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Wolfpack start October with a win, in Whistler next week After winning one and losing six during the month of September, the Wolfpack appeared to have turned things around with a home win against the Aldergrove Kodiaks Saturday, Oct. 2.

Wolfpack start October with a win, in Whistler next week

After winning one and losing six during the month of September, the Wolfpack appeared to have turned things around with a home win against the Aldergrove Kodiaks Saturday, Oct. 2.

The team's prospects were boosted by the inclusion of three new Junior A players to the lineup, Darcy Rail and Dean Wilson on defence and forward Naeem Bardai.

The Wolfpack netted two goals in the first period and three in the second to take the game 5-3. They were particularly effective on special teams, a sore spot for the Wolfpack this season - they scored on one of four power plays, and managed to kill all seven penalties when Aldergrove had a man advantage.

The Kodiaks were first on the board, but the Wolfpack answered back. Jaret Babych and Ty Babych scored the next two goals, with Whistler's Matt Bonin assisting on Jaret's power play goal at the 11-minute mark.

Trevor Kang scored the Wolfpack's next two goals in the second period, with Naeem Bardai getting on the board as well.

Trevor Kang led the team with two goals and an assist, with Konrad Sander picking up three assists for the Wolfpack.

Coach Matt Samson says October is a make-or-break month for his team, but is happy with how the team has responded.

"We're doing OK," he said. "At this point we're two-and-five. I think we should probably be four-and-three. I know you can always say that as a coach, but there were a couple of games we should have had for sure. We had a tight game on the road with South Delta, which we lost by a goal, but that happens. Then we came home and didn't really get a good goaltending performance against Ridge Meadows. Those were games that could have gone our way."

Samson says the play of special teams on Saturday was particularly good. "Special teams are big in our league, and you have to be good at those if you want to win games," he said.

He also gave high marks to Bonin's performance in his first year at the Junior B level.

"He's playing well," said Samson. "He's starting to see the puck and the net more and get more chances on offence, but he's also one of our more reliable centres defensively. I think the points should come for him - I know he'd like more by this point, but it's not a lack of trying or skill."

Squamish hosts the Abbotsford Pilots this Saturday at Brennan Park, a team that is currently leading the Harold Brittain Conference of the PIJHL. Squamish is ranked last in the Tom Shaw Conference. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m.

On Monday, Oct. 11 the Wolfpack will host the Port Moody Black Panthers in Whistler, and they're inviting the whole community to come out and see what Junior B hockey is all about.

The Wolfpack have not played the Panthers yet this season, but Samson says it will be a tough game. "They have a new coach and some pretty talented kids on that team - they picked up a good defenceman on trade recently and their goaltendng is pretty good. But we always have good games against them, and I think it's a beatable team. Everybody is excited to play up in Whistler as always."

The game starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available at the door. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Kids under 6 are free.

 

Cross-country early bird passes on sale

With the cold and snowy Callaghan Valley wide open to skinny skiers, the cross-country season in Whistler is longer than ever, typically starting sometime in November and then ending around late April or early May.

After last season Whistler Olympic Park and Callaghan Country entered into an agreement that opens up both areas to pass holders, under the "Ski Callaghan" name. As well, Ski Callaghan and the Resort Municipality of Whistler will be offering a Dual Area pass that gives skiers access to the Lost Lake area, although you can also purchase a pass for Lost Lake independently.

Early bird pricing is in effect until Nov. 15.

For a Ski Callaghan pass, it's $225 for adults, $135 for youth 13 to 18, $113 for children 6 to 12. Family passes are $450, which includes two adults and up to two children. Day ticket prices are also posted for the season, and are posted at www.whistlerolympicpark.com.

For Lost Lake, early bird passes are $224 for adults, $135 for youth, $112 for children and $448 for family.

The best value, which gives skinny skiers access to over 120 km of groomed trails in Lost Lake and the Callaghan, is the Dual Area pass. These are priced at $339 for adults, $205 for youth, $168 for children, and $678 for families, or about 50 per cent higher than a pass for one area.

Passes are available at Meadow Park or you can download an application form at www.whistlerolympicpark.com and send it in by e-mail or fax. You can also purchase a pass over the phone at 604-964-0060.

 

 

Zink takes freeride tour title with Red Bull win

The annual Red Bull Rampage took place outside of Virgin, Utah on the weekend, with Nevada's Cameron Zink earning the win and the first ever Freeride Mountain Bike (FMB) World Tour championship title.

Zink also won the Monster Energy Slopestyle title at Crankworx in early August - his first major win in five years since he won at Crankworx in 2006. He was injured the following season, re-injured the year after that, and has spent most of the last few years on the sidelines.

By winning the Rampage, Zink also became the only freerider to win both Crankworx and Red Bull events in a season.

Whistler's Brandon Semenuk was leading the FMB rankings until Crankworx, where he was injured after under-rotating on a backflip off the bottom air.

Even though he missed Red Bull, Semenuk finished the series with 2,932.5 points, just under 16 points back of Zink. Fellow B.C. rider Darren Berrecloth placed third in the rankings with 2,626. Berrecloth was also injured at Crankworx, but made it to Utah where he placed third behind U.K. racer Gee Atherton.

Other Canadians in the top 10 in Utah include Geoff Gulevich in fifth place, Thomas Vanderham sixth, Robbie Bourdon seventh and Kurt Sorge 10th.

 

Segger at AR

Squamish adventure racer Jen Segger headed to Spain last week for the Adventure Race World Championships, joining Team Cyanosis from South Africa. Segger previously raced with the team in 2008 at The Bull of Africa adventure race, and was invited to join the team at the worlds this year.

The event is the Raid Bimbache, which got underway on Sunday at 8 a.m.

The course is brutal, with 22 checkpoints from start to finish and 720 km of terrain. Racers will gain and lose 20,768 vertical metres (over 68,000 feet) along the way, with sections for orienteering, mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, running, climbing/ropes, inline skating and other special challenges. Segger will update her race blog at http://challenge-by-choice.blogspot.com when she reaches the finish line, which will hopefully be before Pique goes to print Wednesday evening. You can follow the race live at www.sleepmonsters.com.

 

For the Record

In last week's coverage of the BMX races in Squamish, Pique was not sent the complete results, which included several Whistler riders.

On Saturday, in the 17 to 20 Cruiser category Nick Geddes placed first.

In 36 to 40 Cruiser, Marty Gautrey and Brian Finestone were fourth and fifth.

Mason Gautrey was first in 6 Novice.

Finn Finestone and Lukas McLaughlin were third and fourth in 7 Intermediate.

Xander Geddes was first in 15 Intermediate.

In the finals on Sunday Brian Finestone and Marty Gautrey were fourth and fifth in 36 to 40 Cruiser.

Finn Finestone was second and Lukas McLaughlin fifth in 7 Intermediate.