Unique sports opportunity!
Whitefish River FN’s Lorilee McGregor and nephew Miles Sutherland just got to compete in the land of the Kiwi (not kiwifruit!). The pair just got back from Auckland, New Zealand where they had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a triathlon hosted by the Maori. The event is called IronMaori and it’s a way to encourage Maori people to be active. Lorilee placed 67th overall and 7th in her age group. Miles, raced in the run portion Sutherland participated in the run portion and he placed 3rd overall!
Interestingly, Miles and Lorilee were there for the International Indigenous Research Conference, where they presented. The triathlon took place after the conference on November 16 and consisted of a 500-metre swim, a 20 km bike ride and a 5 km run.
Knowing about the triathlon ahead of time and always up for an active experience, she brought her wetsuit and rented a bike on arrival! People could also participate as a team or individual events so Miles registered for the run. Lorilee was impressed with event, well-run by the Maori.
Mustang minute!
Further to the bit on volleyball phenom, Mya Balfe. Mya is in her fourth year of playing with Northern Chill Volleyball Club. This year she is on the Chill’s U17 Black Vortex as an outside hitter.
At the two-day Fall Classic on Nov 2/3, her team finished ranked 18th overall in the province! Their next tournament starts Saturday, in Orangeville. Following that they will play in Sudbury on Feb 2. Keep up the great work, Maya!
Quick Kohyn Update!
With an assist yesterday against the London Knights, Kohyn Eshkawkogan now has the outright lead for all rookie defensemen in scoring! Still, he’s 10th in scoring amongst all 2008 born players, and 18th in scoring amongst all rookies (2007s/2008s-forwards & defence). Go, Show!
Panther Points!
This week the U15 Manitoulin Panthers built and decorated a hockey-themed float to participate in the Espanola Stationary Christmas parade. The U13 team joined the U15s at the parade on Saturday to pass out candies and spread Christmas cheer.
Both teams met their North Shore contemporaries on Sunday, with the U15s taking a 9-1 win and the U13s coming up short against the strong, Thundercats team.
The u18 Lady Panthers had an early start on Saturday with a trip to Temiskaming Shores for a double header against the Temiskaming Puckhounds BB team. The first game found the girls down early in the game and at the end of the 2nd period they were down 5-0. They came out and battled hard in the third and didn’t allow another goal. The second game was a lot closer. The Lady Panthers went down 2-0 but battled back and got a goal to cut the lead to 2-1. The Puckhounds ended up scoring once more and the Panthers came up just short with a score of 3-1.
Cross Country out west!
Zhiibaahaasing played host to a Cross-Country Invitational, Sunday November 10th thanks to Mark Peltier the Healthy Living Children and Youth Coordinator for Noojmowin Teg.
They had categories for boys and girls’ divisions with different distances for each category with one km for the youngest, two for the grade 5/6’ers and three for the oldest. The routes included beautiful trails surrounding Zhiibaahaasing, a boardwalk, challenging hills, and a finish at the world’s largest dream catcher and peace pipe.
The event itself was a conclusion of a six-week, after-school running program at St. Joseph’s School in Sheshegwaning, attended by runners from Zhiibaahaasing and Sheshegwaning.
Age group winners featured: 8 & under Girls – 1st Brinn Taylor; Boys – 1st Eli Dewar, 2nd Joshua Joyce, 3rd Thomas Panamick, 4th Jayce Antoine (Jayce was also the youngest runner at 5!).
9-11 years Girls – 1st Sulla Sheppard, 2nd Ariella Lanktree, 3rd Natalie Debassige. Boys – 1st Tommy Joyce, 2nd Grayson Gilchrist, 3rd Cole Panamick.
12-14 Girls – 1st Brooke Simon, 2nd Sarah Joyce. Boys – 1st David Joyce
Open Male – 1st Tristan Cyr, 2nd Preston Riberdy, 3rd Mark Peltier. Open Female – 1st Renee Cranston.
They even had a catered lunch provided to all runners and spectators. Three door prizes were awarded with $100 gift certificates for Breakaway Sports. Mark confirms that the event will be annual and looks forward to seeing everyone return next fall for the 2025 Zhiibaahaasing Cross-Country Running Invitational.
Former Bruin replaces former Bruin
Former Gore Bay resident, and G.B. Bruin, Drew Bannister was relieved of his NHL coaching duties for the St. Louis Blues over the weekend. His position was not open for long. After the Boston Bruins dropped their head Coach Jim Montgomery he was scooped up as the Blues’ bench boss.
Mr. Bannister’s playing career featured among other accolades winning a Memorial Cup with the Sault Greyhounds, World Junior Gold as well as stints in the NHL and all over Europe.
He has been a coach since he was a player-coach in the British Elite league! He had a hugely successful run as coach of the Soo Greyhounds, recording some of the best seasons the Hounds have ever seen. From there, he coached in the AHL and then in the NHL. Best of luck Drew, in that crazy profession!
