Maturity beyond his years!
Carter George has returned to his OHL’s Owen Sound Attack squad after a run at the IIHF World Junior tournament that ended before the medal round. Carter played tremendously well in the net despite numerous challenges on and off the ice of the well-hyped event. The World Juniors is always the cause of much handwringing amongst Canadian hockey experts and armchair aficionados before, during and after, yet George kept his keel even.
The annual promotion and discussion of the Junior’s is a media industry all on its own and the teenagers at the center of it all are always under tremendous scrutiny. However, we often lose sight of the fact that such focus is on not-yet, fully formed people. Although players are adult sized individuals, who among us would weather this pressure?
Carter, managed to silence the constant buzz with solid play and absolutely, giving the team in front of him every chance to win, but tough to manifest. Sounds like him and the Attack! Best of luck for the rest of your season, Carter!
Panther Points!
This weekend the Nemi Rec Centre stands were full of hockey fans as the Manitoulin Lady Panthers hosted four female hockey teams from across the North. On Friday night, the Lady Panthers were down 1-0 in the 3rd to the Kapuskasing Jaguars. The Jaguars netted another after the Panthers pulled their goalie to make it a 2-0 final. Congratulations to the game MVP, was Kayla Lockeyer.
On Saturday the Lady Panthers battled hard against Timmins Falcons and came out with a 1-1 tie. Ava Corbiere, who score the lone goal, was the MVP. Game 3 was a battle against a strong Temiskaming Shores Puckhounds team. Though they remained undefeated all weekend, the Lady Panthers kept it close all game and it ended in a 3-1 win for the Puckhounds. The Most Valuable Player was awarded to fearless rookie, Brinley Watson.
On Sunday, the Lady Panthers turned up the intensity and impressed a packed arena. They took down the Soo Jr. Greyhounds in a 4-1 win with Tessa Prior the MVP. The final game of their weekend was a rematch with the Kapuskasing Jaguars. The Lady Panthers dominated the game, and their fantastic Sunday showing ended in a 5-1 win against the Jaguars. The Most Valuable Player was handed to Zee Toulouse. The Manitoulin Lady Panthers would like to thank all the community helpers, friends and family of the team who so generously supported their endeavour to host their first Super-Weekend. It was a massive success and a great experience for girls’ hockey on Manitoulin.
Manitoulin minor hockey
The Manitoulin 3 on 3 Tournament is open for registration with 6 of 24 spots taken. The popular tournament is open to four divisions (U11, U13, U15 and U18) for the end of March event. Search Manitoulin 3 on 3 on the Facebook.
In Manitoulin Minor news, the lead for each division is spread widely around the island. The Gore Bay Bruins are first in U9, the Wiky Hawks Red team is atop the standings in U11, while the Manitowaning Wolves are first overall in U13, and the Little Current Flyers claim top spot in U15. In U18, the M’Chigeeng Thunderbirds are in first by two points over Gore Bay, though the Bruins have 4 games in hand! Get out and watch some local hockey but be positive in your cheering!
Off-Isle Ice!
The U18AA Sudbury Wolves’ and Wiikwemkoong’s Peyton Ominika were in tough against the New Liskeard Lions on Saturday although Peyton got his first goal of the season. It was an exciting game but Islanders Peyton, Paquis and Grayson missed the ‘W’.
Delaney ‘Boog’ Bridgeman was awarded the honor of assistant captain for her Canadore College Panther’s team.
The U13AA Copper Cliff Reds’ Evander Ominika-Shawana will be traveling to a couple of tournaments in the next few weeks. Ottawa this coming weekend and Pittsburgh in February! Have fun, Evander!
Jack Bridgeman notched a pair of goals as his Copper Cliff U16AA team won a pair against the Soo on Saturday, 6-3 and 3-0, moving to 16-3-4 on the season and fifth in the provincial rankings. He is off to the Silverstick International Finals in Newmarket on Thursday. Go for it, Jack!
A good sport is good for sports
