The Converged Citizen - Feb. 4, 2016

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*Volume XI Issue 10 *February 4, 2016

The Power Of The Future

Inside

2 News

Funding helpful for FIRST Robotics team

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Photo by Dan Gray Steven Rice, Grade 11 student at Assumption Catholic High School works on wiring the practise robot used for FIRST Robotics in Windsor Jan 26. The ASC Purple Raiders are currently preparing for the regional competitions at the St. Denis Centre in early April.

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U of W to release sexual assault policy Caleb Workman Converged Citizen Staff The University of Windsor is preparing to release its official Sexual Assault Policy by the end of next month.

The policy’s main focus is the misconceptions and myths around sexual assault and states “these myths downplay the seriousness of sexual misconduct and confuse our understanding

of consent.”

Chair of the committee for the policy and dean of students at the University of Windsor, Clayton Smith, said the policy is going to make a big change in student life.

“When implemented it’s not just going to be another policy,” said Smith. “It will make a difference in the lives of our students and that’s what’s important.”

Dhouha Triki, a senator of

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the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance involved with the working committee, said it is important for students to know sexual assault happens and the university is taking action to make students know how to act accordingly in those situations.

“Our goal is inform and raise awareness about sexual assault but the dream is to have a campus free

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from sexual violence,” said Triki. “It’s a right for women to be able to walk the campus without fear and that’s what we intend to try to create with the policy.”

The policy outlines how to treat victims of sexual assault with compassion, dignity and respect, to be informed about disclosing, reporting and complaint

Assault Page 4 Weather

Thursday, February 4 2016 High: 0°C Low: 4°C Weather provided by The Weather Network

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5 Sports Quote of the Day Those who control their passions do so because their passions are weak enough to be controlled.

- William Blake

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Water donations pour in for Flint Jordan Caschera Converged Citizen Staff In addition to their hockey tickets, Windsorites filed into the Windsor Family Credit Union Centre with water donations to help aid the city of Flint with its drinking water crisis.

The Windsor Spitfires hosted the Flint Firebirds Jan. 21 in the first game of a two part series. Fans were asked by the Spitfires organization to donate any size and quantity of bottled water for the city of Flint. The city has recently been in a water crisis since the discovery of lead and other corrosives in its drinking water.

The game was only a part of the action with fans donating over 50,000 bottles of water after the organization sent out a message asking for help.

The overwhelming amount of support caught stores like Costco, FreshCo (the organization) off guard, according to Nathan Sellon, director of fan development for the Windsor Spitfires.

“People are telling me water

is sold out everywhere,” said Sellon. “It’s great to see all the support.”

Sellon said fans began to drop off donations 11 hours before puck drop which grew to 19,000 bottles before the doors opened to the public.

Sellon said the number of bottles changed the simplicity of the plan to ship the water.

“We are taking a fan bus to Flint on Saturday, but due to the overwhelming amount of support, we can’t just load up the bus,” said Sellon Leamington Flyers’ owner Abe Fehr has offered to get the cargo delivered.

Fehr, who owns the Leamington-based manufacturing firm Uni-Fab, contacted Spitfires’ general manager Warren Rychel to offer to transport the water across the border free of charge.

“It’s nice to have the rivalry on the ice,” said Sellon “But off the ice, it’s nice to break down the borders and help when they need us most.”

Flint’s drinking water became contaminated with lead in 2014 when the city began temporarily drawing

Photo by Jordan Cashera Kodey Ducharme unloads water donations intended for Flint, Mich. from a Windsor Spitfire fan’s vehicle at the WFCU Centre Jan. 21. water from the Flint River.

The water was then treated at the city treatment plant while it waited for a new water pipeline to Lake Huron to be completed.

“They’re our closest neighbours and lead poisoning isn’t something to mess around with,”said Jerry Forbes, a Spitfires fan. “If we were in that position our U.S. neighbours would help us out too.”

Many fans seemed to agree saying they felt obligated to donate to the cause.

“They’re our neighbours,” said Bob Trudell, a season ticket holder for the Spitfires.

“We need to feel compassion for them and it’s a fantastic idea to donate.”

Spitfires fan George Grayson said the thought of donating was a quick and simple decision.

“People need help, that’s why we are donating,” said Grayson.“They are our neighbours.”

The Flint Firebirds thanked Windsorites and the Spitfires organization through Twitter shortly after two semi-trucks delivered the water to the Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center in Flint prior to their next game.

Students not left out of the new hospital plans Lyndi-Colleen Morgan Converge Citizen Staff The CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital says students will not be left out of the transition process of the new acute care facility being built in Windsor.

David Musyj is part of the team helping to make the new hospital a reality. He said although the building of the facility is not under way, plans to ready the Windsor community for the transition are being prepared.

Musyj said the new facility is in the first stage of the five stage process which could decide the speed at which the hospital plans move forward.

“We’re at a very critical part of the process because when you move to stage two you take away ‘the if you are going to have a new facility,’” said Musyj.

The new hospital will serve

Photo courtesy MediaPlex News Now David Musyj is interviewd by Lyndi-Colleen Morgan (left) at the St.Clair MediaPlex in Windsor Jan. 19. the citizens of Windsor and those living in the surrounding areas. It will include changes to the current facility and to the Windsor health care system. The new centre will be located on the southeast side of County Road 42 and Concession 9.

A lawsuit launched by

Citizens for an Accountable Mega-Hospital Planning Process to try and stop the building of the hospital outside the downtown core has been withdrawn.

Musyj said the lawsuit could have delayed preparations for the hospital and affect time components of the planning

and the possibility of losing government funding.

“There is a limited amount of provincial capital resources available so we are competing with Muskoka, with Ottawa, with Niagara, with Scarborough and with Durham for new hospital projects,” said Musyj.

He said guidelines were set in place at the beginning of the selection process that may help with the lawsuit. The hospital will work to meet the required time frames to receive government funding.

Musyj also said helping citizens and staff at facilities who are involved in the project will be part of the transition process.

Students who conduct their placements at the current facilities will be made part of the transition process and Musyj said he considers them they part of the future acute care facility.

Currently the hospital collaborates with both St. Clair College and the University of Windsor as placement sites for programs including nursing, respiratory therapy and paramedics.

“We’re all in this together,”

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Benefit supports New contract for Windsor Police Association brain injury research Mark Brown Converged Citizen Staff Hundreds of people turned out in both evening dress and costumes to raise money for a local charity supporting head injury victims.

The gala, called Disney Dreams, was the primary event on the fundraising calendar for the University of Windsor’s Behaviour, Cognition and Neuroscience Student Association. Sejal Joshi, president of the association, said that the Brain Injury

about the theme of the gala.

“One thing that did come up with a lot of people was a Disney-themed gala,” said Wright. So we took it and rolled with it.”

The gala is one of many fundraising events put on by the BCNSA which has also done bake sales, bowling nights and masquerade events in the past.

The charity of choice for the group this year, the BIAWE, provides education and resources for Windsor-Essex residents affected by head injuries and their loved ones.

AshleyAnn Mentley Converged Citizen Staff A five-year contract between the Windsor Police Association and the Windsor Police Services Board has been signed without arbitration.

The agreement includes increasing shifts to 12 hours in length, minor benefit improvements and an approximately 1.5 per cent salary increase each year. It is the first contract the Windsor police have reached without arbitration in almost 10 years.

According to Mayor Drew Dilkens, the past few contract settlements involving arbitration have not favoured of the police boards.

“Clearly we’ve been very vocal as a group of mayors all across Ontario saying we believe the arbitration system in the province is fractured and we need some solutions to deal with that,” Dilkens said.

He said he is not alone in this opinion and it is the same message almost every mayor in Ontario has been sending to

Hospital Page 2 Photo by Mark Brown Attendees mingle at the Disney Dreams gala to benefit the Brain Injury Association of Windsor-Essex at the Fogolar Furlan Club in Windsor Jan. 23.

Association of Windsor-Essex is part of a long line of charities the group has supported.

“Every year we host this charity gala for one charity that we select to fundraise for the duration of the year,” said Joshi.

Capitalizing on the success of a Harry Potter-themed event last year, the group chose a Disney theme for the benefit at the Fogolar Furlan Club. Participants listened to a jazz singer perform standards and Disney songs, posed for Disney-themed photos and entered drawings for door prizes. Some of the attendees even dressed as Disney characters.

Joshua Wright, vice-president of student affairs for the BCNSA, said the group looked for input from students

Traumatic brain injury and concussions are more prevalent than breast cancer, HIV and AIDS and spinal cord injuries, according to their website. Recent media attention has been on athletic-related concussions which, if left untreated, could lead to longterm issues such as depression.

Though the total funds raised from the gala were not readily available, Joshi said the group has been pleased with what they have raised over the years.

“In the last four years we have raised over $16,000 for local charities in Windsor,” said Joshi.

For further information about the BCNSA, contact (519) 253-3000 ext. 4759 or email bcnsa@uwindsor.ca.

said Waseem Habash, vice president of academics at St. Clair College. “The college, the university and the hospitals, we are all in this community to help our community be successful and to help our students earn jobs.”

Habash said St. Clair College is looking forward to working with Windsor Regional Hospital to create a formula of teaching that will use the new facilities and technology that will come with it.

Students, depending on the medical program are required to obtain a certain number of clinical hours in order to graduate. Habash said there will be opportunities for the students to do placements at the facility once it is built. He also said St. Clair College will provide students with the necessary skills to succeed in this atmosphere.

“We are part of the community and we are here to sup-

Photo by Ashley Ann Mentley The Windsor Police Services Board agrees on a five-year contract with the Windsor Police Association Jan. 21. the provincial government.

Windsor police will now begin a trial period that implements the new 12-hour shifts.

This is a system already in place elsewhere throughout the province with the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as in Essex County. Dilkens said the major difference is that they are implementing it into an urban environment rather than rural.

Jason Dejong, president of

the Windsor Police Association, said the contract won’t involve any staffing changes. He said it is cost neutral and the biggest change will be moving from five shifts to four shifts per week.

“From our perspective we think this is a fair deal,” Dilkens said. “It’s fair for the service and clearly the officers think it’s fair as well and at the end of the day it’s fair for the community.”

port our community partners like Windsor hospital,” said Habash. “We are also here to support our students, first and foremost, making sure they are getting the best education and making sure that they are ready to be employed when they graduate.”

Leah Dalm is a first year student in the registered practical nursing program at St. Clair College. She said the addition of the new medical facility is good not only for Windsor but also the region. She also sees the new facility as a resource which can be beneficial in the teaching of students in medical programs.

“When new technology can be used to teach students it is not only the students who will benefit, but the patients they will be helping,” said Dalm.”I think this new hospital will offer experiences to students that will benefit them when they graduate.”

Dalm said if given the oppor-

tunity she would like to learn in the facility and someday work there.

Musyj said although the acute care facility is in its early stages, it is important to consider the future and the changes that are coming.

“As we move forward with our care delivery model changes and continued preparation for a single site acute care facility we continue to engage with our partners at St. Clair College and the University of Windsor on many initiatives leveraging their expertise from an academic and research perspective as well as working collaboratively to ensure that the curriculum aligns with the rapid changes in health care,” said Musyj.

Musyj said if all the necessary work is completed in a timely manner, the first stages of construction for the new facility are expected to take place in seven years.

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Puffing in parks could soon end Kenneth Bullock Converged Citizen Staff Windsor parks may soon be on the list of places where you can’t smoke.

A by law revision is in the works to be put before city council to ban smoking in public parks. During the city council meeting Jan. 11, Ward 9 Councillor Hilary Payne announced the Windsor Essex County Health Unit would be proposing the ban on smoking in the coming months. The number of smokers has steadily decreased in the province since the Smoke Free Ontario Act was enacted in 2006. This drop reflects the population of Windsor as well.

“There’s only between 17 and 20 per cent of people smoke now,” said Payne, also a board member of WECHU. “ So I think in fairness to the other 80 plus percentage of people who don’t smoke, this ban should be put in place.”

These efforts began in 2014.

The Windsor Essex County Health Unit passed a resolution after speaking to provincial municipalities. This regarded expanding bylaws on outdoor tobacco use in cities province wide according to WECHU. This included bans on smoking in parks, playgrounds, recreation centres

Assault Page 1 options and the limits of confidentiality associated with each option. It also states how students can take reasonable and necessary actions to prevent further unwanted contact with the alleged perpetrator.

“We know that one in four women are sexually assaulted over their university period,” said Jaydee Tarpeh, president of the UWSA. “It’s important to have a policy on campus that keeps the campus safe, especially our female population.”

The policy was open to the public for comments and reviews and is now in the final process before it is officially released.

Photo by Kenneth Bullock Jill Mepsted lights a cigarette at David Crowl Park in Windsor Jan. 29. and others. They also said outdoor space by-laws have already been implemented in six municipalities in the Essex County area, WECHU confirming this movement is nothing new.

“As of January 1st of 2015, the province of Ontario expanded the Smoke Free Ontario act, banning the smoking of tobacco at playgrounds and sports fields, as well as within 20 metres of these areas,” said Kristy McBeth, director of knowl-

Robotics Page1 FIRST Robotics teams across the county are looking for funds to help with this year’s competition.

A dozen local high school teams participating in this years “stronghold event” are currently fundraising to make their robots a reality. The seemingly fun competition has a myriad of costs involved.

One local team trying to make ends meet is last year’s regional champions the Assumption Catholic High School Purple Raiders. Lauren Lanoue is a Grade 11 student and head of the teams business department. She helps track all the money coming in and out of the team. According to Lanoue they have a current budget of $30,000. She said those funds are necessary for operating the team.

edge management at WECHU. “What’s happened is the province hasn’t gone far enough to enforce these bylaws, as there is confusion as to the distance needed being from these areas.”

“The bylaw being proposed for Windsor is to cover the smoking law over parks that don’t include playgrounds,” said McBeth. “The goal of this is to have a more smoke-free environment for those who don’t smoke as well as make Windsor more environment “Without our sponsors and without our fundraising we wouldn’t have a team,” said Lanoue. We don’t get funding from the school and actually have to build the team from the ground up…Everything we buy, registering for competitions, transportation, everything comes from the money we get from our sponsors.”

According to FIRST Robotics Canada’s website they were established in 2001.

Their goal is to inspire students from grade school to high school to keep studying engineering, physics and technology. In last year’s competition there were 160 teams, involved over 5,000 students, 1,000 mentors and 800 volunteers.

Irek Kusmierczyk the director of partnerships at WeTech Alliance is one of the point people for the regional com-

friendly. “ On the other side of the matter, not all smokers entirely object to this ban on where they can light up. One Windsorite has been smoking for three years and has a case of asthma. She said she understands the issue people have with smoking in public areas.

“You don’t want to have someone smoking at the park where your kids are playing, I can completely understand that,” said Jill Mepsted. “It’s a person’s choice what goes into petition. He said preparing and competing in competitions like this gets students ready for the real world.

“It’s like starting and running their own technology start-up company. They get experience and skills when it comes to mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and business programming,” said Kusmierczyk. “In terms of business plans, graphic designs, communications, PR, they are running a technology start-up company.”

The local teams received a couple of boosts to get their build going this year. St. Clair College donated $17,000 to be divided among the teams.

Fiat-Chrysler donated money to each team to help get them going. LouAnn Gosselin, the head of communications at Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles of Canada, said they try and

their bodies and plus people with asthma can be endangered by it as well.”

Mepsted gets irritated with people who smoke at bus stops as well and has noticed there is a fine line when it is appropriate to smoke and when it is not to others.

Smoking is a choice.

The proposal for Windsor city council to further expand smoking enforcement has no confirmed date, but Payne and McBeth are hoping it goes through in the coming months. work with programs that promote science, technology, electronic and math or STEM learning and have been working with FIRST for a few years.

“Twelve community schools were granted U.S. $5,000 award each this year to use towards their programming efforts,” said Gosselin. “It’s at their discretion to use the funds how they need them… it differs from school to school.”

According to Kusmiercyzk, Windsor hosts the largest gathering of teams each year and this year’s competition will also have a team from Europe. For those who want to see the end result of all the hard work and fundraising the regional competition will be held April 8 and 9 at the St. Denis Centre at the University of Windsor.

CONVERGED CITIZEN February 4, 2016

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Windsorites head to Toronto for NBA All-Star Weekend Christian Bouchard Converged Citizen Staff Two Windsorites are using their basketball talents to punch their tickets to Toronto to watch the NBA All-Star Game.

The University of Windsor’s St. Denis Centre played host to a showcase on Jan. 16 that allowed basketball fans to realize their “all-star” dreams and show off their talent. As a cross-country initiative to identify and showcase Canada’s next generation of future stars, the challenge invited Windsor’s best three point shooters, skills challenge competitors and dunkers. Windsor was just one of 14 different cities and 10 provinces in which the showcase stopped across Canada.

The winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to compete for a national title at NBA All-Star 2016 in Toronto.

More than 1,740 fans gathered to see the festivities as 11-year NBA veteran Morris Peterson – who was a member of the Michigan State Spartan’s 1999-2000 NCAA National Championship team and a beloved Toronto Raptor

Photo by Christian Bouchard Catholic Central High School graduate Shavon Gayle (second right) poses for a picture with NBA All-Star Weekend celebrity guest Morris Peterson (right) at the St. Dennis Centre in Windsor Jan. 16. Gayle won the dunk competition and will now head to Toronto for a chance to participate in the NBA All-Star Weekend Feb. 12-14.

– was on site as a judge for the dunk competition.

“These showcases are great for Canada as a whole,” said Peterson after the event.

“We’re really starting to see a lot of talent from Canada.”

Shavon Gayle, a Catholic Central High School graduate, was one of hundreds of people to show up for a chance to showcase their talents. After

gaining several fans on YouTube with his flashy dunks while attending CCH, Gayle continued the trend and made new fans through a handful of impressive dunks at the showcase.

Gayle said having a legend such as Peterson in attendance gave him extra motivation to succeed and do whatever was necessary to take home the top

prize.

“He was my idol when I was younger,” said Gayle. “It was a great opportunity to finally meet him. He had some kind words about how I did today.

It’s a great feeling and I’m happy to be a part of it”.

While Gayle took home the first place prize in the dunk competition, another Windsorite had a homecoming

of his own. In a place he used to call home, former University of Windsor Lancer’s team MVP Khalid El-Gabar won both the threepoint and skills challenge competition.

“It feels amazing,” said Gabar following his wins.

“There was a lot of competition today that brought a lot of people from Windsor to come support and watch. It was great for the community.”

As Gabar now prepares to head out to Toronto, he said he is thankful for the opportunity to showcase his talents, especially in a place which has already brought so many great memories like the St. Denis Centre.

“I think that’s the best thing about it,” said Gabar. “A lot of people know me from Windsor playing for the Lancers so it meant a lot to me to go out and be able to represent for the school.”

The NBA All-Star Weekend will be held from Feb. 12- 14 and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the birth of basketball. As the city of Toronto is playing host to the event, it is also the first time ever the event is being held outside of the United States.

Raonic falls short of history Christian Bouchard Converged Citizen Staff I had the chance to look at the NHL standings the other day.

Like most Canadians, I noticed the poor play of all seven Canadian teams. If the playoffs started today, for the first time since the 96-97 season, every single Canadian team will not make the playoffs. For a country that has built a culture around the success of Canadian hockey, I was shocked to realize just how poor our teams have been performing. But do not fret my fellow Canadians, Milos Raonic is here to save the day. Despite his

latest misfortune at the Australian Open, the Canadian is destined to shine bright.

The 25 year-old from Thornhill, Ont. was an eyelash short of making Canadian tennis history earlier on this morning. Losing in five sets (4-6, 7-5, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2) to the second ranked Andy Murray in the Semi-Finals of the Australian Open, Raonic showed signs of a true superstar.

Playing through an apparent leg injury in the third set, the Canadian missed his shot at becoming the first ever male Canadian to reach the finals of a Grand Slam. Not to mention, the match also lasted a little bit over four hours.

Raonic started off well taking the first set, all while taking advantage of his monstrous serve as he made his first serve 81 per cent of the time in the first set. It served him well throughout the match as he blasted 23 aces. Unfortunately, as we’ve seen time after time, it was that nagging leg injury that ultimately made the biggest difference. Raonic was locked and loaded in the first two sets taking chances and not committing many unforced errors. One might even think he was going to win. I did. However, with the apparent injury that forced Raonic to take a medical timeout late in the third set, Raonic could

not mentally battle through the pain. His game quickly fell off as he made more than 50 unforced errors which eventually led to him getting broken mentally when he smashed his racket. As this was unlike the tennis player I’ve had the privilege of watching as I grew up, I was surprisingly okay with his actions. Never have I seen him lose his cool before today.

Raonic showed me passion the entire night pumping his fists after key points and screaming to get the fans behind him. It was the kind of passion needed to battle your way back into a match in which you’re trailing.

Never did he give up. Instead, he

inspired.

Throughout the entire tournament, Raonic was faced with overcoming adversity. Every time his back was up against the wall, he came through with either a big shot or as we’ve seen thousands of times, a big serve.

You can say the stage was too big for him again, say how he’s too young, how he’s not good enough to win a Grand Slam, whatever. It doesn’t change my stance on the matter. Milos Raonic will win a Grand Slam final within the next year.

It’s no secret the “Maple Leaf

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sports & fitness Vipers improving when it counts Garrett Fodor Converged Citizen Staff The LaSalle Vipers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League are trying to prove last year was not a fluke as they were finalists in the Western Conference and the Sutherland Cup, as the second best junior ‘B’ team in all of Ontario.

Last season was a roller coaster of sorts for the Vipers as they lost in game 6 of the Western Conference finals to their county rivals the Leamington Flyers. Despite losing, the team was named one of the four teams to play for the Sutherland Cup. The Vipers surprised the Elmira Sugar Kings by pulling off the upset in game 7 of the semi finals. However, LaSalle would eventually fall to the Caledonia Corvairs in six games of the finals.

Fast forward one year and the Vipers are nearing the playoffs sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference.

With 13 members from last year’s team still with the organization, hopes are high that the team can improve on the results of their 2015 season.

Since the new year, the Vipers have a 4-2 record and

Raonic Page 5 Missile” is a perfect nickname for Raonic as he has one of the greatest serves on tour. In fact, he currently holds the fifth fastest serve ever hit on tour at 155.3 miles per hour. While this has gained him many fans and ads to his game, I’m more impressed with the fact he’s become the best overall server in the game. And he’s only 25 years old. Statistically, his serve is one of the strongest on tour. In 2012, he served more aces per match and won a higher number of service games than any other player. Today, Milos holds serve 91 per cent of the time he steps to the baseline.

Despite the loss to Murray Friday morning, I see a bright future for Milos. Of course, he will need to remain healthy if he wants a taste of success. He will also need to continue playing like the best server on tour. The key, however, will be his net play. At six-foot-five, Raonic provides a tall, lanky body that installs fear into many players when he approaches the net. We

have been improving both their position in the standings and their roster. Following the league trade deadline Jan. 11, the team has added six players who did not begin the season with the Vipers. Included in these players were former Vipers Daniel Beaudoin and Brett Primeau who had been playing junior ‘A.’ One of the players who was absent from the opening lineup was defenseman and team captain Nathan Veres. Veres has been hampered by injuries in his final season of junior hockey, playing just eight games. Veres said he believes having Beaudoin and Primeau back is great with their experience and abilities.

“Having these guys back here definitely strengthens us up a bit and we were just starting to get things in check and building steam. It’s great to see the momentum we’re starting to gain,” said Veres.

“It was great to get a win against Leamington, especially as we’re getting guys back.

It was a great character win for the team.”

Along with Primeau and Beaudoin returning from time in junior ‘A’ comes Niagara native, defenseman Ryan Sariss who spent time in the Ontario Hockey League,

while Cale Allen crossed sides of the rivalry after being released from Leamington.

Head coach and general manager Bill Bowler said these players are bringing their depth and experience.

“Brett was our co-rookie of the year last year,” said Bowler. “He knows us, we know him, he’s a huge addition and he finds a way to score goals. Ryan fits in nicely, he can play all three zones while Dan had a strong playoff performance with us last year and was playing with the Spitfires. The thing with our league is there’s lots of parity.

If we play to our ability we have a chance against anybody on any given night.”

Veres said he likes being the underdog and underestimated ahead of playoffs.

“At least coming into it now, we are not the outstanding front runner,” said Veres. “We know we have a great team here and that we can make some noise. We know what happened last year, how close we came and how great it feels. The potential is there.”

LaSalle will look to move up the standings Sunday, when they travel to Chatham to take on the Maroons before hosting Lambton Shores Wednesday.

saw it earlier on this morning when he gave Murray troubles every time he approached the net. But with that nagging leg injury, it proved too much to be able to move as efficiently and get to the net in time to set up a volley.

On route to the semis, Raonic knocked off some of the best players on tour in Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils.

Now that he’s had the time and experience on tour to get a feel for the game, he’s showing his true abilities to play with the best on tour and even defeat them along the way.

Even with the loss to Murray, I’m confident in saying Milos is playing the best tennis of his life. He’s gained the confidence needed to succeed and he’s been showing it. In March of 2015, Raonic earned his highest ranking on tour at No.4. Currently ranked the fourteenth best player on tour, I’m sure his ranking will only rise after an impressive outing in the Australian Open.

Raonic has also gained praise by the likes of Jimmy Connors and one of the greatest servers in tennis history, Andy Roddick.

Both tennis legends agree Raonic has a bright future. As do I. While he hasn’t been able to remain as healthy as he would like, he’s making constant progress.

For Canadian tennis fans and Canadians all over the world, I’m thrilled to say Raonic will be the answer. He will rise up to the occasion and make the most of his opportunities. When the lack of Canadian hockey teams in the NHL playoff prove to be too much for the hearts of hockey fans, I predict Canadians will turn on their TVs and cheer for Milos as he prepares for the French Open. Maybe there will be a Canadian team to make the playoffs, I don’t know for sure.

But one thing I am sure of: Milos Raonic will soon be a household name for Canadians.

Milos Raonic will continue to be one of the best servers on tour.

Milos Raonic will make Canadian tennis history and become the first ever male Canadian to reach the final of a Grand Slam.

Milos Raonic will be the answer for Canada

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ONVERGED CITIZEN

Sports round up Michael Hugall Converged Citizen Staff

Junior C The Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League playoff will begin next week with the Essex 73’s and Amherstburgh Admirals finishing in first and second place respectively. The 73’s finished 34-3-1 in 40 games played this season.

The 73’s will be starting their quest to defend the Schmaltz Cup on Tuesday as they take on the Alvinston Flyers at the Essex Centre Sports Complex.

The Integrity Admirals (23-11-3) will be in action Wednesday against the Dresden Kings at the Libro Credit Union Centre.

The 73’s puck drop will commence at 7 p.m. The Admirals will drop at 7:30 p.m.

OHL The Windsor Spitfires will play back-to-back games this weekend as they stay at the WFCU Centre to take on the London Knights on Saturday and Sarnia Sting on Sunday.

The Spitfires are 29-12-5 on the season. Leading the way in scoring for the Spitfires’ is Christian Fischer who has 57 points through 46 games played this season

MLB Hot Stove After the Detroit Tigers acquired outfielder Justin Upton in free-agency, the Tampa Bay Rays have traded for Colorado Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in exchange for righthander Jake McGee and pitching prospect German Marquez.

Dickerson batted .304 with 10HR and 31RBI through 61 games last season with the Rockies.

NBA All-Star Weekend The NBA has announced all-star reserves for this year’s game at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

After Raptor point-guard Kyle Lowry was selected to start for the Eastern Conference, Raptor fans were greeted by more news – fellow guard Demar DeRozan was selected to the team as well.

Eastern Conference Reserves: Demar DeRozan, Isiah Thomas, Chris Bosh, Andre Drummond, Paul Millsap, Jimmy Butler and John Wall.

Western Conference Reserves: Anthony Davis, Demarcus Cousins, Chris Paul, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, LaMarcus Aldridge and James Harden.

NHL The National Hockey League all-star weekend kicks off this weekend at Bridgestone Arena, in Nashville, Tenn. with the skills competition starting Saturday.

This year has been subjected to a lot of controversy due to a 3-on-3 tournament style format, as well as NHL fan voting.

John Scott was named captain of the Pacific region after tallying one point in 11 games this season.

Scott spent 11 games with the Coyotes and was promptly traded Jan. 15 to the Montreal Canadiens who immediately sent him to the minor leagues.

The NHL has tried to talk Scott out of playing, however, he will not refuse.