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Don Lawrence * Sports editor * The Midland Times by Don Lawrence sports. editor AsI See It Good news for Mike... not so good for two coaches Some good news was in Store this long weekend for Mike Robitaille, originally from Midland and more recently of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. For four years, Robitaille has been locked into a battle with that hockey club, Robitaille asking for damages for an irreparable spinal injury caused by the club's carelessness. Friday, news was released that Robitaille will receive the more than $465,000 in damages denied him by appeals, Vancouver deciding now to drop their plans for an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. This news is extremely happy news and something Midland residents have been waiting for. But we must remember how this money came to be given to Robitaille. He can no longer play hockey, a sport he gave so many years to and loved so much. Robitaille finds it hard to concentrate on any job for more than a few hours and he cannot do any heavy lifting. Robitaille paid a great price for this financial award. Injuries in sports are sometimes per- manent and sometimes not but they are always tragic. Players who suffer injuries feel pain and no matter how small the injury may appear, it can cause a deviation in play behavior if not total play stoppage. Robitaille will never play hockey again and you know that must hurt. Two other local athletes that have suffered injury lately are Malcolm Lonsdale of Midland Indusmin soccer club and Ron Josland, coach of Midland Bulls Rugby Club. Both coaches broke their legs under dif- ferent circumstances in different games but both men will be out of action for awhile. Lonsdale was playing last Wednesday ina _. game when his team found themselves short a player. He slipped on the wet grass and was kicked by an opposing player by accident, breaking the bone in his leg. Lonsdale will be off work for four to six months and he will likely not play for a longer time. He will, however, be back on the sidelines in a lawn chair, still able to coach from there. Josland was standing on the sidelines several weeks ago when a tackle went the wrong way, right in Josland's direction. Josland's leg was broken and he too will be off work for awhile. We, here at The Midland Times would like to take this opportunity to wish them a speedy recovery and hope to see them back on their feet soon...no pun intended! Robitaille's worries are over ~ Mike Robitaille According to Geraldine Robitaille, mother of Mike Robitaille of Midland "His worries are over." That statement came when she heard of the news that Vancouver Canucks of the the National Hockey League will not appeal their case with Robitaille. Robitaille injured his spinal cord irrepairably in 1977, ending a promising hockey career. It was determined the club was at fault in the incident for not looking after Robitaille's safety on the ice and / \ > me 4 for that, they were ordered to pay Robitaille an award in excess of. $456,000. That. money has been tied up by appeals for the past three or four years but all that ended Friday when he was finally given clear title to the money which he will use to set up a general insurance agency. Robitaille will, however, have to wait one month before he will receive the money but that somehow doesn't seem to be very long considering it's been almost four years since the accident. Pros speak to minor hockey kids A special treat for the boys attending Midland Minor Hockey's banquet Thursday night in Midland Centennial Arena was meeting and listening to the two guest speakers lined up for the event. They were Rick Lafeniere, a player with the Colorado Rockies of the National Hockey League and Mark Plantery who played the last half of this past hockey season with the Winnipeg Jets of the NHL. Lafeniere comes originally from North Bay, is 20 years old, 5' 9" and weighs 170 pounds. He played goaltender for Peterborough Petes and the Brantford Alexanders and was a member of the Petes for two Memorial Cup playoff series, the team winning the cup the first year. He was picked as the best goaltender both years in that series and has played on the Major Junior All-star team. Lafeniere was picked third in the goaltender section of the NHL draft and will be on the Rockies' lineup this coming season. The other guest speaker, Mark Plantery was called up to play for the Winnipeg Jets half-way through the season when the team's manpower dropped too low due to injuries. He is 21 years old, is 6' 1"' and weighs 195 pounds and has the distinction to have been the youngest Canadian player to sign a pro baseball contract with the New York Yankees. He later decided to play professional hockey instead. Plantery was the first round draft choice of the Brantford Alexanders in the Major Junior A draft, playing one and a half years in the Central Hockey League before he was called up to play for the Jets. Plantery was the first to speak to the boys and he decided to talk about the sacrifices that must be made to get to the top. He noted kids haven't changed much in the past 10 years and they still have to work if they want to reach the professional level of hockey. Plantery also said the kids had to "pay the price" if they want anything and there was no substitute for hard work. "Anything worth having is worth working for", said Plantery. He also stated that you must be willing to take a check, accept the possibility of an injury, go into corners and many other aspects of the game. Lafeniere then spoke to the kids and the main theme behind his talk was the importance of education. He said, '"'education is the most important thing for you young kids to learn."' Awards time for minor hockey players, top brass Anticipation was in presented, those ac- Memorial Trophy, award last year. night went to Keith Benefit game set There will be a benefit ball hockey game between the _Penetanguishene Girls' Ball Hockey Team and the team from CKVR, May 30, in Penetanguishene Arena. The game will start at 7 p.m. and run until 9 p.m. Senior citizens will be admitted free of charge. the air at the Midland Minor Hockey Banquet held Thursday night in Midland Cen- tennial Arena as the boys waited for the time when trophies would be awarded. Eventually that moment rolled around and the first recipient was Dave Crawford, manager of the major midget rep team as he was awarded the Georgian Bay Cham- pionship plaque which he accepted on behalf of the boys. The team members then received their individual trophies for that win. Next on the agenda was the Globe and Mail Plaque, awarded to the most improved player in the atom house league with guest speaker, Rick Lafeniere presenting that award to Toby Dusome of Midland IGA. Then it was house league championship trophies that were cepted by team coaches and they were: Jim Quesnelle of Bertram's Fuels tykes; Rick Larmand of Olympia Sports novices; Bob Irvine of Midland IGA atoms; Jonathon Fike of Midland Times peewees and Bob McCallum of Meatland bantams. Team members were then awarded their individual trophies. Billy Russell was up next to receive the Roy Perriault Memorial Trophy as donated by A & W, that award going to the most dedicated player in minor bantam hockey, being presented by Jim McConnachie of A&W. Russell played for the Indusmin minor bantam team. The Roy Burke Memorial Trophy was then presented to Craig Leadbetter as the best all-round 11-year old player, that award being presented by Bill Jones, Jr. The Michael Kent donated by Dr. Charles Talbot of Midland, was then presented to Mark Buttineau of Bertram's Fuels tykes as the most dedicated tykes players. The Mike Robitaille Trophy was then given to Jim McLaren, coach of Gervan and Jones Minor Atoms, McLaren receiving that award as the Rep Team Coach of the Year. That trophy was presented by Bob Merkley, OMHA representative for Midland Minor Hockey. Merkley also presented the next award, the George Dudley Trophy, donated by the late Mrs. Jas Caswell which goes to the person who has contributed the most to Midland Minor Hockey in the past year. Wally Hook, treasurer of Midland Minor Hockey was the recipient of that award for the 1980-81 hockey season. -- Merkley received that For House League Coach of the Year, there were two men who proved to be equally valuable to their teams, They were Jim Quesnelle of Bertram's Fuels tykes and Glen Brasseur of the Kin- smen midgets, that award being presented by Mae Newburn, Midland Minor Hockey President. The final award of the Kennedy for his in- volvement in Midland Minor Hockey., .as donated by Midland Minor Hockey and the Ladies' Auxiliary., Kennedy received a special plaque in honour of the hard work he performed this past year in his many capacities as coach, referee and tournament helper. Bulls start official season this weekend Rugger in Midland is just getting underway for Midland Bulls Rugby Club with their first league game being Saturday in Cannington against Brock, that game starting at 1.30 p.m. Bulls completed their pre-season play Sunday in Collingwood where they dropped a 20-4 decision to York Yeoman, their fourth loss of the new season. The club's younger counterparts, the MSS midget rugby team completed their season this past Thursday with a home game, losing 26- 4 to Brockville. It was their fourth loss in a five game season but they did provide their fans with some exciting rugger and showed steady im- provement. Wednesday, May 20, 1981, Page 19