www.pgcitizen.ca | Saturday, April 11, 2009 11 sports Local players strong on B.C. ringette team Jason Peters Citizen staff Stephanie Crandell and Megan Spooner were two of the standout players on Team B.C. during the Tim Hortons Canadian Ringette Championships. But, even stellar performances by the two Prince George girls couldn't give the club the results it was seeking. Team B.C., formed mostly by players from the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, finished the national tournament -- being held in Charlottetown, P.E.I. -- with a 1-6 record. The team skated in the Belle (Under-19) division. B.C. played its last game on Friday and fell 10-9 in overtime to Manitoba. In the contest, the 18-year-old Crandell scored a goal and also added an assist. Spooner, a 15-year-old goaltender, was pelted with shots and did well to hold Manitoba shooters to those 10 goals. Manitoba scored with four seconds left in regulation to force extra time. The tournament statistics for Crandell and Spooner are impressive. In the seven games, Crandell fired three goals and chipped in with nine helpers. Spooner, meanwhile, faced a total of 238 shots and made 208 saves. Crandell used the word "amazing" to describe the experience of playing in nationals. And she was more than impressed by the work done by Spooner, the youngest player on Team B.C. "She played exceptionally well these games," Crandell said. "She always had double the shots on her than we had on the other team, if not more. We lost three games by one goal. If only we would have had more shots in all the games, I believe we would have been in the medal rounds." B.C.'s lone victory was a 6-5 overtime decision against Nova Scotia on Wednesday. Crandell assisted on the game-winner. In its other games, B.C. lost 13-1 to Alberta, 4-3 to Ontario, 4-3 to Saskatchewan, 7-3 to Quebec and 5-3 to New Brunswick. Playoffs at nationals are today and Sunday. SPRUCE KINGS HOPEFULS -- Team Red forward Kalen Spoletini of Prince George goes on the attack as he takes the puck wide around Team White defenceman Garrett McCracken of Penticton during a practice session Friday at the Prince George Spruce Kings prospects camp at the Coliseum. Eight teams and 129 players began games Friday night.The action resumes today and Sunday at 9 a.m. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten Rocky road ahead for Martin The Canadian Press MONCTON, N.B. -- It's a case of double jeopardy for Canada's Kevin Martin at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship. Martin, who waltzed through the Brier with 13 straight wins and rolled to 10 victories in a row at the world championship, lost his second game in a row to David Murdoch of Scotland 7-5 on Friday. As a result Martin is in jeopardy and will need to win a sudden death semifinal tonight to make it to the gold medal game and get a third crack at Scotland. Martin was held to a single point in the first end and gave up a rare three in the third and an even rarer steal in the fourth to fall behind 4-1. "It was tough sledding," said a frustrated Martin after the game. "They put more pressure on us than we put on them and it was just hard to make good shots so hats off to them. They made us make more tough ones and it was just hard to do that." Martin said he expects he will be able to bounce back, pointing out he also lost back-to-back games to Randy Ferbey and Wayne Middaugh before going on to win the Canada Cup. "It's fine. I'm a pretty positive thinker and we're throwing it pretty good so we'll give her both barrels and see what happens," Martin added. Murdoch, who won the championship in 2006, said it was a good effort. "I think we were on top for most of the game so you've got to be happy with that," Murdoch said. "Obviously it's a huge thing because we've done something right," he added. The Scottish champion fully expects there will be a third game with Martin on Sunday with the gold medal on the line. "Hopefully we'll get a rematch on Sunday. I know they want the rematch and they're great champions," he added. "Those guys are still an amazing team and they put the rocks in some real nasty places." Switzerland won its sixth straight game following a disastrous start to make it to today's three-vs-four playoff game. Ralph Stoeckli limped out of the gate but made some internal changes that has them on a red hot tear. And the changes might be strangely familiar to Canadian curling fans. Stoeckli continued to throw final stones but turned skipping duties over to his second Markus Eggler. It's exactly what happened with Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador when he added Russ Howard to his squad. Thiessen misses Hobey Baker The Associated Press WASHINGTON -- From walk-on to award-winner, Boston University senior defenceman Matt Gilroy received the Hobey Baker Memorial Award on Friday night as the top college hockey player in the United States. Gilroy was selected over fellow finalists Colin Wilson of BU and Northeastern goalie Brad Thiessen of Aldergrove, the former Prince George Spruce King. Women lacing up for Easter gold The Canadian Press HAMEENLINNA, Finland -- Melody Davidson closed her eyes and shook her head while contemplating which goaltender she'll choose for the world women's hockey championship final. The Canadian coach's decision became that much harder with the performance of Charline Labonte in Canada's 2-1 win over the defending champion U.S. in a playoff game Friday. Montreal's Caroline Ouellette and Winnipeg's Jennifer Botterill scored for Canada in what was a preview of Sunday's gold-medal game between the two countries (TSN, 9 a.m.). While the game's outcome was meaningless in the standings, the Canadians wanted the victory after losing to the U.S. three of four games in 2008. Jayna Hefford of Kingston, Ont., had two assists to surpass a career 200, which made her only the third player to do so behind Hayley Wickenheiser and Danielle Goyette. Monique Lamoureux scored a late goal for the U.S. Canada (4-0) and the U.S. (3-1) will meet in the 12th final in as many world championships. Canada has a 9-2 record in those games, but the U.S. took the title last year in Harbin, China. Sweden, which thrashed Russia 8-0 on Friday, will meet Finland for the bronze medal Sunday. Japan doubled China 2-1 in relegation round play. Labonte, who hadn't played since facing just five shots in Canada's tournament-opener versus China, made a jaw-dropping glove save midway through the first period after little work during the opening minutes. The 26-year-old from Boisbriand, Que., also helped her team kill off a pair of U.S. 5-on-3 power plays and stopped Jenny Potter on a short-handed breakaway in the second period. 00624712 For all your Orthotic and Bracing needs Stacey Savard, BSc, (ExHP), C Ped (c) CLINIC DIRECTOR Providing quality care to the Northern Communities of British Columbia 100-1437 Commercial Crescent Prince George, BC V2M 0A2 www.lifemark.ca Tel: 250.561.8799 Fax: 250.561.8766 Toll Free: 1.877.561.8799 select e every Friday, only in the Citizen 780 Third Avenue 250-563-5091 Armstrong fears Tour ban after drug test The Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas -- Lance Armstrong believes French doping officials may ban him from riding in this summer's Tour de France over a report that he violated protocols during a recent drug test. "There's a very high likelihood that they prohibit me from riding in the Tour," a sombre Armstrong said Friday in a video statement posted on his website. "It's too bad. The tour is something I love dearly." France's anti-doping agency, known as AFLD, has said the American did not fully co-operate with a drug tester when he showed up at Armstrong's home in France to collect blood, urine and hair samples from the cyclist on March 17. Although no banned substances were found, the dispute revolves around a 20-minute delay when Armstrong went inside the house and took a shower while his assistants checked the tester's credentials. $2700* CHECK OUT THESE GREAT OFFERS 2008 Sportsman 500 E.F.I. REG. $9,699 SAVE $2,400 Now only $7,299* 2008 Sportsman 800 E.F.I. REG. $11,699 SAVE $2,700 Now only $8,999* 00 00 00 00 + on 2008 Models receive a 2500 lb. winch for only $199 installed + 650895 Rebates up to $600.00 on 2009 ATV's & Rangers Side x Sides *Freight, PDI, Destination, Levies and Taxes extra 00650130 DAVIS RODRIGUES (250) 960-5323 UNBC - Northern Sports Centre · Open 7:00 am - 7:00 pm Mon - Fri