Island product, hoists provincial AAA trophy
Congratulations to southern Ontario’s Dylan Bond who plays defense for the Mississauga Rebels 2000 (Bantam) team who ended a spectacular season by winning the all-Ontario AAA Bantam championships in Timmins this past weekend. Dylan, son of Terry and Karen (nee Semeniuk) Bond, has anchored the Rebels for a run this season that saw them ranked number one in Ontario and eventually in all of Canada! Their 59-6-7 record including a very strong defensive core that saw an impressive 302 to 75 goal differential!
Manitoulin Minor Spotlight
There are still many MHHA teams who have not been recognized through this past season but there is still time! If your team didn’t get shined on, please send in your information to the address below! This week it is the Mindemoya Thunder Peewees who are in the spotlight! This very young Peewee squad has had an amazing season, amassing a 19 wins and 1 loss campaign. The youngsters of course would prefer their only loss of the season didn’t occur in the final match of the season but it only bodes well for them individually as players next year and in the future! Although they beat M’Chigeeng 3 out of 5 in the semis, Gore Bay had their number in the finals and took the Island trophy.
The crew took their show on the road to the Copper Cliff Tournament a coupe of weeks ago and despite a slow start, they finished strong! They missed their first two then won the next match to send them into the C Championships. In their C final game they shut their opponents down and won their championships 1- 0. Hats off to: Trevor White. Jasen Millette. Marjorie Scott. Tyler Leeson. Avery Sheppard. Kyle Smith. Owen Duncanson, Michael Hore. Hunter Smith. Hailey Prior, Michael Gibbons and team staff, Ryan Prior, Brent Leeson, Glen Duncanson, Darren Smith and Shelba Millette.
Panthers to prowl in 2015 – 2016
The new slate of Panther coaches have been selected to shepherd their charges through this upcoming 2015 – 2016 coming season. Congratulations to the head coaches of: Novice – Kevin Eshkawkogan, Atom – Brent Assinewai, Peewee – Dean Hare, Bantam – Craig Abotossaway and Midget – Steve Doane!
It is great to see a full slate of coaches willing to provide a great program for the upcoming season. Parents and players should be getting ready for the spring try-outs coming up this coming week. The first of which are to take place Monday, April 13 and follow though to Saturday the 18. The week will also determine the viability of a Midget team that failed to materialize this past year. For more information and required forms please visit www.manitoulinpanthers.ca
Mustangs to hold early tryouts
Head coach Brad Bond would like to announce that there will be Manitoulin Mustang Senior boys try outs coming up on April 9, 13 and 15. All try outs are at 3:30 – 5 pm at the NEMI Rec Centre. There will be a $10 per try-out fee. Coach is looking forward to having his best team ever and has to be looking to bolster his roster with several returning vets! He is also looking to be ‘drastically increasing the number of games’ they play this season. Go Mustangs, go!
Around the Bay
Congratulations to Bay Estates John Saftic who recently completed the 30km Around the Bay race in Hamilton in under the 2.5 hour barrier. Way to go John!!
Former Wild, now coach
Many will remember Jay Punsky, an American import who was a stalwart netminder for the Manitoulin Wild Jr. A squad. The young coach was just hired as coach of the Cape Cod Islanders for the 2015-2016 season! After he finished playing hockey he has been moving up the ranks as a coach for numerous east coast teams. Punsky spent the last two seasons with the Bay State Breakers Junior Hockey program of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). With the Breakers, Punsky served as Assistant Coach of the Junior A team and Head Coach of the Empire Junior B and U18 AAA Tier I teams. Jay is a real student of the game and even holds a masters degree in Sports and Recreation management with a specialist in coaching! Keep up the good work, Jay!
A good sport is good for sports.
705-377-6018 – chipstoquips@gmail.com
