The 19th Hole

 

Despite a two win-one loss record, the Morrisburg Combines were unable to defend their 2013 Ontario Championship title at the Ontario Senior Winter games held in Haliburton, Ontario, from February 17-19. 

“The team came in as the defending champion, having won the gold medal in the previous games in 2013. While not making it to the medal round, they put in a good performance and proved again, that they stack up well with the best hockey players of their vintage (65-plus years), from across the province,” says team member Jake Cole. 

The Combines won two games out of three in their pool, and failed to make it to the medal round by the slimmest of margins. 

They kicked it off with a 2-0 win against Brampton and then lost to York, 4-1.

They followed the loss to York with a 5-2 win against Ottawa. 

The standings were based on points and when it was tallied Morrisburg, Brampton and York  were tied with 27 points. Ten points were earned for a win, five for a tie, two points awarded for each period win (two-period games) and one point for a tie.

“We came very close to getting into the medal round,” says Combines goaltender Les McAllister. “But they went to a series of tie breakers, and we didn’t make it. It was a tough way to lose out. All we needed was one more goal.”

Fern Gauvreau led the team in scoring with five goals, and Guy D’Aloisio added two. 

As always, the team leader and goalie, 79-year-old Les McAllister kept the team in every game making countless big saves. 

The Combines were dealt some bad luck when player/coach Doug Casselman popped a muscle in his bicep early in the second game, and then was limited to the coaching duties for the remainder of that game, plus the final game. 

Sorely missed from this year’s lineup was Jack Haines. Always one of the top scorers in the games, Jack could not accompany the team for the first time this year because of health issues.

“This is my second time playing with the Morrisburg Combines, and I can say with enthusiasm that it is a very positive experience,” says Cole. 

The Ontario Senior Games provide an opportunity for athletes at all levels and in various sports, to compete in a very well organized series of games in an Olympics-style format. 

“The Ontario and Canadian games are the main reason I continue to play,” says 79-year-old McAllister. “They treat the participants so well. The lodging is good, and the food is good.”

“I very much enjoy the fellowship and the humour in our dressing room. We only get together for these games, and usually play a couple of exhibition games to get ready. It’s always a fun time.”

District 8 was represented by the Combines in the 65 plus years category and by Cornwall in the 55 plus grouping. The Cornwall team also failed to advance after finishing tied in their pool.

[…]

 

After winning their South East Division against the South Grenville #2 Rangers in two straight games, the South Dundas Midget B House Lions, were stopped by the Alexandria Glens in their pursuit of the East Division Championship and the right to advance to the UCMHL championship final.

The Lions played four games of hockey in five days.

In the first two days, Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, they put together 3-2 and 3-1 victories over the Rangers  to win their South East Division Championship.

They saw action against the Glens on Sunday, March 8 in Alexandria, (4-2 loss) and on home ice Monday night, March 9 (7-3 loss) for the Eastern  Championship.

The Glens came out solid in the series opener on Sunday. They went up 2-0 in the first period on goals by Nick Hansen and Nathan Currier.

Alexander McMaster made it 3-0, Glens in the second period.

The Lions got one back early in the third from Kody Arsenault, assisted by Noah Picotte and Jonathan Mayhew, but a Jordan Dunny goal again stretched it out for the Glens with 7:16 left in the game.

The Lions counted their final goal with just over two minutes left, from Trevor Nicolaassen assisted by Ewen Baril in the 4-2 Glens win.

The Lions needed a win to stay alive in game two of the four point series Monday night on home ice, and they hung tough through the first two periods.

The Lions were first on the scoreboard with an unassisted Picotte goal, and they held on until the final minute of the frame.

In that final minute, Brandon Lavern and Nick Leroux both counted to give the Glens a 2-1 edge heading into the second period.

The Glens stretched their lead to 4-1 early in the second, but the Lions charged back in the last two minutes with a pair of goals from Trevor Nicolaassen to keep it close at 4-3.

Just over 3:13 into the third period the Glens’ Laverne counted to make it 5-3. He added two more as the Glens skated to the 7-3 victory and the East championship series win.

The Lions claimed their Division (southeast) championship in two straight games against the South Grenville #2 Rangers.

The series kicked off Thursday, March 5 in Cardinal, with a 3-2 Lions win. 

Tyler Nelson had a big night, scoring all three of the Lions goals while Logan Hummel provided an assist on each. Trevor Nicolaassen helped out on goal number one and Cassie Hummel earned an assist on the second.

After a scoreless first period, Nelson put the Lions up 2-0 in the second period

The Rangers charged back in the third to tie it 2-2, with goals from Austin Mott and Zach Illingworth.

That set the stage for the winner from Nelson with 1:39 left in the game.

Game two was played in Morrisburg on Friday night, with the Lions claiming a 3-2 win to wrap up the series.

Again it was a scoreless first period.

Austin Mott got the lone Rangers goal midway into the second period, but his effort was quickly cancelled by a Logan Hummel goal assisted by Nicolaassen and Nelson.

Action settled down and it wasn’t until the final five minutes of the game that the Lions were able to break away from the 1-1 tie.

Austin Robinson, unassisted, made it 2-1 with 4:39 left in the game and Nelson, assisted by Logan Hummel added the insurance with 1:26 left.

The series win put the Lions against Alexandria for the East Division championship.

The Midget B House playoff setup saw the top three teams in each division get a first-round bye while the fourth and fifth place teams played for fourth spot.

After they sat out their first round bye, the Lions defeated NGS2 in a three point series

That win put them against South Grenville 2 for the Southeast Division championship.

[…]

With her goal of keeping as many seniors as possible active so they can remain independent and living in their own homes, Marilyn Parisien, told a group of 12 seniors, Wednesday, “we are trying to improve your balance and your strength, to help reduce your chance of a fall.”

Parisien is a Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging (CCAA) certified instructor who brought her 16 week Seaway Seniorfit Program to the Allan Hall at Lakeshore Drive United Church in Morrisburg in the fall.

Thanks to the successful fall launch, Seniorfit, for individuals 55 plus, returned for a winter session which kick ed off the week of January 13.

Hour-long classes are offered twice per week in Morrisburg, on Mondays (beginning at 10 a.m.) and Wednesdays (beginning at 10:45 a.m.) Classes are also offered at the Presbyterian Church Hall in Ingleside, on Tuesdays, beginning at 10:15 a.m.

“It’s been  very successful,” says Parisien. “My goal is to offer Seniorfitness from Morrisburg to Lancaster.”

With 14 seniors now registered in Morrisburg, she says she would be happy to see a class of 20 by next year at this time, although the Allan Hall could easily accommodate 26. 

Parisien told Wednesday’s class, “we take our bodies for granted as we age. You like to drive and you want to live in your own home until you are 90, but all it takes is one fall to change our lives forever. We do all of this to help reduce falls. There is a reason behind every single element we do in a class.”

Parisien explains that the CCAA is Canada’s leader in current research and program development for improved physical ability and healthy aging for older adults. It is a not-for-profit national research and education centre within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario.

“I have four certified instructors, including myself, and we are getting hands on information on how to conduct our classes.”

“Older adults want to be able to stay functional within their environment…getting up from chairs, climbing stairs, washing their hair…all the activities we all do in our day-to-day living.”

“Our goal is to help them to be able to care for themselves. To do that, we have to keep ourselves strong.:”

Seniorfiti classes target cardio, respiratory, strength building, muscle endurance, core balance and flexiciblity at a pace suitable to the senior participants. 

“We spend a good amount of time on balance work. Our focus is fall prevention. We work on strengthening the lower body and core which helps to prevent and reduce risk of fall.”

Parisien also points out, the Seniorfit Program provides a social outlet for the participants as “many live by themselves. This gives them a social outlet which is really important. Everyone gets to know each other and have some fun.”

Welcome participants in the Morrisburg Seniorfit classes are two men. “It would certainly be nice to get more men,” says Parisien. “They do a lot of outdoor work in the summer, but in the winter they aren’t doing as much.”

Parisien says the classeses are geared for 55 years and up. “I have a 92 year old, but most are in their 60s and 70s.

Chairs are set up at the perimeter of the workout area for each class. Some people do the class in the chair. For instance I had one lady who had a knee replacement. We can even teach to someone in a walker. I call it a mixed mobility class. We can reach out to seniors with low mobilibty and to seniors with high mobility.”

Parisien welcomes anyone to come out and try a class at any time. “There is no pressure, that’s why I invite them to try a class. Once they come in, and try a class, they seethe  benefit.”

Parisien’s career has always been in the fitness industry. In addition to her Seniorfit program, she business offers boot camp, aquafitness, strength training and Zumba with instructors hired who specialize in the various areas.

Anyone interested can drop by the Allan Hall at Lakeshore Drive United Church in Morrisburg, on Monday or Wednesday mornings about 15 minutes prior to the start of the class. Running shoes are the only equipment needed. A warm sweatshirt that can be removed is also recommended.

[…]