Hello sports fans, it's time to lift the lid off the local scene and see how our athletes and teams have been fairing.
I'll start with the Noelville bid to become Kraft
Hockeyville.
Noelville failed in their attempt to become Hockeyville for
2007, losing out to rival town North Bay.
I have to tip my hat to the folks who put together Noelville's
bid. It provided an exciting run, almost like when a team makes
a long run in the playoffs. People were talking about it on the
streets and at pubs. Noelville had a buzz going, but it wasn't
enough.
My hat is also off to North Bay. The people of that community
should be proud for many reasons.
One, they got behind their effort and pushed with all their
might to beat out some top entries from across the country.
Two, they get $50,000 for arena improvements and get to host an
NHL exhibition game in September between the New York Islanders
and the Atlanta Thrashers.
First, the $50,000 could be used towards upgrades of the
50-year-old North Bay Memorial Gardens.
With all the news generated by the run, North Bay is back in a
prime spot to land an OHL franchise. The Centennials vacated
for Saginaw after the 2001-02 season, and the city just hasn't
been the same without an OHL presence. (I give full credit to
the North Bay Skyhawks Junior A team for filling the void quite
admirably in the meantime - they won a few NOJHL championships
among other accomplishments.)
Winning the Hockeyville title only serves as a big hammer to
smack OHL officials over the head so they can really consider
the Gateway City as an OHL town again.
As for the exhibition game, I'm left wondering why the game
would feature two American teams. Logically, it should be two
Canadian teams since it is Canada and it was a Canadian contest
about Canadian hockey.
Can you imagine the madness if it was a Toronto versus Montreal
match? It would be nuts. It's a little tough to get pumped up
about New York against Atlanta. Yes, those two teams have some
big time superstars (Atalnta's Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian
Hossa), but I find it hard to believe both team's top stars
will participate in the event.
Quite a few years ago, the Sudbury Arena hosted an exhibition
game between Toronto and Washington. It didn't sell out. The
biggest name, at the time and who is still playing from that
game, was Washington's Brenden Witt, who now plays for the
Islanders. Some people are probably scratching their heads
saying Brenden who?
The big names at the time didn't make it out for that game, but
maybe Kraft will flex their muscles and force all the top
players to show up.
Regardless, it was a frantic finish and the whole series just
shows Canadians are still fanatical when it comes to their
hockey and communities.
The Sudbury Wolves won just one game in their final eight games
of the season. Not exactly the streak a team wants entering the
playoffs. Yet, in their final game, the Wolves exploded for six
goals against Ottawa and win 6-4 to hold onto sixth place in
the Eastern Conference. Sudbury also showed a lot of grit and
intensity in the game with several big hits and fights. It was
one of the more fierce games I've seen in a long time. Maybe
the boys were playing possum for the last few weeks and are
ready to spring like a wounded bear on the opposition in the
playoffs.
Sudbury has drawn the Mississauga IceDogs in the first round.
The two teams met six times in the regular season, with each
winning three. It should be a hotly contested series. I predict
the Wolves will come out on top in six games because of their
experience.
Recently, Laurentian University basketball has been reversing a
typical trend. For many years, many elite high school athletes
were packing their bags and heading out of town for so called
greener pastures. Last year, Laurentian landed highly sought
after local recruits Katie Goggins and Lisa Furchner. Goggins
was named the OUA East Rookie of the Year and made the CIS
All-Rookie squad. Both Furchner and Goggins made the OUA East
Rookie Team as well. In the last few weeks, Laurentian has
received three transfers to the women's basketball program -
former College Notre-Dame star Mylaine Mageau from York
University and Kelly and Kauri Lafontaine from the University
of Toronto.
All three made positive statements in press releases about
Laurentian's tremendous sporting environment and the respect
they get.
If only more athletes gave Laurentian the chance. The school
takes care of their athletes and gives them a wonderful
opportunity to grow as people, not just as athletes.
I have to also point out the women's soccer program has also
done well at retaining and recovering local talent. The team
features no less than 10 local athletes who are impact players,
including all-star Cara Smith, who originally bolted for the
NCAA years ago only to return after a less than spectacular
experience in her first season.
