SPORTS

Hockey Panthers battle for playoff spot

Showdown with Blue Eagles tonight

BY TODD PETRIE

AUAA HOCKEY IS THE FEATURED event at the Charlottetown Civic Centre tonight as the Univeristy of Moncton Blue Eagles challenge our UPEI Panthers. The Panthers are hungry for points, trying desperately to salvage the rest of the season after a shaky first half, and stay ahead of Mt. Allison in the battle for the last playoff spot in the league’s MacAdam Division.

Tonight features the second and final time during the regular season that Moncton will be here, and the Panthers hope to avenge the 6- 4 loss they suffered at the hands of the Blue Eagles in Moncton’s only other trip to the Civic Centre. In that game the Panthers played thier best game of the year at the Civic Centre, but were stonewalled by the supberb goaltending

of Moncton’s Frantz Bergevein, who stole the game for his team.

On the year, UPEI has one loss and one tie in their previous two games against Moncton as wellas one loss in exhibition play back in the fall. This game begins tonight (Tuesday) at 7:00 and is a make-up game replacing the game that was to be played on Sunday. The game was rescheduled because the P.E.I. Senators, who were to play the Fredericton Canadiens at 6:00 pm on the same day, have moved the game from their usual 6:00 spot to 4:00 because of Super Bowl Sunday.

The next action comes on Friday as the Panthers play their fourth in a series of 6 out of 7 games at home. The team plays the Mount ih Mounties in a battle for the final playoff

pot.

Basketball Panthers advance in national

standings

Dixon and Panthers move ahead

BY TODD PETRIE

THE U.P.E.l. MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM'S impressive show of power on the January |5th weekend against the Memorial Seahawks was recently acknowledged by the CIAU. The Panthers, in addition to improving their record to 5-1, were rewarded by a promotion in the national rankings.

The team, which scored more than one hundred points in each game, was moved up from the number eight position on the national scale to number seven. The top ten CIAU list featured the Panthers as the only representatives from the very competitive AUAA, an indication that this league, which boasts the CIAU defending champion St. FX X-Men, is still not getting the respect it deserves.

The Panthers, who are currently in second place with fourteen points, also feature the number one scorer in the league- Raham Dixon. Dixon leads the entire league with an

average of 2 |.8 points per game. His teammate, Curtis Robinson is third, with an average of 18.5 ppg heading into last weekend’s play against St.Mary's and Acadia.

This weekend, the Panthers play St.FX and Dalhousie in Nova Scotia.

CIAU Rankings Men’s basketball

|. McMaster 2. Alberta

3. Victoria

4. Concordia 5. Brandon 6. Winnipeg 7. U.LP.E.L.

8. Brock

9. Laurentian 10. Manitoba

The New Crew:

A Profile of the Panther rookies

BY SCOTT MACDONALD

EVERY NEW SCHOOL YEAR BRINGS A new bunch of students, and with them a fresh crop of rookies. They go through all the usual rigors of adjusting to campus life and school work, along with the three hours a night spent practising. They may not get to playa lot--they may spend most of the game cheering on the team as they sit on the bench. When they’re getting ready to head into the game, most of the fans are heading home. But these players look at the few minutes they may get as a chance to show that they have skills, and can play. Life as a rookie is tough, and the jump from being a star in high school to barely playing can be a tough change to handle. Your rookie year is only one year long, though, and the experience rookies garner will only help them in their future years of playing. These rookies make the starters play at top levels, thanks to being live bodies at practice. They may not be the stars of the future, but they definitely have a place in the Panthers for the impending years. Following are brief profiles of the Panther rookie class of ‘94.

Greg Lucas 6’7, F, Three Oaks

A frontcourt player who has shown flashes of impressive ability in his playing time...top asset is his long arms, which makes him a fine defensive player with his shotblocking ability...nice touch on the face up jumper...'93 Canada Games team member...a standing reach of nearly 9 feet...being groomed a center of the future.

Doug Newson 6’2, G, Charlottetown Rural

Played two years of “A” ball where he was one of the premier scorers on PEl...made the

jump to “AA” in grade 12 and continued his scoring exploits...First team League All-star in high school the last two years...top scorer for 93 Canada Games team...has good defensive skills...legit 3-point shooter, has range to 22 feet...complements that with slashing drives to the hoop.

Pete Richard 6’1|, G, Three Oaks

A very strong athlete in the backcourt...standout rugby and soccer player in high school...'93 PEISAA Basketball MVP in the league and playoffs...one of the Canada Games team leaders...has range on the jumper...good post up skills for a guard...hard worker who moves well without the ball...good jumping ability.

Kevin Hansen 6’3, F, Harrison Trimble

One of the premier players in New Brunswick last year at perennial powerhouse Harrison Trimble...very dedicated player who works extremely hard in practice...soft touch on his jump shot from outside...gym rat, spends time working on his game...smart player...good fundamentals...versatile offensive game, can play inside or outside.

Kevin Mitchell 5’8, G, Lester B. Pearson

Amazing leaper at only 5’8, has an incredible vertical leap...has three speeds; fast, faster, and “hey buddy, where’s the fire”...one of the moreathletically gifted players on the team...can shoot the three...likes to penetrate, has a slashing game...can finish well on the break...most impressive Panther in warmups with his dunking ability.

AUAA hockey standings

Kelly Division

woe F A PT Acadia Ss Ba WIZ 37 64:29 Dalhousie 9.25 76; So<. 22 St. Mary's 9 6 2 85 94 20 St. FX SOO ek 85 69 19 Cape Breton 5 11 1 68 102 11

[ x.press january twenty-fifth 1994 page 16 |

MacAdam Division

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