Panther Power!
The four youngest Manitoulin Panther squads had their NDHL playoffs in Sudbury this past weekend. The Novice team played three very close games although they dropped them by scores of 2-1 vs. the Devils, 8-5 against the Junior Sons and 2-1 versus a strong Copper Cliff side. They will be rewarded for a good season however as they will take in an NHL game on Wednesday in Ottawa against the Pittsburgh Penguins. To top it off they get to play an exhibition game in the Ottawa arena prior to the Sens game when they will play the familiar rival, Nickel City Sons.
The Atom Panthers didn’t let their first game loss against their previously unbeaten foes (Nickel City Devils) get them down. In fact, the Panthers were undefeated on the rest of their weekend including a dramatic revenge win over the Devils in a dominant 6-1 championship trouncing to capture the George Armstrong B Division. The team included: Macie Setterington, Saraya Eshkawkogan, Tryce Francis, Jared Toope, Cole Hughson, Owen Leblanc, Kordell Elijah, Joseph Shigwadja, Ava Assinewai, Brandon Visitor, Brodie Pennie, David Gibbons, Drake Jacko, Aiden Case and Carter McGregor. The coaches include Brent Assinewai, Bart Case, Jay Toope, Bruce Visitor, Charity Shigwadja and Manager, and the unheralded webmaster who kept their fans quickly updates, Lisa Pennie. Nice victory team.
The Pee Wees dropped 3 close games before finishing with a 7-1 victory over the Nickel City AA Atoms on top of a very competitive season.
The Bantams had a similarly tough go of it losing 4-2 and 5-1 before beating eventual finalist Nickel City Minor by a 6-3 score.
There were a number of ex-Panthers who picked up medals with Sudbury area teams in the NDHL playoffs. Little Current’s Billy Biederman playing with the Atom AA Major Sons against Pee Wee teams earned a Silver in the A Division final. Also earning Silver were AOK’s Sam Assinewai and Wikwemikong’s Carson Shawana. Both skate with the Division 1 AAA Minor Pee Wee Sons. Shawana has rebounded from a serious summer leg injury to have a good season. Meanwhile Birch Island’s Kolby McGregor was a member of the Nickel City Storm that beat the Elliot Lake Wildcats in the John Grignon Division (B).
Some former Panthers living off-Island now have sons playing AAA in their “new” hometowns. Among these are the sons of Todd Strain, a 1987-89 Midget Panther who now lives in London, as well as those of Matthew Case (Sault Ste. Marie), a 1990-91 Midget with the locals. The beat continues gentlemen!
Spring tryouts!
With the 2015-2016 season barely out of mind, Panther tryouts for next season are slated for this coming week! Please don’t miss getting involved in this important organization by checking out the tryouts starting this coming Monday, April 11 in Little Current. Full information can be found at www.manitoulinpanthers.ca
Wild news!
Former Manitoulin Wild Jr. A goaltender continues to earn honours in the coaching department. Jay Punsky was selected Coach of the Year in the USA east Coast Jr. League (NAEJHL) as his team compiled a 34 – 8 – 2 record playing against teams from Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, etc. His team, the Cape Cod Islanders was also named Organization of the Year as they sent five players on to University scholarships. Kudos, Jay!
Are there even different sports other than hockey?!
OK, a little facetious there, but at this time of the year there are a lot of non-hard-water activities happening! For instance, the CMPS Eagles competed in the RDSB Championships where they finished off an amazing 16 and 3 record. The girls played with an amazing perseverance not to mention top-notch sportsmanship. Hats off to the team of: Hailey McGillis-Prior, Amber Wahl, Marjorie Scott, Avery Sheppard, Chloe Peltier, Zoe Redmond, Leah Spry, Reegan Hutchinson, Lindsay Sheppard, Holly Sagle and Coaches Christa and Chris King.
In another net and ball sport, Deana Debassige and Daphne Corbiere took three Wikwemikong Volleyball teams to Sault St. Marie this past weekend for the All-Ontario Aboriginal Championships. They all did well by advancing to the medal rounds. The Wiky B boys dropped the Bronze medal game to the Chippewa of the Thames team while the Wiky Girls lost their Bronze medal game to the Treaty 3 squad. Picking up the Silver medal were the Wiky A Boys as they went up against the eventual winner, Treaty 3 Boys. MVPs of their teams included Noah Ominika, Lyric Peltier and D.J. Maiangowi. However, it was an impressive show everyone on all of the teams. Deana, also sends her thanks to Wikwemikong Chief and Council, Youth Centre and Board of Education for their support.
Kaitlyn still flies!
Kaitlyn Toohey (nee Tallman), a former Mustang stand-out and OFSAA record holder, has embraced the longer distances and has been equally impressive. In Burlington’s Chilly Half-Marathon on March 6th Kait averaged under 4 minutes per km for all 21 of them to finish in second place amongst the 132 in her age division with a fantastic 1:23:30 clocking!
Last weekend at the venerable Around the Bay 30k road race she bested her personal best by some 10 minutes to break the tape at 2:01 and finish in 89th position out of…6649 runners!
Hockey family lineage
Last week we mentioned the wonderful hockey great-grandmother Elizabeth Debassige of M’Chigeeng. This past weekend another grandchild, Halli Morningstar, was a member of a tournament winning team in Ottawa. Playing for the West Nipissing Vipers the team also won the recent, Rebecca Johnston Cup (Rebecca is a Sudbury product playing for Canada’s National Women’s team). Also on the Vipers squad was Kiara Dokis-Recollet whose mother is a Whitefish River resident.
A good sport is good for sports.
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