8 THE DAILY VOICE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018 EDITOR WARREN JANE SS poris Quality of Sportsnet's broadcasts worries fans Mixed predictions for the possible outcomes of the recent NHL broadcast deal By NADIM ROBERTS $5.2-billion agreement with the National Hockey League, that will give them the league’s television rights in Canada, has been widely reported nationwide, but what does this deal mean for Canucks fans? Some say it could mean your cable bill going up. “Right now there’s no way of know- ing whether the product will be better or worse, only that it’s likely to cost more,” said Jonathan Willis, managing editor of the Nation Network, in a blog post. According to UBC economics profes- sor and hockey fan James Brander, Rogers has to “recoup” the enormous price tag it spent on the NHL broadcast rights. “T think there will be more hockey product out there,” Brander was quot- ed saying in yesterday’s Province. “Obviously, they'll expand it because most of their revenue comes from ad- vertising.” Allen Tung, editor of The Canuck Way blog, said there are some things to look forward to in the new deal. “Most of the complaints stem from the quality of Sportsnet’s broadcasts and that they aren’t as good as TSN’s,” said Tung. “I think with the new deal we're going to see the production qual- ity of the broadcast go up. They will be spending that money to boost quality and attract quality on-air personnel from TSN and CBC.” The deal, the largest in NHL history, means Rogers has secured the national rights to air all NHL regular season and playoff games on TV, mobile de- vices, the Internet and radio for the next 12 years. The partnership begins with the 2014-15 season and runs through the 2025-26 season. “The NHL is extremely excited about the power and potential of this ground- breaking partnership,” said NHL com- missioner Gary Bettman in a state- ment. “Our fans always want to explore deeper and more emotional connec- tions to NHL hockey, and that is pre- cisely what Rogers has promised to deliver over the next 12 years.” R=: Communications’ 12-year, NICK EAGLAND photo An enthusiastic dodgeball player takes heavy fire from his eager opponents in the Vancouver Dodgeball League tournament. All's fair in love and dodgeball ‘Largest volunteer-run dodgeball league in the universe’ brings the heat By NICK EAGLAND man dressed as the anime car- toon character Pikachu slides across a varnished hardwood oor as six men and women laugh while they pummel him with or- ange, red and green foam balls. This is not a bad dream - this is the Vancouver Dodgeball League tourna- ment. Over 1,600 members make up the VDL’s 184 teams. Executive director Pete Tang said some players travel from as far as Ladner and White Rock to compete in games and tournaments in Vancouver. “T think that people come out for the novelty of the sport,” said Tang. “It’s a little different so they want to try it out.” Since the league began in 2004 with just 12 players, it has grown exponen- tially. VDL programs director Kaitlin Sterndale-Bennett said the VDL is “the largest non-profit, | volunteer-run dodgeball league in the universe, to our knowledge.” Tang said the league relies on word of mouth to draw new players, who come to “bring back memories of play- ground dodgeball,” though he said the game offers much more than that. “The appeal there is just great spirit, sports- manship. People like to dress up and be goofy.” The league is divided into three tiers based on players’ skill and experience so that beginners and experts alike can enjoy the game. “We want it to [be] fair for everybody and we want everybody to have fun,” said Sterndale-Bennett. “If you’re get- ting killed every week, that sucks.” Sterndale-Bennett said that al- though players in Tier 1 can launch balls at opponents at breakneck speeds, injuries rarely befall players because the league uses custom-made, latex-skinned foam balls from Sweden. “It’s predomi- nately sprains: thumb sprains, an- kles, knees [and] bruising. Honestly, a lot of it comes KAITLIN STERNDALE- from people not BENNETT warming Up prop- programs director erly.” As the VDL ex- pands and evolves, league executives are developing new skills clinics and tournaments to keep players happy. The 17th season of the VDL begins in early 2014. Those interested in joining the league can find information at www.vdldodgeball.com. 66 We want it to [be] fun for every- body and we want everybody to have fun Kaitlin Sterndale- Bennet Star player brings team up to 4th Flu-recovery time not part of Langara Falcons women’s basketball player’s gameplan By GAVIN FISHER Langara Falcons basketball play- er Jolissa Crossley played a full 40 minutes and scored 10 points and had 13 rebounds against the Douglas Col- lege Royals, earning her the PacWest player of the week designation. “I probably should’ve given her a rest at some point, but we needed her out there and she battled all the way through,” said Mike Evans, coach for the women’s basketball team. This is the second year Crossley has played for the Falcons, and over that time Evans has seen a lot of improve- ment. “Just by playing a year, you gain a lot in experience,” said Evans. “She played alot last year too, so I think she learned A battling the flu for two weeks, a lot. Now she knows the league and her opponents a lot better.” Evans also said Crossley plays to her strengths. “[She’s] not a great scorer, but she defends the best player on the other team and she rebounds and she gets her share of assists,” said Evans. “She makes plays for other players. She plays a good all-round team game.” For Crossley, this means more op- portunities to take risks and take more shots to score. “The coach is giving me more free- dom,” Crossley said. “Last year I made a mistake and I was gone.” Evans said that Crossley’s perfor- mance last weekend wasn’t anything out of the usual - she consistently plays a good game. “You get her best effort every night,” said Evans. All this for someone who only start- ed playing ball in Grade 10 to make friends. “T wanted to fit in,” Crossley said, laughing. Crossley then realized she had a knack for the sport, and in Grade 12 de- cided she wanted to play for the Langa- ra Falcons. “T only wanted to come here,” said Crossley. “They’re great coaches [and] they’re great people, too. I just find it really homey here. I like the family as- pect of it.” The Falcons women’s basketball team is currently fourth in the PacWest conference. Crossley is studying general arts, but hopes to transfer into recreation studies. ait GAVIN FISHER photo Falcons player Jolissa Crossley getting ready for a shot.