Midget 2 girls solid in Kingston tournament, undefeated in pool

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions got off to a bad start in their weekend St. Lawrence Division action Friday night against the CharLan Rebels, and then, just barely managed to cross the finish line ahead of the Akwesasne Wolves on Sunday.

Friday night the Lions lost 7-3 to the Rebels in front of their hometown fans. Sunday they eked out a 5-4 win against the Wolves after giving up a 5-0 lead held early in the second period.

“Friday night was our biggest game of the year, and we just didn’t respond,” said coach Thom Racine. “CharLan has had their team together since the start of the year and the fact that they are all on the ice to practice makes a big difference. They were able to show us what hard work is. That combined with our inability to convert a goal was the difference.”

Friday night in Morrisburg, the Rebels went up 2-0 in the first period. The Lions charged back to win the second period 3-2, but that would be it.

The Rebels beat Lions’ goaltender Mikael Dion for another three in the third for the 7-3 win.

Patrick Bzdyl, with help from Michael Poapst and Brayden Girard, put the Lions on the scoreboard at 1:21 of the second.

That was followed by a pair of Rebel tallies that gave them a 4-1 edge. The Lions charged back for another two to end the second period down 4-3.

Lance Hodgson got it started at 15:57 with Taylor Wilson and Marc Antoine Kamel providing the assists. Then it was over to Alex Steingruber at 17:35 for what would end up being the Lions final counter.

Ryan Ward and Clarke Veenstra provided the set up on the Steingruber marker.

The Rebels counted one power play marker in four opportunities while the Lions were zero for three.

Sunday, the Lions were on Cornwall Island where they quickly took command of the game against the Akwesasne Wolves. 

They went up 4-0 in the first period on goals by Kamel (from Brayden Girard), Michael Poapst (short-handed from Kamel), Steingruber (from Ward and Paquette) and Clarke Veenstra, (unassisted).

Their power play, just over a minute into the second period pushed them to a 5-0 advantage with Matt Ouimet finding the net and Kamel and Bzdyl providing the help.

“We needed a win to keep pace with the Rebels,” said Racine. “The first period was good. We had a 4-0 lead in the first period, but we got in there and got fat.”

“After 20 minutes of play, the dressing room was light. You figure you got the game won.”

“But you have to respect the other team. Ryan (Winter) is one of those coaches with a never say ‘die’ attitude. They just weren’t going to quit.”

And indeed they didn’t as they got it started with 1:58 left on the second period clock with a goal from Matthew Bouroassa.

Then in the third period the Wolves took charge for three goals, the first on their power play from Pat Gendron, the second from Keith Sloan with 6:34 left and the fourth, which had them nipping at the Lions’ heels, from Ryan Leckie with 1:58 left on the game clock.

“A credit to the kids though, in the last  minute, the Wolves had their goalie out and they were never in our zone.”

That allowed the Lions to hold on for the 5-4 win, their  sixth of the season which, combined with the loss Friday night leaves them tied with the Rebels for the St. Lawrence Division’s fourth spot.

Coming up this Friday night, November 25, the Lions travel to Winchester to take on the first place Hawks at 8:15 p.m. Sunday they are on the road to Cardinal for a 2:30 p.m. match against the Rideau Division’s fourth place South Grenville Rangers.

[…]

Although it was certainly far from the largest track and field team Seaway District High School has fielded, it had its moments, particularly at the senior girls level.

Leading this year’s Seaway team were veteran athletes Jessica Thompson and  Gillian Beatson who won the top one and two spots at the SD&G meeting held at St. Lawrence High School in May.

Both are established track and field athletes and both train with the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club.

Thompson scored the overall top senior girl award at the SD&G with gold medal finishes in the sprint hurdles, the 400m hurdles and the 400m.

Beatson was second with gold medal wins in long jump and the 200m, and a second behind her teammate in the sprint hurdles.

“They are both athletic kids” said Seaway track and field coach Trevor Thompson. “They are very talented and very good at individual sports. Both are successful figure skaters.”

Unfortunately, Seaway’s track team will be saying goodbye to Thompson who is in her final high school year.

According to coach Thompson, she is planning to attend the University of Windsor, “and is hoping to run track and field with them next year.”

Both of the girls advanced from the SD&G to EOSSAA which was held in Belleville.

Thompson qualified for the East  Regional with a third in the 400m hurdles at EOSSAA and a fourth in sprints.

Although she competed at Regional, she wasn’t feeling well and did not complete her events.

Beatson claimed a third place finish in long jump at EOS
SAA but did not compete at Regionals.

Another highlight for Seaway was an SD&G gold medal win by Brodie Casselman in the senior boys 200m. Casselman also qualified for EOSSAA in the 100m. He competed in both at EOSSAA but did not claim a East Region qualifying position. 

Also at the SD&G senior boys level, Monty Hamadi qualified for EOSSAA in the 400m. He did not compete at EOSSAA.

Ryan Douma qualified in shotput and the 400m hurdles at the SD&G and distance runner Denzil Barkley qualified in the 1500m and 3000m.

Neither was able to advance out of their EOSSAA  events.

At the midget level, runner Riley Barry won the SD&G 100m and qualified in the 200 and 400m runs.

Matching him was Ali VanHoof who picked up a gold medal in triple jump and qualifying finishes in the 300 and 800m hurdles.

Neither of the two advanced past EOSSAA.

Overall, the kids worked hard,” said Thompson. “We started in the second week of March and travelled to three invitational meets.”

“For the most part, they all achieved personal bests. I really enjoyed working with them all. They are all great kids.

[…]

Excellent finishes, special moments and good times were the experiences shared by nine Morrisburg and District figure skaters at the Eastern Ontario Section Invitational Championships (EOSIC) here on the weekend.

It was the biggest MFSC team ever to compete at EOSIC and leading the team was Ali VanHoof in her first ever EOSIC Triathlon event, (skills, interpretive and free skating).

VanHoof started it off  with a person best skate in skills which put her in fourth place. 

Next up was what would normally be VanHoof’s weakest event…Interpretive. 

This time out however, her Interpretive was “the true breakthrough of the weekend”, says her coach Louis Dimmick. 

Shattering her previous score, VanHoof earned a fifth place finish in Interpretive which moved her into third place overall after two parts.

“It was exciting going into the third segment of the Triathlon sitting in third place,” says Dimmick. “This allowed Ali a chance to challenge for one of the three spots open to represent Eastern Ontario at the 2013 Skate Ontario STARskate Championships.”

“Also helping was the fact that Freeskate is Alisha’s strongest event. She still needed to put down a solid performance to succeed and succeed she did.”

Five successful double jumps, three great spins and two combinations later, and VanHoof was in first place in the Freeskate segment which gave her an overall second place finish in the Silver Triathlon Event to qualify for the upcoming Skate Ontario Championships.

Just narrowly missing out on a qualifying spot was Trina Dykstra-MacPherson, also coached by Dimmick.

Skating in Preliminary Flight 1, Dykstra-MacPherson placed first to qualify for the semi-final where she placed fifth. 

“This was Trina’s second time at EOSIC, but her first time at this level,” said Dimmick. “She landed her double Salchow cleanly for the first time in competition”

“Trina skates with elegance, speed and power, and she really attacked her programs this weekend. She demonstrated a mental toughness and great competitive spirit in pulling off an excellent performance.”

At the Pre-Juvenile level, Kristyn VanHoof placed 12th with a PB performance.

“This was an exciting skate for Kristy,” says Dimmick. “It was the first time she competed on a rink without boards and, despite the different new environment, she had a great skate. Kristy landed two double Salchows and two Axels.”

“Kristyn really performed her program well, completing, not only good elements, but nice connecting steps and footwork which was reflected in her program components marks.”

Skating her first time at EOSIC was Reagan Belanger. “A very graceful skater, Reagan has great edges in her skating and good height in her jumps,” says Dimmick. “She skated well, landing all six jump elements and performing her spirals well.”

“We had an absolutely wonder time at EOSIC, and I am very proud of all of my girls for their hard work,” says coach Allison Scott.

Scott’s skaters included Erika Jordan, Abigail Jordan, Alexis Engwerda, Abby MacMillan and Gillian Beatson.

In her first time EOSIC experience, Erika placed sixth (Pre-Preliminary) with a skate described as “a beautiful clean skate, peppy and full of attack”

Abigail Jordan, also in her first EOSIC, scored a first in Preliminary Women (flight 3), and then went on to place seventh in the semi-final. 

“This was a fabulous accomplishment to qualify for semi-finals her first time attending EOSIC,” said Scott.  “Having to skate twice, Abigail was consistent and solid, completing both programs with two Axels and one in combination. She skated with ease, but yet was full of power and speed.”

Known for her ‘speedy attack’ with quick steps and her artistic flair in her footwork, Alexis Engwerda finished sixth in her Junior Bronze flight.

“Alexis demonstrated determination and perseverance and had a terrific skate,” says Scott.

For Abby MacMillan, it was also a sixth place finish in her Junior Bronze flight.

“Abby is known for her ability to ‘rise to the occasion’ and her smooth polished look. Abby skated with tremendous conviction and focus and completed two Axels. She had a wonderful performance.”

Also coming in with a sixth place finish was Gillian Beatson in Senior Silver Women.

“Gillian’s program is ambitious, and she successfully completed, five doubles,” says Scott. “Gillian is also known for ‘pulling off’ a double Lutz so easily (one of the toughest double jumps), and she did just that at this event, completing one in combination and one at the end of her program, an incredible feat.”

Beatson’s event was extremely close in that the sixth to third finishing positions were separated by .40 points which meant she narrowly missed a trip to the podium.

[…]