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PM: 2S--WATERL00 m. WY, mg, "so Richard O‘Brien Chronicle Staff From the start of their exhibi- tion and tournament schedule to the beginning of the Christmas break, there's been a change in the things University of Waterloo basketball Warriors have had to worry about. They had humble beginnings, worrying about survival. Now the big question concerns whether three weeks of inactivity will take them off the high they're on. "There was great trepidation in the fall," said Warrior coach Don McCrae after his team had sound- ly beaten York Yeomen 68-52 in the Mike Maser Memorial game last Wednesday. Two players - Beven-toot centre Randy Norris and Guard Rott Froese - had contemplated not playing. And then star forward Peter Savich suffered a broken finger. Earlier. Savich had had an ankle operation and a suspected bout of mononucleosis. "I felt it half the players we had last year came back we'd have a really good team." said McCrae, So what happened? Norris and Proeae returned and Warriors won two tournaments. They have yet to loae to another Canadian univeralty basketball team this Aaadtttey'vedtmeit all without i'd2tu'2rtlNtg'rM,tt the Mucus- 'lgelf'ea"tdetlti"Ntt tai-dttytheNayethist-- Wartior’e Tom Schneider has his foot stepped on during lest Wednesday‘s exhibition game with York as Bob Froeee watches for the play to develop. Rte9tqeet on... photo UW cage Warriors on a roll There are also signs that the team has more depth than origi- nally thought and there have been plays based on good improvisa- "We've been able to not Just survive but perform well," said McCrae, "and that factor has given our players a lot of con- fidence." "Harry Van Drunen, Marcel Naus and Dave Maser are very intelligent players," said McCrae. “When they come in we get very intelligent basketball from them. I don‘t think we have a tougher player on the team than Dave Moser." In the win over York, Boyce led Warriors with " points and Froese added Is. all in the first half. Norris scored " and contin» ued to use his height to great advantage by snaring " re- riors will again go about their business of finding out how good they are nationally. They'll see University of Prince Edward ls- land Panthers and Victoria Cou- gars at the Byerson tournament Dec. Str-att. The [allowing weekend. they'll compete In the University of Calgary Classic where once again they'll see Cougars as well as a "The play particularly of Norris and Paul Boyce has been a pleasant surprise." gotta-ted tiam from Lech. After a three-week break, War omin- vumu - On min isiitu-itiaiaG" on}: iaiiiiriaaFGa7iFiaia m the m m- ovot the W. use...” Richard O'Briqet Chronicle Staff If Waterloo Siskins' lineup was tough to crack back in September during training camp. things haven't changed much two months into the Midwestern Junior B Hockey League schedule. --Siskins are on possibly the longest winning streak of their history, extended to 17 games with back-to-back victories of EH Sunday and 3-2 Friday over Cambridge Winter Hawks. And the winning combination that got them there is tough to tamper with. With the todd Lovedays. Ron Parsons and Terry Mectgtettemts on a roll, it's difficult for the new kid on the block, or in this case. on the bench. Case in palm: Mike Geminari, a detenceman recently converted into a left winger. A graduate of last year's Waterloo major midgets alter playing his previous five seasons in Mississauga. Geminari was drafted in the 12th round try the junior A Kitchener Rangers and was there up to the final cuts. "There were a lot of defeneemen drafted so it was fairly tough,“ said Geminari. But things are still tough for the tall 17-year-old who has yet to score his ttrst goal for Sistins. In the dressing room, Geminari is one of Siskins' jokers. along with Loveday and John McKerrow. On the ice, well ... he's not out there often because Siskins have so many talented veterans. "I played defence 11 years and it's a hit of an adjustment from defence to left wing," Gemim ari said. Siskin manager Pete Brill said Geminari was moved from defence to forward because he liked to carry the puck but didn't have all the puck handling skills necessary for a rushing defence man. "He really works the boards and corners well," said Brill. "The few shifts he gets he makes something happen. He's willing to pay his dues and hopefully he'il be a regular sometime during the season." Sunday, the game had degenerated into a show belligerence by the time Geminari made a late third period appearance and he was soon Rookie Geminari _ finds Siskin lineup a tough one to crack pp, Aet!?ttt '8tPrehPrfmtt "re, mm 'tttttyt Mm»: M Sum a the penalized for fighting after going to the aid of a teammate. All told, referee Ab Henshaw assessed two fight majors to each team in addition to three 10-minute misconducts given to Winter Hawks. Steve Aebersold was Siskins‘ leading point- getter with four goals and three assists and Chris Archer scored twice. Siskins served 20 minors throughout the game compared with 26 served by Winter Hawks. The visitors sutfered for the penalties they took, giving up 10 power play goals, four of them by Pearson. Steve McGrinder, Loveday and Dale Roth, with his first goal of the season as a Siskin. were the other Waterloo scorers. Mike Geminari