Mustang Minute
The Manitoulin Mustang boys’ hockey team continue to get their skating legs under them but suffered a loss against the powerful St. Charles Cardinals including a former house league teammate of several Mustangs, Tanner Webkamigad. Despite the early season loss the players are getting a lot of ice-time now and will surely get their game back. Point-getters for the local side includes Kyle Debassige with a goal and an assist. Greg Doane potted the other goal and one helper from Zachary Paul.
Island Sons continue to click!
This past weekend the Nickel City Sons Minor Bantam AAA side hosted their only northern foes, the North Bay Trappers, in back to back home games. Saturday afternoon’s offering saw Island hockey alumni Samuel Assinewai and Liam Bridgeman reunited as linemates for the first time since a tournament in August. Happy to be back together, the Island connection, alongside linemate and Sudburian Scooter Rienguette, celebrated by leading the way for the Sons offensively, accounting for both goals in a 2 – 2 tie. Not resting on their laurels in Sunday morning’s game, Liam, Sam and Scooter, highlighted by some outstanding passing plays, scored or set up all 4 markers in a 4 – 1 win. Carson Shawana was a stalwart D-man on the blue line as always. He is so tough to get by that the opposition have now learned that rolling the dice across his line is likely to result in a sudden, if not painful stop. Keep up the selfless play, boys!
Off their rock hockey
Greg Trudeau–Paquet is in Trenton this week as a star for the NOJHL’s entry. The event, the Eastern Canada Cup Challenge will showcase all of the best Junior A players. The NOJHL side lost their first game against the Central Ontario Junior League but will surely put up a stronger defence against the LHJQ Burrows. Good Luck, Greg. Greg’s brother Izzy Trudeau-Paquet, by the way, is a tenacious player for his St. Charles Cardinals’ football team.
Tanner Webkamigad will continue his staunch defence of the perennial powerhouse St. Charles Cardinals’ blue line again this year.
Meanwhile, another local Warrior backstops her high school squad up in the north-west. Hats off to Jennelle Manitowabi (daughter of Sam Manitowabi and wife, Jenn) who is leading her Sioux Lookout Warriors’ high school squad into another great season.
Panther alumni game
In addition to all the coverage of the amazing Panther Alumni game last Friday, I wanted to make sure to acknowledge a player skating for the Espanola Express who has deep Manitoulin roots. Jace Pitawanakwat, who is a Wiikwemkoong band member, stopped many rushes from the cagey veterans.
Also of note, two Panther Alumni, Mitchal Payette and Hunter Abotossaway, are now skating for the Bracebridge Pioneers of the “outlaw” CPJHL, Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League. The pioneers are riding a great opening to their season with an 8 and 2 record to grace second spot in their division.
Outdoor Education organization promotes to the world
The Wikwemikong Ontario Adventure Leadership Experience (OALE) presented the ideals and success of their program at the 45th International Outdoor Education Conference to Youth Workers and Outdoor experts from across the world in Montreal this past weekend. Community leader Lawrence Enosse was there to endorse OALE’s mission statement: ‘Promoting Resilience and Well-Being through an Outdoor Adventure Leadership Experience Designed for First Nations Youth.’
The OALE initiative has been taking local youth on a ten day excursion from Wikwemikong, up through Killarney and down the coast to the French River and has enabled scores of local youth to discover their potential when faced with such tough physical, social and mental challenges.
Condolences…
A great sport supporter has recently passed on Manitoulin. Russ Bond, father of Brad, a M.S.S. Mustang hockey team coach for many years. Russ always was a frequent and generous supporter of local and rep hockey through the years. Our thoughts are with all of his friends and family.
A good sport is good for sports
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