Spring hockey news!

Spring hockey helps extend the season for kids and adults that are not quite ready to hang up the skates quite yet. The huge, Sault Open Ice 3 on 3 event still attracts many Manitoulin kids every year. One team, the U15 Islanders, went undefeated all weekend! In six games, against teams from Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa and the North Shore, winning in the championship game on Sunday against a local Sault Ste. Marie team. 

The U15 Islanders are Collin Goodfellow, Ozhaawashko Migwans, Roen Deschenes, Ryan Carter, Kobe Mayers, Alexei Pelletier, Spencer Cortes, Alex Bourcier, Bryden Romaniuk and Liam Stephens.

Save Our Arena!

Volunteerism is alive on Manitoulin! What started out as a couple of people raising a bit of money to fix our beleaguered, band-aided arena in Mindemoya now has an official committee. The Mindemoya Arena Repair Committee (MARC) is proud to announce that community fundraising efforts have now reached $22,920.00 in support of urgently needed repairs to the JH Burt Mindemoya Arena. 

Committee spokesperson, Marcus Mohr relayed that in addition to these new donations, “MARC has formally requested that the Municipality of Central Manitoulin earmark $16,372.66 in previously raised funds originally collected by the Mindemoya Arena Advisory Steering Committee (MAASC). The MAASC fund was created through community contributions several years ago with the intent of improving and maintaining the Mindemoya Arena. MARC believes it is both appropriate and necessary that these funds now be used for their original purpose, preserving and enhancing a vital recreational and sporting facility at the heart of the community.”

Youth Ball Tournament overfilled!

The sixth annual, Mindemoya Youth ball tournament (June 20 – 22nd) committee has now capped the number of teams entered at 40! The committee made decision to expand from 37 to 40 teams and still there are still 3 teams on wait list. Unfortunately, there are just not enough field times available to expand further!

What a great boost to Manitoulin’s economy! If you even conservatively, extrapolate the figures with 40 teams to 400 players to their friends and families that could easily be a 1000 people, part of this event. Without all the work, that Greg Lockeyer and his committee has put in over the years, upgrading fields, adding fields, recruiting volunteers, etc. this event would not be where it is at. Now, if an arena could just be added to off-season options? “If you build it…”

Pickleball is still gaining popularity!

Pickleball has long been touted as the fastest growing sport and on Manitoulin at least, the opportunity to play is still expanding. The Manitoulin Pickleball Club, based out of Little Current, has moved into the curling rinks and as of Friday, and club promoter, Bud Hebner reports that enthusiasts filled five of their courts with people waiting/recovering! 

The Manitoulin Secondary indoor courts have also been busy and there are rumblings that a group hopes to make use of the Mindemoya Tennis courts as well. I know Gore Bay and Manitowaning also have opportunities.

If you have news of court availability, times and details anywhere on the Island, please don’t hesitate to share.