Over the Edge ¢ February 6th 2013

Sports 13

T'WOLVES CLOSE SEASON AT HOME

GEOFF SARGENT
SPORTS EDITOR

The UNBC Timberwolves close out theirinaugural
CIS season of basketball with home games
against top-flight UBC and fellow Canada West
newcomers Mount Royal University over the next
two weekends. Playoffs no longer look to be in the
cards for either the mens or women’s teams - the
veteran-laden men’s team never got off the ground
in 2013 and fell out of contention, now needing to
sweep the nationally-ranked #2 Thunderbirds and
get help to qualify, while the relatively younger
women’s team is mathematically eliminated and is
looking to close the season on a high note.

The final homestand will be the final games for a
handful of Timberwolves reaching the end of their
fifth and final year of eligibility - Kady Dandenault
plays her last game for the women, and the men
say goodbye to four of their top six minute hogs in
Sam Raphael, Francis Rowe, Joel Rybachuk, and
Jose Araujo. This Friday’s game against UBC is
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night, a follow-up to
the Student Appreciation Night the Timberwolves

hosted in January. Tickets to Friday’s game are
free to current UNBC faculty and staff as the
team takes on one of the better sporting schools
in Canada. Note the jackpot in the KGM Shot
For Fees tuition free throw contest has hit $1,250
and that money will be up for grabs after the third
quarter of the women’s game.

Expect the Timberwolves to play hard on the home
court - players and coaches alike have highlighted
the importance at all times this season of playing
well in front of the support they receive from
Prince George and the UNBC community. “Our
home court advantage is huge,” said UNBC men’s
coach Todd Jordan. “It is as tough as a home court
as there is in the conference and it definitely gives
us a boost.” UBC flies into town on an incredible
run - the #2 men have won ten consecutive games
dating back into November, while the #6 women
have won ten of their last eleven games. To find any
results against the Thunderbirds, UNBC’s teams
will need an effort perhaps even surpassing that
of the close fight the men put out against Alberta
in November, where the T’ Wolves led 55-46 after

three quarters before the Golden Bears roared back
in the fourth quarter to win. Tipoff against UBC is
6pm/8pm on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The games against the Mount Royal Cougars,
highlighted by most in the UNBC Athletics
department as potential future rivals in Canada
West play, appear to be easier contests. MRU’s
men’s team has been largely unsuccessful all
season, managing only splits against Thompson
Rivers and UBC-Okanagan and a win in Brandon
for a 3-15 record. The women sit at 5-13, with a
nearly-identical passport as the UNBC women
- winning games against Brandon, Manitoba,
Winnipeg, Lethbridge, and UBC-O. With the
Cougars’ teams a combined 5-15 on the road, the
Timberwolves hope to close the season with four
wins against the school from Calgary. The games
are played next weekend, February 15-16th, at
6pm/8pm each night. Expect the Saturday game
against MRU to be particularly emotional and loud
as so many of the players say goodbye to UNBC
basketball in front of a crowd likely to exceed 1000
on Alumni Night.

BLUES LEAD

GEOFF SARGENT
SPORTS EDITOR

1. St. Louis Blues - The merely above-average
record is not complimentary to the Blues, who
are playing the type of defensive, possession
hockey that wins championships.

2. Chicago Blackhawks - Corey Crawford
is exceeding all expectations in goal, leading
Chicago to the top of the league.

3. Boston Bruins - The Phil Kessel trade is the
gift that keeps on giving, as Dougie Hamilton
steps into the NHL for a trial and makes an
immediate impact for the powerful Bruins.

4. San Jose Sharks - The Sharks were the
last team to lose a game, but their schedule was
incredibly soft. Depth scoring needs to step up
as Thornton/Marleau/Pavelski can't do it all
forever.

5. Anaheim Ducks - Came out flying against
the Canucks and haven't really slowed down,
aside from losing the rematch. A tough schedule
in early February will settle the debate on
whether or not they can hang with the best.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning - question marks
in goal, as Lindback and Garon don't inspire
playoff confidence...but if Stamkos keeps
scoring in ridiculous numbers, their importance
is lessened.

7. Montreal Canadiens - With the Subban
drama over, the team now has a third offensively-
gifted defenseman in the lineup alongside
Markov and Diaz. Certainly Canada's best hope
from the Eastern Conference.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins - Fleury has
responded decently against the pressure from
last season's playoff collapse, as Crosby
shows flashes of his pre-concussion brilliance.
Definitely a team to keep an eye on.

9. Ottawa Senators [Copy Editor's favourite
team] - Craig Anderson has a history of fast
starts and has kept the Senators a lot closer than
expected to the top of the division, as Ottawa
has started the season best in the league at even
strength hockey.

10. Vancouver Canucks - Kassian is the
latest iteration of Jason King on the Sedin line,
as the Canucks struggle through injuries to

NHL POWER RANKINGS

Booth and Kesler early in the season. And of
course: Luongo, Schneider, Luongo, Schneider,
Schneider, Luongo.

11. New Jersey Devils - Losing the Stanley Cup
Finals usually cripples a team, but the Devils
have started very well, as the ageless wonder
Martin Brodeur continues to play at a very high
level.

12. New York Rangers - Slow start for the
team, but the top line now featuring Rick Nash
has shows stretches of being a Top 3 line league-
wide. When Lundqvist settles down (and he
will), the wins will follow.

13. Minnesota Wild - The Wild are rolling
with scoring goals, but Suter seems lost without
a fellow Olympian as a defensive partner.

14. Edmonton Oilers - Dubnyk appears
servicable enough in goal, as Khabibulin is now
an afterthought. While a few years away from
contending, the Oilers at least look competent
(aside from giving up six goals in the first period
to San Jose).

15. New York Islanders - The Isles modern-
day tradition of playing countless early-
afternoon games may be paying dividends
early in the season, as the team is undoubtedly
winning more games than they should be.

16. Phoenix Coyotes - Have played better
than their losing record indicates, but the off-
ice ownership drama has to be doing harm to
the team. Having just 6000 fans at home games
negates that advantage as well.

17. Detroit Red Wings - Early struggles
which can only be blamed on losing both Stuart
and Lidstrom from the blueline. The window
may have closed on the Red Wings.

18. Colorado Avalanche - Exposed by
talented teams this season and now without their
young captain Landeskog, Colorado looks to be
miles behind Minnesota and Vancouver in the
Northwest Division.

19. Toronto Maple Leafs [Copy Editor's
rival team] - The Leafs sticking close to .500
is somewhat unexpected, but the team has
been able to win on the road, well away from
the fishbowl atmosphere in Toronto. Home
struggles are another story.

20. Los Angeles Kings - Brutal start
offensively for the team with the Stanley Cup
hangover. The Kings, however, are too good on
paper to not turn it around eventually.

21. Buffalo Sabres - The Sabres need to find
some production from someone not named
Thomas Vanek, who while having a great
season, cannot be the only source of offense.
22. Carolina Hurricanes - Should make the
playoffs due to a weak division, but are far from
championship contenders, even after aligning
two of the Staal brothers.

23. Nashville Predators - Nashville has yet to
show anything other than a propensity for taking
games to shootouts. While playing in constant
three-point games is a great recipe to make
the playoffs, being unable to finish games in
regulation means they will be quickly finished.
24. Dallas Stars - Giving up the most shots per
game has put a lot of strain on the frequently-
injured Kari Lehtonen, who to this point has
responded. The rest of the team needs to do the
same.

25. Columbus Blue Jackets - After a terrible
start, the team has somewhat settled and has
been able to win a few games, but the playoffs
are a lost cause.

26. Philadelphia Flyers - Bryzgalov has
responded to the calls for his head, but losing
Hartnell for more than a month has set the team
down a skid they need to get out of immediately.
27. Winnipeg Jets - Pavelec is unquestionably
the star of the team in goal, as the Jets are
completely outmatched in every game situation
except the power play.

28. Florida Panthers - The Cats are currently
suffering through an incredible amount of
injuries that could seriously jeopardize their
hopes of repeating the limited playoff success
they had last season.

29. Washington Capitals - Can we shelve
the Washington/Pittsburgh "rivalry" already?
One of these teams is not like the other...

30. Calgary Flames - The Flames may have
been the worst-run franchise over the last few
years, and it's going to show this season.

canadawest
standings

Men’s Basketball

Pacific Division

16-2

13-5

10-8
9-9
6-13
5-13
3-15
3-16

#2 UBC

Victoria

#9 Fraser Valley
Trinity Western
Thompson Rivers
UNBC

Mount Royal
UBC-Okanagan

Prairie Division

14-4
13-5
13-6
11-7
11-8
9-9
6-12
4-14

#6 Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Calgary
Winnipeg
Lethbridge
Regina
Brandon

Women's Basketball
Pacific Division

15-3
14-4
14-5
13-5
6-12
5-13
5-13
5-14

#4 Fraser Valley
#6 UBC
Thompson Rivers
#9 Victoria
UNBC

Trinity Western
Mount Royal
UBC-0

Prairie Division

15-3
15-3
11-7
10-8
10-8
6-13
2-17
0-18

#3 Regina

#8 Calgary
Saskatchewan
Alberta
Lethbridge
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Brandon

Next Home Games

February 8thvsUBC  6pm/8pm
February 9thvs UBC} = 6pm / 8pm
February 15thvs MRU = 6pm/ 8pm
February 16thvs MRU 6pm/ 8pm