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PORT PERRY STAR -- Wednesday, December 30, 1987 -- § Viewpoint by John B. McClelland HOLD THE CHAMPAGNE, FOR NOW Canada's hope for a hockey medal in the February Winter Games in Calgary took a giant leap forward last week when the Olympic team won the Izvestia Trophy in Moscow. It was the first year in the 21 year history of this tournament that a Canadian team has come home with a gold medal. That in itself is a spectacular achieve- ment considering that Izvestia brings together the best teams from Europe in a tune-up for the Winter Olympics. : As for the Olympics, in case you're wondering, the last time Canada won the gold in those games was way back in 1952, long before any members of the current squad were even born. Canada's Olympic team was not given much chance of winning the Izvestia, even the coach Dave King con- ceded as much prior to the tournament. But maybe that was part of his strategy to under-state his team's chances. But win they did with a convincing 4-1 victory over the tough Finns to clinch it all. They also defeated the Swedes, the West Germans and the Russians along the way, losing just once by a 3-2 score to the Czechs. This is obviously a good hockey team. In five games at Izvestia, they allowed just nine goals against, a tribute to the strong tandem of netminders in Sean Burke and Andy Moog, ex of the Edmonton Oilers. They needed great goaltending and solid defense for in those five games, the team managed to score just 13 times. This lack of scoring punch must be a major concern heading down the trail to the Olympics, just a few short weeks away. While the victory at Izvestia certainly shoved the Canadian Olympic squad into the national spotlight, let's not roll out the champagne yet. There is still a long way to go for Olympic gold or even bronze. Right off the bat, the other international teams that will be at the Olympics have had a pretty good look at the Canadians during the Moscow tournament. And no doubt they took a lot of notes on strengths and weaknesses. And you can bet those teams will be pull- ing out all the stops in Calgary to exploit those weak spots. The most glaring of course is the lack of any bona- fide goal scorers, in the mode of a Gretzky, Lemieux or Savard. The psychological factor is going to come into play between now and February. While the hockey public in Canada rejoices with the team in the outstanding per- formance at the Izvestia Cup, the expectations have jumped as well. If these guys can beat the best in Moscow in mid-December, surely they can do the same in Calgary in February, right? But that kind of expectation can be an albatross around the neck of any athlete in any athletic endeavour. And when the Olympics roll around, the eyes of all Canada and the world will be focussed squarely on the guys with the maple leaf on the jerseys. Sure it will be nice for the Canadian team to know the crowds in the arena will be overwhelmingly on their side, and they won't have to adjust to culture shock, bad food, un- familiar surroundings and so on. But the element of playing at home for an Olympic medal adds to the pressure. After the remarkable feat of winning the Izvestia Cup in Moscow last week (played by the way in the same arena where another generation of Canadians stunned the world back in September, 1972) Dave King and his team have every reason to hold their heads high. Hopefully, the rest of the country can view that victory in perspective and not consider it just another step in the road to Olympic gold. It's not going to be that easy. While the Russians obviously are smarting over their loss last week, they still consider the Olympics to be the highest echelon of hockey achievement. The Rus- sians will live with a loss at any other level of competi- tion, but not the Olympics. They'll arrive in Calgary ready to play. Anything less than a gold medal will mean hockey purgatory for the coach and many of the Soviet players. As for our Olympic team, the best thing that could happen to the coaches and players between now and February would be to fade quietly from the lime-light, keep a very low profile out of the glare of the national media to let the current expectations wane a little. Despite the Izvestia victory, our Olympic team should still be considered the underdog when it comes to the Calgary Games in Calgary. Not a long shot, but the underdog. And they should spend the next eight weeks work- ing in practise on goal scoring. Putting just 13 pucks behind enemy netminders in five games may not be enough to assure a medal in Calgary. I don't think there will be any "miracles on ice" for the Canucks in Calgary the way there was for the Yanks eight years ago in Lake Placid. Naturally, every person in Canada with an interest in hockey wishes the team well in February, but let's not put the champagne on ice, quite yet. eo aie de oi a ol al Ro oko ok ok ~ Preparing to usher in yet another year, 1 decided to do away with a column about the usual stuff (look- ing back, looking ahead, etc.). You, faithful reader can (Turn to page 6) Yesterday's Memories 69 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 26, 1918 Letters A great showing of Christmas lights Arrangements have been made to keep our citizens posted as to the time and arrival of returning soldiers so far as possible: Bill will be placed in the windows of the Post Office and the Star Office, bearing these words - 'Returning Soldiers Expected on Morning (or evening train, as may be). Citizens are requested to meet the train and welcome the soldiers home." Persons knowing definitely of the time of arrival of returning soldiers, will please leave word at the Star Office. J.D. McMaster, V.S. is opening up an office in Cawker's Livery until further notice. Mr. McMaster came here highly recommend- ed after seven years successful practice at Cornwall. 44 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 30, 1943 Port Perry 1944 Council: - Reeve, W.M. Letcher; Councillors, G.A. McMillan, G.M. Gerrow, Herb Brooks, Gordon Reesor, Board of Education, Mansell Gerrow, Ronald Peel, Howard Durkin. ~~ Ft. Lt. Joel Aldred and Mrs. Aldred spent Christmas with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Aldred. Port Perry High School lower school results - Fall term: Grade 9, Florence Nasmith (84.7), William Bell, Claudia Coulter. Grade 10, Bert Corner (72.0) William Williams, Louise Howsam. 34 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 31, 1953 Mr. Sam Cawker of the Port Perry Public School attended the annual meeting of the Ontario Public School Men Teachers' Federa- tion. Approximately 150 delegates attended. The Council for the Twp. of Scugog for the year 1954 will be as follows: George Smith, Anson Gerrow, Cecil Fralick, Alvin Heayn with John L. Sweetman serving his fourth term as Reeve. 29 YEARS AGO Thursday, December 25, 1958 Toronto-Premier Frost on Monday brought 4 new men into the Ontario Cabinet and announced the resignation of Provincial Secretary Dunbar. The Provincial Secretary's post was taken by MacKinnon Phillips, whose health portfolio went to Dr. Matthew B. Dymond, former transport minister. 19 YEARS AGO Tuesday, December 31, 1968 Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. James Owen on the occasion of their 65th wedding anniversary Dec. 21. (Turn to page 8) To The Editor: Over the past few years it has become a Christmas ritual for our family to drive through the area viewing all the Christmas lights and displays. The village of Blackstock has always been one of our favourite distinations, but never more so than this year. The displays were outstanding not only in number but Gerald Wilson gives lecture There will be a Family Seminar conducted at Town Hall on Monday, January 11, from 7:00 to 9:30 P.M. Rev. Gerald Wilson, lecturer- counsellor, will be speaking on the "Arts of Family Living." Topics will include communication, roles, child discipline, finances, sexuality, parent-teen relationships, the media, and aging Mr. Wilson travels extensively throughout the North American con tinent and has been well received in churches, schools, service clubs and on radio ahd television. There is no registration fee for the Seminar and Pastor David Beesley welcomes everyone, adding "don't miss this opportunity to enrich your relationships with others and strengthen your home." in originality as well. It was actually difficult to find a home left undecorated. What a great showing of Christmas and community spirit! Sincerely, Jo-Ann Anderson, R.R. 2, Port Perry. Editorial Comments (From page 4) This squabble will dominate the national agenda in 1988 and most likely will be the centre piece of a national election. How exciting. The country will stumble its way through it, no doubt, and possibly that fact in itself is the clue to our national character. We do seem to be able to get through these manufactured crises that surface as if on cue every year. But it would be nice to have a rest from the internal bickering. It would be nice for a change if the vast majority of Canadians could agree on something, anything. It would be nice not to have to even try to think about an answer to that age-old question of what's a Canadian. ' ... our policy readers to make use of the letters to the editor column helps make a better community newspaper name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so to the editor. tinue to Insist on knowing the identity of the writer. Letters to the Editor It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with hold publication of a letter writer's Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, we must con