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economist suntribune sports thursday sept 19 2002 33 oha adopts fast faceoff rule marathon junior a games could end sooner with leagues mandate to speed upplay you could arrive home in time to watch the 10 pm news if you attend tonights stouffville spirit game the ontario hockey association adopted the fast faceoff rule this sea son to speed up games in its member leagues the rule which limits time before faceoffs was showcased at the salt lake city olympics the different sets of linesmen seem to be dealing with it differently so far said ken burrows general manager of the spirit which plays in the ohas provincial junior a hockey league but its designed to speed up play and get everyone home quicker and it seems to be working its also cutting down on all the extracurricular stuff after whisdes and thats good for the game too bottom line if youre pushing or yapping at an opponent during a stoppage you could get caught with your hockey pants down and the puck already dropped after a stop in play the visiting team has five sec onds to change fol lowed by eight seconds for the home team after the home team has changed the referee blows the whistle and drops the puck five seconds later in the midwestern junior b hockey league games averaged two hours and 32 minutes last year in the preseason of the kitchener- based loop game times were reduced thanks to the fast faceoff with the shortest clocked at an hour and 47 minutes the unbeaten spirit 2000 hosts the newmarket hurricanes tonight at 730 at the stouffville arena newmarket lost its only game of the season 42 in couchiching last friday the spirit has not experienced the other major rule change thanks to wins of 61 over collingwood and 82 over huntsville last week in overtime teams will play four- orifour get a penalty and youll play three on four take a second penalty and youll play three on five spirited notes houston ford of stouffville will host meet the spirit night on wednesday from 630 to 8 pm at the dealership 5786 main st the event includes a free barbecue autographs from the players and door prizes including toronto maple leaf tickets and a spirit seasons pass stouffville minor hockey players and local elementary schoolstudents and their families are especially invited staff photomike barrett the great escape team 10s gary morton left slips past team one shortstop mike rankin during the monday night mens baseball league yearend tournament at memorial park on saturday stouffvilles burlton shooting for olympic pentathlon every competition makes me work harder im never totally satisfied by jim thomas correspondent the womens pentathlon considered one of the most challenging activities in the world has one of the sporting worlds keenest competitors shes 21 yearold bonnie burlton a riding instructor at pause awhile equestrian centre in whitchurchstouffville next month burlton leaves for rio de janeiro brazil hoping to qualify for the 2003 pan american games in the dominican republic whatever the result burlton wont be dis appointed she considers each level of competition another step up the ladder towards a team spot in the olympics if not in athens greece 2004 then bonnie burlton stouffville pen- tathlete is confident she can qualify for 2003 pan american games bejing china in 2008 im 100 per cent sure of making it to bejing says the vibrant york university grad im already learning chinese the pentathlon is really five sports in one including shoot ing fencing swimming riding and running burltons strong point as one might expect is riding thats my passion she says through continuous prac tise shes brushing up on her swimming working out at the lebovic indoor pool every morning unlike most athletes who gain a level of excellence gradu ally burltons living out a dream its been my goal since age 7 she says every competition makes me work harder im never totally satisfied satisfied or not burlton has met all challenges headon first in mexico city then vancouver followed by spiez switzerland and berlin it was while in mexico city burlton met dawn watson then the canadian pentathlon cham pion watson took burlton under her wing and they became close friends as long assyoiire dedicated dawnll give you 100 per cent burlton claims sec burlton page 34 grant a big boost to speed skaters club plans new skates training clinic and improved coaching by mike hayakawa staff writer when the markham speed skating club takes to the ice this season they will do so with renewed vigor this past spring the club received welcome news when the provincial government announced it would be the recipient of a 35000 ontario trillium foundation grant this marks the first time in the clubs 10year history that it earned the grant which is is awarded to charitable and notforprofit organi zations in ontario communities roger buxton a club spokesper son who started the grant proposal rolling last winter revealed the money would be put to good use in several areas weve been around 10 years and there are some newer clubs than us that get a couple of hours of ice time a week among them he said was to buy up to protective mats and 40 pairs of skates for youngsters upgrading coaching qualifications a training clinic and the purchase of some smaller equipment the club receives the grant during its open house saturday from 1 to 3 pm at mount joy arena hwy 48 and 16th avenue this is a free opportunity for anyone to try this exciting sport said buxton everyone is welcome we pro vide the skates and instruction you bring a helmet and gloves and wear comfortable clothes that include long sleeves and pants another purpose for the open house he said is to encourage more youngsters to try the sport and to enhance their onice performances buxton hopes a good turnout at the open house will help the town of markham realize the club needs more ice time currently the club has an hour of ice a week on fridays at mount joy arena weve been around 10 years and there are some newer clubs than us that get a couple of hours a week the club which attracts members from whitchurchstouffville and other parts of york region begins its season oct 4 at mount joy arena at 8 pm for further information on the club log on to warkhamspeedskatingorg or call buxton at 190547ja33bflarrherinwat41642e 701 1 during day hours