A22 THE FREE PRESS SPORTS JANUARY 18, 2001 Wall: 'There’s definitely going to be a little bit more pressure on me going into the Cougars main camp this summer.’ John mckenzie/free press Eyeing die future Michael Wall wants to keep winning his way to the Cougars Whenever Smithers goaltender Mike Wall needed inspiration to play his best during last weekend’s Whitespot Bantam AAA tournament, all he had to do was step outside the Kin Centres and look towards the Multiplex. The 15-year-old netminder is on the protected list for the Prince George Cougars. He attended this summer’s rookie training camp, then stayed an extra week after wards, sitting in net for half of the Cougars inter-squad game. Now he’s back with the Smithers bantam rep team, preparing for next season when he has his shot at signing with the WHL team. It is a constant source of anticipation for the young goalie, and a constant source of inspiration. “It’s good to focus on it to get up for a game. I get pumped thinking about it,” says Wall. He’s looking out at the ice of Kin I, minutes after Smithers won the bantam tournament’s gold-medal game, 4-3 over Kamloops. The future has come abruptly to Mike Wall. Although his focus is still on playing his best for the team, the season has become less of an end in itself and more of a way to keep and shape and hopefully improve for the next training camp. Already Wall says he’s picked up in areas he was weak in during the August Cougars camp. “I think I’ve improved overall. I’ve gotten faster and my angles have gotten better,” he says. Nicknamed the Wall’ by his teammates, Mike, at 15 years old, is already as big as most goaltenders in the western league at 6’1” and tipping the scales at 185-lbs. "They call me ‘the Wall’,” he admits, then grins. “But when I have an off-game the names they use aren’t so great.” But off-games are few and far between. Wall was named the top goaltender of the bantam tournament for his work between the posts for the Smithers Storm. There’s still a half season left in minor hockey and Wall plans to take full advantage of it, improving his lateral movement in the crease and speed around the net. And when off the ice he’ll continue to track the Cougars on the internet from his home in Smithers each and every day. “I need to keep improving before next year comes,” says Wall. “There’s definitely going to be a little bit more pressure on me going into the Cougars main camp this summer.” Bad breaks into fourth It was like the hockey gods had erected a speed bump right in front of the PG Savings Credit Union Major Bantam Cougars, turning what was a charge ;arly in the Whitespot Bantam tournament into a stumble. The major Cats downed the team that would go on to win the tournament, the Smithers Storm, in the first game of the weekend by a 4-1 score. They followed that with a 9-5 victory over Fort St. John. Then the stumbling began. The majors were upset 4-1 by Terrace in their final round robin game Friday night and couldn't seem to recover that momentum giving up their shot at the gold medal game with a 4-3 loss to Kam- put bantams place finish loops to drop into the bronze matchup with Cloverdale. Despite first and second period scoring efforts by bantam captain Rob Sowerby and assistant captain Daryl Mclvor, the Cats couldn’t hold back Cloverdale Colts centre Matt Francis, who’s hat-trick made the team’s 3-2 victory. Meanwhile, the upstart Smithers team pulled off a 4-3 overtime win over the Kamloops minor bantams, clawing back from a two point deficit going into the second period. The Farr Fabricating Minor Bantam Cougars didn’t fare as well, going winless in four games. THE PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS 2000 - 2001 tpnzef Catch all the Hockey Action and more with the ULTIMATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE. Satellite dish and 1 year Bell ExpressVu Service Courtesy of: Advantage Satellite 701 Victoria Street 563-2228 Weekly Prizes!! To be awarded to the highest points gain in one week. This Week’s Winner: (Biggest Gain • 64) Cong rat u lations ! You have won a $25 Gift Certificate to Winners should contact The Free Press to claim prize(s). Call 564-0005 WNtWA.OFFICIALLY LICENCED PRODUCT OF THE NHLPA OCKEY POOL TOP 100 Check out all the current standings at www.statrite.com RK Nun* G ASS TP DF RK Name G ASS TP DF t Onkar Pam1.dr 260441 703 47 51 Janel Watson 262164 626 19 2. Richard Crank 261414 697 53 52. Jeremy Pederson 246180 626 51 3 Brian McKinnon 261422 683 45 53. Kyle Kohetilch 258168 626 44 4 kaslun W ichc 250421 671 41 54. PclerVranjes 210195 625 41 V Lucas Miller 264406 670 46 55 Raymond nutthews 240185 625 52 6 William Vansickle 257409 666 43 56. Catleen Pederson 268157 625 47 7. Warren Lame 219425 664 48 57, Dehhie Fury 250175 625 .14 S. Keilh Sales 249415 664 64 58. Gahe Brunello 229195 624 54 9 Lcxine Miller 256404 660 41 59. George Coulo 252172 624 47 10 Kerrs-Anne Hocche 2.15424 659 49 60. Brent Vansickle 227197 624 49 II Melanie McKinnon 251406 659 50 61. Bradley Vansickl 255369 624 46 12. Mario Masiroianm 279177 656 51 62. Erie Madaksy 235389 624 45 1.1 Boh Waierfield 261195 656 52 63. Lome Hughes 246378 624 42 14. Mark Vansickle 248408 656 43 64. Clarence Swnzer 240384 624 40 15 Don Craves 252401 655 42 65. Mailhcw Coulo 241383 624 49 16 Danielle Faulkner 219415 654 53 66. Al Hendricks 245378 621 47 17. Brian Kempf 242410 652 38 67. SlanTwarog 263360 621 49 IK Mike Christie 272178 650 42 68. Jarod Vansickle 240383 621 42 19. Margo Vansickle 259.191 650 44 69. Sukh Mann 234388 622 47 20 Janel Kempf 264.185 649 49 70. Mama Vansickle 250372 622 47 21. Wayne & Brad 249197 646 54 71. RoniDhemi 240382 622 46 22. Sandra Sawtell 254.190 644 44 72. Dave Kobeiitch 239382 621 46 2.1. Ron SasMcll 265379 644 53 73. Mike Kodiak 260360 620 19 24 Keith Haluerson 255387 642 39 74. L A. Miller 262358 620 49 25. Diane Sales 251390 641 49 75. Paul Dhcmi 222398 620 49 26. Richard Cameron 266374 640 43 76. Bill Bomholdl 242377 619 44 27. Jackie Colvin 260380 640 41 77. Rodney Prince 249370 619 49 28. Greg Tyndall 268371 639 45 78. Keith Tedford 253364 617 47 29. Jaclyn Sawtell 229410 639 51 79. Nicole Evanoff 232385 617 43 10. Tyler Waierfield 246393 639 50 80. Eveyn Melnke 229388 617 44 .11. Hanley Miller 258380 638 46 81. Allan Silbemagcl 253363 616 42 52. Adam McKinnon 245393 638 45 82. Nicole Couto 260356 616 46 31. Darcy Hanson 250386 636 51 83. NormSchuitz 231384 615 51 34. Leslie Wilson 248388 636 54 84. Curtis Sullivan 252363 615 43 15 Del Blackstock 253383 636 43 85. Kathy Kohetilch 247367 614 48 16 Healher Matthews 244392 636 50 86 George Sylie 233381 614 47 .17. BradTurgeon 254381 635 45 87. Mecolela McFarlan 211403 614 41 18. Carry Ford 257378 635 47 88. Colene W’edzinga 253361 614 42 19. Joe Paul 267368 635 55 89 Angelo Gambaio 242372 614 47 40 Greg Dawson 243391 634 48 90. Sandra Chulka 245.368 613 42 41 Jacqueline De Bor 254379 633 40 91 ICE 256357 613 36 42 Brenda Borkowsky 239393 632 46 92. Pal Phillips 243370 61.1 46 4.1 Eldon Hawboldt 240391 631 46 93 Greg Frey 211402 61.1 54 44. Celina Faulkner 249382 631 43 94 Brenda Miller 235378 61.1 50 45. Shavonne Laine 228403 631 44 95 Austin Hamngion 222390 612 51 46. Lisa Newman 236393 629 47 96. Curt Walls 249.363 612 49 47 Kirk Hicks 246383 629 51 97. Trish Mogos 219392 611 55 48, Gary Koehler 252377 629 41 98 DeanWipfli 218393 611 4.1 49 Bemie Switzer 2.36392 628 50 99. Winslon Fury 238372 610 40 50. Goedon Dow 246381 627 41 100. Denise Hicks 252357 609 43 The Biggest Little Brewery Proud to be a part of Prince George • Those who appreciate quality enjoy it responsibly. VjtnrrJjnd (A «* & 360 Lager AmtwAif Canterbury Dart iron Morse Hiture Lind Organic Paofic Pilsner TNT Pecihc Genuine Draft TradrtKxW Broru light