Top sports stories of 2007
The year 2007 will be remembered for a lot of great highs
and some sad lows. There was plenty to celebrate and plenty
to reflect on. Athletes, coaches, team officials and clubs
gave Sudbury fans a lot to celebrate.
From rabid city championships to international champions,
Sudbury athletes and teams gave powerful performances all
year long.
The following pages include sports stories that left a big
impact on the community as a whole.
(NOTE: The Sudbury Wolves run to the 2007 OHL Championship
isn't included on this list. Their playoff performance is
included in the Top News Stories of 2007 as the impact from
their thrilling run engulfed the entire city of Greater
Sudbury, affecting everyone positively from hard core fans to
every day people.) 
BY SCOTT
HADDOW
When the news hit, it hit as hard as a 265-pound linebacker
going at full speed.
The Sudbury Spartans were forced to take a one-year absence
from the Northern Football Conference (NFC) due to low player
turnouts at practices.
It ended a 53-year tradition.
The Spartans were one of the founding clubs of the Nothern
Football Conference, and their absence caused an uproar.
After a practice, head coach Chris Bartolucci and some veteran
players were angry and frustrated. The team realized  they
had to pack up camp for one year and hope for the best in 2008.
"There just wasn't enough bodies to go around," said Bartolucci
at the time. "We had to make the hard decision, but it was the
right decision. We would have been killed by other teams. My
first concern was the safety of the players."
After going 3-5 and making the playoffs in 2006, Sudbury
assumed a good turnout would result for this season. It didn't
happen.
"We turned the corner last year," said the coach. "We had a
decent year and I thought that would get us a better turnout
and we would reap the benefits. Holy shit...we got nothing."
The team got five or six solid veterans to return along with
some young and rookie players.
"The decision was already made for us," said Bartolucci. "I'm
hoping this is not a good bye, rather a see you all next year
kind of thing. It was the hardest decision I had to make, but
it was easy."
The Spartans' franchise was on shaky ground.
"The NFC started around teams like Sudbury," said Bartolucci.
"It was here for 53 years. In a heartbeat, it disappeared and
not a lot of people seem to care. It could disappear for a long
time...that's the real danger in taking this absence. I hope
this shocks the football community and players and makes them
realize everyone has to put in the right amount of time and
commitment to make it happen."
Veteran players were also in an uproar over the cancellation of
the season.
"It's just disappointing...how else do you describe it," said
wide receiver Brandon Dougan. "We got no linemen to come
out...no big men to play. I don't know if the big guys are
scared or what, but we need them. We have the best coaching
staff since Sid Forster and we would have had the best passing
team in recent memory this season. It's all gone now. If no
linemen come out next year, there will not be a team next year
or the year after that."
Other players were in a state of shock and sorrow.
"It's just sad," said wide receiver Dan Leduc. "I hate to see
it...a 53-year tradition just gone like that. It's crazy how it
came to a sudden stop. We had about 16 guys at practice just
two weeks prior to the season starting...we can't put together
any systems."
Like scrums in football, Bartolucci hoped the great minds of
the local football community will come together and figure out
a way to ensure there will be a season in 2008.
"The football community has to salvage what we can and come up
with a way to make this work," said the bench boss. "I think it
can work. I'm angry over players who didn't show up. I guess
it's easier to play Madden Football (a video game) than it is
to play in real life."
The Spartans were able to recover from the fumble when several
former players, current players and people from the community
stepped up to take over.
A new executive board revealed themselves to the public in the
summer. They laid out an aggressive plan which guaranteed the
Spartans will be back on the grid iron come next summer.
Former player Gord Goddard is the new president, player Junior
Labrosse is vice-president, Todd Lefebvre is the secretary and
John Sabourin is the media and marketing director. Eric Moles
remains as the treasurer.
The new staff has years of combined experience. 
"I can't even begin to add up all the experience this new
executive has," said Goddard. "We go back to the original roots
of the team. John has been involved since 1972. Junior has been
involved since 1987. I've been involved since 1993. Todd comes
over from the Joe MacDonald Youth Football League
executive...one of the most successful in Canada. Eric is a
chartered accountant...been with the team since the late 90s.
Our experience is going to make a difference on and off the
field."
The Spartans have received notice from the league they will be
allowed back in for the 2008 season.
