NNSL (Jan 10/97) - Neil Sutherland is the last of a dying breed.

He's a die-hard local sports fan. To him, it doesn't matter what the sport, the sex of the competitors or the level of play, he's there -- nearly all the time.

Anyone entering Gerry Murphy Arena or Tommy Forrest Ball Park during a game will likely spot Sutherland in the stands.

Last season he attended every senior men's fastball game and every WIMPS recreational and oldtimer hockey game at Gerry Murphy Arena. He also managed to squeeze in slo-pitch, basketball, broomball and soccer games along the way.

On this evening Sutherland is the only spectator at an oldtimer's hockey game between the Yellowknife Inn and the Gold Dusters at Gerry Murphy Arena.

He gleefully works the score clock -- on a volunteer basis -- kibitzing with the referee and players. There's no place he'd rather be.

In an era when most of us would equate viewing an oldtimers hockey game to a trip to the dentist, Sutherland thrives on the live action.

"I like to go to all sports. I've always felt that if there's local sports out there you should support them," he said.

"There's good action at these games. You don't get broomball on TV and you don't get this kind of hockey (oldtimers). It may end up 16-6 but they're all having fun.

I also know a lot of the guys that play. I feel that someone should support the guys because they appreciate it."

Although he doesn't compete much these days, he wasn't always one to just sit on the sidelines. He holds Level 1 or 2 coaching certificates in a myriad of sports, including fastball, broomball, basketball, lacrosse, hockey and soccer.

He remembers an era when fans clamored for seats at small-town sports events and laments the fact that he often has the bleachers to himself these days.

"I've heard that 20 years ago you couldn't get a seat at Tommy Forrest Ball Park. Now you can pretty much sit where you want.

It used to be in the North you were a player or a fan. Now younger people prefer to watch pro games on TV or play video games."

While Sutherland says he's not the oldtimer's "official" score keeper, he performs the duty more often that not.

"I told them I'd do the score-keeping whenever they needed it, which is pretty much every time I come to a game.

I like volunteering. I like being down at the rink. You feel closer to the players. I don't care if it isn't the NHL."