Tuesday, March 11, 1997

Alumni itchin' for action

Hey Earl, your team's time is coming   Sens alumni Jean Payette, Fred Barrett and Brad Marsh chuckle during a practice at our man "Arctic Earl" McRae's bold prediction that his travel partners, the Dawson City Nuggets, will thump Ottawa. PAGE 3

  The Ottawa Senators Alumni aren't just sitting around waiting for the Dawson City Nuggets to roll into town.
  The local boys were working up a sweat last night on the ice at the Kanata Recreation Complex while their Yukon rivals were sailing down the B.C. coast in their cross-country trek to the nation's capital.
  Brad Marsh, one of the team's defencemen, has been looking forward to playing the Nuggets ever since he got wind of the team's project a couple of years ago.
  "I think what makes it extra special is just the way these crazy Klondikes are getting here," said Marsh. "It's more than a game. It's an event."
  Marsh said a team travelling to Ottawa by dogsled, snowmobile, ferry and train obviously has grit. He expects that grit to be reflected in their play when they take to the ice at the Corel Centre.
  "I think it will be a challenge at the beginning (of the game) because these guys are like kids at Christmas time," said Marsh.
  Larry Skinner, alumni centre and ex-Colorado Rockies player who now works for the Sun, said after yesterday's practice his team will be ready to take on their contenders.
  The Nuggets will play the alumni on March 23, recreating the 1905 game when the Dawson team challenged the Stanley Cup champion Ottawa Silver Seven.
  The winner of the March 23 game takes home $25,000 in Yukon gold to donate to the Special Olympics. Tickets are $9.25 for adults and $2 for children. They're available at the Corel Centre and through Ticketmaster.