Vikings Upend Lions

The South Dundas Bantam C Lions scored some big results at the 10th Annual Holiday House League tournament played at the Bell Sens Plex on the weekend of December 12-14. In fact, the Lions went all the way to the championship final before they lost out to the Kemptville Panthers, 3-1.

On their way to the final, the high flying Lions scored 19 goals, while goaltender Brett Froats gave up just three goals in four games and collected a pair of shutouts.

The Lions got it rolling on Friday, December 12 with a 4-1 win over the West End Dingoes. Then on Saturday, they put up a 6-0 win over the West End Scorch and a 7-0 win over the South End Moose Head.

Their undefeated record put them in the semi-final game against the Kanata North Stars, and in this game the Lions had their work cut out for them.

After the game ended in a 2-2 tie, two periods of overtime were required before the Lions were able to claim the win, on a goal scored by William Dejong, unassisted, on their power play.

That put them into the championship final against the Kemptville 73s who skated to a 3-1 win.

The Lions got rolling in the tournament against the West End Dingoes. They led 1-0 after the first period and had a 3-1 edge after two.

The scoring was provided by Max Garlough (from Brody Smail and Kendrew Byers), Smail (from Trinity Hanes and Noah Keeler), Kurtis Markell (from Garlough and Hanes) and Hunter Wells (from Byers).

Froats registered his first of two shutouts against the West End Scorch on Saturday, with Brody Smail leading the offence with a three goal performance. Singles came from the sticks of Julenea Barnhartd, William Dejong, Kurtis Markell and Max Garlough in the 7-0 victory.

Providing assists were Dejong, Kendrew Byers, Jacob Byvelds, Thomas Rae and Maddy Hummel.

Shut out number two, 6-0, and the Lions third consecutive victory was over the Southend Mooseheads.

Thomas Rae and Brody Smail had two goals apiece in this one, and Williams Dejong and Kendrew Byers added singles.

Max Garlough provided a pair of assists and Noah Keeler, Trinity Hanes and Smail assisted on one each.

The Lions met head on for some big opposition from the Kanata North Stars in the semi-final.

They went up 1-0 in the first period on a Thomas Rae goal assisted by William Dejong and Trinity Hanes.

After a scoreless second period, the North Stars came charging back with a pair of early third period goals for a 2-1 lead.

Midway into the third period, Julenea Barnhartd (from Dejong) found the spot to even it and that is how it stayed.

There was no scoring in the first overtime period setting the stage for Dejong’s winners, unassisted, while the Lions were on their power play in the second overtime period.

For the championship the Lions met up with the Kemptville Panthers.

They kicked off the scoring 5:50 into the second period with a Hunter Wells goal assisted by Smail and Noah Keeler.

They were able to hold on to their lead until early in the third when Regan Hackett struck for the Panthers to tie it.

Two quick goals from Alexander Rusch gave the Panthers the 3-1 win and the tournament championship.

[…]

A visit to Canada has been a dream come true for 13-year-old Swedish hockey player Douglas Palm. 

And a stay with his host family in Morrisburg has been a wonderful experience.

Palm is a goaltender for a visiting Skargarden hockey club from Ockero, Sweden one of 10 islands in the municipality of Gothenburg.

The team arrived in Montreal on Thursday, March 29 to start the first leg of a trip they have been saving and fund raising for, for three years.

From Montreal, it was a bus trip to Brockville where each of the players met with their host families on Friday night, March 30.

For Palm, who speaks three languages (Swedish, English and German), it was a meeting with his host player Cole Beckstead of Morrisburg and his family Ernie and Lisa and big brother Marc.

For the next three days, Palm lived with the Beckstead family and this past Monday, visited with Cole, at his school, St. Mary/St. Cecilia’s in Morrisburg.

Also over the weekend, Palm’s Swedish team played Cole’s Rideau St. Lawrence Minor Bantam AA team twice.

In their series opener, with Palm in net and vowing not to let his new ‘best buddy’ Cole score, the Swedish team collected a 6-2 victory in Brockville, Saturday night.

In game two, the Kings revenged themselves (and Ernie suspects took advantage of a bit of jet lag) with an 8-0 win.

That has set the stage for tonight’s third and final game in Kemptville at 7:30 p.m.

The two games to date have attracted several hundred hockey fans to add to the excitement and the nervousness of the players.

“I was pretty nervous,” said Palm. “But we had a pretty long warm up, so that helped.”

According to Cole, the Kings too were experiencing cases of nerves. “There were lots of people, lots of scouts.”

After two games, Palm says, “I think we are both just the same high level of play.”

Cole agrees, but explains, “we play a different style. They pass a lot and have really good puck control. We do a lot of forechecking.”

Off the ice, Palm says his visit to Canada has been wonderful. He even likes Poutine.

“At the food store, everything is bigger and cheaper, like your Coca Cola. We have two litres, but that is not usual. And ice cream. You have four litres and we just get one litre.”

Palm was delighted to buy a cable for his computer and has become a big fan of the Canadian Dollar stores. “At home my cable would cost 99 to 300 crowners (Swedish currency is Krona). A dollar is about seven crowner, he said of his $2 cable purchase.

Palm says he is impressed by the trucks and cars he has seen. “In Sweden they are ugly. Here they are nice. We don’t have so many pick up trucks and vans, we have smaller cars, like the Volvo.”

Palm indicated the main hockey difference is in the ice size. “The ice is much smaller here in Canada. As a goalie, I will have to play a bit different. Everything goes faster. It’s more hits here in Canada, but my team will like that,” he said with a grin.

Palm’s team plays in an 11 team league in a 22 game schedule in addition to several tournaments. With most of the teams having the numbers for two teams (similar setup to a B and C team in Canada). Palm’s island team with just enough players for one team were pleased with this year’s fourth place finish.

Palm also had a good season highlighted by his selection to an all star team.

“You can tell he is well coached and he’s a great kid too,” said Cole’s dad Ernie. “He loves it here. It’s just been a great experience for all of us. I think Cole has made a friend for life. They are going to keep in touch for a long time.”

Palm said goodbye to the Beckstead family Monday night, to join the rest of his team in Ottawa. Last night, Tuesday, they attended an Ottawa Senators game.

Tonight, Wednesday, April 4 they play the third game against  the Kings and then it’s off to New York City, for relaxation and a New York Rangers game.

Cole claimed Monday that if he gets the chance he is going to score against his buddy.

Palm answered with complete confidence, and a slight smile, “He won’t score.”

Time will tell.

[…]

The 43rd season got underway at the Cedar Glen Golf Course last Thursday, April 16, when the first men’s night play got underway.

Although not a big field, the weather was nice for the first men’s night which was won by Kurtis Barkley with a 35 in A flight. Greg VanDellan got the nod for the A flight low net award. 

In B flight, it was Lawrence Larocque with the win with a 41, while Sandy Jonhston led C flight with a 45. Low net in C flight was won by Peter Elliott.

Ladies nights will start tonight, April 22 and the men will be back in action Thursday, April 23. Tee-offs begin for both at 3 p.m.

The course is drying up nicely and some warm rains forecast on and off for the rest of the week will help get things growing and greening. Work continues on the new tee on number two, which, when put in play is going to make for a much different drive for the men. The greens weathered the cold winter well and also are in need of some warm weather and rain.

The clubhouse is open daily to welcome all members back, so drop by for a game and/or visit. Memberships can be paid at the clubhouse.

Coming up in May, for those of you who are finding your game a bit rusty, there are three planned afternoon/evening golf clinics with CPGA pro Phil Rankin. 

The one-hour Clinics are scheduled for Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20 with maximum groups of eight. Women can sign up at $20 per hour, from 4-5 or 5-6 p.m. and the junior clinics will run from 6 – 7 p.m. on each of the nights. Cost for the juniors is $10.

[…]