Save Our Arena!
A pancake supper fundraiser is set for April 1 at the Freshwater Community Church in Mindemoya. Organizers are not fooling with the date or the subject: saving the JH Burt Arena! The importance of the building has been a hot-button issue for decades. I recall locals talking about applying for Wintario grants back in the 70s! The fact that most will not even recall the defunct lottery means it has been too long.
Marie Ford, who is and has been a coveted community-minded volunteer over many years might have had to become the unofficial spokesperson of this latest effort. She and many others are so frustrated after the JH Burt Memorial has once again been forced to close due to safety concerns, this time due to the west wall. Everything is at another standstill while the township waits for another feasibility report.
This arena has been the heart of the community since it was built! Central Manitoulin residents surely must understand that the whole community benefits and not just those who have a kid in hockey? If we lose it, then what? Where do we hold the events that make Mindemoya a place people want to spend their money?
It can and has been a four-season asset to Central Manitoulin. CMPS has hosted the longest running, school-based agricultural fair in Ontario that uses the arena to display all of the entries. There was a vibrant farmers’ market there in the summers. It is the Lions’ Homecoming Weekend hub. We had summer basketball courts painted for kids’ recreation programs. Pearson Cup, Youth Ball Tournament. Rib Fests, etc.
So, if you can please get on out for the ‘all you can eat’ pancake, bacon and sausage dinner on April Fool’s Day 5-7 at the Freshwater Church (51 Yonge Street). Marie and Karlene Scott (another rare breed of volunteer) are the main contact people and hope to help serve up as many meals as they can. They are even offering up delivery if you live close by! The event is set for 5 to 7 pm.
Panther Points!
The Manitoulin Lady Panthers headed south to attend the Toronto Leaside Wildcats March Matchup Tournament. Game 1 on Friday morning was against one of three Leaside Wildcat teams. The U-18 Panthers came away with a 3-0 win with Ava Corbiere scoring two goals, Emery Watson with the other and a shut out going to goalie Brynn Best.
Next, the Panthers took on a very strong Ottawa Ice team and lost 2-0 in a tough game. Saturday saw the Lady Panthers take a 5-1 win against the Buffalo Regals, with goals coming from Zee Toulouse, Zahara Dube and Kayla Lockeyer with a hat trick. In their third game, the girls faced a second Leaside Wildcats team and won with a score of 2-1, with both goals coming from Ava Corbiere.
This set the Lady Panthers up for the semi finals against the third Leaside Wildcats team, with the Panthers pulling off a 2-0 win. Ava Corbiere and Carlynn Simon netted the goals, while Brynn Best secured another shutout. This win put the Lady Panthers into their very first championship final. They came up against a very tough Walkerton Capitals team the girls took a 1-0 lead with a goal scored by Kayla Lockeyer. As time was winding down the Capitals came back and scored two late 3rd period goals and took a 2-1 lead to win the game. Congratulations, girls, this tournament will be a good warm up for the Lady Panthers as they return to Southern Ontario in April for the OWHA Provincial Championships.
While the ladies were away, the U13 Panthers hosted the North Shore Thundercats at Nemi Arena. Maximus Panamick scored 2 goals and Parker Polden-Woodley scored a third to bring the score to 6-3 for the Cats. The U15 Panther squad packed the house for their very last home game.
Fifteen of 17 of these players age out of the Manitoulin Panthers organization this year, with six having played together since Novice. It was a fast paced game, with goals from Kobe Mayers and Cohen Rajotte and a shutout for Liam Stephens. This 2-0 victory was the 28th consecutive win for the U15 Panthers. The U15s head to their Tournament of Champions in Temiskaming Shores next weekend, while the U13s continue to practice for their TOCs in Iroquois Falls on the first weekend in April.
Manitoulin invades Renegades Tournament!
The Gore Bay Bruins were well represented in the annual Valley East Renegades event. The U9 Bruins won the Renegades U9C Final and brought home Gold. It was a nail-biting championship game for the U9s with Archie Noble tying up with just four seconds left in the 3rd, sending it to overtime. Alec Mills then scored in overtime giving them the trophy! Hats-off to all of U9s there: Finn Aube, Laken Gravelle, Taylor Mclean, Archie Noble, Ameliya Lane, Nora Crawford, Maylee Wheale, Alec Mills, Aubree Robinson, Adam Honess and Ace Hardy.
There was a Manitoulin final in the Hilda Kingsley U11B Final with the Manitowaning Wolves drawing the Gore Bay Bruins. It was an exciting match with thew Wolves edging out the Bruins. Congrats to gold winners: Niklaus Pangowish, Trapper Cyr, Kewadin Osawamick, Chase Atkinson, Vincent Hemstreet, Gus Spry, Michael Jamieson, Grace Corbiere, Lucas Assiniwe, Simon Page, Walter Weber, Lincoln Kriegizas and Livia Disalvo. Getting silver, congratulations as well to: Emily Ollington, Greta Von Schmeling, Blair Noble, Alex Woods, Dawson Honess, Bryden Wheale, Cameron Chaytor, Nixon Lane, Reid Flood, Lincoln Hardy, Matthew Merrylees, Jack Harris and Arlo Menzies.
The Bruin U13s lost in the Andrew Brunette final, getting silver. They fought their way to the final with an overtime win against Manitowaning Saturday night, allowing them to play in the final game Sunday. Way to go: Sadie Hardy, Jaxon Gravelle, Cole Paling, Riley Hubbard, Adrienne Baker-Orford, Rowyn Pfeifer, Emma Chaytor, Rowan Mccann, Aaron Mcleod, Wesley Cullen, Jacob Payette and Ejay Gilmore!
The Bruins U15 and U18 teams are going to the Copper Cliff, Ken Creasey tournament April 4-6 as will other Island clubs as well. If only Manitoulin only had another operational arena that could host one of these late-season, for-fun tournaments that would make the Island a destination?
Providence Bay Curling kids, clean-up!
Joshua Joyce and Abby Lauber participated in the Hit-Draw-Tap provincials in North Bay on March 21. Josh was in the 6-7-year-olds category and Abby in the 8-9-year-old category. They both did an awesome job throwing their shots and Josh placed first in Northern Ontario!
Also in the Bay, Silva Verboom, Amber Ducharme, Sarah Joyce, David Joyce and Parker Johnston represented Providence Bay at Curling Canada’s U15 Rockfest East from March 21-23 in North Bay.
Earlier in the season, these curlers participated in a singles competition in Providence Bay, which then qualified them to attend Rockfest, where there were 72 U15 curlers from across Ontario and Quebec. The Rockfest event involves skill development clinics, triples games and singles competition qualifiers and finals. David Joyce qualified for the finals of the singles competition! All the curlers learned a lot and did a great job representing Providence Bay and Manitoulin!
Ko Show closed for the season!
Kohyn Eshkawkogan’s season is done with the OHL’s Ottawa 67’s. They didn’t squeak into playoffs as hoped, just being edged by the North Bay Battalion in the Eastern Conference, but Kohyn won two Rookie of the Year awards this weekend! One from the Team and one from the 67’s Booster Club. He was awarded in a ceremony along with Head Coach Dave Cameron after his 500th team win!
He had a good year and ended up leading all 2008 born D this year in OHL scoring with 4 G, 20 points and a -5 +/-. Also the Academic Player of the Month for December. He will now focus on his school work and training for next year! Best of luck, Kohyn.
