2012 Tubie Races in Morrisburg

They came, they played, they conquered and now the Seaway Spartans have their work cut out for them.

Friday, at the Morrisburg Arena, the first leg of the series for the Dundas County Hockey Cup was played between Seaway District High School and North Dundas, and when it was over it was the Devils in control.

The event opened in front of more than 400 cheering Seaway fans with the girls hitting the ice in an exciting game that ended with the Devils in the winner’s circle by a 2-0 count.

After a scoreless first period, the Devils’ Taylor Cummins (from Amanda Carkner) opened the scoring early in the second period. Tori Corkery (from Bailey Mike) made it 2-0 for the Devils midway through the third.

Cashelle Baldwin was in net for the Devils, and Megan Van Allen handled the Spartans’ action.

The boys match remained scoreless until the final seconds of the first period when Andrew Jarvis scored, unassisted, for the Spartans.

The goal didn’t sit well with the Devils who charged back 30 seconds into the second period with a Mark McRae counter. Five minutes later McRae made it 2-0. Garrett Milne scored once more for the Devils for a 3-1 advantage as action headed into the third.

Ryan Byers counted twice for the Devils in the third for the 5-1 victory.

The second set of games  to complete this year’s Dundas Cup will be played in Chesterville this Friday, March 2. In addition to the high school teams, the day will feature Intermediate hockey action which will kick off the event at 10 a.m. The girls varsity game will follow at 11 a.m and the boys will hit the ice at approximately 12:15 p.m.

Seaway High’s hockey coach Carrie Gilmour says the Spartans have had a busy season.

“The girls made the playoffs and will be competing Wednesday (February 29) in Long Sault against CCVS. The boys missed the playoffs due to a three-way tie that went down to goals for and against. Even though we lost several close games, we certainly played better than last year (Seaway’s first year of hockey).”

Although Gilmour and her teams were disappointed with the  Friday game outcomes, she was happy with the event.

“I was thrilled beyond all of my expectations from the students, the staff and our community for the Spartan pride that was demonstrated on Friday. It was an activity that was enjoyed by every age group; from the MPS kindergarten class, the grade 6 classes from Iroquois and Morrisburg Public Schools who attended as a transition activity, to the parents/grandparents and Seaway alumni who came out to cheer the kids on.”

“To look across the ice surface and see over 400 people dressed in black and orange and cheering for the kids that you know have worked very hard for this moment is something very special, and I will carry that with me for a very long time.”

South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke got the event rolling with the official puck drop for Spartans’ captain Michaela Morrow and Demons’  captain Tori Corkery. Seaway’s Jennifer Howard sang O’ Canada. 

The event included a Chuck a Puck fund raiser and a shoot-out between Seaway principal Terry Gardiner and North Dundas coach Mike Deighton. 

[…]

Friday, July 13 was anything but ‘unlucky’ for 17 year old Marc Beckstead of Morrisburg. It was the day the talented right winger signed with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.

Beckstead, a late cut from the Frontenacs last year,wisely spent last season with the Cumberland Grads in the Central Junior Hockey League where he had a good year and followed the advice of the Frontenacs.

“I’ve been working really hard. I’ve been training for it and it paid off,” said Beckstead at his Morrisburg home on Monday.

Beckstead had a good season with the Grads. In 57 games, the 16 year old counted 12 goals and added 27 assists. He worked on body conditioning throughout the year to put on some size. 

Last weekend (July 6-8), it, along with many years of dedication and hard work, paid off when he stood out at an NHL Showcase camp in Belleville.

In addition to putting up a few points and playing well at the camp, Beckstead experienced his first fight.

Although he says he has been in tussles before, it’s “never been like drop the gloves.”

According to his dad Ernie, the fight didn’t hurt a bit…in fact it showed the scouts that Marc can handle himself.

At the camp, the five foot 11, 175 pound Beckstead drew the attention of the Frontenacs’ scout, who, they later learned, contacted Frontenacs General Manager Doug Gilmour and Coach Todd Gill and suggested they stop in.

“I went down to see him…this past weekend,” said Gill in an interview with CKWS Television in Kingston, “and he was like a man amongst boys. He is a very talented kid, lots of speed, good size. He’s a play maker more than a goal scorer, but he can put  the puck in the net. I see him fitting right in on the right side and he’s a right-handed shot which is what we needed.”

Also at the camp, Beckstead was being scouted by the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the United States Hockey League (USHL), which is listed among the top junior leagues in North America, along with the OHL.

The USHL is said to be a focussed and fast track to both the NHL  and scholarships to play NCAA Division I U.S. hockey.

After returning home to Morrisburg, Beckstead first received a call from Cedar Rapids with an offer on Sunday night at about 9 p.m.

Within minutes he received a second call from his agent Shane Sullivan to inform him that the Frontenacs were offering him a contract.

And so began several days of talks…as Marc and his parents, Ernie and Leisa, worked on making the best decision.

An education component was a big factor in their decision and when they were able to work out an education plan with the Frontenacs that was to their satisfaction, the decision was made.

Marc will head to Kingston in late August. He will be enrolled in grade 12 at a Catholic High School there and will be billeted with a local family. Post secondary considerations are also included in his contract.

“This is surreal,” says Marc. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the call. This has always been my dream. I’m still on cloud nine.”

Training camp will start for the Frontenacs in September, and they will  bring their relatively young team this direction  in September for an exhibition game with the Brockville Braves.

In addition to his dad and mom, Marc was accompanied to Friday’s signing in Kingston by a number of family members. They were all given a tour of the K-Rock Centre where the Frontenanacs play their home games.

“The home opener is against Barrie, and we are going to have all of our family and friends there,” said a very proud Ernie. 

Beckstead was drafted by the Frontenacs in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection in the 14th round (270th overall).

He was also drafted second overall by the Cumberland Grads in the Central Hockey League Bantam and Midget-aged draft last year and ended up playing for the Grads for the season.

[…]

The annual Ryder Cup competition was played at the Morrisburg Golf Club on Saturday, and when the battle between the Patenaude teams was all over it was the Andy teaming winning over the Monique team 10 points to four.

Andy Patenaude who is the men’s captain and Monique Patenaude who captains the ladies section selected their teams on Friday night from the 29 participating golfers and then matched up their pairing for the Saturday competition.

Then on Saturday morning, the teams hit the links, following pep talks from their respective captains to compete in two player match plays. Holes 1-6 were played as a better ball (low ball), holes 7-12 as alternate shot and holes 13-18 as a scramble. 

The twosomes earned two points for a win against their opponents and one point for ties.

Picking up two points for the Andy team were Linda Barclay and Larry Cooper against Len Arksey,  Charlie Moore and Linda Henderson; Dave McClenaghan and Barry Henderson against Donnie Mabo and Kitty Moore; Bob Barclay and Anita Cooper against Bryan Cochrane and Laurie Dillabough; Andy Patenaude two points against Monique Patenaude and Vicki Boivin.

Splitting their two available points were the pairings of: Lori Davies and Judy Laurin versus Phil Dillabough and Donna Dillabough; Jim Jamieson and Doug Warner against Lee Beaupre and Terry Laurin.

The team of Candace Jamieson and Ken Rundle scored the lone two pointer for the Monique team, playing against Wayne Hutt and Elsie Guindon.

“It was a lot of fun for everyone,” said the losing captain Monique.

And winners or losers, each team got their cake, and got to eat it too.

[…]