8 � The Prince George Citizen � Tuesday, April 25, 2006

JIM SWANSON Sports Editor 562-2441 Ext. 400

SPORTS
"As a community-owned team, they represent the community and they pushed the envelope too far. They're fully cognizant of what's going on and the ramifications to it." Dempsey acknowledged receiving the letter at the end of the season and said he and Hawes will take the necessary steps to address the board's concerns. "I've been reprimanded by the president (Turgeon) and the board as far as the suspensions and fines, and rightly so," Dempsey said. "We've done the crime and now we'll do the time. It's something we have to look after." The fact the Kings struggled at times as one of the youngest teams in the BCHL last season led to the coaches putting themselves into the line of fire with the officials more often than they would have liked. "As a coach you have a certain responsibility to

CITIZEN SPORTS Fax line: 562-7453 E-mail: sports@princegeorgecitizen.com Ted Clarke, 562-2441 ext. 401 Jason Peters, 562-2441 ext. 402 DIRECT SPORTS LINE: 562-3101

LOCAL/PROVINCE
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff Canada's recent significant legal victories in the softwood lumber dispute with the U.S. should set the tone for negotiations, West Fraser Timber president and c hair man Hank Ketchum said Monday. "We want to encourage our federal government to continue to make sure that in any discussions or negotiations with the United States, they are led by the belief we are winning this case," Ketchum told analysts on a conference call to discuss the company's first-quarter $6-million profit. Ket c h u m h i g h l i g h te d a No r t h American Free Trade Agreement dispute panel ruling from March and an U.S. International Court of Trade ruling in April. The NAFTA panel rejected the U.S. Commerce Department's final arguments against changes to the way the U.S. industry's subsidy allegations should be calculated. As a result, the NAFTA panel confirmed the U.S. Commerce Department's calculation of the countervailing tariffs of 0.81 per cent. Subsidies less than one per cent are considered zero, which the B.C. lumber industry has argued should end the countervailing case. The U.S. Court of International Trade ruled that the U.S. violated NAFTA by collecting duties on products from Canada and Mexico with plans to distribute that money to American companies. The U.S. did that under the socalled Byrd amendment. The law, which distributes duties from trade dispute cases to the companies that launched the complaint, had already been ruled illegal by the World Trade Organization. The U.S. government has said it would abolish the Byrd amendment, but not until October 2007. Last month, both countries signalled a renewed interest in negotiations at the highest level, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. president George W. Bush. So far, no formal, public talks have been scheduled. Analysts focused their questions on the impacts to West Fraser Timber from changes to B.C.'s timber pricing that went into effect on April 1. The Ministry of Forests has adjust-

The Prince George Citizen � Tuesday, April 25, 2006 � 5

Court wins should help softwood file: West Fraser
ed the timber pricing system to increase the price of mountain pine beetle-killed timber when the timber is still usable for products like lumber. It's meant to be revenue neutral across the province, but in areas where there is a lot of beetle-killed timber, prices will go up. West Fraser said it expects price it pays for Crown timber to go up $2 to $3 per cubic metre. The company also said it will conclude the sale of two sawmills in Burns Lake this year. West Fraser agreed to the sale of the two sawmills in order to get the g r e e n l i g h t f o r i t s $ 1. 2 b i l l i o n takeover of Weldwood of Canada, which it purchased from U.S.-giant International Paper.

Spruce Kings coaches on notice
Suspension problems for Dempsey, Hawes lead to letter from team executive -- one more strike, you're out
by TED CLARKE Citizen staff The Prince George Spruce Kings board has read the riot act to its coaches. The Kings will no longer tolerate their head coach, Ed Dempsey, and his assistant, Mike Hawes, arguing with on-ice officials during games. If that behaviour does continue, they face dismissal, said Kings president Rick Turgeon. Turgeon has made it clear in a letter to Dempsey and Hawes. The string of gross misconducts and ejections that led to fines and both coaches being suspended for more than 10 games last season -- it can't happen again. "We've told them it's not acceptable and we have addressed that," said Turgeon. "We had a couple meetings with them about it, one during the season and one after the season. They've had two strikes. Three strikes and they're out. protect your team as much as possible," said Dempsey from Vancouver, where he'll be scouting the Fort McMurray-Burnaby Doyle Cup series in Burnaby this week. "I don't think there was any coach in the league who was not suspended at one time time or another. The fact we'll have an older team next season, hopefully they'll be better able to take control of those situations themselves." Hawes admitted he had difficulty in his rookie season adjusting to his job as a BCHL assistant coach, and he didn't hold back expressing his frustrations. Hawes is still waiting to hear from the BCHL to find out how long he will be suspended for the gross misconduct he was given at the end of Game 4 of the Interior Conference quarterfinal playoff series with Vernon. Hawes was upset at a call made by the referee and continued to argue with the official long after the teams had left the ice. "I take full responsibility for the things that happened last year and I do agree, that sort of stuff needs to be addressed," Hawes said. "It was a learning curve for myself and things got a bit out of hand. "Everything leads into that frustration when I felt our team was getting the short end of the stick. It's no different than any other coach losing control over their emotions and for me, in the playoffs against Vernon, it was an inopportune time." Turgeon said if the length of Hawes's suspension will keep him away from the team for a lengthy period next season, the club will consider finding another assistant coach to fill in until Hawes is available. "We'll have to wait and see," Dempsey said. "We really haven't talked about that at any great length."

Sutherland named to CNC board

Local judoka getting a shot at Canadian title Jozak still in Croatia

B.C. won't replace lost ferry

Citizen staff Bruce Sutherland is the latest director to join the College of New Caledonia board. Owner and president of Wolftek Industries Inc. (formerly PG Mill Supplies), Sutherland was appointed by the provincial government to the position Friday. Board chair Art Robin said Sutherland brings a "wealth of knowledge regarding industry training needs, as well as experience with many regional and community issues." Sutherland, whose company provides services to milling, mining and petroleum operations, is the chair of the Northern Development Initiatives Trust board, a member of the business round table, and served as Prince George Chamber of Commerce president from 2002 to 2005. During the CNC board meeting Friday in Burns Lake, Robin was re-elected as chair for a one-year term. Sutherland was elected vice-chair for Prince George and Debbie Quick of Quesnel was elected vice-chair for CNC's regional campuses.

00495300

488427

CP photo

CanWest News Service VICTORIA -- BC Ferries has confirmed that the Queen of the North won't be replaced this summer. The new schedule, released Monday, leaves just one ship to juggle two routes in the busy tourist season. Still, the company is being praised for trying to ensure that vessels leave ports on the same days as had been scheduled before the sinking. The routes may not be as was advertised, but at least there will usually be a vessel going somewhere on the days tourists expect to travel. The corporation is looking to ease the pain by shuffling its mid-coast sailings and supplementing ferry service with barges and air travel. What worries Dave Petryk, CEO of the Tourism Association of Vancouver Island, is that international tour operators, having committed to having their customers in certain places on certain dates, will have to reorganize those trips. "If it's not easy to reorganize, they'll take their business elsewhere.'' BC Ferries has been scouring the globe for a suitable replacement for the Queen of the North.

FOR A CURE -- Singers Elvis Costello, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, Sarah McLachlan and Elton John pose for a photo before the start of a Vancouver fundraiser on Sunday. Krall is hosting a fundraiser in hopes of coming up with a made-in-B-C cure for blood cancer. Krall, whose mother died of cancer in 2002, has raised over one million dollars for the cause.

00488421

GOREN BRIDGE
WITH OMAR SHARIF & TANNAH HIRSCH
�2006 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

442021

Kathleen Hogh, Certified Touchpoint Reflexologist
soletherapies@shaw.ca

Cancer society CEO praises grant to expert

PROTECT YOUR WINNERS Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH  K 10 7 3  K5  AQ3   10 7 5 4 WEST EAST 98652  Void  J 10 7 4 9832  96   J 10 8 7 4  AJ  KQ63 SOUTH AQJ4 AQ6 K52  982

Gift Certificates Available RELAX � RESTORE � REJUVENATE � RELAX � RESTORE � REJUVENATE RELAX � RESTORE � REJUVENATE � RELAX � RESTORE � REJUVENATE

BEST VALUE AND SERVICE YOU CAN BUILD ON
Treated 2x4x8'..........................$3.72 Treated 4x4x8'..........................$9.61 Tongue & Groove Aspen 5 11/16" x 3 5/16"...............30�/lin. ft.
TO AIRPORT

The bidding:
SOUTH 1NT  2 Pass WEST NORTH EAST  Pass 2 Pass  Pass 4 Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of 

by JASON PETERS Citizen staff He doesn't yet hold Canadian citizenship. Thomas Althammer's lack of legal documentation won't prevent him from fighting for a Canadian championship. Althammer, a member of the North Capital Judo Club, was born 15 years ago in Germany. He moved with his family to Canada at the age of nine and says he will have his Canadian citizenship "soon." In the meantime, Althammer is continuing to establish himself as one of the rising stars on the British Columbia judo scene. At the Prince George Open judo tournament, held Saturday at the Civic Centre, he won gold medals in two divisions -- juvenile boys under-81-kilograms and junior men under-81kg. With his gold in the juvenile class (ages 13 to 15), he clinched a spot on Team B.C. for the juvenile/junior nationals, set for Lethbridge on the July long weekend. While at the Canadian finals, Althammer is aiming to improve upon a seventh-place showing from last year. "I'd like to medal this time, but it's going to be pretty tough because I'm not really (as heavy) as everyone else," said the 73kg Althammer, whose weight class for nationals will range from 73kg to 81kg. "I'm a lot smaller so they can pick me up a lot easier and they can put me wherever they want, pretty much." What Althammer may lack in size, he makes up for in judo smarts. His training has shown him how to use another athlete's weight advantage in his own favour. "I can take their force, and if I counter right on time, I can pretty much throw them without me having Photo by David Mah to do anything," he said. Althammer took two years of judo Emily Schultz of Grande Prairie, right, sets up for a throw against Marina Crick of the Prince George Judo in Germany, six in Salmon Arm and is Club during the Prince George Open judo tournament Saturday at the Civic Centre. Schultz won this senior in his first season at North Capital. At women's under-78-kilogram match and took the gold medal for the category. Crick ended up with silver. the P.G. Open, he defeated David his aunt Laurel's wedding. Rusk of Penticton in both his gold three showdown with William Cheng of make the difference against Cheng. Golden Ears, Sambad won the first "I had a pretty tough loss in Edmon"My aunt wanted me to be the ringmedal matches.  After his most recent judo tourna- match, lost the second and claimed vic- ton," Sambad said. "A guy choked me bearer, but I said, `That's not going to ment, Zach Sambad was thoroughly tory in the all-important third. In the out so I was pretty determined, I happen, you should have got married a unimpressed with himself. His oppo- decisive bout, Cheng tapped out while think, to work on my ground tech- few years back for that to happen,'" nique and I ended up getting (Cheng) Sambad said with a laugh. "But I'm pretnent at the P.G. Open was the one Sambad had him in a hold-down. At a major tournament earlier this with it, so I guess it worked." ty excited. It's a big thing for her. There's who paid the price. Sambad, 17, is a good bet to be named always next year (for nationals). My Sambad, who hones his skills at the month in Edmonton, Sambad fought to Prince George Judo Club, grabbed the a 2-2 record. He left the Alberta capital to Team B.C. for the juvenile/junior na- aunt's only going to get married once." For more on the weekend jugold medal in the under-60kg junior knowing he needed to improve his tionals. But, instead of going to Lethmen's category at the open. In a best-of- groundwork. His extra practice helped bridge, he'll be heading to Peachland for do, see Wednesday's Citizen.

by JASON PETERS Citizen staff Romeo Jozak didn't board his plane. Jozak, the Croatian-born coach who is director of the Prince George Youth Soccer Association's technical program, was supposed to travel from Europe to Prince George last week. He was scheduled to land in Prince George on the evening of April 20. But, the 33-year-old Jozak is still in Croatia and the possibility exists he will remain there. His wife, Romana, is nearing her sixth month of pregnancy with twins. Right now, the pregnancy is not going smoothly. "His wife has had some major complications with her pregnancy," said PGYSA chairman Brian Anderson. "He's there, where he should be right now." Jozak's current contract with the PGYSA, a one-year deal, expires in September. Part of the reason for his planned trip back to Prince George was to try to hammer out a two-year extension while in talks with PGYSA board members. But, as it currently stands, Jozak may not come back to Prince George at all. "There is that possibility, depending on what his family situation is," Anderson said. "We (the PGYSA board) have had some discussions about where we're going to go from here. We've decided that we'll let him make a decision if he's coming back here." When asked if any progress has been made on signing Jozak to a new contract, Anderson replied: "Absolutely none." The PGYSA, however, has sent Jozak contract-related material. "We sent him some information with some of the things that we would like him to follow through with -- just the completion of the contract," Anderson said. "He's going to respond, and I'm expecting he's going to respond in about a day or two." Jozak has said he is seeking a contract that will pay him $60,000 per year. He also wants the deal to allow him the flexibility to spend half his time here and half his time in Europe, where he is employed by a German soccer firm called Goal Academy. Dissension on the PGYSA board regarding Jozak's involvement with the association recently led to the resignation of John Reed as chairman. Reed was replaced by Anderson and then rejoined the board in a different capacity.

Dollar Saver Lumber Ltd.
Your Source for Specialty Wood Products
"Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed"
� Lumber � Fencing � Timbers � Greenhouse Packages � Treated Lumber � Plywood � Sheds

Turgeon making tough decisions for health of BCHL in Prince George
BCHL NOTES
by Ted Clarke

by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff The CEO of the Canadian Cancer Society B.C. and Yukon division is applauding the province's $4-million grant so an expert can research how the disease can be prevented. Barbara Kiminsky lauded the government's leadership as it marks the first time in North America the issue will be targeted for study. "We believe prevention holds the most promise for reducing the burden of cancer, and we expect other jurisdictions will strive to emulate this B.C. initiative," Kiminsky said. The research will be done at the University of British Columbia after an international search for an expert whose findings will influence national and international standards in public policy for cancer prevention. The money will allow a research chair to examine the links between diet, exercise, body weight, stress, and environmental factors as related to specific types of cancer. The funds will come from the Ministry of Advanced Education. The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is committing an additional $750,000 towards the chair. In making the announcement Monday, Premier Gordon Campbell said "Two more Canadians are diagnosed with cancer every seven minutes, but research suggests that diet and exercise may offer opportunities to reduce the risk." Prevention is the key to reducing the

impact of cancer -- not just on our health-care system, but on our lives and families," he said. The hope is the new research will bring about a better understanding of how to prevent the disease before it strikes, Campbell said. It's estimated there will be 20,000 new cases of cancer in B.C. this year and 8,800 deaths, which is 700 more cases and 200 more deaths than in 2005. The increase is believed to be a product of an aging population. According to statistics recently released by the cancer society, people in B.C. have the second-lowest overall incidence rates for cancer in Canada. Women have the lowest overall mortality rates for cancer and the lowest mortality rates for breast cancer. Men have the lowest overall mortality rates for cancers in Canada, and the lowest mortality rates for prostate, colorectal and lung cancer. Dr. Gavin Stuart, dean of medicine at the university, said preventing cancer from striking in the first place is important because the existing health-care system can't sustain the cost of fighting the disease. "To the best of our knowledge this is the first (expert) in primary cancer prevention, which is a very specific focus on not treating the disease better or detecting it earlier but actually understanding how we avoid ever getting there," Stuart said. -- with files from Canadian Press

More often than not, a 4-4 fit in a major will produce at least the same number of tricks, if not one more, at the suit contract as at no trump. Even a bad trump break can often be neutralized. Consider this deal. The auction is normal. With a ruffing value in hearts, North used the Stayman convention to probe for a spade fit, and bounced into game when one was located. West led the jack of hearts, and it appeared that there were 10 tricks at

both the suit and no trump games. That all changed when, after winning the first trick with the king of hearts, declarer led a trump to the ace and East showed out. Now declarer had to prevent losing a trick to a ruff by West. If declarer carelessly cashes every winner in sight, West will get to ruff the third round of diamonds for the setting trick, since South cannot avoid losing three club tricks. Correct technique will triumph. After learning of the unfortunate trump division, South can afford to draw one more round of trumps with the king and then must cash the ace and queen of diamonds. Next, declarer crosses to ace of hearts and continues with the queen. If West ruffs, declarer overruffs in dummy, returns to hand with a trump and draws West's remaining fang. The king of diamonds is the fulfilling trick. If, as is the case here, West follows to the third heart, declarer discards dummy's remaining diamond and leads the king of diamonds. When West ruffs, declarer overruffs and scores his high trumps, conceding only three club tricks. (Tannah Hirsch welcomes readers' responses sent in care of this newspaper or to Tribune Media Services Inc., 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY. 14207. E-mail responses may be sent to gorenbridge@aol.com.)

9359 Northern Crescent
BCR Industrial Site (Next to PG Auto Wrecking)

10th Annual

2006 Tundra 4x4 DCab V8
Has what it takes.

VAN ROODE Greenhouses

$

48 mo. lease. $5,578 down payment or equivalent trade
Financing from

499
or Purchase for

BASKET DAYS
3 DAYS Sat., April 29th 9AM - 4:30PM ONLY Sun., April 30th Mon., May 1st
Bring your own baskets. We plant while you wait. You take them home & grow.

1.9 %
$ 45,015

Price $8.00 & Up Depending On Basket Size
*
4 km Buckhorn Rd.

Dealer license # 8877A

IT PAYS TO READ THE FINE PRINT: Lease and finance offers for qualified retail customers only on new 2006 models sold and delivered before April 30, 2006. Lease payments of $499 for the 2006 Tundra (DT441S-B) based on a 48 month walkaway lease with $5,578 down. Total lease obligations are $29,530. Lease payments are based on a maximum of 96,000 kms. Northern climate packages, license, insurance, and applicable taxes are extra. Purchase price includes a maximum $1,510 for freight pre-delivery inspection and levies.

VAN ROODE Greenhouses
Your Local Grower

494232

00466133

Rick Turgeon admits changes he's made in two seasons as president of the Prince George Spruce Kings have not made everybody happy. Toes have been stepped on and in some cases, his decisions have resulted in people close to the organization leaving their positions -- some willingly, some feeling they'd had the rug pulled from under their feet. But Turgeon isn't in it to win friends -- he's there to build the Kings into a winner, on the ice and on the ledger. "When I left the board (as treasurer in 2003) I was frustrated with how the club was operating, both financially and in the win-loss columns," said Turgeon, whose name will stand for re-election at the Kings annual general meeting in June. "We kept making mistake after mistake after mistake, and I thought this club is going to be battling Quesnel (for last place) forever, and I didn't need to be part of it. I came back saying `it's going to be my way or the highway.'" Central on that route to respectability was securing the Royal Bank Cup, which is coming in May 2007. But Turgeon wants more than that. He wants the Spruce Kings to be what their opponents in Vernon, Nanaimo, and Salmon Arm are every season -- contenders for the crown. For that to happen as Turgeon sees it, the team coffers have to be flush. To accomplish that goal, as ugly as it might seem to the community-owned Kings, heads have rolled and policy changes have been force-fed to the club. If that means more ads being sold and fewer free game tickets handed out, before Turgeon is vilified as the heartless harbinger of doom, he deserves a chance. A self-employed accountant by trade, Turgeon didn't need credentials as a bean-counter to see the Kings were bleeding red when he took over the team. The Kings had fallen into debt after

poor marketing efforts in selling the house lottery, a project that annually brings in half the team's revenue. Every season, it seemed, there was a revolving door of head coaches/general managers and every year the team struggled in the standings. Suddenly it became a stretch just to buy sticks and pucks and keep the team rolling from its remote location in the B.C. Hockey League's boondocks. How did they get out of that pickle? All it took was a couple good years of selling show home lottery tickets and a team that made some noise in the playoffs. The Kings didn't win the Fred Page Cup in 2004-05 but they were good enough to last five home games into the playoffs. That netted them $60,000 in profit. That's paid for new equipment and jerseys and kept their line of credit in good standing without dipping into their $110,000 GIC the team uses as collateral to cover show home lottery prizes. The decision to dump Kelly Sharp as show home lottery director wasn't, and isn't, popular around town. Sharp was a familiar face and allaround nice guy who did his job admirably the past two seasons. But the Kings wanted him to start selling earlier than his duties with the Canadian Cancer Society would allow and chose not to re-hire him. Jim Young, hired last week as marketing and sales manager, will do both jobs selling the house lottery and marketing the team and Turgeon fully expects the Kings will see increased

revenues as a result. Raising ticket prices 50 per cent is a risky move but Turgeon says the Kings still have the lowest-priced tickets in the BCHL, and at $6 a game instead of $3, fans are still getting a good deal. Money wasn't that big of an issue for the Kings bac k in t heir days in the Peace-Cariboo and Rocky MounTURGEON tain junior leagues. It's a whole new game trying to compete with BCHL teams whose owners have the cash to wine and dine the top junior A prospects and the Kings are tired of being alsorans. They've had to become a penny-pinching organization that's changing the approach to doing business. In the BCHL, that means flying in players for a look-see before training camp starts, lining them up part-time jobs, and in some cases, paying them a little cash under the table. Because the bills are paid and there's $80,000 in the bank to start the season, head coach Ed Dempsey has some flexibility to take a few chances on highpriced talent, if that's what it takes. Near the end of Turgeon's second year as president, he was the one who made the decision to re-sign Dempsey to a two-year contract extension as head coach. Love him or leave him, Dempsey has taken the Kings into the playoffs all three seasons. They barely made it into the postseason this spring as the sixth-place team in a eight-team division, and the pressure's on Dempsey to build a team that can run the playoff table. By making him their general manager, the Kings have shown

they have confidence Dempsey's not going to break the bank. "Making Ed the GM means he's fully accountable for the product on the ice," Turgeon said. "If the team performs well, he gets the accolades. If the team performs poorly, he faces the consequences. Initially we didn't know about Ed, and we've had some cases in the past where the coaches have spent a lot of money and wanted to control t hat. He 's proved he's frugal with money. "You have to hire the right people for the right positions and let them do their jobs. If it doesn't work and we're sputtering along in November, I'll take the heat for that." Turgeon doesn't try to hide the truth, and you tend to believe him when he says he's only trying to improve the Kings. He's shown he's not afraid to stand up to the Kings coaching staff and has warned them they're on Strike 2 in a `Strike 3, You're out' policy. Turgeon has to remain firm that fines and suspensions to coaches won't be tolerated on the team that's hosting the junior A national hockey championship. If the Kings do the unexpected, and win their way to the Royal Bank Cup, Turgeon can take the credit for a job well done. The real proof in the pudding will be what's left behind the following season, after he's followed through on his plans to leave his presidential post. If the Kings lose sight of their fans and the fact they have to entertain the paying customers and keep them happy to get them to come back, don't be surprised if the team falters and suffers a painful death as the organization crumbles around it. If that day comes, Turgeon says he'll stand up and take the blame. And then we can all line up to take a shot at him.

Nw tp 5224,Lcl73 es i? 6-41 oa 5

963-7640

� � � � � �

640-0030 Happy feet make for a happy life.

Call to book your appointment!

Improves circulation Creates Relaxation Reduces stress Eases pain Eliminates Toxins Excellent for sore tired feet

SHELL STATION

DOLLAR SAVER LUMBER

00490923

561-2161
OUT OF TOWN, CALL US COLLECT!

www.lumber.bc.ca

HOURS: Mon. - Fri. Saturday 7:00AM-5PM 8AM-5PM

}

Hwy. 97 South