Sports

 

It will sound like Thunder on the River on Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2 as the Long Sault Hydroplane Races thrill audiences with high speeds and amazing racing skill.  The event continues to attract some of the top racers in North America as they launch the racing season.  More than 110 hydroplanes will compete at Mille Roches Beach on the Long Sault Parkway in Long Sault, Ontario.  Racing will get underway at 11 a.m.

The Long Sault Hydroplane Race is one of the first races of the season and will include the Grand Prix class – the fastest automotive powered class in the world. The combination of both inboard and outboard hydroplanes allows the showing of more than 22 heats of racing action and 12 Grand Prix competitors! There will be lots of opportunities for visitors to get up close to the hydroplanes and to speak with the pilots and see for themselves what makes this event one of the most exciting in the region.

Race classes include:

Grand Prix Class –    Fastest automotive powered class in the world.

5.0 litre stock –         Reach speeds of 185 km/h.  Boats race extremely close together.

2.5 litre stock –         Exciting side-by-side racing using pump gas and 4 cylinder Ford engines.

1.5 litre stock –         Popular and small, these hydroplanes can reach speeds of 150 km/hour and are powered by Toyota four cylinder engines.

Tickets are $12 per person or $20 for a two day pass. Children 12 years and under are free.  Fees include day-use entry to the park.  Food and beverage services available on site.   As limited seating is provided, spectators should bring lawn chairs to sit and watch the action.  For tips on how to watch the race, visit the website www.StLawrenceParks.com.

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IROQUOIS–The Iroquois Lawn Bowling Club opened its season with a big to thank the participants of the Garry Banford Memorial Fishing Derby for the $1,000 donation to the club. 

“This was a wonderful surprise and very timely because the Iroquois Lawn Bowling Club needed financial support,” said Ron Beaupre in a press release to The Leader.

“Our club membership has dwindled over the last few years, and we are looking for people in the area to get out and give our game a try.” 

Play at the Iroquois lawn bowling court located next to the trailer park on Carman Road at Elizabeth Drive is three evenings a week, Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays beginning at 7 p.m. 

This location, affords a beautiful view of the St. Lawrence, and often enjoys a beautiful summer-time breeze off the water, making it an idyllic spot for the sport.

This year the club has plans to buy a set of bowls for juniors that will enable families to come out together for a game. 

The club is also encouraging local businesses to consider family days for their employees that would include golf, swimming, tennis and lawn bowling with picnic lunches at the Iroquois Lawn Bowling clubhouse.

Coffee clubs, school groups, service clubs and sports teams should consider coming out for a game just to have a new experience.

The Iroquois Ladies Lawn Bowling Club was organized in the old village on June 30, 1934. After the Seaway moved the town back from the river, the new court was built and maintained by the Village of Iroquois and later the amalgamated township of South Dundas.

However, when the Iroquois Golf Club was privatized, the greens keepers, who also maintained the lawn bowling green were no longer available. 

Although the club was able to hire the golf club staff for one year thanks to a 50 percent subsidy from the Township Recreation Department, the next year that subsidy was reduced by 33 percent. As a result the lawn bowlers hired one man to cut the court regularly. 

This year there is no financial support from the township, even though the court is still their property,” says Beaupre. “We are now left alone to find a way to pay for maintaining the green, which will cost about $4,000 this year. There are only three lights left in service, which will restrict our playing time early and late in the season.”

Beaupre explains that club has purchased mowers and yearly expenses are for fertilization, aeration, top dressing and insect (ant) control on the court. In addition there are the costs to maintain the motorized equipment and the sharpening of the mower blades ($200).

Lawn bowling is much like curling on grass. You pitch the bowl off to one side or the other, giving it just the right weight to get it near the “jack,” a small white ball. 

The bowl will curl a few feet just as it slows down. 

“After a few games, you will find yourself enjoying this game and the company of a group of very friendly people,” says Beaupre. “We have lots of extra sets of bowls, and we enjoy helping new members learn the game. Our court is in excellent condition thanks to the hard work of our club members.”

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With a pair of recent wins under his belt, Morrisburg boxer, Phil Hoftyzer says he is back and hopes to fight on a more regular basis.

After an injury last May which prevented him from training Hoftyzer says, “I kind of fell out of it.”

However, he is back training on a regular basis at Champs Eastside Boxing Club in Cornwall and the Beaver Boxing Club in Ottawa.

On Saturday, May 4, Hoftyzer, 26, participated in the third annual Help Knockout the Effect of Hunger fundraiser, which was expected to raise over $40,000 for the Agapé Centre, Cornwall, along with some of the proceeds earmarked for the Champs Club.

On the Saturday ticket, Hoftyzer won the co-main event over Shayne Brindle of Plessisville, Quebec, on a TKO when the referee stopped the contest in the first round.

At this point Hoftyzer had put Brindle to his knees twice with left hooks to the body. Then a flurry in the corner finished the fight.

For his effort, Hoftyzer was awarded the most outstanding fighter of the night.

Presented by BMO Nesbitt Bruns at the Best Western Plus Parkway Inn in Cornwall, the evening included seven amateur bouts.

Hoftyzer’s win was in the senior men’s open light-heavyweight division.

“It was a corporate event and it raised a lot of money for a good cause,” said Hoftyzer. “It’s a really nice venue.”

On April 19 in Ottawa, at the Big Fight Night in Little Italy, Hoftyzer won in a split decision over Brutus Payant in his first fight in almost a full year.

“It was a very close fight, and Brutus was extremely aggressive,” says Hoftyzer explaining it wax his ring control and counter punches that helped him to the gain the edge.

After recovering from an injury last May, Hoftyzer returned to the ring, but in December he was again forced to take time out due to injury.

He is now healthy and working hard and training regularly with the hope of fighting “at least once a month.”

[…]

 

Organizers are busy preparing for the 10th annual Casey at Bat Memorial Fastball tournament coming up in Williamsburg, May 24-26, and for the 10th annual they have lined up a ‘special’ opening ceremony.

In the 10 years that the Schell family has been hosting Casey at Bat, the popular tournament has raised over $10,000 for a number of local charities including high school bursaries, the Canadian Cancer Society and local hospice care.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary, Lyle Schell and his team have arranged an opening ceremony for Friday night, May 24 at 6 p.m. A highlight of the ceremony will be the first pitch of the tournament thrown out by local, former fastball player, Bert “Knappy” McIntosh.

The tournament, which is the lone yearly venue for longtime fastball fans in this area, is played in memory of Casey Schell, a player and advocate of the sport in this area.

“Bert, who will be throwing out this year’s first pitch, played ball with Grandpa Casey in the 30’s and 40’s,” says Lyle Schell, who in addition to being a tournament organizer, rounds up the players for the local Cigars team, which for the last two years has gone to the championship final, but lost.

This year’s Cigars team will include the Smith brothers, Jamie and Jason, Derek Whitteker, Kevin Williams and Lyle himself. They will be joined by the Alkerton brothers from Spencerville, Dan Loney from Cornwall and two players from Kingston.

In addition to “Knappy’s” first pitch, the Schell family, on behalf of everyone who made the 2012 tournament a huge success, will present a $1,200 cheque to Dundas County Hospice in memory of Lyle’s mother Joan Schell who passed away in 2010. 

Following the opening ceremony, the Cigars will play in the first game of the tournament beginning at 6:30 p.m. A total of three games will be played Friday night, with 12 scheduled for Saturday and eight on Sunday.

The semi-final will be played Sunday at 3 p.m. with the final set for 5:30 p.m.

Longtime area fastball fans are invited out to the tournament to see some great action with some impressive teams coming from throughout the area.

The tournament also provides a great opportunity for anyone not familiar with fastball, and in particular local youth, to get a glimpse of this great sport that, with the exception of this tournament, has been missing locally for many years.

[…]

 

For the second consecutive year, Ernie Beckstead reeled in the biggest fish to capture one of the top prizes at the annual fishing derby held in memory of Garry Banford.

The fishing derby took place Saturday, May 4 at the Iroquois boathouses.

Beakstead said that he caught this year’s winning pike in the same spot as last year. “The secret is to get there early,” he said. He caught the 11 pound 12 ounce pike using live bait.

The biggest pickerel was caught by Eric Irvine. It weighed in at 9 pounds 10 ounces.

Prizes were handed out to the top three pike and top three pickerel. The second place pickerel weighed in at 9 pounds 6 ounces and was caught by Mike Allard. The third place pickrel weighed 8 pounds 13 ounces and was caught by Kevin VerBruggen.

After the 11 pound 12 ounce pike landed by Beckstead, the next biggest pike was caught by Peter Carruthers, it weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces. Two third prizes were awarded for pike as Travis Baldwin and Troy Suddard both caught 8 pound 6 ounce fish.

Tommy McMillan won the hidden weight prize with a six pound 3 ounce pickerel.

A total of 51 pickerel and 32 pike were weighed in during the day’s event. 

While those fishing had a great day the event was also very successful in raising funds to support local causes.

“We were able to hand out $1,700 in prize money, donate $1,000 to Ann (Banford) for the bursary at Seaway District High School in memory of Garry Banford,” said Bruce Mullin, event organizer. “After that, we still had $1,000 left over so we will be donating that to the Iroquois Lawn Bowling Club,” said Mullin. “We chose them this year. Every year, we want to give to local recreation, and to give somewhere where the funds are needed.”

Mullin was happy with the event’s success, but credited much of that to all the volunteers who helped in every way from selling tickets to weighing, cleaning and cooking fish. 

“Without all of them, this couldn’t have happened.”

[…]

 

For the first time, on Sunday, May 5, Dundas County Hospice joined thousands of people across the country in raising funds for hospice palliative care programs and services.

Hike for Hospice is a national event, and this year the Dundas County Hospice organized a hike locally.

It took place at the Iroquois Locks with 30 participants raising about $2,100 for the local organization which provides end of life palliative care support for those with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

“Individuals, families, couples with pets, running enthusiasts and groups such as students from Seaway District High School participated,” said Jackie McMillan, who is a board member with the Dundas County Hospice. “Everyone enjoyed a 1/3/5km hike/walk/run at the scenic Iroquois Locks.” 

Volunteers at the registration were thrilled with the turnout for this first event and are already thinking about next year’s event.

[…]

 

The Morrisburg Lions of the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey league announced today that Gary Brownlee and Rick Gilmer have joined the team’s ownership group. Along with Dale Lewis and Kevin Casselman, they are excited to begin a new chapter of junior hockey in Morrisburg.

Brownlee, who has been active in sports for many years, will serve as the team’s vice-president. A resident of Osnabruck Center, Brownlee is owner of Gary Brownlee Construction Company.

Gilmer, a local Morrisburg area businessman, has also been involved with area sports teams for many years. Rick, who resides with his family in Morrisburg, is excited to become a member of the Lions organization, and will serve as vice-president/assistant GM.    

“It is very important for our organization to truly be a fabric of the community, and we feel having local ownership is an important step in this process,” says Lions General Manager Kevin Casselman. 

“Through this process we were looking for people who are passionate about the community as well as the game of hockey, and we found that in Gary and Rick.”

The new owners are excited and committed to bringing quality family entertainment, and high standard of ethics and conduct  to the team.

They fell that having the chance to continue to have local ownership and great hockey people is a great addition to the Lions program. “We embrace the upcoming changes to the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League with enthusiasm, pride and excitement.” 

The new organization also took the opportunity to extend heartfelt gratitude to outgoing executive members Janice Casselman and Kim Bennett.

Janice has been part of the organization, alongside husband Ron, for over three decades, and served her community with dignity and pride over that time.

Kim came on board in early 1990’s, and has served as a tireless worker for her hockey club for over 22 years. 

“We can count on one hand how many home games Kim has missed over the 22 years,” says GM Casselman.

“Kim devoted herself and family to Lions program beyond what words can say!  We hope to continue to represent the community with same level of respect and pride.” 

The Lions also announced that former NHL and Pittsburgh Penguins Captain Dan Frawley will return to coach the Lions program in 2013. 

Frawley was a hard-working right-winger who played in nearly 300 NHL games in the 1980’s. His desire and ability to lead by example on the ice made him an asset. 

Born in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Frawley played Major Junior ‘A’ with the Sudbury Wolves and the Cornwall Royals winning a Memorial Cup with the Cornwall Royals. 

After scoring 47 points for Sudbury as a rookie in 1979-80, Frawley was chosen by the Chicago Black Hawks at the 1980 Entry Draft.  After spending two years in the AHL, he played 30 games for the Chicago Black Hawks in 1984-85.

On October 7, 1985, the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up Frawley. He enjoyed four solid years with the Pens as they rebuilt themselves around young super star Mario Lemieux. 

Such was Frawley’s positive impact in the dressing room that he was named team captain in 1987-88.  

Dan’s NHL stats .. He scored 37 goals and 40 assist.. while accumulating 674 penalty minutes.   

After leaving the NHL in 1989, he played nearly five years in the minors before retiring in 1993. After one year away from the game, Dan returned to help the AHL’s Rochester Americans win the Calder Cup in 1996. 

In 2003, Frawley was selected to the Rochester Americans hall of fame for his contributions as a longtime player, and his work ethic earned him this honor.

The Lions also announced that Andrew Scott former Kemptville 73’s Junior ‘A’ assistant  coach , and former EOJHL 2010 Metro division “coach of the year” will be returning as Associate Coach with the team. 

Andrew and Dan have been very busy in the recruitment process, and are excited with the talent level of the prospects.

The Lions will be active throughout the community this summer .. participating in as many community activities as possible.

[…]

Jeff van Moorsel was returned as South Dundas Minor Hockey president at the organization’s annual general meeting held at the Morrisburg Golf Club, Monday night. 

“We had a very good year,” van Moorsel told the handful of interested parents who attended this year’s meeting. 

“We had two teams win an Upper Canada Championship and another two teams win their east or west division. For a small association, when you have two championship teams and two runners-up, then you have done very well.”

“We had very good coaching, and not many complaints. They are all volunteers, and I think they did a great job.”

“I go to all the meetings and I hear complaints about refereeing, but I never hear any complaints about the South Dundas referees. They are doing a good job.”

van Moorsel reported the association had a good year financially, his statement backed by treasurer Pam Mullin’s  report later in the meeting. 

He explained that after breaking even for a couple of years and losing money last year, the association is in the black this year. This he said was mainly because the association used 48 less hours of ice time this year.

“There are several factors for this, but mainly it depends on the ice time required for playoffs. Hours are also affected by how Christmas falls, and how many events the Figure Skating Club hosts.”

van Moorsel took the time to say good bye and thank you to several out going executive members. They included Ice Scheduler Steve Martineau (four years service), Secretary Andrea Cartier (eight years) and Equipment manager Rob Perry (two years).

“This executive has done a great job,” said van Moorsel. “It was a pretty easy job this year, and you have all been a good group to work with.”

Of major interest was Pam Mullin’s financial report which shows the association ending the season with a net income of $10,554. 

“We have ended up in a very positive position,” said Mullin.

Because of the good year, Mullin reported that the board of directors had decided there would not be a fee increase for the 2013/14 season. 

“We have $4,400 cash on hand, and we have $30,000 again in GICs. Our goal now is to keep the numbers (players) consistent.”

Mullin suggested that to do so, the association could look at a more pro-active enlistment of players, try to keep the girls on teams longer before they move to all girl leagues and to continue to keep the Initiation fees low to attract the younger children.

“It is nice to keep a safety net so that when we have a year when expenses are higher, we don’t have to raise our fees,” said Mullin of the $30,000 in GICs.

This year’s registration fees brought in $82,613, while fund raising contributed another $43,110. The largest portion of the fund raising money, $40,800, came from the Lottery Draw. 

The major expense was Ice Rental at $78,024, which, with about 50 fewer hours used, was down from the previous season that came in at $83,035. Referee cost was the next biggest expenditure at $16,007. Insurance costs were $6,588 and league fees accounted for $3,433.

Total revenues were $127,597 while total expenses were $117,043.

The average program cost per participant this year was $567.57. There were 204 registrations. A total of 725.5 ice time hours were used compared to 773.5 used the year previous.

Various reports were given including that of registration, which this year was co-handled by Tanya Domanko and Cassandra Barry.

Domanko reported that for the coming season there would be no online registration. “We need to have it done in person,” she said. “Hopefully, we will be able to get all of the information correct. We will give everyone their draw tickets at registration and the ticket numbers will be recorded.”

Domanko indicated registrations have been set up at the arena for Saturday, May 14 (10 a.m. until noon) and Wednesday, May 8 (6-7:30 p.m.) For added convenience a minor hockey registration will be held at the Iroquois soccer fields on Saturday, June 1.

After various reports were given, three amendments were made to the South Dundas Minor Hockey Constitution. The first officially standardized the Association’s Lions logo; the second dissolved the board of directors position of Trophies, Awards and Tournament and moved those duties to that of the 1st Vice-President; the third created the position of Electronic Communications Coordinator.

The two changes to the board kept the voting directors at a total of 14.

The final item of the meeting was the election of the 2013-14 Board of Directors. 

van Moorsel remained as President, Mike Domanko is 1st Vice-President-Awards & Tournament Coordinator, Jamie Smith is 2nd Vice-President–Risk Management and Gary Hart remains Past-President.  Johanna Kronstal replaced Andrea Cartier as Secretary and Pam Mullin remained Treasurer. Tanya Domanko is  Registrar and Cassandra Barry took on the position of Electronic Communications Coordinator.

David Lapier remained Rules and Discipline Chair, and Bruce Mullin remained Coaching/Development Co-ordinator. John Connors was elected Equipment Manager, and Jason Broad was elected Ice Scheduler to replace Steve Martineau. Lisa Schwerdtfeger became Referee In Chief and Joanne Backes was elected Fundraising Co-ordinator.

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Local 55+ summer games got under way April 10 and continue until June 5. This year’s competitions will be a prelude to the Eastern Ontario 55+ Regional Games to be held in Cornwall and area, August 20.

The summer games kick off was an open doubles euchre competition, April 10 at the Cornwall Legion. On Thursday, April 18, dart players were in action at the Cornwall Legion. 

Coming up bid euchre takes place April 26 at the Nordun Senior Centre in Winchester  and contract bridge rounds out the April competitions, April 30, at McConnell Manor, in Cornwall.

For information on bid euchre on April 26, contact Betty Wheeler, 613-984-1431 and for bridge contract bridge, April 30, Claire Dunn, 613-543-3279.

Competitions in May include: pickleball, May 6/13, Joanne MacLeod, 613-938-2336; bowling, May 7, Monique Dawkes, 613-534-2036; cribbage, May 8, Marlene Neal, 613-936-2026; prediction walk, May 14, Robert Peladeau, 613-931-1641; horseshoes, May 21, Bob Pearson, 613-874-2044; floor shuffleboard, May 23, Helen MacDonald, 613-936-8338; men’s doubles tennis, May 25, George Baker, 613-347-2797; golf, May 27, Ann Cook, 613-448-2032; ladies’ doubles tennis, May 28, Pat Durin, 613-525-1886; bocce, May 29, Stanley Fraser, 613-525-3777; swimming, May 30,  George Baker, 613-347-2797; prediction cycling, May 31, Graham Vickers, 613-525-1943.

Competition concludes in June with: slo-pitch, June 1, Tony Marini, 613-346-5776; lawn bowling, June 4, Terry Triskle, 613-989-3118; mixed doubles tennis, June 5, Stanley Fraser, 613-525-3777.

Participation is open to all 55+ residents of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott-Russell, and Akwesasne. For more information and to register, contact the convener of the event in which you are interested.

Medal winners at the local games will be eligible to take part in the Eastern Regional Games, where matching events are held.

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Cole Beckstead says he was honoured to be recognized as his team’s MVP at the recent Rideau-St. Lawrence AA  Kings awards night, and he was deeply honoured to be named the association’s “Player of the Year”.

As the association’s “Player of the Year”, Cole, who was a member of the Kings Major Bantam team this past hockey season, received the prestigious Richard M. Beattie Memorial Trophy.

Coming off a season that saw him rack up 46 points in 30 games (12 goals and 34 assists) for a fifth place  league scoring finish) Colesays, he suspected he might be in the running for his team’s MVP award, but to win the Beattie Award, “I was really surprised.”

Cole was selected as the Player of the Year from nominations submitted by each of the teams in the Kings organization.

According to the nomination material submitted, Cole was the Major Bantam’s nomination, “not simply as a result of his significant contribution on the ice, but also in recognition of his enhanced skill development, the leadership he has provided to his team/teammates and to acknowledge his contribution to all aspects of this 2012/13 hockey season. From the very first try-out session, Cole has impressed coaches, players and parents with his positive outlook and optimistic approach to the game…In fact his commitment to improve his skill sets, his obvious work ethic, and his position to take nothing for granted easily place him among the most effective hockey players within the Bantam Division of the Eastern Ontario Minor Hockey League.”

“Cole’s on ice skill sets (puck handling, play making, back-checking and scoring) have improved so significantly since last season that he is now considered one of the most prolific players in the OEMHL and is a scoring threat each and every time he enters the ice surface.”

“It was my best season by far,” says Cole, 14, who lives in Morrisburg and is a Grade 9 student at St. Joseph’s High School in Cornwall. “I trained a lot harder in the summer (2012) and once my brother (Marc who was a rookie with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenac’s this past season) left, I continued to train.”

Actually, Cole’s road to his fantastic hockey season began with a lifestyle change. Encouraged by his brother Marc’s success, Cole changed his eating habits and began his workouts. The combination resulted in a loss of 25-30 pounds.

“I watched what I ate, but it was mostly the training. I focused on muscle gain, and I really worked on my legs. I’m not that tall, so I have to rely on my speed,” says Cole.

Cole quickly found that he had a lot more energy and a lot more drive. Once the hockey season got underway, “I worked harder in practises, and I continued to watch what I ate.”

“He was the talk of the tryouts,” says a very proud dad, Ernie. “Nobody could believe the change.”

And all his hard work and dedication continues to pay off for the talented centreman. Last weekend, he attended the under 16 Prospects Camp in Ottawa, where he hopes will lead to a position with a team being chosen to go to the Chowder Cup in Boston. He also has an opportunity to play hockey in Europe this coming summer with an elite team.

Cole says he plans to continue to work out with brother Marc over the summer and will skate twice a week in Ottawa to prepare for tryouts with the AAA Minor Midget Cyclones in the fall.

He says his big brother is his inspiration…but can’t resist getting in a friendly, brotherly, dig…Marc’s name is not on the Beattie Trophy.

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