ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | SPORTS | A5
Huskies honour longtime announcer Joe Stevens Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca Fort St. John Huskies home games will sound quite a bit different this season, as longtime announcer Joe Stevens is moving from Fort St. John and vacating the booth for the first time since the start of the 1995-96 season. In honour of the voice of the Huskies, the team held a ceremony for Stevens on Friday night, August 27, before their first skate of the 2021 training camp. “There aren’t many words that can describe Joe’s commitment to the team — a quarter of a century on the call, the voice of an angel — it will be very hard to fill your shoes and I don’t think we’ll ever be able to fill your shoes. On behalf of the Huskies organization, thank you for your years of contribution,” team president Mike Bacso said to Stevens during the ceremony. Bacso presented Stevens with the President’s Award, as well as a jersey with “Stevens” and the number 26 on the back in honour of the number of seasons he called games full-time. “Thanks guys. I hope you get to go out on the ice this year, have a fantastic season. There are so many guys I’ve announced over the years, I’ve got to know some of you in the penalty box. Have a hell of a season, and bring home another trophy for the boys,” Stevens told the team, before giving one more shout of, “Alright Fort St. John, it’s just about time for your Fort St John Huskies!” as the team cheered and skated out onto the ice. Stevens first moved to Fort St. John in 1983, and would occasionally announce Huskies and Flyers games and give game repots on the radio before calling games fulltime in 1995. He said moving back
to the Moncton, New Brunswickarea where he is from is bittersweet and he wishes he could be in two places at once. Over the years he saw the team go from the Rocky Mountain Junior Hockey League, to the Peace Cariboo Junior Hockey League, and back to the Northwest Junior Hockey League. Coaches in that time span were George Cochrane, Gary Alexander, and now Todd Alexander, to name a few, and he was around when players like Dody Wood and Mark Hartigan played for the Huskies. Huskies coach Todd Alexander is grateful for the time Stevens spent with the team and is wishing him the best going forward. “Joe Stevens has done a good job DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTOS for us over the years. Many players Above: Huskies President Mike Bacso presents Joe Stevens with the Presidents Award for his will always remember Joe, he was 25-year tenure announcing Huskies home games, Aug. 27. a staple around the organization, a good, positive one to have for us Below: Nathan Brownlee keeps the puck in the offensive zone during training camp, Aug. 28. locally, and wherever he goes he’ll do well,” said Alexander. When asked why he kept calling games for so long, Stevens said it was all because of the community. “It’s the community of Fort St. John, the generosity of the people into sports and their community,” Stevens said. Stevens was very grateful for the recognition from the team, saying that’s not why he called the games but that it’s nice when people do recognize all the time and hard work he’s put in. Stevens said he will continue to follow the team’s success on Facebook this season, and while he wishes he got to see the team win a championship one more time, the Huskies did win the last official game that he called. “I guess I’m still going out a winner that way,” Stevens said.
Huskies roster down to 25 after camp Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca The countdown to the Fort St. John Huskies season opener is on, following the team’s main training camp at the Pomeroy Sport Centre last weekend, August 27 to 29. The team entered camp with 36 players, and have since whittled it down to 25 players, who will practice and compete in exhibition games with the team before final cuts are made for opening night. “It was good to have a training camp of that style, the boys each got four games in. We had some good action going and I thought the pace was pretty good,” said Huskies head coach Todd Alexander. Last year, the players couldn’t compete in scrimmages due to PHO restrictions, and camp consisted of only drills. This year, coaches opted to have the players compete in a series of exhibition games. “It’s good to see them on the ice and working. We get an idea that way of what they have naturally, and now we’ll do five practices and these guys can show us if they need to stay or if we’ll need to bring in some more bodies. It’s up to the players now to see what they can do,” Alexander said. The team will have a good mix of returning players and newcomers, many of whom are local players. Players like Alex Nimmo, Jared Winkel, Tyler MacArthur will be back for their third and fourth seasons with the team, and ready to lead the next era of Huskies players forward. “I’m super impressed with this group, a lot of them are stepping up. A lot of the comments from out of town guys during close-out interviews were how accepting the veteran guys are, and how the new guys could always ask them questions they might not ask of the coaches. These guys are stepping into that role naturally, there’s no fakeness that all. With the culture of this group and who we are as people, when you start the season that way it gets you excited to see where the can be placed,” Alexander said. Alexander said one of the strong points of this year’s team will be their mental toughness. “We put a lot into teaching them ow to be mentally tough, working on positive messaging. The culture is already there and I’, excited for the returning guys to share it.” Practices begin this week, leading up to exhibition games in Cold Lake, September 18 and 19. The season opener goes in Dawson Creek against the Junior Canucks, Sept. 24.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A6 | SPORTS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Peace Auto Fest hits new heights in third year Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca The Peace Auto Fest returned to the Taylor chainup area for a third time last weekend, August 28 and 29, and this time, there were no storms and few Covid restrictions to impact it. This year’s festival, put on by Fort St. John Car Culture and the Peace Region Motorsports Association, took things up a notch in all regards — from the amount of people attending, to the amount of events taking place, and even the number of cars participating in the car show. “This year compared to last year, it’s incredible how much it’s grown. We have a great amount of cars here this year, and there are new faces from all over — Dawson Creek, Grande Prairie,” Nathan Fougere said, while wiping down his 1994 Acura Integra in between short burst of rain. He said he was aiming to win the Best Engine Bay award in the Show N’ Shine, and he would go on to do just that. He didn’t have as much luck in the Autocross, blowing his clutch the day before but getting the car ready in time for Sunday’s show. While the Show N’ Shine had the highest turnout of cars since the Peace Auto Fest started, the drift competition was once again the star of the weekend. From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, fans lined the West side of the Taylor Chain-Up lot to see the drivers perform their biggest drifts in the tightest of margins, while wrecking as many tires as they could along the way. Abel Fradette finished first this year, impressing the fans consistently each time out. Jeremy Hansen came in second, saving his best run for last as he
popped multiple tires his last time out. “It’s so much fun. It’s all about coming out here, having fun together, crashing our cars. Every year it gets bigger and bigger. For a small town, we have such an awesome car community here and I can’t even describe it,” Hansen said. Ryan Mucci, who won the 2020 event, was once again a fan favourite, wrecking nine tires, and blowing a hole in his engine block his last time out. He finished third in 2021, as well as second in the Autocross race, to go with two Show N’ Shine awards. The third PAF saw the debut of the sound competition, which saw about 10 drivers open their car doors, and crank their systems up to 11, to compete for the best system in the region. Gavon Townsend, who’s lived in Fort St. John for a year and is the president of Western Canada’s Basshead Lifestyle, enjoyed being a part of the show and is happy to bring this sport to the Peace Region. “We’re trying to bring sound competitions into the Peace Region and really build the sport here, because it is a sport, people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on these cars and there’s a lot that goes into it. Today here, we did it on a budget, and wanted to show that it’s fun, and it’s active in Canada,” Townsend said. “I feel like everyone here has room for improvement, including myself, but everyone who showed up is giving 100 percent of their effort.” 2021 Peace Auto Fest results Drift Competition 1. Abel Fradette 2. Jeremy Hansen 3. Ryan Mucci 4. Clay Sutherland
DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTOS
Autocross Competition 1. Juan Garcia 2. Ryan Mucci 3. Jeremy Hansen
Above: Clay Sutherland burns some rubber as he drifts sideways during the Peace Auto Fest drift competition. Below: Ryan Mucci was once again the start of the show at the 2021 Peace Auto Fest drift competition.
Street Class 1. Curtis Joy Beginner Class 1. Andrew Kiem Sound Competition 1. Gord Richardson 2. Chris Staverman Show N’ Shine Sponsor’s Choice Anthony Russel Lofstrom Kailey Logan Best Euro Import Dustin Bowdenchuk Best Classic - Robert Spinks Most Heavily Modified Garret M. Most Creative - Ryan Mucci Best 2000s - Kaine Nicest Interior Bob Dettling Best Craftmanship Ryan Mucci Best Aftermarket Kaylyn Senft Best Engine Bay Nathan Fougere Best Asian Import Clay Sutherland DILLON GIANCOLA PHOTOS
Above: The tire damage done by Ryan Mucci and Jeremy Hansen during the Peace Auto Fest drift competition. Left: Bob Guido lays down a time at the Peace Auto Fest autocross competition, August 28. Below Left: Jeremy Hansen maneuvers his car around the pylon, on way to finishing second in the Peace Auto Fest drift comp, August 29. Below: Anthony’s 1929 Ford Model A was the star of the Peace Auto Fest car show, winning one of the three sponsor’s choice awards.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 | OP-ED | A11
Visitor etiquette around a baby By A.M. Cullen
O
ne of the biggest pet peeves that I’ve developed since becoming Mom is expecting certain baby etiquette from friends and family and then being disappointed when they seem completely unaware of it. But then again, why shouldn’t they be? Unless you’re living in the trenches with baby, it’s easy to forget how important small compromises can be for new moms and dads. This week’s article is for all our well-meaning visitors who we go to see and who come to see us. There are a few things we, new parents, would appreciate if you remember. So today, I’m giving some tough love, so you don’t make it tough on your loved ones. DON’T SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED Whether you’re visiting a baby 24 hours old or 24 months old, don’t drop in for an unexpected visit. For new parents, they are busy adjusting to their new life on very little sleep and generally don’t appreciate being surprised by visitors. For more veteran parents with tots, chances are they have a well-established routine to keep their little one’s day running smoothly. An unexpected visit can disrupt it and send it downhill quickly. KEEP THE VISIT SHORT Baby wake windows in the early days usually run in 60-to-90-minute cycles, which means that an already sleep-deprived mama always knows in the back of her mind that in a short while she needs to feed and put baby down. Going out for dinner with a friend and her older baby? Know that it’ll probably be an early night dictated by when baby is tired of the highchair and ready for bedtime. DON’T EXPECT TO HOLD BABY Never assume it’s ‘your turn’ to hold the baby. For newborn parents, bonding with baby is so important and passing baby from person to person may increase her anxiety instead of providing a ‘relaxing break.’ As baby gets older, be aware of the very normal development of stranger anxiety, which usually peaks around 12-15 months. Your cuddles may not be welcome by baby, and it’s important to respect that. WASH YOUR HANDS In our COVID era, this hopefully has become second-nature. Especially in the first few months, baby’s immune system is underdeveloped making her particularly susceptible to viruses, which can be more dangerous than usual when they are so little. Even with older babies, it’s a good habit to keep. No parent wants to tackle another cold (especially since most babies average seven to eight a year). YOU WON’T SEE US IF YOU’RE SICK And on that note, don’t be offended if parents decline your visit if you’re sick. And if you’re feeling the beginnings of the sniffles or are just getting over a bug, the considerate thing is to notify Mom so she can decide if she’s still comfortable with the visit. BE QUIET The phrase “sleep like a baby” is deceiving. Some days my baby can sleep through a chorus of my dogs barking, and other days she wakes to the sound of the hallway floor creak-
#MOMLIFE ing. To be safe, if baby is sleeping, stay quiet. No one wants to be the one that woke the baby. ONLY OFFER ADVICE WHEN ASKED They have probably heard, read or absorbed anything that you have to say anyways, so leave it at home. If they have a question or need help, they will ask. AVOID STRONG ODOURS Babies (and post-partum moms) can be overly sensitive to heavy smells like moisturizer and perfume, so stick to old fashioned soap and water. If you’re a smoker, shower and wear smoke-free clothing when visiting. Also, because the health risks found with third-hand smoke (which is residual nicotine and other chemicals left on surfaces from smokers), don’t be offended if the new parents don’t want to come over to your home. DON’T SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA Parents often want control over what is shared about their children on social media. If you’re going to post a photo of the baby, it’s polite to check in with Mom before you send it out into cyberspace. BABY’S FEEDING AND NAPPING ROUTINES TAKE PRECEDENT Feeding and putting that baby to sleep if your whole world as a new parent. The moment that wee bundle arrives, all of a sudden all other priorities are benched. Work around the baby’s schedule and don’t expect babies to be woken up just because you’ve arrived. LISTEN Becoming a parent is overwhelming, exhausting, and exciting. I never thought I’d be so excited to see a baby have a “real poo.” We, new parents, want to tell you all about it (even when we’re exhilarated about bowel movements). The best thing you can do is listen and share the little successes with us. Don’t compare your parenting experience, celebrate ours. LASTLY, FOLLOW THE PARENTS’ RULES Even if they’re wacky or you don’t agree with them, follow the parents’ rules. The rules are there to help cope with the anxiety of being thrust into the most important job in the world: nurturing their own kid. We’re also living in a unique time where they may have some rules regarding COVID-19. If they want you to wear a mask when holding baby, follow the rules. If they ask you to keep 6 feet away and wave at baby, follow the rules. If you refuse to get vaccinated and they are not comfortable with you visiting, unfortunately, follow the rules. At the end of the day, the parents get to decided what your relationship with their child will be, and a good way to stay in the inner circle is to respect their wishes. To all our lovely friends and family, we love you, but man, is this new job hard. Thank you in advance for making this new journey a little bit easier. A.M. Cullen lives and writes in Fort St. John. Are you parenting in the Peace? Send in your questions, topics, or suggestions for #MomLife to cover at momlife.ahnfsj@gmail. com.
TOM SUMMER
Mildred LeClerc at the Anglican Parish’s 90th birthday celebration, August 29, 2021.
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Cheyenne Ralph, Kyle Theede, and Clinton Theede sell lemonade and banana chocolate chip muffins at their homemade stand, September 1, to raise money for the North Peace BC SPCA.
Internet is not on my side
W
hy do I feel like I am playing Wheel of Fortune when I am asked to scroll through listings to get to my birth year? Recently when I was prompted online to enter my birth year for something, I found myself flicking my thumb on the little wheel not once, not twice, not three, but four times to arrive in the 1960s. I almost felt a hand cramp coming on! My immediate thought was to invent something better. For instance, as you spin the wheel backward in time to select your birth year, the font automatically becomes larger – let’s patent this! Reality check, Judy – you are old! I am surprised that another box doesn’t pop up and say, “Put glasses on before proceeding.” Perhaps if there were categories to choose from prior to completing some of the more difficult aka poorly designed online forms. Seeing these flagged categories before proceeding would, at the very least, give us a leg up on the situation. See below a variety of categories that could be used to provide direction: - Optically Challenging - The print is oddly small, and glasses would be recommended. - Memory Challenging - Head’s up that you will need to remember your first car, your childhood friend, or your pet’s name. - New Password will be required FYI, you must go back to the well and come up with a new password that contains 8 letters, shapes, upper-
JUDY KUCHARUK case and lowercase letters, and an emoticon. - You are allowed to phone a friend - the equivalent of pressing zero to bypass the prompts and you can speak directly with a technician. - Time is not on your side – an indicator that something that should take 5 minutes to complete will probably take 15 minutes and you won’t be able to save and return. - This will be more difficult than setting ‘source’ on your new television remote – Maybe request the mail-in version of the form. - This survey will not open up in a new window and you will not be able to return to the home page – You will want to throw your computer out the second-floor window. - Scanned handwriting sample must not be in cursive – I’m sorry, this device does not understand cursive. Please print. - If completing form on smart phone, hands must be as steady as a Vascular Surgeon – i.e., the form is so poorly designed that you cannot press one selection without hitting four more. Wouldn’t this make life easier? Okay, next up we will tackle the small print on medication bottles. Judy Kucharuk lives and writes in Dawson Creek.
ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS
A14 | NEWS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
Prophet River Cultural Camp Prophet River First Nations held their cultural camp at Sikanni River Ranch from August 9 to 23 at Mile 171 of the Alaska Highway. They celebrated with traditional activities and more.
The celebration also marked the opening of Sikanni River Outfitting, a new business venture located at the ranch. — tsummer@ahnfsj.ca
TOM SUMMER PHOTO
Cultural Educator Raymond Needlay holds up a rifle used for guide outfitting.
TOM SUMMER PHOTO
Prophet River First Nations opened the cultural camp with a traditional drum ceremony.
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Above: Attendees got a chance to take a wagon ride around the ranch. Left: Gary Oker and Sam Acko
Prophet River chief and council Prophet River First Nation elected a new chief and council on Aug. 13. Valerie Askoty was elected Chief, and Beverly Stager and Deshanna Tsakoza were elected as councillors. Urban and community members voted through mail-in, electronic & in-person ballots, and the community saw over 70% of members vote this year.
“I am very excited about the opportunity our members have given me, by electing me as their new Chief,” Askoty said in a statement. “I am looking forward to working with our Councillors and PRFN staff to further develop programs and services that will serve all urban and community members.”
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Sikanni Ranch Outfitting Manager Doug McKee takes a break by the horses outside the new guide cabins.
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Prophet River Councillor Beverly Stager, Chief Valerie Askoty, and Councillor Deshanna Tsakoza.
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A bird’s eye view of Sikanni Ranch and the surrounding wilderness.