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Sports weekend to feature stellar guests

While some might say the Stanley Cup is the guest of honour at this weekend's Greater Sudburians are Good Sports weekend in Copper Cliff, there will be opportunities to meet some of the city's sports heroes.

While some might say the Stanley Cup is the guest of honour at this weekend's Greater Sudburians are Good Sports weekend in Copper Cliff, there will be opportunities to meet some of the city's sports heroes.

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Part of the local sports exhibits for this weekend's Greater Sudburians are Good Sports event in Copper Cliff.
Dave Newell, who is originally from Copper Cliff, is the assistant director of officiating for the NHL. He will be the featured speaker Sunday
afternoon (June 5) from 2 to 3 pm at McClelland Community Centre.

Newell was a promising young player, but when he was in his early teens he was told by a Toronto Maple Leafs scout that he was too small to play professional hockey.

His father, Jack Newell, a well known referee in the area, took his son under his wing. Newell was hired at the age of 21 by the NHL and had a colourful 23-year career as a referee.

In 1990, Newell was appointed to an administrative position in order to provide continuing service to the league in an advisory capacity to younger officials.

Jeno Tihanyi, who has been actively involved in coaching swimming at the national and Olympic levels for several decades, will speak Friday evening at 7 pm at McLelland Community Centre.

Tihanyi's coaching achievements include 16 world records and two Olympic gold medals.

Tihanyi was recently named to the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and is best known for coaching Olympic gold medalist Alex Baumann.

Tihanyi will be joined by Canadian Junior Figure Skating Champion Meagan Duhamel to talk about what it takes to be succeed in amateur sport.

The Stanley Cup will only be available for viewing Friday. The cup and its escort will fly to Tampa, Florida, Saturday for a special event with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2004 Stanley Cup winning team.

The Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, something no one will want to miss, will celebrate local NHL stars: Glen Murray, Herb Kewley, Sebastien Laplante, Todd Bertuzzi, Eddie Giacomin, Toe Blake and Oliver Maltais.

Numerous hockey trophies will be on display with the exhibit. They include the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. This trophy, presented to the league
by the Montreal Canadiens in January 1999, goes to the leading goal scorer in the NHL season.

Jim Fortin, the curator of Sudbury Museums, has been collecting local sports memorabilia to be displayed this weekend.

Fortin says many citizens have been very generous with their donations of items for the exhibit.

This is an all-sports weekend. Every effort has been made to celebrate high school sports, local soccer leagues and women's sports.

Local exhibitors will include Sudbury Spartans, Sudbury Sprinters Speed Skaters, Sudbury Regional Soccer Association, Sudbury Canoe Club and the Sudbury Dragon Boat Festival.

Memorabilia on display will include team jerseys, school yearbooks and photographs.

People who attend the weekend activities will have a chance to win some fabulous prizes which include a Darryl Sittler hockey stick, and tickets to
Blue Jays games.

And don't forget the ball hockey game with the City Hall All-Stars and the Sudbury Wolves, Saturday at 11 am at the Copper Cliff Curling Club.

This weekend has been made possible by the city's hardworking museum and library staff.

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