Gallingers are tops in two-ball action

 

 Although the Intermediate sports program came to an end at the annual Athletic Banquet held at the school on June 14 the track and field season was still going strong.

The Intermediate track and field athletes finished off a hugely successful season with participation in the East Regional Meet followed by the Leeds Grenville Elementary School Athletic Association Championship Meet (LGESAA) at TISS in Brockville last Tuesday, June 19. 

It was at the Championship that Alex Satura and Brynn Gilmour capped off a hugely successful season that saw them collect top senior male and female athlete awards at the South East Regional meet held a week earlier.

“It’s been a long track and field season, but it was a good season,” said Intermediate track and field coach Robin Gibbs of Seaway’s Regional results which saw 40 athletes advance to the Championship. “At the championship we had a lot of personal bests. A lot of our grade 7’s did really well which is nice for next year. We have a lot of really good athletes.”

At the Regional, Satura posted firsts in high jump (1.50 m), long jump (4.79 m) and shot put (11.99 m) to win top male athlete.

On the track, Gilmour ran to first place finishes in the 400 m (1:07.47), the 800 m (2:42.84) and the 1500 (5:35.34) on the way to her top athlete award. In doing so she set new meet records in the 800 and 1500 m runs.

Also at the Regional, Emma Barkley was third in junior high jump (1.10m). Kyle Ault had a good day at the junior boys level picking up a first in the 200 m (31.75) and a second in the 400 m (1:11.66).

Emily Hector posted a first in the senior girls 60 m (9.09), Kaitlyn Stewart had a first in Triple Jump (8.96 m) and Maggie Wells was first in shot put (9.63 m).

Hector added thirds in the 100 m (15.23) and the 200 m (31.35).

Sophia Currier posted a second in the 200 m (31.06) and a third in the 400 m (1:11.07).

Other second place finishes went to Serena Armstrong in the 1500 m (6:21.72), Sierra Dodge in high jump (tie) 1.18 m and Teisha Mullin in triple jump (8.14 m). Kaitlyn Stewart was third in long jump (3.90m), and Hanna McLean was third in shot put (7.94m).

At the senior boys level, Dillan Sullivan scored a first in triple jump (10.01m).

Second place finishes were picked up by Isaiah Grant in the 400 m (1:03.19), Keanne vanDodewaard in high jump (1.35 m), and Cole Fowler in long jump (4.50 m).

vanDodewaard added a third in the 800 m, Randy Kellar a third in the 1500 m, Eric Baldwin a third in long jump and Jake Baelde was third in shot put.

At the Championship meet Seaway was represented with several strong performances.

Gilmour ran to a first in the 1500 in a personal best time of 5:22.4. She trimmed 13 seconds over her winning time at the Regional.

“It wasn’t a very good day for me,” said Gilmour who added a fourth place finish in the 800 m to her 1500 m win. Although she finished fourth in the 800 m, she ran it in 2:41.45 which was close to her winning time of 2:42.84 time  at Regional.

Satura said he was reasonably satisfied with his performance at the Championship where he jumped a PB in high jump at 1.66 m for a second place finish and threw 1.66 m for a second in shot put. 

Also producing solid performances a the championship were Maggie Wells with a second place finish in senior girls shot put (8.99 m) with teammate Hannah McLean close behind at 8.71 m for a fourth place finish. Sophia Currier posted a fourth in senior girls 200m (29.56). 

Picking up fifths were Emily Hector in Senior girls 60m (8.82 seconds) and Dillan Sullivan in senior boys triple jump with a 10.15 m jump.

The top region at the LGESAA was the Central Region.

[…]

 

Looking to the future of the team, as well as the interests of key players who have been major contributors over the past few years, the Morrisburg Junior B Lions management made some decisions prior to the January 10 deadline to benefit everyone involved.

“Most of our moves included our overage players, which provided the players with the opportunity to play in the playoffs in their last year of junior eligibility,” explained general manager Kevin Casselman.

Casselman was speaking of the release of goaltender Mikael Dion to the Winchester Hawks,  the release of top scorer Chris Rutley to the Perth Blue Wings, Sylvester Bzdyl (second in team scoring) to the Akwesasne Wolves and Dylan Casselman to Brockville.

“Dylan Casselman’s move to Brockville was to put closure on the previous deal made in bringing in 18-year-old Nicholas Pilon, and it also provided Dylan with an opportunity to play in the playoffs with his brother Tanner in Brockville.”

In addition, Casselman explained that Michel Lefebvre went to the Char-Lan Rebels on December 22, in a deal that sees his playing rights returned to the Lions next year.

“Michel has played with us for three seasons and has only played in one playoff series. This opportunity not only brings back some tangibles for next season, but also enables him to gain some valuable experience in a playoff run…which he will bring back to our organization next year.”

Also moved was midget-aged Ty Hodgson who went back to the Upper Canada Cyclones AAA Major Midgets. “This will provide Ty with an opportunity to play in the AAA branch championships in Brockville in the spring. Ty is affiliated with us and can play in five games after the January 10th deadline. It was a great opportunity for him to play with his age group at a very high level.”

Also in a five game affiliation situation is Nicholas Pilon who was moved back to a Smiths Falls juvenile card to allow him more hockey after February 9.

Although the Lions were hanging in, in most of their pre-January 10 games, they weren’t able to put any marks in the win column and they were guaranteed not to make the St. Lawrence Division playoffs.

So with a good look at their situation, Casselman says “Why not move in a direction to provide some valuable in-game teaching and development of our future with a start towards next season.

“We have 19 affiliated midget aged players that we felt could benefit by playing in our last 10 games or so. While the decision to move the overage players was for them to play…it was equally important for our organization to move in a youthful direction.”

In making the changes, 16-year-old Grant Cooper was named team captain.

“Grant has demonstrated a remarkable leadership level, well beyond his age, game in game out, every practice and every shift,” says Casselman.

So basically, what we have done is to play out the season “with the young players, teaching them with patience, while providing valuable in-game experience. Combined with our affiliated players and our signed players, we have 36 players eligible to play, 18 of which are 17 years of age and younger.”

This past Friday night, the young Lions were at home to the St. Lawrence Division’s first place Casselman Vikings.

The Vikings struck early and struck hard for a 3-1 first period lead as they worked their way to a 9-3 victory.

Eric Evans with help from Taylor Eamon and Steven Savage counted for the Lions in the first period.

Early in the second, Dylan Dejong (from Zach Sequin and Alex Primeau), cut the Vikings lead to 3-2.

But then it was back in the Vikings court for six consecutive goals, (three more in the second).

Grant Cooper (from Peter Ketcheson and Dylan Dejong) finished it off for the Lions at 12:04 of the third period.

The Lions sat out five minor penalties, and the Vikings were nabbed for six.

Ryan Cooper was in the Lions net for the loss. He faced 60 Vikings shots, while the Lions managed just 28 against Vikings goaltender Philippe Quesnel.

Sunday, the Lions were on the road to Gananoque, where they lost to the Islanders, 9-0.

Islanders goaltender Drew Lawson stopped 24 Lions shots for his shutout while Ryan Cooper gave up the nine goals on 54 shots.

The Islanders led 4-0 after the first period and 6-0 after two. They scored one power-play goal in six opportunities.

Coming up this Friday, January 25, the Lions head to Winchester to take on the fourth place Hawks. Sunday, January 27 they host the Alexandria Glens. Game time is 2:30 p.m.

The Lions players and management are counting on the continued support of the hockey community as they work towards next year with this young squad.

[…]

 

It has been confirmed that the Morrisburg Junior Lions will be back on the ice this fall, as they skate into their first season with the National Capital Junior Hockey League (NCJHL).

President/general manager Kevin Casselman has announced that the Lions have been accepted into the National Capital League for the upcoming season.

“We are excited to continue to offer junior hockey in Morrisburg,” says Casselman, who says he was notified of the Lions acceptance through an e-mail from league president Ian McRae, immediately following a Monday, April 20 league meeting.

The e-mail reads, “Morrisburg Lions were accepted with a vote of 9-0. Welcome aboard.”

Also in the e-mail it was announced the NCJHL will play in two divisions, a South Division which will include the Morrisburg Lions with teams from Embrun, North Dundas, St. Isidore and Vankleek Hill. 

The North Division will include La Peche, Papineauville, Cumberland and Rockland.

According to the e-mail, “each team will play three home and three away games in its division and one home and one away against the other division. Protected areas will be minor hockey base for Morrisburg.”

“As was mentioned it was a unanimous vote of 9-0 from the league teams for our acceptance, which is really encouraging,” says Casselman.

According to Casselman, the Lions management is in the process of finalizing everything from last season. “We will be sitting down over the next couple weeks to close up outstanding business within the Rideau-St. Lawrence conference and following that we will be closing up affairs and business with the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey league.”

Casselman expects team management to be busy over the next months with the plans for talks with eligible returning players, coaching staff, team volunteers and graduating midget players and local minor hockey associations.

“We will try our best to reach out to everyone with our plans,” says Casselman. “If anyone has questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We welcome the opportunity to discuss our visions and objectives.”

[…]