Sports

 

FORT ERIE

–With a good experience behind her at the 2013 Skate Ontario STARskate Championship held in the Fort Erie Leisureplex, March 23-24, local figure skater Ali VanHoof says she expects she will put together new free skate and interpretive programs to prepare for next year’s skating.

VanHoof was among the 12 top Ontario skaters who competed in the Silver Women Triathlon at the championship. She placed 10th overall.

She did not have skates that she was happy with in either the Skills or the Interpretive portion of her Triathlon, however, she did a very solid Freeskate for a third place finish in that category.

“Though Ali had a small bobble in her first program, the skills component, she fought back with a good interpretive program and a very solid Freeskate,” says coach Louise Dimmick.

“Just having earned the opportunity to represent Eastern Ontario at the Skate Ontario Starskate Championship was a great achievement,” adds Dimmick. “The experience Ali gained from this competition was invaluable, an excellent reward for all her hard work and motivation for the future.”

“I am very proud of her for all that she’s overcome and accomplished.”

What Ali overcame and accomplished was little more than she had expected late last summer when she started her training, and developing new programs with the goal of qualifying at EOSIC in the Triathlon event to go to the STARskate Championship.

All was on track until she injured her ankle at a competition in late September. The injury kept her off the ice for five weeks and limited what she could do for another three weeks when she returned.

“So her 4.5 month pre-competition preparation times was cut in half,” said Dimmick. “With only just over two months to get back into competition shape, we were faced with a daunting challenge.”

VanHoof met the challenge and her dedication and hard work paid off at the Eastern Ontario Sectional championship when she placed second overall to earn her spot at the STARskate Championship.

At EOSIC she was fourth after the Skills portion of the Triathlon with a personal best skate and then in the Interpretive, which is admittedly the weakest part of her Triathlon, she shattered her previous scoring to finish fifth and move into third place overall.

She then skated into Freeskate, her strongest event, for a first place finish and the resulting second place Ontario STARskate qualifying position.

“It was  a hard road, but Alisha really demonstrated that hard work and perseverance do pay off,” said Dimmick after Ali’s EOSIC performance. “I am proud of what she has accomplished as a person and a skater.”

Ali says she will be back in the hunt for a spot at the STARskate championship in the upcoming 2013-14 season. She too admits the experience at the Ontario final was great and that, “I was a bit nervous.”

“It included the top three skaters from each region in Ontario, so I saw what kind of skaters are out there from the other regions.”

Ali says she will take a bit of a break from her skating over the summer and she expects she will work on some changes to her free and interpretive programs.

Her current Freeskate program includes five double jumps, two double double combinations, a double Lutz and a third jump combination, Axel and loop. She performs three spins, including a deathdrop flying spin and two combinations which include difficult variations.

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Named as the top referees in the South Dundas Minor Hockey Program for the 2012-13  hockey season are, l-r, Nash Nesbitt,  Steve Martineau and Trevor Flay. Nesbitt was named the Best Rookie Referee and Flay the Most Dedicated. Martineau was honoured with the John Lortie Memorial Trophy for the second time in the seven years he has been refereeing. He was awarded the trophy in his rookie season in 2006-2007. The John Lortie Memorial is awarded annually in memory of John Lortie who passed away in November 2004. John was a 20 year plus veteran of the Morrisburg Fire Department and his second passion was hockey and the local minor hockey association. A lifelong member of the community, John began refereeing in 1985, and worked his way up to a Level 5 Referee. In his more than 20 year involvement with the Minor Hockey Association he refereed, was referee-in-chief and association president in 2000. In addition to his work on the ice, Martineau has been involved with coaching in the South Dundas Association and currently handles the very tough job of Association Ice Scheduler.

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While area golfers are bemoaning the fact that winter just doesn’t want to let go, Morrisburg Golf Club greens chair, Shawn Hummel has been using the time to get all his ducks in order.

Hummel has been busy over the past few weeks, getting the work lined up to repair the two Morrisburg Golf course greens hardest hit by disease last summer. 

According to Morrisburg Golf Club president Jason Broad, the par three second green is to be resodded at a cost of $8,000 while the worst hit number three green, in addition to resodding, will be re-configured with new soil and  proper drainage put in to the tune of $25,000.

The Morrisburg club executive has lined up a qualified company and for “warranty purposes we are having them do all the work,” says Broad. “For the year, they will put us on a program. They are also going to work with us on a proper maintenance program for our other greens.”

Where disease had impacted portions of other greens, particularly the first and fifth, work was done last fall that appears to have had favourable results.

“Last fall Mick Mabo (club vice-president) and Lee Beaupre (greens staff employee), moved a lot of the best sod there was left from the third green to number one and five. It looks to have caught well and is starting to come on now,” says Broad.

As for the time line, Broad says, work is to begin on the third green immediately, up to the placement of the new sod. “We need the soil to reach a temperature of 50º F to have the sod laid, so this cold spring has really delayed everything.”

Once the desirable soil temperature is reached the new sod is laid, Broad says golfers can expect a minimum of four weeks before play can resume on the two greens. 

Drainage put in last year, has helped in several problem areas and up until the heavy dump of rain and ice rain this past Friday, April 12, the course was drying up very well. The grass was showing the benefits of Monday’s sunshine and warm temperatures and what was brown on the weekend was now beginning to green.

“The clubhouse is officially opening Sunday,” said Broad. “And if we don’t get to much rain the rest of the week, Shawn is planning to put the pins in on Friday.” 

Club vice-president, Barry Henderson has been busy getting the clubhouse in order, and advises that should the pins go in, the clubhouse is booked for a private function on Saturday. This will not affect play, but will temporarily restrict afternoon access to the clubhouse.

Sunday, he points out, “it’s wide open” and we are offering an 2013 Season Opening Special of $10 per person which will include both breakfast and golf from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The club’s first ladies night is set for Wednesday, April 24, while the men will kick off their season on Thursday, April 25. The junior program starts in mid May.

Last fall, the Morrisburg club members, realizing the potential negative impact of the diseased greens, decided to reduce 2013 membership rates, in a effort to hold onto members and attract new members. With single memberships starting as low as $450 and a very attractive $75 for junior members, the club is hoping to hold its own through a difficult time.

Also the club will run without a head greenskeeper as it enters into a new setup that involves ‘greenskeeper sharing’ with other clubs. “This is a new trend that small golf courses are trying in an effort to cut costs,” says Broad. “So at this point we are not hiring a full-time greenskeeper. We want to look at it in an effort to keep our costs low. We can always undo or go back.”

“The cost to redo the third green is $25,000,” says Broad. “It’s frightening isn’t it. Most of the cost is for the materials, including tile drainage, soils, sand, irrigation and sod. I don’t think many people are aware of what golf course greens are worth.”

“The executive has been very busy getting ready for the season, and Shawn (Hummel) has had a lot on his plate, getting everything arranged for the greens. He’s done a lot of work.”

For more information or to pay memberships, please contact the Morrisburg Golf Club at 613-543-3282 or drop by the clubhouse beginning this Sunday, April 20.

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The South Dundas Peewee B #1 House Lions were out and about Easter weekend to collect, not Easter eggs, but goals and that is just what they did…as they filled their Easter basket with enough goals to win the Kingston Kids for Kids Tournament championship that ran from Thursday, March 28 to Sunday, March 31.

Not only did the Lions goes undefeated in preliminary round games, but with goaltender Wes Alexander standing big in net, they refused to give up a single goal as they worked their way through quarter-final, semi-final and championship action.

Alexander kicked off his hat-trick, shutout run in a 5-0 Lions quarter-final victory over the Rockland Nats and added shutout number two in the semi-final, this time with a 1-0 victory over Play It Again Sports.

For the championship and Alexander’s third shut out, the Lions met the Brockville Junior Braves and defeated them 5-0.

The Lions made quick work of the Braves, going up 2-0 in the first period with an unassisted Devin Dumoulin goal followed by a counter from Jonah Bennis with Aden Casselman and Kendrew Byers assisting.

Then in the second it was another two unassisted goals. The first was scored by Connor Dumoulin, assisted by Kasper Furo and the second was scored by brother Devin Dumoulin with help from Lucas Bennis.

Just for good measure, Connor Dumoulin added his second goal of the game, unassisted in the third period, to allow the Lions to skate to the tournament championship with a 5-0 victory.

The Lions kicked off the tournament with a 5-2 win against St. Paul’s Pride. Jonah Bennis led the Lions offensive attack with two goals and two assists, and Connor Dumoulin and Lucas Bennis provided singles.

For game two they met and defeated the Fort Henry Flames, 6-2. 

The Dumoulin brothers, this time contributed two goals each while Lucas Bennis and Kendrew Byers struck for singles.

The Kanata Vipers were the Lions next victims. The Vipers fell by a 7-1 count.

Kasper Furo and Jonah Bennis scored two goals each and singles came from the sticks of Connor and Devin Dumoulin and Lucas Bennis.

The Lions three-game undefeated record in preliminary round action put them in the quarter-finals against the Rockland Nats.

Their scoring in the 5-0 win over the Nats was provided by Jonah and Lucas Bennis, Kendrew Byers, Devin Dumoulin and Kasper Furo.

They came up against their toughest opposition in their semi-final game against Play It Again Sports. It wasn’t until late in the third period that Lucas Bennis struck for the only goal of the game, unassisted, to give the Lions the 1-0 victory.

The tournament championship ended a very successful season for the Lions, who won the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League playoff championship earlier that week, and were regular season division champions.

[…]

 

The curling season ended last Saturday with the closing bonspiel at the Morrisburg Curling Club. In the early draw, Al Harriman, Alice Thompson, Andy Patenaude and Bob Youmelle won their morning and afternoon matches.

The second draw saw Wendy Casselman, Cheryl Thompson, Joanne Baker and Garry Beckstead triumphant with two wins. The victorious teams in each draw received great prizes, and there were other awards for various events.

In the skills competitions, Denis Thibault won the “raise to the button” event, Peter Zeran won the “hit and roll”, and the “draw through the port” was won by Kathy Norg after going through a playoff with Greta McGann, Paul St. Pierre, Peter Zeran and Wally McDonald.

Special thanks to Bill and Sonja Laurin and their committee for catering another fine banquet, and of course to our highly-skilled ice technician, Wally Baker. Those of us who compete in other venues realize how good Wally’s work is.

The short business meeting following dinner was informative, with the treasurer’s report showing a successful season. Plans for the work over the summer were confirmed, and grants will mean major club improvements can be achieved with a modest cost to our club. Our ramp, upstairs washroom, repositioning of the bar, as well as kitchen improvements should be a reality when we return in the fall.

Our hard-working executive deserves full credit for what has already been, and what will be accomplished. They are looking for some additional members–not for particular offices at present, but to help with the load, take part in planning, and perhaps accept some positions after a brief learning period. See Mahlon Locke or Jack Barkley if interested. The first meeting is likely to be in early August.

For the club championship, on Thursday night in the semi-finals, John Wilson’s team defeated Robbie Stitt’s quartet and Joe McCooeye’s foursome was defeated by Larry Cooper’s. Larry, Chris and Nancy Barkley and Anita Cooper, and John and Ian Wilson, Scott Lane and Mike Staebler did battle for the club championship on Saturday night. It was an exciting event, and congratulations go to Larry Cooper’s team for winning the championship.

In other events, four of our ladies were in Ottawa last week at the Navy Club for their final invitational ladies’ bonspiel. Greta McGann, Alice and Cheryl Thompson and Linda Murphy played their first match against a team from the R.A. Centre to a tie. After lunch they returned to the ice to take on a foursome from Ormstown. In this case they came close, but lost out by a single point, finishing fifth on the day. No prizes this time, but they were two close matches for the Morrisburg four.

Our Thursday mixed daytime league finished with another lunch catered by our local Subway restaurant. Getting their names on the venerable Bradford Trophy were Mahlon and Sam Locke, Kathy Hardy and Keith Robinson, who defeated Al Harriman, Sonja and Bill Laurin and Denis Thibault for the title. Congratulations, and our thanks to our coordinator, Ruth Kelly for the hard work involved.

Watch the Leader for registration info for next season. As always, new members are welcomed, and there will be time before league play starts for novices and returning curlers to get out on the ice to get the kinks out and for the new people to learn the ropes. Our returning curlers are always willing to help you. Good curling to all!    

[…]

It was a packed house Friday night, March 29 for the Morrisburg and District Skating Club’s annual year end skate show.

This year’s show was skated to the theme of Country Stars on Ice  and included a number of solo and duo performances from senior and intermediate skaters and some outstanding skating displays by the various Canskate groups.

Coaches with the local club include Louise Dimmick dance coach Dana Grant, Allison Scott and Danielle Smail-Napier.

Senior skaters Jessica Bass, Logan Patterson and Gillian Beatson, who expect to leave the club due to next year’s school commitments, all skated solos.

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A hugely successful season came to an end here Tuesday, March 26, for the two South Dundas Peewee B House teams who were battling it out in a five point series for the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League playoff championship.

The two Lions squads went into the series’ fourth game tied at three points apiece, and a 5-2 victory for the B1s coached by Rob Casselman ended it.

The two evenly matched teams played to a 1-1 tie in the first period.

Oakley Beavers (from Adam Lapier) collected a short-handed goal for a 1-0, B2 lead with 4:14 left in the first period.

Casselman’s B1 Lions got it back before the period ended on a power play goal scored by Kendrew Byers and assisted by the Bennis brothers, Jonah and Lucas.

The tie held until very late in the second period when Connor Dumoulin made a nice pass up the centre to the stick of Jonah Bennis who beat first the B2 defenceman and then goaltender Sam Waytowich for the goal.

Early in the third, Casselman’s B1s stretched their advantage to 3-1, on a nice passing play from Lucas Bennis to Jonah Bennis and onto the stick of Connor Dumoulin.

Lapier’s B2s kept it close when they scored off a face off in the B1s end. Brooke Lapier’s shot from the slot beat B1 goaltender Wes Alexander to tighten the game to 3-2. Julenea Barnhartd provided the assist.

The Bennis brothers teamed for the fourth B1 goal when Jonah provided the setup to Lucas.

Lapier pulled his goaltender in favour of the extra attacker in the last minute of the game to no avail, as Kasper Furo found the empty B2 net for the 5-2 victory.

When the horn sounded to end the game, it also ended two hugely successful seasons for the two teams, each of whom were the regular season and playoff champs of their respective divisions, which led to them meeting for the overall UCMHL championship.

Each of the four games drew in excess of two hundred people. The series opened with a 1-1 tie. Casselman’s B1s won game two 4-2 and Lapier’s B2s won game three, 7-3.

[…]

We have more seasonal results from league play at our curling club. 

Last Tuesday night the men’s league wrapped up, and in the championship game, Larry Cooper’s team won the Pat Lid Trophy over Jack Barkley. With Larry were Peter McCooeye, Mike Felker and Jody Cryderman. Jack’s team included Ken Konink, Rick Mackenzie and Bill Laurin.

Finishing third were Robert Houze, Robbie Stitt and Al Harriman. 

Our Thursday nighters start their playoff run this week, with games beginning at 7 p.m. each night. John and Ian Wilson, Scott Lane and Mike Staebler, and Joe McCooeye, John Allison, Peter McCooeye and Jack Barkley finished first and second respectively and earned a bye to the semi-finals on Thursday night. 

On Monday night, Larry Cooper, Chris and Nancy Barkley and Anita Cooper played Mahlon Locke, Carolyn Beckstead, Kathy Norg and Wendy Casselman, while Robert Houze, Sam Laurin, Alan Brunt and Leanne McCooeye played Robbie Stitt, Al Harriman, Greta McGann and Paul St. Pierre. 

The winning teams play against the first and second place teams on Thursday night, and those victors play for the club championship on Saturday night.

The senior men completed their last draw of the last week, with the team of Pete Zeran, Ted Herriman, Maurice Kolff and Paul Dobry dominating play in the round robin. Finishing second were Don O’Brien, Len Bellamy, Glen Cougler and Robert Martin, followed by Martin Schneckenburger, Sam Locke, Bud Perry and Larry Ware. 

Rather than start a new draw in the days remaining this season, those interested play made-up two-person games. They’re looking at the possibility of a championship round involving the most successful skips over the season, Pete Zeran and Sid Morrell.

Our closing bonspiel April 6 will begin at 9 a.m., costing $10 for an eight-end game and a six-ender, with a pot luck luncheon in between. The dinner will be $15 and serving will begin at 5:30. Previous to that will be a skills competition. Then after a general meeting, the club championship game is on to finish the season.

The Wednesday night ladies will have their traditional four-end matches tonight, followed by some special treats. They have a great time in league play, but will not be announcing championship results. The Tuesday afternoon ladies will not be selecting a champion either, but also enjoy themselves on and off the ice.

Thursday morning mixed competition will finish up tomorrow, with the winner either Mahlon Locke’s or Al Harriman’s team. Results next week.

There is at least one last out-of-club bonspiel this week, with results to be announced next time.

Good curling to all!

    

[…]

After knocking off South Grenville in three games to win the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League Atom C House East Division championship, the Lions ran into a little more than they could handle against the North Leeds Rideaus.

The Lions opened strong in the five point UCMHL championship  series in Westport on Friday, March 22, two claim the first two points up for grabs with a 1-0 victory.

After two periods of scoreless hockey, Kolby Latulippe put the Lions on the scoreboard late in the third period with help from Mackenzie McKee-Markell. 

That was all that was required as Lions goaltender Olivia Salmon shut the Rideau’s down to  hold on for a shut out and the 1-0 Lions win.

Then on Morrisburg ice on Saturday, March 23, the Rideaus came back to even the series with a 3-0 victory, with Nick McConnell scoring a hat trick.

The series, tied at two points apiece, returned to Westport last Monday, March 25, where the Rideaus took charge, this time with a 5-2 win.

After a scoreless first period, the Rideaus out-scored the Lions 4-1 in the second period as they set their sights on the win.

Kolby Latulippe scored the two Lions goals with Devon Swindells assisting on both and McKee-Markell helping out on the final.

Jacob Adrain and Robbie Sharpe had two goals each for the Rideaus and Nick McConnell beat Salmon for a single.

The win put the Rideaus into the series driver’s seat with four points to the Lions two and pushed the series to the fourth game played in Morrisburg, on Tuesday, March 26.

The Lions needed nothing less than a win to stay alive Tuesday night, and it looked like they were well on their way with a 2-0 lead after the second period.

But the Rideaus came back with a vengeance in the third. Nick McConnell was the big gun for the Rideaus with two goals to tie the game, his final coming with just 1:19 left on the clock. 

Although the tie was enough for the Rideaus to claim their needed fifth series point they got one more from Jacob Adrain in the empty Lions net.

Scott Brooks scored the Lions first goal with help from Rachel Nicolaassen and Trent Rae, and Brooks provided the helper on a Cassidy Bilmer tally late in the second period.

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The season kicked off at the Morrisburg Golf Course last week with the first of the season-long men’s and ladies’ nights.

Although it has been a cold spring, the course has dried up reasonably well. Unfortunately, in keeping with tradition, the Wednesday night ladies event experienced some rain while the men saw somewhat drier conditions on Thursday.

The women had a good turnout last Wednesday with about 40 on hand, although only about half were able to hit the links for a little action. Prizes for the night were drawn from the hat.

Club captain, Monique Patenaude reports the ladies did have fun as they experienced a garage sale/silent auction/live auction event for the items that have been in the ladies coffers for many years. 

Ladies night play resumes tonight, Wednesday, May 1st. The evening is sponsored by Aikman Trailer Sales.

The opening men’s night was sponsored by Riley’s Valu-mart and had about 40 golfers out. The evening format was a scramble. The Lee Beaupre team won with a 31. Closest to the pin winners were Ron Lapier on the par three fifth hole and Lee Beaupre on the par three eighth.

Members can watch for upcoming events to be posted. 

For information on the club, perspective members are invited please drop by the clubhouse and talk to any members of the board or the staff there. 

This year’s president is Jason Broad and Andy and Monique Patenaude are the men’s and ladies captains. They will be happy to discuss club memberships with interested golfers.

The Club runs a junior program which kicks off later this month and a number of events are listed on the calendar.

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