Manitoulin Minor Hockey Spotlights!
Congratulations to the Manitowaning Atom Wolves after an excellent season. The youngsters racked up an impressive 27-3-1 record on the year including their amazing Minor Atom Soo Extravaganza championship this February.
On top of that, this past week the Wolves reversed those few losses against Mindemoya by beating the Thunder in three straight games to take the Island Championships.
The team was led by Head Coach Jeff Pitawanakwat, Assistant Coach Teina Pitawanakwat, Assistant Coach Ray Moreau, Assistant Coach/Trainer Brent Assinewai, Trainer Janet McComb, Manager Dawn Roque and players: Alex Peltier, Assistant Captain Ava Assinewai, Xavier Mara, Andrew Cooper, Assistant Captain Brodie Pennie, Jacob Smith, Ava Fields, Emily Roque, Zoey Trudeau, Kordell Elijah, Ryley Wassegijig-Migwans, Captain Brooke Gibeault, Grace Pitawanakwat and William McComb.
Congratulations to the Novice Gore Bay Bruins, who won the Manitoulin Minor Hockey Tournament A Division championship game on Sunday, February 26 in M’Chigeeng. The Bruins downed the previously unbeaten Mindemoya Thunder team 3 – 2 in an OT thriller. Well done, Bruins team members: Greyson Orford, Kyle Nodecker, Ethan Witty, Amy Smith, Gage Patterson, Niemi Tomaselli, Jackson Chevrette, Preston Riberdy, Ruby Niemi and Tristan Cyr. Congrats for a job well done to Bruins staff, head Coach Joel Lock, Trainer/Manager Daylin Orford and assistant coach Chad Chevrette.
Hats off to the Novice Thunder as well for a remarkable run that came up one goal shy of another undefeated season, leaving them 49 – 1 over the past 2 campaigns. Great work: Scarlett Mohr, Samantha Mackenzie, Kaci Lariviere, Jonah Balfe, Jack Bridgeman, Thomas Redmond, Chase Taylor, Kohen Campbell, Lucas Brown, Erin Spry, Olivia Deforge, Mya Balfe, and bench staff, Tina Balfe, Jon Balfe, Steve Redmond, and Michael Bridgeman.
Hats off to the Wikwemikong Bantam Hawks on winning the Island Championship this past weekend. Under the tutelage of Shelley Ann Trudeau, Dawnis Wemigwans, Jennifer Recollet and Danielle Shawana Trudeau the Hawks took the measure of Little Current Flyers after having downed Gore Bay in the semis. The players included: Malachi Shawanda, Julian Wemigwans, Aaron Recollet, Elijah Fox, Victoria Trudeau, Jonas Mejaki, Cordell Fox, Dante Recollet, Kelton Assiniwe, Patrick Beaudry, Jeremiah Jacko, Taryn Peltier and Colin James Newbury. Congrats Hawks. The Bantams will now attend the House League NOHA, T.O.C.s in Coniston on March 17 and 18th.
Peltier brothers
The Island Peltier brothers continue to make their mark(s) in competitive hockey. Bo Peltier continues to be called up from the Powassan Hawks (NOJHL) to the OHL’s North Bay Battalion. He has now played five games and sports a reasonable -2, plus/minus score on a team that has been on a losing streak of late.
Meanwhile, little bro Evan, a goaltender who recently joined the lowly French River Rapids (NOJHL), backstopped them to two victories the past week! Both victories came over the Iroquois Eskies by scores of 8 – 6 (41 saves) and 7 – 5 (35 saves). Also with the Rapids’, Wikwemikong’s Gregory Trudeau-Paquet returned this week after a long injury. His return certainly helped as he popped in a goal and added 2 assists. The rookie forward has 23 points in a mere 26 games.
North Shore basketball proposed
There’s a drive underway to create a boys’ and girls’ basketball league that would take in the Espanola, Manitoulin and Algoma region. The teams would play one another in friendly competitive games at Espanola High School. Also, from those teams, organizers want to form a more competitive team that would play in basketball tournaments in Ontario. This team would be known as the North Shore Wolves. The house league itself would play under the North Shore Basketball Association and registrations are going on from now until March 5. For more information send an email to northshorebasketball@outlook.com
Local pool shark turns heads!
Leon Trudeau, a former member of the NDHL Major Midget Panthers, can also play pool who recently returned from Calgary where Leon also was well-known for his pool skills. He ventured to North Bay this past week to see how he measured up in Ontario at the Eastern Ontario, 8 Ball Championships held at The Clarion Resort Pinewood Park. Leon took first place against a huge field of competitors. Kudos to our, 8 ball champion!
A good sport is good for sports.
chipstoquips@gmail.com
