CANADIAN TEAM FINDS TREATS IN THE SOUTHLAND.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News The Grand Forks Border Bruins The Grand Forks Boder Bruins are a Canadian 'B' Junior ice hockey team from Grand Forks, British Columbia. They play in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. embarked on their 1,500-mile bus ride back to British Columbia British Columbia, province (2001 pop. 3,907,738), 366,255 sq mi (948,600 sq km), including 6,976 sq mi (18,068 sq km) of water surface, W Canada. Geography on Sunday night Sunday Night, later named Michelob Presents Night Music, was an NBC late-night television show which aired for two seasons between 1988 and 1990 as a showcase for jazz and eclectic musical artists. with fond memories of their visit to Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . The Ventura Mariners were left with bumps and bruises after dropping two of three games against the hard-hitting Bruins over the weekend at the Easy Street Arena. Ventura opened the series with a 3-2 victory Friday night before suffering 6-2 and 9-1 defeats on Saturday and Sunday. ``The Canadian game is bump and grind and go to the net,'' Ventura defenseman Scott Bennett said. ``We're a finesse team with a lot of speed. I think it opened some of our guys' eyes who weren't used to the rough kind of hitting.'' Grand Forks Grand Forks, city (1990 pop. 49,425), seat of Grand Forks co., E N.Dak., at the confluence of the Red and the Red Lake rivers; inc. 1881. In a spring wheat, livestock, and farm area, the city has grain elevators, state-operated flour mills, and plants that process had a difficult transition of its own for Friday night's opening match after arriving in Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. only hours before the contest - after a 30-hour bus ride. ``It was a long ride, but when we got to within an hour of Ventura, everybody was excited to get going,'' Grand Forks forward Wayne Cleavar said. ``We didn't have time to shower. We showed up at the rink, put our gear on and played hockey. We were tired but you don't want to drive all that way and come here and lose.'' The Bruins, who left British Columbia where temperatures had fallen as low as 20 degrees below zero last week and skipped their all-star weekend to play the Mariners, didn't want to let an opportunity to enjoy the Southern California sunshine slip away either. On Saturday, the team took a dip at a Malibu beach Malibu Beach (măl`ĭb  ), resort and residential area (1990 est. pop. 10,000), S Calif., W of Los Angeles and near Santa Monica. ; a tour of Hollywood, including a stop to see the stars on the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard For uses other than the original street, see Hollywood Boulevard (disambiguation).Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest to Vermont Avenue, where it straightens out and Mann's Chinese Theater; as well as a visit to Rodeo Drive Rodeo Drive (IPA: /roʊˈdeɪoʊ/) generally refers to a famous three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops in Beverly Hills, California, United States, although the street stretches further north and south. in Beverly Hills. ``There were people in jeans and sweaters, but we were sweating walking around in shorts and T-shirts,'' Bruin center Yanik Gagne said. ``It was a big change in the weather. Where we're from, there aren't any waves. It was awesome.'' A casual atmosphere was also prevalent during the series, marking the first time a Western States Hockey League team had played host to a Canadian team. After Sunday's game, the players socialized so·cial·ize v. so·cial·ized, so·cial·iz·ing, so·cial·iz·es v.tr. 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make fit for companionship with others; make sociable. over a postgame brunch. The teams also exchanged gifts before Saturday's night's game. Ventura presented the Bruins with a Mariner T-shirt and dog tag. Their Canadian counterparts brought Grand Forks Bruin banners and commemorative pins to trade. ``During play, it's like you're really going at it with them, but when it's all over, we shook hands and everyone was really friendly,'' Bennett said. Mariners team captain Keoni Huegli believes the Mariners might have taken their hospitality a little bit too far during Saturday and Sunday's matches. ``We were up for the first game and played 110 percent,'' Huegli said. ``It showed in the result. In the second and third game, it was weird. It seemed like these guys were our friends on the ice. That's what really killed us.'' Injuries and illness didn't help. The Mariners had only three defensemen available for the final two games and suited up only 14 players on their 23-player roster for Sunday's contest. Forwards Jason Slinger and David Perry and defenseman Lubosh Digrin did not play because of knee and back injuries. Forward Buddy Bothwell had a goal and an assist in Friday's victory but was sidelined for the rest of the series with an elbow injury. Still, it's hard to say how the Mariners would have fared at full strength against the Bruins (23-14-1), a junior team (age 20 and under) which finished second in the Neil Murdoch division of the Kootney International Junior Hockey League last season. ``They're a gritty team, and they are so well-balanced,'' said Huegli, who played a year of midget hockey in Ottawa. ``A lot of guys grew up playing pond hockey and had skates on when they were 3 and 4 years old. Hockey is their sport: It would be like us going up there and playing them in basketball.'' Ventura, taking a break from WSHL WSHL Western States Hockey League play after taking over first place with a three-game sweep of the Utah Grizzlies to improve to 17-3, will have the rest of the week to regroup re·group v. re·grouped, re·group·ing, re·groups v.tr. To arrange in a new grouping. v.intr. 1. To come back together in a tactical formation, as after a dispersal in a retreat. before resuming league play with road games against the Southern California Bombers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Mariners return to the Easy Street Arena Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 against the L.A. Prostars. ``We've been used to playing teams whose skill level isn't quite as high,'' Bennett said. ``In the long run, I think this experience will be good for the team.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1--Ran in Conejo and Simi) Chris Austen of the Grand Forks Border Bruins, No. 8, tries to steal the puck from Juan Gestelum. (2--Ran in Conejo and Simi) Sam Ross of the Bruins, No. 21, is involved in a pushing match with Micah Wouters of the Mariners. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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