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BELLEVILLE . QUINTE WEST . PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY
& SURROUNDING AREAS
COVERING LOCAL SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY NOV/DEC 2020 Volume 4 Issue 2
LOCKED OUT BY COVID Belleville Spirits Look Back Pg 14
MANON RHÉAUME
Breaking the Ice TSQ Interview pg 6
DUKES VS HAWKS PROGRAM INSIDE
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Voted TripAdvisor Top 10% Restaurants Worldwide 2020
Years! 0 2 ing t a r Celeb
Patios & Indoor Dining Open! Also open for takeout and delivery.
11:00 am until 10:00 pm 7 days a week. Find our menu on Facebook and boathouselure.ca Phone orders only for Takeout: 613.969.2211 facebook: BoathouseRestaurantBelleville Twitter: @BoathouseFish Instagram: BoathouseSeafoodRestaurant
We Offer Contactless Payment on Pickup & Delivery Please note: for the safety of our customers and staff Visit our website at www.BoathouseLure.ca and click on “PAY FOR YOUR ORDER” TAB We offer a “Secure Moneris Payment Processing App” where you may pay by Credit or Debit card. A payment confirmation will automatically be emailed to you upon successful processing of your payment.
The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Patio 32 South Front St. Belleville 613.969.2211 BoathouseLure.ca
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It’s a special year for us!
1950 - 2020
ILDING BU
SUCCESS N O
70TH ANNIVERSARY TIME CAPSULE On October 30th, the Chamber will seal the capsule, reflect on the past and celebrate the resiliency of our Quinte West business community. This time capsule will be sealed on the 70th Anniversary and opened on the 100th anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce on October 30, 2050.
We pride ourselves on our amazing local business community we call members. We know they work hard and we value their experience with us, and that is what continues to drive our goal of exceeding expectations over the last 70 years. The Quinte West Chamber of Commerce is committed to serving our members through advocacy and the provision of services, and to encourage the economic and social development of Quinte West.
You don’t just join the Chamber, you belong to it! Connect with us: www.quintewestchamber.ca
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Total Sports PUBLISHER Total Sports Quinte
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Leigh Martin WRITERS Randy Uens Puck Chaser Terry Boyd Geordie Michell Rian Cole Allyson Tufts
BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
905.914.7454 MAIN ADVERTISING AND STORIES
Kelly Leigh Martin/ 905-914-7454 BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
EDITOR Total Sports
Advertising SALES
Don Sutherland/ 613-848-2762 totalsportsmediasales@gmail.com
DISTRIBUTION Angela Douglas PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Deroche Ed McPherson Tim Bates OJHL Images
BOQtotalsports@gmail.com TotalSportsQuinte TotalSportsQuinte TotalSportsQuinte TotalSportsQuinte.ca
QUINTE REGION
COVER PHOTO/ Basketball By Amy Deroche - Deroche Sports Photography
Total Sports Quinte is a free magazine, digital versions published monthly and print+digital versions published six times a year. Contents Copyright 2020 Total Sports Quinte. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or depicted in print or digital form without the written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by contributors may not be those of Total Sports Quinte. Total Sports Quinte assumes no liability for submissions or omissions. Contributors - OJHL Images - Amy Deroche, Ed McPherson, Tim Bates, Geordie Mitchell - Spirits Basketball, Wellington Dukes, Trenton Golden Hawks, Puck Chaser, Terry Boyd - The GYM Trenton, MPP Todd Smith, Shop Bay of Quinte, Mayor Pancuik - City of Belleville, Allans Auto Service Belleville, Total Sports Quinte Podcast, SkuttlePuck, The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Patio, Belleville Toyota, Peter Goulet, Derek Smith, Ryan Williams - Williams Hotels, Quinte West Chamber of Commerce, City of Quinte West, Randy Uens, Manon Rheaume, Allyson Tufts, Trent Valley Distributors, Cogeco, Your TV, 99.3 Country FM, Hockey TV, Neil Ellis, A&B Precast Manufacturing Limited, Ainsworth Funeral Home, CF Evans Lumber, McCurdy GM, Hackettes Collision, Zach Uens, Rossmore Stop, Scotia Bank, Rolf the Jeweller, Hotch’s Auto Parts, Deroche Sports Photography, Quinte Curling Club, Quinte Bay Gymnastics Club, Jeremy Benoit, Rian Cole, Astounding Heights Dance Academy, Ontario College of Health & Technology, Crossfit Belleville, Shop Bay of Quinte, Allan’s Auto Repair, Picton Pirates, Napanee Raiders
NOV/DEC 2020 Volume 4 Issue 2
INSIDE 3 ........................ Quinte West Chamber Celebrating 70 Years 5 ............................ A Message from Belleville Mayor Pancuik 7 .......................... U Turns: A View on Sports in Time of Covid 8 ................................................. Gyms - Here We Close Again? 10-11 ................................ Manon Rhéaume Breaking the Ice 12 ..................................... The Journey of Coach Kevin Barnes 13 ................... Athlete of the Month Coach Steve Whitehead 14-15 ............................... Belleville’s Bright Basketball Future 16 ....................... Never Underestimate the Power of Hockey 17............................ The OJHL Hasty P’s Cup - Hockey is Back! 18-19 .............. Hasty P’s Cup Rosters - Trenton vs Wellington 21 ........................ Where to Catch the Games - Hasty P’s Cup 22-23 ................. Zach Uens Drafted to NHL Florida Panthers 28 ............................................Hasty P’s Cup 8 Game Schedule 30-31 ..........................................PJHL Junior C Hockey Preview 32-33 .................... Hockey Development During A Pandemic 34 ........... Quinte Bay Gymnastics Club - Back Up & Running 35 .......................... Bowling During Covid at Club Medd Bowl 37...................................................... Q & A With Jeremy Benoit 38 ..................Astounding Heights Dance - Back in the Studio 41 ........................................................................ Crossfit For All
FEATURES
Belleville’s Bright Basketball Future 14 Manon Rhéaume Breaking the Ice 10
The Hasty P’s Cup - Battle of Quinte 17 Zach Uens DRAFTED - NHL Florida Panthers 22 Interested in having a Total Sports Magazine and PodCast Franchise in your community? Contact us to find out how you can become part of our network! BOQTotalsports@Gmail.com 905-914-7454
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different times, new approaches The past few months have without question been challenging. We have followed the guidelines and restrictions put in place by our provincial government and public health to keep our community safe. These precautions have served our region well and you should be very proud. Your respect and compassion for others have minimized the virus in our area and enabled us to start cautiously reopening our businesses and facilities. Although the manner in which we are currently able to conduct activities is different from the past, it is a wonderful feeling to be able to enjoy even modified versions of these treasured aspects of our lives. This Hasty P’s Cup hockey
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tournament between the Trenton Golden Hawks and the Wellington Dukes is a perfect example. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment, fondly known as the Hasty P’s, holds a very special place in the hearts of Canadians, as the military unit that was awarded more Battle Honours during World War ll than any other Canadian Infantry Regiment. We are very proud the Belleville armoury is their home and their community engagement with events such as this is deeply appreciated. The joys and freedoms we all so richly enjoy would not be possible without the sacrifices of brave Canadians. Remembrance Day is
Mayor Mitch Panciuk City of Belleville
quickly approaching and although this year’s ceremony will look different from those in the past we ask each of you to pause and observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on November 11 to mark the sacrifice of the many who have fallen in the service of their country, and to acknowledge the courage of those who still serve.
thank you for all you have done
If it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you.
The commitment and teamwork skills learned today make us a better community tomorrow!
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WEBSITE BUILDING LOGO DESIGN & BRANDING SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS
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WEDDING WEBSITES GUIDES AND PROGRAMS GRAPHIC DESIGN
LET’S TELL YOUR
STORY What have you got to say?
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By Randy Uens
U Turns: A View on Sports Sports in a Time of Covid: Among other Musings …
This is the first of hopefully many editorials I will write for this magazine and website. Obviously all dependent on how it is received by the readership ... It could be my last. First thing to get out of the way… yes that picture is me; Circa 1975 Belleville Novice Rep Lacrosse. I blame my parents for the choice of cut off track pants as shorts. Secondly, you may ask; why is the column called U Turns? It comes from two places. Initially it was a short-lived nickname given to me in high school by a guy named Rob Guarasci. I hated it. At the time I was a lot smaller in stature than I am today and took this nickname as an insult. A “bigger guy trying to demean me”, was my reaction to this nickname. My response to Rob was a lame nickname of “G String”. Luckily for both of us, neither nickname stuck in the public domain. In retrospect now I realize that Rob probably wasn’t being mean, he was trying to be funny. I in turn was insecure and took it as an attack. A valuable life lesson I guess as I look back at it. I needed to be able to take a joke and laugh at myself sometimes. The second reason for the column name is that the word “U turn“ represents a lot of things about sports and life. Often you go down a wrong path and you correct your path by doing a U Turn. Other times you may see danger ahead, and perform a U turn to avoid that danger. I believe that this analogy holds true with sports. I hope to talk about topics of interest and provide insights via my own experiences, the good the bad and whatever else I can come up with. Currently our lives are consumed with the talk of COVID 19 and the fallout of decisions made by the government and health agencies. I don’t have to tell you all this has not been the best of times, but it also has not been the worst of times. There have been some great things that have come out of these crazy circumstances. For my family it has been the family time, especially family dinners. During the complete lockdown we were able to sit down and actually connect again as a family for extended periods of time. No one was racing off to a rink or to a workout. Spouse going one way with one kid and me the other with the other. My son Zach was home from college in the U.S. and we valued all of that time together. Many people, and I mean many people, either picked up golf again or started golfing, as it was one of the first things that we were able to do to get out of the house. Golf has had its biggest season in twenty years. Bicycles, hiking gear and boats all have been in high demand as people seek solstice and comfort in sports and leisure during these stressful times. In the beginning it was the fear of the unknown. This superbug that was decimating our elderly and those with compromised
immunities with the odd anecdotal incidence of otherwise healthy people falling victim to this virus that we knew nothing about. Shutting down sports, restaurants etc., was the right thing to do at the time. We needed to circle the wagons and understand what we are dealing with. And for the most part, in Canada, we have done pretty well managing. There have been mistakes and we have learned from them, hopefully. As we enter another cycle of increased cases we now know what we are dealing with. It’s a virus. It’s very contagious. We need to wash our hands, wear a mask and socially distance until we get a vaccine and or treatments to deal with it. The reality is that it is not going away anytime soon. We need to protect our vulnerable people in the population. I can’t agree more. We have to be considerate and wear a mask to protect other people. We need to improve testing so that it is more accessible and immediate, even to the point where we can test ourselves at home. Saying all of that, I do not understand why we have to shut down all sports, especially kids sports. I fear that another winter of shutdowns and closures will have a detrimental effect on the long-term psyche of our children not to mention the mental health of many adults. Sports are an outlet for these times of stress. Kids need it maybe more than any of us. If we can send kids to school, we can send them to hockey. I have read multiple stories that cited epidemiological experts stating that the transmission of the virus in hockey rinks or very humid areas like a swimming pool is very low. Basketball and other gym related sports is a tougher one for sure. For hockey, the greatest risk is on the bench or in the dressing room. There is absolutely no reason that the players cannot wear fabric facemasks on the ice under their helmets and masks, or that basketball players can’t wear facemasks while they play. It is a little hot, and a little uncomfortable, but in no way is it a roadblock to getting back on the ice or the court. The secret is to buy in and be disciplined with enforcement. The players have to adhere to the rules. Recent outbreaks in sports teams on the surface seem to unravel this theory, however if you ask questions you find out that protocols were not being followed and guards were let down that allowed these outbreaks to occur. Kids hockey, should be running. Let them play games. Let them carry on. Absolutely restrict the games to regional adversaries and restrict the number of fans or ban spectators altogether, just get the games going. Parents can watch the games via live streaming or on video. (May be a coach’s dream year) At some point the risk mitigation focus needs to be turned towards protecting the kids and letting them play rather than organizations and governments providing their own risk mitigation to protect their own interests. My hope is that we as a society can find creative and responsible ways to mitigate the risk of exposure and yet allow us to continue to live and enjoy those things that make life full. We need to get on with it.
Tip of the Week During these periods of slowdown, encourage your young athlete to work on a skill that maybe has nothing to do with their sport on the surface. Learn to juggle, ride a unicycle, learn to punch a speed bag, learn to skip like a boxer…. All of these indirect skills make you a better athlete and take you out of your comfort zone.
These are my own views and do not reflect the views of Total Sports Magazine, Dukes Sports & Entertainment or the Wellington Dukes Hockey club.
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GYMS - HERE WE CLOSE AGAIN?
Social Distancing in the Gym Part 3
By: Terry Boyd - The GYM Trenton
have been prevented- we just don’t know how. Everything has changed with one person being sick and infecting almost every corner of the world. So here we are, different gyms, different equipment, different classes, different membership types in different places, should all gyms be closed in Ontario as a result of two outbreaks in two major centres? Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the Province’s decision to close gyms in his city ( part of Peel ) was unexpected because there was no direct transmission in recreational facilities including yoga and dance studios in his area.
My title is a question because the reality is no one has an answer, and even that sounds cryptic. Initially the belief in late March was businesses, gyms, schools etc., would be closed for two weeks and we could get a handle on flattening the curve and allocating our resources to support those stricken with COVID19, yet here we are closing gyms in “hot spots” across Ontario with a potential Province wide shutdown some six months later after enduring a maze of misinformation and direction. So, in answer to the question – here we close again? Maybe, maybe not, possibly, possibly not. The information flow is compromised by political rankling, media bias and a convoluted group of experts who can’t agree on whether you can hug your family during holidays or not. So, what does that mean for gyms? For some it’s too late, closing the doors forever is a forgone conclusion, some are on a lifeline which means any hiccup now will be the end. The number of gym members returning to the gym took a sharp decline with people being afraid to return, others finding alternative ways to exercise and others because their work schedule has been changed dramatically. Safety precautions were placed in every gym; masks, washing hands, direction arrows for some, wiping equipment and constant cleaning. According to the information we received – these were solutions to the spread of COVID19. But, as I mentioned in my last article, these protocols are not full proof they only mitigate the circumstances. I feel terrible for anyone who gets sick, for the people who contracted COVID19 from “Spinco”- Spin Studio, (not a gym) in Hamilton. It stems from 48 patrons and 2 staff members (primary cases) and then 26 (secondary cases ) who were in contact with primary cases, 76 cases in all. It speaks to how easily the virus is transmitted. An article in the Globe and Mail called the Spinco event a “super spreader”, and cited an additional 18 cases linked to a different fitness centre, 21 cases from an adult recreation hockey league, and 40 infections linked to a fitness centre in Calgary. All of these situations are awful and could
Visit THEGYM.ONE
So, the question really is- to close or not to close? On March 13, 2020 (aptly it was Friday the 13th)), I closed the GYM, it was two days before all gyms were required to. There was no question in my mind given the information at the time that this was the right course of action. 6 months later there are hundreds of gyms across Ontario who have had success with re-opening with the added cleaning and sanitizing protocols. There have been an extreme few who have met with issues or problems. People’s wellbeing is often found through exercise, in my opinion it is an essential service. In fact when speaking to my cousin from Northern Ireland, with their resurgence of COVID19 they have closed down the schools, restaurants, barbers etc., but have left the gyms open with no classes. It would appear that in Northern Ireland gyms would be important, not because of the economy associated with a gym, but because of the mental health aspect that gyms provide. Here we close again? A few years back working at a jail in the yard, I watched a few players as they tried to sort out rules for how the basketball game would be played during “rec up”. The net was fastened directly to the wall with no clear boundaries. What was out of bounds? Do you call your own fouls? Can you play off the wall? With so many differing opinions, it rarely ended up well. Each group had their own sense of what was fair and what was not, and rules would change from one group to another. Some relied on rule books, others on “jailhouse” rules. The same could be said of the Province’s handling of businesses and for our purposes- gyms. Everyone is better off when we all play and have consistent rules. However like each different group of players playing basketball, all gyms are not the same. Sadly, you can not rely 100% on consistent rules for businesses and gyms and their viability until COVID19 is eradicated all we can do is manage our own little part of the world and ensure that somehow, someway we are able to train and exercise for the sake of our bodies and minds. Whatever that looks like will depend largely on you and the boundaries and protocols setup by you for your loved ones,-as we collectively wander into our own game of “basketball”.
The GYM
421 Dundas St. Trenton 613-392-1825
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“ Specializing in All Sports - Action - Portraits - Events Other Services Include - Maternity - Engagement Family & Individual Sessions - Special Events
Derochesportsphotography@gmail.com Deroche080
Deroche080
613-921-3190
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MANON RHÉAUME By: Randy Uens
When you meet Manon Rhéaume you notice a few things right away. First, she looks like she could still jump in the net and play well. Secondly, as engaging and congenial as she comes across, you get a real sense of her competitive spirit and her passion for the game of hockey. She also completely understands how inspirational her story truly is and she has embraced it with that same determination and work ethic she displayed when she was a dominating force in women’s hockey. What she is remembered for is even bigger than her career as an Olympian and World Champion. On September 23,1992 Manon Rhéaume was the first female hockey player to suit up in an NHL hockey game as she tended the net for the Tampa Bay Lightning during its exhibition season. I remember at the time thinking that this was a publicity stunt rigged up to promote the fledgling Florida franchise in the NHL. I had bumped into an old friend Tony Crisp around this time. The former Belleville Bull was working for Hockey Canada at the time and I asked him about his dad’s decision to play Rhéaume in that exhibition game. Tony‘s father was the well known Terry Crisp, coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the time. Tony was adamant,“ She flat out earned it. She was that good.” It always stuck with me. The story is nothing less than remarkable and it’s no surprise that her story has been made into a book, and a movie about her life is in progress. For Rhéaume, her NHL appearance was just another example of her drive to play the sport she loved at the highest level. This was something she had strived for her entire life. “At the time I didn’t realize that it was a big deal,” she said. “I knew the media were making a big deal, but when you’re young, you’re just playing hockey because you love the game.” Growing up, Rhéaume started playing hockey with her brothers and the boys in the area. Her father was a coach, and his team desperately needed a goalie. Despite her mother’s initial reservations, she started playing with her brother’s team. Rhéaume learned pretty quickly that, despite her abilities, she was often cut from teams simply because she was a girl. Although it was frustrating for her, she was undeterred. Rhéaume continued to work hard and hone her skills to prove she could compete with the boys. Despite the many ups and downs on her journey through hockey, it didn’t take long for her to make a name for herself. In 1984, she became the first girl to play in the famed Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. Seven years later, she made history again, becoming the first woman to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, suiting up for the Trois-Rivières Draveurs. When the Lightning came calling the following year, it was an opportunity Rhéaume
could not pass up. “So many times when I was younger, I was good enough to make the top level. I was good enough to be on the team, but they didn’t want me because I was a girl,” she said. For example Rhéaume finally had a coach that believed in her in bantam .She was clearly the dominant goalie as the team was moving into the critical midget years ahead of the Quebec Major Junior League draft. It was determined that she should not take the spot of a male player as it was felt she should not take the spot of a male player in their draft year. This adversity is what drove her to work harder and seize opportunities when presented. At one point she was forced to drive a couple of hours into Montreal to play with a women’s recreational league at 10:30 or 11:30 pm at night just to get ice because she could not find a male team to take her as she was getting ready to go to NHL camp. “When that opportunity came about I thought to myself, maybe if I would have got all those chances before, I would’ve played four years of major junior, but I didn’t have all those chances before. I’m not going to live my life with regrets so I went for it.” Rhéaume remembers being very nervous as she walked from her dressing room to the ice. But once she stepped out onto the ice, her nerves subsided. “The butterflies all went away and it was like I forgot I was playing in an NHL game,” she said. “It was just like I was in the place I had been my entire life since I was five. I just went out and played hockey.” In the first Tampa Bay inter squad mini games; Rhéaume did not let in any goals. It was very clear from that performance she belonged and deserved the shot at the exhibition game. In her first period appearance against the St. Louis Blues, Rhéaume faced nine shots and valiantly stopped seven of them, giving up goals to Jeff Brown and future Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan. While it might have felt like just another game for Rhéaume in the moment, in the years that have followed, she has realized it was so much more. “I didn’t know that it would inspire so many people,” she said. “It was much later in my life that I realized it was a big deal and I did impact people with my story and inspired people to want to do the same.” After this initial NHL opportunity Rhéaume carved out a career in men’s minor professional leagues playing in the IHL, ECHL among others. At times the life of a female pro is a little lonely, dressing alone, rooming alone and subsequently eating alone at times.” In general the other players treated me well, kind of like a little sister. I was able to compete at this level because my strength was reading the plays as they happened. I could react well because of this ability to read plays as a goalie.”
Continued ... page 11
With former NHL great, Phil Esposito and author and screen writer Angie Bullaro
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“BREAKING THE ICE” Rhéaume went on to have a stellar international women’s career that included gold medals and world championships in the fledgling international women’s tournaments. When it all ended Rhéaume recognized how important her accomplishments were. The book by Angie Bullaro called “Breaking the Ice” is a product of this understanding that her story is inspirational to so many people.“ When Angie contacted me and said she wanted to do a book and a movie about inspiring women’s stories in sports I knew I was in. I always knew that I wanted to inspire young athletes to strive to be the best they can be. If you have a dream, go after your dream. If you are passionate about something and you work hard you can accomplish anything you put your mind to. “ Rhéaume reflects that for her the most important thing to remember is that you do not have to fit into a mould to do the things you want to do. “I was the exact opposite of what an NHL goalie should look like. My size, my gender, I speak French, I didn’t understand English that well, but I still went for it. That’s what I want to tell people, go for your dreams.” Today Rhéaume continues this work by coaching with the Detroit Little Caesars organization, which is the minor hockey arm, supported by the Detroit Red Wings. She has two boys; Dylan St. Cyr a goalie in the NCAA with Notre Dame and a second son Dakota Rhéaume who is a 2006 birth year and plays forward in AAA. The book written by Angie Bullaro is available through Simon & Schuster Canada. The movie is currently on hold awaiting the pandemic pause to subside to restart production. To hear the full interview with Manon Rhéaume, please download the Total Sports Quinte podcast wherever you get your podcasts such as Spotify, ITunes and I HeartRadio.
Angie Bullaro, taking goalie lessons from Manon to prepare for the movie.
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THE JOURNEY
Belleville Baller Becomes Elite Basketball Coach By Geordie Michell Belleville Spirits Basketball local athletes to stay in Canada. It is focused on preparing athletes for success at provincial, national and international competitions, while also providing exposure for athletes and talent identification for Canada Basketball, CCAA, U SPORTS and NCAA. Barnes makes sure his teams play against the best prep schools in North America, like last year’s run-in with Spire Academy who was led by current NBA lottery pick LaMelo Ball. Top Alumni Southwest Academy Boys Program: Thomas Kennedy - Team MVP for the Windsor Lancers University and plays pro with the Hamilton Honey Badgers in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). Xavier Ochu - Defensive player of the year for the Dalhousie Tigers and plays pro with the Edmonton Stingers of the CEBL. Coach Kevin Barnes of Belleville is the founder and Head Coach of Southwest Academy in London, Ontario. The team is in the highly touted Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association (OSBA) whose most notable graduates are NBA stars Jamal Murray, Lugentz Dort, Thon Makur, O’Shea Brissett, and Ignas Brazdeikis. Barnes’ path to this point has given him the tools to develop young athletes and help build the game across the country. Barnes started out his basketball journey here in Belleville, playing the majority of his basketball at local powerhouse Nicholson Catholic College (NCC) as point guard. During his time at NCC, he played for a number of great coaches who were themselves very dedicated to the game. These coaches gave a strong foundation for the flashy point guard, and he became a vocal floor general that would help him later when he became a coach himself. Following high school, Barnes continued his basketball career at the University of Alberta from 2006-2010. His aptitude for the game and his leadership skills on and off the court led him to be the team’s starting point guard and team captain. In his final year, he led the Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference (ACAC) in assists, averaging 4.59 assists per game while also scoring 9 points per game. When his time as a player came to an end, he moved in 2011 to London, Ontario to accept the Assistant Coaching position for the University of Western Ontario Mustangs Men’s Basketball team. He would remain in that position for 5 years, but would also focus on developing many of the young players within London at the same. During those 5 years, he was head coach of the U14 London Ramblers, U15 London Ramblers, U14 OSDP Huron Region Team, U16 OSDP Huron Region Team, and U19 London Ramblers (2013-2015). It was during these 5 years of valuable experience and success that Coach Barnes made the decision to go, as he says, “all in”, and quit his day job to pursue coaching as a full-time career. “I want to help people be the best version of themselves and, in turn, pursue my own personal best. I believe in the power of sports to unite and motivate people. Being part of a team and bringing value to people’s lives on a daily basis is inspiring.” Coach Kevin Barnes In 2016, Coach Kevin Barnes (Men) and Coach Rob Angione (Women) founded Southwest Basketball Academy in the OSBA. The Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association can be compared to “prep” basketball programs in the United States, but allows
Kobe Elvis - OSBA MVP and scoring champion. He has committed to play at Division 1 school DePaul University in the USA. Malachi Ndur - Committed to Brown University, an Ivy League Division 1 school in the USA. In 2016, Barnes also started working with the Junior Academy Program (JRA), which serves as the entry point into Canada Basketball’s High Performance Athlete Development Pathway. Then in 2018, while subsequently building Southwest Academy from the ground up, he accepted the role as the U17 Provincial Team Assistant Coach in 2018. He was later promoted to the Lead Assistant role in 2019 and remains in this role currently. Out of 34 total national championships, Ontario has won gold 25 times and the team’s alumni are currently competing in the NBA, other pro leagues globally, NCAA, and USports. Barnes says Southwest Basketball Academy’s job, “is to level players up. They come to us to get to the next level. Creating opportunities for student athletes is what we do.” Barnes plans to come home in August to run a basketball camp, in collaboration with local coaches, to help his hometown players “level up”. Information about the camp will be available in the new year and will be found on the Jr. NBA Belleville and the Spirits Boys Basketball Facebook pages.
Coach Barnes Top 10 “Next Level” Player Attributes: 1. Be on time - if your not ten minutes early your late 2. Put in the work - Skill and strength work outside of team practice 3. Be Consistent - Figure out what you do well and make sure you bring that to the gym everyday 4. Be coachable - eye contact and application 5. Be a giver - give energy, give confidence, give 100% focus to your team 6. Be committed to both sides of the ball offense and defense 7. Be Self Aware 8. Be efficient offensively - +50% FG+80 % FT+40% 3pt 9. Learn to embrace adversity and failure. The two best ways to learn 10. There is no discount for experience, go play against the best competition you can find.
Athlete of the month 13
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COACH STEVE WHITEHEAD
By: Total Sports Quinte
Total Sports Quinte is pleased to feature Steve Whitehead as our well deserved Athlete of the Month! Steve was an accomplished goalkeeper for the Trenton City Sockers in men’s competitive soccer in the Motor City Soccer ( Scarborough and Durham ) and local men’s league from age 16-31. He seamlessly transitioned into an outstanding coach with Trenton Youth Soccer, Wolverines and Trenton Sockers Men’s teams.. With numerous playing and coaching titles to his name Steve turned his focus to Varsity Soccer and lead the Loyalist Lancer’s Women’s team for 15 years, as head coach for 7 years and assisting for 8. You can also add to Steve’s incredible accomplishments; Quinte West Minor Soccer club head coach 5 years, goalie coach over 20 years, coached dozens of college level goalies. It can be said of Steve he is tireless in his pursuit of improving his community and youth soccer. If you ask a former player, which is a lot of players, they will tell you he is grace under pressure and a true gentleman. Awards such as Athletes, Coaches of the Year were made for people like Steve Whitehead.
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BELLEVILLE’S BRIGHT
Locked Out By COVID: Belleville Spiri By Geordie Michell/ Spirits Basketball
U10 Belleville Spirits
Asst. Coach Jon Bell, Howard Thiessen, Duke Botterill, Luke Milne, Judah Bell, Koi Alcindor-Ojara, Kai Fernandes, Oliver Bell, Kieyen Edwards, Ty Gallagher, Thomas Milne, Theo Oviedo, Neeson Michell, Coach Geordie Michell
The U10 Belleville Spirits were the youngest team ever assembled in the organization, but by the end of the year they played like they had been doing it for years. The team was made up of four each of 7, 8, and 9 year-olds. Meanwhile, most of their competitors in the Ontario Basketball League (OBL) were all 9 years of age. Although outsized when they played their very competitive OBL season games in Toronto, they always managed to come home winning 50% or more of their games. They were also very successful in the local tournaments in Belleville and Picton. The coaches knew the year would be a process, and focused on the players’ growth throughout the season. Assistant Coach Jon Bell said that, “One of the nice things about working with young players who are new to the game, is that you get to set and shape the level of expectation of what basketball is. If you ask more of them (and we consistently did) they are eager to learn and do the work.” The boys’ growth started to really show in their last month of play leading up to the Ontario Cup that was scheduled for early March. It started with their sweeping the last weekend of OBL season play, which included beating the #1 seed in their division, the undefeated Toronto Triple Threat, in a grueling backand-forth game. This was a huge confidence boost for the boys and they would ride that momentum to the Northern Kings tournament, with some of the top teams in the province, the following weekend. The U10 boys walked into the Northern Kings tournament ready to play. They started the weekend by taking down the Toronto JCC Maccabi Warriors. They continued their strong play throughout the round robin to earn a place in the finals against the heavily-favoured Northern Kings. The boys played their hearts out, but eventually fell to the older and more experienced Northern Kings. “You can’t underestimate the value of facing good competition. We chose the NK tournament to help the kids see the level of execution and competition that is required, and facing it helped them bring it out in each other,” shared Bell.
The boys’ growth was evident to both the coaches and the players as they went to the Ontario Cup in London ranked #2 in their division. In their first game, they got off to a slow start before beating Pelham 30 - 19. After shaking off the jitters in game 1, the boys handled the DK Dragons, defeating them 46 - 18. This set the stage for them to face their arch-rivals, the Thornhill Thunder, to see who would gain a berth to the finals. The previous time these two teams had battled each other, the Thunder hit a heartbreaking buzzer beater to take the game. This time the Spirits were determined to come out on top. The Spirits started the game with the best half they had played all season, and were up by 11 points at halftime. The Thunder tried to punch back after half, but the Spirits weathered the onslaught, taking the game 30-22, and making it to the finals against the well-coached and evenlymatched Peterborough Power. The Spirits and Power had played 4 times throughout the year with each team winning 2. The Spirits did not take the Power for granted and used their momentum from their last win to propel them to a 30-22 Ontario Cup Championship! It was a season to remember!
U12 Belleville Spirits
Back row: Coach Corey Rump, Christopher Brown, Max LaCroix, Callum Rump, Aidan Shelley, Collin Launderville, Seth Lowery, Asst. Coach Christopher Mack, John Shelley. Middle row: Gage Forbes, Hayden Tisdale, Justin Bakker. Bottom row: Theo Tie, Nate Mack, Jenson Shaver.
The U12 Belleville Spirits’ season had a lot of ups and downs, but although the process was arduous at times, the outcome was sweet. Several interruptions due to sporadic bouts of severe weather caused a multitude of rescheduled games that had the boys struggling to find their groove early on. Their results matched the weather: bright wins, mirrored by some dreary losses. Coach Corey Rump felt that the various gaps in the Ontario Basketball League (OBL) East schedule slowed the team’s growth in terms of transferring their practice efforts into game success. Despite the hardships, the boys continued to persevere, practice hard, stay positive and support one another. “We were fortunate to have a group with great leadership, chemistry and commitment to improving as individuals and as a team,” said Rump. The returning players from the previous year were instrumental in patiently helping to get their newer teammates, who showed immense growth in their first season, up-to-speed and integrated into both their offensive and team defensive systems. That cohesion and chemistry would allow the boys to overcome the stop-and-go nature of their season.
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BASKETBALL FUTURE
its Look Back on Last Year’s Success By the time late January rolled around, the U12 Spirits started to get into their groove. Rump recalled that, “...we were fortunate to be able to participate in tournaments in Brockville and Cornwall. It was in those tournament games where we started to realize our potential and gel as a group in game situations.” At that point the boys started closing the gap on teams, playing very competitive games against the Cornwall Lions and Kanata Cavaliers, two strong squads with size and good guard play. When invitations to the OBL East Division 3 Championship came, the Spirits were excited at the possibility of meeting one of those teams in the finals. The U12 Spirits’ commitment to improving as a team throughout the year paid off at the OBL East Championship. The team played with more consistency and wound up earning a berth in the gold medal game against the Kanata Cavaliers squad that they had lost to in a close battle only four weeks prior. “The boys were excited to make adjustments and take another crack at beating Kanata with the gold medal on the line,” said Rump. The final was a back-and-forth affair with both teams exchanging the lead throughout the game, but with just under a minute to play, and a 2-point lead, Callum Rump drove hard to the basket, drawing a help defender. He trusted his teammate, making the right pass to Gage Forbes who was waiting in the corner to drain a three. Max LaCroix then stepped up to make key free throws to seal the victory and the boys were crowned champs! “The player’s steady improvement and contributions to the team prove that commitment and hard work will always pay off,” exclaimed Coach Rump.
U14 Belleville Spirits
Pictured with a rival team (not in order): Hayden Blakely, Kevin Brady, Rowen Colby, Jonah Heath, Ethan Kort, John Napuli, Jacob Noble, Jaismit Patel, Dylan Ray, Caleb Ripley, Tristan Ripley, Ripkin Shaver, Coach Marc Ray
In the Fall of 2019 the U14 Spirit Boys tryouts saw a lot of interest and resulted in two teams being created. The U14 “A” team (pictured above), coached by Marc Ray, consisted of nine 13-yearolds (four of whom were over 6 feet tall) and three 12- year-olds. A new element to this age group of play is “non-structured minutes” where playing time is earned (the younger age groups have an equal playing time structure). Coach Ray shared that, ”Each and every one of the boys worked hard: diligently practicing, showing development and heart to earn the minutes they were given to play throughout the season.
When exhibition games were arranged in early October, they were able to put what they had been working so hard on into action. The boys came together, played as a team and were able to execute plays. The team won all their games and clearly had chemistry. Their early success gave the players and their fans a glimpse of the season that was to come. When the Eastern Ontario Basketball Association (EOBA) league play started, the U14 Spirits’ size proved to be a major advantage, giving them a strong physical presence on the floor and the ability to execute a lockdown zone defense. While bigger than most of their opponents, they were also very quick. Their speed enabled them to move the ball up the floor quickly, beat full court presses and get easy transitions baskets. “As much fun as it was watching these boys, I’m positive they would tell you that it was even more fun to play,” said Ray. He recalled how each game different players stepped up to show what they could offer: whether it was blocking a shot, a dish in the paint, boxing out to secure a rebound, taking a charge, or a clutch three-pointer in the final seconds of the game, it seemed that the U14 Spirits could do it all! By the time the scheduled league games were finished in early March, the U14 Spirits “A” team were undefeated in league play and ranked #1 in their division of the EOBA and #39 in Ontario. They were excited at the prospect of making other teams take notice of what they could do at Provincials, but their season was unceremoniously cut short with Covid-19 restrictions being implemented. It was an unfortunate end for a team that was bound for even further success. “I’m looking forward to seeing all of these boys develop further throughout their highschool careers. I can’t wait to see where they go from here,” said Coach Ray.
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NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF HOCKEY How do you possibly describe the power of hockey?
By Allyson Tufts - Author, Speaker, and Passionate Hockey Mom Is it the moments as a hockey mom when you see your son score his first goal knowing he has been shooting pucks at your garage door for hours? The look on his face when the team surrounds him to celebrate and you realize he’s created a bond to last a lifetime. You smile to yourself knowing that all the moments that you let him stay outside for that extra hour, under the flood light, has finally paid off. A moment that only you and your young player fully understands. As he cheers and smiles the purest smile because he’s accomplished something with the help of his teammates that nobody can ever take away. That moment that you realize that letting him stay up a little later, in the dark, gave him so much more than the extra hour of sleep ever could.
little ones who are as excited to see the ice get cleaned as they are to see the game. Is it the coach that has worked all day and raced to get to the rink so his team can see how important it is to be on time?
Is it the moments when dad gets up extra early to take his teenage daughter to practice? This young lady who is now unrecognizable to him when she’s anywhere but on the ice. The moments in the car when she’s all yours, no other chatter from her friends, no boyfriend on her phone, just you and her; just you and her talking about the one love that puberty, boyfriends or years can never take away. It’s the simple experience, the simple love of the sport that you have in common no matter how much she’s growing up. Even though she no longer looks to you for advice or no longer needs you to tuck her in at night. You drive her, safe in the knowledge that yours will be the face she looks to when she scores that goal; yours will be the eyes she needs when she coughs up the puck, and you will be the one she hugs when her team makes it to the playoffs. Yes the power of hockey, the years it gives a father and daughter when everything else about their relationship feels foreign...if that’s not power I don’t know what is.
This article is the property of Allyson Tufts and is not to be used without her permission.
Or....is it the country that takes such pride in this sport that we call it our own, our number one (1) sport and our nation’s game? A country that celebrates the coldest days of the year because we know that it means our ponds will freeze and give us hours of endless shinny with our friends and family. Is it the country that looks forward to Christmas because with Christmas comes Boxing Day and with Boxing Day comes the World Juniors? I honestly can’t decide what it is about the sport that makes it so powerful. I guess when a game can bring a country together, a family together and quite simply bring people together the way that hockey does, do we ever really need to question its power? So, I guess it’s as simple as this, “Don’t Ever Underestimate the Power of Hockey!” To learn more about Allyson Tufts or to purchase the book, please visit www.lessonsfrombehindtheglass.com. You can also purchase the book at amazon.ca.
Buy the book at Amazon
Amazon.ca/LESSONS-BEHINDGLASS-Journey-Hockey/ dp/1686333498
Check out Allyson’s video on YouTube
- Allyson Tufts: Lessons From Behind the Glass
Perhaps it’s the spectator who comes to the games faithfully every week, horn in one hand, cowbell in the other to cheer on the team they love so much. They come to watch because they know on that night their biggest worry is if their team wins or loses. For those 60 minutes there is no thought of their bad day at work, or the job they’ve lost, the spouse they’re fighting or worse, the illness they are fighting. For this night it’s all about the escape of hockey, that wonderful sport that carries any passionate spectator to a place that leaves no room for anything else but the outcome of the game. Maybe it’s the glow of the tv across our beloved country on Saturday nights. The moments spent in the warmth of your home curled up with a bag of chips and blanket watching Hockey Night in Canada. Is it the volunteer that wakes up at ungodly hours, when the snow is flying, to get to the early morning practices to teach our young superstars how to skate? The Zamboni driver who always takes the time to wave at the
Visit LessonsFromBehindTheGlass.Com
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THE HASTY P’S CUP Presented by
8 Game Hockey Classic in honour of our Historic Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment. NO FANS ALLOWED BUT NO PROBLEM ... Watch the Games Live online @ Hockey TV or YourTV Listen Live at 99.3 FM
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HASTY P’S CUP TOUR
Trenton Golden Hawks V
Presented by Player 1 5 7 8 9 10 16 19 20 21 24 27 28 30 33 37 44 51 53 55 71 76 88 91 94
NGUYEN, WILLIAM DOBRICH, STEFAN ROBINSON, KYLE D’AMICO, SAMUEL GRIFFEN FOX “C” CHAUVIN, JOEL DESMARAIS, ZACH WILLIAMSON, SAM BUTLER, BRANNON JAMIESON, EVAN JAKOVLJEVIC, MARKO “A” KEKEWICH, CADEN GEORGE, WYATT MCGOWAN, NIC TROOP, OLIVER BANCROFT, DALTON JACOB, JULIAN OICKLE, NATHAN DISIPIO, MATTEO MULDER, MAXIM CAMPBELL, JACOB HENRY, KHADEN BOYER, JAXEN JAMIESON, AARON LAVILLE, JAKE
Pos
Birthdate
G D D D F F F F D F D F F G G F D D F D F F F F F
FEB 09/02 SEPT 19/02 JAN 30/00 FEB 03/02 JUN 29/00 APR 17/02 MAR 17/00 MAY 05/02 FEB 06/01 OCT 01/02 NOV 24/00 NOV 23/03 NOV 04/00 MAR 17/ 02 OCT 28/00 FEB 26/01 JUL 23/02 FEB 05/03 JUL 26/03 MAR 23/01 JUN 7/2001 APR 28/02 JUN 10/02 APR 24/01 APR 25/02
Trenton Golden Hawks Staff GM/ Head Coach Peter Goulet Ass’t GM & Director of Scouting Frank Robinson Director of Hockey Operations Jerome Dupont Director of Operations John McDonald Assistant & Goalie Coach Spencer Finney Assistant Coach & Video Coach Josh Hardiman Director of Player Development & Education Bob Mills AthleticTherapist Kyle Meringer P.T. DPT - Physiohouse Trainer Will Wilson Equipment Manager Ryan Isbister
Hometown OTTAWA, ONTARIO AMHERSTBURG, ONTARIO ROCKY HARBOUR, NEWFOUNDLAND ST CATHARINES, ONTARIO BRANTFORD, ONTARIO GRIMBSY, ONTARIO DRUMMONDVILLE, QUEBEC ST CATHARINES, ONTARIO TORONTO, ONTARIO KINGSTON, ONTARIO BRANTFORD, ONTARIO KINGSTON, ONTARIO MOUNT LEBANON, PENSYLVANIA FRANKFORD, ONTARIO WOLFVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA CENTRE HASTINGS, ONTARIO COURTICE, ONTARIO PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO NEPEAN, ONTARIO STRATFORD, ONTARIO NAPANEE, ONTARIO MARKHAM, ONTARIO TRENTON, ONTARIO KINGSTON, ONTARIO BRAMPTON, ONTARIO
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Versus Wellington Dukes
Player 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 25 26 27 28 30 33
Pos
ELI SHILLER AARON BROWN COLE MCGUIRE JACOB DIETZ EVAN MILLER OWEN CARLILE MARSHALL MCFARLAND JAX DUBOIS BRADY DARRACH BRYCE CARUK TYLER MCBAY BARRET JOYNT JACOB VREUGDENHIL TYLER IGNAZZITTO BEN HAMILTON BRODIE MCDOUGALL BEN ADDISON MASON REEVES COOPER MATTHEWS OWEN KRUSE BEN WOODHOUSE RILEY DUBOIS JAMES WHITE ETHAN MORROW DANIEL BOTELHO
G D D D F F F F F F D F F F D F D F F F F D F G G
Birthdate 01-07-10 04-04-09 02-01-21 02-07-20 00-03-07 03-12-15 02-07-11 03-06-18 03-11-28 01-01-08 00-07-04 03-06-23 02-11-10 00-04-09 01-06-10 01-03-10 00-04-09 01-08-14 04-02-11 01-08-03 00-01-18 03-06-18 00-09-25 04-02-04 02-08-08
Hometown TORONTO, ON BELLEVILLE, ON BELLEVILLE, ON FREELTON, ON NIAGARA ON THE LAKE, ON BRIGHTON MI NAPANEE, ON OTTAWA, ON COBOURG, ON COURTICE, ON ELMIRA, ON SYDENHAM, ON BELLEVILLE, ON BATH, ON OTTAWA, ON KESWICK, ON UXBRIDGE, ON TORONTO, ON BELLEVILLE, ON BURLINGTON, ON HAMILTON, ON OTTAWA, ON PETERBOROUGH, ON KINGSTON, ON NOTTAWA, ON
Last Years Team NORTH YORK RANGERS JR A QUINTE RED DEVILS U16 WELLINGTON DUKES PICTON PIRATES JR C WELLINGTON DUKES OAKLAND JR GRIZZLIES U16 AAA NAPANEE RAIDERS JR C NEPEAN RAIDERS U18 PORT HOPE PANTHERS JR C LINDSAY MUSKIES JR A CORNWALL COLTS JR A WELLINGTON DUKES WELLINGTON DUKES COLLINGWOOD BLUES JR A NOTRE DAME HOUNDS JR A WELLINGTON DUKES WELLINGTON DUKES PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS QUINTE RED DEVILS U16 ELLIOTT LAKE WILDCATS JR A WELLINGTON DUKES NEPEAN RAIDERS U18 WELLINGTON DUKES GREATER KINGSTON GAELS U16 PENETANG KINGS JR C
Wellington Dukes Staff
G/M & Ass’t Coach Todd Reid Ass’t GM Don Cotton Head Coach Derek Smith Ass’t Coach Brandon Harker Goalie Coach Mike Murphy Video Coach Rylan Reid Head Scout Rob Ridgley Athletic Therapist Leah Toffelmire Strength & Conditioning Coach Jeremy Benoit Equipment Manager Kevin Dolson Dressing Attendants Bob Lavender Joe Lavender
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ZACH
Former Wellington Duk Drafted in N
By Total Sports Staff Zach Uens was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 4th round with the 105th pick of the draft. The former Duke and Quinte Red Devil was passed over in last year’s draft but reversed those fortunes this year after a breakout season in NCAA hockey with the Merrimack Warriors. Uens was one of only 18 “True Freshman” defencemen in the entire NCAA which is a testament to his maturity and skill level. Duke’s coach Derek Smith said; “Zach is a coaches dream, not only because of his skills but his hockey IQ and understanding of how important it is to maintain that team first mentality. He is an elite skater with a heavy shot and elite puck moving skills. His ability to use his skating to close gaps and shut down plays defensively is one of his greatest attributes.” Scott Borek, Uens’ Merrimack coach as he enters his sophomore year echoes Smith’s comments. “Zach is one of the lowest maintenance players I have ever coached. He knows what has to get done and just gets on with it and goes to work every day. “When asked if he thought Zach should have been drafted last year Coach Borek said, ”For sure he should have been drafted last year, it was a real miss by the scouts but things work out for a reason and Zach proved he deserved going a little higher this year.” The stats support Coach Borek statements.
Photo by Ed McPherson - OJHL Images
Of all 18 “True Freshman“ defenceman, (true freshman meaning fresh out of high school in their 18th year) Uens was second in NCAA defenceman scoring among those true freshman with 4 goals and 14 assists. Of those 18 all but 4 had been previously drafted in last year’s draft including a number of first and second round selections. “The NCAA is a tough league and the transition from junior to NCAA can be difficult as you are now playing with some older guys.” Said one NHL scout who wished not to be identified. ” I was impressed with Uens as he has proven he should have been taken last year. His analytics are outstanding and his gap control was considered to be one of the best in the entire draft. He has a great opportunity to be one of those guys you draft and never trade away because he does so many things well.”
Continued next page ....
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UENS
ke and Quinte Red Devil NHL Draft.
Photo by Ed McPherson - OJHL Images
Total Sports caught up with Zach shortly after the draft was completed. Total Sports Staff (TSS): So how’s it feel to be a drafted NHL player? Uens: Pretty surreal. I am at a loss for words. It really is a dream come true. (TSS): How did you find out you were drafted and how did you celebrate? Uens: I actually was in my room watching the draft with some of my teammates. I stepped out of the room and another teammate that was not with us text me to say congrats. It was a pretty great feeling to share it with my teammates. As for the celebration, it’s really pretty short. Enjoy the moment and get back to work tomorrow. I realize this is just the beginning and I have to earn my opportunities.” TSS: As you reflect on this moment who do you think about that helped you along the way? Uens: “Obviously I have to thank my family. They have been really supportive and my dad has been a big influence as he coached me when I was younger. I have to really thank my Dukes coaches John Druce and Derek Smith who really instilled in me the idea of what it takes to move up the ranks and to be a professional. Steve Bancroft, my minor hockey coach, really gave me the foundation and the understanding of how to be a defenceman and how to be responsible in my own end. When I was younger I would say that skating wasn’t my strongest attribute. I owe a lot of my success for that to Chris Longo. Chris really taught me how to use my edges and how to generate power which has become a big part of my game. Finally I have to mention Jeremy Benoit. I have really focused on my nutrition and conditioning the last two years and Jeremy has been instrumental in helping me understand how to train properly and how to build towards a pro career.” TSS: Did you know you would be drafted to Florida? Uens: Not really. I had talked to them as well as a number of
other teams. It’s always tough to tell if they really are interested. I thought my Zoom calls went well but you never really know. I remember the call with Florida well because I was pretty nervous with Chris Pronger and Bryan McCabe on the call. It was pretty cool that Bryan McCabe called me after the draft to welcome me to the organization. I hear that there are some really good opportunities for young defenceman in Florida so I am looking forward to seeing what the future brings. TSS: So what’s next? Uens: Back to work really. With Covid everything related to NHL development camps is up in the air. We are hoping that our Hockey East (NCAA) season starts soon, maybe in November. I need to focus on getting better and helping my teammates as we try to win a title here at Merrimack. We have a young team but we have a strong group with some talented new players. Im looking forward to getting the season going.
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THROUGH COVID-19 AND ALWAYS, I AM ON YOUR TEAM
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THE HASTY P’S CUP Presented by
8 Game Hockey Classic Series in honour of our Historic Hastings & Prince Edward Regiment.
SCHEDULE Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Game 8
Wednesday November 11th, 2020 Trenton @ Wellington 2:00 pm Friday November 13th, 2020 Trenton @ Wellington 2:30 pm Tuesday November 17th 2020 Wellington @ Trenton 1:30 pm Wednesday November 18th, 2020 Wellington @ Trenton 1:30 pm Friday November 20th, 2020 Trenton @ Wellington 2:30 pm Wednesday Nov 25th, 2020 Wellington @ Trenton 1:30 pm Friday November 27th, 2020 Wellington @ Trenton 1:30 pm Wednesday December 2nd, 2020 Trenton @ Wellington 2:00 pm
*times indicate broadcast start time on YourTV Belleville (Cogeco Cable 4/700) (check YourTV listings for re-broadcast schedule)
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Calling All Alumni!
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All Trenton & ILL V E L E L Belleville Bobcat E Alumni Admitted FREE with RSVP Tickets available through the Dukes Box Office!
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BELLEVILLE/- Trenton
BOBCAT NIGHT
A night of great hockey, prizes, Bobcat jersey auctions & old school hometown Bobcat fun!
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PJHL TOD DIVISION SEASON PREVIEW By Puck Chaser
Hometown Hockey at its best!
Although Junior Hockey is on hold currently, local Junior C teams are gearing up to be ready when the season begins officially. Total Sports Quinte podcast held a round table recently with Picton Pirates Head Coach Ty Green and Napanee Raiders Head coach Ben Hagerman. Although both teams are playing the waiting game both are optimistic for a return to play at some point this season. Green said” We are practicing once a week currently and having discussions with local authorities to look towards bubbling up with another team in order to allow for exhibition games to start.” This seems to be the standard plan across most of hockey in Ontario currently. Find a couple of teams to work together to get some games in and prove out the model so that the season could potentially start in December or January. Hagerman said ”most likely it will be without fans, which isn’t the best scenario for our franchises but at least it’s a chance to get back to playing hockey.“ Napanee and Picton are part of the Tod Division which is the eastern most division in the Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) The Tod Division includes the aforementioned Pirates and Raiders as well as the Amherstview Jets, Gananoque G Men, Port Hope Panthers and Campbellford Rebels. They play an interlocking schedule with teams in the Orr Division, which includes North Kawartha, Clarington, Lakefield, Little Britain, Uxbridge, Port Perry and Georgina. At the heart of it is small town hockey at its best with local rivalries and teams with deep roots to each of the communities. “ We have had the same management and many of the same season ticket holders for over 35 years,” Hagerman says. ”Our local kids grow up wanting to play for the Raiders because of the strong tradition within the community.” With so many of the new rinks becoming standardized with NHL dimensions, the PJHL adds a unique element by still having some of the smaller rinks in these smaller communities. Haggerman says, “Campbellford and Lakefield can be difficult places to play when skill meets size in these smaller barns. The intensity level definitively ramps up.“ Like most of hockey, fighting has been almost removed from the game in the PJHL as the speed and skill level has ramped up. Saying that fans do get to see a “more physical” brand of hockey in the PJHL. “ It’s the one thing that has stayed true in the league is the extra level of aggression compared to other junior leagues in the province. Maybe it’s the rivalries or the hometown crowds, but the games always have some very physical play typically.” That small support is crucial to the survival of the league and all of the teams in the Junior C loop rely heavily on the support of the community via advertising and ticket sales. The prospect of playing without fans creates some uncertainty for these franchises, as they may have to consider more of a pay-to-play model going forward for the players, which creates some issues in creating a competitive roster.“ The league is unique in that you have 16 and 17 year old kids that are working their way up the ladder and then you have 20 and 21 year old men that have played junior hockey for a while now and are looking for opportunities to play for fun or win a championship while they pursue college, university or apprenticeships. “Asking a young man who is trying to buy his first car to pay $2500 to play hockey may not be realistic and we will lose out on some of those older guys who just can’t justify playing if it will cost money,” said Hagerman. Despite the uncertainty both of these franchises are excited about the upcoming season and their respective rosters.
Picton Pirates After a very successful run the last couple of years utilizing a younger squad, the Prince Edward County outfit is rewarded with a veteran laden roster poised to take a run at not only the league title, but possibly its first provincial Schmalz Cup victory since 2013. The returning veterans are led by Captain Griffin Conger as well as former Wellington Duke Landon MclLellan and Nate Boomhower who will be relied upon to supply the lion’s share of the scoring for the Pirates. After losing leading scorer Khaden Henry to the Jr A. ranks with the Trenton Golden Hawks, Pirates management reached out to find some local players that may come available after playing elsewhere. Noah Brant, the talented player from Tyendinaga and former Quinte Red Devil, was playing in the NOJHL Junior A loop last year after a couple of years playing with the Picton squad. “Getting Noah back is a crucial pick up for us.” Coach Ty Green says, “Brant adds skill and experienced depth to a very solid lineup. He will be a key piece to the puzzle for us.” On defence the Pirates lost smooth puck moving defender Jacob Deitz as he moved on to pursue an NCAA scholarship by moving up the junior hockey ladder to the Wellington Dukes of the OJHL Jr A. loop. Filling that void will be Derrick Vos who returns after a stint with the Dukes as well. Vos is a solid playmaker and plays a tough defensive game. Along with veterans Nick Kyle, Kurtis Wood along with Cooper Rogers, the Pirates may boast the best blue line in the league. “We think Cooper Rogers will have a breakout season for us this year.” Green says.“ With such a strong D corps and the return of Eric Tessier between the pipes, the Pirates are set on the backend. Newcomers include Logan James from the Quinte Red Devils midget program, former AP Ian Harrison and 16-year-old Nate Woods. “ Woods just finished an impressive season with the QRD Minor midgets that had a very solid season and Harrison should add a little grit to the squad with his tenacious play” Green went on to say. Total Sports Prediction: Definitely the early favourite to win the division. Definitely has the potential for a long playoff run if key players stay healthy and stay out of the penalty box.
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Napanee Raiders Coach Ben Hagerman is undergoing a bit of a rebuild in Napanee after back to back to back epic seasons. With last year’s team poised to win another Schmalz Cup before the shutdown, the team has sadly had to see some key players age out and move on past junior hockey. Key Departures include fan favourites Evan Foley, Brodie Maracle, Justynn Steven and Austin Labelle. Like so many teams at the junior C level, the Raiders are always proud to see players develop and move up the ranks. This year it’s Marshall McFarland moving up the ranks to the Wellington Dukes Jr A. Club a Napanee hometown kid who shows up to play every night with a tremendous work ethic will be missed but the Dukes are getting a good one. Hagerman expects his young team to be very competitive as they build towards another title contender. The Raiders will rely heavily on their veterans to provide key scoring. “There is no secret that we have been an older team the last number of years with the expectation to win every single game and go on long playoff runs. We have lost a lot of older players that provided the tools and experience on and off the ice.” “This off-season we have had to retool the forward and defence groups but luckily both goalies are returning.” Key Returnees include - former QRD and Kingston Frontenac draft pick Logan White (01 F). The rangy White has the ability to break games open with his offensive abilities. Along with rugged forward Bailey Matthews (01F) and veterans Devon King (99 F), and Soren Zamuner (01F) the Raiders have enough offence to keep them in any game this year. Led on the back end by veterans Matthew Panetta and Curtis Marrison (99 D) the Raider blue line will be solid. Noah Westwater (01 D) and Alex Case (03 D) return to bolster a young but compelling squad. Bailey Maracle (01 G) and Mitch Brown (00 G) return as potentially one of the best goalie tandems in the league. Each goalie played over 20 games last season before the shutdown. Maracle sported a very healthy 2.12 GAA and a .926 Save % while Brown locked up a 1.99 GAA with a Save % of .919. They will be tested heavily with the rest of the line up being new and quite young in comparison to previous Raiders clubs.
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Key Additions include - Cameron Krupa (02 F), London Nationals, Maverick Labrie (02 F), Embrum Panthers, Matt Sheeny (02 F), Upper Canada College, Chris Edwards (02 F) St. Michael’s College (02 F), Christian Williamson (02 D), St. Michael’s College, Brendan Hagerman (00 F). Total Sports Prediction: Napanee will be a fast team that will find their way as the season unfolds and should remain competitive every night. The most positive thing about their “reload” is the core of 01 and 02 players that will keep them contending the division for years to come. Although this is not the highflying Raiders of the past, this is a very good lineup with good depth and character. Goal scoring will need to be by committee. Logan White has the potential to have a breakout season offensively. Strong coaching a defence first mentality may make the Strathcona Center an unwelcome place for visiting teams this year. TS predicts a second place finish but very close behind Picton. If the team comes together they could play spoiler in the playoffs. PJHL League Overview and Predictions: With Covid 19 cases lower in Eastern Ontario then most regions the league is hopeful that a start to the season is possible. It is conceivable that the teams may be limited to playing in their own divisions. For this reason Total Sports will focus on the Tod Division only. Favourites: Picton Pirates - Depth, scoring and goaltending make them the early favourites. They have the tools to have a long playoff run if the players buy into Coach Green’s game plan. Staying focused and not taking penalties will be the biggest challenge with this squad, as the talent will take them a long way if they keep it together. Challengers - Napanee, Amherstview and Port Hope will all be contenders and can challenge on any given night. Amherstview has a solid returning group, which surprised a number of teams last season. Coach Evan Robinson always has a line on an import player or two that bolsters their lineup year to year. Port Hope is always competitive however with some personnel changes they may take a year to retool. Expect them to be competitive every night. Competitive but on the outside looking in - New management in Campbellford bodes well for the organization to get back to the glory days but it won’t happen overnight. Expect both Gananoque and Campbellford to be better than last year and definitely competitive but not ready for primetime just yet. Total Sports expects the Tod Division to be very competitive with more parity then seen in seasons past. Total Sports projected season standing: 1. Picton 2. Napanee 3. Amherstview 4. Port Hope 5. Campbellford 6. Gananoque
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HOCKEY DEVELOPMENT DURING A PANDEMIC
A Parent’s Guide to Dealing with the concerns of skill development during these times of uncertainty.
By Total Sports Staff
Overview This is a culmination and collaboration of thoughts and advice provided by our expert panel via a three part series on the Total Sports Quinte Podcast hosted by Randy Uens and Mike Bonn. The Podcast can be found through ITunes, Spotify, IHeartRadio or other podcast channels. The episodes involved interviews with Derek Smith, Head Coach of the Wellington Dukes, Chris Longo of the Kingston Frontenacs, Troy Mann and David Bell of the Belleville Senators and Darren Dreger, TSN Hockey Insider and longtime hockey parent. The roundtable format involved a question and answer session as well as comments from the coaches on their personal perspectives on hockey development. This article is only a small fraction of the great information provided in the podcasts and Total Sports encourages parents to listen to those interviews in their entirety, as they were incredibly beneficial and full of information. Hockey can be expensive and stressful for some to make decisions balancing finances and the pressures of developing young athletes and people. It’s a marathon and not a sprint. Patience and consistency pays off.
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During this pandemic, ice time may be reduced with your own team. Coach Mann says” You need to find ways to get better. Work off ice. Take advantage of this downtime to work on those things you may not have had time to do in the past. Off ice conditioning is a great example of this.” Coaches can look at this period of downtime, as an opportunity to do the things other teams may not want to do. More skills, more individual development on and off ice. An average player may touch the puck for a total of 1 minute or less in an entire game. This added period of skill is an opportunity rather than a handicap. Do not fear that this will be a lost year of development. On average a rep player would play 60 games per year from the ages of 7 to 17. That is an average of 600 games in their minor hockey career. If they end up playing fewer games or even modified games it is only a small blip in the players overall development. Take advantage of this time for other types of development. Seek out other opportunities for skill development. Do your homework with skill providers. Who are they? What’s their background? Who have they worked with that has gone on to be successful? Ask for references. There are skill providers out there with professional hockey backgrounds and some without. You do not have to be an ex pro to be a great skill provider. You do have to be a great teacher and be able to break down drills and progressions. There are also skill providers out there that claim to have ties to NHL teams when in reality they are not necessarily “skill” guys or coaches with these teams but have another business connection. “Parents need to be aware of this smoke and mirrors.” Educate yourself by asking questions and getting references. Some skill providers have particular strengths that maybe help your athlete develop those attributes they are lacking. Spend your money wisely. Find parents that have kids that have moved on to higher levels. Who did they use? Do your due diligence and don’t buy into the marketing hype.
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Make the training fun. The player needs to want to do it. Darren Dreger talks about recent NHL draft pick Cole Perfetti, “He is a hockey nut. He wants to be on the ice all of the time., He has that desire to get better.” The player has to have fun to get better.
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It takes 10000 touches to master a skill but if you do it wrong 10000 times it is a waste of time and energy. Optimally you would want to be in a group of less than 6 people or be in a larger skate where the ratio is 5-1 players to coaches. Corrections need to be made to see improvement. Running through fancy drills with pylons are useless unless correct technique is followed and developed. Chris Longo says, “ Bad habits occur when you do drills too fast before mastering a skill. Slow it down first, correct the technique and then speed it up to achieve execution of the skill which then creates separation between yourself and other players.“ Skating sessions with one coach and more than 10 kids becomes a conditioning skate at best as no corrections can be done. In those scenarios improvement comes from your own child’s past experiences not from that coach’s ability to correct. Money is an issue, but smaller group sessions are more valuable than more ice in larger groups. Derek Smith commented on the importance of correct technique and skill progressions, ”Often as coaches and players we focus on the end result and not the process. We may see success doing something repeatedly but in actuality the skill is lacking. Success may be coming on the ice due to other influences. In a way you are cheating yourself because of that immediate gratification but you are not actually getting better. For example as a defender you may be taking multiple crossovers to get up to speed while defending a 1v1 and you may have some success in practice that may even buy you a few extra shifts. But in reality as you progress you won’t get away with that skill set. It’s better to practice doing it the right way and get beat in practice for a few weeks until you get better so that when it really counts you are doing the skill correctly. It takes time and patience to do it right.“
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Photo by Amu Deroche - OJHL Images
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Full ice or even ¾ ice (modified rink) 3v3 and 4v4 is useless. Yes it’s fun, but you will not necessarily get better. Coach Mann says” 3v3 and 4v4 is a complete waste of time on large ice. These types of scenarios need to be run below the hash marks or in the neutral zone as a “Small Area Game” (SAG) to prevent the development of bad habits. Full ice 3v3 or 4v4 is not realistic and kids will not get better.” Coach Bell goes on to say “In these 3v3 and 4v4 scenarios there is too much open ice and kids may not get the touches they would in a SAG. In a SAG the player needs to figure out time and space, puck protection, where is the pressure coming from, and in the end gets more touches overall.“ Even in a smaller modified rink 3v3 and 4v4 it is of little benefit. It’s better to have the 3v3 in a controlled area between the blue lines or below the hash marks. Coach Mann feels that coaches need to utilize SAG more often in practice. At least once maybe twice a practice and this does not include battle drills or 1v1 drills. You can’t just scrimmage or do flow drills. Drills need to have a purpose and reinforce good habits. Coach Bell goes on to say” Flow drills often impress parents because there is lots of movement and players are flying around with multiple pucks, but once again it’s not realistic and can create bad habits. There is a time and place for flow drills but at the end of the day its about good habits. An example of this is watching kids turn away from the net at the end of the flow drill. You see this become a habit in games where kids do not stop on pucks or search for rebounds because after they shoot they turn off to the corner. Often one puck drills are better to install good habits.” Spring Hockey is a nice to have and not a must to have. So many parents feel the pressure to “keep up with the Jones’s.“ And have their athlete play all summer in multiple tournaments. First of all it’s a question of capital allocation and secondly it’s a matter of skill development. At the younger ages it’s important to develop athletes not hockey players. Play other sports and do not specialize until you are 14 or 15 years old. There are lots of clinical studies illustrating the risk of repetitive strain injuries and burnout factors from early specialization in sport. Complimentary or transferable skills are developed from playing other sports. Wayne Gretzky played baseball and lacrosse in the summers. Secondly, these tournaments can be expensive. $750 - $2000 is spent on a typical spring hockey weekend away. Put that into perspective when you think of the
amount of development ice you could have with more effective training. Spring Tournaments should be viewed as something fun, maybe a family get away and nothing more. Set a limit and focus on development and other activities to create a well-rounded athlete. If your child is passionate about these spring tourneys and that’s all they want to do, that’s great, but make sure it does not sacrifice development and skills. Make sure these programs incorporate it into the spring sessions and they are not all large group skates.
In Conclusion: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Do your homework. ASK QUESTIONS. Make it fun ... always! Spend your money wisely. Sometimes less is more. Don’t fall into the marketing trap. Do your due diligence and ask questions. Find teachers of the game not demonstrators. Check their backgrounds. As coaches, make sure each drill has a purpose and has specificity to ensure the reinforcement of good habits. 3v3 and 4v4 leagues do not equate to small area games. They can be fun but realize you may not get any benefits from these leagues. Play other sports. Do not specialize until 14 or 15 years of age!
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QUINTE BAY GYMNASTICS CLUB Back up and running. Covid has not dampened spirits!
Submitted by Quinte Bay Gymnastics Club
Quinte Bay Gymnastics Club is thrilled to announce that we are back up and running with our competitive and recreational programs. On June 15th, when the club was able to reopen for our competitive athletes, they were lined up outside the doors eagerly waiting with smiles on their faces, as for many athletes the club is like their second home where they are used to training 6-20 hours per week. Having 3 months off, with only minimal online conditioning and training meant it was a slow start back. Athletes have been working hard to regain their skills, while conditioning their bodies to be able to try new skills. We are still awaiting the green light from Gymnastics Ontario to resume training to the extent it was prior to our shut down. So athletes can be spotted through newer skills by their coaches and where our Acrobatic teams are able to resume stunting in their partnerships. It is unknown whether competitions will occur for the 2020/21 season. However Gymnastics Ontario and our competitive teams are staying hopeful that there will be competitions. We are confident that our athletes will embrace any challenges or modifications that the upcoming season will bring. The Covid-19 pandemic has set restrictions, but has not dampened our spirits. The club is limited to 50 athletes in the gym at any given time. Our club is running throughout the week, during daytime, evenings and weekends to maximize programming and space. On September 21st, Ashley and Melissa were excited to welcome back the recreational athletes into the club. The restrictions set in place have meant some significant changes within our recreational programing. We are still offering our wide-range of classes starting as young as crawling up to our adult programming. Although there have been some modifications working around social distancing, such as decreasing the number of classes offered along with limiting the number of athletes to 6 in a class, implementing sanitizing procedures and a new approach in the setup of our circuits one thing that hasn’t changed is our commitment to safety and the fun, fitness and fundamentals that gymnastics provides for all who walk through our doors. Quinte Bay is still offering our ever popular Kinder Drop-In for children 5 years and younger on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:30am. Children can explore the gym with a parent/guardian(s) in a less structured program. We are proud to offer our Limitless Drop-In program which is geared to anyone in our community with a disability. This is an opportunity for children to explore the space while getting in some physical activity. This program is offered on Saturdays from 3:304:30pm. New this year we are excited to be offering 2 great adult programs; GymFit is offered on Tuesdays from 7:30-8:30pm and Adult Gymnastics is offered on Thursdays from 7:30-8:30pm. As well as a dedicated Tumbling for Cheerleaders program, which is offered on Fridays from 5:00-6:00pm. We are hopeful, come the New Year that we are able to resume some of our other amazing programs which include Birthday Parties, Camps, School Trips & More. Please visit our website for more information about all our programing and to register. Inquires you may call us at 613-967-9517 or email rec@quintebaygymnastis.com
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BOWLING IS BACK Bowling Under Covid 19
By Total Sports Staff With the pandemic locking many of us down last spring many people were forced to find alternatives to their usual leisure activities. Indoor recreational sports have been among the worst effected businesses through this period. The bowling industry across Canada was thrown into a tailspin. For many people bowling is not only a past time, it is a wonderful way to stay active and socialize. Bowling leagues offer patrons an outlet to get out of the house and keep moving. For some seniors this is their primary weekly fitness activity that combines fun and fitness. To lose it was particularly hard for many people when the lockdown occurred. Bowling Centres are now operating again as of September 8th under Ontario Stage 3 guidelines. Although the social restrictions have added some complexity to the business, Tony Gao of Club Medd Bowl in Trenton is excited to get back to work. Club Medd Bowl has been successfully running for more than half a century in the beautiful town of Trenton. Tony spoke to Total Sports about all of the requirements Club Medd had to meet to reopen. Although Club Medd was forced to make some of these changes, which creates a financial burden, Tony is very proud of the work done to keep the patrons safe and comfortable. “We had to make masks mandatory in the facility at all times, except for bowlers who are on the lane bowling. We have also hung up plastic shields from the ceiling between every two alleys. We always keep one lane closed between two groups for enough distance between each family or social circle” This requirement to allow for social distancing creates some difficulty for the business as you can only maintain 50 % of the lanes open but Club Medd is pleased to do whatever it takes to maintain the standards needed to have their patrons feel safe.
its patrons, Tony has been impressed with the interest in people getting back to the lanes.“ Although we are experiencing a slow return from patrons of our bowling leagues, we have seen most of our senior league members come back.” Knowing that those people most at risk for Covid 19 are coming back to bowling creates some optimism for Club Medd Bowl. Tony feels that quite a few people are unaware that they are open and that they have made extensive changes to make it safe to go back to bowling. Tony goes on to say,“ We have already reopened for a month and have resumed all our usual business activities and events such as Rock n’ Bowl, Birthday Parties, and Leagues.” Quinte Bowl was unavailable for comment but from observation only, they have had a similar experience as Cub Medd as they reopen. Club Medd Bowl and other similar establishments are so vital to the social fabric of our community. If you are looking for a way to get out, meet some new people, or just want a little healthy fun, do reach out to your local bowling alley. Tony and the team at Club Medd have done a terrific job. Club Medd Bowl is located at 31 Dundas St. E Trenton Ontario. Be sure to call ahead at 613 392 5756.
“ We highly encourage customers to book the lanes in advance as we now only have 8 lanes instead of 16 lanes in use. Lanes, bowling balls and rental shoes are always disinfected after every use. Hand sanitizers are obviously available everywhere, and we have even closed the toy machine areas to enlarge our facility rooms for better social distancing.“ Although these requirements complicate business, not only for Club Medd but
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Calling all former Dukes players or Bulls players that want to participate! Please contact us ASAP.
BULLS ALUMNI VS DUKES ALUMNI
January 30th 2021 Wellington Lehigh Arena
111 Belleville St, Wellington, ON
ck a b e m co l e W Game time 6:00 PM Licensed Reception to follow Highland Hall at the Lehigh Arena Live Band Jersey Auction TICKETS Adult $20 Advance /$25 At the door Seniors & Students $15 Kids 12 and under $10 Please call Kelly Martin in our Marketing Dept at 905-914-7454 or visit WellingtonDukes.ca to register. Click on Alumni Registration.
Blast fr om the past Proceeds to Honour Dr. R.L.Vaughan with donations to Camp Trillium and Dukes Scholarship Fund.
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Q&A WITH JEREMY BENOIT
Belleville Senators Strength & Conditioning Coach By Total Sports Staff
Jeremy Benoit has been in the Quinte area for only a few short years but his impact on local athletes has been significant. Working not only with the Belleville Senators, Jeremy has made a huge impression on athletes from the Wellington Dukes, Kingston IceWolves (PWHL) Quinte Red Devils and beyond. Total Sports caught up with Jeremy for a quick Q &A session. (TSQ) In the past hockey trainers focused on getting bigger/ stronger... Why is this a mistake? Benoit: I don’t think it’s necessarily a mistake, but I believe every player has his or her own individual skill set. Each athlete has a requisite for strength and size to utilize their skill set to the best of their abilities. These can be assessed through relevant literature ex. 1.5-body weight squat, coaches eye/ skill and scouts recommendations, using technology (Hawkins force plate etc.). Once they achieve these strength and mass metrics for performance, I would immediately look to other “buckets”, or areas of performance to fill. It then becomes a cyclical model of performance, continuously filling different buckets, including strength. Strength and mass provides an athlete with confidence among other physiological benefits to performance. I find strength and conditioning coaches as well as players unfortunately get stuck in a rabbit hole of adding strength without variety and proper development assessment. Strength is often what the athlete excels at, but not necessarily what they need at the time. Often, the coach will assess success in correlation with the player’s strength outcome, but this category alone does not solely define success. (TSQ) Trend towards leaner faster but maximizing strength... power... why does this relate to hockey better than the old model. Benoit: As I mentioned above, the important “buckets” of performance I view are: Wellness, Strength, Speed, Power, Rhythm, Athleticism and Performance Mobility. These can be broken down into many sub-categories. A well-rounded athlete needs to optimize all areas of performance in order to truly improve and find success, especially as they get older. With regards to hockey, I’m sure most coaches can relate to assessing their players in all of these “buckets” in one way or another. The game has emerged in the last 10 years as a fast paced skill focused game requiring more processing at high speeds. Our training in the development of young athletes has to reflect this evolution in the sport. (TSQ) You focus a lot on mobility, flexibility, why is this as important or more important than strength.
Benoit: Investigating the mobility of an athlete, or lack thereof, in relation to the sport and position they play is very important as this bucket is sometimes forgotten about and is the missing piece to the players development. I personally believe the athlete has to gain experience, control and multiple ranges of motion in different positions, because the game puts you in compromising positions all the time. When their body has experienced these situations prior to trauma, the muscle and connective tissue will be more resilient to injury, and more comfortable getting out of these positions. Isometrics of different variety and mobility drills focusing on movement and control (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization DNS, FRC) are tools I like to use to help improve performance mobility. Like anything it is one bucket of performance that needs to be filled. (TSQ) What are mistakes many trainers of hockey players make? How can parents identify that the trainer they are using is not in step with today’s science? Benoit: There are many roads to Rome; in other words, there are many different approaches to coaching. It is important that the certified strength and conditioning coach can identify your son or daughters short comings, while discussing and creating an action plan to help them develop in these areas. If they are able to do this then the athlete is in good hands. (TSQ) Every body type is different, how do you identify weaknesses, and improve on those areas of weakness? Benoit: Every athlete has a different physiological make up and unique skill set that allows them to excel at their sport. My job is to identify where they can improve and how. I always begin by assessing what “buckets” have been filled on their own or in their past development. By conducting movement assessments, wellness questionnaires, and by using a variety of technology, I can better assess what each athlete requires in order to improve in their sport. (TSQ) Do you feel nutrition is underestimated by minor hockey parents and how important is this to the strides made in the gym? Benoit: Wellness is a very important “bucket” of performance. Sleep, nutrition, hydration, and in some circumstances supplementation, are all included in the athletes health & wellness. Nutrition is similar to strength and conditioning in that it has many uneducated opinions surrounding it (quick fixes. diets, new tools), Ultimately, the basics done well under the guidance of an educated nutritionist will yield the best results. Busy schedules of young athletes make it difficult for them to fuel their bodies properly and is often a missing piece of their development. A Ferrari with a gas tank running on empty still won’t get you very far. This means you can work very hard in the gym and do everything correctly, but if your wellness bucket isn’t being filled daily, you will still struggle to find success in the gym.
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ASTOUNDING HEIGHTS DANCE ACADEMY
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Back in the Studio and Making a Positive Impact on Students Submitted by Alicia Sewell - Astounding Heights Astounding Heights Dance Academy is a local Trenton dance studio. We provide dance lessons for ages 2 to adults in 13 different styles. The studio believes in creating a safe and judgement free environment where dancers can learn, be creative and most importantly have fun. We strive to not just build a business but rather a dance family. Covid has been hard on many local businesses and it was no different for our studio. In March we were forced to close our doors along with all other local dance studios. However, that was not the end of dance for our students. We offered zoom classes for the full remainder of the term. Unfortunately, our competitive team that worked hard all year was not able to compete as all competitions were cancelled. Despite the cancellations they all still worked hard the rest of the term through zoom classes to prepare for the following year and not let the bad news crush their spirits! In the summer we were able to open within a limited capacity. Camps could run to offer childcare to our dance families, and we could get kids back into dance class with private lessons. We opened back up with lots of rules, guidelines, cleaning protocols and restrictions but we were simply happy to have our dancers back in the studio even with all the added work. This fall we were able to open all our regular classes again. This did come with another set of strict guidelines, but again, anything to get dance back to our dancers. We are happy to wear masks, use gallons of hand sanitizer and clean constantly if it means we can give these dancers back their place to have fun, be creative and see their dance family. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact of the mental health of a lot of people and our dancers were no exception. Being away from the activity they love, and all their friends was very trying on their mental health. Most kids thrive on routine and having so many things taken away from them was extremely difficult for a lot of them to cope with. Like us, all our dancers are happy to be back and willing to follow any new guidelines to be back doing what they love with who they love. While the adjustment back into routine and structure has been hard on some of them, as time goes by we can see the positive impact it is making on them physically and emotionally to be back in the studio. This pandemic has truly taught us all what matters most. We love our dance family more now then ever and appreciate all the love and joy they bring to our studio. We received so much support from our families during this difficult time and so much encouragement and excitement every time we were closer to opening our doors again. We are also grateful to be a part of the Quinte West community, one full of some much local support. Many members of our dance family are also local business owners and we all support each other during this difficult time.
Astounding Heights Dance Academy 64 Lorne Ave. Trenton Ont. 613-885-3868 Dance@AstoundingHeights.com
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Ontario College of Health & Technology 1040 South Service Road Stoney Creek, ON L8E 6G3
!
Visit OCHT.ca
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Quinte & Area’s ONE & ONLY
SPORTS DIRECTORY & HUB
Are you involved in a local sports team or looking for a certain sport? Find it here ... archery, axe throwing, badminton, ballet, baseball, basketball, baton twirling, boat races, bobsledding, bodyboarding, body building, bowling, boxing, canoeing, cheerleading, cross country skiing, cricket, curling, cycling, dance, dragon boats, drifting, equestrianism, fencing, figure skating, fishing, fitness, free diving, football, golf, gymnastics, gocart racing, hiking, heavy events, high school sports, hockey, horse racing, horse jumping, judo, karate, kickboxing, kite surfing, kung fu, kayaking, lacrosse, laser tag, marathons, mini golf, mixed martial arts, mountaineering, motorcycle racing, paintball, pole dancing, power lifting, racecar driving, rafting, rugby, scuba diving, skydiving, sports camps, skateboarding, skiing, skidoo racing, stockcar racing, rowing, snorkelling, snowboarding, soccer, strength and agility sports, synchronized swimming, tennis, trampolining, weight lifting, windsurfing, workout, wrestling, and more ... fitness centres, sports injury clinics, ... it’s all here at Total Sports Quinte Sports Hub.
SUBMIT YOUR TEAM INFO, SCORES, ATHLETE ACCOLADES TODAY!
IT’S FREE! ADD YOUR CLUB TODAY! Visit TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA
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CROSSFIT FOR ALL
By Rian Cole BA, BEd, CF-L2 An elite hockey player, a soccer mom and an elderly woman all walk into a CrossFit gym. That’s it, there’s no punch line ... There is a common misconception that you need to be “fit” before you can start CrossFit, but the reality is that there are entry points for anyone; no matter their fitness level or background. At CrossFit Belleville (CFB) our members range in age from 5 to 70. Some come from a background in sport, some are rehabbing injuries, and some had never touched a weight before starting out. Whether they wanted to improve performance, to lose weight, or just to try something new they have all found something at CFB that keeps them coming back week after week: results and a sense of community. Our members all have different goals, but it is our belief at CFB that CrossFit is one of the best ways to achieve all of them. One of the main reasons that people get hooked on CrossFit, even if they didn’t like to workout before, is because they start to see results right away. Athletes are constantly learning new things, lifting heavier, moving better, and generally feeling better about what their bodies are capable of. Everyone from our beginners to our elite athletes continue to find new ways to improve and grow. That is because Crossfit is infinitely scalable to any athlete. However, the idea is that we scale movements by degree, but not by kind. An elderly woman doesn’t need to do 100 burpees as fast as possible, but I want her to be able to safely get up off the ground if she happens to fall. Just like not everyone needs to deadlift 500lbs, but they need to be able to bend over and safely pick something up. The idea of CrossFit can certainly be intimidating to those that have never tried it. When you research CrossFit online the results are filled with six-pack abs and crazy workouts. However, that’s not really what CrossFit is about. It’s about finding an hour in your day to hang out with friends, get sweaty and see what your body can do. The social aspect of our gym is the other main reason our members come back for more each week. There’s a coach that knows you and asks about your day, other members become your friends, and the gym becomes your happy place. Even on days when the gym seems like the last place you want to be, it’s worth the trip to have a laugh and sweat it out with your pals. Interested in joining our CFB fam? Head to crossfitbelleville.ca or send an email to info@crossfitbelleville.ca Photo Cred: Sarah Lewis Photography
Visit CrossFitBelleville.ca
In these trying times its never been more important to shop local ...
TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE
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Bay of Quinte’s only virtual marketplace with a single dashboard to sell locally on Google, Facebook, Instagram , Amazon and EBay. We offer a free profile to every business!
Easy-to-use marketing tools for Google and Social media advertising to grow your business fast.
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Online selling packages start at $50/month with all the tools needed to thrive. eGift certificates, coupons, google indexed newsfeed, photos, videos, robust business profile and more.
888-430-7467 | Sales & Service | 343-263-1500 info@shopbayofquinte.ca
Visit SHOPBAYOFQUINTE.CA
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AUTO REPAIRS AND DIAGNOSTICS CAR MAINTENANCE WARRANTIES EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE
We are open and ready to serve you! COVID-19 RELATED MEASURES AT YOUR LOCAL NAPA AUTOPRO With the COVID-19 situation continuing to evolve daily, we as business operators must adapt our ways of doing things and modify some of our usual habits in order to ensure everyone’s safety and limit the possible spread of the virus. Here are the measures that we continuously strive to implement:
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Our technicians always wear neoprene or latex gloves when they enter your vehicle. Our technicians disinfect high-touch interior surfaces when receiving and returning your vehicle: steering wheel, door handle, gear changer, etc.
Allan’s
Auto Repair
• • •
Reception areas, counters, payment terminals, courtesy vehicles, and common areas are regularly disinfected. Hand sanitizer is available for use. If you have traveled abroad in the past 2 weeks, we ask that you refrain from visiting our shops and schedule an appointment after the prescribed quarantine period of 14 days. Anyone with flu-like symptoms is also requested not to come in person to our automotive repair shops.
napaautopro.com
613-967-6237 allansautorepair@gmail.com
112 Station Street, Belleville, Ontario
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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE
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