3 on 3, Island style
What a fabulous experience for many hockey players and their parents. This past weekend in NEMI the first Manitoulin minor, three-on-three tournament was held. Arranged by Shelba Millette and organized by Greg Lockeyer the event was a home run! 25 teams competed for various awards before huge crowds of excited and curious crowds most of whom were watching three and three games and skills’ competition for the first time.
The interest and enthusiasm was palpable, illustrated by the constant buzz among the crowds in the stands and the lack of parking outside in the lot! It was a fabulous end to the hockey season for most players and parents. What was especially important was that all house league players finally got to experience three on three. Many of these kids are not invited to the traditional Sudbury and Sault St. Marie events and haven’t played it and the enjoyment on their faces was a pleasure to see.
The overall team results included: Tykes – the Lil Disturbers over Wiki junior T-Birds; Novice – the Cheetahs over North Channel Sharks; Atom – Wiki Junior T-Birds over Island Haweaters; PeeWee – it was the Wiki Hawks over the JK Automotive Storm; Bantam – it was Lively’s Mattis Plumbing over the Manitoulin Puck – Hogs; Midget – the Kings’ Crushers over the AOK Eagles.
The skills competition was equally exciting. The fastest skaters included: Tyke – Kaci Lariviere; Novice -Mya Balfe; Atom – Annie Balfe; Peewee – Rennie Peltier; Bantam – Austin Purvis and in Midget – Charlie Dow. In the obstacle course (tyke and novice only) the winners were Roen Dechesne and Madison McCarville.
Next was the one-on-one breakaways where the champs were: Tyke – Sean Simon; Novice Keynan Bowerman; Atom – Cameron Johns; Peewee – Caleb Genereux; Bantam – Nick Purvis; Midget – Alex Smith.
In the top goalie skills the winners included: Tyke – Bryn West; Novice – Alesha Beam; Atom – Andrew Cooper and Eric Vanier; Peewee – Julian Wemigwans; Bantam – Aaron Recollet; Midget – Ashton Kozeyah.
In the most accurate shot: Atom – TJ Green; Peewee – Ethan Dey; Bantam – Jake Robinson; Midget – Bryce Draper. The hardest shot was from: Atom – Aiden Case; Peewee – Dustin Trudeau, Midget – Levi Morrison.
And finally in the four-person team relay: Novice – Little Shot Disturber; Atom – Cheetahs, Peewee – Wiki T-Birds, Bantam – JK Auto Storm and Midget’s – Manitoulin Puck Hogs.
In summation, it was a marvelous event, a boon to the players and Emi and the entire Island.
NOSSA and OFSSA Gymnasts!
Congratulations to the Manitoulin Novice Aerobic Gymnastics quartet of Kendra Jordison, Zabrina Cosby, Summer Beaudin and Mackenzie Cortes who took the team bronze at their recent northern Ontario championships. The team then travelled to Belleville for OFSAA April 9-11th. Just this past Monday on the all-Ontario stage, Mackenzie won the silver medal on Level 3 Uneven Bars (with a score of 9.05), silver medal on Level 3 Beam (with a score of 9.4), and placed 4th on Level 3 Vault (with a score of 9.375). Way to go team, including of course their Coach, Heather Theijsmeijer.
Ice Chips…
Congratulations to Carson Shawana for cleaning up at the Nickel City Sons major Peewee banquet last week. Carson, who is a big tough fella walked off with the team’s best defensive defenseman trophy. In addition he was awarded the “team comedian” trophy, no kidding, the “AAA” Sons have a trophy for that role. From his way more years coaching than me, my Dad can attest from my years of coaching that a dressing room “cut up” indeed is an important part of a team.
Hats off to the daughter of former Manitoulin Panthers defenseman/forward Craig Ferguson who was an important part of the 1988 Nickel District League midget champions. Caitlin or “Fergie” as she is naturally called was integral to the St. Charles College Cardinals League champions in the Sudbury high school league. If she pays attention like her dad did in his days, no wonder she’s a valuable commodity.
Kallaway Mercer (son of Travis and grandson of Bruce Mercer) is playing for the Toronto Marlboros “AAA” Major bantams. The team just won the Bantam AAA Provincial Championship in Thunder Bay last week going undefeated: 8-0. They also won the championship of the G.T.H.L. and the John Reid Memorial Tournament in Edmonton against some of the top teams in Canada. Next year will be his draft year and he will be playing for the Toronto Marlboros Minor Midget team. Good luck, Kallaway.
Three Wikwemikong lads were invited to play in a Northern tournament this past weekend. Tanner Webkamigad and Greg Trudeau-Paquet played for the Nemaska Chiefs while Evan Peltier was the goaltender for the Eastman Snipers. There were 11 Northern teams in all.
Those who followed the Jr. A Manitoulin Wild/Islanders will remember players such as they Dale Herodier, Corey Metatawabin, Jody Biederman, etc. from the far north. There is a good connection hockey and friend-wise between the communities now and everyone knows who the most talented players are and the Island boys fit in perfectly. Trudeau-Paquet led the 25th Annual Cree tournament held in Val D’or Quebec in round-robin scoring with eight points which included two goals in the first 40 seconds of the first game. He later added another to complete the hat-trick. In still another game he added five assists. Though his squad was first in the round-robin they were upset in the quarter-final game.
… and divots
The name of Greg Trudeau-Paquet is often on these pages and will be again but his younger brother, Izzy is also a talented athlete. Although not a competitive hockey player he definitely is a top-notch footballer. He is a member of the talented St. Charles College Cardinals where he is a devastating tackler from his defensive position. His prowess was has earned him an invitation to join the Sudbury City juniors’ football squad.
Mindemoya’s Evan Bayer a former star goalie with the local rep Panthers, a few years back now lives in Calgary and still competes in all kinds of elite endurance sports. Congratulations to him and his recent engagement. His big date is July 6th as he joins in marriage to the lovely, Agatha Keay. Best of luck to a real stand-up guy.
A good sport is good for sports. chipstoquips@gmail.com
