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The Canadian Champion, Friday, August 15,1997-17 •SPORTS French will take Brock University hockey helm By STEVE LeBLANC Special to The Champion Mark French has a new chal- lenge amid old surroundings. The 26-year-old Milton native is set to take over the Brock University hockey pro- gram - of which he's been a player and assistant coach for the past five years. A former Jr. B Merchant, French will act as the Badgers' interim skipper while long-time coach Mike Pelino exercises a one-year leave of absence priv- ilege. Pelino has held the reins at Brock for more than a decade and will now try his hand in the Western Hockey League - as an assistant with the Spokane Chiefs. His departure offers French an initial testing period, in what he hopes will be a long and rewarding career coaching competitive hockey. "I plan to make a career out of coaching, so I'm very excit- ed about the opportunity," said French, who's instructed at the Ontario under- 17 camp the past few years. French offers effective com- munication skills and vast knowledge of offensive sys- tems as his greatest assets for his new assignment. While he admits his youth may act as an initial obstacle, he plans to earn his players' respect from the onset. Mark French He was successful aI doing so with Badger teammates throughout a four-year playing stretch. He captained the squad for his last three seasons and was a four-time recipient of the 212 Degree Award - present- ed to the hardest working, most determined player. "I've always held myself in high regard and commanded respect from those I've play with or under. t fully expect that to continue. "Sure there'll be some key moments early on when play- ers try to test my limits, but the discipline level at Brock will be as high as it's always been," he said. Despite having a relatively young team last season, French helped the Badgers to a third- place finish in the Ontario University Athletic Association (OUAA) West Division. With a couple of key Ontario Hockey League (OHL) gradu- ates set to join a more experi- ence roster this fall, he plans to put Brock back on top. Hockey officials wanted The Golden Horseshoe son. Hockey League is accepting Individuals must at least be applications from experienced 16 years old and have referee- officials for the 1997-98 sea- ing experience. Cal! 332-0757. Scott Hogarth will visit the fatherland of martial arts this month for the granddaddy of competitions. The five-time world champion and hold- er of seven different black belts will lead a handful of Fighting Griffin Martial Arts students into the Okinawa Karate and Kobudo World Toumament August 23 and 24. The Milton instructor and his black belt pupils left for Okinawa Wednesday and will be among 2,500 world-wide black belts to christen the brand new Budokan Prefecture Hall of Martial Arts. "This is a huge first, to go with my stu- dents and be among the first to compece at this brand new facility," said Hogarth, who reopened his martial arts club six months ago. "It's a very big deal." Among those accompanying him are Dave and Stephanie Geneau of Waterdown. This isn't the couple's first trip to Okinawa, although it will be their first opportunity to compete. "I got involved in martial arts through Dave about five years ago on a previous trip to Japan. I saw him demonstrate in front of black belt instructors and got hooked," said Stephanie, a second degree black belt who'll compete in women's goals for himself. He'll put his skills to the test in both men's forms and sparring. Hogarth is confident in their abilities, as he is with ail of his students. "I have top-notch students and we're not going over there with the idea of just doing well. Our philosophy has always been that somebody has to win, so why not us?" Also competing next weekend from Fighting Griffin will be Sandy Graham of Grand Valley, Mississauga's Justin Galal and Derek MacDonald of Milton - a for- mer international medalist who'll compete forms. in senior men's forms. "I'm going there to win." Sandy's daughter Connie is making the Dave, a third-degree black belt who's trip as well and will act as the local team's trained for 14 years, has equally ambitious cheerleader. IClarke's GOLF LOTS 0F USED RCIN USED /EDIEN RON DIES SETS Il PCE. $329. Taylor Made SETS Reg.$329. Burner Bubbles PFROM 855's-• Ping • Ram r 18 Thompson Rd., Unit #7 & Milton 878-1818 Karate black belts (from left) Stephanie Geneau, Scott Hogarth and Dane Geneau will compete In a world toumey. Hogarth's team looking for wins