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“She made it easier when she pointed out I was around the rink five nights a week anyway. I might as we]! have the headaches that go with being a coach." That‘s what I asked him the other day. Ken thought for a moment and then blamed his wife. Why am I going on like this? Simply because I've been acquainted with Ken for the past nine years since he started out as a "stats" man, was later trainer and assistant coach, with the fledgling Rams’ Junior C’s of those days. He always appeared to be a rational fellow, has lived in Rich~ mond Hill for 15 years, has two daughters named Jackie, 15; Carolyn. l4; and wife‘Carol. Nice pool Also has a nice house, swimming pool, and a new car. Now why would he want to become a hockey coach, a coach period? Especially in these uncertain times I guess I should explain. Ken was named coach of the Richmond Hill Provincial Junior A hockey Rams last week. He replaced the deposed Mr. Brimblecombe. Those other fellows are coaches, too. He‘s joined the ranks of other such hockey types as Carl Brim- blecombe, Pete Artemchuk, Ralph Beer, and you could go on forever. The new season is showing an in son By 80b Thomp creased interest in the hurdle events Richmond Hill and Thornhill high with Bayviewl,Thornhilliangsteff and school track and field athletes are St- R0178?“ fielding a 300d calibre of resently hard at work preparing for COI’f‘PetitQI‘S- . Fm 1977 run, jump and throw 59350". ’lhornhlll Secondary School, as lS I think it would be only proper to call a one minute’s silence at this point. We’ve lost Ken “Satch” Brookes. Too bad. He was a nice fellow, had lots of promise. Ken Brookes ..Rams coach sports am: Iilm'al Meet the coach Wednesday, May 4, 1977 Classified As for talent? Who knows? It’s still way too early in 1977 to know about that. But I‘ve got a feeling the Rams will be in the running under Mr. Brookes the same as they were under Brimblecombe. Former coach Brimblecombe, now with the Aurora Tigers, always had a way of getting the most out of his players. He‘s had a good student in Ken who should be as good or, maybe. even better at doing this. Despite his lack of actual coaching eXperience, I don‘t think there are too many more knowledgeable fellows around as far as the basics of hockey is concerned. Personally, I think the Rams’ management made an excellent chgice _in gaging Ken. “I’m quite sure I‘ll get along with the players," he said. “There’ll be certain rules to follow and that’s that. One thing, though, any rules will be clearly explained to them at the start of the season. I don't believe in changing things or rules midway. That's what confuses people." No Ken This could turn out to be one of Ken‘s problems. Coach Ken won‘t have trainer Ken to refer to at the other end of the bench next season. “Of course,” he acknowledges, “it‘s a new ball game. As a trainer and assistant coach I felt it was my job to act as a sort of buffer bet- ween them and the coach. Sometimes he could get to them through me." Ken has élways had a great rapport with the players as a trainer and he‘s counting on it to continue as head coach. He‘ll stress top conditioning with his players, as did Brimblecombe, "because a player in better con- dition can beat a more talented one in the final period. You hope to have both but conditioning is a must." “That‘s impossible to answer right now except in general terms.” he said. “But I've always admired coach Brimblecombe and, naturally, I've picked upsome of his methods." Hockey bug Ken admits he’s had the ‘hockey bug’ the past nine years with the Rams. “I‘ve always had it in the back of my mind to take a fling at coaching. It's a challenge.” What kind of a coach“ will he be with the Rams? fred Simpson Section B the pack in pre-season workouf in preparation for another busy track season. MacDonald is Thomlea secondary school‘s Graham Mac- Donald 7( far right) turns on the speed as he leads Hey, watch where you land. Carrie Collett of Thornlea secondary school literally hurdles her way into new high school track season. Local sprint talent is at a low ebb with the departure of Eleanor Mahal of Markham and Liz Srebrnjak of Woodbridge although the first year midget competitors always seem to come up with a surprise or two each year. Juniors Patsy McLean, Joan Hon- sburger, Ann Smith, and Andy Jackson are also expected to shine. The middle distances will have OFSAA finalist Doug Brown and Tony Bryan sligyging well. traditional, will field a strong group of hurdle competitors. Coach Keith Hon-um oozes en- thusiasm for midgets Lisa Bates and Vivian Wood. Premier on the hurdles is Mary Ann Ball of Langstaff who has consistently achieved Ontario finalist ranking and should repeat again this year. i‘hornhill's greatest strong is with the midget bracket with a surprise perhaps in the 100 metre relay. comes Carrie Maha/ gone Here (Photo by Hoggy Heading for home Fifty athletes have been training daily under the watchful eyes of six volunteer staff members and coach Gerry Brand. The junior team will be headed by Sakai Vreind, hurdles, and Sandra MacDonald, high jump, while Joan But his enthusiasm for the senior and junior distance runners is hard to conceal. The team trains every day with 50 athletes attending practice. The orange and browu colors of St. Roberts Catholic School will be making a first-time appearance in local high school track and field competition. Like most coaches in the south zone, Ross Balantyne has adopted a “wait and see“ attitude concerning the Thornlea athletes. Midget Kirk Dickson and junior Nancy Davidson could surprise in the 400 metres. Other 'I‘hornlea athletes who will be difficult to dislodge from future com- petition are seniors Jim Vetere, 200, Dennis Limoges, shot put, and Terry McLelland, 400. Sue French also insures that the purple and white colors will be prgrninenl at the Georgian Bay finals. Showing-good early season form are Steve Charles, 1500, Martin Stringer, 3,000. and Richard Thompson, 1500. ’I‘hornlea has high hopes riding on the strong legs of its 1500 and 3,000 metre runners led by OFSAA finalist Graham MacDonald. junior Peter McClelland, also an OFSAA finalist returnee. Twenty-six dedicated athletes train {our days per week with the most potential being shown by the distance track competitors. Coach Gerry Boguski considers that four or five of his athletes will advance past the Georgian Bay competition. He also feels confident that the red, black and white colors of Bayview will still be around come Ontario finalist time. Bayview is currently rebuilding track and field interest among the area’s largest student enrolment. Seniors Cheryl Paxton and Leslie Rogers are back, both OFSAA representatives in discus and high jump. Junior Jane 'l‘oporowski returns for discus and shot put. The hurdle duo of Darlene Christie and Jamie Willock are expected to do well as should senior Steve Vent in the sprints. The girls field events are generously sprinkled with the green and white of Righmond Hill High. Middle distance runners will have to contend with the Neufeld sisters of Markham. both Ontario champions at 800 metres. The boys face the unhappy prospect of meeting Barrie’s Mike Forgrave and Thomhill’s Doug Brown. The long distance athletes stand a good chance to join Thornlea‘s Graham MacDonald and Peter McLelland at this year‘s finals. Bayview Secondary will field its usual strong team to battle with Thomlea for local supremacy. St. Robert's school is high on Saskai Vreind. a junior, and Ball of Langstaff will probably repeat as the 200 metre representative. In the field events Dennis Limoges of ’I'hornlea appears to stand alone in the senior boys shot put while the midget boys could hold a couple of surprises from Richmond Hill High and St. Roberts. MacDonald tops St. Robert’s Long distance Hurdles Girls -mn. v v...“ - vivvnlvnnu. expected to be a standout again in distance running with the potential to rack up a sham. All high schools in the southern zone pionship, have commenced outdoor training in anticipation of these competitions, Steve Sherman of Thornlea turns temporary flyer here as he executes a running broad jump Coach Brand has expressed surprise at the lack of enthusiasm exhibited by this year’s grade nine students but still feels his athletes will provide a few surprises in local track and field. Best of a strong midget team appears to be Vivian Rutledge, hurdles, Karen Stuart, 100. Dave Matys. hurdles, and Norm Murphy. 800. Barton, shot put and discus, and Louis Ledinek, hurdles, could also record victories. The oldest high school in the area, Richmond Hill High will field a team built on strength generated by their girl field competitors. Seniors’Cheryl Paxton, discus. and Leslie Rogers. high jump; juniors Jane Girls strong Wheeeeee! The schedule for 19W starts May 12 with the south zone elimination meet at Thornlea Secondary School. The following Thursday the York Regional championships are scheduled at Etobicoke Stadium. Subsequent weekends will see the OFSAA semi finals in Brantford May 28 and the Ontario finals on the following June 3 and 4 weekend. This will be followed by the Georgian Bay championships in Parry Sound the next Tuesday. This will be held in Brantford May 28. Purpose of the additional competition is to reduce the number of athletes competing in the Ontario finals. Last year’s discus final, for example, saw 38 girls qualifying for competition. This will be reduced to 12 this season. in past years, winners at the Georgian Bay Outdoor championships advanced directly to the Ontario finals. In 1977 there is a further qualifying meet after the Georgian Bay com- petitions. The series of qualifying meets decide the final entries in the Ontario finals to be held in Sudbury this year. RICHMOND HILL â€" An additional qualifying competition has been added to the 1977 area high school track and field competitions for York South. move during practice workouts last week. Oh by the way, he did land eventually. Busy In 1977 we can look for an increase in these numbers as the schools com- mence their specialized training programs. Coach Jim Muir has 30 athletes training Tuesday and Thursday af- ternoons to carry the green and white colors of RHHS to victory. In 1976 the south zone schools in our area qualified 11 boys and 11 girls to the Ontario finals. Midget Dan Henderson, discus, and senior Leslie McGregor, sprints. show promise of also making the final trip to Sudbury. Toporowski. discus and shot put, and Lynn Whittingham. discus, are four Ontario finalists returning for another year. By Bob Thompson (Photo by H099)