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a bnvvommemmmemesnmem a Complete Bike Fdll + New & Used é Skates Bd + Great Hockey & BLUbLt 5| enmmmmmmmmmmenmmmmm P in_._ . ns © & 2 war E By Bos Vr Z Chronicle 6 en n eeaitee & a 9 e Waterl 3 women‘s % team | is z bypass the driv > avnid the "Eor Complete Bike & Skate Store Warriors ready for a shootâ€"out e Waterloo Warriors T'v‘vomen's basketball team is looking to bypass the drive thru and avoid the "Eggâ€"McMuffin® game this year at their annuâ€" al Christmas Shootâ€"out tourâ€" nament starting Dec. 28. That‘s the unofficial name of the early morning game between the seventh and eighthâ€"place â€" teams â€" that decides the last place finisher of the annual tournament. The Warriors played in that game last year, and wore the goat homs as they finâ€" ished last in their own tourâ€" nament. But head coach Tom O‘Brien is expecting more of his experienced squad this year as they prepare for the stretch run in the OUA west. "There‘s no way I want to be doing that again," said O‘Brien, now in his fifth year with the team. "I think we can win this tournament." The Wartiors are an expeâ€" rienced â€" squad â€" featuring fourthâ€"year forward Leslie Mitchell, _ and _ thirdâ€"year shooting _ guard _ Nicole Consitt, a â€" graduate . of The Waterloo Siskins conâ€" tinued their struggles on the road with a 4â€"3 loss to the Elmira Sugar Kings at the Elmira Arena last Wednesday night. Eight of the Siskins‘ 1 1 losses this year have come on the road, leaving the Waterloo club unable to crack the top two spots of the Midâ€"Western Junior B league standings. "We seem to sit back and don‘t come at teams (on the road)," said Siskins head coach Jerry Hartigan. "I can‘t rememâ€" ber the last time we started off a game ahead. Sugar Kings gum up the Siskins The Siskins followed that same recipe for disaster last Wednesday in Elmira, trailing 1 â€" "We always seem to dig ourâ€" selves a hole, then decide we‘re going to start playing." V fronsemiee "Aly Game in > 50 Westmount Rd N. (Westmound Place Shopping) Waterioo 884â€"8558 By Bos VrBanac _ Chronicle Staff McCPhail‘s @@ 98 King Street. North 886â€"4340 "We‘re much more experiâ€" enced than veteran," said O‘Brien of his squad that feaâ€" tures nine first or secondâ€" year players. Leslie Mitchell and the Waterloo Warriors take on all comers at their annual Christmas Shootout tournament starting Dec. 28 at the PAC. moro courtesy or uw arstencs peragtment Bluevale collegiate. team in scoring with 19 0 earty after a powerâ€"play goal at 6:23 of the first. But the experience comes from players like Consitt, who has started since her rookie year. Consitt leads the The Siskins‘ Eric Grenier tied it up on a breakaway from the blueline in six minutes later, but the Sugar Kings responded with another powerâ€"play goal at 16:21. Grenier set up â€" Sean Costigan on a pretty twoâ€"onâ€" one less than a minute later to leave the teams tied at 2â€"2 at the end of the first. The Siskins‘ John Mitchell gave his team an earty 3â€"2 lead in the second on a booming shot from the faceâ€"off circdle; but the Sugar Kings were able to even it up before the end of the second. y, Family A\ New Years Eve The Siskins‘ biggest mistake came earty in the third as they gave up a shortâ€"handed goal that stood up as the deciding marker the rest of the game. posed to be back there playing Now‘s the time to make plans to usher in the NEW YEAR with PHILTHY McNASTYS! Close out the first year of the Millennium with a party to remember for your children‘ BOOK TODAY! @W I eargd Kids Countao team in scoring with 19 points a game, and presents a consistent scoring threat for the scrappy Warriors. "She‘s playing about as well as I‘ve ever seen her play," said O‘Brien. "She‘s been our best scoring threat to this point of the year." the powerâ€"play were sleeping," said Harrigan. "Who do you Those are the types of misâ€" takes a struggling road team can‘t afford against an experiâ€" enced club like Elmira "You The Siskins‘ Linden Penner fights off and Elmira checker. The team also features a SPORTS number of other local players like Kate McCrae, Tricia Gardy and Amanda Kieswetter, who has come off the bench to give the Warriors some valuable minâ€" utes this year. "Whenever we need a basket, she‘s the kid who gets it for us," said O‘Brien of the WCI Vikings‘ grad. Due to a rash of injuries, the Warriors haven‘t had their starting five together for much of the first part of the season that left them with a 3â€"4 record in league play. The Warriors open. the tournament against _ the Concordia Stingers at 7 p.m. Thursday night at the PAC. O‘Brien, expecting a good tournament result, said it should help kick off the stretch run for his team. "I think we‘re going to be very competitive, and we should be fighting for the top two spots," he said. That will change at the Christmas Shootâ€"out tournaâ€" ment that features teams from every conference in the country like York, Bishops, Concordia and Brandon. "We‘ll finally get a chance to see them play together a little bit," said O‘Brien. can‘t make those kind of mis takes." said Harrigan. Despite another disappointâ€" ing road loss, Harrigan said he liked how his team competed. "With any luck at the end we should have scored." he said. Voted best place to dine with kids and friendliest staff Vikings‘ goalie Brian Munroe corrals a Renegade‘s shot Hockey Vikings in stealth mode he Waterloo Vikings Tseemed to _ have slipped under the radar screen in the WCSSAA boys hockey league this year. That‘s tough to do for a team that won the title in its first year of play two years ago, and was a playoff semiâ€" finalist last year. But a deceiving early seaâ€" son record of 1â€"2â€"2 means the Vikings are rarely menâ€" tioned as playoff favourites. And â€" with 10 players departing from last year‘s club, some are wondering if they can bounce back to achieve contender status. But that‘s just where head coach Dan Rintche wants his squad this year as they lie in wait for any unsuspecting team that comes along. That‘s when the Vikings will surprise them with three balanced lines, a mobile defense core and some solid goaltending. "We‘ve got no real superâ€" stars," said Rintche. "We‘ve just got guys who if they work hard we‘ll win, and if they don‘t we‘re not going to That lunchâ€"pail formula almost worked last Thursday as the Vikings tied 4â€"4 with the _ defending _ playoff champs from Grand River. After an early first period goal, the Vikings stormed By Bos VRrBANAC Chronicle Staff The Viscovef? Never Ends 181 King St. S., Waterloo back in the second to take a 3â€"1 lead on goals by Gary Kotsopoulos, Jeff Baker and Warren Locke. Grand River tied it up in the third, but a shortâ€"handed goal by Sean Collins with 2:33 left to play gave the Vikings a 4â€"3 lead. Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn‘t hold on to that shortâ€"lived margin, givâ€" ing the tying goal up 33 secâ€" onds later at the end of a fiveâ€"minute powerâ€"play for the Renegades. "I think we should have won â€" that game," said Rintche. "I was a little disapâ€" pointed in that penalty call." But the game fit into the pattern of play for the Vikings who also surprised a few teams at the McKerlie Classic high school hockey tournament held last weekâ€" end in and around Waterloo. The Vikings won their division and reached the semifinals against the St. David Celtics, another playâ€" off favourite in the sevenâ€" team WCSSAA league The Vikings gave the Celtics all they could handle, dropping a close 1â€"0 deciâ€" sion to their crossâ€"town rivals who they faced in the semifinals of last year‘s league finals. "I think if we make the playoffs, we‘ll surprise some teams," said Rintche. "I think we‘ll scare some of the top teams." P+1 7 DAYS A WEEK BEER STORE Monâ€"Fri 10â€"8; Sat 9â€"6; Sun 11â€"6