Island Soccer needs your help!?
One of the greatest endeavours in Island sports is in need of assistance. The Island Soccer league, started and maintained by a small number of dedicated volunteers, now needs to hand over the torch. This impressive league, which takes kids from all Island communities and places them on equal teams, has been a great unifier of Manitoulin youngsters. The remaining founders are now reaching out for help to help organize and run the 2017 season
There will be a meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 7:30pm at the home of Ian and Wanda Whittington, 106 Albert St., just past Rockville Inn. For more information, call Wanda, 705-377-4019 or visit their Island Soccer, Facebook page.
Ice Chips
A special charity exhibition game of hockey was held at Wikwemikoong on the weekend. The Native NHL Alumni (including Reggie Leach, hall of famer, Bryan Trottier and Arron Asham etc.) took on a combined Tribal police and Firefighters team. Young Paquis Trudeau had the special honour of drumming the players onto the ice. The arena was packed and the crowd raved about the skill displayed. In order to fill up their roster the Alumni added a “politicians” line with Chief (Ogima) Duke Peltier, Councillor Lawrence Enosse and councillor Tim Ominika, all one-time Junior hockey types. Although the score was not revealed to me I was assured that everyone, players, “coaches” and fans had an outstanding time. Great event organizers.
In a January 20th game the Manitoulin High Mustangs tied St. Benedict’s 4-4. Greg Doane led the ‘Stangs with a 3 point night (2 goals and 1 assist. He was aided by Alex Smith with one and one, and Parker Dickenson with a goal and an assist. Adding single helpers were Mason Pine, Seth Peltier and Jayden Little.
Meanwhile on the same day, the MSS girls dropped a 5-1 encounter despite a valiant effort. Bethany Wesno had the local counter while Hannah Woestenenk and Karly Newlands chipped in with the helpers. Kudos to boys coach Steve Doane/Jason Smith and girls’ bench staff of Mike Meeker and Lisa Addison.
As an aside, the leading scorer in the girls SDSSHA is a young lady by the name of Emma who skates for the St. Charles College Cardinals. The young sniper has 40 points in ten games including an outstanding Crosby-like 34 goals. The total includes both a 7 goal and a 5 goal game! To put her feat in perspective her goal total is better that the total of 8 league teams!
Hats off to coach Shelly Ann Trudeau. She was able to get her Wiky Bantams off to a nine straight win start. They did have a short hiccup, losing a few games but have come charging back with four wins and a tie in their past 5 games. Shelly is a longtime Wiky coach. Her father Clayton would be very proud of her as he too was a winning Wikwemikoong coach.
Panther Points
As the Manitoulin Panthers roll around to playoff time all 3 squads appear to be on good runs. The Atoms under Kevin Eshkawkogan have rallied for 11 straight wins and now stand at 29 wins, 12 losses and a tie.
Meanwhile Coach Jason Hughson’s team have lost only 4 games all year to go with 21 wins and 3 ties, including a win over Blind River yesterday at the NEMI Complex.
Craig Abotossaway’s Bantams have been on a tear lately with 6 wins and a tie in their past seven games. The Panthers Association overall (considering all three teams) have an impressive 62-26-5 record to date.
Kudos to President Craig, managers, coaches, parents and of course, players. Get ready for those playoffs.
MMHA Spotlight
Manitoulin Minor Hockey was well represented at the NCMHA (Nickel Centre) Winterfest Tournament this past weekend. At least five Island teams took in the festivities. These included: Mindemoya Thunder Novice, Wikwemikoong Pee Wee Hawks, M’Chigeeng Bantam Thunderbirds, Mindemoya Thunder Bantams and M’Chigeeng Midget Thunderbirds. Congrats on your strong efforts.
Ski King
Sudbury’s Devin Kershaw has won another World Cup Medal. Competing for the FIS Canadian Cross-Country contingent (4 skier relay). They took a Bronze medal in the World Cup Ulricehamn International event. It is the first ever medal won in this discipline by a team from Canada.
Wiky’s Gerard Peltier got a nice shout-out from the main North Bay newspaper, the Nugget, when his son was recently called up for a game with the OHL Battalion. Part of the quote was “Bo (the son) is the son of Gerard Peltier of the Wikwemikong First Nation, who played for the North Bay Trappers (1979-80) and the 1981 Memorial Cup Champions, the Cornwall Royals. Gerard later played pro hockey in Sweden.”
Need NHL seats?
What kind of connections does Lawrence Enosse have with certain NHL teams? He seems to be able to get seats in multiple arenas. Recently he set up Lattrell and Sherry Peltier with a box suite at a Columbus vs Ottawa game. He has done this in other facilities too. Good for you Lawrence, but I shall begin my investigation immediately!
Robbie Burns race, banner day!
I’m sure the Scottish Bard could have been misquoted if he were talking about Kaitlyn Toohey (nee Tallman) when he said, “There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing.” Kaitlyn just continues to improve in every race she competes in as she again ran a new personal last weekend. She needed, just 28:35 (3:34 min/km pace) to finish the Robbie Burns 8 km Road Race in Burlington. In doing so she placed 22nd overall, and was the 2nd female overall. What a great start to her 2017 race season!
A good sport is good for sports
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