Sudbury Northern Life 
It was my search for the scores and goal scorers from the
various finals hosted during the Valley East Progressive Hockey
rep tournament that led me to my final stop late Sunday
afternoon at the Centennial Arena.
As my (bad) luck would have it, play had concluded some ten
minutes before my arrival, as the event organizers managed to
keep things moving along nicely, finishing slightly ahead of
schedule. "Not to worry," suggested long-time Valley East
tournament volunteer Hilda Kingsley. "How long do you need to
gather what you need?"
"I should be about 10-15 minutes, Hilda," I said.
 "No problem," she replied, as she made her way back to
the arena lobby,
enjoying some parting conversations with the various
friendships she had made both through her years of involvement
in minor sports and with the more casual acquaintances she
might have struck up this particular weekend.
Roughly 30 to 40 minutes later, I managed to chart the last of
the missing scores from the weekend. "Sorry Hilda," I said.
"Didn't think it would take quite that long."
"Not to worry," she said, even though the tournament had
already eaten up the bulk of yet another weekend that could
have been spent a million and one other ways.
"But would you have stayed if I had told you it would take me a
half hour or more," I asked with a smile.
"Ya…I probably would have," she answered, with little
hesitation. The following Friday (Dec.5), Hilda Kingsley passed
away in her sleep. It came as a shock to the hundreds, if not
thousands, she had touched in her years of volunteerism within
the Valley East community.
It's often difficult to explain to the youngsters who benefit
from the incredible willingness to help of people like Hilda
Kingsley exactly how critical the work they do is in allowing
minor sports to function.
Yet, years later, when those same former minor sport
participants are now enjoying the involvement of their own
offspring, it's not the least bit unusual to see them stop by
the tournament office at the Centennial Arena and pass along
their own personal thanks to Hilda for all the work she has
done for them over the years.
"Hilda, you will be missed. Thank you for all that you have
done!"
Sports wrap-up
On a lighter note, I'll conclude this week with an assortment
of sporting tidbits, musings and other thoughts garnered during
my travels these past few weeks.
n Chatting with Cambrian College Athletic Director Bob Piché at
a high school basketball game recently, he mentioned that the
hope of reviving the women's curling team for this year had
died, with minimal interest shown by young ladies wishing to
pursue the sport at the collegiate level.
I must admit this came as a surprise to me. Knowing the numbers
involved with Bantam and Junior curling in the area, as well as
the overall quality of the field, it seemed only natural that
Cambrian could round up at least five or six participants to
represent the college in action. Maybe next year.
n It's entirely possible that Peter Michelutti Jr. could do a
better job of coaching than he did one year ago in guiding the
Nickel Capital Wolves to the Telus Cup, and still not emerge as
the Great North Midget League representative this time around.
n It was nice to hear from Lo-Ellen graduate Ray Lalonde, who
has teamed with former Knight Doug Nielsen to help the Grande
Prairie Regional College Wolves (Alberta) reach the No.3 slot
in the national college volleyball rankings.
n Still with athletes home for the holidays, there may not be a
local sport that exemplifies the "quality over
quantity"credence than the Sudbury and area wrestling crew.
Always willing to provide any help to grow the sport, high
school graduates Celeste Rodrigues (Macdonald-Cartier) and
Diana Ford (Sudbury Secondary) were both in Chelmsford last
week, sharing tips with the current crew under the tutelage of
Andy Lalonde and Paul Berthiaume.
Rodrigues and Ford are both members of a highly touted Brock
Badgers women's wrestling team, with both ladies eyeing a
potential Canadian championship and possible berth on the
national team.
Best of luck to the both of them. And to the thousands involved
in some way, shape or form with local sports, enjoy a very
relaxing few days over Christmas before the fun begins all over
again in 2009. I know I will.
Randy Pascal is the voice of Persona 10 Sports and the founder ofwww.SudburySports.com
