2005: 12 months of champions and challenges

BY SCOTT HADDOW

From championship-winning teams to miraculous comebacks and incredible individual achievements, 2005 was a wild ride for local athletes.

Here's a quick look back:

Northern Life reported Jan. 5 that Laurentian men's soccer goalie Will Lucia was heading to Bosnia for a peacekeeping mission with the Canadian army. Lucia returned in September uninjured and resumed his studies.

In the Jan. 12 edition, we reported on Markstay's Lou Serre as he attempted to win another World Sled Dog Championship. Serre added a silver medal to his impressive showcase of well over 300 trophies.

The Horgan Rink, representing the Idylwylde Curling Club, went to the 2005 Karcher Canadian World Junior Curling Championships. The team of Jennifer Horgan, Amanda Gates, Tracy Horgan and Stephanie Barbeau became the darlings of the local curling scene by battling for first overall. The Horgan Rink finished fourth overall in the world.

It was an amazing comeback for high school basketball player Michael Medakovic, who had broken his neck while playing hockey in January 2004. Medakovic inspired readers in the Jan. 19 edition with his story about overcoming his injury to play for the Lo-Ellen basketball squad in 2005.

The Wolves set an attendance record by reaching 100,000 fans by January for the first time in franchise history.

Tammi-Lyn Deveau won one gold and two silvers in speed skating at the Special Winter Olympics in Japan.

The Wolves and Hockey Canada honoured the Sudbury Wolves Senior Team that won the 1938 World Hockey Championship.

The Copper Cliff Curling Club team of Mike Jakubo, Lee Toner, Luc Ouimet and Jon Solberg earned the right to go to the 2005 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's top men's curling event.

Isabelle Perreault was featured in the Feb. 13 edition for winning the Ontario women's senior 66-kilogram championship and a national bronze medal.

It was a thrilling finish for Laurentian women's basketball team member Cassandra Carpenter as she became the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) single season scoring leader (but lost the claim a few nights later to a Brock player). She was named the OUA East Player of the Year.

The Cambrian College women's volleyball squad won the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA crown).

Wolves veteran Bobby Chaumont became the OHL iron man by playing in 267 straight games.

Lockerby students Jon Hey, David Endleman, Sean Kershaw and Matt Little won the OFSAA Nordic skiing overall title.

Sixteen wrestlers heading to the Canadian championships in Newfoundland faced disappointment after buying for tickets on Jetsgo airline. The airline went bankrupt leaving them stranded, but local businesses and people helped them fund an alternative flight. They made it, and numerous wrestlers won medals.

Jeff Buttle won a silver at the World Figure Skating championships.

MacDonald Cartier student Teena Lalonde won the school's first female OFSAA gold medal in wrestling.

Francine and Denis Houle caused a commotion by promoting the Brampton Battalion on a sign outside their motel, the Chateau Guay, during the first round of the 2005 OHL playoffs between Sudbury and Brampton. Their son, J.F. plays for Brampton.

Sudbury disposed of Brampton in six games, including a dramatic 5-4 double overtime win in game six to win the series. Sudbury went on to be eliminated from the playoffs by Ottawa in six hard fought games.

In the April 22 edition, we brought readers a touching story about Ray Villeneuve, a blind power lifter who won gold at the Canadian National Power lifting Championships in the Masters 3 division for athletes 60 and over.

Also in April, Sudbury Wolves sniper Ben Pouliot was named the OHL Rookie of the Year after scoring 67 points in 67 games. Pouliot would also be named the CHL Rookie of the Year as well later on in the year. Wrestler Cale Predon won two gold medals in freestyle and Greco-Roman style wrestling at the 2005 Canadian Amateur Championships.

In the May 15 edition, we told readers about soccer coach Ben Haavisto. He overcame Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer to coach the Panhellenic Strikers girls' U-17 squad to several tournament victories.

"Just because I had cancer didn't mean I had to lay down and give up...I don't think I missed a game...It was tough...One game, I had to sleep right on the sidelines...Coaching soccer helped me beat cancer."

Also in May, Sudbury Downs is closed because of a strike that would last until late June.

Northern Life sponsored Sudburians Are Good Sports, a four-day event in Copper Cliff which celebrated the region's outstanding sporting history.

The House of Kin Sports Celebrity Dinner honoured new Hall of Fame members Larry Wagner, John Maslack, Paul Sauve, Aldo Roy and Gary Hall. The House of Kin also honoured 2005 award winners, Danny Battochio (Pro Sports Person of the Year), Cambrian College women's volleyball team (Sheridan Family Team Award), Cale Predon (Male Amateur Athlete of the Year), Tammi Deveau (Amateur Female Athlete of the Year), Meagan Duhamel (Amateur Elite Athlete of the Year) and Lisa Martin (Import Athlete of the Year).

Lively's John Hastie won the first-ever Sudbury Golf Championship.

Lo-Ellen student Rebecca Johnston wins two OFSAA golds in the 200-metre and 400-metre events.

In the July 29 edition, we reported on the Women's International Boxing Association lightweight championship. Kara Ro won the title in Detroit earning a 10-round unanimous decision over her opponent.

"It's nice to prove to everyone that a skinny white girl could do it...I can't look back on any fight and be satisfied...Each time you fight, it's different...I always have to improve," said Ro.

Also in July, John Grant Jr., one of the top professional lacrosse players in the world, put on a clinic in Copper Cliff for members of the Sudbury Lacrosse Association.

The senior bowling team of Ray Moskalyk, Jules Rochon and Dave Mahaffy won gold at the Canadian Bowling Championships in the Club 55+ Triples category.

Six local athletes participated in the Canada Summer Games in Regina. Frank Louiseize won double gold in swimming, Lisa Furchner won gold helping Team Ontario in basketball, Kristina Fabris won gold in volleyball, Cale Predon won silver in wrestling and Andrew MacMillan won bronze in the canoe event. Jason Cecchini took fourth in wrestling.

Former Wolves player and NHLer Randy Carlyle was named head coach of the Anaheim Mighty Ducks NHL franchise.

Kristine Lalonde, 13, made the Team Ontario girls' Under-15 Midget basketball team and helped them win gold at the Canadian Midget Basketball Championships. Lalonde earned a game MVP honour for putting up 18 points in a win over Alberta.

Also in August...Amanda Sin went to the World Mountain Bike Championships, placing in the Top 50. Laurentian graduate Steve Walkom was named the NHL director of officiating.

Wolves star Nick Foligno helped Team USA to a 4-0 record and scored one goal and two points at the American National Junior Evaluation camp.

He got rave reviews from the head coach Walt Kyle. "Nick is a great young man and a very talented player," said Kyle at the time. "He knows the game and it's evident he's the product of solid coaching. His strengths are his work ethic...as well as his tenacity."

Unfortunately for Foligno, he wasn't named to the United States squad for the 2006 World Junior Championship.

The Wolves opened the 2005-06 season with three straight losses, but regain form quickly to be a contender in the OHL Eastern Conference. Wahnapitae's Julian Talbot was named captain of the Ottawa 67's OHL franchise.

His older brother was also captain of the 67's in 2001. Laurentian Nordic Ski coach Mary Waddell announced a one-year sabbatical to become the new assistant sport co-ordinator for the Yukon.

Local firefighters Ron Hache and Jimmy Kolar won their respective divisions at the 2005 Canadian Firefighter Combat Challenge. They won a combined $6,000 US, which they put toward the purchase of a thermal-imagining camera for better service to the community.

Lasalle Secondary student Kathryn Corbiere won the school's first girls NOSSA golf championship.

Champlain student Carly Montpellier demonstrates school spirit by taking over as coach of the cross-country running program.

"I knew full well if I wanted to keep running, I would have to do both (coaching and competing)," said Montpellier. "I wanted to take it on and have the responsibility...I love to run and I love to be challenged everyday."

Also in October, Sudbury Junior Wolves captain Brian McGarry recorded his 300th career NOJHL point with one goal and five assists against Manitoulin. Cyclist Thomas Hums was crowned the overall Ontario Cup Under-17 champion. The Laurentian women's soccer team made history by hosting, and then winning, their first OUA playoff game.

Joanne Vendramin is officially recognized as the Ontario record holder after catching a monstrous 40.68-pound rainbow trout in lake Huron with her husband Bruce.

The Panhellenic U-15 girls' team won the Ontario Youth Soccer League Play Fair Award.

Wolves head coach and GM Mike Foligno was inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame.

Also in November, Laurentian soccer teams earn praise as Giuseppe Politi, Erica Duczeminski, Cara Smith and Melynda Roach all won OUA North/South all-star team selections.

Four members of Benoit's Martial Arts won six medals, including four golds, at the World Karate Association Championships.

Four boxers earn the right to compete at the Canadian national championships after winning provincial titles. Amanda Beaulieu, Justin Bonhomme, Jamie Lea Pollock and Ryan Ranelli all punched their way to provincial golds.

Wolves super stars Ben Pouliot and Marc Staal won spots on Team Canada for the 2006 World Junior Championship.

Laurentian women's basketball program was handed an early Christmas present when two high school stars, Lasalle's Lisa Furchner and Lockerby's Katie Goggins, commit to the program, spurning lucrative offers from NCAA Division I schools.