THE FREE PRESS * SPORTS JULY 7, 1996
 B5
Olson
By CHRIS SIMNETT
Free Press staff writer
   Al Olson is one of the two coaches for this year’s Under-16 boys provincial basketball team, but that’s not the reason his son Andy is on the squad.
   The younger Olson is one of the best point guards in the province at any age and the 16-year-old student at College Heights Secondary made the team on his own merits.
   It’s hard to turn away a kid who was a Grade 10 starter on one of the best senior AA teams in B.C. last year, the College Heights Cougars, and who plays defence like every time he’s on the court will be his last.
   “This team is built around hard defence,” says Olson, who played on the Zone 8 Summer Games team last summer.
   Olson was ranked first out of all the guards at the June 1 tryout camp and managed to make it onto his first provincial team roster. He and Justin Adams from Prince Rupert are the only players on the
home for provincial team
 Andy Olson Is one of the top point guards In the
province. John McKenzie/Free Press team who live north of Kamloops.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   While most of the team is from the south, with
three players from Richmond, the team will base itself out of Prince George for at least a week this
summer. Olson and his teammates will be in town from July 10 to 13 for training camp which will include games against local high school and college players. Olson is looking forward to being able to play a high level of basketball in his home town.
   “The neat thing about the team this year is we are holding our workouts in Prince George,” he says excitedly. “Last year the training camp was in the Lower Mainland and it just proved to be too much of a distraction for everyone. It’s just great to have a team of that calibre up here and people get to see that level of basketball.”
   Making the provincial team has been a highlight for the personable, crew-cutted teenager, but it’s not the ultimate achievement.
   That would be winning a provincial championship, something he and his College Heights teammates came so close to doing last season.
   “High school ball is more important to me than the provincial team,” he
says. “It’s a lot of fun. You get to play with your friends. It’s a real special time.”
   That doesn’t mean the provincial team isn’t important to him. Far from it.
   “More than anything, I’m really proud to be representing the North. Out of the last 10 years there has only been three or four guys from the North that have made the provincial team,” he says. “I’m going to try and do as best as possible with this team and try and make the Under-17 team next year.” As a member of the provincial team, Olson gets to travel to Las Vegas this summer for an international tournament.
   “I saved up $1,000 and put it aside for basketball this summer,” he says with a wide grin. “It’s gonna be all basketball for me.”
   The provincial team get their first competitive tests on Thursday evening when they take on a team of city high school all-stars and then play the College of New Caledonia men’s team.
   Both games will be played at the CNC gym.
Cats trade
popular enforcer
   The Prince George Cougars took another step towards solving their overage problem for next season by trading Matt Van Horlick to the Red Deer Rebels.
   The Cougars get an undisclosed draft pick for Van Horlick, who was a hard-working fan-favourite during his three years with the Cougars. The native of Hanceville, B.C. had a hard-nosed, irritating style of play that earned him the respect of fans and teammates alike.
   The trade leaves the Cats with five 20-year-olds on the roster.
   Goalie Chris Mason, forwards Geoff Lynch, Chris Low and Peter Roed and defenceman Trevor Shoaf will be battling for the three overage roster spots the Cougars are allowed to have.
   “With the restriction of only having three 20-year-olds, this trade is of mutual beneift to us and Matt,” says Cougars GM Dennis Polonich.
   Training camp begins on August 23rd.
Preliminary Fights including Ray Mercer, Arturo Gatti & Hector Macho Camacho
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            Simon Fraser Inn                                ubft
     600 Quebec Street, Prince George
    THE PRINCE GEORGE
                           FREE PRESS Advertising Consultant,
                         Darlene Mastrioanni, presents a plaque to Peter of Hawaiian Tan and his staff, Rose and Ingrid congratulating them on their
                              10™ ANNIVERSARY
Plaque courtesy of:
Van Horlick’s Trophy & Gift House
1562 8th Avenue
562-2053                  i.   it
                                                                                                                                 Vai}V|orlickj
                Trophy & Gift Mouse