BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
As usual, Ottawa 67s Goalie Danny Battochio
was on his mark Monday night at the 2005 House of Kin Sports
Celebrity Dinner.
Battochio, who won the Professional Sports
Person of the Year, was ecstatic to be recognized for his
efforts outside of Sudbury, and was impressed with the support
shown.
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Danny Battochio |
"It feels great," said Battochio about
winning. "You come back home, after quite the season of hard
work and the community comes together and recognizes you even
though you're doing everything out of town, it's
incredible. To win is extraordinary and means a lot to me.
Being together with the community and having fun makes it all
worthwhile."
Battochio backstopped Ottawa to within one
game of the Memorial Cup final.
Last year, wrestler Cale Predon co-won the
Amateur Male Athlete of the Year with golfer Kurt Kowaluk, but
this year, Predon outright grabbed the award, and was feeling
gracious afterwards.
"I want to give congratulations to the other
nominees (Stephane Ayotte and Yves Bastien). They worked as
hard as I did," said Predon.
"It's a great honour to be nominated. I
would really like to thank everyone in the city because they
helped our team this year go to nationals because of what
happened with Jetsgo. It's great how things like this in
Sudbury still take place. I hope it continues for a long
time."
Predon won national wrestling crowns this
year.
It was an emotional night for Tammi-Lyn
Deveau, who won multiple gold medals at the 2005 Special
Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.
Tears of joy rolled down her face after she
was announced as the Amateur Female Athlete of the Year.
"This is like making a dream come true," said
Deveau. "I never thought I would go this far. It's amazing.
I did it for everybody who wants to follow their dream. You can
do anything if you just put your mind to it."
It was a special night for figure skater
Meagan Duhamel, who won the Amateur Elite Athlete of the Year,
beating out hockey star Tessa Bonhomme and soon-to-be Olympic
Nordic skier Devon Kershaw.
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Lisa Martin |
"I really wasn't expecting this it all,"
said Duhamel. "Devon and Tessa both achieved a lot. I
didn't think I was in the same class. It's really
exciting and I am quite shocked."
Duhamel won gold at the 2004 International
Skating Union Junior Grand Prix in France back in September of
2004.
Lisa Martin, an imposing six-foot-three
volleyball player with the Cambrian College varsity squad,
earned the first ever Import Athlete of the Year.
"It adds on to a fantastic year that I have
had," said Martin. "Our team came together this
season...it's been incredible just to be with the team for
two year and see the changes."
The Cambrian College women's volleyball
team, who dominated the Ontario College Athletic Association
scene with their fine play, and finished the season winning a
bronze at the national championships, won the Sheridan family
Team of the Year award.
"It's a great way to end our season,"
said Cambrian head coach Dale Beausoleil.
"We want to thank the House of Kin. Most of
our girls are graduating, so just being together and being
recognized on what a great year we had is amazing. I am
honoured to have coached these girls."
The House of Kin also put the spotlight on
the 2005 Sports hall of Fame inductees.
Gary Hall was inducted in the Administrator
category, Aldo Roy was enshrined in the Media category, Paul
Sauve was inducted in the Builder category, Larry Wagner in the
Player category and John Maslack in the Corporate
category.
