Pageý3O, WTitby Free PteëS, Wedneêsciay, ApnIl 2d, 1094 TORONTO STAR hockey columnist and TSN while working on his newspaper column. commentator Bob McKenzie ponders a point Photo by Mark Reesor, Whltby Free Press Ask the average fan, says hockey scibe Bob McKenzie By Mark Reesor Bob McKenzie couid have just as easily ended up patrolling the streets of Toronto as writing a hockey column for The Toronto Star. The 37-year-old McKenzie, who moved to Whitby in June 1991, says he was ready to, Uget a haircut and become a cop -- that would have been my fallback position" when he was offered a job as editor-in-chief of the then fledgling Hockey News 12 years ago. "I was 25 years old... and I probably Rot the job because, A, I worked cheap and, BÉ, my qualifications were what they needed,» he says. McKenzie put his two years of editing, layout and reporting experience at The Sault Star to, good use in hie nine and a haif years at the Hockey News. Circulation increased te about 115,000 and the number of issues per year rose to more than 40, "plus a yerbok and a whole bunch of specials and varlous other publications.» He began hie Star column which runs an average of five times a weeý'k, September te, June, in 199 1. He also does colour commentary for junior hockey- games on TSN, appeers on radio's The Fan every Thursday morning pute out Bob McKenzie s Hockey Anual anâ writes the odd Hockey News article. Atoh he's always liked hockey, covering the spr so intensively is definitely work, MeKenze ays. «After a short while in the business, you really cease te, be a fan for the most part and it does become like a business in a lot of ways. "T'here are certain times when that's not true; international hockey, for example... but 1 don't really care which NH L team wine or loses.» McKenzie says the Toronto Maple Leafs are at least partly te blanie. «I was a big Leaf fan when 1 was a kid and I think the fact that the Leafs were as bad as thy were for a long time... bas something te do with that... "I like hockey (and) I'n a fan of good hockey, I'm just not a fan of any one team." Take this year's Leafs, for example.,_ It's nice they're doing welI because it creates a nicer work environment... (and) it's much more fun to cover a winning team. than a Iosing teani... (but) when they score a goal, I don't go 'yes, way te go,' and if they lose a game, it absolutely doesn't regiter at ail.» nd that's as it should be, hie adds. Sports reporters shouldn't lose their passion for the game, but they shouldn't have a passion for any one team either, says MeKenzie. "Newspaper people generally cheer for the bst s9er... (and) during the Stanley Cup playoffs we cheer for the city that we want te go te. «We wouldn't want a Hartford-Winnipeg Stanley Cup final (for example), because that wouldn't be very exciting from a hockey perspec- tive. And speaking of the Stanley Cup, who does hée like thie season? «I hate te spoil your fun but I have a new policy -- I don't nake any playoff predictions until the day before thé playoffes begin,» he said recently. There's too many variables -- unexpected injuries, for example. Besides, hie adds, "the more you know about hockey... the harder it is te do well in predictions... «(When) it gets down te two teams that are reasonably close in ail the areas, it's really juet a hunch or a guessing game. «I think the average fan ie likeiy te end up with as good a record Of predictions as a so-called expert does because thé expert's going on the basis of information and probably nine out of 10 times je gpin gte, pick the favourite, and in the playoffis, te avourite doeen't always win... thére s a lot of upsets going on.» And anyway, "if I could pick 12 or 13 out of the 16 (plïayoff rounds), 1 wouldn't be here, I would be in Las Vegas... and I wouldn't be writing in a newspaper for a living!»" Chew rink wins playof The Margaret Chew rink won the playoffe for the third draw of the ladies aftérnoon section at the Whitby Curling Club on April 14. Other members of the rink that captured the Conpute nom- uters Trophy weré vice Helen ~ollins, second Carole Smith and lead Karen Konoby. Runner-up was the rink of skip Sharon Munro, vice Anne Sonley second Audrey Wilson and leaci Jan MeNulty. Second place went te, the rink of skis Ev McPhadden, vice Pru Byforg, second Angie Stein andà lead Patricia Hunt. Runner-up was the rink ôf skip Sandra Wood, vice Kathy Rob- bins, second Gaîl Rowlandson and Iead Wendy Johnsten. Third place went te the rink of skip Lorraine Edwards, vice Corol Brown, second Nan Ben- nett and lead LAýna Boyko. Runner-up was the rink of skip Mary Parks, vice Janice Weath- erdon, second AI yce Kunetsky and lead Theresa Richer. The Whitby minoir peewee select hockey club, sponsored by Brooklin & District Kinsmen, captured the championship in their division in North York Hockey League action over the weekend. The final round match-up saw WVhitby face their regular season nemesis, York Milîs. Having lost to their opponents twice during regular season play, Whitby was looking forward to turning the tables in the playoffs. The first game in the best-of-three series saw Whitby open strongly as they jumped out to a two-goal lead. Andrew Clark, on an assist by J.R. ONeal, opened the scoring. Caineron Munro, assisted by Matt Portier and M.T. Walton, notched the second marker. York Milîs countered late in the second period to narrow the margin to one. Whitby stormed back with three grs in one minute to put the gaine out of reach. York Mille added a goal in the third period to, make the final score 5-2. Scoring for Whitby in the second were Mike Gubbels, on an assist by Jason Turkington, Munro from Walton and Clark, and O'Neal from Clark and Munro. Gaine two started much the saine as the first gaine as Whitby started out strongly, opening up a three-goal first period lead. Matt C. Walton, assisted by Turkington and Gubbels, opened the scoring at the 28-second mark. Fortier, on assists from Chad Kawasalki and Brian Witruk, counted the second ~l Turkington, from Gub is, completed the firet period scoring. This was a far different York Mills hockey club, however, as they fought back with a goal in the second period and another early in the third te, narrow the margin te one. Whitby countered 14 seconds later as Munro deflected a blast from the point by Joeh Brimble to, Tryouts begin Saturday for the Whitby senior basebail team. Tryouts wil be held at E.A Fairman Public School on Satur- day, April 23, 4 p.m.; Sunday April 24, noon; Saturday, April 30 4 p.m.; Sunday, May 1, noon. ihere will also be tryouts at iroquois Park on Saturday, May 7, 4 p..; Sunday, May 8, noon; Saturday, May 14, 4 p.m.; Sun- day, May 15, noon. Whitby men's hockey Ptsy@ff 119C200 give the selects a tvo-gofl- cushion. York Milis continued to press. However, Whitby was able to stifle their attack to complete a two-game final round sweep. Strong defensive work was turned in by Andrew Holmes, Nick Cowan, Trevor Bremner and Derek Pollock in both playoff games. The goaltending was outstanding in both gaines as Andrew Gubbels and Steven Pigrain camne up with several big stops to thwart the York Mills shooters. The coaching staff consists of Dave Walton, Ted Munro and Hugh Pollock. Nancy Walton is team manager. The Oshawa YWCA will hold a national coaching certification program, level 1 theory, April 29, 30 and May 1. The. course provides an s0portunxt to meet and exehange ideas wih other coaches, an introduction to new sports science and reinforcement or introduction to important training. To register for the workshop, call the YWCA at 576-8880 or visit the office at 1 MeGrigor St., Oshawa.. Kids' k.arate tournament A kids' karate tournament will be held at Menky Kempo, 103 Dundas St . W., Whitby on Sun- day, May 1. liegstration begins at 9 a.m. and t he tournament begins at iH a.m. The entry fée for competi- tors ie $20 at the door ($15 before April 22). Proceeds of the tournament will be used to fund the United Kempo Society, which helps pro- vide future education in the mar- tial arts. Menkyo Kempo, now in its l2th year of operation, is also holding open bouse on April 23 and 24. Dinsdale 3rd in synch Shaina Dinsdale of Whitby was third in figures in age il and under class of the Central East regional B synchronized swimming nieet at Trent University, Peterborough April 8 and 9. She was competing as a mem- ber of the Durham Synchro Club age il and under team that finishedsecond. She will compete in the Ontario age group champion- ships in May. 1,500 signed forscer Peewees win division by overcoming league rivails