Hey sports fans, it's time to lift the lid off the local athletics scene and see what's been cooking.
I'll start with some curling stuff first.
We now all know the Tim Phillips Rink lost the final of the
Northern Ontario Men's Curling Championship to the Al Harnden
Rink.
One thing that really stood out about the event was the
mingling of fans, friends and family with the curlers.
There's not too many times in the world of competitive sports
where athletes and fans have such interaction.
Prior to the biggest match of the tournament, there were
members of the Tim Phillips Rink - Ron Henderson and Doug Hong
- up in the gallery talking with friends, family and, most
importantly, fans.
This social aspect of the sport is unmatched in all other
sports.
You would never see hockey players mixing it up with fans just
minutes before a league championship game.
Yet there they were joking and laughing with fans despite all
the pressure and drama.
Even the boys from the Harnden Rink were up in the gallery
talking with fans.
It's just too bad the local team couldn't make it a perfecting
ending to an excellent event by winning.
Speaking of fans, I couldn't help but be impressed with the
rowdy fan support this past weekend at the Cambrian College
volleyball games, especially the women's match.
There have been numerous times over the years in which the
Cambrian teams have received little support, despite great
success.
There have even been stories about the lack of local support
and how the Cambrian athletes feel like they're on the road for
home games because of the lack of Cambrian fans and the amount
of out-of-town supporters.
Against a tough opponent, Georgian College, this past weekend,
it was a different story.
At the start of the game, the Georgian faithful were full of
energy and generating plenty of noise with duck calls and
horns.
It looked like it wasn't going to be answered.
Then, Cambrian fans, athletes, coaches and other supporters
filled the bleachers, and they brought noise makers of their
own in the form of horns, noise sticks and loud voices.
In no time, the Cambrian supporters overwhelmed the Georgian
fans.
While the two teams battled it out on the court, their fans
went toe-to-toe, so to speak, in the stands.
It was actually quite compelling to watch.
Every time the Georgian fans went nuts, the Cambrian followers
took it a step further by being louder and prouder.
Just like the game, the Cambrian fans wore out their
counterparts as the match went on.
And the Golden Shield responded by winning one of their biggest
games of the season in fine fashion by 3-1.
By the end of the women's game, the Georgian fans looked
deflated and ready to take the three-hour bus ride home.
Meanwhile, Cambrian players celebrated their victory in the
stands with their loyal fans.
The whole scene had Cambrian officials smiling.
Now, time for some hockey.
The third annual Sudbury Saturday Night event at the Sudbury
Arena was another huge success as the community came together
to celebrate our history, culture and generosity.
Around 5,147 fans were in attendance for the prizes, free gifts
and music provided by the Shaft Bottom Boys.
Inco challenged fans to bring in non-perishable items for the
Sudbury Food Bank, and they did, hauling in about a
ton-and-a-half worth of food.
They also dished out some cash, donating over $2,000 combined
to the local Easter Seals Society.
It's always a sight to behold when the Shaft Bottom Boys fire
up a rendition of Stomping Tom Connors' Sudbury Saturday Night.
Almost all the fans stayed in the stands to sing and make a lot
of noise.
