First Shift offer has space!
The Manitoulin initiative of the Bauer First Shift Program has a limited number of spots open but you will need to be quick. This great enterprise is open for children, ages 6 – 10, who have never played hockey before. For a registration fee of $199, participants will receive head-to-toe equipment from Bauer, expertly fitted to the player, as well as six weeks of on-ice sessions focused on learning and fun. For more information on the program, please visit The First Shift (http://www.thefirstshift.ca/).
Local Pickleball players pick up provincial hardware
Congratulations to all the Pickleball players who have been keeping their game sharp all summer at the NEMI complex’s curling club. Several of the Little Current club members competed at the Ontario Pickleball Championships down in Markham this past weekend.
Bud and Pierrette Hebner won gold in mixed doubles in their age group (60 – 65). Then Pierrette Hebner teamed up with Marilyn Prowse of Hamilton also took the gold in women’s doubles, skill level 4+ in the 60 – 69 division.
Bud Hebner joined Jim Popofski of Huntsville to win bronze in men’s doubles, skill level 4+, also in the 60-69 age group. Glenn and Megan Boisvert, although from Owen Sound, played in Little Current in July and August sailing the North Channel this summer. Glen earned silver in men’s doubles, skill level 4+ in age group 50-59. Megan Boisvert was awarded bronze in women’s doubles, skill level 4+, age group 50-59 as well as mixed doubles, age 50-59 and yet another bronze in the mixed doubles open!
The club still meets a couple of times a week until the curling sheets are installed (likely three more weeks) and as always new and experienced players are always welcome during their twice-weekly games.
Terry Fox Run reaches 35th year!
The 35th Terry Fox Run in Little Current had another successful year and enjoyed a beautiful late summer day down at Low Island. Thank you to all who participated and all who came together to support cancer research initiatives. The run organizer Joanna Rosenbaum would especially like to thank the following volunteers and Manitoulin organizations that helped make the day go smoothly and contributed to the success of our run: Roslyn Taylor, Charlene MacNevin, Cindy Campbell, Cathy Jeffery, Leslie Taylor, Mel Delange, Colleen Mailloux, Natalie Hastings, Steve Fessenden, Joanne Corbiere, Al Boyd, all of the members of the Manitoulin Amateur Radio Club, the Town of NEMI and the Manitoulin Expositor.
Businesses and organizations that contributed with donations, or otherwise supported the event were: The Little Current Lion’s Club, Turners of Little Current, Orr’s Valumart, Kool-It-Ice, Green Acres, Loco Beanz, Dreamer’s Cove, Reflection Hair Studio, Island Foodland, Mindemoya Home Hardware, Taylor Sawmill, UCCM Police, Williamson’s Hardware, the Manitoulin Central Family Health Team and the Manitoulin Physiotherapy Centre.
A special thanks to NEMI Mayor Al MacNevin and Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha for taking time out of their busy schedule and showing their support as well.
Joanna hopes to see you all again and more for next year!
Off the Rock hockey!
Little Current’s Braedan Case is back with the Nickel Capital AAA Wolves Major Midgets (although he could no doubt be playing Jr. A). Braedan returned to the Wolves as he enjoyed last season with them immensely. They are well-coached and play a heavy schedule including top tournaments. This past weekend they appeared in the Toronto Titans Prospect Showcase which is heavily scouted by College and Major Junior teams. The Wolves, who many predicted would have a difficult time, surprised the naysayers. The team opened the tournament with three straight victories over top-rated teams. The Wolves downed Richmond Hill (4-2), the renowned Toronto Marlies (2-1) and the always powerful Peterborough Petes (3-1) with Case picking up an assist. This gave them 2nd place in their division a true accomplishment alone. Unfortunately, Sudbury missed in their quarter-final effort and their run ended. Nonetheless the Wolves proved they would have a competitive year with Case being a key cog in their success.
Gregory Trudeau-Paquet continued his strong rookie start on the weekend. Despite the fact that his French River Rapids Jr. A squad dropped their game to the Timmins Rock, Trudeau-Paquet was named 1st Star of the game. It was well-deserved as he was in on all Rapids goals scoring two himself and assisting on the other. Greg now has seven points in as many games and besides being the leading French River scorer he has risen to the 18th top scorer in the ten team NOJHL. Way to go Rook.
Three pitch postponed!
The Island 3-Pitch Championships have been pushed to tomorrow, September 29, in Gore Bay for the Junior event and Mindemoya for the intermediate contest due to the wet conditions on Monday.
A good sport is good for sports
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