Sports

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions will end their season with a home and home series against the Akwesasne Wolves this weekend. Sunday, will be their final home game for the 2014-15 season when they will entertain the Wolves in a match that will start at 2:30 p.m.

This past week, the Lions travelled to Casselman where they were handed an 8-2 loss by the first place Vikings, and then on Saturday night, they took it to a shoot out before they gave up the loss to the hosting Char-Lan Rebels, 3-2.

Saturday night at the Char-Lan Rec Centre, it was a good, close game that ended in a two-goal draw to force overtime and eventually a shoot out.

After a scoreless first period, David Poirier put the Rebels on the scoreboard on their power play.

At 12:48 of the second, Curtis Evans (from Jacob Guilliot and Ryan Griffin) tied the game 1-1.

Brennan Markell made it 2-1, Rebels at 18:06, and that’s the way it stayed until early in the third period.

This time it was the Lions power play that got the results at 3:19 of the frame.

Jacob Kendrick and Jordan Smail provided the setup for a Michael Paquette goal which tied the game 2-2.

It stayed that way to force the overtime during which, neither the Lions Keiran Weir nor the Rebels Kevan Dumouchel would give anything more up to force the decision to the shoot out.

Selected to shoot for the Lions were Paquette, Jacob Kendrick and Alex Sifton and getting the nod for the Rebels were Brennan Markell, Matthew Gregoire and Quintin MacDonnell.

 Kendrick had the only success for the Lions, while Markell and MacDonnell both beat Weir for the 3-2 win.

Thursday night, February 5, the Lions were in Casselman where they were handed an 8-2 blow by the division leading Casselman Vikings.

The Vikings led 4-0 after the first period, and 6-0 after two.

The Lions got on the scoreboard in the third period with a pair of goals from the stick of Michael Paquette at 6:07 and again at 6:15.

Jacob Guilliot assisted on both goals. Jordan Smail also helped out on the first and Landon Veenstra on the second.

Keiran Weir started for the Lions and was relieved by Brett Hahn.

The Lions are on the road to take on the Wolves this Saturday night, February 14 and at home against the Wolves on Sunday afternoon.

Neither will see playoff action this year.

[…]

The South Dundas Atom B Lions used a 4-1 victory over the Smith Falls Bears here Sunday, February 1, to reclaim their division’s first place standing.

The Lions continue to battle for the division’s top spot with Kemptville 1 who had pulled back into the lead by a single point early in the week.

Sunday’s win pushed the Lions ahead by a point.  Kemptville has 29 points with three games left while the Lions have 30 points and two games remaining.

The Lions got off to a poor start on Sunday against the Bears, and couldn’t get their feet moving until the second period.  

Smiths Falls opened the scoring on a partial breakaway 52 seconds in when Adam Hustins shot got passed Lions goaltender Mateo Lacroix.  

Three minutes later, the Lions were called for tripping. Zach Scarbeau and Owen Patterson did a good job killing it off along with the help of defencemen Jack McCaan and Alek Larocque to prevent the Bears from increasing their lead.

Smiths Falls had a glorious opportunity to go up 2-0 early in the second when it looked like a rebound was going to get hammered into the back of the net, but out of nowhere Lacroix put the paddle of his stick down to take a sure goal away. The big save served as the Lions wake-up call. 

Monty Dejong tied the game at 2:26 of the third period assisted by Sam Connors.  

Then, less than one minute later, Owen Patterson drew a Bears penalty with his heavy forecheck. 

At 2:47, Sean Nicolaassen made the Bears pay for taking that penalty, when he picked up the puck inside his blue line, blew past a defender at the red line and went in alone on Louis Legare. 

He faked a forehand, then went backhand to give the Lions their first lead at 2-1.  

Quade Mullin made two of several key saves during the third. 

The Spencer Barclay, Connors, and Dejong line used a good forecheck to put the Lions up 3-1 with 5:02 left on the clock.  They applied the pressure on the forecheck, Barclay grabbed a loose puck and then centered to Dejong who made no mistake.  

It looked like the Bears were finally going to solve Mullin late in the game,  during a scramble around the goal, but then out of nowhere defenceman Stefan Kronstal stacked his own pads, slid through the crease to make the save and knock the puck out of harms way.  

At just over one minute left, Cam Shaver passed the puck out front to a wide open Dryden Buter who scored the Lions fourth goal.

Next action for the South Sunda Atom B Lions is this Thursday, February 5, on the road to Akwesasne.

[…]

The South Dundas Novice B Lions are building speed as they head towards the end of the regular season. This weekend the Lions put up a pair of victories in a home and home series with the South Grenville #2 Rangers.

Saturday, the Lions were in Cardinal, where they dealt the Rangers a 5-2 loss, and then back home on Sunday they posted a 4-1 victory.

Nick Connors led Saturday’s attack with a hat-trick performance.

Connors scored early in the first period with help from Ben Radley, but the 1-0 lead ended late in the frame with a Connor Poulin goal assisted by Daniel Murphy.

Connors hit for goal number two less than one minute into the second period, with help from Radley and Noelle Hatherall, and the Lions maintained their 2-1 lead until early in the third.

That’s when Connors completed his hat trick (from Mason Hummel and Radley) to put the Lions up 3-1.

The Rangers kept it close with a Murphy goal, assisted by Poulin and Gavin Davis, but that was it.

Hatherall made it 4-2 Lions, and Devon Honders pushed it to 5-2 with 3:48 left in the game.

Logan Tait and Cooper McCooeye provided their help on the Hatherall goal and Hatherall supplied the assist to Honders.

Sunday on home ice, the Lions took a 1-0 first period lead on a Ben Radley goal assisted by Logan Tait.

Braiden Anderson nabbed Aiden Hutt for the loan Rangers goal 2:27 into the second period and the 1-1 tie lasted until early in the third.

Nick Connors got it rolling for the Lions in the third with help from Radley for a 2-1 Lion. 

Devon Honders scored unassisted at 4:40 of the third period, to put the Lions up 3-1 and at 7:13 of the 15 minute third period, Radley finished it off for the 4-1 win.

[…]

The regular season is coasting to a quiet ending in Eastern Ontario Junior B Hockey League action with three of the four playoff positions now locked in. 

The Morrisburg Lions are doing their part in providing some upsets, but a 5-4 win over the third place Hawks in Winchester, Friday night and a 6-5 overtime loss to the second place Alexandria Glens on home ice Saturday night, didn’t do much to affect the standings of either of the two.

The results of the two weekend games did help to add three points to the Lions season for 22 points with five games left to be played.

The Vikings command the St. Lawrence division with 66 points, while the Alexandria Glens and the Winchester Hawks are looking at second and third spots respectively for a meeting in the first round of playoffs. 

The Char–Lan Rebels are in fourth spot with 33 points, and the Akwesasne are five points back with 28. The Wolves continue to chase the Rebels for the fourth spot, but are now starting to run out of games.

Friday night’s game in Winchester was an easy going event with just four minor penalties assessed, two to each team and none in the third period.

The Lions charged onto the Winchester ice, and Alex Sifton got it started at 4:18 assisted by Michael Paquette.

Jacob Guillot (from Jacob Kendrick and Jordan Smail) made it 2-0 Lions at 15:13.

Then at 17:56 of the first period, Josh Stubbings put the Hawks on the scoreboard to tighten the gap to 2-1.

Just over three minutes into the second period, the Hawks Costa Georgitsos collected a short-handed goal to even the game, 2-2, and the tie held until early in the third period,  when Georgitsos struck again to put the Hawks ahead 3-2.

But the Lions came charging back.

Jacob Kendrick got is started with an unassisted goal at 3:19 of the third period to tie the game 3-3. Then it was over to Michael Paqeutte, (from Cole Fowler) who put the Lions up 4-3.

At 8:29, Landon Veenstra (Jacob Guillot) stretched it to 5-3.

Steve Ray Adams got one more for the Hawks to cut the gap to 5-4, but that was it. The Lions, with a solid performance from Brett Hahn in net, hung on for the 5-4 win.

In Morrisburg on Saturday night, the Glens went up 2-0 in the first period on goals by Bradley Gabbour and David Cyr.

Eric Evans (from Dakota Blacksmith) got one back at 14:49 of the second period, but at 16:07 the Glens recouped their two-goal advance with Gabbour’s second goal of the game against Hahn.

Jacob Guillot (from Ryan Griffin) brought the score to 3-2 on the Lions power play with just over two minutes left in the second period. 

The third period opened when Eric Evans, assisted by Jacob Guillot and Ryan Griffin, struck to tie it 3-3.

Then it was back to the Glens for another pair from Adam Cooke and Bradley Gabbour, but the Glens, couldn’t hold on to their 5-3 advantage. 

This time it was penalties that would prove costly to the Glens, as the Lions collected a pair of power play goals, from Tanner Hummel at 15:58 and Eric Evans at 17:48 to tie the game 5-5.

The tie held to force the overtime and the win went to the Glens with a Gabriel Cuillerier goal just 1:22 in.

A makeup game scheduled between the Lions and the Akwesasne Wolves last week was again postponed. This week the Lions are on the road for games against the Casselman Vikings and the Char-Lan Rebels.

The regular season wraps up for teams in the St. Lawrence Junior B division with the final games to be played Sunday, February 15.

[…]

Although the soccer fields in Iroquois are knee deep in snow, plans for this year’s Seaway Kickers Soccer program are well underway.

The first of two registrations for the Kickers program, with hopes this year to offer boys and girls teams in three age categories (U-13, U-16, U-18 ), is set for Saturday, March 7 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Iroquois Civic Centre.

Kickers president Phillip Blancher, says the organization “needs a bit more attention, to attract more players and volunteers.”

Last year 70 players played on four teams from U-13 to U-16.

In addition to attracting more players, Kickers is looking for at least one volunteer to serve as Head Referee on the board, several coaches (volunteer positions), at least four referees (paid positions) and volunteers to help with field maintenance (mowing-18 plus years and not a student, and lining fields).

This year’s registration is $140 per player ages U-13 to U18. The fee has been set to reflect the increase of Soccer Association fees and the elimination of the Kickers association providing players’ shorts and socks from the fee. 

The purchase of sweaters, socks and shorts will now be the responsibility of each players and arrangements have been made with Sports Fix in Morrisburg for ordering.

New this year is an affiliate membership which is available for $75 per player born in 2005.

The affiliate membership will allow the younger players (who are enrolled in the Saturday soccer program)  to practise with the U-13 Kickers team(s).

“This is a chance for them to learn the drills and gets their skill levels up,” explains Blancher. “There is no guarantee of playtime, but if players are needed for a game they can be called up. This will allow them to try it out and see if they are ready or want to play the more competitive Kickers soccer with the longer games.”

Blancher says the Kickers organization tries to have a minimum of 14 players per team. “That way if some of the kids have to work or if families are away, we are still able to field a enough players for a game.”

The Kickers League play involves travel to Ottawa and teams generally have one practice and one game per week. Home games are played on the same night each week and home and away games generally alternate on a weekly basis.

There are two special one day league events, one a festival at the end of June and the other a finale at the end of August.

Blancher points out that “we make sure everyone can play who wants to play.”

If there are financial considerations for any player, the Kickers Association is partnered with Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart and Upper Canada School Board’s Champions for Kids, for individual financial assistance.

“So if there are kids with needs, families can contact us privately.”

In addition to increasing the player numbers, Seaway Kickers Soccer is in need of referees and coaches

While the coaching positions are volunteers, referees are paid and Blancher says, it adds up to “a nice little chunk of pocket change.”

Referees must be a minimum of 14 years old and must complete a referees course. Once the course is completed and  he/she has refereed three games, the Kickers organization reimburses the cost of the course. Two day referee courses are held on a weekend in Ottawa. Re-certification is done on the computer and the Kickers also cover the cost of re-certification after three games.

“This is a provincial certification program, and we have had referees who continue to referee while at college to earn extra money.”

Blancher says the Kickers are in need of about four referees who must be 14 years and up to referee U-13 games and 16 and up to referee U-16 games.

With the hopes of fielding six teams, the Kickers are looking for a total of 12 coaches and coaches clinics are available through the Saturday soccer program.

The Kickers executive includes Blancher, Joanne Backes who is registrar/head coach and Donna Byvelds who is treasurer.

The open position is that of Head Referee to replace Lila Lapier who has stepped aside. The position mainly deals with scheduling.

“It would also be nice to have one or two other volunteers come on the board to provide extra help and to learn the ropes. The board structure is pretty easy going. I think we only met once last summer.”

The final need is for volunteers to help with field maintenance, both mowing and lining the fields. Mowing volunteers must be 18 plus years and can not be a student. Mowing requirements are from time to time needed in addition to that provided by the school board and the Township of South Dundas.

High school volunteer hours are available for most of the volunteer positions in the program.

Anyone who is interested in refereeing or in any of the volunteer positions is invited to call Phillip Blancher at 613-543-2168 or email him at phillip@blancher.ca for information.

Parents and players will also be given the opportunity to indicate their availability and volunteer interests on the registration forms. 

[…]

Our Little Rockers played host to a full slate of 12 Bantam curling teams on Sunday, February 1. 

In the early draw, the Winchester team emerged victorious, while curlers from Navan finished second. Our boys, Ewan Wilson, Nolan Belanger, Josh Broad and Jonathan Charette, were third by half a point, winning their last match with a draw to the button. North Grenville finished fourth, Prescott, who our fellows defeated in their first match, were fifth, and Cornwall placed sixth.

In the late draw, our girls, Jodie Robinson, Annika Gibbons, Abby Trizisky and Kyra Morris, were close in their matches, but couldn’t quite pull off victory against the older, more experienced bantam aged opposition. 

North Grenville came first in their division, Navan was second, and Glenmore, from the Montreal area, was third. Winchester placed fourth, Prescott was fifth, and they edged out our girls. Both of our teams played well, and are getting better each time out. Next year some of our players will graduate to the bantam division, and will be able to compete against the older players on an equal footing. 

Thanks again to the Wilson family, who coach and nurture these young curlers, with help from several of the parents, assistance that was noteworthy Sunday.

Our senior men hosted Brockville on Friday for a friendly bonspiel. Our three teams were: Don McMillan, Sam Locke, Al Gowanlock and Jim Adams, who won. The second team was Peter Zeran, Ron Beaupre, Eric Johnson and Glenn Cougler, who lost their match, and the third was Andy Patenaude, Doug Jarvis, and Don Lazenby, who won theirs. 

Last Wednesday, Alice Thompson, Sharon Van Allen, Linda Murphy and Sandra Beckstead were back at Kemptville for their Ladies’ Invitational. The morning match was a victory, as a Granite rink succumbed to Morrisburg’s skilled play. After lunch our folks returned to the five sheet rink and lost to a superior Russell foursome.

On January 23, two teams of senior men competed in the Prescott Parnell bonspiel. Jack Barkley, Raymond Benoit, Don McMillan and Neil Williams lost to Prescott, who won the competition. Pete Zeran, Andy Patenaude, Sam Locke and Earl Jeacle also lost both of their games. 

The final Parnell competition will be held later this month in Lancaster. Better luck this time, fellows.

Saturday, January 31, Morrisburg hosted their annual Alzheimer Bonspiel. With encouraging words and thanks from the Alzheimer representative, the teams in the competition launched their games. 

In the first draw, with wins in both their matches, the team of Andy Patenaude, Alice Thompson, Rick McKenzie and Sandra Beckstead emerged victorious and took home their prizes as the champions. In the second draw, Sam Locke, Penny Davidson, Dennis Thibault and Claire Locke won amidst some excellent competition.

The silent auction netted $1,000 for Alzheimer, and the entry fees and other initiatives upped the total for the day considerably. Thanks to Mahlon Locke for organizing the day, and to the other volunteers, who took care of lunch, the bar, and who helped Wally keep the ice in top shape. It was great to see the involvement by curlers from all leagues, as well as current and former curlers from all age groups.

Finally, members are reminded of the meeting at 7 p.m. February 16 to hear about an affordable plan to replace our aged refrigeration plant. 

See you there. Good curling to all!

[…]

 

The Morrisburg Junior B Lions reached up, way up from the bottom of the St. Lawrence Division of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey league on Sunday, January 25, to nab the first place Casselman Vikings for a 7-6 overtime win.

The Lions were aided 2:04 into the overtime period when Vikings Harrison Wood drew a two minute slashing period. That set the stage for the Lions power-play winner from the stick of Jacob Kendrick, assisted by Eric Evans and Tanner Hummel at 3:48. 

It was the ninth win of the season for the Lions and the first overtime loss for the Casselman Vikings who lead the St. Lawrence Division with 64 points. In 35 games the Vikings have lost just two games (one to the Lions), had one loss in a shoot out and now have one loss in overtime. 

They have pulled well away from the rest of the division with 64 points. The Alexandria Glens are in second spot with 45 points, the Winchester Hawks have 39 and the Char-Lan Rebels 29.

The Akwesasne Wolves, with 28 points, are on the heels of the Rebels for the fourth and final playoff spot, and the Lions are way back in the standings with their 19. 

The Lions were solid out of the gate on Sunday, with goals from by Dylan Nixon (from Jordan Smail and Landon Veenstra) at 2:37 of the first period and Jacob Guilliot (from Eric Evans and Ryan Griffin) on the Lions power play at 5:54.

They maintained their lead until 15:25 of the frame when Taylor Widenmaier got one past Keiran Weir to close the gap to 2-1.

But the Lions came charging right back with a Michael Paquette goal assisted by Brodie Barkley and Jacob Kendrick at 17:07.

The second period  went to the Vikings who counted two unanswered goals to tie it 3-3. Harrison Wood made it 3-2 at 5:17 and Luc Forget counted on the Vikings power play at 7:10.

The 3-3 tie held until 4:24 of the third period when Kendrick pushed the Lions ahead with help from Justin Lefevbre and Guillot.

At 6:42 Cole Fowler, assisted by Landon Veenstra and Evans put the Lions up 5-3.

Grant Hebert cut the gap to one at 7:06, but again the Lions were able to maintain their two goal edge with a Lefevbre power-play goal assisted by Brodie Barkley and Smail at 9:09 of the third.

The Lions held on until 18:51 when the Vikings, opting for the extra attacker, got one back from the stick of Hebert to cut the gap to 6-5.

The Vikings, again with goaltender Reilly Tondreau out of the net in favour of the extra attacker, tied the game 6-6 at 19:22 to force the overtime.

The Lions power play was working well in the game as they were successful in three out of four opportunities. The Vikings managed only one goal on their power play in five opportunities.

The Vikings sat on 12 minutes in penalties on six infractions and the Lions were assessed 34 minutes on nine infractions. 

Coming up this Thursday, January 29, the Lions are on the road for a make up game against the Akwesasne Wolves. Friday night, January 30, they are in Winchester to take on the Hawks, and Saturday night, January 31 they will host the Alexandria Glens. Game time is 7 p.m.

[…]

 

As the regular season winds down the South Dundas Midget B House Lions are winding up, this week adding a pair of strokes to their win column as they hold solidly to their second place standing in the Southeast division of the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League.

The Lions got it rolling last Wednesday night (January 21) in Morrisburg, with a 4-2 victory over the visiting Brockville #2 Braves, and then on Saturday, they collected a big 9-3 win over the South Stormont #2 Selects.

Tyler Nelson (from Matt Backes) and Logan Hummel (from Kody Arsenault and Drew Gillard) gave the Lions a 2-0 first period lead against the Selects.

The Selects charged back in the second period with Ty Fetterly and Andrew Lalonde goals to tie the game at 2-2. 

But the Lions quickly recovered with two goals from Nelson, the first unassisted and the second with help from Ewen Baril on the Lions power play.

The Lions carried their 4-2 lead into the third period and then stretched it to 6-2 with a power play goal from Drew Gillard, assisted by Nicolaassen and a Nicolaassen counter assisted by Matt Backes.

Bailey Gillard finished the Selects scoring with 8:40 left on the clock, setting the stage for another three Lions goals. 

Logan Hummel counted the first assisted by Jonathan Mayhew and then it was over to Noah Picotte for a pair. Tyler Nelson and Cassie Hummel assisted on the first and Nelson added his help on the second for the 9-3 Lions win.

Last Wednesday night, the Lions took a slim 1-0 first period lead against the Brockville 2 Braves on a Kody Arsenault goal assisted by Mitchell Woodward and Drew Gillard.

Their 1-0 advantage lasted until early in the second period when Josh Smith struck for the Braves to even it 1-1.

From then on the Lions took charge with goals from Matt Backs, Drew Gillard and Woodward which allowed them to carry a 4-1 lead into the third period.

Mason Cottie got one early on for the Braves to make it 4-2 but that was it, and the Lions held on for the 4-2 win. 

Earning assists on the three second period goals were Woodward, Noah Picotte, Tyler Nelson, Cassie Hummel and Backes.

South Grenville 2s lead the division with 28 points, while the Lions are in second spot with nine wins, eight losses and three ties for 21 points. Third place is held by the NGS 2s with 12 points.

The Lions will be on the road for their next game and will be on home ice February 4 at 8 p.m.

The regular season schedule wraps up for the UCMHL on Sunday, February 15.

[…]

 

A pair of wins, beginning with a 3-1 victory in  Spencerville  on Wednesday, January 21, followed by 6-2 win on home ice against the first place Kemptville #1 Panthers in Morrisburg, Sunday, helped the South Dundas Atom B Lions to leapfrog into first place by one point.  

The Lions now have three regular season games left while the Panthers have five.  

The Lions dominated the play in both of their recent wins.

In Spencerville last Wednesday, Rangers goalie Bryce Kijewski kept the game close as he made save after save against the Lions attack.  He was most impressive when he stopped Sam Connors on a clear cut breakaway with 5:40 left in the first period.  

The Lions finally got one behind him with 13 seconds left in the opening period, when Cam Shaver passed it to Dryden Buter who fired the shot. 

Kijewski made the initial save but James Martens was there waiting to put the rebound away with a powerful wrist shot for a 1-0 Lions lead.

The line struck again early in the second period when Martens setup Shaver, but the Rangers pulled within one late in the frame with an unassisted  Hayden Walker counter.

The period ended with the Lions only up 2-1 despite heavily out-shooting the Rangers for two periods.

The Lions stretched it to 3-1 early in the third period when Shaver centered the puck to Buter and that is the way it remained.

The Lions had a strong work ethic all night, winning puck battles and pressuring the Rangers at both ends of the ice.  

James Martens had an excellent game releasing some powerful shots and being strong on the puck.  

The win pulled the Lions to within a point of first place Kemptville #1, who they would host on Sunday.

Heading into Sunday’s game, the Lions talked about taking the game to the Panthers and outworking them.  

Just 19 seconds in, the Lions hit a little speed bump when a Storm Briggs shot fooled Quade Mullin, and the Panthers went up 1-0. 

The Lions quickly regrouped and replied with three goals in under a minute. 

The first was a beauty when Nate Paulino made a long stretch pass from inside his blue line to a streaking Monty Dejong at centre.  The pass was perfect as Dejong took it in stride, went in and slid the puck past Jordan Zlomislic. 

Fifteen seconds after that Sean Nicolaassen banged home a loose puck to make it 2-1, with Buter providing the assist. 

Then before the cheering Lions crowd could sit down it was 3-1. This one only took 13 seconds, when Buter slid it to Connors who sent his patented wrist shot to the upper right corner past a stunned Zlomislic.  

The opening period was a wild one that ended 3-1 in the Lions favour.

The Lions opened the second period on their power play and at 8:31 they capitalized. 

Paulino let go a  shot from the point that hit a crowd in front, and Spencer Barclay used his backhand to slide the puck past Zlomislic.  

This time it was the Panthers who countered quickly, with a Connor Arcand goal to cut the Lions advantage to 4-2.  

Late in the period, on the Lions power play, Buter finished off a pretty passing play with Nicolaassen and Connors. for a 5-2 Lions lead heading into the third period.

Early in the third, Dejong was the recipient of another stretch pass, this time it came from Jack McCann to make it 6-2. 

Mullin made some key saves throughout the game to keep his team in command. 

Two of the Lions even put their soccer skills to use.  Mullin headed a wrist shot into the corner, while on another play McCann lost his stick and used some fancy foot work to kick the puck to his teammate who took it from harms way.  

The Lions specialty teams were key as they went 2 for 3 on the power play and 3 for 3 on the penalty kill. 

It was also the second game in a row that the Lions had thoroughly outworked their opponent.

The South Dundas Atom B Lions next game will be at home on Sunday at 4 p.m. versus Smiths Falls when they will provide some great pre-Super Bowl action.

 

[…]

 

–The thrill of the race will be on at the Cornwall Speedway this weekend as the local track hosts its first ever Pro-Racing Circuit tour which features renowned snowmobile racers from all over North America.

Last Wednesday, January 21 event organizers gathered at a press conference at the Au Vieux Duluth Restaurant in Cornwall, where two popular Quebec drivers, 61 year old, racing legend Jacques Villeneuve and rising superstar, 17 year old Steve Marquis made appearances to promote the Circuit Pro event.

Cornwall is the first stop on the Eastern Canada Tour. The Friday (evening) and Saturday and Sunday races will be run on the quarter mile Cornwall track, now ready and waiting with an 18 inch cover of ice. Even the pits are iced.

The Pro-Racing Circuit Tour event is a first for Cornwall and is the result of an effort  to make the track more active by owners Raymond and Jacques Lavergne who took over the Speedway in the spring of 2014 from long time owner Ron Morin.

Event promoter Brian Mulligan expressed the great excitement everyone has for the weekend event.

Each day we will have a complete racing program. Both Saturday and Sunday will feature 40-45 races. The Pro-Champ, Outlaws, Formula 500 Open, 440 Vintage, Single Cylinder Mod Open, Junior 340 Open, along with the 4-Wheeler and Motorcycle will all be on hand during the weekend.

Ice oval sleds are not the average snowmobile. A Pro-Champ sled can run as high as $30,000 and sled speeds will often surpass the 100 mph mark down the backstretch and over 80 mph into the corners.

A first for Cornwall race fans, organizers are hoping to make the Pro Racing Circuit stop an annual event.

“We’ve tried to incorporate the best of every track in the Eastern tour in the Cornwall facility,” said Mulligan. “It’s going to be a success, and it is going to be here forever.”

“It’s a remarkable event,” said Barry Holigroski who is working with Mulligan. “Just to see the veteran and the rookie in the same room here today is great. These are world class racers. They will be coming into the corners at 80 mph. They are flying. It takes a lot of skill and a lot of heart. You will see the very best ability.” 

“Me I like to win, ” said veteran driver Jacques Villeneuve. “I like to pass whoever is in front of me all the time. Cars you are paid to drive, and it is something you like to do. Snowmobile racing is physically harder and I am on my own. I have to find the money myself.”

Both Villeneuve and young Steve Marquis expressed their excitement of the upcoming weekend tour stop in Cornwall.

Friday night (January 30) and Saturday, (January 31) admission is $20. Sunday (February 1) admission is $25 and a weekend pass can be purchased for $50. There is reduced pricing for children 16 years and under. Friday night’s program will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude with fireworks. Action begins at 10:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Mulligan says that he thinks the price is right. Admission includes access to the pit area where they folks can warm up under a heated tent. 

“It is the first race of the year,” said Tour President, George Samson. “I am sure every driver is excited to get out there, and I am sure that the team here in Cornwall has done a super job.”

[…]