Ss ) HIGKG wil JEFF VINNICK photos Former Canuck Cory Schneider stands tall (left). Bo Horvat, the rookie Canuck player Schneider was traded for during last year’s draft celebrates. (right) Bo Horvat will be sticking around with the big club for the rest of the season By CHARLOTTE DREWETT hile Vancouver Canucks rook- ie Bo Horvat has shown him- self to be a promising addition as a fourth-line centre, the loss of star goalie Cory Schneider is still a disaster, according to one sports re- porter. David Ebner, national correspondent for The Globe and Mail, said no matter how good Horvat is, Schneider is “the type of goaltender who could be one of the very best in the league.” Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils last season in return for a 2018 ninth- pick overall, who turned out to be Horvat. Controversy was sparked with Canuck fans because Ro- berto Luongo was the one originally on the trading block. “At the time it was kind [of] shocking that all we could get for Schneider was a draft pick,” said Murray Fairley, a Ca- nucks fan. “You’re trading away a goal- ie that everybody knew was going to be a number one.” A much-anticipated showdown be- tween the two was squared off last night as Schneider and the Devils met Horvat and the Canucks at home. While the two are connected through the past trade, Ebner said it is unfair to compare the two going forward. “Tn this situation it’s not really fair to Horvat because it was an emergency trade made by Vancouver giving away a guy they didn’t want to give away,” Ebner said. “It’s great for Vancouver and it’s great for Horvat that he’s doing well but ideally Vancouver would still have Cory Schneider.” With Horvat’s three-point game against the Chicago Blackhawks, his future on the team looks promising. Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins announced in a team meeting to keep Horvat with the club. This will activate the first year of his three-year, entry- level contract. Paul Jerrard, assistant coach of Van- couver’s American Hockey League team the Utica Comets, said Horvat’s skills are just the beginning and that he’s got a great passion for the game. “T don’t think the fans in Vancouver should worry about Bo Horvat,” Jer- rard said. “I don’t think he’s just going to be a little blip on the radar, I think Bo’s gonna continue to send.” NHL 2014 stats ME Schneider has played 21 games in 2014 with a GAA 2.58 $ SV% 915 HE He's won 9 of 21 games and continues to be a workhorse for New Jersey HM Bo Horvat has played 9 games. He's scored 1 goal and has 3 assists. ME He has 3 short handed points on the season. Source: Xop 6 on 6 xop xop xop MURRAY FAIRLEY A Vancouver Canucks fan 66 At the time it was kind [of] shocking that all we could get for Schnei- der was a draft pick Grey Cup in Vancouver Vancouver is getting ready to host a festival filled with events for the 2014 Grey Cup Championship BY ORVIS NOEL towards B.C. as we get ready to host the Grey Cup for the second year in a row. The 102nd Grey Cup Festival starts on Wednesday and is billed to be a “Roar on the Shore,” that will include a three-night concert series featuring the headlining band Hey Ocean!, country singer Tim Hicks, and Trooper. There will also be a parade winding through the streets of downtown Van- couver that will have colourful floats and marching bands. Unfortunately, BC Lions fans are go- ing to have to find another team to cheer for since they are out of the run- ning this year. This Grey Cup will match up the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Calgary Stampeders this year. Jon Cornish, running back for the Calgary Stampeders expressed his ex- citement over the upcoming game. “T want to win this Grey Cup, not for personal gain, but for every single per- son in this locker room, every single person on the personal staff, and every single coach,” he said. “They are the people that deserve this.” It’s been six years since the Stamped- ers last held the Grey Cup but so far, this year they’re the favourites to take home fo title. Fessar fanatics will be gravitating The festivities begin on Nov. 26th through Nov. 30th and are sure to draw a crowd. Nik von Schulmann is director of pro- duction for Patrick Roberge Produc- tions Inc., a company that specializes in large-scale shows and events. “We started yesterday, and it will take us five days to be ready. This is our fifth year of doing this,” he said. The Grey Cup brings huge economic benefits to the city. It drew revenues of $118 million in 2011 when Vancouver hosted the game. The Stampeders had the edge in reg- ular season with victories against Ham- ilton, and final scores of 10-7 and 30-20. Prelwal esuva SAVE-ON-FOODS GREY CUP FESTIVAL PARADE 10 a.m.-12 p.m. taking place Downtown Vancouver RED TRUCK TAILGATE CONCERT SERIES Free music from Wednesday until Saturday Source: Xop 6 on 6 xop xop xop SUBMITTED photo B.C. Lions hoist the Grey Cup back on Nov. 27, 2011. ALEX NIEBUHR Member of Lan- gara Snow Club SABLEEN MINHAS photo James Peters, General Manager of Sports Junkies. Hills are open on time Production of snow adds a good base for start of season By SABLEEN MINHAS the ski season, snow lovers can thank the polar vortex for the local hills opening on time. The chilled Arctic winds that swept the region in mid-November made arti- ficial snow production a viable option for coastal resorts. James Peters, general manager of Sports Junkies said that since local mountains do not get much snowfall, snowmaking has become “pretty stan- dard because it gives a good base layer to ski on.” Barry Cleator, owner of Vancouver Ski & Board Services said that there is not a lack of snow, unlike last year. “Cypress is open, Grouse is open, and Whistler is open. So everybody can go skiing but it’s not as nice as we would like to have in the start,” Cleator said. Cleator said that since most people D::: a lack of snowfall early in start skiing around Christmas, it is still early too say what this season will be like. Emmalee Brunt, communications co- ordinator for Mt. Seymour ski resort said that the resort has yet to open be- cause unlike other resorts, they rely on natural snowfall. “Our opening date is mid-December and that’s also because we don’t have snow-making capabilities at this time,” Brunt said. She said that weather forecasts are looking favourable for snowfall. “It’s snowing as we speak .. . last year we opened a little bit later but this year we are right on track,” Brunt said. Alex Niebuhr of the Langara Snow Club said that though artificial snow provides a good base layer, it isn’t the same as skiing quality powder. “When you are actually riding on it, it’s very grainy like ice or sand,” Niebuhr said.