8 THE DAILY VOICE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014 EDITOR KENDRA WONG SS poris Ladner man hits the big leagues B.C. native Tom Robson is starting pitcher for a Blue Jays affiliate team in Michigan this Thursday By GRAHAM MCFIE in the baseball world as starting pitcher for the Michigan Lansing Lugnuts’ exhibition game opener this Thursday, but the B.C. native continues to take lessons from baseball’s local teams to help him. The Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team in Michigan and an affiliate team of the Toronto Blue Jays. Robson arrived in Lansing last Sun- day and is preparing for the upcoming season. However, before playing for the Lug- nuts, Robson played for the Vancouver Canadians, an experience that meant a lot to the Ladner resident. “Tm from Vancouver, so when I got to play on that field it was pretty amaz- ing,” said Robson. “Growing up watch- ing that team play and then to finally play on that field with the Canadians was a real special opportunity. I loved it.” Rob Fai, director of communications and broadcasting for the Vancouver Canadians, described the pitcher’s ar- rival as “a perfect storm for Tom.” “He came into Vancouver, was imme- diately a media magnet because he was a hometown kid, and then he lived up to all the hype,” Fai said. During the off-season, Robson was busy with practice, but also remained a familiar face within the community. Robson participated in the Rogers Santa Claus Parade and visited chil- dren at Canuck Place. “Being from Vancouver, I want to do all that I can. I love going out there and showing my face and doing whatever I can to help out,” Robson said. “It’s im- portant to show your support for the city.” Robson was the first Canadian to be drafted in 2011, going in the fourth round, 139th overall to the Toronto Blue Jays. T": Robson is moving his way up < * _ ee Underwater hockey involves masks, snorkels, flippers and six players on each team moving the puck towards a goal line. Image courtesy of Wikipedia Underwater hockey at UBC People of all ages can play the sport, says long-time club member By JEREMY MATTHEWS to an early end, but Vancouver hockey fans can trade in skates for flippers with the lesser-known sport of underwater hockey. The game involves players holding their breath in order to move a puck un- derwater toward a goal, like traditional hockey. There are six players on each team, but no goalies and no contact, resulting in a more positional style of play. Players wear masks and snorkels, but come up for air often in order to main- tain energy levels. Roger Kemp started playing under- water hockey in the early 1980s with his brother at the Langara Family YMCA. He still plays with the UBC Thunder- ducks Underwater Hockey club that he T: Canucks’ season may be coming helped found. “Tt [is] tremendously fun,” he said. The sport has evolved since the ‘80s, when he used to craft makeshift hockey sticks at Eric Hamber Secondary School as a teenager. “The sport we play today is very much more advanced. The players’ tech- nique is getting stronger, even at the lo- cal level,” Kemp said. “The very first thing you learn is how to snorkel effec- tively.” Underwater hockey originated 60 years ago in the UK and is gaining popu- larity in Vancouver with clubs in Port Coquitlam, Vancouver and Victoria. Canada also has a men’s and women’s underwater hockey team that competes in tournaments all around the world, the most recent one in Hungary in 2018. Melanie Johnson, a long-time Thun- derducks member, started playing un- derwater hockey in 1991 after a stint in competitive swimming. “T wanted something that kept me in the swimming pool,” she said. She has since participated in under- water hockey world championships all around the world. Johnson says that the three-dimen- sional nature of the sport allows people of all ages to compete. “The water does equalize some things. I can be effective against a larger guy,” she said, adding that group mem- bers can continue to play into their 60s. Johnson said many players are plan- ning on attending the Canadian Nation- al Underwater Hockey championships at the University of Guelph in May. The Thunderducks’ practices are open to the public and are held on Tues- day evenings and Sunday mornings at the UBC Aquatic Centre. PLACES to play in BC 1 UBC Aquatic Centre in Vancouver Hyde Creek Rec Centre in Port Coquitlam C.G. Brown Memo- rial Pool in Burnaby Commonwealth Pool in Victoria oF ©@© N Prince George Aquatic Centre in Prince George ODJICK .29 | y Canuck nation in disarray success of the Canucks,” he said. ASHLEY LEGASSIC photo The sport involves masks, snorkels and litle breathing. Canucks bump up dead- line to renew season tick- ets, but fans aren’t jump- ing at the chance to buy By ASHLEY LEGASSIC he Vancouver Canucks have set an earlier deadline for season ticket holders to renew their seats, but some local fans aren’t sticking around. This year, the deadline to renew is April 9, a couple of weeks before the regular renewal deadline and one week before the start of the playoffs on April 16. Carl Gung, a season ticket holder for the past 20 years, doesn’t plan on renew- ing his tickets for next season, calling this season “disappointing.” “Because of the way the Canucks have been going this year, they’re wor- ried about lots of people saying ‘Oh, ’'m not going to renew’, so they’re trying to get a commitment right now,” said Gung. “You're paying $300 for a game. For $300 you can go see something more in- teresting.” The lack of a family-friendly environ- ment at Canucks games also played a part in Gung’s decision to not renew his tickets, adding that season tickets are more of “an elite thing” now. Gung isn’t the only ticket holder who’s lost interest in the Canucks. Five-year season ticket holder Suraj Khera also won’t be renewing his tick- ets. “Too many bad management deci- sions have led to the breakdown of the Khera added he plans on buying tick- ets from Craigslist from now on. Matt Varrick, who holds quarter-sea- son “ice pack” tickets said the team needs direction if they want to see fans stick around. “It’s not necessarily the lack of suc- cess. It’s more of just the direction, or from my perspective, a lack of direc- tion,” said Varrick. “It doesn’t seem like the organization and the head coach are on the same page.” According to an email addressed to season ticket holders by Canucks man- agement, they are also offering an “ear- ly bird” prize this season and will enter five season ticket buyers into a draw for a chance to win a free season if they sign up before Mar. 28. The Canucks were not available to comment specifically on the issue.