Cross country not over!
Congratulations to Manitoulin Mustang James Scott who will travel to his third OFSSA cross country championship in his third year running with a gutsy third place finish in last week’s NOSSA, Northern Ontario contest. Good luck, James!
Over the past year we have mentioned the three Wikwemikong girls who compete in Provincial Cross-Country races. Victoria Trudeau, Shaolin Roy and Francesca Pheasant have had much success. The trio running in Toronto on this past weekend (York Region), Tori Trudeau came in 25th against more than 100 Southern Ontario runners most of whom run year round and belong to elite running clubs. Keep up your great training, trio!
Mustang alumnus keeps on, keeping on
Manitoulin athlete Wyatt Kennedy was profiled last week in the Cambrian College newspaper. The article hailed his return to the cross-country team after a long battle with cancer (Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma). While he was a runner for the Manitoulin High School Mustangs Kennedy ran his way to seven OFSSA (all-Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Association) finals under the direction of Coach Jim Stringer who he thanked for his support. Wyatt transferred from Sault College (where he was first diagnosed with his illness last year) to Cambrian this year and is a proud contributor to the Golden Shield’s running program. Continue to fully recover, Mr. Kennedy.
Wikwemikong player ices pro competition
Wikwemikong’s Kelly Babstock is back in the Women’s Professional hockey League. Skating for the Connecticut Whale in the NWHL Babstock recently picked up a goal and an assist in a 4-2 victory over the New York Riveters. The newsfeed described her goal as “a hard slap-shot from the top of the left circle. Kelly is a former high-scoring, US college, Division 1, star.
Junior A(ce)!
Greg Trudeau Paquet continues to shine in his rookie year in the NOJHL. He now has 11 goals and 5 assists for 16 points in only 17 games. That total makes him the leading rookie in the entire league on top of that, the number-10 rookie in the entire Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL). In addition he has climbed to 15th in scoring in the overall NOJHL. These results are all are all the more impressive when you consider that Gregory plays for the French River Rapids who (based out of Noelville).
Gregory comes from a very athletic family and his younger brother Izzy shine on the high school football scene. Last week, playing for the St. Charles College Cardinals, Izzy, a devastating tackler, gathered two interceptions in a 42-6 Cardinals triumph!
Panther points
The Manitoulin Bantam Panthers made it to the semis in the West Ferris Early-Bird tournament. The elder Panthers sopped the Powasson Hawks 4 to 1 this past Friday night. The Island cats were doubled up by the Parry Sound Shamrocks on Saturday morning 4 – 2 but then dominated the Muskrat Voyageurs that evening, 4 to 1. Unfortunately, Manitoulin was ousted by Pembroke on Sunday. Keep up the hard work, Panthers!
In former Manitoulin Panther news Nick Esposto (and former OHL player!) is now a member of the Laurentian Voyageurs Varsity Hockey Club. Nick fired a goal in Laurentian’s 4 to 1 win this past week. Keep sniping, Nick!
Never stop playing!
This column tend to focus on the younger of our athletes’ accomplishments. However there are so many of our more experienced competitors who are still out there being active and having fun. Congratulations to Shelley Wemigwans of Wikwemikong on volunteering to become the goalie on her ladies’ hockey squad. In a Sault Ste. Marie Tournament this weekend, Shelley was flawless in leading her Dooganing Road hockey club to a 5-0 victory. Keep going, Shelley!
A good sport is good for sports.
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