Lions split games, keep the Rebels in sight

It may not seem like it due to the cold winter weather, but spring is just around the corner and soccer with the South Dundas Soccer Association is not far behind.

Coming up on Saturday, March 7, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Iroquois Civic Centre, is the first of two registrations for this year’s soccer program in Iroquois.

Good news for all participants is that the fees for the 2015 season remain unchanged at $40 per child. For the $40 per player participants receive his/her shirt and lunch during the final tournament. 

In addition the $40 covers 10 weeks of fun, playing soccer and making new friends and it will all start this year on Saturday, May 23. 

The year end tournament will run July 24-25, and association president Phillip Blancher says some special events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the South Dundas Soccer Association and the 15th anniversary of the World Cup Soccer finale weekend are in the works.

South Dundas soccer runs on Saturday mornings in Iroquois from 8 am. until 11 a.m. and this year’s program is available to youth born from 1997 to 2010 (the youngest). Soccer is offered in  five age divisions U-6 (5-6 years), U-8 (7-8 years), U-10 (9-10 years) U-13 (11-13 years) and U-18 (14-18 years).

The number of players in each age category determines the number of teams, and the Saturday morning schedule is a fixed schedule with the U-8 and U-10 playing at 8 a.m., the U-6 and U-13 at 9 a.m. and the U-18 at 10 a.m.

It is because player numbers determine team numbers, that it is so important that players are registered at one or the other of the two upcoming March registrations. (The second is Friday, March 27 from 6-9 p.m. at the Civic Centre in Iroquois). There is also a late fee of $20 per child.

“Last year we had just over 400 kids on 34 teams across the five divisions. We played a total of 253 games of soccer including the tournament games,” says Blancher of the very popular program.

Players participate in one hour sessions on Saturday mornings with the first half used to work on skills and the second half to play a game. Standings are kept, mainly to provide a seeding for the team in the final tournament. “It helps us to schedule for the year-end tournament. We try to balance it at the final tournament so that everyone can have some success and fun.”

Volunteers are a key to the success of the South Dundas Soccer Program. 

“We will have the canteen open if we can get enough volunteers to run it. We need volunteer parents and students for the canteen, to help with the fields and cutting the grass. While the school board and the municipality mow, it isn’t always optimum to when we need to use the field. We need people to line the fields, to set up and take down the nets, to set out the road cones to shut down the street and to coach.”

“We certainly have lots of volunteer hours for high school students who need to get their hours in. And of course, any help from anyone is greatly appreciated.”

Blancher says the program is run with the belief that everyone has the right to play. “It doesn’t matter if there is a disability, we will work with a player’s disability and make it their strength.”

The association also doesn’t allow cost to stand in the way of a child participating. Because the cost per player of $40 is bare bones, family discounts are not available. However, the South Dundas Soccer works with the Canadian Tire Jumpstart Program and the Upper Canada District School Board’s Champions for Kids, both programs available to provide financial assistance to families who need help.

“We also have some other funding sources to help out so that anyone who wants to play soccer can. Cost is not a factor. We have a cleat exchange to help out, and we hope to have it available at the registrations.”

Soccer cleats and shinguards are mandatory for all players this year.

Blancher is pleased that a number of sponsors have returned to the soccer field this year and it is thanks to these local businesses that registration fees remain low. Sponsors come on board to sponsor colours and so if their colour is red then they sponsor the red shirts in each age category that has a red team.

For the sponsorship, the sponsors get their logo on the back of the shirts, they are featured on the Associations’ website, in programs and in any form of press release.

“These sponsorships really help us out by offsetting some of our costs (like insurance),” says Blancher. “Because of the great sponsorships we had last year, we didn’t have to increase our fees this year. That is really great, and we are very appreciative of the community support we receive.”

To save time, registration and volunteer forms can be printed and filled out in advance from the Association’s website: www.southdundassoccer.org.  Cash or cheques are acceptable.

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The annual Seaway Spartans Golf Tournament is set for August 27th at the Iroquois Golf Club. The tournament is a fundraiser in support of the athletic programs at Seaway District High School and is sponsored […]

The South Dundas Midget B House Lions will be looking to stay alive tonight (Wednesday, March 7) when game two of their championship series against the North Dundas Demons comes to town.

The series opened in Winchester, on Sunday, with a 5-1 Demons win.

The Lions posted the lone goal of the first period from the stick of Jason Gallinger with help from  Joel Johnston and Randy Picotte.

That was it, however, as the Demons charged back for three unanswered second period goals and polished it off with another two in the third.

Josh Jaquemet led the Demons charge with three goals, and singles were added by Austin Carruthers and Mike Ladoucer.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 8 p.m., tonight (Wednesday, March 7) in Morrisburg.

The Morrisburg B House Lions finished the regular season in third place with seven wins, 14 losses and three ties.

In quarterfinal playoff action, the Lions eliminated the Akwesasne Wolves in two games straight by 1-0 and 2-1 scores.

Then in semi-final action they met the Smith Falls Bears.

This time out they lost the series opener 2-0, but then battled back to claim the series with 3-1 and 3-2 wins. 

That put them into the final against the North Dundas Demons.

Scoring the lone goal for the Lions in game one against the Wolves was Sawyer Gillard with David Plamondon and Cole Veinotte providing the assists.

In game two, Chase Dedekker and Darrin Stinson provided the Lions goals.

After the opening game 2-0 loss to the Smiths Falls Bears, the Lions were on home ice last Tuesday, February 28 where they got back on track with the 2-1 win.

It was another back and forth game, with both teams getting lots of shots. Lions goaltender Hunter Jones, however, was solid in net.

After a scoreless first period, Sawyer Gillard, with help from Cole Veinotte, put the Lions on the scoreboard.

The Lions couldn’t hold on and before the second period ended the Bears had tied it, 1-1.

The victory goal came from the stick of defenseman, Chase Dedekker in the third period, with Veinotte providing the assist, his second of the game.

Tied at two points apiece, the Lions returned to Smiths Falls on Thursday, March 1st for game three and took the series with a 3-2 win.

Once again it was a close encounter, with Lions goaltender Josh Martineau, coming up with some big saves for the victory.

Brandon Bass opened the scoring for the Lions with 27 seconds left in the second period, with help from Graydon Baylis and Matt Woolley.

Two minutes into the third period, Smith Falls tied the game 1-1 and then went up 2-1.

The Lions charged back with goals from Darrin Stinson and Spencer Sloan for the 3-2 win. Picking up assists were  Baylis, Nick Lalonde and Veinotte.

When coach Claude Plamondon was questioned what his strategy was, he replied “to at least out score the other team by one”.

That plan will be in effect tonight, in Morrisburg, when the Lions battle to stay alive against the North Dundas Demons. Game time is 8 p.m. Game three of the series, if necessary, will be played in Chesterville this Thursday night, March 8.

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