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Two times champs! Little Current Public School captures Island tourney

MANITOWANING—Everyone involved had nothing but good words to say about the second annual Manitoulin Island elementary school hockey tournament hosted by Assiginack Public School (Manitowaning) on Monday, January 27. 

“It turned out to be an awesome day,” said Becky Stewart, a Grade 8 teacher at Assiginack Public School and organizer of the tournament. “This was our second annual tournament. We had five teams take part including Charles C. McLean (Gore Bay), Central Manitoulin Public School (Mindemoya), Assiginack Public School, Little Current Public School and Pontiac School (Wiikwemkoong).” She pointed out Lakeview School (M’Chigeeng) was invited to take part but didn’t field a team to put in the tournament.

The tournament brought together teams of players from Grades 6-8. 

“It was a very successful event,” stated Ms. Stewart. She explained each team played four games during the day and teams garnered points based on their wins and ties. LCPS was first overall after each team played four games, so they received a bye to the final. In the semi-finals CMPS and Pontiac squared off with CMPS winning and advancing to the final, where they dropped a very close 3-2 game to LCPS.

“Our team was fortunate enough to win the title of champions for the second year in a row,” said Melanie Pollard, LCPS coach. “What a great tournament hosted by Assiginack Public School.”

The LCPS team included Nohlan Matthews, Azalea Anaya, Mia Tomaselli, Matias Behm, Xavier Panamick-Eshkawkogan, Brooke Simon, Laine Coleman, Haileigh Simon, Kailyn Inglis, Lily Simon, Boston Abotossaway, Lynndra Madahbee-Peltier, Isaac Souliere, Jack Todd, Charlotte Ziegler, Nathan Quackenbush and Casey Bowerman.

Second place went to CMPS with Pontiac finishing third. C.C. McLean finished fourth.

Ms. Stewart said a big thank you needs to go out to the volunteer referees for the tournament, who took the day off to do this. They included Ryan Stewart, Pete VanVolkingburgh, Joel Lock and Perry Cuomo. They refereed all the games from 8 am to 5 pm during the day. 

As well a shout out to Ms. Stewart’s Grade 8 students Iris Spry and Morgan Peltier who did the timekeeping for the games during the day, Jackie White events coordinator for Assiginack and the arena staff for putting the tournament on.

“We are already looking forward to next year,” said Ms. Stewart.

“All I can say is that Becky Stewart and APS did an incredible job running a terrific hockey tournament,” said Ms. White. “And the kids from the schools were exemplary with their behaviour. Assiginack Township is so delighted to be able to host it.”

Article written by

Tom Sasvari
Tom Sasvarihttps://www.manitoulin.com
Tom Sasvari serves as the West Manitoulin news editor for The Expositor. Mr. Sasvari is a graduate of North Bay’s Canadore College School of Journalism and has been employed on Manitoulin Island, at the Manitoulin West Recorder, and now the Manitoulin Expositor, for more than a quarter-century. Mr. Sasvari is also an active community volunteer. His office is in Gore Bay.