Folks not ready to give up on ball, just yet

For the second consecutive year, the North Dundas Devils are the holders of the Dundas County High School Hockey Cup following the final leg of action between the two Dundas County high schools, North Dundas and Seaway District, here on Friday, March 23.

In the final action, the North Dundas boys carved out an 8-0 victory over the Seaway Spartans to sweep the two game series. The Devils registered their first win on Morrisburg ice on Friday, February 24 by a 5-1 count.

Friday the Devils went up 1-0 in the first period, and then pushed it to 5-0 in the second period.

While the Seaway boys were unable to get much going against their opponents, the Seaway girls avenged themselves, for their opening game loss, with a 4-2 victory.

The Devils won the opening game in Morrisburg by a 2-0 count.

This time out the two played to a 1-1 first period tie, and Seaway moved ahead 3-2 in the second period as they headed for the 4-2 victory.

Lesley-Ann Tupper led the Seaway effort with two goals and singles came from the sticks of Vicki Van Hoof and Michaela Morrow.

The County Cup is awarded to the winning school based on the overall results from the home and home series. 

Although a similar hockey setup existed between the two school several years back, it was only re-introduced last year.

This also marked just the second year that Seaway has iced teams in the SD&G high school league.

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First year skaters in the Morrisburg and District Figure Skating Club’s (MDFSC) CanSkate program got a ‘big lift’ this year thanks to Steven and Trisha Morrow and their belief that “all Canadian children should have the opportunity to learn to skate”.

Steve explained Monday night during the first CanSkate skate night, that due to the costs of ice, coaches and insurance, the cost of skating for kids today is excessive, and he and Trisha wanted to find a way to help out.

“We feel that all kids should be able to learn to skate and finances shouldn’t be the deterrent,” added Trisha.

After discussing how they could help, the Morrows decided they would make a donation through their business, Morrisburg Chiropractic.
“Steven and Trisha have given us a donation to reduce the CanSkate ice fees for all of our first year skaters in the CanSkate Level I program,” explained figure skate club president, Julie VanHoof. “Basically, they came to us with their thoughts that every kid should have the opportunity to learn to skate.”

“What they have done is wonderful for the club and for the skaters,” said VanHoof. “We are hoping more skaters will take advantage of it and register with us over the next couple of weeks.”

According to VanHoof, MDFSC  has 45 youngsters in the CanSkate program and about half of them are first time skaters in the Stage One Level who benefitted from the Morrow’s donation. Another 30 skaters, skate at the Intermediate/Senior level StarSkate program and one skater is in the competitive stream.

Skaters can register through online forms, through registrar Laurie Pilon, or by popping into the arena (figure skate room) on Monday nights or Saturday mornings when the CanSkate program is on the ice.

“It came as such a wonderful surprise that someone would step up and help out our skaters like this,” said VanHoof. “It’s amazing for our club and really says something for our community.”

“We hope that at least this gives more children the chance to try skating, receive some coaching and as a Canadian learn how to skate,” says Trisha. “We are doing this for the first year skaters in the Stage I CanSkate program. Then if they like it (skating) they can make the choice to continue.”

The Morrows have two of their three children enrolled in the CanSkate program, Emma in her second year and Kai as one of this year’s crop of new skaters.

Registration fees for the CanSkaters vary according to the number of times per week they skate and the length of time on each of the nights.

The CanSkate Stage I skaters (3-5 years) can choose to skate either once or twice per week for 30 minutes sessions, while the Stage two (older youngsters) for the first time this year are on the ice for 50 minutes, again either once or twice per week. The CanSkate ice slots are on Monday nights and Saturday mornings.

“The parents can choose to have their child do both or either session, but the more they skate the sooner they will see their goals reached,” says VanHoof.

It is for that reason that Skate Canada is promoting the longer 50-minute CanSkate program available at Level II.

The Morrisburg club has three professional coaches and 17 program assistants on the ice to work with the CanSkaters.

In addition to the longer ice time for the Level 2s, the CanSkate program now includes more circuits so the skaters move more from one station to another.

“This is to make it more fun, to engage the little ones more,” explains VanHoof.

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“We had an incredible time on this trip,” said teacher/coach Lilace McIntryre who took her Seaway District High School senior girls volleyball team on the journey of a life time when they flew to Hawaii during March Break, 2012, to take part in the Sun and Surf Tournament run by Encore Sports. 

“In spite of rumours that Air Canada might strike, we had no problems at all,” McIntrye said. “The Hawaiian teams and their coaches who were our hosts at the tournament were very friendly and hospitable. And the students from Seaway did their school and community proud as ambassadors to the tournament.”

The students, 10 of them members of the Senior Girls Volleyball team, accompanied by four score keepers, had been planning for the trip to the United States competition for over a year.  They held a number of fund-raising events to help off-set costs while they were actually in Hawaii.  With chaperones and some family friends, 25 South Dundas travellers flew to the islands.

“We took part in one tournament, and played a number of exhibition matches,” McIntyre said. “Encore Sports, which operates the Sun and Surf Tournament, brings in schools of all sizes from across Canada and the U.S. The level of competition is very good. This was a chance for our Seaway girls to meet new competitors and to improve on our skills by playing outside our league.” Many of the Hawaiian teams were club teams, so the level of play was high. 

When they weren’t on the court, the Seaway students took in some of the famous sights in Hawaii. They visited Pearl Harbour, climbed up to Diamond Head and enjoyed a traditional luau. A high point of the holiday was a trip to the North Shore with its sandy beaches and big waves. “The girls learned just how powerful those big swell can be. We had to link arms to keep from being knocked down.” Despite a busy games schedule and special tours, the students still managed to find time to shop.

“We are planning a similar trip in about three years or so,” Lilace McIntryre explained. “It’s something the next group of Seaway players  can look forward to.”

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