Total Sports QUINTE
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BELLEVILLE . QUINTE WEST . HASTINGS & PRINCE
EDWARD COUNTY & SURROUNDING
COVERING LOCAL SPORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY
Summer 2021 Vol 5 Issue 3
CELEBRATING SPORTS AT CFB TRENTON pg 17 -27
AMAZING ATHLETES FROM TYENDINAGA FIRST NATIONS pg 28-33
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TOTAL SPORTS QUINTE
I am pleased to contribute to the Quinte Total Sports issue that is featuring 8Wing/CFB Trenton’s commitment to sports and their outstanding athletes. We know that sport and recreation, builds stronger and healthier communities as well as great leaders. Our community sports organizations also benefit greatly from our military member’s contributions in coaching and mentoring our youth.
Mayor City of Quinte West
We appreciate 8 Wing/CFB Trenton and their member’s continued support and engagement with our sporting community. There are endless opportunities that exist in our beautiful and diverse community and I invite you to explore the many attractions, local businesses, outdoor recreation and sporting events that make Quinte West, A Natural Attraction.
Photos Bottom 2 left: Sean Scally
Photo Top (Puck Drop) and bottom right (Royals Baseball by Amy Deroche /OJHL Images
Total Sports
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PUBLISHER Total Sports Quinte
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Leigh Martin WRITERS Randy Uens Jeff Gard Terry Boyd Allyson Tufts Joe Fee Chris Lisle Chad Thompson Jamie McCourt Newman Insurance Amanda Killeen
BOQTotalsports@gmail.com
905.914.7454 MAIN ADVERTISING AND STORIES
Kelly Leigh Martin/ 905-914-7454 BOQTotalsports@gmail.com Stories - Jeff Gard - 905-269-2485 jeffgard.totalsports@gmail.com Advertising SALES
Don Boucher / Sales Manager 613-813-3943 donboucher300@gmail.com
QUINTE REGION
EDITOR Dallas Knowles - Total Sports
BOQtotalsports@gmail.com TSportsQuinte TotalSportsQuinte
DISTRIBUTION Angela Douglas PHOTOGRAPHERS A/SLt Paul Green Amy Deroche Ed McPherson OJHL Images
TotalSportsQuinte TotalSportsQuinte.ca Total Sports Quinte is a free magazine, digital stories posted daily, 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, James McCourt-Spirits Basketball, Wellington Dukes, Terry Boyd - The GYM Trenton, Total Sports Quinte Podcast, The Boathouse Seafood Restaurant & Waterfront Patio, Belleville Nissan, Ryan Williams - Williams Hotels, Randy Uens, Allyson Tufts, Trent Valley Distributors, Mix 97, CJBQ, Rock 107, Deroche Sports Photography, Belleville Sports Hall of Fame, Paul Green - CFB Trenton, Ryan Meeks - CFB Trenton, Wellington Dr Dukes, MPP Todd Smith, Cirty of Quinte West-Mayor Jim Harrison, Pond Hockey Classic, Veteran Farmer, Mr. Print, Quinte Royals Baseball, Quinte West Youth Centre, Newman Insurance, Amanda K - Hello Bonjour PEC
Summer 2021 Volume 5 Issue 3
This issue of Total Sports Quinte is dedicated in memory of Dave Mills Belleville Sports Hall of Fame
3 .................. A Message from Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison 5 ..............................Belleville Sports Hall of Fame Press Release 6 ...............................TEAM OF THE MONTH - Quinte Royals 14U 7 ................................. UTurns - When Talent Meets Opportunity 8 ................. The Gift or Summer Break by Author Allyson Tufts 9 .......... Dukes Seaason Ticket Drive in Support of PEC Hospital 11 ................. Ben Roger - Drafted 2nd Round Ottawa Senators 12 ........... Quinte Youth Centre Offering Non-Traditional Sports 13 .............................. Quinte Royals 9U Showing Huge Potential 14................................. Summer is Here are your Toys Covered? 16 ................... A Message from Todd Smith MPP, Bay of Quinte 17-19 ............ CFB Trenton - Loaded wuth Sports Opportunities 20 ............. Cpl Daniel Veiras - Military Sports Reignited the Fire 21 .......................... CFB Trenton Pond Hockey Classic 10th Year! 22 .................................... Cpt. Ellie Johnston Represents Canada 24 ............................... Maj. Whalen Charts Own Path to Success 26 ........................................ MCpl. Ben Langley’s Athletic Pursuit 27 ............. CFB Trenton Community Recreation Open to Public 28 .................................... Jillian Weir Proud of Mohawk Heritage 29 .............................................. Indigenous Pride and Basketball 30-31 ...... Tyendinaga Mohawk Athletes - History of Excellence 32 ......................... James McCourt - Adventures with Roundball 33 ......................................... Quinte Bayhawks Lacrosse Returns 34 ............................. Sarah Condon - Her World of Weightlifting 35 ............................. TPT Sterner Equestrian Shows and Results 36 ............................... Belleville’s Matt Mullins - Tokyo Olympics 37 ....................................................... Is Your Child A Pro Athlete? 38 ...........................Wellington Jr Dukes - The Future Has Begun! 40-41 ........................... McNair & Myers Skating to Scholarships 42 ................. Hello Bonjour - Getting Back into Physical Activity
COVER PHOTO By A/SLt Paul Green 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer /Canadian Armed Forces
Captain Ellie Johnston, Captain Stuart Ireson and Corporal Daniel Veiras. Bottom right Olympian Jillian Weir
FEATURES
DUKES ALUMNI BEN ROGER-DRAFTED NHL /11 SPORTS AT CFB TRENTON SPECIAL FEATURE /17
ATHLETES OF TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TERRITORY /28
MATT MULLINS TOKYO OLYMPICS /36
Interested in having a Total Sports Magazine and PodCast SportsHub 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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BELLEVILLE SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Press Release - July 2021
As many people may be aware, we lost our President, Dave Mills, on June 11 of this year. Inducted into the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, Dave became president of the Hall of Fame in 2016, and he was the driving force in reestablishing the Hall of Fame. A consummate leader, Dave worked with the community to bring the Hall of Fame back into focus after its brief hiatus in the early 2010s. We remain thankful for all of his direction, contributions and initiative; he is, and will continue to be, missed. While COVID-19 has impacted our ability to hold induction ceremonies, we are continuing our “behindthe-scenes” work in preparation for the time we are able to come together again to celebrate Belleville’s athletic community. New Committee: • Ian Press - President • Nancy Popovich - Vice-President • Kerry MacKinnon - Secretary • Joe Bell - Treasurer • Liane Woodley - Member at Large • Eric Lindenberg - Member at Large • Jennifer Kerr - Member at Large
Future Plans: Dave set the bar high during his time as our president. He set an example we aim to follow for the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame into the future. Recently we have been reviewing our present status and setting priorities for the next year. We will be following the status of COVID-19 public health measures and advice, and look forward to setting a date for our next induction ceremony. We will share this as soon as we are able. Will will also be looking to expand our committee through an application process that will take place this fall. Please look to our social media (listed below) for further information in the coming months. The Belleville Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honouring, and preserving the record of outstanding achievements accomplished by the city’s elite athletes and builders from all eras, and displaying them on a permanent basis. The Hall of Fame is housed in the Dr. R. L. Vaughan Atrium at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Center, at 265 Cannifton Road, Belleville. Contact:
Social media:
bellevilleshof@gmail.com Belleville Sports Hall of Fame 265 Cannifton Road Belleville, ON K8N 4V8
Twitter: @bellevilleHOF Instagram: @bellevillesportshalloffame Facebook: Belleville Sports Hall of Fame
Visit BellevilleSportsHallOfFame.com
Proud Supporters of the Belleville Sports Hall of Fame
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Team of the month Quinte Royals 14U Baseball
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Photo by Elizabeth Stephens
By: Chris Lisle for Total Sports Quinte Mitch Sills #72, Bryce Mitchell #17, Curtis Kerslake #9, Oliver, Brackenbury #37, Marcus Forbes #34, Christian Fonger #22, Owen Ferguson #13, Jacob Briscoe #27, Nathan Soules #53, Colby Coe #4, Ben Demille #2, Cole Baird #11, Colin Stephens #7 Head Coach - Chris Lisle, Assistant Coaches - Steve Sills & Noah St Bernard
The Quinte Royals 14U team’s journey began in the late fall of 2020. As Covid restrictions relaxed and a plan was in place for a ‘return to play’, tryouts began in late august for the 2021 season. The team and coaches were excited to get to work preparing for the EOBA season ahead. A winter lockdown changed our plans as many teams in all youth sports experienced. Through video workouts shared with coaches, everyone remained focused and engaged in their training, as we waited for spring. Indoor training at the Loyalist Dome allowed the team to get together to workout once the lockdown lifted. As plans for an EOBA season began to take shape, the Royals worked out individually through one more lockdown, then hit the field together. The coaching staff set out a plan to develop depth at all positions, especially pitching/catching. Our season opening double header vs. Peterborough was a great test against a strong Tigers team. Mitch Sills started on the mound in game one, with Jacob Briscoe coming in to close. The two pitchers combining for 5k’s. The Royals lost game one 11-4 but had many positives to take away. The runs were scored by Colby Coe, Cole Baird, Marcus Forbes and Colin Stephens. Game two of the Peterborough double header went much better for the Royals as Nathan Soules, starting pitcher and Cole Baird combined for 5k’s. Royals let a 4-1 lead slip away in a couple of shaky innings late in the game. Runs scored: Curtis Kerslake, Mitch Sills, Ben Demille, Jacob Briscoe. Marcus Forbes went 2 for 3 with one RBI. The Royals made a trip to Cobourg for a date with the Northumberland Jacks. Ollie Brackenbury started for the Royals and was dominant through four innings with 6 strikeouts. CJ Kerslake came in as middle relief with Colin Stephens closed out the 8-6 win for the Royals with 3 strikeouts of his own over two innings. Runs scored by Bryce Mitchell, Mitch Sills, Marcus Forbes (2), Jacob Briscoe, Oliver Brackenbury, CJ Kerslake. It was a great ball game with two well matched teams. Next up for the Royals was a double header in Kawartha vs the Cubs. Jacob Briscoe, Cole Baird and Colin Stephens combined for 4 k’s in a 11-5 loss in game one. Cole Baird was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Christian Fonger was 1 for 1 with a stolen base and Owen Ferguson had an RBI. Game two of the double header, Soules and Stephens combined for 4 k’s and the Royals bounced back for a 10-8 win. Runs score: Bryce Mitchell x3, Cole Baird, Jacob Briscoe, Nathan Soules, Owen Ferguson and CJ Kerslake. Clutch two-out hitting was the key to the great overall team effort.
Pickering Red Sox visited Bayshore Field in Trenton for a single game. Quinte rolled four pitchers against the Red Sox, starting with Oliver Brackenbury for 4 innings. Brackenbury handed the ball over to Colby Coe, Ben Demille and closer Bryce Mitchell. The four Royals pitchers tallied 11 K’s allowing just 4 hits and 7 walks. They were backed up by solid defense in a great team effort and pulled off a 9-2 win. Mid-July brought a date at home with the Clarington Orioles. Both teams are similar in pitching depth as well as a speedy outfield. In game one of the double header Mitch Sills was dominant through 5 innings before handing the ball to Nathan Soules to close out the 2-1 win for the Royals. Sills and Soules combined for 12 K’s, 2 hits and 5 walks. Marcus Forbes and Ollie Brackenbury scored for Quinte. Owen Ferguson had 1 RBI. Game two did not disappoint, with stellar defense from both teams. Jacob Briscoe, Colby Coe, Cole Baird combined for 6k’s, allowed 10 hits and 6 walks. CJ Kerslake, Bryce Mitchell, Mitch Sills scored. Kerslake went 3 for 3 with 1 run and a RBI. Clarington splits the DH with a 5-3 thriller over the Royals. The Royals pitching depth began to show after the Clarington DH at home, as the Royals made the trip the next day to visit Whitby. Oliver Brackenbury got the start, before handing over the ball to Bryce Mitchell for 2 innings work and Colin Stephens closing out the effort. The Royals were down 5-2 mid-game before rolling through the order in the 6th scoring 7 runs. Royals added one more in the 8th to win 108. Royals plated Bryce x3, Sills, Kerslake, Coe, Ollie, Stephens, Fonger and Ferguson. Two strong hitting teams!! On the long weekend, the Royals wrapped up the July with the Ajax Spartans coming to town. Game 1 starter, Nathan Soules was solid through 4 innings before turning the effort over to Jacob Briscoe. The two Royals pitchers combined for 9 k’s 4 hits and 5 walks. It was a solid defensive game for both teams. The Royals pushed Sills, Coe and Fonger across the plate to take game 1, 3-2. Christian Fonger started the 5th with a single to left, followed by Sills who was hit by pitch. This set the table for Marcu Forbes’ two out laser to right field scoring both Fonger and Coe. Game 2 starter, Cole Baird had an excellent outing through 4 innings before Mitch Sills came in to close. The Royals and Spartans tied 7-7. Runs scored by Royals: Sills, Baird, Briscoe, Soules, Brackenbury, Coe. August scheduling is complete for our Royals and all games will set the standings for playoffs or a proposed Championship Tournament for the EOBA Championship.
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Sports Column By: Randy Uens
When Talent Meets Opportunity
U Turns: A View on Sports
Recent events such as the NHL draft, the NBA draft, the Olympics, National team camps, return to minor sports after the pandemic etc etc, have spurred a lot of conversation on social media about how do athletes get to the highest level in sports; how do you get the chance to be in the Olympics? Why does one athlete succeed and another one does not? Why not me? All of these questions resonate with many issues being discussed locally in sports. It is a very complex discussion.
It is true that success is when preparation meets opportunity and the vice versa. But it is also true that success is when talent meets opportunity. So many great athletes never make it to the next level, or even worse, many potentially great athletes never get the opportunity because the opportunity was never afforded. Brighton native and former Wellington Duke Ben Roger was recently drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the 2nd round of the NHL draft. There was some minor vitriol on the internet questioning the Senators’ decision making of taking Roger in the 2nd round when he may have been available much later. This draft had so much uncertainty due to the pandemic. Teams were taking educated guesses at almost every draft position after the top 10. What the Senators did was take advantage of something they can control and trust, which is the input of their staff. Belleville Senators staff had a ringside view of Roger’s development this past year. Adding 30 pounds and growing to 6’4”, Roger had blossomed despite the fact that no one could see him play this year. Once again Ben’s hard work and determination to get better may have been unnoticed by the masses, but the Senators connection to Belleville got him through the door with the organization. His talent was ready for the opportunity. Congrats Ben! Sometimes it’s not just about the elite athletes making it to the next level, it’s also about athletes getting the chance to compete at all. Often this is a socio-economic discussion that often leads us down a complicated discussion of gender or race and economic privilege. I want to derail that tangled web and simplify the discussion with another cliche … “It takes a village to raise a child”. As a society it behooves us to invest in our youth through sports. This is not about creating the next LeBron or McDavid, it’s about giving opportunities to individuals to be the best they can be which in turn creates better human beings. There are organizations such as Jump Start and First Start that are great charitable organizations doing great work, but they are also advertising vehicles for big brands. Charity starts at home (lots of cliches today) and often we as individuals sometimes need to look at how we approach our sports to create more opportunities. I’m proud of my dad for many reasons. He was a dedicated educator and always was and is a great guy. One of my favourite things he did as an educator was to provide opportunities for some of his students that maybe they may not have gotten by opening doors or directing them to opportunities.
One young man went to my dad’s school in Tyendinaga. He was being raised by a single mom and the family didn’t have the resources to allow for him to participate in lacrosse. Just getting him to the games was sometimes a challenge for them. His mom did an unbelievable job, but it’s difficult with a big family on one income at the best of times. My dad encouraged him to come to our team and the team made it work so that he could play for us. This young man went on to be one of my favourite teammates of all time and became a very good multi-sport athlete not to mention a pretty damn good lacrosse goalie. He has gone on to be a very successful police officer working in Western Ontario. “TY” was the glue guy that our team needed. TY and I went on to play junior lacrosse together in Peterborough. He was another one of those great athletes from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory that we are discussing in this edition. A few of the old lacrosse guys got together and were discussing war stories. It was about how Tim “TY” Kunkel started playing with us. It was a real turning point for our team in that we now had an elite goalie that helped us win the provincial championship. None of us believed we would have won without TY in net that year. Once we started talking we kind of realized that we probably had 4 or 5 guys that played for us that year that may not have been able to play on that provincial winning team if it wasn’t for the help of all the families on that team, whether it was rides, shared hotel rooms or discounts absorbed by the others, those families bonded together to create those opportunities for all of those kids. Sometimes it is awkward for families to even start the process of sports. The costs are sometimes daunting and the desire to maintain privacy is understood. There are funding opportunities that families need to be aware of but it’s not easy to know where to find these sources of assistance. Corporate sponsorships such as Jump Start have great programs that definitely make a difference. Locally, service groups like the Rotary Club have programs to help kids get involved with sports as well. Belleville natives Jeff Broekema and some of his friends have created an organization locally called Pay It Forward Sports that is focused on raising funds for those athletes that may not have the resources to get into sports. They have a number of events planned to not only raise money but to raise awareness of how we need to support some of these potential athletes that may miss out for various reasons. Many local sports groups have funds to help potential athletes to get involved. These funds or programs are often not advertised or promoted. Total Sports has set up a directory for local businesses at Totalsportsquinte.ca/directory. This directory needs to include contacts for athletes assistance. If your organization has such a fund, please let us know and we will get the word out by including it in our sports directory or you can add yourself free by clicking on the link. It doesn’t take much to change the course of a young person’s life. Sports can be that conduit for positive expression and personal development. We need to create more opportunities for young athletes so that more of these talented athletes get the opportunity to be prepared for success; So when that opportunity to succeed arrives, they are ready.
Tip of the Week
Athletes are starting to realize the correlation between sleep and performance. We have always known that a well rested athlete performs better but research is showing that optimum performance requires attention to details as it relates to sleep and recovery. There are a number of cool gadgets and apps out there to help track your sleep and monitor your responses. If you are an elite athlete, it is something that you should be monitoring closely.
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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THE GIFT OF SUMMER BREAK By: Allyson Tufts - Author, Speaker, and Passionate Hockey Mom Can you believe it’s August already and Summer is flying by? The sun is shining and my winter coats are finally packed away. I love these days when supper moves from the kitchen to the back deck and flip flops are the footwear of choice. For many parents summer means a break, a break from making school lunches, from signing the neverending forms that come home in the backpack, and a break from that dreaded schedule on the fridge. In some cases, this also tends to be a time when we as parents are trying desperately to plan the perfect summer vacation. There is nothing more stressful than trying to plan a fun getaway that your kids will enjoy that doesn’t have you going bankrupt in the process. When I was growing up my parents rented a small cottage on a little lake every year. Each cottage around us was filled with cousins that we’d wait all year to see for two weeks. It was a place to go to swim, catch frogs, play man hunt, and a place where the fridge schedule was nowhere to be found. Unfortunately, it was also a place with no running water and an outhouse. My Mother used to always say that for her, summer vacation was also a time to sit back, relax, reflect, and be thankful for the highs and lows of the last year. When I think of her raising nine kids and managing our school, hockey, and ball schedules I’m sure she had very little time to reflect on anything. I smile at the thought of her finally reaching that little old cottage on the first day of summer break. I can see the car door open and all of us running away in every direction. The moment when she sat on the end of the dock, feet dangling in the water, sun beating down on her face, whispering thank you to the air for another successful school year full of moments to cherish. As I sit typing away on my laptop on our dock at the cottage that smells like old wood and sunshine, I can’t help but think of all I’m thankful for. In our case hockey and baseball created amazing friendships for our family. I often wonder if we would have ever met these incredible people had we not stood next to them to cheer on our kids at the ball diamond or shivered next to them in the rink. Would I have known all these great ladies if we hadn’t sold raffle tickets together for our team’s fundraisers? Would my son have had such a bond with these boys had they not been teammates for so many years? Would my daughter have known these incredible girls who cheered her on, teaching her that it’s way more fun to build other females up than it is to tear them down? More importantly, would my husband and I have had the time with our kids that sports provided had it not been for these incredible moments.
Then it occurs to me, I guess if I’m going to look back and reflect on all I’m thankful for it wouldn’t hurt to reflect on what I could have done differently. Perhaps I shouldn’t have stood up and yelled “RUN!” when my daughter hit a fowl ball. Maybe yelling at the ref when he gave my son a penalty wasn’t the way to go either. So as the waves crash the side of the dock I tell myself, next season I’ll be better, next season I won’t put wine in my coffee cup, and next season I won’t make their experience about me. So, from one hockey, baseball, soccer, and dance Mom to another I wish you an incredible summer with your family. As my Mom used to say in that little old cottage that smelled like old wood and sunshine, “Take the summer to reflect back on the past year and be thankful for the moments it gave you.” Written by Allyson Tufts www.lessonsfrombehindtheglass.com This article is the property of Allyson Tufts and is not to be used or changed without her permission.
Watch the video here https://youtu.be/226paOOzLx0
Buy the book at Amazon https://www. amazon.ca/LESSONSBEHIND-GLASSJourney-Hockey/ dp/1686333498
Check out Allyson’s video on YouTube - Allyson Tufts: Lessons From Behind the Glass
Visit LessonsFromBehindTheGlass.Com
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DUKES SEASON TICKET DRIVE To Help Support New Hospital Build
By: Kelly Martin – Director of Sales & Marketing/ Wellington Dukes Jr A Hockey Club
Top Row L-R - Don Cotton - Dukes Assistant GM, Jim Dunlop, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet Member, Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet Co-Chairperson, Rob Ridgley - Dukes General Manager, Don Boucher - Dukes Sales Manager, Derek Smith - Dukes Head Coach Bottom Row L-R - Shannon Coull, Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation, Jacob Vreugdenhill Dukes 21-22 Player, Cole McGuire Dukes 21-22 Player, Kelly Martin - Dukes Director of Sales & Marketing
Purchase a season ticket package for the Wellington Dukes and help Back the Build for a new County hospital WELLINGTON, July 14, 2021 – The building of a new hospital in Prince Edward County is taking another step forward with season ticket sales for a local hockey club. But it’s up to the fans to help score a winning goal. The 2021/22 season ticket sales campaign for the Wellington Dukes is now underway and it comes with a sportsmanlike request: to help Back the Build for the new County hospital. The Dukes have relaunched a fundraising pledge brought forth last year that was stalled due to COVID-19. This year, the team is aiming to sell over 1,000 season tickets for the 2021/22 Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) regular season. Over the next few seasons, the organization hopes to sell enough tickets to be able to donate $20,000 from the ticket drive to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation to help Back the Build for a new hospital. PECMHF and the Dukes both share common goals directed toward building a vibrant and healthy future for the County’s hospital and the people of the County. “Last season we had the pleasure of starting to work with PECMHF on this special initiative. This year, as we return to hockey in the Duke Dome, we will be able to shine a light on the new hospital campaign. Having a new hospital will benefit so many people in Prince Edward County and surrounding communities,” said Kelly Martin, director of marketing for the Wellington Dukes. “When we were deciding which charity to partner with last year, selecting the foundation fulfilled our prerequisite of partnering with an organization that benefits the entire population of PEC. This was very important to the Dukes to help give back to the community that helps support us each season.”
the County. This donation will also be matched 2:1 by the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation tripling the impact resulting in $60,000 to help with the campaign. What better way to help build our new hospital than to enjoy a season of great hockey at the Duke Dome!” The Wellington Dukes are offering an affordable, family-friendly way to see your favourite junior hockey players this season. Adult season tickets are priced at $280 per seat while senior season tickets are $240. The Dukes and Total Sports Quinte are also offering a “corporate combo special” that combines advertising in Total Sports Hockey Season Preview edition in the fall with a ticket package allowing businesses the opportunity to utilize their tickets as promotional giveaways to their clients and employees. The hockey club will also be out and about in the community over the summer months at local events and farmers’ markets selling tickets and promoting the fundraising ticket drive. “This fundraising ticket drive is something we’re pretty excited about,” said Martin. “The community is anxious to support the team again. If the fans are willing to get behind us and support the team as they prepare to take the ice, why wouldn’t we be willing to pay it forward and support the future of health care delivery in the County?” “Giving back makes our community a better place for families to raise their kids, for businesses to thrive, and for our elderly to retire with comfort and dignity. We are so excited about this partnership with the Dukes who are leading by way through this commitment to help Back the Build. This partnership is truly a win-win as residents of and visitors to the County will benefit from having local access to medical services and treatments in a new, leading-edge facility,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chairperson.
With the return of fans into the arena this coming fall, the timing is perfect to become a season ticket holder knowing your investment in the Dukes is also helping build our community’s new hospital.
The Wellington Dukes are slated to return to play on October 1st with games every Friday night. Season tickets may be obtained by contacting Don Boucher at 613-813-3943 or Betty Masterson at 613-848-9609 or by visiting www.wellingtondukes.com or request tickets by email at dukesseasontickets@gmail.com.
“Go Dukes Go! We are excited about this partnership with this much-loved hockey team,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Your season ticket purchase will directly help the PECMH Foundation Back the Build for a new hospital in
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.
Wellington
Season Ticket
TOTALSPORTSQUINTE.CA
$20,000 to FRI
2021 OCT 15
ON FRI ellington,
ville St, W 111 Belle
OCT 1
FRI OCT 8 20 21 2021 111 Belleville St, Wellin gton, ON
7PM LEHIG H ARENA RENA 111 Belleville St, Wellington, ON HIGH A 7PM LE 7PM LEHIGH ARENA
1050 TICKETS SOLD
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50%
Photo: Tim Bates OJHL Images
Photo: Tim Bates OJHL Images
Photo: erson Ed McPh s OJHL Image
VS
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03 202122 00 Ticket # Ticket # 202122 0001
VS Ticket # 2021 22 0002
Dukes Home Game Tickets to use or give away as promotions to your customers or staff!
40% 30% 20% 10%
Corporate Ticket Special Offer • 2 Season Ticket Packages for 26 Home Games • 1 Ad in the Dukes game day program for entire season • 1 Ad on Dukes website for entire year (12 months) • Ad in Dukes Pre-season preview edition of Total Sports Quinte Magazine Print & Digital
Special Offer: $700 Plus HST if paid at time of purchase
HELP US REACH OUR GOAL OF A $20,000 DONATION HELP THE DUKES HELP THE HOSPITAL!
$60 per month plus HST if paid in installment plan
Contact: Don Boucher / Sales Manager Dukes Sports & Entertainment & Total Sports Quinte 613-813-3943 Email Donboucher300@gmail.com
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QRD & DUKES ALUMNI BEN ROGER, DRAFTED 2ND ROUND BY OTTAWA SENATORS By: Total Sports Media
The Secret behind this surprise early pick. Jeremy Benoit and Chris Longo
Wellington Dukes, which Benoit assists with part-time providing guidance and training, especially in the off-season. Ben Roger is a skilled player but has put on over 30 pounds in the last 18 months. Benoit has been a big part of that growth and has had an inside view of Roger’s development. This type of insight is key to selecting a player like this. Benoit has quickly become one of the up and coming stars in the hockey development world. During the summer workouts Benoit works closely with skating and skill instructor Chris Longo who is also the Assistant Coach with the Kingston Frontenacs. The two have created a very strong bond and working relationship that creates a unique blend of science and expertise to increase the levels of success of their young protege. Longo identifies weaknesses in the players’ stride or technique then discusses with Benoit the issues the player may be working on in the gym. By identifying these weaknesses, they work collaboratively to find the best path forward to improve on these shortcomings through a concerted effort on and off ice. Roger has definitely benefited from this interaction through his growth spurt. Photo: Amy Deroche OJHL Images
The fact that Ben Roger, a former Quinte Red Devil and Wellington Duke was drafted to the NHL comes as no surprise. The Brighton native and current London Knight was expected to go maybe late third round, but most likely in round four or five. Roger was chosen 49th overall by the Senators, some 30 plus picks ahead of expectation. First and foremost you have to appreciate the amount of work that Ben has put into training in order to put himself in this position. He has worked incredibly hard despite all of the trials and tribulations that has beleaguered many of these young players through the pandemic, especially those in Ontario. There are things behind the scenes that definitely contributed to this early selection. The uncertainty of this year’s draft because of the lack of overall views left the rankings wide open to conjecture and guessing. Players were slotted in based on views from two seasons ago in some cases which has led to more U.S. and European based players getting the call this year. Many thought that Ontario players would be left on the outside looking in, but Roger had an advantage. Jeremy Benoit and Chris Longo. Jeremy Benoit is the strength and conditioning coach of the AHL Belleville Senators and works very closely with the Ottawa scouting team. Jeremy has been working with Roger since his days with the
Derek Smith, Head Coach of the Wellington Dukes coached Roger and has been a part of his successful development. “Ben has a great mind for the game as he processes and sorts at a high level, but the commitment he has put into his strength and conditioning both in the gym and on the ice has paid huge dividends on his development over the past couple of years. He is committed to pushing the limits everyday.” said Smith. In June, a group of OHL players who were disgruntled with the OHL shutdown and the lack of opportunity afforded to them through the pandemic, organized a showcase of draft eligible players in Erie Pa. The PBHH showcase was quickly organized and gave these players a small window to show where they are in their development. From all accounts, Ben Roger took full advantage of this opportunity and showed very well at this event. Any time a player puts on thirty pounds in a year you are concerned that they may lose some of that agility and speed that they had.” Said one scout who wished to remain anonymous, “Roger showed that he had taken a step forward and had really put some work in through the pandemic.” Although the showcase did not provide a full view like a full season would provide, the SENS were not averse to the inherent risk. There is some risk in jumping up on Roger, which was noted by some pundits surprised by the early pick, but the Senators had a direct line of sight through Benoit to know that Roger ticks off the boxes of work ethic, athleticism and character. Congratulations to the Roger family and a tip of the hat to Jeremy Benoit and Chris Longo.
Restaurant Equipment, Industrial Cleaning Supplies & Equipment TrentValleyDistributors.com
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QUINTE WEST YOUTH CENTRE Offers Non-traditional Sports
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Traditional sports don’t appeal to all youth, which is why the Quinte West Youth Centre in Trenton takes a different approach. The QWYC is celebrating 10 years this fall and offers programs for youth between the ages of 10-18 such as cooking, art, wellness, sports, photography, video games and more. “We were originally opened because a group of social workers came together and recognized there was a need for a safe place for our youth to come after school to just hang out as well as get some positive mentorship,” said executive director Jessica Coolen. “They created a youth centre and it has been a huge success.” Coolen said it’s a youth-led centre, meaning programs and activities are planned around the youth that attend and the needs that they have. “We get a lot of youth who come in who just need help to learn how to socialize and we get a lot of youth who want to be physically active, but they come from a family that can’t necessarily afford to put them into sports,” Coolen remarked. Coolen loves the QWYC’s TASAR (Team, Activity, Sports and Recreation) program. The non-traditional sports involved include bubble soccer, archery tag, rollerblade ball hockey, Quidditch (from Harry Potter), garbage can ping pong (participants are divided into teams and aim to get ping pong balls into the opposing team’s garbage can) and water slip ‘n slide. Unique versions of basketball have also been played. “We created that program because we do see a lot of different demographics and different interests within our centre and we wanted to be able to bring the opportunity of different ways of being physically active to show that you can still be active and have fun all while being healthy,” Coolen said. “Once you bring in a unique way of playing, they’re like ‘oh this is really fun’ so we’re still getting them to be active while having fun. That’s what I love most about our TASR program, it gets the kids who normally don’t want to play, to play.” Getting the youth to be physically active is a great benefit, but there’s so much more to the program as well. “We’re also teaching them team-building skills, leadership skills, communication skills and problem-solving skills,” Coolen said. “We’re like a second home. We teach them, without them even realizing that we’re teaching them, so it’s a fantastic opportunity.” The QWYC also provides youth with nutritious meals and healthy snacks. Currently the centre is open for in-person programs Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 to 5 p.m. COVID-19 restrictions remain in place and the centre can only accommodate 25 people. During the pandemic, the centre has also held some virtual programs. “I’m hoping by this fall we’ll be able to open in person full-time,” Coolen said.
On Aug. 7, the QWYC held its first Route for Youth Car Rally, which is hoped to become an annual event. The route began at St. Paul Catholic Secondary School in Trenton and the car and motorcycle entries traveled around Prince Edward County in a poker run style format. “We created the idea of this route to allow proper social distancing, but as well it’s a great opportunity for everyone who loves to ride their motorcycle or their vintage cars to get out of the house and have a great day outdoors as well as having an opportunity to support our Centre,” Coolen said prior to the event.
Check out www.quintewestyouthcentre.ca for future fundraising events and how youth can become members.
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9U QUINTE ROYALS Showing Huge Potential
By Chad Thompson - Head Coach 9U Quinte Royals Left to right - Front Row Ryerson Miller, Xaiver Carrier, Kohen Couperus, Preston Martin, Logan Thompson 2nd Row Jack Seeney, Mason Haggar, Jillian Bell, Griffin Van Gemeren, Carter Madill, Micheal Ampueto Back Row Head Coach Chad Thompson, Assistant Coach Todd Haggar, Assistant Coach Roch Carrier, Assistant Coach Ivan Ampueroa Absent Nolan Bell
This 9U Quinte Royals team is showing huge potential and promise for Quinte baseball for years to come. This team is made up of 12 players from all parts of the Quinte area including Trenton, Belleville, Frankford, Stirling, Shannonville and Prince Edward County. After only playing a handful of games in 2020 they were excited and eager to get back on the field this season. This group of talented young individuals practised hard and have grown in leaps and bounds in a short period of time. These kids have grown as a team but more importantly as a group of friends. It’s been amazing to see how this group of baseball players have come in such a short period of time. They all have their positions they like to play, however they have adapted to other positions with ease which makes them that much harder to play against.
Not all these games went the way they wanted and how they thought but this group has no quit and the record shows. The only loss they had was a great stepping stone to show these kids what happens when you don’t quit. After the 2nd inning they were down and out and then the bats came alive and each inning they just kept plugging away and came up 1 run short from making a complete comeback. The month of August will be a busy but fun month of baseball as the 9U Quinte Royals will be participating in the August Madness tournament as they have their sights set on a provincial championship. Round 1 began for this group August 6 as they traveled to Clarington followed by back to back double header days on the 7th and 8th in Pickering and finish up on August 14th back at home in Trenton.
When it comes to the offensive side of the game this team is plain scary! Every single player has the ability to hit for extra bases, and on most occasions they do. In the month of July, they played teams from Kawartha, Whitby, Pickering, and Northumberland and ended the month with an incredible record of 11 wins and 1 loss.
The results from these games will determine when and where Round 2 will take them. Stay Tuned!
In their first 12 games they have shown that even when times are hard, as a group, they can pull together and make things happen.
Visit QuinteRoyalsBaseball.Com
613.394.7056
BE LOUD, BE PROUD AND HAVE FUN and nothing will stop this group of young athletes.
6 Foster Stearns Rd. Trenton, ON
www.mysticaldistributing.com
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NEWMAN INSURANCE - Summer is here are your toys covered? By: Newman Insurance
Summer is an increasingly busy time for all us, including your insurance brokerage. If you have a toy, or plan on purchasing one, you should consider contacting your broker as soon as possible to get the ball rolling, so you’re not stuck waiting. It can be confusing, not being aware of what can be insured on an exiting policy & what requires a new one.
We recommend a policy specifically for your trailer needs. This can cover your contents, fire, theft, liability, a parked unit, an RV unit etc. Your broker will know the best way to insure the vehicle, be sure to know the value of your trailer.
Things we can insure under your home policy Many items such as, bicycles, kayaks, canoes, and golf clubs are covered under your home policy as personal contents; however, dependent upon your policy, some companies have special limits for these items (special limits is a specific monetary amount they will pay out in the event of a claim on particular items). The best way to maximize coverage and lower deductibles on these special interest items we recommend scheduling, and itemizing them specifically on your policy for replacement cost. Things that need their own policy Though it is possible to add a boat to your home policy, there are specific rules and limits that must be followed. Dependent upon the value of the boat, what waters you travel, size of motor and length of boat we recommend a watercraft policy, which may or may not have certain warranties that must be followed. This ensures that the boat is insured accurately, and is on a separate policy, thus, if a claim is to be made it will not go against your home insurance. A watercraft policy can be for a bass fishing boat, a pontoon boat, sailboat, yacht, Seadoo, etc. ATV’s, these can be added to your regular auto policy as long as the company your insured with accepts the risk, most companies write ATV’s, but it does depend on specific models, how long you’ve been licensed can be a factor, the amount of cc’s displaced by the vehicle.
Classic or antique vehicles are incredibly unique, just like the policies that insure them. While the insurance is quite inexpensive it does limit your allotted annual km, because you’re not going to drive your 1969 Corvette Roadster in the winter. Bring us your appraisal, show off some pictures, and we can set up a policy for your new baby! How to make the new business procedure go smoothly Having all of the information we require can speed up and smooth out a process very quickly, notable information required include your pleasure craft licence, the value of your purchase, the identification numbers, and financer information if applicable is always helpful, and a void cheque. If you’re not sure what will be needed, a quick call or email can save you a lot of time, and make sure you’re able to get your purchase on time. Other insurance to consider We live in an area with a lot of fairs, and fun things to do, if you’re an Entrepreneur, or an avid DIY’er, you may want to consider vendor coverage to cover yourself & your merchandise while at a vendor show.
Trailers travel or otherwise, can be insured either on a home policy or an auto policy. Each has their own implications.
Liquor liability, wedding insurance, home, auto, commercial, and if you don’t already have it, Life insurance! We are a full functioning brokerage and can easily help you with all of your insurance needs. We look forward to working with our clients and meeting new ones!
For more information please visit us at www.newmaninsurance.ca
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We’ve got your insurance game plan.
9 ONTARIO LOCATIONS
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Through Covid-19 and Always, I am on Your Team Growing up, I found many heroes in the realm of professional and high-level amateur sport. As we bask in the glow of fresh Canadian triumphs at the recent Tokyo Olympics, I suspect that is still the case for many youth today. Living in Bay of Quinte and representing its citizens at Queen’s Park, however, I have an ever-growing appreciation of a different type of hero - many of whom I am pleased to call my friends. The hard work and self-sacrifice Canadian Armed Forces members and their families exhibit as part of a team effort to defend Canada and the values it stands for are worthy of our gratitude. Thank you for what you do.
We’re fortunate that some of these leading members of the CFB Trenton team are able to balance that duty with efforts to enhance our community through sport – as athletes, as coaches, as administrators, and supporters of the game and the players. I’m pleased that this special edition of Total Sports Quinte is highlighting those contributions with a selection of interesting personal stories. As MPP, I strive to be the best teammate I can be for all my constituents, including those with new postings stepping into this beautiful area for the first time. My office is ready to assist with any inquiries about provincial programs or services.
Todd Smith MPP, Bay of Quinte
MPP
Photo: OJHL Images Andy Corneau
5503 Hwy 62 S (Rossmore Plaza) 613-962-1144 toddsmithmpp.ca covidsupports.ca/bayofquinte
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SPORTS AT CFB TRENTON SPECIAL FEATURE
Bring your family ... bring your friends ... There’s a whole lot happening in sports at CFB Trenton
www.cafconnection.ca/Trenton
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CFB TRENTON SPORTS Loaded with Sports Opportunities
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Sports are often a key part in any young person’s life and can continue well into adulthood. That doesn’t have to change when choosing to sign up for a career in the military. In fact, the opportunities in sport for Canadian Armed Forces full-time members and reservists are incredible.
welfare. “Military life can be super hectic and stressful on the members, so sports in my opinion provide an opportunity to escape from that fast-paced busy lifestyle,” Meeks said. “It could be a hectic day at work and you’re able to enjoy that sport that you love, get that team cohesiveness, that camaraderie.
Intersection sports give members an opportunity to play sports in a recreational way and base team sports offer a chance to represent CFB Trenton in a competitive way at a regional and national level. Elite athletes may even represent the Canadian military on national teams at CISM (International Sports Military Council) competitions.
“Intersection is more of recreation for fun with a little bit of competition and for those who want the higher competition, that’s where the base teams come in.”
While a career in the military can be challenging, sports provide an outlet to decompress, gain additional fitness and interaction with others from across the base. The intersection sports include golf as well as curling, rugby, slopitch, hockey and squash. Teams from different units square off in recreational competition. “It’s definitely an opportunity for the units to build that morale and team camaraderie and get outside the workplace and enjoy themselves,” said military sports coordinator Ryan Meeks. There is noon hour hockey at the RCAF Flyers Arena for the lower to medium skill participants. Some competitive players also take part, but assume more of a mentorship role, Meeks noted. “In the evening, we have the Wing Hockey League and that’s more competitive,” he said. Curling runs in the afternoons and is designed for recreational and competitive players to enjoy games on selected days at the Trenton Curling Club during the season. The Rugby Noon Hour League is for recreational players to head to the pitch during the lunch hour to enjoy some rugby action while also learning more about the sport. The league, which is non-contact, is played with a two-hand touch format. Slo-pitch is run in the evenings and members can register individually or as a team to compete at the RCAF ball diamonds. Squash, which is available at the South Side Gym, is available to recreational and competitive players to enjoy the sport, which is great for fitness. Recreational and competitive golfers head to the Roundel Glen Golf Course, located right on the base. It was the only sport that was able to eventually start running in the early part of summer 2021. Skill level doesn’t matter and often golfers of different skills levels are partnered with a best-ball format used. “It’s something where there’s not a lot of pressure,” Meeks said. “You’re supposed to enjoy yourself. It’s not all about the competition.” Meeks says at PSP (Personal Support Services), it’s about fun, morale and
As the military sports coordinator at CFB Trenton, Meeks is responsible for 20 base sports teams. Base sports include badminton, ball hockey, basketball, grappling, curling, golf, hockey, rugby, running, slo-pitch, soccer, squash, swimming, triathlon and volleyball. There are both men’s and women’s entries in hockey, slo-pitch, soccer and volleyball while hockey also had an oldtimer’s team. Base teams and athletes compete regionally against other bases in Ontario. “You get to go away for those four or five days and play the game,” Meeks said. “You get to connect with people you’ve served with in the past. That’s usually the first thing the members do.” Full-time CAF members often end up representing different bases during their military career due to getting posted, sometimes every three or four years. Meeks said there’s a misconception where people think being in the military requires constant relocation. Reservists, meanwhile, are part-time members who stay at the same base unless they ask for or support a move. “There’s reservist opportunities where you can stay at one base for your entire career and play sports,” Meeks said. “There’s so many opportunities to get involved and there’s new sports that are coming out and being tested.” Continued next page ....
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L-R: Corporal Daniel Veiras, Ms. Jennifer Dunn, Assistant Curator at the National Air Force Museum of Canada and Captain Stuart Ireson Grappling was new to the base sports scene a couple years ago, he said, noting there’s talk of instituting obstacle course races and powerlifting is a possibility to be added as well. Some military national championships for individual competitions are held within public events such as the Ottawa Race Weekend and Gatineau Triathlon. “It’s pretty awesome the military has a piece of that and they get to experience that with the civilian side as well,” Meeks said. For team sports, the winners of regional championships move on to compete in the national championships that include qualifying teams from four regions in Canada: Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Canada West. “Traditionally in the past it’s been at Borden, but now they’re sharing host sites,” Meeks said. “It’s definitely really good competition when you get to that level and definitely exciting. It’s good to represent your base or wing at that level.” That’s a good opportunity as well for national team coaches to see athletes from across the country to represent Canada on the world military stage. “It’s essentially the best of all military players in Canada comprising one team to compete internationally. Using basketball as an example, you have the best 12 players getting together and being able to go to places like China, Germany, Brazil (the last three hosts) to be able to compete internationally,” Meeks said.
“It’s an experience these girls and guys do not forget. It’s such a privilege to represent your country and compete with the sport you love.” One key thing to note, Meeks said, is you don’t have to be an athlete to be involved in military sports. “So many people think about playing sports and that’s all that comes to mind, but with base teams, even intersection, CISM, all those opportunities to play, there’s also opportunities to coach, to officiate and to be a trainer,” Meeks said. Interested individuals can get the required certifications to be a coach, trainer or official and have those costs covered. “Not only can they do all those three things at a local level, but they can do that at the international level as well,” Meeks said. Meeks, who is a civilian employee, recalled being surprised about the sports opportunities in the military when he joined the PSP organization. He certainly wants to promote those opportunities to the broader community and would even like to promote them more in local high schools. “I just think it’s an amazing opportunity that this is a part of your workday,” Meeks said.
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Cpl. DANIEL VEIRAS
Military Sports Reignited the Fire for Veiras By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media Growing up in the Jane and Finch area of Toronto, Cpl. Daniel Veiras joined the neighbourhood children in playing soccer, basketball and baseball. That’s what he really loved about sports at an early age. It was an opportunity to get outside and hang out with friends. Staying inside to play video games wasn’t really a thing at that time. Veiras also took any opportunity to play any sport offered in school, but not just for the enjoyment of playing. “I was on every team...basically did whatever sport I could because that meant I got to go out of class,” he says. “That was a huge motivation, for sure, but definitely the sport I stuck with and that I have most of an influence in would be soccer.” That’s not surprising, he says, considering that while his mother is Canadian, from New Brunswick, his father was born in Spain. “Being the son of a Spanish immigrant, soccer was basically a day one sport for me,” Veiras says. “That was the first sport I ever got into and it was, honestly, as soon as I could walk I was already kicking a soccer ball.” It was in high school when sports became more competitive for Veiras. There was a hunger to compete and be successful.“You really start to want to win and want to be on the best team and want to be the best athlete you can possibly be,” he says. Veiras dedicated his time to playing soccer. Playing for a Mississaugabased Dixie soccer club was his first taste of playing at a provincial level and travelling around Ontario. There were also showcase tournaments in Canada and the United States for an opportunity to play in front of scouts, which was important for the players seeking scholarships. “We won almost every tournament that we played in and there were some tough teams, especially in the States,” Veiras recalls. He went to play for teams in Vaughan and Durham. His goal was to play professional soccer, but it was a challenge without first securing a scholarship. Major League Soccer was still in its infantry and Toronto FC was just starting up, but before they had academies available. “I hit a point where reality kind of sank in and figured the chances of me going to Europe or somewhere where soccer is massive are very slim so it’s maybe time to focus more on school and focus on getting a job that I like,” Veiras said. That job, he thought, was firefighting. He was inspired by firefighters growing up as they had a great reputation in the area he lived in. Taking co-operation in his final year of high school, Veiras determined a placement at a firehall would be the ideal opportunity. His teacher swayed him in a different direction, explaining that he wouldn’t be allowed to be on the trucks or go out on calls. He would mostly be cleaning at the station. His teacher suggested a placement with the military to get some basic training and earn his final credits, plus there would be no commitment to stay beyond high school. Veiras took that advice and loved the placement so much that he continued on, starting his military career as an infantry reservist with the 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto. “I thought when I joined it was just going to be ‘alright, get my credits, get the experience to put on the resume and leave’ but I stayed in the reserves for seven years,” he says. That tenure lasted from 2010 to 2017. It was in the final few years that Veiras learned firefighting was a position in the military. He completed his firefighting training at Humber College and put in a military transfer for full-time firefighting and got posted to Trenton. Veiras had no idea that competitive soccer was about to become a big part of his life once again. He wasn’t aware of the sports opportunities in the military until he was about to join full-time. He recalls being at Denison Armoury in Toronto, the headquarters of 4th Canadian Division, Joint Task Force Central and the 32 Canadian
Brigade Group. There was drop-in soccer on Wednesdays and Fridays. “It wasn’t super-competitive, but it was fun and I got to meet a lot of people who were in the military,” Veiras says. Veiras noticed one very talented player who later introduced himself as Jermaine Burrell. He wondered how long Veiras had been in the military and told him “we could’ve used you in Oman.” Veiras wasn’t sure what that meant, but learned it was the 2017 CISM (International Military Sports Council) World Football Cup tournament. Prior to competing in Muscat, Oman, Burrell had travelled with the Canadian team to Texas for a two-week training camp. Burrell was encouraged to get in touch with the Canadian team staff. He also learned about the base team sports to compete provincially and nationally. “It was mind-blowing. I had no idea,” Veiras says. “I thought my days of playing soccer were over once I joined the military.” His first opportunity to play base sports came while he was completing some training at CFB Borden. The team didn’t win the regional tournament of Ontario bases, but he still moved on to compete at the national soccer championship that year. “The winning team of the tournament is able to pick up three players from other bases to play in nationals,” Veiras said. “Trenton picked me and I played with them at nationals and that’s when I met the coach of the CISM team.” Veiras attended training camps, most of which were held in Kingston and Ottawa and he earned a roster spot with the Canadian team that would compete at the 2019 CISM Military World Games in Wuhan, China. He joined the team for the final training camp in Germany, but that’s where his journey ended. “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go to China because I got injured in the training camp in Germany, but they went and from what I heard and what I saw it looked like a blast,” Veiras says. “It looked like the Olympics. They built a whole athletes village and everything.” In hindsight, Veiras now recognizes Royal Military College in Kingston would have been a great option to play sports and get an education. He didn’t realize all the career options available in the military. Still, he’s loving life as a firefighter and he has started a new job with the Toronto Fire Department and has returned to the reserves with the 48th Highlanders. He’s excited to continue playing base sports there and hopes to continue with the Canadian CISM team as well. “Reservists can play with base teams and with the CISM team as well. I had no idea,” he says. “For seven years I was in the reserves and I had no idea that base teams even existed.” Firefighting is an ideal career for Veiras as he can relate it to his sports background. “Growing up playing on teams my entire life, the camaraderie is something I can’t live without anymore,” he says. “Just from being exposed to being a part of teams my entire life, it’s been such a huge part. I’ve always been surrounded by friends, highly-skilled team members just working together towards a common goal. That’s something I just find so much satisfaction in.”
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CFB TRENTON POND HOCKEY This year the CFB Trenton Pond Hockey Classic will be celebrating it’s 10th year! Since this event started it has raised a total of $422,000 for Wounded Warriors and the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Celebrating 10 Years To stay informed visit: @trenton_phc
@trentonPondHockeyClassic
HockeyForTroops.com
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Cpt. ELLIE JOHNSTON
Relishes Opportunity to Represent Canada By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media Cpt. Ellie Johnston has taken full advantage of the opportunities to play sports at a high level in the military. Basketball has been a longtime favourite sport of hers and she continues to excel as a member of Canada’s CISM team. In recent years she has also played soccer, squash and hockey at a regional and national level. “The best part about playing sports in the military community is that even when you’re playing against other bases or regions, at the end of the day we are all on the same team,” Johnston, a search and rescue navigator in the Canadian Armed Forces, says. “The sports community is an incredible place to meet new people, make new friends and build your network of fellow CAF members.” Basketball meant a lot of Johnston in her younger years. Growing up in a military family, home was always changing. She lived in Canadian cities like Halifax, Ottawa and Winnipeg and U.S. states such as Ohio and New Mexico. “As a young person moving around as part of a military family, basketball was great for meeting new people and finding my tribe when I arrived in a new city,” Johnston says, noting she met most of her best friends through the sport. “Basketball is a very cerebral game and requires both physical and mental abilities. I love how fast-paced it is and the requirement to constantly make decisions and react to what is going on around you. “Basketball is a lot like life, in that there is a lot that is out of your control and it’s up to you how you react. I credit basketball with teaching me so many of the important life lessons that helped shape me into the adult I am today. Basketball teaches decision making and decisiveness, adaptability, athleticism, confidence and of course time management.” In addition to playing basketball during the colder months and outside playing soccer during the warmer months, Johnston also started training in Shotokan karate when she was eight. She considers karate an incredible way to learn more about the world, in this case Japanese culture and respect. At the end of each class, all students would recite the Dojo Kun, which state the five training principles of Shotokan karate: seek perfection of character; be faithful, endeavour, respect others and refrain from violent behaviour. “I have always been up to try new things and to challenge myself in new ways. I love the process of figuring things out,” Johnston, who earned a black belt in Shotokan karate, says. “Karate taught me discipline, it taught me the importance of listening attentively and most of all it helped me learn to master my emotions. You learn to channel your energy and to react logically and not emotionally to the world as it occurs around you. I believe learning to control your body and mind and to learn selfdefence are really great skills that everyone can benefit from.” Johnston’s first military sports experience came at the university level when she was recruited to play for the Royal Military College women’s basketball team in Kingston. She hadn’t considered the military as a career option, but liked the opportunity to play sports while gaining an education that was paid followed by guaranteed employment. Her dad was an air navigator in the CAF, a fascinating career that he loved including living and travelling around the world. “While I hadn’t given too much thought to it, I was open to the idea that it might be something I would enjoy,” Johnston, now 28, says. “I also have an older sister, so I knew how expensive university can be and I thought it sounded like a really good deal. I had no idea the priceless lessons I would learn along the way.” RMC was a smaller university and her team wasn’t the most competitive, but she doesn’t consider that to be a negative. She gained life skills from her time at RMC and says hard work through the ups and downs make for a positive experience in the end. “I think I learned more from being on a losing team than I ever have from being on a winning team. RMC is consistently the underdog school for most sports, but I really enjoyed my time there and the friendships I made that will last a lifetime,” Johnston says. “Many of my RMC
teammates are now my teammates on the Canadian Forces military national team. It’s pretty incredible to get to be reunited with so many of my closest friends and get to represent Canada on the world stage.” Johnston arrived at 424 Squadron at CFB Trenton in 2016 following a stint at 442 Squadron in Comox and career course for a year in Winnipeg. She wasn’t aware of the regional and national military programs while at RMC, although the CISM women’s basketball team didn’t yet exist when she graduated from university in 2014. She did have the opportunity to practice with men’s teams at different bases, but had no idea the opportunities that would lie ahead. Johnston has represented Canada in basketball at the Women’s World Cup in Warendorf, Germany in 2018 and at the 7th CISM World Games in Wuhan, China in 2019. The international events for 2020 and 2021 were either postponed or cancelled, but she can’t wait to return to training and competing at the national level. “The opportunity to wear a jersey with Canada on the front is something that will never get old for me. I am filled with so much pride and gratitude whenever I have an opportunity to represent my country,” Johnston said. “The motto of CISM is, “Friendship Through Sport” and it really is such an incredible experience to get to compete against other countries and to learn from one another. I have heard it said that the international language is math, but I would argue that it’s actually sport. It’s so fascinating how each nation learns the sport in their respective country and their respective language and we are able to come together and play against one another and how we are able to communicate with people that don’t speak the same language. You can have a game where it’s Canada against China and the referees are from France and Germany, but we are all operating with the same rules and we all can successfully communicate despite not speaking each others’ languages.” Johnston has also enjoyed playing on base teams in Trenton, including for hockey and squash. Just like in her younger years, learning is an opportunity for growth. “I learned to play hockey a few years ago and loved the opportunity to challenge my body in new ways and learn to really skate,” she says. “Squash has been a sport that I have always enjoyed as cross-training for basketball, it helps with hand eye coordination, footwork, and is great for cardio. I have also played slopitch for the Trenton base team. As an athlete and someone that loves to compete, I try to vary my experiences as much as possible and learn from everyone I meet.” Johnston has taken her love for sports into the Quinte community, coaching with the Belleville Spirits basketball program for the past four years. “I love being able to give back to the community and to help teach young girls some of the valuable life skills basketball taught me,” Johnston says, noting she also referees youth basketball and is even a FIBA official. Johnston is grateful for all of these experiences in sport. Competing, especially on the national stage, but with the base teams as well and coaching the younger athletes. “How lucky am I that part of my job is travelling the world, playing the sport I love, and representing my country,” she says. “I feel so extremely honoured and so fortunate for the opportunities I have had.”
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Maj. WHALEN CHARTS OWN PATH TO SUCCESS By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media Maj. Amanda Whalen was interested in joining the military when she was 16, but the process seemed long and frustrating at that time. Royal Military College wasn’t considered an option because she wanted to play university hockey and there was no women’s team at the Kingston-based school. Whalen grew up in Sarnia and played hockey, softball, volleyball, basketball and soccer, although the latter wasn’t her favourite. She was fortunate to have supportive parents who encouraged to pursue any sport that interested her. “Eventually as I got older and into high school I had to focus a little bit more and I just ended up playing a lot more hockey and softball in the summer,” Whalen says. Whalen, a goaltender, went on to play four years of varsity hockey at Carleton University in Ottawa as she studied aerospace engineering. She didn’t give up on her aspirations of joining the military, though, and during her second year Carleton made her way into the recruiting office in Ottawa and completed the process. Whalen was able to get into the Regular Office Training Program (ROTP), which gives young Canadians an opportunity to obtain both an officer’s commission in the Canadian Armed Forces and an undergraduate degree. That enabled her to complete her education at Carleton and have it paid for. “I was just like any other student. It was awesome,” Whalen says. “The commitment came mainly in the summers and there would be the odd meeting you had to go to through the year, but for the most part I was just any other student until summer came and then you went and did training or any other courses that you had to take.” Whalen was able to complete her pilot training after university. She had on-the-job training in Cold Lake, Alberta and then spent time in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan before getting posted to Trenton in 2015. It was in Cold Lake where she realized the sports opportunities available in the military and took full advantage of the opportunity to compete. There wasn’t a women’s hockey team in Moose Jaw, but Whalen did get to practice with the men’s team and also compete at small-base tournaments. Opponents were from smaller bases like Shilo, Manitoba or NORAD from Colorado Springs. “We were fortunate enough to win it one year out there and I got to play in net and play against the men, which I think was pretty good for my game,” she says. “I definitely had to pick up the speed a little bit, which I thought was a nice challenge and a lot of fun.” While the speed of shots was challenging, the biggest test were the releases. “Some of the girls can shoot just as hard, but the release isn’t as fast so you have more time to prepare whereas the men I find they can get such a hard shot off so quickly,” Whalen says. Whalen, who also plays recreational intersection hockey, has found success with the Trenton base women’s hockey team. The group has won a number of regional tournaments and was the runner-up at the national championships in 2017 and 2019. “When I started in the military, specifically the women’s game was not very challenging having come from university (hockey). It just wasn’t there yet,” Whalen says. “To watch how quickly it’s grown and I think it’s reflective of the women’s game in general just getting better. The competition has just gotten so much better.”
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Whalen has also had success in sports outside of the hockey rink, racking up accomplishments in running. That was surprising to her considering she had never previously competed in track and field or cross-country in school. “I didn’t pick up running until much later in life,” she says. “I never ran in high school other than if I was training to stay in shape for another sport.” Running was something she did more often following graduation from university. Hockey was done and that left a void in her schedule. “I was so used to being on the ice every day and training every day for hockey and then it ends. You’re not training at that level anymore,” Whalen says. Even with ice time available at military bases, it wasn’t the same as training every day as part of a competitive team. “I was just looking for a way to stay in shape so I started running and got really into it.” she says. That was around 2011. There was similar motivation when Whalen took big strides in her running in 2016, following a specific training plan. She had given birth to her first daughter and decided on training for a half-marathon with the goal of getting back into shape. There was no expectation of qualifying for the CAF National Running Championship, but that’s exactly what happened. She needed a qualifying time of 1:40:00 and squeaked in with about a 1:39:00. Whalen figured if she qualified, she might as well go. The military national championship results are taken from participation in the Ottawa Race Weekend. She placed second in her division to claim the silver medal. “It was totally unexpected. I trained hard, but I think there was a lot in my favour that day,” Whalen says. “It was really hot and humid and I had been training in Ontario where it is hot and humid and I think some of the other runners weren’t as prepared for that. Just one of those days where things fall into place for you a little bit.” Meanwhile, she improved on that result in 2019, winning a gold medal in the half-marathon for CAF running nationals. She had her second daughter the previous year. It was another great day, but Whalen says running is a sport where even if you have a bad day, the work you put into training can make up for it. That wasn’t always the case in hockey, she says, adding you can prepare and train but sometimes the team just isn’t good enough. “With running, if you train and train and train and you’re smart about what you eat and you’re healthy, even if you don’t have your best day you’re probably still going to have a pretty good day,” Whalen says. “I like that it’s so much on you and what you put into it so it’s rewarding when you see it pay off.” Whalen does consider the half-marathon “the most useless distance to run I think in the military because from nationals if you’re good enough you can make one of the CISM teams like the 5K team or the full marathon team, but there’s no half marathon team or 10K.” While she hasn’t been able to compete in the past couple of years, Whalen continues to train and has her goal set to run a full marathon. “That’s what I’m training for right now,” she says. “It’s just getting the distance up, but the last half I ran was in 2019 in the fall and I ran one of my better times and I felt really strong. I felt like I could’ve gone further, but the race was over.” Until then, she’ll keep training and cheering on her daughters who are now in soccer and skating.
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MCpl. BEN LANGLEY An Empowering Athletic Pursuit
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media Weightlifting has proven to be a powerful sport for MCpl. Ben Langley in work and in life. Langley, based at CFB Trenton, is a C-17 loadmaster for military aircrafts and requires a lot of hauling and lifting. “I don’t get tired when I’m lifting things,” Langley quips. His background in powerlifting has also proved beneficial when travelling as part of the air force. He loves to go to local gyms to work out and take in the culture. Some countries focus strictly on bodybuilding while others enjoy a variety of workout tecahniques, including crossfit. Langley has enjoyed visiting gyms in Scotland, England, Ireland, Romania, Germany, Senegal, Niger and more, including the United States and Canada of course. “It’s really cool when you travel the world and you go to these local gyms and you see what the gyms are trying to do and you get to meet new people. Mentally, that’s one thing I always look forward to and that’s why I was able to stay so consistent,” Langley says. “It’s a lot of fun going into these local places, places where I don’t even speak their language and yet we can kind of communicate in terms of weightlifting.” Langley was born in Brandon, Manitoba and grew up in a military family, eventually graduating high school in Winnipeg. He wasn’t big into sports, but did give wrestling a try in his later years of elementary school when his family was living in Alaska. “I was just kind of curious so I did it and enjoyed it and then I continued wrestling until after high school,” Langley says. His training paid off in the form of competition success, including winning provincial championships in Manitoba at ages 16 and 18. After graduating from high school, Langley had an uncertain future. Joining the military wasn’t an option he considered or was interested in. That changed when his father received a post in Oklahoma and Langley, 19 at the time, would be staying behind. “One thing led to another and I walked into a recruiting office and that was the start of my career,” he says. “It’s been a really good decision so far. I’m enjoying it.” Langley, now 28, was posted to Trenton in 2017 after starting his career in Winnipeg. He was “clueless” to the amount of sports and recreation opportunities available in the military, though does recall his father playing intersection lunchtime hockey back in the day. “It’s really cool” that military members take advantage of those opportunities, he says.”There’s a lot of different sports, too, now that a lot of people can do.”
During a standard off-season when he’s not trying to reach peak form, Langley can be found training about three hours a day, five days a week. As competitions approach, his time in the gym increases to about four or five hours per day and then six. Langley had no goals when he started - “I just wanted to go in and have some fun” - but the more success he achieves, the more time he wants to be in the gym and stick to his strict regimen to compete in the squats, bench press and deadlift components of powerlifting in the 74 kilogram (163-pound) division. “My first squat I did was 420 pounds and that was at the 163-pound weight class. My first bench press was 265 pounds and my first deadlift was about 450 pounds,” Langley says. “Since then, my best squat in competition is 585 pounds, my best bench press is 370 pounds and my best deadlift is 620 pounds.” Those results came in Winnipeg at the 2020 National Championships in March of that year right before everything shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Langley was the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) 74kg champion national champion in 2019 and 2020 and also earned best lifter of the CPU. That distinction was based on pound-for-pound considerations. “They have some smarter people than me that determine the formula weight lifted to your bodyweight and it gives a coefficient,” Langley explains.“If that coefficient is higher than everybody else then you’re technically the strongest person and I ended up being the strongest person in Canada.”
Powerlifting isn’t currently an official CISM (International Military Sports Council) sport, but could be in the future. That being said, Langley has found the military to be very supportive of athletes and accommodated his desire to compete through out-of-service requests approved by his commanding officer.
Quite an incredible achievement, that’s for sure, but it doesn’t mean Langley is satisfied. It’s quite the opposite. “The higher level I go and the more I lift and the more I do, the less I’m satisfied,” he says. “I’m constantly trying to reach the next person so for awhile it was nationals. Now that I’ve done that in Canada, now I’ve opened up my horizons to the world. There’s a man who just competed at the U.S. nationals in my weight class who is now the strongest person ever in history through the sport of powerlifting through the pound-for-pound coefficient”.
Langley learned that being a competitive powerlifter was possible, even while in the military, while on a Qualification Level 3 (QL3) course in Borden, Ontario. He was 21 and still posted in Winnipeg when he started powerlifting.
“He ended up breaking the world record for the next weight category up at my weight category so now the sights are set on him. When you’re a high-level competitor, you’re never content, you’re never happy. You’re always hungry for more.”
He entered a junior weightlifting competition in Dauphin, Manitoba and won it. “I just enjoyed working out training for sports and eventually I enjoyed working out more than the sports I was training for so I stopped wrestling and everything and just continued to workout,” Langley says.
Langley was eligible to compete at the world championships this year, but opted not to. With the way the past year has gone, his training hasn’t been adequate enough to compete on the world stage. Instead, he’ll go through the process of earning his way there again by competing next year at the provincial and national championships.
Competing against civilians, Langley won another local competition as well as the provincial championship for his weight class. He went on to win the bronze medal at his first national championships. That’s when he learned he could place formal requests through the military’s Personal Support Programs (PSP), which would help cover his costs to travel and compete. He’s competed at Arnold competitions, more nationals and even the world championships in Sweden in 2018. “They’ve been very accommodating for them,” Langley says of the military.
Langley will cheer on his girlfriend Nicola as she competes at the world championships. Powerlifting is a passion they share and how they met. Looking ahead, Langley has ambitions to break the national squat record of 600 pounds and continue to improve in the other disciplines as well. “I would like to bench press 400 pounds and I would like to deadlift 300 kilos which is 661 pounds,” he says.
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CFB TRENTON FACILITIES
Community Recreation: Are Open to the Public
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media There are lots of facilities at CFB Trenton to accommodate the intersection and base sports as well as recreational opportunities. Hockey and skating takes place at the RCAF Flyers Arena, swimming is available at the RecPlex with three pools (25-metre pool, a leisure pool and outdoor pool), the South Side Gym offers two basketball courts, three volleyball courts, nine badminton courts and three squash courts. There’s strength and conditioning equipment at the RecPlex and South Side Gym as well. There are also two ball diamonds and two soccer fields on base as well as the Roundel Glen Golf Course and CFB Trenton Yacht Club. “There’s so many opportunities in addition to sports as well. The key part about that is it’s so open to the community,” said military sports coordinator Ryan Meeks. “This isn’t just a military-only site.” Members of the public are also welcome to attend regional sports competitions hosted at CFB Trenton. “It’s definitely something that’s on my radar to promote and fill our stands for our tournaments and competitions and definitely something we want the community to know that they’re welcome on our base.” That includes taking part in the recreation opportunities available when there are no longer COVID-19 restrictions. Community Recreation passes are available for purchase and include access to the facilities, except the golf course and yacht club which are considered special interest activities and are run separately. Military bookings take precedence at all of the facilities, but once those times are slotted in, community options become available. There are different price options for memberships, including discounts for Canadian Forces members and their families. “When they get a membership, it allows them access to all those facilities,” said community recreation manager Caitlin Salisbury. “If we’re running an open skate, if you have a membership you would just show your membership and you would be able to come to the open skate. “Some of the members get it specifically to use the pool and we have passes just for that too if they don’t want the full membership. That would give them access to the pool and to the strength and conditioning room.” Community recreation hasn’t been open in its usual way since before March 2020. The hope is it will be able to return to normal as 2021 continues. Salisbury said the programs are well used by CAF members, their families, veterans, foreign military members working at Trenton, civilian employees and the general community. “We have quite a spread of membership and people that come and participate in the programs,” she said. Open swims and skates are examples of scheduled events that are included in the membership, but there are also opportunities for fitness classes and skating and swimming lessons and day camps that are not included. “Separate programs that are instructor-led, those are at an additional cost,” Salisbury noted. Salisbury said it’s great to have civilian members from Trenton and area as recreation members and gives CAF members, especially those with children, the opportunity to meet new people in the community. Keep watching www.cafconnection.ca/Trenton for more details about reopening of the facilities and community memberships. Without COVID-19 restrictions, “it’s very open to the community,” Salisbury said.
Photos By A/SLt Paul Green 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer /Canadian Armed Forces
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JILLIAN WEIR
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Proud of Mohawk Heritage
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media Jillian Weir was proud to represent Canada at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Athletics Canada)
Canadian Olympic hammer thrower Jillian Weir has never lived on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, but she’s certainly proud of her heritage. Weir’s family has a diverse background, she noted during a recent interview with Total Sports. Her father Robert Weir - a three-time Olympian - is British and his parents are Jamaican while her mother Kim Armstrong is Canadian with generations of women before her coming from the Mohawk territory. “That’s where my Indigenous background comes from,” Weir remarked, adding that her great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother are Mohawk. “It’s from my mom’s side.” One of Weir’s middle names, Lydia, comes from her great-greatgrandmother Lydia Brandt, a former Tyendinaga resident. “My greatgrandmother and my great-great-grandmother were born and raised and lived there in Tyendinaga their whole lives,” Weir said. Weir is a registered member with Tyendinaga Territory and Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, but has never lived in Ontario. She grew up in California and later trained and lived in Alberta. Her mother grew up in Napanee and her grandparents later moved to Perth. She still has family in the Kingston area. Weir, now 28, embraces her Mohawk heritage and always enjoyed learning about it from her grandparents and other family members. “I feel like that instilled some strength in me and some resilience so I’m definitely proud to represent the Mohawk nation and it’s a privilege to be able to compete at the Olympics and have some representation for our Tribe on the world stage,” Weir said. Robert Weir competed in the hammer throw at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. He went on to play five seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts. During his time in Canada he met Jillian’s mother. He returned to the Olympics in 1996 and 2000 to compete in discus.“Growing up I knew my dad was an athlete, I knew he was a track coach and I spent lots of time around track and field and watching him coach and watching him compete,” Weir said. “I’ve got vague memories of my childhood. In 1996 I was only three-years-old, but our family did go to watch my dad compete in the Olympics. In 2000, I was a little bit older, seven at the time, and same thing, our family was able to go and watch my dad compete. “I have just always been around track and field and there was never a question in my mind that I wanted to pursue athletics at its highest level.”
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Funny enough, Weir’s father never taught her the hammer throw. She played water polo, basketball, softball and even joined her middle school wrestling team just because her brother did. “In school I wasn’t one of the biggest or strongest kids, I would say I was on the smaller side. Typically track and field throwers are known to be these big, strong athletes,” Weir said. “My dad never looked at me when I was younger and thought ‘Okay, she’s going to be a hammer thrower.’ He just encouraged me to play all different sports and no matter what he was happy for me to be active.” Weir excelled in shot put and discus in high school and earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon. That’s where she learned the hammer throw. “My dad looks back now and says ‘Well, if I knew you’d be this good, I wish I would’ve taught you when you were younger,’” she said. “My first Canadian national team was at the World Junior Championships and I competed in the shot put so my first international competition experience wasn’t even in the hammer throw. The hammer came later and I just got better and better and eventually I surpassed the level I was at in the shot put and discus and ended up focusing on the hammer.” Weir has now competed at several big events, including World Championships, Pan-Am Games and Commonwealth Games. She was hoping to make an impression and leave her mark at the 2017 World Championships in London, but it didn’t go her way. She didn’t register a legal throw. “That was tough because I got there and I was excited to compete and be at one of my first major global competitions and I didn’t end up getting a mark,” Weir said. “That was tough, but it didn’t stop me from wanting to continue to improve.” Her personal-best throw so far is 72.50 metres. The hammer weighs 8.8 pounds. She trained for the Olympics at the University of Missouri, where her dad is a coach and she is volunteer coach. Weir competed in Tokyo in the women’s hammer throw qualification round on Aug. 1 and placed 11th win a best attempt of 68.68 metres. She didn’t advance to the final round, but was proud to be representing the Mohawk territory. “I think representation is huge in any way so to be I think Canada’s first Indigenous hammer thrower competing at the Olympics, that in itself I want to show young Indigenous youth that you can do anything,” Weir said. “As long as you keep putting your best foot forward and you work hard, you can reach the Olympic stage or reach the highest level of whatever you want to do whether that’s in sports or education or you pick a different career path. It means a lot to be able to represent the Mohawks and the Tyendinaga Territory at the Olympics.”
110 N Front st. Belleville, ON
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SPORTS QUINTE ATHLETES OF TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TOTAL TERRITORY
INDIGENOUS PRIDE By: James McCourt
AND BASKETBALL
I was taught that the drum is the heartbeat of mother earth. It’s a rhythm that you can feel to the core of your existence. If you’ve ever visited a powwow, a longhouse or been part of a ceremony, you know what I’m talking about. The cadence, the pattern, the organization and occasionally the perceived chaos. Coincidently these are the things that I love about sport. The predictability that lies in the unpredictable. With the recent discoveries of residential school deaths, and many more discoveries still to come, Canada is waking up to what many Indigenous communities have known for a long time. The legacy of colonisation and residential schools is still felt very strongly in Indigenous communities and individuals. Years of assimilation policies have left some Indigenous people asking who am I and where do I fit in? Physical activity, games and sport have the ability to offer a context for identity formation in youth and is often used for socialization. Throughout our lives everyone is exposed to some aspect of physical activity, games and sport. This could be as simple as playing at recess, moving around your workspace or as complex as being a part of an elite sport program. Many health benefits are associated with physical activity, games and sport. Studies have shown that with Indigenous participants who are involved in physical activity, games and sport, they have improved bone density, lower blood pressure, and reduced adiposity. Studies also show that there is a positive correlation between physical activity, games and sport to social, psychological, and academic benefits. Traditionally, physical activity, games and sport have held an important place within Indigenous communities. It was used as a teaching tool about survival. This part of everyday life was often tied to the land and fostered skills that included endurance, strength and agility. It also promoted traditional values, spirituality, and medicine. Nothing embodies that more than the Creators game – Lacrosse. I once had a friend tell me that the game itself is medicine. She said playing it feeds the mind, body and spirit. I would add coaching does as well. Within an Indigenous context, physical activity, games and sport can offer a space to develop a cultural identity. It provides an opportunity to promote pride, cultural knowledge and develop personal characteristics such as, overall wellbeing, confidence, respect, belonging, self-esteem, coping skills, positive understanding of achieved success, and leadership skills. It also helps to create a foundation for movement. Traditional activities have the potential to offer Indigenous youth a sense of connection and inclusion. Despite years of attempted assimilation, many Indigenous youth are not only surviving, but are thriving. Having a strong cultural identity can serve as a buffer to the effects of colonisation and intergenerational trauma. In the Kenhteke community of Tyendinaga there are many sport programs that connect youth with culture. One such program is the Kanyen’kehá:ka Pride basketball program. This program is a basketball summer camp and was based off the Anishinabe Pride program which originated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Both programs seek opportunities to infuse culture into basketball. The creator of the Anishinabe Pride program, Jackie Anderson, describes the main goal of the program when she states “it’s really about teaching our kids about being in relationship.” Jackie explains that the Indigenous youth of the Pride program are taught about having a relationship with themselves, others and their community. The Anishinabe Pride program helps Indigenous youth identify positive and negative aspects of relationships and helps them understand the role that culture can have in developing those relationships. These lessons are taught using the Seven Grandfather teachings, through a mandatory cultural component called the Sacred Seven program.
In Kenhteke, the Kanyen’kehá:ka Pride basketball program partnered with Karihwawihson Brown and Rotinonhsyón:ni Cultural Consulting. Each day of camp is started with a cultural teaching that is continually reinforced throughout the day. Main teachings focus around the Ohén:ton Karihwatékhwen (the Thanksgiving Address), the journey of the Peacemaker and Skennen (peace and a good mind). The emphasis on culture, grounds the Indigenous athletes and aids in identity formation that seeks to support Indigenous traditions in a positive way. Like many other programs, the Kanyen’kehá:ka Pride basketball program, housed at Quinte Mohawk School, has been hit hard by Covid 19 restrictions. Summer 2019 was the last time the camp ran and organizers say they can’t wait to get young ballers in the gym again. On summer days, when the Kanyen’kehá:ka Pride basketball program is in full swing, you can step into the gym and hear the rhythmic sounds of basketballs hitting the floor. If you close your eyes, you’d swear it was the drum and the heartbeat of Mother Earth.
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TYENDINAGA MOHAWK By: Total Sports Quinte
Overview
This is a homage to the rich history of athletes that have called the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory home or have ancestral connections to the band. By no means is this a comprehensive list nor is it a list of the best or greatest athletes from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, as the history is so rich and so diverse Total Sports cannot begin to scratch the surface of so many great stories. We hope to illustrate a few that people may or may not be aware of with fairly recent successes. Total Sports would like to recognize that the athletes listed here have had tremendous success abroad which is in honour of their great athletic ancestors who may not have had the same opportunities but have allowed these athletes to stand on their shoulders to accomplish terrific things in their careers.
Ernest “Patty” Maracle
We can’t start any discussion of Tyendinaga Mohawk Athletes without talking about Ernest “Patty” Maracle. Perhaps one of the most talked about and prolific athletes from our area who never played professionally but should have. Not only was his athletic prowess legendary, it had incredible longevity. Patty excelled at fastball and hockey, playing fastball until he was 68 and hockey right up until his untimely passing at the age of 73 in 1991. A right handed pitcher excelled with a number of local teams but perhaps is best remembered from his time leading the Point Anne Cementmen who dominated provincial softball during that era. Tyendinaga Mohawk teams with Patty at the helm were almost unstoppable at tournaments across the country and into the U.S. He has left a tremendous legacy both from his exploits and through the success of his family which has a rich history of producing very talented athletes.
Norm Maracle - NHL Goalie
Norm was born in Belleville but grew up in Western Canada despite having deep family roots in Tyendinaga. Norm played his minor hockey in Calgary, which led to him being drafted by the WHL Saskatoon Blades where he played two seasons highlighted by winning the Del Wilson Trophy as the best goalie in the WHL in 199394, as well as the CHL goalie of the year. Norm was drafted by the Detroit Red wings in the 5th round, 126th overall in the 1993 Entry Draft. Norm played 18 years of professional hockey with stops in the NHL, AHL, IHL, KHL, and German leagues. Norm won a IHL Turner Cup as well as an AHL Calder Cup but perhaps next of his most memorable highlights would be winning the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. Norm unfortunately did not get his name on the Cup because of the rules around games played but his contribution was recognized by the Red Wings with a Stanley Cup Ring. Norm had a 2-0-1 record during that start with the Red Wings leading up to the cup run.
Justin Shakell - Football
Justin Shakell was a Defensive End standout over his career for the Laurier Golden Hawks of CIAU Football. Justin was a two-time OUA all-star and was nominated as All Canadian in 2003 and an inductee into the Laurier University Hall of Fame. Justin has extended his legacy as a football coach at local high schools, Eastside (Moira) and St. Theresa making a difference in the lives of local young athletes. Justin was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger Cats in the CFL and currently coaches with the Quinte Skyhawks.
A History o
Chris Brant - Hockey
Everyone knew Chris Brant was going to play hockey professionally. He was too good an athlete from such an early age that you could not deny he was going to play somewhere. Hockey was not the only sport Chris excelled at. He was a big part of the Napanee Midget Fastball team that won the Canadian Championships in the early eighties. Hockey was his passion and it took him to some distant places. After a successful OHL career playing for Sault Ste. Marie and Kingston, Chris was drafted by the Hartford Whalers in the 7th round #133 in 1985. Chris then began a professional career that spanned over 17 years, 12 teams, in four countries. Stops in the AHL and IHL led to a long career in Europe playing in Holland, Germany and the U.K. highlighted by playing for the Netherlands National Team during his time overseas.
Ben Green - Lacrosse
Ben Green grew up playing lacrosse in Tyendinaga and Kingston. Son of Jack Green, who was a pretty good athlete in his own right, was drafted first round from Tyendinaga Midgets by Peterborough Jr. A Lakers. Ben played Jr. B with the Orilla Kings who won the Ontario and Canadian Champions 1995. Ben later played Jr A with the storied Peterborough Lakers franchise and then moved on to the Orrilla franchise when they moved into the Jr A ranks. Ben went on to star with the Iroquois Nationals Junior B with his brother Jeremy Green and won silver medals at the Canadian Championship. Ben was also drafted first round, second overall in Major Series Lacrosse by the Brooklin Redmen, another franchise with a prolific history. Ben played in the Quebec Senior league winning several Quebec championships and league scoring titles over his tenure there.
Ben Maracle - Football
The Deseronto native has made a mark in USports (CIAU) football since graduating from the Kingston Grenadiers program and joining the Ottawa U Gee Gee’s. With the past year getting derailed with the pandemic, expectations are high for the traditionally strong university team. Ben has a quiet confidence as quarterback for the Gee Gee’s that was fostered with his work with Justin Shakell and former Queens player Warren Goldie. Coming in as a freshman in 2019 Ben was thrust into the limelight with the injury of the starting quarterback. Ben excelled with his opportunity that was given and hopes to build on that experience as the season kicks off again this fall.
Kendall Tabobandung Women’s Lacrosse
Kendall Tabobandung garnered a lacrosse scholarship at the perennial NCAA Division 1 contender Wagner College which is on Staten Island in New York. Kendall was a multisport athlete playing hockey and many school sports but began to focus on lacrosse as she got into high school. Playing box and field with the boys teams gave her incredible stick skills that allow her to be a dominant player in the women’s game. Her highlight thus far has been playing for Team Haudenosaunee.
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SPORTS QUINTE ATHLETES OF TYENDINAGA MOHAWK TOTAL TERRITORY
WK TERRITORY ATHLETES
of Excellence
Jeff VanHooser / GW “Bubs” VanHooser - Fastball Pitcher
Jeff Vanhooser is the nephew of GW “Bubs” VanHooser who dominated area ball diamonds in the 60’s and 70’s. Bubs was inducted into the Kingston and District Hall of Fame in 2013 and passed away in 2020 at the age of 79. A prolific pitcher with an unusual windup was legendary in multiple local and regional leagues. Nephews Jeff and Barry were mentored by Bubs who was truly a father figure for them. Jeff and Barry continued the tradition of being dominant fastball pitchers having tremendous success locally and internationally. Jeff in particular distinguished himself as a Canadian Midget Fastball Champion and then followed that up with stints in the IFC (The Pinnacle of World Championship Fastball) in Ashland, Ohio and was an Ontario Native Fastball Champion with Tyendinaga in 1992 and 94. In 1995 Jeff was a Silver medalist at the North American Indigenous Games.
OHL Hockey Players of Note
The Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory has a rich history of producing some talented hockey players over the years. There are far too many to name here but a few should be mentioned. • John (Jack) Green Guelph Biltmores 1949-50 • D.J. Maracle London Knights, Owen Sound, Kingston Frontenacs • Matt Barnhardt Sudbury Wolves • Ian “Fish” Maracle Mississauga
6 13 968 4510 CHECK YOUREYES
Players and People to Watch: • • • • •
Reese Nugent Team Iroquois Lacrosse Kaya Maracle Team Haudenosaunee Lacrosse Blake Maracle Team Iroquois Lacrosse, Kingston Frontenacs AAA hockey Otsirakatste Brant Quinte Red Devils AAA Anerahtine Green Brantford 99 AAA - Father Jeremy Green
In Conclusion
As stated from the beginning, this is a small snapshot of the rich athletic history of the Tyendinaga Mohawks. We honour the past and salute the future with this small overview of the local athletes making a name for themselves currently or those who have left their mark on the local sports scene. Total Sports is eager to cover more of these stories. If you have more information or content to submit please contact us at BOQTotalsports@gmail.com We want to hear and hope to publish your stories.
KEEP YOUR
E Y E S O N T H E
P U C K
Dr. Ryan FitzPatrick Dr. John Weido OPTOMETRISTS 208 North Park St. Belleville, ON 613-968-4510
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MY ADVENTURES WITH ROUNDBALL
By: James McCourt
Tyendinaga basketball athletes and coaches at the 2014 NAIG games in Regina Saskatchewan
I never wanted to be a basketball coach and to this day I’d probably describe myself as a football coach first. Becoming a basketball coach sort of just happened. I had always loved sports growing up. That was something that was passed down from my grandfather. He had a love for all sports. His teams always were from Toronto. The Leafs, the Jays and the Argos. Surprise, surprise, those ended up being my favourite teams as well. We would head to my grandparent’s house every Sunday and I can remember the grandkids gathering around the television to watch the Blue Jays after we had played a game of family baseball in the backyard. My cousins and I were always active and we couldn’t stop thinking of sports. I spent many hours in class dreaming of hitting a homerun, going top shelf in a game of road hockey or even thinking of what game we would be playing at recess. I’m a pretty social person and I seemed to gravitate to team sports. Setting a goal, working as a team and figuring out how we could win together. As I got older I moved from playing baseball into playing football and rugby. I absolutely loved practice. The preparation before, the time spent with teammates and the shared memories of hard work, determination and accomplishment. In my last few years of high school I had the chance to play with a regional all-star team in football as well as a city club team for rugby. I was recruited to play university football and rugby and while my university career never panned out, I was able to see what goes into an elite sports program. During University I started coaching high school football and rugby. In those early days of coaching, it was relationships with other people that fueled my desire to help them achieve their best. I met some amazing athletes, some not so amazing athletes and some great families. I always took the coaching side of it seriously and had a huge respect for the trust that families had in me to coach. In the end, I was always doing my best to help these athletes develop and become better people.
do in their warmups. Working at local camps in the summer allowed me opportunities to see how other coaches approached the teaching points of the game and helped me to hone my own coaching skills. I’ve had some amazing experiences because of coaching. When I really think about it, those amazing experiences were because of the people that I was able to share them with. The relationships that I have cultivated and the friendships that grew from a shared love of a game that’s main goal is to put a ball through a hoop. It’s funny when you think about it like that. One of my favourite experiences was being able to coach Indigenous Team Ontario at the North American Indigenous games (NAIG). This event brought over 5000 athletes together to celebrate Indigenous culture and sport. The opening and closing ceremonies are always unbelievable and the joy and pride that is felt among the athletes and coaches is very powerful. These days I have been working with the County Clippers organization based out of P.E.C.I in Picton. My own children have been involved in their basketball programs and it has been a lot of fun working with a younger generation of athletes. For me, it’s about helping athletes fall in love with being active, making connections with families and developing relationships. The Clippers organization has a strong connection to the community and it is evident in all they do. I never dreamed of the things that I could do, the places I would go and the experiences that I would share when I started coaching, but I’m glad sport was the vehicle that allowed me to experience all that I have.
Eventually I would graduate from university and become a teacher. Anyone who has any kind of athletic background and is teaching at the elementary school level is volunteered to coach anything. I’ve coached soccer, volleyball, basketball, three pitch, track and field, floorball and flag football. But I began to fall in love with coaching basketball. It offered a similar idea of coaching strategy that I had already loved about football. I started going to coaching clinics and working on developing as a coach. My approach to coaching has always been the same, I hold true to the idea that you can learn from anyone. I would talk basketball skills and strategy with anyone that was willing and I loved watching how other people ran their practices or programs. Even much later when I was coaching in the OCAA, one of my favourite aspects of recruiting was watching athletes interact with their coaches before and after games and seeing what drills they would
Jonas & Victoria McCourt getting ready for the County Clippers house league.
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QUINTE BAYHAWKS LACROSSE RETURNS
By: Joe Fee Quinte Bayhawks Lacrosse
Quinte Minor Lacrosse Association is busy preparing for their muchanticipated return to play beginning August 10th at Thurlow Fields in Belleville. After a couple false starts in the past year and a half, players are now registering, and divisions are filling up. The 2021 season will look a little different than the club’s inaugural season in 2019. With ongoing restrictions and ice going into arenas, the club is moving all play outdoors, which will be a new and exciting way for young players to discover the sport. Lacrosse is a sport that can be played both indoors and outdoors, with varying rules for each style. Indoor lacrosse (or box lacrosse) has been the most common style in Canada since it’s inception around 100 years ago to make use of hockey arenas during the spring and summer. Box lacrosse is quickly gaining popularity all over North America with some calling it a more fast-paced, upclose, and exciting version of the sport. Currently, the National Lacrosse League exists as the major North American professional lacrosse league with teams in Canada and the United States. Field lacrosse, played outdoors, has been the style of play most common in the United States, being part of NCAA competition for about 50 years and steadily gaining popularity at colleges across the country. The Premier Lacrosse League debuted in 2019 as the major North American field lacrosse league. Field lacrosse is also gaining popularity at Canadian universities, with the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association holding championships in late fall each year. Traditionally, lacrosse has been a game played by indigenous tribes in North America for hundreds of years. Many of the game’s top players have indigenous roots, and there is a long tradition of the sport with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and its current minor organization Tyendinaga Thunderbirds. The mission of Quinte Minor Lacrosse is to provide our local youth with the opportunity to play Canada’s National Summer Sport
recreationally as a great way to stay active, meet new friends, and have fun, while also offering the opportunity for players to develop to a higher level of play with ambitions of playing at a college and professional level. The club also aims to introduce the cultural aspects of the sport, including its indigenous heritage. The 2021 QMLA recreational season will run Tuesdays and Thursdays for seven weeks beginning August 10th and culminating with the league finals on September 25th. Players can expect some skill development and minimum of five games. Teams will be small to allow players to get the most out of their field time with games played in a 3v3 or 4v4 format. Into the fall and over the winter, the QMLA will also be busy preparing their 2022 program which will include lots of opportunity for players to develop their skills and engage in game play. The standard spring recreational box lacrosse league is expected to return, along with more opportunities to play the sport including a competitive box lacrosse program, as well as recreational and competitive field lacrosse programs throughout the year. In the past, Quinte Minor Lacrosse has offered a winter skills program with professional players and coaches, which it intends to continue in the upcoming season. The Quinte Minor Lacrosse Association attracts players from the entire Quinte region. The goal is to provide players with the opportunity to play in their local community on a team that participates in the Quinte Recreational Lacrosse League. Players from Belleville, Stirling, Quinte West, Prince Edward County and all other communities in and around the region are invited to check out Quinte Bayhawks Lacrosse and see what all the excitement is about! Information on Quinte Bayhawks Lacrosse can be found on their website http://quintelacrosse.com or you can contact them at quintelacrosse@gmail.com.
Visit QuinteLacrosse.Com
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SARAH CONDON
The World of Weightlifting By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Belleville’s Sarah Condon has qualified for the 2022 World Masters Weightlifting Championships. Condon met the qualifying standard while competing this past June in the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Championship, which was a virtual event this year. She considered it a special and unique event that showcased the competitors overcoming obstacles from the past year, which required a lot of training from home. Qualifying for the World event is based on age division, weight class and meeting or exceeding the qualifying standard in terms of kilograms lifted. Condon, who is 37 and competes in the 35-39 age division and 59 kg weight class, placed second in her group and exceeded the qualifying standard at the Canadian championships by lifting 54 kg (119 pounds) for snatch and 65 kg (143 pounds) for clean and jerk for a total of 119 kg. “It was one of those things for myself, it’s always been on the list of things you would like to achieve and when I was doing my lifts everything was really coming together,” Condon said. The 2022 World Masters Championship will be held next year in December in Orlando, Florida. “I think everybody’s keeping their fingers crossed that things are moving in the right direction, so lots of time between now and then to continue to train, continue to keep getting better and most of all having fun,” Condon said. Condon loves to keep pushing herself and is proud of qualifying for the World championships. “As we get a little bit older it certainly becomes, I don’t want to say more challenging, but you’ve got work and everything else,” she remarked. “It’s one of those things that’s pretty exciting to do amongst everything else. For myself, just to be able to qualify is a huge accomplishment and something that I’m pretty excited about.” Condon trains at Victory Barbell Club, located just over the Norris Whitney Bridge heading from Belleville to Prince Edward County. “It’s a small gym, small team, but I personally really like that,” she said. “It really gives us a closeness, kind of like a little family there.” Condon had just turned 31 when she started training. Her husband William was already entering competitions, which she regularly attended. Victory Barbell coach Gary Lewis approached her to talk about lifting. It made sense to give it a try. After all, she was attending the competitions to support her husband anyway and the timing seemed right. “I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a super strong person. I’ve always been very active and I played soccer for 20 years, but getting into (weightlifting) I had to start from the ground up,” Condon said.
“That’s part of the sport that I really enjoy. You kind of see yourself evolve. When I first started, I could barely lift the 10 kilo bar which is about 20 pounds. “The one thing I always encourage people about is to have good coaching. We’ve been really fortunate to have such a great coach in Gary that guided us along the way with good technique and good form and dedication in making us the best lifter. I think the biggest thing with this sport is patience. It’s not something that happens overnight, but there is really no feeling in what you can accomplish or what you can lift as you put in the time and dedication to the process.” Soccer was the favourite sport of Condon while growing up in Napanee. She played in high school and for a year at Trent University in Peterborough. In 2007 she got back into the sport by playing in women’s leagues. “First it was just a way to be social, be active, but I feel like soccer has always been something that I excelled at and I think that I’ve been able to bring over some of that hard work and dedication that I put into that sport over into weightlifting,” Condon said. Condon has competed in the Canadian Masters Weightlifting Championships a few times now, with the first being in 2016, the year after she began training. In 2018 she competed at the PanAmerican Masters Championships in Gaspé, Quebec and won a gold medal. Winning is great, Condon said, but she thrives on continued progression from training and the support from the weightlifting community. “For so many of us, it’s an opportunity to compete, but also to stay healthy and just keep your body moving. Strength building at any age is so important to overall health,” Condon said, noting she has witnessed weightlifters over 80 still competing. “It’s amazing that this sport isn’t just for a certain age bracket, it’s for all ages. It comes with a really great community of people that are really supportive to one another and want each other to do well.”
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SAVE THE DATES
Jeannette Sterner would like to thank everyone for coming out to compete in their first show of the season that took place on June 27th. Though no spectators were allowed due to the pandemic, fun was had by all. The event was sponsored in part by Popeye’s Suppliments in Belleville, Bridle Path Tack Shop and Total Sports Quinte. “I enjoyed having you all here and seeing all the happy faces to be able to compete again. What a great start of the season for TPT Sterner “ said Jeannette. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS IN THE 1ST SHOW! Here are the winners of each division:
UPCOMING SHOWS Combine Test for Pre-entry Entry Pre-training Training Mini Prix 1.10m
Pre-Entry (Stadium optimum time 1.15 min) # 45 Ashley Barker “Finnen Dressage 35 penalties Stadium clear round with 5.6 sec before optimum time Entry #25 Jennifer Matusiak “Blue Print” Dressage 37.50 penalties Stadium clear round with 10.29sec. before optimum time Pre-Training #49 Paige Heard “Just go with it” Dressage 37.75 penalties Stadium clear round with 3.51sec before optimum time Training #42 Manda Ruthven “Heidi” Stadium only Clear round with 3.23 sec after optimum time
August 14th CHAMPIONSHIP
September 18-19th CHARITY SHOW
Mini Prix #12 Abigail O’Reilly “Sunshine” Clear round with 2.45 sec before optimum time
Abigail O’Reilly & Sunshine
Manda Ruthven & Heidi
Jennifer Matusiak & Blue Print
Ashley Barker & Finnen
October 2nd TO REGISTER OR SPONSOR THIS EVENT 705-761-5455 Email: tptsternerbilling@gmail.com 46 Leslie Rd, Roslin Ontario Follow us
facebook.com/TPTSterner Shows sponsored by
Belleville
Register Today for our Upcoming Shows!
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BELLEVILLE’S MATT MULLINS Tokyo Olympics Rugby Roster
By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Belleville’s Matt Mullins competed at the Tokyo Olympics as a member of the Canadian men’s rugby sevens team. Rugby Canada announced its men’s and women’s rugby sevens rosters in late June. Canada had qualified in men’s rugby sevens for the Tokyo Olympics two years ago. Following the uncertainty last year when the Summer Games were postponed and the continuing selection process, Mullins certainly felt a range of emotions in earning one of the 13 spots on the men’s roster. “It’s relieving and also pretty exciting to finally have it all set in stone,” Mullins told Total Sports Quinte at the time of the rosters being announced. Mullins, now 26, was introduced to the sport of rugby through the Belleville Bulldogs club touch program when he was about 12 or 13 years old. He played traditional rugby during his years at Centennial Secondary School in Belleville and continued playing club rugby for the Bulldogs as well. “I wasn’t pursuing rugby seriously until later in my high school career. I remember in my Grade 12 year of high school I got onto the Ontario rugby team,” Mullins said. “I never even really thought about playing for Canada until then and the following year got involved in the selection process for the under-20 Canadian team. From there I was like ‘maybe this is a possibility’ and kept pursuing it from there. It all happened pretty quickly from there.” While he may have aspired to play for Canada on an international level, the Olympics weren’t on his radar. The Rugby Sevens event was added at the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the Canadian women’s team captured the bronze medal. The men’s team didn’t qualify for those games and will make its debut in Tokyo. “Even when I started taking rugby more seriously, I don’t think it was announced that rugby was in the Olympics yet so even back then it wasn’t a thought in my head,” Mullins said. Mullins has been living and training in British Columbia ever since heading there to try out for the under-20 team around 2014. He would normally be playing in a rugby sevens series in B.C., but there hasn’t been much game action in the past year.
Belleville’s Matt Mullins of Canada in action. (Photo by Craig Thomas/Replay Images World Rugby HSBC World Sevens Series, courtesy of Rugby Canada).
competition it would face at the Olympics. Canada was slotted into Group B of the 12-team field with the 2016 champion Fiji, silver medalist Great Britain and Japan. Canada did win bronze at the HSBC Canada Sevens event in Vancouver in March 2020. “I’m pretty excited,” Mullins said. “I think we’ve got a decent pool so we should have a good chance if we’re at our best.” The Olympic men’s rugby sevens tournament was held July 25 to 28. In pool play, Canada lost 24-0 to Great Britain and 28-14 to Fiji before defeating Japan 36-12. New Zealand defeated the Canadians 21-10 in the quarter-finals. The United States defeated Canada 21-14 in the Placing 5-8 round. Fiji repeated as the Olympic champion with a 27-12 victory over New Zealand in the gold medal game. Argentina captured the bronze medal with a 17-12 win over Great Britain.
Canada did take 17 players to Dubai in April to compete in two tournaments prior to finalizing the roster for Tokyo.
According to Rugby Canada, “rugby sevens is a stripped-down version of rugby union with just seven players on each team playing on a full sized pitch. There are four backs, three forwards and each team can have up to five replacements. With fewer bodies and extra space on the pitch, games are fast-paced, full of breakaway sprints and exciting tries.”
Mullins said the Canadian team was familiar with most of the
To learn more, visit www.rugby.ca.
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FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME Is Your Child Really a Pro Athlete?
By: Terry Boyd - The GYM Trenton
I recently had the honour of being a pall bearer in the funeral for not just my most favourite coach in any sport I participated in, but also my favourite mentor and one of the best people I have ever known. Tom McCulloch was that man. In my humble opinion the arts and sports should be an integral part of every child’s education. No child is the same with some excelling in the arts, sports, shop and academia respectively. If it wasn’t for the “carrot” of sports I would have lost interest in all things education and wouldn’t have gone - if I’m being honest.
student-athlete aren’t great. For example only 1.4% of soccer players who play in the NCAA go on to play professional soccer.
Soccer was my favourite sport, loved the game, loved my teammates and started putting together a respectful game while in highschool.
I had a great run as a soccer player. I won individual awards, won tournaments, scored key goals but I don’t remember many of the details, I’m sure if I dug around I could find a medal or two, a plaque maybe, but it wasn’t any of that, that mattered, What mattered was the memories and feelings that came with having the best friends I ever had, a mentor that meant the world to me. We created a foundation and basis to, as Tom put it, “to give back to the game.”
It was later that a lot of life and soccer lessons were taught to me by Tom McCulloch. Tom had an incredible bass voice with a Scottish accent. I first heard him say “well done Terry”, at a “friendly” that was played in Smiths Falls. On foreign turf any support was welcome but this was more than that, it was inspiring. I worked my arse off that game because I wanted that guy to notice. I had no idea all these years later the influence he would have on me as we honoured him during his burial just a few short months ago. In a time when men you looked up to and aspired to be like are few and far between, Tom was that kind of man for many soccer players. Tom coached me with the Trenton Sockers, a group of men who I consider the best and greatest friends I’ve ever had. We have had adventures and journeys world wide that were historic. It still bring tears to my eyes with laughter when we reminisce about these places and people. Tom was always overseeing our adventures and smartly chose the tournaments and trips that were more serious than those that were for young men having a good time. He loved the game too much to taint it with hungover semi-finals, and loved his team too much to censure what he considered young men’s rights of passage - he truly “got us”.
Unfortunately, Canada is woeful in developing professional opportunities for Canadian student athletes. According to a study from University of Windsor, about 2,000 student athletes move to the U.S. each year to have a higher chance of becoming professional athletes. The amount of Canadian athletes compared to American in NCAA or NAIA lessons the odds for a Canadian student- athlete. Among the many lessons that Tom taught me, one of the most pronounced was when he told us after a mid-season game, “ you are the highest paid athletes, because of the love of the game.” He was right. Every player on that team were good players, excellent players, and we all loved the game.
All the men on that team coach, or have coached, assisted, refereed, belonged to youth soccer boards and have children that play in the game. We learned from Tom the greatest part of the game was each other and the memories. Tom and the Sockers in my opinion did it right. If you’re at the crossroads of deciding whether your talented student-athlete should go all in and shoot for the stars, consider whether those stars are achievable or whether they are “playing for the love of the game,” because the two are not always mutually exclusive.
As a coach people often ask me, “what do you think my child’s chance of making it are?” “Making it” meaning scholarships, professional contracts etc.. I’m not the first coach to hear this question. With soccer’s popularity on the rise, especially in Women’s Professional Soccer people have a hope and dream for their child to “make it”, I don’t know many parents who don’t want the absolute best for their child. I answer that question with a question. What do you want for your child? I would never say that a child can’t be successful and achieve lofty goals of scholarships and/ or professional contracts, I’m not in the business of telling anyone it’s impossible. Anything IS possible. But what exactly is it that people want for their child athlete? There are numerous stats about youth players going professional or getting “full rides” to College divisions such as National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics ( NAIA ), they are few and far between, division 2 and 3 “partial rides” being more common. The stats for a successful
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THE WELLINGTON JR DUKES Development Program By: Total Sports Media
The Future Has Begun!
The Wellington Dukes are pleased to announce the launch of their Hockey Development Division in support of minor hockey players of all ages, genders and from all parts of the hockey world. “We had planned to start this initiative a couple of summers ago but unfortunately the pandemic derailed some of those plans.”said Randy Uens, COO of the Wellington Dukes Junior A hockey Club. The Dukes will be expanding on their existing base of hockey schools and training sessions to include on ice combine testing, video analysis and consultation to players as well as Spring and summer team programs. “We feel that our team of coaches that we have assembled has a lot to offer and housing it under one umbrella backed by one of the most storied Junior A franchises in Canada only makes sense.” Uens went on to say. For details you can go to our Wellington Dukes Website and click on our Wellington Dukes Development tab. There you will find information on how to get athletic consultations and video analysis as well as dates of clinics, training sessions and hockey schools. “We are blessed with living in such a beautiful part of the world with access to Sandbanks Provincial park and all of the amenities of the Belleville and Prince Edward County area. It is the perfect destination for families to bring their children for summer development.” Said Uens. Development will be headed up by former NHL player Derek Smith, Head coach and Director of Hockey Operations of the Wellington Dukes. “We plan to utilize our tremendous team and its resources to bring “First in Class” Development for players of all ages. “Said Smith. “Coupled with this development and analytic platform, we will also be starting our first spring and summer team program under the Wellington Junior Dukes platform. “ Smith went on to say. The Wellington Jr. Dukes will be a spring and Summer Development program offering players the opportunities to play in high level spring and summer tournaments. The Jr Dukes intend to have teams in all age groups for both boys and girls pending registration. Registration for the Spring and Summer of 2022 will begin in October. The Wellington Dukes will be looking for coaches for these teams immediately.If you are interested in coaching one of our summer teams please contact us through our website at info@Wellington dukes.com. Coaches will have tremendous support form the Wellington dukes staff and players to enhance the spring and summer team experience for the players of all ages and genders.
The First Junior Dukes team had an impressive Debut in Ottawa. The first “test” team of the Jr.Dukes program began in August. “Sean Gawley had heard about our plans to develop a summer team program and was interested in becoming part of it immediately.He was eager to get going so we agreed to do a “test” with his team to see if the kids enjoyed the affiliation with the Dukes organization“ said Smith. And for an early test it has been very successful.
Junior Dukes Make Their Debut at the Senators AAA Spring Cup This past weekend marked the debut tournament for the Junior Dukes AAA Spring hockey club. The team travelled to Ottawa with their sights set on victory. The Dukes first match of the tournament was against the L & A County Kings. The Kings would get on the scoreboard first but that would be the only goal that they would manage to put past the Dukes goaltender. The Dukes scored to tie the game before the end of the first period and went on to score 4 more to end the game with a 5-1 win. After a first game victory, the Dukes found a tougher opponent in a team from North Bay. The score remained 0-0 until the second period, when the Dukes scored first. North Bay battled hard and tied the game back up :36 seconds later. The third period would be a back and forth battle with the Dukes scoring early and North Bay responding but the Dukes came out on top and scored the winning goal to take the game 3-2. The third game of round robin play proved to be a little more difficult for the Dukes. They just couldn’t get anything going and received their first loss, 6-1 against Olympiques Hull Volant. To finish off the round robin, the Dukes had to play the first place team, the Bullseyes. This game was fast paced and action packed. The Bullseyes scored first but the Dukes didn’t give up. They answered back with a goal in the second and scored again in the third. The Bullseyes would tie it up late in the third and the game remained a tie, giving the Dukes a third place finish going into the playoffs. The semifinal game was a rematch with Olympiques Hull Volant. After a big loss to Hull the day before, the Dukes were ready to put that game behind them and fight for a spot in the finals. Hull would score first but the Dukes didn’t get rattled. They fought hard and tied the game 1-1 in the second. Hull scored in the third to take the lead but just when the game looked like it might be over, the Dukes put the puck in the net and tied the game again. With overtime just moments away, Hull scored the winning goal, seconds before the buzzer ended the game. Falling just short of a spot in the finals, the Junior Dukes had a great showing at their first tournament and will use this momentum when they head to Kingston on August 20 to compete in the Ontario Prospects AAA Challenge in Kingston.
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THE WELLINGTON JR DUKES
Wellington Jr Dukes / Front Row /L-R: Blake Munnings, Gabe Davis, Seth Scaletta, Cole Coughlin, Pierson Clute, Jonas McCoy Middle Row /R-L: Lily Reid, Jake Gawley, Nate Rashotte, Charlie Vos, Keegan Goulah, McLean Chisholm, Ryan Sherwin Chase Cybalski, Ryan Foley, Anthony Farence Back Row /L-R: Matt McCoy, Randy Uens, Sean Gawley, Derek Smith, Jordan Chisholm, JP Goulah & Dan Foley
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HOCKEY PLAYER KAITLYN MCNAIR & By: Jeff Gard Total Sports Media
Skating to Scholarship
Life on the ice is great for Madison Myers and Kaitlyn McNair. The friends and graduates from Belleville’s St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School are heading to Adrian College in Michigan, beginning in August, on academic and athletic scholarships for their respective sports. Myers, who is from Stirling, will continue her love of figure skating, both individually and with the varsity synchronized team at Adrian College, while McNair of Corbyville will play hockey for the Bulldogs. A longtime skater with the Stirling Figure Skating Club, Myers began looking into college scholarships when she was in Grade 10. Adrian College stood out above the rest during her school tours. “I got to do a few camps with Adrian and their coaching staff,” Myers said. “The experiences I had with them were just crazy compared to the rest.” She appreciated the welcoming approach and a sense of honesty, not just from the coaching staff, but professors as well. The professors told the prospective students that communication is key: keep them informed of their sports schedules and they’ll ensure to work with them and make the student-athlete experience a great one. “They were super honest that they will help us instead of figuring it out on our own,” Myers said. “It’s nice to have that environment of really accepting athletes instead of pushing them aside.” McNair was able to lean on Myers for the in-person perspective of Adrian College since Myers had been able to visit. McNair only began connecting with hockey coaches this past season so meetings and tours were conducted virtually. Despite only speaking with coaches, professors and other staff through computer, McNair still felt a genuine love of the school from each person’s perspective in their own words. The advice from Myers proved to be a big assist as well. “She just talks extremely highly about it,” McNair said. Both girls graduated from St. Theresa with honours as Ontario Scholars and McNair will study biology at Adrian College. She was impressed by the facilities. “They have a really high-standing medical program and they have a health clinic on campus, which I thought was really cool and it’s a way to really work one-on-one with people in your field,” she said. Myers, who also enjoyed competing in shot put and high jump during high school track and field seasons, will be studying to become a secondary school physical education teacher. She previously considered physiotherapy, but the opportunity to be a peer mentor in a phys ed class this past year and at the suggestion of teachers, Myers changed course. Interestingly enough, Myers “wasn’t a big fan” of high school at the beginning. It was a big change from elementary school, which she
missed a lot of time in due to figure skating commitments. “When I got to high school and having to go every day, it got very overwhelming at first,” she said. “By Grade 10 I knew how much my grades would matter to get into university.” Myers set a goal of making the Honour Roll for her final three years at St. Theresa. “I missed it by one per cent in Grade 10 and I was no longer going (fall short again),” she recalled. “I made honours for Grade 11 and 12.” Her teaching ambitions aren’t limited to the classroom. When she was younger, Myers had a choice: hockey or figure skating. She was part of a “hockey family” but figure skating won out. “I’ve always wanted white skates from the beginning,” she said. “I knew I fell in love with skating then and I always wanted to do it.” Her aunt coached at the Stirling Figure Skating Club and got her into the CanSkate program. Myers loved it and not only did she continue to skate there, she eventually became a program assistant and later a certified CanSkate coach as well. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher from the youngest time. That teaching ability for me kind of comes naturally, but I love teaching kids and helping them become better at everything and it’s even better because it’s a sport I love,” Myers said. “Teaching them about something that I’m truly so passionate about, it’s amazing to see how much they progress over a year even. It’s very rewarding.” While representing the Stirling club, she also began training in Belleville with the Quinte Figure Skating Club due to the proximity of her school to the rink. Myers has also trained with Skate Oakville under the guidance of Michelle Leigh, who has coached a number of elite skaters including Elvis Stojko. “I’ve had her since I was 10 so we’ve been together for quite awhile and she’s helped me grow over the past years to help me get ready for this opportunity,” Myers said. Myers said she gained even more appreciation for figure skating during the past year, especially when COVID-19 restrictions prevented her from being on the ice. “This whole pandemic has just shown me how much I truly need figure skating in my life,” she said. “Not being able to do it has just been horrible. There’s no other way to describe it.” McNair can relate. She was frustrated by a cancelled hockey season, but made the most of her opportunities to get on the ice when she could with the Kingston Jr. Ice Wolves of the Provincial Women’s Hockey League. Continued next page ....
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& FIGURE SKATER MADISON MYERS
hips at Adrian College Her love of hockey goes back to a young age. She completed the CanSkate program before entering Timbits hockey. With having a brother three-years-older, McNair wanted to follow in his footsteps and joined the Belleville Jr. Bulls ‘AA’ program, rather than playing girls hockey. “When he was younger he played for the Bulls and for Quinte and Kingston,” McNair said of her brother Kyle. “He was always around this area so I watched him growing up when he was playing and moving up through the ranks. I wanted to follow in his footsteps and do what he was doing.” After minor hockey, Kyle McNair played some junior C hockey for the Picton Pirates and Clarington Eagles before junior A stints with the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings of the United States Premier Hockey League. Starting this fall, he’ll play NCAA Div. III hockey at Lawrence University in Wisconsin. Kaitlyn McNair, like her brother, also played ‘AAA’ hockey for the Quinte Red Devils for a year around the age of 10 or 11 before returning to the Bulls for a year until bodychecking entered the equation. She was game for it, but says her parents were not. McNair went on to play ‘AA’ girls hockey for the Clarington Flames for a couple of seasons before playing midget hockey in Whitby. She also played a season of junior hockey there. She was looking forward to playing in Kingston last year. “It was by far one of my favourite teams,” McNair said, adding the team was anticipating a successful season. “The girls were great, the coaches were amazing. It really sucked that we couldn’t get a season because of COVID.” Training remained incredibly important, especially during a season without regular games. “Our practices were always good. There was never a time I wanted more or I wanted something else. My coaches always had good confidence in me and knew where I was at so it was a nice environment to be in because you knew what you had to bring,” McNair said. “At that point I had no colleges or universities talking to me yet so I was very determined to get somewhere. I knew whether with a season or not, I still wanted to practice hard, train hard...I still wanted to get to the next level.” McNair originally considered staying in Ontario for university, but that was before opportunities in the United States entered the discussion. She had options to consider, but then Adrian College approached her as well thanks to video available from the Kingston team and an Adrian coach having previously watched her play in Whitby. McNair quickly determined Adrian College would be the best fit for her. That would have been the case whether Myers was also going there or not, but it certainly helped knowing a friend would be sharing a similar experience. “I’ll have someone there if I get a little homesick or if I need someone to talk to,” McNair said. “She’ll be there and can relate because we’ve been through high school together. That was comforting for me.” McNair is excited for a new adventure. It’s the way she is. She played hockey at St. Theresa, but also enjoyed soccer and rugby, just to enjoy some sports away from the rink. “I’ve never lived away from home, but I’m very excited to because I’m not a big homebody. I like going out adventuring. I’m excited to live on my own and go into the world a bit, but I’m still nervous about leaving home because I’m very much connected to my parents,” McNair said.
“I’m just excited to start a new adventure and grow physically and mentally.” Hockey player Kaitlyn McNair and figure skater Madison Myers are heading to Adrian College in Michigan. (Photo by Nick Myers)
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EXTENDED BREAK?
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Getting Back Into a Physical Activity Routine By Amanda K. Culinary Nutrition Expert & Owner of Hello Bonjour in Wellington
Whether you’ve taken an extended break or were forced onto one, getting back into any physical activity routine can be strenuous on your body especially your joints. At all ages we should be mindful of how quickly a shift in our lifestyle can impact our ability to “jump back” into things. Joint injuries can easily be caused by not stretching after a workout, lifting weights that are too heavy, and by not warming up or cooling down. The easiest way to offer protection to your joints is to simply increase your dedication to working out gradually and be mindful of your intensities so that you don’t over do it too quickly and end up having to take time off to heal.
chain triglycerides (which are absorbed quickly) and the good fats, are so important to keep yourself in a healthy weight zone which then reduces the stress on your joints. Raw Spinach - An average bunch of raw spinach (which I often find usually equates to the teeny tiniest amount of cooked spinach... ugh) is not only a great source of potassium; but also filled with a fabulous amount of phytonutrients such as chlorophyll. The potassium will play a role in reducing pain caused in the joints from arthritis. The impact of raw versus cooked? The potassium will be lost during the cook process and you’ll receive greater benefit from the contribution of enzymes which help to renew tissues. Here are a few meal suggestions using the ingredients listed above to help you: •
Maybe you’ve stayed active in between seasons (well done!) or maybe you hit a new level of motionlessness (that’s ok!), either way, please move slowly towards becoming more active.
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Joints need movement to be healthy. So don’t get discouraged if they are tight, just take your time and ease into it.
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But what else can help? Your food choices! While the sun is still out, be sure to get some Vitamin D. This vitamin is essential to helping your body absorb nutrients from the foods you consume. Below I’ve made a list of common and maybe not so common foods that should become a part of your nutritional health for optimal growth, recovery and protection to your body overall but with a specific focus on joint care. Garlic & Onions - likely the most commonly consumed members of the allium family, challenge yourself to also add in leeks, shallots and chives, to up your intake of the powerful sulphur compounds they have to offer; those compounds help fight inflammation and pain. Bonus: alliums bring more flavour to a dish, often reducing people’s increased use of unnecessary salt and sugar laden condiments such as ketchup. Almonds - These nuts are easy to find and delicious all on their own. Almonds, when compared to peanuts, have a higher manganese content which makes them an excellent choice when getting back into training and even after light exercise. Manganese helps glucosamine work quicker and more effectively to repair the joints. Why is glucosamine important? Well it’s a natural compound found in cartilage and provides the strong tissue that ultimately cushions the joints. Chia - Are you familiar with these little seeds that became a popular commercial tune back in the late 80s?!?! Ch-ch-ch-chia! Within only a few days you’d have long stand up strands of Bob Ross hair to trim on your clay head if you smeared them on and kept them watered.... and to think, we should have actually been eating them!
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Dairy-free Potato Leek Soup. Served up in the fall at Hello Bonjour and filled with garlic, leeks and onions! Often topped with a fresh sprinkling of chives. Apple Slices and Almond Butter. This is the perfect post game and before bed snack! Hello Bonjour has freshly made nut butters available and if you’re feeling a little adventurous, try their vanilla cinnamon almond butter! Chia Pudding! A staple at Hello Bonjour. Find this little jar of goodness in our grab and go fridge, freshly topped daily with an organic berry or seasonal fruit. Before sending it away with you, we top it with our signature granola! Coconut Oil! This might be a new one for you. Try swapping out your go to cooking oil for an organic coconut oil! All recipes, especially any that include lightly frying up some veggies (think stirfry!), will be enhanced with the addition to this flavourful oil. Raw spinach. I feel like this one is too easy.... a smoothie! Our housemade Tropikale smoothie is often the first to sell out! Come to Hello Bonjour when we open to get your hands on an ice cold healthy beverage that is filled with raw spinach but also organic pineapple and hemp hearts to make it a deliciously balanced smoothie.
With a few simple adjustments to your workouts and your nutrient intake you’ll be set to not only be actively protecting your joints, but maybe even helping them heal.
Cheers to health and happiness! Amanda K. Culinary Nutrition Expert & Owner of Hello Bonjour in Wellington Find out more about Culinary Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyle Tips, Delicious Recipes and maybe even book a Cooking Class or Demonstration at www.hellobonjourpec.com And please follow @hellobonjourpec to inspire you to eat the rainbow!
Often being consumed as “chia pudding” these tiny little seeds are soaked in a liquid and become mucilaginous and incredibly good for your digestive health. They are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, protein and best yet - all 9 Essential Amino Acids are found in this powerful seed. What happens when you consume EAAs on a regular basis? Your body repairs muscle tissues, ligaments and tendons more easily and efficiently. Coconut oil - This delicious and diverse product can be consumed and even used topically. The combination of the healthy medium
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UNCLE CHESTER’S Flaming Hot Pepper Sauce
has been a family recipe for generations. Our sauce originated in Trinidad and Tobago of the Caribbean but took a hop, skip, and a jump and landed in the Quinte Region of Eastern Ontario. Utilizing local, farm fresh ingredients, we make our sauces in small batches with extreme care; just like those who came before us. UNCLE CHESTER’S Flaming Hot Pepper Sauce is Gluten Free, Vegan, and offers excellent health benefits from its nutritious ingredients. We want our hot pepper sauce to be enjoyed globally, while staying true to our homegrown, farm to kitchen roots. From a holistic approach, putting the right foods in your body can act as medicine and help you live better and healthier lives. We’re not doctors but we can tell you that hot sauce, more specifically Hot Peppers, is the rockstar of healthy foods.
Interested in Selling Uncle Chester’s at your store? Contact us for sales or to become a partner Head Office Phone 613-391-7198 Email: info@unclechesters.ca
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