectively, in the STAR Essay contest. On Sunday last, the family of W.G. (Guy) Raines, Port Perry, EE BO Omar ie a ores a five generation gathering -- Mrs. Marrietta Raines; son Raines; grandson Jack Raines; great-grandson John Raines; and great-great-granddaughter Kelly Raines. Mr. ae and Mr. George Matthews, two of Green- bank's senior citizens, planted a tree in the community park to com- memorate the Centennial year. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McKee, Port Perry; have returned home after spending the winter months in the south. » (Turn to page 6) Letters Guiding displa ys real team spirit To The Editor: ~~ There is an o}d saying, once a . Guide always a Guide. By Guide we mean part of the Girl Guide move- ment, whether it be a "Brownie," "Guide," "Pathfinder," "Ranger," or ""'Guider," or someone with the girl Guide spirit. You will recognize someone with this spirit, it gets in- to your blood. People from the Guiding movement display a team spirit, working together is important. | In the Guide movement, we learn to share, with community work be- ing very important, in our program. We learn to live with and tolerate others through the patrol system and camping. In camping and our outdoor pro- grams, we also learn to enjoy the beauty of nature, we learn to live simply in the existance of nature with the basic things God has given us, learning not to waste or destroy. We learn basic homemaking skills and the importance of working as a family unit. World events are im- portant in our program. There are Wreath stolen? To The Editor: When you read this letter you will know why I am so mad. Just a week and a half ago I buried my mother in Prince Albert Cemetery and upon visiting her grave today I discovered that her beautiful artificial wreath and stand which her grandchildren gave her for Mother's Day was gone. I do not know whether this is the work of careless workers or so meone who stole it, but I think that whoever did it was just about as low as anyone can be. Yours truly, Mary Payne, Scugog Township. four Girl Guides World Centres, at which any member is more than 'welcome, and communication is kept throughout the world. From these world centres go international trips. We feel the knowledge learn- ed in these international trips and brought back to our community is invaluable as knowledge of the world helps create peace and har- mony throughout the world. Assistance is given to our sister countries when in need through our World Friendship Fund. Most im- portant our program is designed to be fun, everything is attempted tobe done with fun. ~ Guiding has been going strong in Canada now for 77 years and in Port Perry for 38 years, and we believe it is stronger than ever now. " We keep abreast of the times. The most recent evidence of this is the new uniform designed for all members, by one of our leading Canadian designers, Alfred Sung. Our program is kept up to date. A recent change was made in the Pathfinder program to include up to date issues of alcohol and drugs, new computer badges have been added. * A Port Perry is starting a new ~ (Turn to page 12) Korean re-dedication The The Editor: On June 14, 1987 at 11:00a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the Korea Veterans Association of Canada will be holding a rededication service in Brock Township (including Sunderland, Cannington and Beaverton). . This service is a joint undertaking of the K.V.A. CAN, Brock Township Council arid the three Legion bran- ches in the area. I am inviting all veterans of W.W. I, WW. II, and Korea to attend. I also send an open invitation to everyone in Brock Township to at- tend one of the three and Scugog ser- vices. A social hour will follow the services at the Beaverton Legion. Service Clubs bring your colour. For the past several years the K.V.A. has taken it upon themselves to have all cenotaphs in Ontario in- scribed with 'Korea 1950-53. I hope to see everyone at our service on June 14, 1987. Personal Regards Paul Saulnier Port Perry, KVA Canada ter to the editor. Letters to the Editor ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letiers to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- - points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters col- umn helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous let- While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer.