Carter George and Kohyn Eshkawkogan updates!
Carter George, now a paid employee of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings after he signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Kings earlier this summer. Currently, his job has him prepping for the annual, Rookie Faceoff that is to be hosted by the Kings this year. The Rookie Faceoff is annually hosted by one of the participating seven teams. It gives each organization a good, game-situation look at all their prospects. Some of the Kings’ on the roster have already played in this event before so Carter will get some great experience from potentially older players.
The 10-game showcase will feature the top prospects from the NHL clubs, also including the Anaheim Ducks, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Utah Hockey Club and Vegas Golden Knights. The Kings will play three games this weekend and all will be live-streamed through the NHL site’s Kings’ page. Good luck, Carter!
Kohyn Eshkawkogan, was recently featured on the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s You Tube feed. He was shown in a media scrum after a day of their training camp sessions. Kohyn handled himself very well despite some of the reporters’ awkward questions! He was a great representative for the 67’s, for Manitoulin and Indigenous people as he addressed his background. I am sure he will be called upon to speak many more times in the near future. Good luck this season, Kohyn!
Ramsey Tour-ists!
Manitoulin was represented by at least three runners in Sudbury’s annual Ransey Tour Half Marathon. Local runner, Brooke Simon of Sheguiandah First Nation, completed her first 1/2 Marathon, a goal she set early this year. She finished second in her division with a time of 2h 28m. The Ramsey Tour 1/2 Marathon is hosted by The Sudbury Masters Running Club.
Mila Odjig, of Wiikwemkoong has also been training for this 1/2 marathon since the early spring, with her trainer/coach and Grandpa, Stephen Odjig! She ran a great race in under 2 hours with a fabulous, 1:59:19. Grandma Sarah Odjig was the support crew and relayed that, “Mila just turned 14 in March but there were no restrictions of age and she really wanted to try and she made it with her commitment, dedication and love of running”. Her coach said, “she was so ready for the race, she was like a spring ready to go. She was very well paced and had a great finish”. That she did with a first place in her division and 9th overall!
Aurel Fox-Recollet has seen a spate of wins lately and repeated, this time, in the Tour. He ran the hilly Ramsey course in 1:25:14, that is barely over 4 minutes for every single kilometer! Ever!
Not quite Fall, Ball
Congratulations to the LaCloche Lakers Peewees who had a great time at the tourney in Espanola. They lost in the semis, but they had a blast Congratulations to players: Liam Stephens, Corie Brown, Cohen Rajotte, Megan Roszell, Ryan Carter, Sierra Elliott, Roen Deschenes, Emma Foucault, Bryden Romaniuk, Gabby Gagne and Reid Martin. Thanks to Coaches, Scott Stephens and Nelson Deschenes!
Runners’ events!
The Sudbury Rocks Running Club list nearby races. This weekend is the continuation of the Apex Trail Series with the final, Warrior Race. You choose your distance, from 1 to 50km options all on trail or some semblance of a trail apparently.
The weekend of October 5-6th is a very interesting take on ultra running. It is called the Backyard Ultra and it all takes place all on a 6.7km trail in Kivi Park. ‘Simply’, you complete one lap per hour! You even choose how slow or fast you travel. You can run hard then sleep, eat, play parchesi or just walk the whole time.
What a great format! Instead of a usual, lonely distance race, in this case, every hour, the remaining group starts together cheering everyone on. You are absolutely equal every hour that you last! Also, the 6.7km is a special distance because if you can do this for 24 hours you will have run a Metric Century of 100km! Time to crank out another Century, Allen Haner?
If you are not running in Kivi Park then you should be at the jewel of their race calendar, the annual Wiky Road Race! Sunday October 6th is the fifty-something edition of the 10k race! How many have you run?
Sporting Legacy, secured
Anytime I cover a local athlete, there is often a story to be told about their parent or grandparent as well. I am always reminded that genetics of course plays a role in forming a familial legacy in sports but as importantly, is the model shown by the generations who came before. One sporting legacy in M’Chigeeng is the Debassige lineage through Albert (Bud) Debassige, who began his spirit journey last week.
Through the many memories shared of Bud, there was a common thread of family and generosity. The legendary generosity was shared with his family and friends in much more than help with dollars. Bud gave of himself as well by being an amazing supporter. He did this with his sons, Derek and Neil who rose to the varsity level and local sports, stardom! With that experience, he was supremely qualified then for the grandkids who he urged on to all-Ontario level, success! The legacy continues, Baa ma pii, Bud.
A good sport is good for sports. chipstoquips@gmail.com
