UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Wednesday, January 15, 1997
7A
Champion Canadian hockey coach damaging to sport's beloved image
Sex allegations in hockey league concern families
The Associated Press
TORONTO — While scandals have tainted other sports, Canadians clung to a belief that youth hockey remained pure.
Thousands of youngsters play in fiercely competitive leagues nationwide, with many of the better athletes living away from home. Problems tended to be overlooked as youngsters and parents pursued dreams of someday making it to the pros.
Those utopian dreams changed with revelations that the admired coach of a championship team sexually abused his players for years. Now, parents, coaches and administrators are re-examining how kids should learn to play the game that is Canada's pride and joy.
"We were somewhat naive to think this couldn't happen to us," said Murray Costello, president of the Canadian Hockey Association. "This has been a wake-up call."
He was referring to the case of Graham James, who was sentenced Jan. 2 to 3 1/2 years in jail after
pleading guilty to sexually abusing two of his players during a 12-year span beginning in 1982. One of the victims, Boston Bruins forward Sheldon Kennedy, spoke out in painful detail about his ordeal.
Since James' conviction, sexual abuse in hockey has been the dominant topic in Canada, and allegations of abuse on other teams have surfaced as well.
"All of Canadian society are victims of such an abuse of trust," Judge James Maloney said when he sentenced James. "The shock of these events to the hockey public is devastating."
Amateur hockey officials are hurriedly drafting plans requiring background checks on coaches. Parents are now questioning their children about how they have been treated. Don Cherry, Canada's most flamboyant hockey commentator, declared on national television that James should be drawn and quartered.
The incident has focused attention on long-standing practices in Canadian hockey leagues for the best young players. Many of these players must live away from home while pursuing a shot at a professional career.
"I can see why it happened," Nick Beynton, 17, a player on the topranked Ottawa 67s, was quoted by the Toronto Globe and Mail newspa-
somewhat naive to think this
"Wewere
couldn't happen to
us."
Murray Costello
President, Canadian Hockey Association
per about the power of coaches. "The coach holds all the cards if the kid will do anything to make it to the NHL," he said.
Kennedy said he didn't tell his teammates about the abuse for fear they would conclude he was gay. He didn't tell his mother for fear she would take him off the team.
Even at its best, junior hockey in Canada can be grueling, high-pressured and violent. Rookies often undergo harsh hazing, many players have trouble qualifying for college and only about 5 percent of the players ever make it to the National Hockey League.
Sandra Kirby, a University of Winnipeg sociologist who is writing a book about sexual harassment in
sports, says parents must become more active participants in their children's athletic activities, especially in a supposedly macho sport like hockey.
"Children simply can't do it for themselves," she said. "They don't know which way to turn. So if nobody speaks out on their behalf, nothing happens."
He conceded that mandatory background checks for coaches might deter some qualified people from volunteering. He also acknowledged that a background check wouldn't have kept James from coaching because he had no previous criminal record.
"We need to send a message to predators — if they're looking for a safe haven in hockey, they're not going to find it," Costello said.
Costello urges parents to remain alert to potential problems. He said leagues should try to ensure that there is more than one adult with a team at all times.
In Swift Current, Saskatchewan,
where the Broncos won a national title under James in 1993, one mother said she had to explain the case to her 9-year-old, who plays hockey, after he overheard his parents discussing it.
"His mouth just dropped," Michele Wiebe said. "To him, a hockey coach is someone you look up to, not someone you have to watch out for."
Parking in the rear
The Associated Press
CHICAGO — Sweeping along on powerful — and brutally cold — jet stream winds, millionaire adventurer Steve Fosset headed across the Atlantic yesterday on his quest to become the first balloonist to circle the Earth nonstop.
Balloonist in hopes of breaking world record leaves St. Louis for his globe-circling mission
The 52-year-old Fossett, who lifted off from Busch Stadium in St. Louis Monday night, was 20 miles off North Carolina by early afternoon and said all was well despite overnight problems with one of two heaters.
"The heater went down for a little bit, but it went back up," said Bo Kemper, project manager of the flight. "Steve is fine. He seems very upbeat. The weather looks promising to Portugal and Spain."
To succeed in his one-man mission, the soft spoken Chicago securities dealer must spend 15 to 18 days in his chilly Solo Spirit capsule just 4 feet wide and less than 6 feet high. Temperatures of 40 degrees were expected inside the capsule and 50 below outside.
There has been some concern because Fossett had not yet received permission to cross Russian airspace.
The plans had called for Fossett to head north across the Atlantic to Scandinavia. Under the revised route, he will reach Portugal or Spain on Friday, then turn north to France and east toward Denmark, cross Poland and Belarus and reach the Russian border on Saturday.
"We are working very closely with the U.S. State Department and the
As the balloon sailed along at 50 mph, 18,000 feet above the North Carolina hills, a plane carrying a crew from ABC's Nightline circled it, and Fossett answered questions by radio from Ted Koppel in Washington.
Fossett also used a computer in his bright yellow capsule to contact his ground support team at Chicago's Loyola University. The team tracks him via a signal that is emitted by the capsule hourly and relayed by satellite.
Balloon teams headed by British tycoon Richard Branson and Swiss psychiatrist Dr. Bertrand Piccard failed in efforts earlier this month to set one of the last great remaining records in aviation. Branson was on hand in the snow-covered stadium to watch as Fossett's 150-foot, silver-colored balloon ascended into the black winter sky.
Russian Embassy," Kemper said. "This is an educational flight and, as such, a good thing for both of our countries."
A year ago, Fossett made it from Rapid City, S.D., to New Brunswick, Canada, before technical problems forced him down. He set the world distance ballooning record of 5,435 miles in 1995 on a flight that began in South Korea and ended in a field in Canada.
Fossett said before liftoff that he hopes to snatch four hours of sleep a night, usually an hour at a time. While sleeping, he will trust automated sensors to fire the burners that heat air in the lower portion of the balloon when nighttime cold robs helium in the upper portion of buoyancy.
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Intramural Basketball Managers Meeting
attendance required to compete in the league
Sun. Jan. 19 7:00 PM in 115 Robinson
the
$25 entry fee Play begins Jan. 27
For more information, call 864-3546 or stop by 208 Robinson
Beginning and Intermediate Knitting Classes Starting Soon!
Beginning Knitting: Learn by making a sweater! $25.00 for 8 weeks. 20% off class yarns.
Jan.23 (Thurs.) 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Jan.23 (Sat.) 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Jan. 25 (Sat) 9:30-11:30 a.m.
March 17 (Mon) 7-9 p.m.
Complete schedule of all classes available at Yarn Barn. Classes in knitting, weaving, spinning, tatting, & rug braiding 842-4333
March 17 (Mon) 7-9 p.m.
April 3 (Thurs.) 7-9 p.m.
918 Mass. St. YARN BARN 842-4333
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"This class is designed as a
This class is designed as a condensed version of the class I teach in the Fall semester. This is a special opportunity for students to examine issues of sexuality and
Wednesday's:
Hot Snack:
Salad Bar
$2.00 a lb.
condensed version of the class I teach in the Fall semester. This is a special opportunity for students to examine issues of sexuality and relationship as a part of their University experience. I appreciate the willingness of ECM, Canterbury (ELCA), Lutheran and other groups to sponsor this opportunity for any KU student who might be interested and have not taken my regular class because they are leaving the University this May or just haven't been able to fit it
-Dennis Dalley Professor of Social Welfare, KU
Human Sexuality in Everyday Life
KU Students - $35.00
Non-Students - $45.00
For More Information Call 843-4933
with Dr. Dennis Dailey
beginning Jan. 15 (10 sessions) at the ECM Center
Sponsored by Ecumenical Church Ministries at KU (Pastoralist, United Church of Churches of the Benedictine Denominations), Lutheran School Ministry (ELCA), Cumberland House (Episcopal)
Registration 10am to 4pm at ECM Center
wednesdays 8.50-8.30pm
beginning Jan. 15 (10 sessions)
Spring Semester '97 - No Credit
Wednesday, 6:30-8:30pm
at the ECM Center
DECIDING YOUR VOCATION AND CAREER Thursdays, 5:15-7:00 PM ECM Center - 1 block North of KS Union
UNIQUE SPRING BREAK TO NEW MEXICO Volunteer in villages - hiking An intercultural experience Questions? Call ECM 843-4933
UNIVERSITY FORUM - SPRING 1997
12:00-1:00 on Wednesdays
January 15
January 22
The History of the University of Kansas
Rebecca at the Well-Finding Fresh Water for Haiti
January 29
Homeless in
Lawrence:A
Steve Jansen of Douglas County Museum
Panel Discussion
February 5
Glen Paden United Methodist Volunteer
Peru: Amazon to the Andes (slide presentation)
Hilda Enoch, Lisa Blair, ad hoc advocacy group
Roger Boyd Prof Biology, Baker University