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Show 4 The Magna TimesWest Valley News, Thursday, March 30, 2000 T Canada, Norway stage hockey classic for all times JTJ,r r .r-- Bridges (16) and eight saves from goalie Pierre Pichette in a 0 loss. Thursday found the US playing Team USA places last, sends Conklin to r A 3-- ent team y By KEITH LOBDELL EDITOR -- . v ' -0 While the first two games of Saturdays championship round of the 2000 Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships lacked excitement at the end, the gold medal game cffe made up for that in spades. Team USA, who were expecting nothing but a medal coming Joe Howard gets off a shot in front of a careening Japanese player as Sylvester Flis charges for a possible rebound off goalie Mitsuru Nagase in a March 23 game at the E center during the Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships. Team USA's All-St- ar - Photo by Chris Wilson what many considered to be the most exciting team in the tournament in Team Japan, whose hustle made up for lack of size. With the in favor of Japan in the score third period, the fireworks started. Toshifumi Takeuchi started things off with only 1:53 of time gone by, beating US goalie Manuel Guerra to give Japan a 0 lead. Team USAs Joe Howard broke in on 2-- Japanese goal tender Mitsuru Nagase then with 4:05 gone by and beat him glove side to cut the into this years paralympic event tournament, were displeased to find themselves in the consolation On game against Estonia. Wednesday, the US looked to make the medal round with a win against Canada, but were turned away by the Canadians thanks to the play of birthday boy Billy Japan lead to Only 22 seconds 2-- 1. later though. Japans Atsuya Yaguchi won control on a face off and sent a harmless puck at the US goal. The puck was mishandled by Guerra and went into the net to give Japan a 1 edge. Then, two minutes later, Howard struck again for the US on a break away and 3-- beat Nagase to cut die lead to The US had their shot at die end, with a Japan penalty leading to a 6--4 US advantage deep in the Japanese zone, and although getting to quality shots off and a charge on the net, Japan was able to hold on. Feeling the effects of a close loss along with a mad Norway team coming off a 1 loss at the hands of team Canada, Norway dominated Fridays action, routing Team USA 1 in the final game of round robin play. The key to the game happened with 10:01 gone by in the first, when USA forward hit a Team Norway player from behind, leading to a five minute major and Howard being ejected from the game. Norway capitalized on the full five minutes of 4 hockey, scoring three goals in just 3-- 2. 7-- 7-- 5-- over three minutes, two from Tommy Rovelstad and the other from Helge Bjoemstad. With a record, the US went into Saturdays game wit); Estonia looking to place fifth. While the first period went without scoring, Estonias Maksim Vedernikov snuck a puck over the head of US goalie Coibin Beu, and the onslaught was on. Another Estonia goal saw Beu lifted for Michael Dipasquale, who also gave up two gods, and Estonian goalie Raul Sas recorded his first game giving up less than four goals the whole tournament, shutting out the US while stopping 10 shots. The bronze medal game saw (0-5-- 0) much of the same, as team Sweden jumped on Japan early and often en route to a 1 Bronze medal performance. Then came the rematch Norway 5-- had been waiting for, facing Canada, who had beaten them 1 just two days earlier, and who 7-- Norway had beat 1 in 1998s gold medal game in Nagano at the 1998 Paralympics. Each team knew where the others sniper was early, as Billy Bridges and Helge Bjoemstad were held in check through much of the first half of the game, each getting only weak shots off and over skating pucks. With almost five minutes gone by in the second period, Bjoemstad found his chance on die break and beat the untouchable Pierre Pichette in the air to give lead. Things Team Norway a were almost tied late in the second, as Bridges tried to answer with a shot from the left circle that Gold Dineen would be proud of, but die tink of the post and the waving arms of referee Scott Brinkman denied the score. Canada finally broke through in the third as Pat Griffin scored off a won face off by Bridges, beating Norways Ame Vik and tying the score Thing stayed die same through the third, and sudden death overtime came into play. With 3:25 gone by in the overtime, Canadas Shawn Matheson was putting the puck past Vik, winning die gold for Team Canada, 2-- 1- 1. 2-- 1. Reading this column will not only give you the bppiiliQns of it will also keep you in touch with the ignothe rance of the community." Book of Hag Im sitting in my jeep; sipping a soda. I got some chocolate covered cashews. Theres a game on the radio. Im in the Foothill parking lot Life is good. A member of the officials association walks past and sets the alarm off in the car nect to me. I hate car alarms. They always go off when the owner is at the movies, or in a triple overtime game. Car alarma arent the only things that bother me. Officials always bother me. Some athletes bug me. John Elway bugs me. He wins two Super Bowls and the best thing he can do since is a beer comercial. Come on, John, there must be something better than beer that you could advertise. I am tired of the unequal treatment that is given to NBA players. There seems to be one set of rules for the stars and another set for rest of the league. I know Mr. . id Stem doesnt want the best flayers to foul out. I know he wants spectacular moves, even if they have to travel to get it done. Where is justice? Where is honesty? Me thinks die integrity of the game is at stake; or does the game have any integrity left? I resent Mike Rietly of Sports Illustrated being picked the best sports writer in America. I dont like being second in anything. I always wanted to be the best first baseman, the best linebacker and the best coach. Whats wrong with that? Nothing wrong with wanting to Kk TOM lUatd 1pm i7 (cZx SIMONS SAYS: Id SIMONS SAYS: Dont for any of the politicians. encourages them. SIMONS coaches I worked .d SAYS; ui UscdCcrSc:rm:iI:nt 3751 li'CS! f1 rm"r"m w'--- SIMONS SAYS: I wrote this column in Las Vegas, and barely had enough for stamps to mail it in. call mr TT".' C:rv? (V- ' 'J'nl S01-250-&39- & , A Private Club 3S33 OC'JlIl For Members s Most under-showere- d. For Further Information ibw vote It just have known are over- Offers Great Golf ! Great Food! Great Family fun! n like to see Buddy Ryan and Bobby Knight in a punch, pass and kick contest. Magna Copperclub $8. 000 ZW be the best, is there? Since I failed at writing, perhaps I can be the best Father, or Husband. Maybe I could be the best Uncle or Grandpa? I dont like people who win and then rub it in. Cant they just beat you and go away? No, diey have to say, Nice going," or, you tried hard. When people thump me in golf, they say, Your swing looks better than last year. Why should Vince Cater (perhaps die next Michael Jordan) get all those free shoes from Reebok and Adidas? So he jumps high; so he wot die dunk contest Why not send a pair of Keds to a kid who doesnt have any shoes? I would like that better, and so would the barefoot urchin. We do alot of things wrong. Why send shoes to Carter and baseball gloves to Ken Griffey? Neither of them need them. I just dont like it!! 6 |