March 23, 1997

Ottawans show warm support for our cold-weather visitors

By DON BRENNAN
Ottawa Sun    Dawson City Nugget players walking the streets of downtown Ottawa Friday were pleasantly surprised at the number of those passing by who either honked or voiced their support for the Klondikers.
   Brad Marsh experienced a similar feeling yesterday.
   "I was just in Beaver Lumber and a couple of customers wished me good luck in the game," said the captain of the Senators Alumni team. "It was kind of neat. I haven't heard that since I was in the NHL."
   Certainly, nothing could be more `Canadian' than a group of Klondikers trudging their way across the country -- five hours of snowmobiling or dog sledding and five more hours setting up and taking down camp per day before reaching the ferry that took them to their last mode of transportation, a cross-country train -- to try and avenge the shellacking received by another Dawson City team in the nation's capital 92 years ago.
   While oldtimer rules (no slapshots, no contact) will be in effect, both teams will do whatever else they can to win.
   "These guys didn't come all this way to play a fun game," said Marsh. "It's going to be competitive right to the end."
   The Alumni will hold a distinct advantage in size over its opponents and, with Laurie Boschman, will also have the game's best player. His biggest challenge could be to see if he can match the 14-goal output of Ottawa's One-Eyed Frank McGee the last time the Nuggets were in town.
   The visitors' top scoring threats are Dale Kulych, Freddy Farr, Mike Frazier and John Flynn.
   "We usually try a lot of tight, aggressive forechecking," said Nugget Pat Hogan. "We've got four lines, so hopefully we'll go hard and keep the shifts short."
   Marsh says the Alumni don't have a set power play.
   "The next five guys up are the power play," he said. "There will be equal ice time for everybody."
   At least 50 fans from the Yukon have made the trip to Ottawa to catch the action this afternoon. Game time, at the Corel Centre, is 2 p.m.

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