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GAMEMOMENT
April 2011 | Vol. 1 | Iss. 2
UP AND OVER With her back to the net, St. Clair’s Jordyn Lewis sends the ball back over during the senior girls LSSAA finals.
06 Enjoy Your Golf Season
On
The Health and fitness to keep you Cover on the fairway this spring
12 Moving On Up
Braves Baseball takes the next step up to Triple A
14 Shall We Sport?
Dance is not just a celebration
< 22 A Rebound Year
Rocca’s journey back to become a champion
28 Half Century Sulky
18 Making
Hall of Famer Marshall Moore
An Impression Justin Randall’s come back season
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Andrew Brethauer Editor Pat Brethauer Publisher Writers James Grant Dr. Michael Anning Andrew Brethauer Pat Brethauer Art & Design Andrew Brethauer Sales and Marketing Pat Brethauer Photography BEMA Design and Photography Canadian Chiropractic Association Andrew Brethauer Pat Brethauer
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ENJOY YOUR GAME WITHOUT THE PAIN
With the arrival of the summer season, many fair weather athletes are dusting off their clubs and heading to the golf course. BY DR MICHAEL ANNING
W
hether a golf pro, amateur or new to the game, golf specific conditioning and proper preparation can help to ensure an injury free season, and at the very least, assist in taking a few strokes off your game. Golf is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide. A very unique sport that can be played regardless of age, gender, and even skill level (through handicapping). Between the years of 1970 and 1990 the estimated number of North American golfers doubled, and continues to grow. The World Golf Federation expects over 55 million golfers by the year 2020. An interesting fact, which differentiates golf from other popular sports, is that roughly 33% of
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golfers are over the age of 50. With this increasing popularity, along with the average age of participants, it is important for golfers and health practitioners to be aware of the growing potential for rising injuries associated with the sport. Injuries in golf occur for several reasons, the twisting and torquing of the torso that occur with each stroke and the repetitive nature of the game which predispose the body to injury provoking movements. While there are a vast number of injuries that may occur during a golf season, low back pain is the most common amongst golfers. It is estimated that low back pain accounts for approximately 50% of all golf specific injuries. This statistic is not surprising considering the spinal rotation that takes place during a golf swing, accelerating the club speed to over 160 kilometers an hour, in turn, putting forces on your spine reaching compressive loads of up to 8 times your body weight.
Part of the problem that predisposes golfers to injury is the weekend warrior attitude of the average golfer. Many golfers are sedentary throughout the winter and try to reach mid-summer golf form as quickly as possible. As with any sport, a proper warm-up, resistance training and stretching routine can help reduce the chance of injury. More specifically, with regards to golf, a proper swing, suited towards each individual can help keep you on the course and out of your chiropractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office. Here are a few tips that will help keep you on the course and away from pain. WARM UP A warm-up is important before any athletic activity, golf included. Simply getting to the course 10-15 minutes early and walking around the putting green, and getting the body warm, could drastically decrease
your potential for injury. Every warmup should be broken down into two components, a general and a specific warm-up. A general warm-up should last 5-10 minutes and should consist of fast walking, jogging, or any activity that increases the heart rate. A general warm-up increases blood flow to muscles, deep muscle temperature, respiration rate and decreases viscosity of the joint fluids, also helping to increase flexibility. A specific warm-up incorporates more dynamic movements, suited to a particular sport. A specific warm-up for golf could include slow swings, to more specifically target the hips, core and shoulder musculature, vital to a proper and effective golf swing. RESISTANCE TRAINING Every golfer should have strengthendurance exercises in their daily training regime. Strengthening all
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major muscle groups, specifically ensuring endurance training the core musculature is essential in maximizing performance, as well as decreasing the chance of sustaining injury over the course of the golf season. Resistance training can help to increase muscle mass, strength and power; while aerobic training can increase the aerobic endurance and further increase the aerobic power of the muscles. EMG studies performed on golfers have indicated that similar muscles are involved in stabilization during the action of a golf swing as in other athletic tasks, namely the muscles that make up the core. All of the muscles used in golf, specifically the core, gluteal, shoulder and hip musculature should be trained not only during the season, but during the off-season as well. To ensure you are doing safe and effective exercises, and are healthy enough to start a resistance training routine, you should consult your primary care practitioner. For a complete list of golf specific resistance training exercises, you can consult your local gym, trainer, or visit www. chiropractic.on.ca.
STRETCHING ROUTINE There is evidence that golfers who stretch/warm-up for at least 10 minutes before playing have a lower risk of sustaining injury. It can be helpful to do your moving warm-up first and then stretch, as it gives the muscles time to warm before they are lengthened. Some stretches that can be useful at the course are: 1. Hip Flexor Lunge Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Step one foot forward into a lunge position. Keep your body upright and back straight. Bend both knees so that you feel the stretch. Do not let your forward knee pass over the ankle of your front foot. Use a golf club to keep your balance. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat 2 times each side 2. Seated Twist Sit on a bench or a golf cart with your knees together and feet flat pointing forward. Reach across the front of your body and grasp the back of the bench or cart. You should experience a stretch in your spinal muscles. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat 2 times each side. 3. Seated Forward Bend Sit on a bench or a golf cart, knees bent and feet flat. Place one ankle onto your opposite knee and relax this leg so that your knee falls out to the side. Slowly bend forward, keeping your back straight. You may gently pull on your bent knee to generate a deeper stretch. You should feel a stretch in your buttock area. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat 2 times each side. 4. Side Bending Stretch Stand with your the feet shoulder width apart. Hold the club above your head with your arms straight. Slowly bend to one side, without rotating, until you feel a stretch along the side of your back. Hold 15 seconds. Repeat 2 times each side.
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SWING TECHNIQUE Golf swing technique can do more than just improve your game, it can also spare you any unnecessary pain. Performing a golf swing is no simple task, even for professional golfers it is a complex athletic skill that takes time, effort, and persistence for perfection. A swing can be broken down into four basic components: backswing, forward swing, acceleration, and follow-through. There are two general styles of golf swings, modern and classic. The main difference in the swings is the range of motion produced through the swing in the shoulders and hips. The modern swing emphasizes a large shoulder
movement, with minimal hip movement, produced by keeping the front foot planted. The classic swing comprises raising the front foot during backswing that minimizes the back swing and can help to decrease body torque, but also limits the striking force on the ball. There is some evidence that weekend warrior golfers can best stay injury free by utilizing the classic swing, paired with general trunk muscle stabilization exercises. For additional assistance with your golf stroke, it is beneficial to consult with your local course professional. Whether you are aspiring to be Tiger Woods, or just want to get outdoors for a few hours and are a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mulliganâ&#x20AC;? golfer, remember, your best chance to get in the game without pain, is through proper preparation. Be sure to do a proper warm-up and training routine before you start your round and play within your limits. Dr. Michael Anning, is a Chiropractor/ certified Kinesiologist, practicing at the Sarnia Chiropractic and Performance Centre. Dr. Anning is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, and is a certified acupuncture provider through the Acupuncture Foundation of Canada Institute. Dr. Anning is the Chiropractor for the Sarnia Legionnairres Junior Hockey team.
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A QUICK NINE
BLACK CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 4360 South Plank Rd, Rr#3, Oil Springs, ON (519)-834-2552
Established in 1981 and located on the Old Plank Rd just 1 km west of Oil Springs, Black Creek Golf Course, named after the Creek that meanders through the property, is a challenging par 34, 2897 yard course that offers plenty to every type of golfer. The Course consists of three par 3’s, short medium and long in length, five par 4’s, and their signature hole, a par 5, 580 yard uphill monster. You’ll need to carry your tee shot to the top of the hill and then start your journey down the fairway to a raised green set in front of a pond if you’re looking to save par. The course offers a challenge to seasoned golfers, but also alluring to those looking to refine their game. Before you hit the tee box, step out onto the driving range and work on your swing, then move to the putting greens to perfect that touch around the hole. Black Creek offers daily green fees, membership privileges and tournaments. With its full kitchen and dining area including patio, Black Creek offers friendly service for a full days worth of golf and hospitality.
Par
Yards
34
2897
Longest Hole
580
yrd
Par 5 4th hole
Cost
$16 anytime
GREYSTONE GOLF COURSE
reystone
2218 Confederation Line, Sarnia, ON (519) 383-7177
The small push up greens at Greystone Golf Course make it challenging, but the course is still friendly enough to those golfers with not as much experience. With narrows fairways and fields on the right side of the majority of the holes, accuracy is must out of the tee box. Each hole offers a new challenge. From water hazards to heavily treed fairways and greens, every approach is different. A mix of long and short holes makes this 2884 yard par 35 course perfect for those looking to use all their clubs in the bag, while still having a relaxing day on the course. Relax inside their newly renovated club house, or practice your putting on their new green before you hit your first shot on the straight par 4 hole one. Golfers of all ages and skills will find their game tested, as Greystone tests your distance, control and accuracy. No tee times are needed at Greystone. Just place your ball in line and relax. But expect a different round each time you play, as each hole offers multiple ways to play.
Par
Yards
35
2884
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Longest Hole
496
yrd
Par 5 8th hole
Cost
$20+
cart
weekday
A QUICK NINE
HOLIDAY INN GOLF CLUB 1498 Venetian Boulevard, Point Edward, ON (519) 336-4111
This 9 hole, 1,399 yard par 28 golf course in prosperous Point Edward is not your average executive layout. Yachts in the adjacent marina line the fairways of this heavily treed par 3, Robbie Robinson design course. With eight par 3 holes and one par 4, Holiday Inn Golf Course is an ideal place for beginners to learn the game, and the more experienced to sharpen their short game, as difficult hole placement due to bunker and water hazard as well as the trees, provide a challenge for any type of golfer off the tee. With the course record set at an amazing 4 under par 24, this par three course isn’t as simple as it may sound, as a shot into the hazards can find you putting for boogie after you recover back onto the green. Hole two plays the longest at 265 yards from the white tees and is the course par 4. With water on the left, and a field of rough on the right, a shot down the centre of the fairway is needed, as the hole doglegs to the right heading towards the green. It sits in front of a pond and large trees, making a excellent tee shot needed to get in line for a birdie, as any hit to the right brings all hazards into play. Established in 1972, Holiday Inn Golf Course provides great service and hospitality at a reasonable price, perfect for any type of golfer looking to break out their
Par
Yards
28
1399
Longest Hole
265
yrd
Par 4 2nd hole
Cost
$12
$5 addition nine
OUR PONDEROSA GOLF COURSE 9338 W Ipperwash Rd, Forest, ON (519) 786-2031
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing round during the day, or looking to sharpen your short game, Our Ponderosa Golf Course will offer a challenging experience for any age of golfer from youth to adults at any skill level. This Rene Muylaert designed course is surrounded by Carolinian forests and white pines and plays 1964 yards long, featuring three par 3’s, five par 4’s and a one par 5. Golfers will have the opportunity to use every club in the bag while trying to avoid the challenging white bunkers. Work on your drive before you take to the course with the available driving range or head straight to the course and walk or ride for hours of solitude and exercise. Play out the season with a membership at $562 for adults, or take in a single round for $17 during the weekdays and $19 on weekends. Whenever you decide to take in this course, it will surely bring you back for another round of nine.
Par
Yards
34
1954
Longest Hole
365
yrd
Par 5 5th hole
Cost
$17
Weekday
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THE MOVE TO AAA Despite still being early in the 2011 calendar year, the Sarnia Braves are well on their way to putting high caliber baseball on the field at both Errol Russell and Blackwell parks this summer. BY JAMES GRANT
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ith the Midget squad spending the off season training in London at the Centerfield Sports facility, and the 21+ men’s team preparing indoors as well for the upcoming campaign, lots is expected on the diamond once May arrives. In the last issue of this magazine, we touched upon the fact that baseball in Sarnia was receiving a major financial boost from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to the tune of $81,000. It might go as not much of a surprise then that those involved with the Sarnia Braves want to take advantage of revamped ballparks with an improved product on the field. It was with this in mind that the Sarnia Braves Minor Baseball Association and the Sarnia Braves Senior Men’s Baseball Club announced their move to the Ontario AAA level for this coming season. The move sees Sarnia step into the upper echelon of baseball in the province with the idea that local players deserve a chance to prove that they are indeed among the best. “A move to the AAA level is neces-
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sary for the development of local players. Our players need to compete at the highest level possible and to be able to go where the action is,” says Braves President Jim Bigras. “We want to keep our organization strong and I also believe that Lambton County deserves to have teams that can go to larger centers and put our kids to the forefront. It isn’t going to be an easy process, but we will get there with the dedication of our community’s players and coaches.” It all starts with the Sarnia rookie ball players at the age of 9 years old or younger. Divided into both a junior and senior division, the Braves took home last season’s Ontario title. The program runs the same as older age groups but with a machine delivered pitch to hitters. The Braves will also be fielding AAA teams in Mosquito, Peewee, Bantam and Midget divisions.
2010 OUA Champion Nick Baljeu (Brock University) delivers a pitch at Senior Braves indoor workouts under the watchful eye of San Diego Padres draft pick Jeff Jones and closer Michael Hyde. The Midget Braves, who are coached by Bigras, have had a very successful past in the AA level. The team has made six Ontario finals in the past 13 years. The current squad is off to Arizona this spring to prepare for the upcoming campaign which will see them move their league operations to Michigan. Once the season hits, the Midgets will host their annual Wood Bat Classic on July 22nd- 24th. On the Civic holiday weekend the best teams in the province will take to our local diamonds as the Braves play host to the Ontario AAA Elimination Tournament. The winner of this tournament will represent Ontario at the Canadian Baseball Championships in Regina. In addition, the 2011 Sarnia Braves Senior team is looking forward to taking on Ontario’s AAA competition as well as accepting an entry into the 2011 Michi-
gan Cup tournament this September. The Senior team, which won Ontario’s highest baseball honour in 1959, has adopted a ground up approach that will see the availability of AAA baseball available to local baseball players after they graduate the minor program. “The move to have a legitimate AAA system from the top (senior) to the bottom (rookie ball) is a logical move,” says senior bench coach Brad Wright. “We have already started the process this season by building our foundation with an incredibly talented crop of 20 year olds with AAA experience at the junior level. Obviously we will have to take our lumps, but in the end, with so many talented players moving up the system, a legitimate contender down the road is well within reach.” It is going to prove to be an interesting summer for baseball in Sarnia.
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THE SPORT OF DANCE
These young dancers may not be considered Athletes just yet, but they could be dancing for Olympic Gold in the future. BY PAT BRETHAUER
T
here has been an argument for years about the status or classification of dance. Is it a sport, or is it a competition that has similarities to sports, but still does not belong in the same realm as football, hockey, baseball and basketball. With the recent boom of dance related programming such as So you Think You Can Dance and
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Dancing with the Stars, there is the idea that dancers are not just performers but rather world class athletes. ”Dance and sports go hand in hand,” said Susan Prout, owner of Elite Dance. “Dance components are linked into a lot of sport activities. Gymnastics and Figure skating are the most obvious sports that include dance in their workouts”
Gymnastics, a recognized Olympic sport, has been a part of the Olympic Summer Games since its inception in 1896. Figuring Skating, a form of ice dancing, has been contested since the 1908 Summer Games in London England, and it saw its first winter competition in the 1924 Winter Games in Chamonix, France. Yet dance has yet to see the Olympic stage, despite being recognized as a sport by the IOC in 1997. DanceSport, as it is called, is governed by the International DanceSport Federation and promotes its competitors not as dancers, but as athletes. By viewing their international site, (worlddancesport.org) a list of athletes is available, including like many sports, a world ranking. Names like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer leap off the pages as world number 1’s in tennis, while golf superstar Tiger Woods held the top spot for a record 281 weeks from 2005 to 2010. Yet Benedetto Ferruggi and Claudia Köhler, unknown to those in the sporting world, currently hold DanceSport’s number 1 world ranking, and have done so since January 2009. But unlike Nadal and Federer, who won Gold medals at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, and Woods, who may have a chance at a Gold medal at the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Ferruggi and Köhler will have to wait well beyond that, and possibly for them,
never get the chance to compete on the Olympic stage, as DanceSport has not yet been given acceptance into the Games. We can see how dance helps in sports such as figure skating and gymnastics, but the grueling workout of dance, and the athleticism needed to compete can help in other areas of sports that may not be thought of by today’s current athletes. “Learning hip hop will help the basketball player in their dribbling movements, says Prout, “along with soccer players to help improve their footwork.” Prout also says that ballet is great for cross training, something professional athletes do during the offseason to stay in shape. “Dance improves strength, flexibility, coordination, dexterity and agility.” Not to also mention that the movements and routines of dance require discipline and focus, and can be a great self confidence boost. It is not known when dance will be a part of the Olympic Games, or if it ever will be considered in the realm of sports. But the athleticism needed to compete in dance is just as much as any other athletic event. And possibly even more.
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS BY ANDREW BRETHAUER
J
ustin Randall’s philosophy on hitting is to never swing at the first pitch. When he stepped in the batters box during the 8th inning for the Southern Illinois Miners against the River City Rascals in game 5 of the Frontier League playoffs, Randall wasn’t going to take a strike. With the best of five series tied at two games each, Randall had the opportunity to put his team into the championship series. He clears the box with his cleats, and draws a line across the box. He taps both shoes with his bat and takes a single warm up swing, stepping back to fix his pants and take a deep breath. He steps back in, stretches his legs and lays the bat flat across the plate. Then he stares at a single point on his pine tar covered stick and gets set. A Gary Moran fastball comes screaming down to home plate and Randall connects, sending the ball to the 409ft mark of centerfield. Not known for his power hitting, Randall’s long ball went to clear the fence. But centre field at Southern Illinois’s Rent One Park is 410ft, and rather then circling the bases, Randall ended up on second with a long double as the ball bounces off the turf
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With ye Randall alorsokosf injuries, Justin as the m st imat this season porta t year of his proofe ssional cn areer. and crashes into the wall. He would get to 3rd base on an infield ground ball, but would be left stranded with the heart of the order up which proved costly, as River City would score 3 in the 10th in what would ultimately be a championship run for the Rascals. For Randall, it was an ending to a season that left a lot of business to attend to. Going into his third season with the Miners, Randall’s main focus is to stay healthy. In his first season in Southern Illinois he underwent micro fracture knee surgery which allowed him to only appear in 17 games. After hitting only .149 he was released, but it was revealed after the season that the left handed hitter had a broken wrist, resulting in his lower numbers. Sitting out for the majority of the season due to injuries left a question mark on his goal for a professional career. “Anything can happen, it is cut throat,” said Randall. “Once I got sent home for the injury I thought ‘I could
never play a game of professional base- managed an impressive .373 batting ball again, my life long dream is gone.’” average in 83 appearances to the plate. That off season, Randall took to He was also able to play through most the gym, added 20lbs and was signed of the Miners 20 game winning streak, a by the Miners for another season. He Frontier League record. started out the season as a utility player, Randall would be able to suit up for but found himself in the line-up due the Miners in their playoff appearance to another player’s injury. 30 games against River City. The Miners won the into the season and hitting around the first two games 3-0 and 11-9. But after .500 mark, the dropping the next Anything can happen. two 14-6 and 8-1, it outfielder/second basemen was met set up the rubber It is cut throat.” again by ill fate, as match with Randall an attempted to steal 3rd base results missing a foot shy of his first home run in torn hamstring which again took him of the season. But the playoffs showed out of the line-up. The prognosis was Randall’s consistence as a hitter, as he for Randall to be out for the season, but managed a .375 average in 16 at bats, he made it back within 5 weeks after including three doubles. But it still attending a rehab schedule three hours didn’t help the feeling of missing out on a day and getting a fake hamstring of a championship tensor bandages from his calf to his hip “I felt like nothing,” Randall said. before every game. “I’ve lost in championships before but This injury allowed Randall to apI’ve never had that feeling because we pear in only 36 games of the 96 game were so close to going to the championregular season. But in that time he ship.”
“
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Now heading into his 4th year in professional baseball in the Frontier League, Randall’s focus is to stay healthy and in the line up. With the support of his family, parents Hank and Val and brother Jeff, as well as Miners teammate and Sarnia native Mike Damchuk pushing Randall to the gym every day, he is on the course for a return year. “This offseason we are at the gym 6 or 7 times a week, and once I get tired I just think about how close we were.” With many of the same players returning next season for the Miners, there is only one thing on his mind. A championship; nothing less will be accepted. For Randall staying in the lineup and putting up the similar numbers he did last season but on a full season schedule could mean big things. Like a trip the Major Leagues.
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In October Randall was invited to an invitational tryout with the Tampa Bay Rays. During the regular work out the players were put through, Randall excited the Rays staff in what he could do on the field and at the plate, as the Rays believe he has what it would take to play baseball at a very high professional level. But being an injury prone player, the Rays are sceptical of his injuries and it will be on Randall to show he can stay healthy for the season, as the Rays will keep a close watch on the twenty-five year old this season in Southern Illinois. “You just got to make an impression on someone,” Randall says, a motto for the Sarnia native this season whose dream to play in the big leagues will not go away until the day he no longer plays the game. “Going down to these tryouts still shows that the dream still can come true.” Despite the hamstring injury, Randall’s goal is to steal 30 bases, as his speed, due to the training done this offseason, has increased. Randall will go into the season as the Miners lead off hitter, and with high grades in contact and patience at the plate, he will constantly be a threat to the opposing pitcher. Outside of baseball, Randall
achieved his Masters Degree at the age of 24 from Ashland University in Ohio. Randall played baseball at Ashland from 2003 till 2007, earning his degree in physical education. He returned to coach the following season while earning his Masters degree in Sports Education. If his professional career doesn’t work out, Randall would like to move into a teaching role. He offers advice to any athlete playing sports in college “Make sure you get your education,” he said. “I am still playing but there will be a day when I don’t play.” Baseball will always be an option to
Randall. With the Sarnia Braves moving to triple A, the option to come back to Sarnia and play for the senior team is always there, especially if a professional career doesn’t work out. The regular season for the Miners opens on May 20th with a weekend series against the Gateway Grizzlies in what Randall says is the most important season of his life. “With the group of guys we have coming back from last year, this could be the make or break year for a professional ring.”
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LSSAA REPORT
Mike Rocca
Rebounding from Season Ending Surgery When his doctor said he would be done basketball for the season, Mike Rocca told his coach he would be back this year.
O
n October 12, 2010 Mike Rocca had hip surgery to remove a bone chip that threatened his athletic career. Doctors had told him his basketball career could be finished and at the very least, recovery would take six months. On February 19th, 2011, Rocca, as part of the St. Christopher Cyclones, scored 5 points in a 55-46 victory over the Northern Vikings, capturing the LSSAA senior boy’s basketball championships. Only 130 days removed from surgery. Back two months before he was even suppose to consider playing sports, Rocca credits hard work and determination in his speedy recovery. “I told the coach that no matter what the doctors say, I’m going to be playing. There is no way I’m going to miss the season.”
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Doctors had to remove the bone chip from his hip and take cartilage from around the hip, moulded it, and put it back into the hip bone. The procedure took two and a half hours at London’s Victoria Hospital. Rocca had to keep the weight off the hip for six weeks, well into the LSSAA basketball season. But on February 4th, 2011 he made his return to the court. Though the coaches were tentative to give Rocca minutes, the grade 11 senior put in twenty minutes, and returned to action as the Cyclones sixth man. A role that sees Rocca play starter minutes as the first substitution on the floor. Rocca’s journey back still wasn’t complete, as the Cyclones moved on to SWOSSAA, where Rocca added 9 points in a 61-38 Cyclones victory over the Essex Red Raiders in the SWOSSAA finals. Then they moved on to OFSSA where Rocca won a silver medal, just missing
LSSAA REPORT ST. CHRISTOPHER CYCLONES It took only 24 seconds into overtime of the semifinal game against Northern for the Cyclones undefeated season to come to an end. And it couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the Cyclones, who sported a 7-0-3 record, and had three of the top four scoring leaders in Corey Pawley (21), Pietro Restivo (19) and Ben Morrison (17), were shutout 1-0 by the Vikings in the semi-finals out on gold with a 41-38 overtime loss to the Smiths Falls Red Hawks. “After surgery I just thought, I’m going to work hard, I’m going to be back. This is going to be a journey.” Rocca will be looked heavily upon next season to be a leader amongst the Cyclones basketball team. With the majority of starters from this season’s team moving on, Rocca will take the reins of the team heading forward. Though he may not make the score sheet as often with points, Rocca’s great vision on the court and ability to move the ball make him a leader in assists, a stat not normally kept by LSSAA statisticians, but a stat that is instrumental to the success of the Cyclones when Rocca is on the court. Rocca will stay with the Cyclones for two more seasons and hopefully be able to play basketball for a University in Canada with the option of going to Europe to play professional. He credits the help of his family, friends and teammates in helping his speedy recovery, as their constant support helped the young athlete rebound from what could have been a life changing experience. “It has made me 100% better,” Rocca says. “It has made me appreciate the game of basketball so much more, and I’m thankful for everything.”
NORTHERN VIKINGS Despite being in four championship match ups, only the junior girl’s volleyball team w a l k e d away with the title as league best. With a 3 – 0 straight sets victory over St. Christopher’s, the girls were the only Viking team to win their respected division despite nine of ten Viking teams qualifying for semi-final match ups. NORTH LAMBTON EAGLES It was a long winter in Forest, and not just because of the snow squalls. Seven of their eight teams did not qualify for semi-finals. Only the girls hockey team moved on to the semifinals where they were defeated 7-0 by eventual champions LCCVI. sarniasports.com April 2011 |
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LSSAA REPORT LCCVI LANCERS When you only allow two goals in seven games, it makes it easier to win championships. Goaltender Amelia Maniuk helped to lead the Lancers to their fifth straight girl’s hockey championship, posting five shutouts including shutting out North Lambton in the semi-finals and St. Christopher is the finals.
A GOAL SHORT OF A DECADE
W
hen St. Clair Colt Denver Spearman received a pass from Karsten Berg and back handed a shot passed Brad Jacklin in double overtime of the LSSAA semi-finals, it ended a near decade long dominance the LCCVI Lancer’s had on the boys LSSAA hockey league. Since the 2001-02 season, LCCVI has laced up for the Lambton Cup finals for nine consecutive years, hoisting the cup six times in that span, including four consecutive wins from 2001-02 to 200405, which includes an 8-1 record during that span when the finals were played as a best of three series. Only the Northern Vikings have defeated the Lancers in Lambton Cup finals, defeating LCCVI in 05-06, 08-09 and 09-10 for champions in single game finals, while also defeating them once in 01-02 during the best of three. Since the start of LCCVI’s nine year run they have played Northern a total of six times, with each team winning three championships each. Only North Lambton and St. Patrick’s have been able to crack the finals to play the Lancers in the last nine years, both losing two games to none in 03-04 and 04-05. Northern has the next closest streak, having played in the last six Cup finals.
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ST. CLAIR COLTS How big was the Colts win over Northern in the finals of boy’s hockey? The last year that a school won the title that wasn’t named LCCVI or Northern; we were worried about a little thing called Y2K. The Colts were the original winners of the Lambton Cup back in 1986. Twenty-four years later they finally hoist it again. ST. FRANCOIS-XAVIER CHEVALIERS Despite a 43-35 victory over St. Christopher’s, the midget boys basketball team were 1-8 in nine games, scoring only 216 points in the season. Their senior girl’s volleyball team finished 3-11, 7th in league standings. LSSAA’s only French school was not able to qualify for any semi-final rounds.
LSSAA REPORT ST. PATRICK FIGHTING IRISH
2010 - 2011 CHAMPIONS Basketball Senior Boys - St. Christopher Cyclones Junior Boys - St. Patrick’s Fighting Irish Midget Boys - St. Patrick Fighting Irish Senior Girls - Northern Vikings Junior Girls - St. Christopher Cyclones Volleyball Senior Girls - St. Patrick Fighting Irish Junior Girls - Northern Vikings Senior Boys - St. Clair Colts Junior Boys - St. Clair Colts Hockey Girls - LCCVI Lancers Boys - St. Clair Colts Curling Boys - St. Christopher Cyclones Girls - LCCVI Lancers
Championship weekend was kind to the Irish as they won three of five championship games. Both the midget and junior boy’s basketball teams had strong seasons, capping it off with final day victories, but it was the senior girls volleyball team that caught attention with their 16-14 fifth set upset over St. Christopher’s in the semi-finals before upsetting St. Clair in the finals 3 sets to 1. SCITS BLUE BOMBERS Two points can sometimes determine your season. In their first five games the senior boy’s basketball team had a 3-2 record. In the two losses included a 2 point loss to LSSAA champions St. Chris. The Bomber’s finished the season 5-7, going 2-5 in their last seven games finishing 2 points out of a semi-finals spot.
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HOW OUR LOCAL TEAMS SPENT TIME IN THE SIN BIN SUCCESS NOT HAMPERED BY PENALTY MINUTES
I 5290 The combined number of penalty minutes the Sarnia Sting, Sarnia Legionnaires, Mooretown Flags, Lambton Shores Predators and Petrolia Squires took through the 2010/11 season. Need a different perspective? Divide that by 60 minutes for a regulation hockey game. That’s 88.17 full games of hockey spent in the penalty box. Hope the seats are cushioned.
n 26 games in the WOAA Senior AA Hockey League, the Petrolia Squires racked up 647 penalty minutes, 1st overall in their division and 4th amongst the entire league. Yet of the five local area teams, the Squires were the only team to find success greater then a .500 season, going 20-6-0-0. Despite taking 24.88 PIM per game, the Squires managed to average 5.08 goals a game or 132 total goals for, good enough for 3rd overall in their division. Their 24 goals allowed on the penalty kill ranked them 4th in the division on the penalty kill, while their 9 short handed goals ranked them first. Dan Veenema ranked 4th on the team in penalty minutes (51) but ranked 2nd on the team in points (32). He was 15th in the division in points and 9th in the division in assists with 21 assists this season.
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519-383-1304 26 | April 2011 sarniasports.com
SARNIA
STING
1209PIM
PENALTY KILL
76.40%
SARNIA
LEGIONNAIRES
1222PIM
76.11%
LAMBTON SHORES
PREDATORS
1392PIM
67.52%
MOORETOWN
FLAGS
820PIM
75.25%
The Other Story
P
enalty minutes and penalty kill percentages can tell some of the story, but it’s the number of powerplay goals allowed that tells the other half.
Lambton Shores allowed 102 PPG in 51 games. That’s two powerplay goals allowed per game for the last ranked penalty kill in Junior B hockey, which gives good insight into the Predators season where they won 4 games, and lead the conference in penalty minutes. The Sarnia Legionnaires also gave up 75 PPG, or 1.47 goals per game. Their 21st ranked penalty kill was filled of young blue liners, so look to see this number change next season. The Mooretown Flags gave up 49 PPG in their 40 game season, resulting in a 1.23 PPG per game average. They as well held a .500 season and were ranked 7th on the penalty kill, despite having the 2nd lowest amount of penalty minutes in the entire league. The Sarnia Sting’s 16th ranked penalty kill allowed 1.26 PPG per game over 68 games, while having the 7th highest number of PIM’s in the OHL.
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Half Century Sulky With 50 years spent on the back of a horse, Marshall Moore was considered one of the best in the business. BY PAT BRETHAUER In 1991 Marshall Moore earned the Sarnia Lambton Sports Hall of Fame Earl MacKenzie Award. This award recognizes those people involved in sports at least 30 years prior to the year of induction. Moore was born on January 24, 1919 in Sarnia, Ontario. His career in the Sulky sport had spanned more than half a century. It began in 1933 in Milford, Michigan at the age of 15 where he drove his first Sulky Race. In the early years Moore trained and raced at the Point Edward Track. He participated in races in London, Toronto, Montreal, Northville and Detroit with over 1,000 wins to his credit. In 1938 Moore piloted the trotter John Dean to a ½ mile record of 1:04 at Dufferin Park in Toronto. In 1949, in Canada’s most prestigious event, the Canadian Pacific Derby at New Hamburg, Ontario he had a respectable 3-2-2 standing with Dixie Lee Hy. Moore drove many good performing horses such as High Lee Baldwin voted horse of the year in 1953 and VI HY a 1950 Furturity winner. He won many supertest stakes events and made a successful sweep of the Michigan Colt Futurities with Knight Dream. Marshall Moore’s half century in the harness sport ranked him among the most respectable sulky sitters in the business.
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Historical facts – did you know that Sarnia was the first location to use Canada’s Motorized Starting Gates? The gates were introduced in the US in May 1946 by Steve Phillips of Xenia, Ohio. Thomas McDonnell, a 40 year old born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario wanted to bring the revolutionary idea to Canada and set about his own design. With design help from a couple of friends, the gate was mounted on the family car, a 1939 Plymouth coupe and the gate was ready to go to start off the 1947 season. McDonnell placed an ad and Sarnia’s Bluewater Driving Association was first to reply. The race was held at the Bayview Racetrack. The organizers charged a 50 cent admission to the day event that included saddle horse races, pony races, several bands and a singer who impersonated Al Jolson and more. The afternoon’s racing program consisted of three races, each of 3 heats. The total purse money offered was $1,050, with equal amounts of $350 for each event. Marshall Moore was one of the locals who took part in the historic event along with Stan Dunham and Alan Alliott of Point Edward and Nate Neely and Neil Pringle of Sarnia.
NOMINATIONS BEING ACCEPTED
The Sarnia Lambton Sports Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Induction. Nominations for proposed candidates for enshrinement shall be accepted from the general membership, Board of Directors and the public at large in the following categories. CATEGORY OF NOMINATIONS Amateur Athlete - outstanding performance as an amateur athlete in their sport Professional Athlete - outstanding performer at the professional level - achieved professional status and maintained that level for three (3) years or three (3) seasons - be retired from his/her professional career for a minimum of three (3) years
Builder or Executive - recognizes significant contributions in the establishment of a sport from its infancy to the mature state within the community; - would have been the individual to keep a sport alive in the community; - long-term service on sport committees and executive positions either at the local, provincial or national levels Special Achievement - recognizes a person who over a number of years has made significant contributions to sports beyond athletic endeavors, i.e.: media, coach, official, trainer etc. Bud Morrison - recognizes a person who over a number of years has made significant contributions to the youth in their sport endeavors. (ie: coach, manager, official, trainer, facility maintenance, including school officials) Earl MacKenzie - recognizes those people involved in sports at least 30 years prior to the year of induction who are worthy of enshrinement Team - is a group award in recognition for winning a major championship or a team performing in an outstanding manner over a period of time
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Nominations for Other Awards: Rose Hodgson Memorial Award - This special award recognizes outstanding contribution to our community in memory of founding board member Rose Hodgson. Pappy Burr Award - This award is presented to a student (Male &/or Female) who has achieved their O.S.S.D. and will be entering a university or college in the fall.
The enshrinement dinner date has been set for Saturday September 24, 2011. (More information about the Induction dinner will be released at a later date.) For more information on nominating please contact President Wilf Clothier at 519-336-6682. Nomination Forms and more information can be found at: http://www.sarniasports.com/Halloffame/Nominations. html or www.sarniasports.com follow links.
Joe DeRush Memorial - The Joe DeRush Memorial Trophy is to recognize athletes with disabilities. Submit Nominations and Resumes to: Sarnia Lambton Hall of Fame P.O. Box 503 Sarnia, Ontario. N7T 7J4
or contact any member on the board of directors.
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