Panthers take silver!
Congratulations to the Manitoulin Bantam Panthers who represented the Island well as hosts and competitors in the NOHA Tournament of Champions for the B level teams this past weekend. The team outclassed most of the competition all weekend long. In their first game on Friday afternoon, the locals whipped the best Sault B team 13 – 1 with Mike Megwanabe taking first star honours with a couple hat-tricks plus! Friday night the lads jumped out to an easy 6-goal lead in the first period and then made things interesting as they held on for a 6-3 win against the north’s Iroquois Falls. The Panthers repeated that results against the Porcupine Jr. Gold Kings on Saturday morning. On Sunday Morning the home squad drew Kirkland Lake and the Panthers earned a championship berth with a close checking 1-0 over GM City. On Sunday afternoon the Panthers met Nickel District League foe Elliot Lake. In a well played match the Panthers were edged 3 – 1 and picked up the silver medal. Way to go: Braedan Case, Patrick Snowdon, Tait Wallace, Mike Megwanabe, Adam Goodfellow, Ethan Corbiere, Nathan Debassige, Dakotah Hare, Chandler Yashuk-Clark, Cole King, Mason Pine, Noah Moreau, Greg Doane and Jalen Waindubence.
This coming weekend it is the Panther Midgets to turn play hosts! Their first game is slated for 8:20 this Friday evening, March 14 at the NEMI Rec. Complex.
Thunder storm in Walden
The Mindemoya Thunder Peewees took in the annual Walden Friendship Tournament in Walden last weekend. Very fresh off their dramatic series win over M’Chigeeng to win the Island Championships, the Grade 6/7 group was poised for big things. The Orange and Blue, who has played in the annual Lively March Break tournament for years, pulled off their best showing yet. The powerhouse squad was undefeated in the round-robin portion of the event and then needed overtime in the championship game to decide. With just seconds in the extra frame, Chris Haner secured the trophy with a great goal.
Congratulations on an amazing season to: Teigan Seabrook, Taylor Smith, Jasen Millette, CJ Wilson, Connor Mack, Quinn Coker, Sean Orford, Ethan Smith, Chris Haner, Hunter Cranston, Matthew Redmond, Jonah Gilmore, Marjorie Scott, Maddy Niven, Avery Sheppard, Morgan Wall-Varey and Trinity Leeson. The Thunder team staff includes: John Coker head coach, Al Haner assistant coach, Lori Leeson manager and Anne Marie Scott is their trainer.
Island Basketball Championships
The annual elementary basketball championships took place last Tuesday with the boys facing off at Lakeview and the girls meeting in Little Current. In the boys’ event CMPS and Lakeview went into their final game (against each other in the single round-robin, no-playoff format) both undefeated with CMPS having 8 points in 4 wins and Lakeview had 7 points from their 3 wins and a tie. In their showdown, CMPS came out of the first half with a 6-2 lead. After a well played second half and a few timeouts called by the coaches from both sides, Lakeview came out on top with a 16-10 win. Congratulations to Lakeview’s coach Travis Corbiere and team members Danny Feir, Niihge McLeod, Kyle Debassige, Jacob Genereux, Joel Trudeau, Pierre Debassige, Shannon Debassige, Maverick Bushey, Alyx Sego, Johnny Bushey and Nyron Panamick-Hare and to all the teams who demonstrated sportsmanship and played hard.
In the girls’ tournament, Wikwemikong took the title with strong play all day long. Congrats to Shawl Eshkibok, Delaney Webkamigad, Harmony Rivers, Dehmin Eshkawkogan-Recollet, Peyton Manitowabi, Aurora Ominika-Enosse, Summer Trudeau, Shyaya Shawanda, Apryl Pangowish, Darlene Mandamin-Turner and coach Deana Debassige.
Babstock earns another accolade
For the third time in her illustrious career, senior forward Kelly Babstock (Wikwemikong First Nation) was named to the All-ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) Hockey First Team. This is the fourth All-ECAC Hockey honour and her First Team selection for the third time. Kelly leads the team and ranks eighth in the country with 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 36 games in 2013-14 became the first Quinnipiac women’s ice hockey player to reach the 200 career point club and helped guide the Bobcats to an undefeated season thus far and sit 4th in the 12-team Ivy League. Good luck in the playoffs, Kelly.
Active Adults
This week’s spotlight is on three women who have been working hard at improving their fitness levels. On top of their regular active lifestyle, the trio is part of the weekly Mellow Movers program hosted by Friends in Fitness trainer Deb Graham in Little Current. Congratulations to Betty Turnbull, Ursula Paxton and Denise Organ. Keep up the good work, ladies!
A good sport is good for sports.
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