Referee critical mass!
This is the annual plea for people to consider becoming a referee or timekeeper for this coming minor hockey season. Granted, it is always important however it seems to be more dire every year. At some point, the worry is that games will need to be cancelled because there just isn’t a large enough pool to draw from on the Island.
Could everyone ask that person you know, if they can be a ref, this year? You know the person, (never us) that never misses making the proper calls from the comfort of the stands or their couch? Ther is an officiating clinic in Little Current coming up on October 26th for recertification or for new officials, for that person, you know. The details can be found on the NOHA-HOCKEY.CA website.
Wiky Road Race?
Congratulations to all the runners who completed the 52nd running of the 10k Wiky Road Race. Wiikwemkoong’s own, Aurel Fox-Recollet finished in third place with a new personal best, a sub-36 (35:51). Christian Kaiser-Fox was fifth overall, then Andre Rivers and Ian Dokum were 8th and 9th across the line overall. The division race medalists are: 10 and under female: Felicity Bondy – 1st. Male Youth 11 – 13 Memphis Dokum, Nathan Quackenbush and David Joyce. Female Youth: 1st Ewa Breckon, 2nd Violet Sutherland and 3rd Brooke Simon. High School Male: Julian Luoma, Xavier Mara and Sebastian Mara. 14 – 18-year-old female: Ava Corbiere and Mila Odjig. The top female adults include: Laurel Leconte 2nd, Sierra Pangowaish 4th, Liza Wemigwans-Manitowabi, Janine Pitawanakwat, Lyric Pitawanakwat-Peltier and Serena Recollet round out the local, top-10, adults. Congrats to the three local, 55+ males Jeffery Eshkawkogan, Simon Shawana and Chris Mara who rounded out the division in 5th, 6th and 7th! Finally, it is great to see Gerry Holliday back on the podium still putting in impressive times. Now a Septuagenarian, he ran sub-50 with a 49:16 clocking! Hats to all who got out there to stay active.
MTB Race at McLean’s
Manitoulin’s McLean’s Park was the host location last Thursday for an official secondary school mountain bike race. Coach Ben Quackenbush reports that there were 61 riders from 9 schools. It was a perfect day to host the race, and trails were in excellent condition. He wants to thank the Municipality of Assiginack for allowing them to use McLean’s Park and supporting youth mountain biking on Manitoulin.
Congratulations to all the Manitoulin riders. Alina Brown was second in the Novice Females and Joey Roy – 12th for the males. Junior Male: Isaac Quackenbush – 3rd, Sebastian Mara – 7th. Senior Male: Dane Gibeault – 2nd, Bradley Slaght – 3rd, Tim Arabadzhyi – 11th, Jacob Swartz -12th, Cole Laidley 13th, Hunter Sprack 14th. In the Senior Female division, Georgia Roy was 2nd.
Panther Points
For the 2024/25 hockey season the Manitoulin Panthers will have three teams. The U13 team, coached by Donald Wassegijig, the U15 team, coached by Scott Stephens and returning for their second season, the U18 Manitoulin Lady Panthers will be coached by Ryan Prior.
League play will start in November, with home games on Sunday afternoons at the Nemi Rec Centre. Both the U13 and U15 teams are preparing to attend the Porcupine Icebreaker Tournament on October 26th, while the Lady Panthers will be attending their first, “Super-Weekend” in Kapuskasing that weekend.
The U-18’s are working on preparing for their big fundraiser, the second annual, Fall Chill Open Scramble hosted at the Rainbow Ridge Golf course on this Saturday, October 12th. The day will be a 4-person format with side games and even a chance to win $10K! Contact the golf course at 705-859-2990.
Wiky Invitational
The elementary cross-country season has started with the annual Wiky Invitational, the first race of the season. The Little Current Coyotes finished in first over Charles C. McLean and Assiginack. Unfortunately, I only have the names for the first-place finishers of each division but of course, congratulations to all finishers.
In the 8 and under boys’ Simon Page (Assiginack Public School) was first and Isabel Abbotossaway (Little Current Public School) was gold, for the girls’. For the Nines,’ Arlo Menzies (Charles C. McLean) and May Moggy (A.P.S.) were both first. The 10-year-old sets were won by Tate Abbotossaway (L.C.P.S.) and Sulla Shepard (Central Manitoulin Public School). Birch Island’s Leo McGregor won the 11 Boys’ and Rowyn Pfeifer from (C.C.M.). LCPS Teammates, Boston Abbotossaway and Kailyn Inglis won their races. Finally, in the 13+ races, there were another Coyote pair, finishing first, Casey Bowerman in the guys’ race and Brooke Simon for the girls’.
Island 3-Pitch
Just to recap the brief results from last week. Thursday Sept 26th was a perfect day for playing ball. The Island Senior 3 Pitch Tournament in Mindemoya had a total of eight teams this year: a couple from CMPS, Assiginack and Little Current Public Schools and one each from Gore Bay and Pontiac. It was positive to hear of so much sportsmanship from all of the teams, it didn’t matter what the score was or if there was a bad play, there was always someone cheering them on. Coaches for CMPS this year were Don Symons and Allison Orford and couldn’t be prouder of their players for their hard work and dedication to their teams. CMPS team 1 was undefeated and won the tournament. Unfortunately, names were not released but congratulations players! Organizers extend a huge thank you to all staff, parents and grade 8’s that helped with coaching, organizing and running the canteen.
Gore Bay’s Charles C. McLean hosted the Junior tournament where the Assiginack Allstars came home with the 2024 title! Congratulations to Coach, Ms. Joanne and her players: Jackson Barnes, Violet Cairns, Addison Page, Cora Griffin, Ada-Lynn Cairns, Ayleana McDermid, Michael Jamieson, Rex Meawasige, Jayden Huang, Aiden Corbiere, Trapper Cyr, Simon Page and Gus Spry!
RHL Registrations Open!
“Remind me again what the ‘R’ stands for, Gerry?”, I asked Gerard Baibomcowai. “REZ”, he said, but anyone can join. The league plays out of Wiikwemkoong on Fridays, starting, Nov. 15th . They are looking for five refs (who get free entry), seven couples, 12 men, 11 ladies, two goalies. The early-bird registration is $150 plus a $50 jersey deposit by October 31st. Check Gerry out on Facebook if you are interested.
A good sport is good for sports
