Beaver Brae Bronco Andrew Marks tries to get a leg up on airborne Eagle Brady Desserre during the Eagles’ 3-1 win over the Broncos, May 16 at Rotary Park.

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Dryden High School Eagles girls and boys soccer teams hosted Kenora’s Beaver Brae Broncos and Fort Frances Muskies at North Dryden’s Rotary Park soccer pitches in NorWOSSA ‘AA’ soccer action, May 16. The DHS boys beat their Kenora rivals 3-1 on a trio goals from Richie Callawaert. Callawaert was also the lone Dryden scorer in a 1-1 tie with Fort Frances.

On the girls’ side, the Eagles blanked Fort Frances 3-0, though lost in their second game 2-1 to Beaver Brae. With identical records of one win, one loss, and two draws, both Eagles teams sit in second place heading into the May 23 playoffs in Kenora.  Photos by Chris Marchand

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 By Chris Marchand

The records were falling at another great year of athletics in the second annual Dryden High School Track and Field Invitational, May 15.

The DHS Invitational was used to select the team entry for the NWOSSAA Regional Track and Field Championships to be held at the Canadian Legion Track and Field facility in Thunder Bay, May 23-24.

The day saw 25 meet records set with 13 local elementary records and 17 high school records.

With over 200 participants and 750 individual event entries between high school and elementary school divisions, organizer and DHS track coach Mike Wood says the volunteers made the event a tremendous success.

For Wood, the day’s highlight came in a new relay event that he hopes will henceforth become a longstanding tradition. New in 2012 was the first annual Harry McMaster Mile — in honour of the iconic local retired teacher and sports pioneer.

“Harry’s legacy is a testament to all that we hope to instil in students at DHS to this day and it seemed only fitting that we carry this tradition forward in his good name,” said Wood. “I believe it’s only fitting that we chose the most iconic distance in track; a distance which can only be perfected as a relay of four athletes with incredible effort, precision and team work.  Harry would have it no other way.”

After sharing a story about how the first DHS track and field meet was held at the old Agricultural Fairgrounds in 1949, and was started with a real gun, borrowed from the Bank of Montreal for the occasion, Harry officially started the McMaster Relay with a more modern and far less intimidating starters pistol.

Competitors left it all on the track in hot pursuit of winning this inaugural event. In the end, St. Joseph won both the Elementary girls and boys categories. See below for results.

Tuesday May 15th, 2012 at Dryden High School

Elementary School Championship Results

1. St. Joseph’s 174

2. New Prospect 167

3. Open Roads 138

4. St. Thomas Aquinas 108

5. Lillian Berg 13

Long Jump – Elementary Girls

1. Tori Stebnitsky – STE -Meet Record

2. Taylor Tom – STE

3. Lauren Nickle – SJ Elementary Record

4. Jordan Bakos (OR)

5. Emma Robertson (NP)

Long Jump – Elementary Boys

1. Zack Lugli – SJ (Meet Record)

2. Marshall Miller – OR

3. Michael Hodgkinson – SJ

4. Sean Wood – OR

5. Alex Palmer – OR

Long Jump – High School Girls

1. Emily Plett -DHS

2. Emmy Arsenault – DHS

Long Jump – High School Boys

1. Ilya Perkins – DHS (DHS Record)

2. Keagan Murray – STH

3. Tristan Wetendorf – STH

4. Neils Rasmussen -QEH

5. Josh Wetendorf STH

Javelin – High School Boys

1. Shane Kirton – DHS (Meet and DHS Record)

2. Brendan Fishwick – DHS

3. Thomas Cooper – DHS

4. Nevin Mallyon – DHS

5. Taylor Dalzell – PLH

Discus – High School Boys

1. Robbie Lecot – DHS (Meet Record)

2. Thomas Cooper – DHS

3. Brendan Fishwick – DHS

4. Brayden Davis – DHS

5. Ryan Beever – PLH

High Jump – Elementary Girls

1. Savanna Neniska – STE (Meet Record)

2. Taylor Tom – STE

3. Celena Brosseau – SJ (Local Elementary Record)

4. Jade Snow – KA

5. Sage Skead – STE

High Jump – Elementary Boys

1. Sean Wood – OR

2. Devan Schmidt – NP

3. Marshall Miller – OR

4. Deven Trist – NP

5. Callan Fedorchuk – SJ

High Jump – High School Boys

1. Shane Kirton – DHS

2. Keagan Murray – STH

3. Brendan Fishwick -DHS

4. Josh Leutshaft -DHS

5. Keaton Markham -STH

Shot Put – Elementary Girls

1. Maddie Turgeon- OR (Meet Record)

2. Elexis Clarke – NP

3. Lindsay Coles – SJ

4. Tiffany Voth – SJ

5. Emily Campbell – NP

Shot Put – Elementary Boys

1. Michael Hodgkinson – SJ (Meet and Elementary Record)

2. Eric Sundmark – STE

3. Justin Wice – NP

4. Marshall Miller – OR

5. Alex Palmer – OR

Shot Put — High School Girls

1. Elizabeth Carter – DHS

Shot Put – High School Boys

1. Thomas Cooper – DHS

2. Brendan Fishwick – DHS

3. Robbie Lecot -DHS

4. Brayden Davis – DHS

5. Nevin Mallyon – DHS

800M – Elementary Girls

1. Celena Brosseau – SJ 2:59

2. Maddie Hatch – OR 3:15

3. Rhiannon Polischuk – STE 3:19

800 m – Elementary Boys

1. Jacob Benson – SJ 2:31

2. Alex Urquhart – OR 2:40

3. Bruce Anderson – OR 2:42

4. Daniel Phillipow – STE 2:43

5. Zachary Lambert – OR 2:47

800 m – High School Girls

1. Andie Wood – DHS 2:41.7

2. Elizabeth Carter -DHS 2:42

3 Nicole Allam – DHS 2:57

4. Dominique Gardner – DHS 3:09

800 m – High School Boys

1. Kirk Markowski -DHS 2:17.1

2. Tyler Leonzio DHS 2:18

3. Jake Wickstrom – DHS 2:25

4. Devon Noel – DHS 2:26

5. Taylor Dalzell – PLH 2:49

100M – Elementary Girls

1. Tori Stebnitsky – STE 13.4

2. Leah Alvesta – STE 14.1

3. Leah Balla – NP 14.4

4. Savanna Neniska – STE 14.5

5. Katie Gould – SJ 14.5

100M – Elementary Boys

1. Michael Hodgkinson – SJ 12.5

2. Zack Lugli – SJ 12.5

3. Devan Schmidt -NP 12.5

4. Ben Allen – NP 13.0

5. Dylan Mackay – STE 13.5

100M – High Schools Girls

1. Emily Plett – DHS 13.6

2. Sarah Smith – DHS 14.2

3. Emmy Arsenault 14.3

4. Alyssa Kirouac 14.3

100M – High School Boys

1. Travis Potter – DHS 12.6

2. Ilya Perkins – DHS 12.7

3. Josh Wetendorf – STH 12.7

4. Keagan Murray – STH 12.9

5. Brayden Hansson – DHS 12.9

400M – Elementary Girls

1. Celena Brosseau -SJ 1:16

2. Taylor Tom – STE 1:17

3. Martine Evens – LB 1:21

4. Natasha Kastrukoff – SJ 1:22

5. Leah Alvestad – STE 1:22

400M – Elementary Boys

1. Jacob Benson – SJ 1:03.4

2. Mitchell Mawby – NP 1:03.5

3. Treven Ouellet – NP 1:05.8

4. Raymond Cook – OR 1:05.8

5. Alex Palmer – OR 1:06.5

400M – High School Girls

1. Emily Plett – DHS 1:06.1

2. Elizabeth Carter – DHS 1:06.8

3. Andie Wood – DHS 1:09.9

4. Alyssa Kirouac – DHS 1:11.3

5. Sarah Smith – DHS 1:11.3

400M – High School Boys

1. Brayden Hannson – DHS 59.5

2. Kirk Markowski – DHS 1:00.6

3. Tyler Leonzio – DHS 1:01.3

4. Ilya Perkins – DHS 1:02.6

5. Devon Noel – DHS 1:02.9

100M Hurdles – Elementary Girls

1. Rinda Trout – NP 14.9

2. Jordan Bakos – OR 16.1

3. Britney Mol – OR 16.3

4. Lauren Nickle – SJ 16.4

5. Katie Gould – SJ 16.5

100M Hurdles – Elementary Boys

1. Michael Hogkinson – SJ 14.5

2. Sean Wood – OR 14.5

3. Mitchell Mawby – NP 14.8

4. Jacob Benson – SJ 15.0

5. Chayse Hoey – STE 15.0

100M Hurdles – High School Girls

1. Emmy Arsenault – DHS 16.8

2. Alyssa Kirouac DHS 17.4

3. Emily Day – DHS 17.6

100M Hurdles – High School Boys

1. Travis Potter- DHS 14.1

2. Keagan Murray – DHS 15.0

3. Ilya Perkins – DHS 15.1

4. DJ Yeomens – STH 16.2

5. Josh Wetendorf – STH 16.5

1500M – Elementary Girls

1. Leah Balla – NP 5:55.3

2. Rinda Trout – NP 6:01.1

3. Ally Wisneski – LB 6:05.8

4. Alexandra Cooper – OR 6:08.0

5. Martine Evens – LB 6:40.8

1500M – Elementary Boys

1. Devon Kroylk – STE 5:16.5

2. Treven Ouellet – NP 5:22.5

3. Alex Urquhart – OR 5:29.2

4. Zachary Lambert – OR 5:35.3

5. Mike Braun – NP 5:40.3

1500M – High School Girls

1. Andie Wood – DHS 5:39

2. Nicole Allam – DHS 6:10.2

3. Dominique Gardner – DHS 6:42.1

1500M – High School Boys

1. Kirk Markowski – DHS 4:48.4

2. Tyler Leonzio -DHS 4:58.6

3. Adam Osmond – QEH 5:14.1

4. Deven Noel – DHS 5:15.6

5. Jake Wickstrom – DHS 5:15.7

Harry McMaster Mile

4x400M Relay

Elementary Girls Champion Team: St. Josephs – Dara Zeroth, Natasha Kastrukoff, Lindsay

Elementary Boys Champion Team: St. Josephs – Zach, Lugli, Jacob Wesley, Jacob Benson, Michael Hodgkinson

HS Co-Ed Champion Team: DHS 2 – Elizabeth Carter, Emily Plett, Sarah Smith, Braydon Hansson

The Dryden Ice Dogs have chosen a head coach for the 2012-13 season.

Oakville’s Paul MacLean was given the nod from a significant pool of applicants, said Director of Hockey Operations Brad Boyko in a team statement, Monday.

“This was one of the hardest decisions we have had to make, due to the overwhelming number and quality of applicants, said Boyko. “This is one of those times when we would have liked to have all 17 of the coaches on the bench. Just the quality of the applicants who applied for this coaching position proves the SIJHL league is being recognized and will continue to grow and prosper in the future.”

MacLean is currently the owner and head on-ice instructor of Central Ontario Junior A Development Camp. His own playing career stretches back to time spent with the Thunder Bay Senators, various clubs in the East Coast Hockey League and a Dutch pro league.

“Paul brings an extensive background and exceptional knowledge of hockey with contacts all across Canada and the USA,” said Boyko. “Our first priority is to put a winning team on the ice; second priority is to help players advance after their junior hockey career is over. The Dryden Ice Dogs take great pride in their track record for helping senior players move on to further their education through hockey, and Paul will definitely help us continue with this. We welcome Paul to Dryden and can’t wait for the hockey season to begin.”

Dryden’s Kevin Raine, a defenseman with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League will head to Shawinigan, Quebec this week to compete for the Memorial Cup, Canada’s highest junior hockey trophy. Photo courtesy www.londonknights.com

By Chris Marchand

Dryden’s Kevin Raine is heading to the biggest show in Canadian junior hockey, The Memorial Cup.

The 19 year-old local defenceman helped his London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League clinch their league championship in four games to one over the Niagara IceDogs, this past Friday.

The Knights now advance to the final showdown between the top Canadian Hockey League (CHL) teams from coast to coast. Included are the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, reigning champs the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, host team the Shawinigan Cataractes and the OHL’s London Knights.

Raine’s Knights play their opening game against Saint John, Saturday, May 19. Catch the game on TSN at 6 p.m. Central. The Knights take on the host team Shawinigan, on Sunday, also at 6 p.m. Central on TSN. On Tuesday, May 22 they meet Edmonton.

A long journey

The transition to major junior hockey can be a tough one for young defensemen who often struggle to establish a physical presence in the Canadian Hockey League, a proving ground for the National Hockey League. Coming from a smaller hockey system in the north, Raine says he’s no exception in that regard.

“It was slow and steady,” said Raine. “It didn’t happen immediately for me — like a Max Domi or some of the 16 year-olds who are able come into the league right away. I definitely had to go through a development process and I believe I am still going through that process.”

In 2010, Raine played just 10 games with the Knights, spending the bulk of the season with Junior ‘B’ clubs the Lambton Shores Predators and St. Thomas Stars.

Raine says he considers this past season with 49 regular season and 13 playoff games in the OHL to be his rookie season.

Raine has been holding his own among some of the top defensive prospects in the game, like Jarred Tinordi, Olli Maatta, Scott Harrington. While he can often find himself a healthy scratch, he says he’s learned to put it in perspective.

“I’ve found my own ways to cope with that and understand it,” said Raine. “I kind of realize that we have a really good team here. I try to not take it personally whenever I’m not in the lineup because our top-four D (defensemen) consist of three guys that went to the World Junior Championships this year.”

Raine’s playoff performance of recent weeks has earned him more ice-time than usual. He attributes that to sticking to the fundamentals of his game.

“When I first got here I was most recognized for my defensive ability and my physical play,” said Raine. “I do what got me here — I’m going to keep playing that style. Maybe down the road I’ll develop more offensive skills and contribute more that way. Now, especially when I’m trying to get into the lineup, I’m going to play my game in a simple, solid and safe way.”

Doesn't this look nice? You can still have fun this upcoming May Long Weekend just be responsible. Photo by Chris Marchand.

Story by Lindsey Enns

In a news release issued this morning, the Dryden detachment wants you to know that they will be stepping up enforcement to ensure that everyone has a safe upcoming May Long Weekend.

Officers will be strictly enforcing the Liquor License Act at local bars and restaurants, the Highway Traffic Act to ensure that everyone is driving to the conditions and keeping within the spend limit as well as the Off Road Vehicles Act to keep off our area highways and waterways.

The OPP will also be patrolling any and all unorganized campsites in the area, especially those that have been a cause for concern in the past.

The last couple of May Long Weekends have ended in complaints regarding off road vehicles, cottage break and enters and personal injuries due to the consumption of alcohol. The OPP is hoping that this May Long will end differently.

The OPP would like to remind campers and outdoor enthusiasts to have a safe and happy long weekend. If you plan on drinking, please drink responsibly.

Jean Arseneault of Time-Out Sports, congratulates Tennis Dryden Chairperson, Brian Eschbach on the arrival of more Progressive Tennis equipment. This equipment is immediately being put to use in the Dryden Elementary schools, in order to teach tennis to Intermediate grades. Photo submitted

Tennis Dryden working hard to promote sport in upcoming season

Submitted by Brian Escbach

Tennis Dryden (formerly Dryden TEAM Tennis) is a group of volunteers (started Oct. 2010), working toward two things: 1. Establishing new tennis courts in Dryden and 2. Advancing the great game of tennis in our community!

Tennis is a fun, easy, inexpensive game, for all persons, of all ages, a game that is played one’s whole life; it is low impact, non-contact and produces few injuries. Tennis Dryden is promoting tennis through try, learn, play and compete events.

Tennis Dryden has been working together with Rotary, the City of Dryden, the Dryden Recreation Department, the Kenora Patricia District School Board, the Northwest Health Unit, Neighbourhood Legacy, Dryden Youth Centre and the Ontario Tennis Association and will have some great news to report concerning some new tennis courts in Dryden – Stay tuned!!

Tennis Dryden wants to invite you to try, learn and play tennis for the first time or to try tennis again, for the second or tenth or fiftieth time.

In May 2010, Tennis Canada, introduced a new system of learning and playing tennis called ‘progressive tennis’. This system uses the right sized racquets, low compression tennis balls, smaller nets and playing surfaces. As participants learn to play tennis and have success, that success builds confidence and the opportunity to progress onto the next level.

Last year, 247 folks in Dryden were taught a tennis lesson. While 131 folks are waiting for their tennis lessons – please be patient, we have only so many volunteers.

This spring, Progressive Tennis is being taught at Open Roads School, St. Joseph’s School and New Prospect School, and this instruction will culminate with a Fun Progressive Tennis Intermediate Tournament – providing youth with the opportunity to compete.

Tennis Tuesdays are being provided again as an opportunity for Drydenites to:

l. Learn Progressive Tennis throughout the summer at Milestone Rink, starting in May through to Oct. – 7-9 p.m.

Dryden tennis players had the opportunity to compete in an inaugural fun tournament Kenora-Patricia Tennis Throwdown in Kenora, Aug. 28th 2011. Plans are underway for the 2012 Tennis Throwdown.

For more information email – Brian Eschbach at eschbach@drytel.net or check out our FaceBook page. Or, check out the Tennis Dryden webpage at http://www.dryden.ca.

Tennis Dryden is also seeking volunteers that are interested in marketing, communications, youth representatives, trustees, social conveners and people to work behind the scenes – why not join our team?

League puts out call for volunteer coaches and referees

By Chris Marchand

Five hundred kids. That’s a lot of kids.

That’s how many will be enrolled in the ranks of Dryden Youth Soccer this season. It goes without saying that the organization could use a little help from parents and volunteers.

Dryden Youth Soccer’s Gary Nickle says you don’t necessarily need previous soccer experience to lend a hand — particularly with younger kids, where the emphasis is placed more on having fun. The league hosts coaching and referee clinics to help volunteers get a grasp on the basics.

“I think people always get the feeling, ‘well, I don’t know anything about soccer’,” said Gary Nickle. “That’s okay. If you can run a game of freeze-tag, you can still coach a bunch of four-year-olds. If you’re good at organizing, you can help. For high school kids, it’s a way for them to earn volunteer hours.

The group recently elected their executive and saw the retirement of longtime president Carlos Raposo after many years of tireless advocacy, fundraising, and leadership of youth soccer in Dryden.

“He’s put in so many years that I can’t even remember,” said Nickle. “He and his wife Marilyn were key contributors to the success of the league over the years.”

Vice-president, David LeClerc has stepped into the leadership role in Raposo’s absence. Shannon Doudiet will act as treasurer, Karla Markowski is secretary, Margaret Oversby and Gary Nickle will serve as directors.

“We’re actively looking for other people who would like to help out on the executive,” said Nickle. “We’re definitely for looking for someone who would like to step up into the president’s role.”

Youth Soccer operates on four pitches at North Dryden’s Rotary Park area — leased from the city of Dryden and The Northwest Catholic District School Board.

The 2012 season will see some changes to the way games are scheduled, focusing more on midweek evenings. It’s a move that Nickle says will appeal to parents who might have been discouraged by game scheduling that extended into the weekends — interfering with travel or cottage plans.

“We’ve got enough fields now that the kids can play soccer through the weeknights and we don’t have to hold it on the weekends,” said Nickle. “That’s a change for us. We think our participation will probably increase.”

With the pitches now in place, Nickle says the group will turn its attention to completing the original vision for Rotary Park, which included a multi-purpose building at the soccer field site to house a concession stand, washrooms, drinking fountains, change rooms and a tournament room.

“We are looking to get a building up on site and have started to do some fundraising for that,” said Nickle. “Now that the fields are all done and in working order, we can turn our attention to other things — the fence was another big thing.”

Nickle says Dryden Minor Soccer is also seeking sponsorship from local business.

For more information contact Gary Nickle at nickleg@shaw.ca, or David LeClerc at dsleclere@shaw.ca.

Pictured above are grade five students from Open Roads School, Mason Desautels, Sam Brunton, Cale Oberg and Dawson Mackie. All of them participated in the sports camp last summer and are looking forward to it again this year.

A multi sports camp to help students stay active during the summer is being held for a second year in a row following a successful first year. Conor Doherty, the organizer of the sports camp says that he is doing it again this year because there is nothing like it in Dryden.

“I remember going to sports camps when I was younger and I always had fun.”

But to Doherty it’s not just a sports camp.

“It gives kids something active to do in a day and age where computers and video games take up most of their time.”

The sports camp is being held June 25-29 and July 2-6 and there are 60 spots available per week. Members from the community will come and teach tennis, football, track and field and yoga. You can reserve your spot by contacting Doherty via email at conor.doherty@kpdsb.on.ca.

This Friday Dryden will be covered in pink on behalf of Pink Day, the anti-bullying campaign and students from local schools are hoping that the community will get involved and show their support.

“Kids get bullied at each one of our schools so we need to start teaching them that accepting everyone’s differences is important especially as demographics in our community are always changing,” Patty Lyle, Keewatin Patricia District School Board student counselor said. “We want to celebrate that we are all unique in our own way and it’s okay to be different.”

The idea behind Pink Day began in Nova Scotia after two students encouraged their peers to wear pink to school to help another peer who was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt. As a way of showing their support, students from the Dryden High School will be sipping on pink lemonade, snacking on pink popcorn, painting pink fingernails while wearing pink. Lyle hopes that getting the students involved will help teach them a valuable life lesson.

“We want students to learn that they shouldn’t jump to conclusions based on what people look like on the outside but instead get to know them on the inside.”

Lyle says that if you are being bullied that you should talk to someone you trust and that resources are always available at their school.

“They need to speak up because no one should be treated unfairly and bullies need to be stopped.”

Students at New Prospect School will also be painting pink fingernails for $2 and will be donating the proceeds. Students from Open Roads School will be decorating their classroom doors with quotes of acceptance, making signs and going on a walk. Grade seven student Elisha Morrissette is on the school’s planning committee and knows all too well about the effects of bullying.

“It’s not easy to ignore but if you can you should do your best to ignore it,” Morrissette said. “It’s best just to walk away from it and find a group of friends to help cheer you up.”

For more information about Pink Day and how you can show your support you can visit dayofpink.org.

Photo by Chris Marchand

By Lindsey Enns 

So it’s almost that time of year again.

This week the OPP will be reviewing a few of the summer activities that we all like to part take in order to ensure that everybody has a safe and enjoyable summer.

Whether you are boating, riding quads, cycling, rollerblading or swimming, the OPP would like to make sure that you are doing your best to keep yourself and those around you out of harms way.

In a press releases being issued this week, the OPP has been outlining some useful information in regards to outdoor activities.

For instance, when walking to and from school, they suggest using sidewalks, if there aren’t any be sure to walk facing traffic flow. Children should not talk to strangers if approached and tell a parent or teacher immediately.

While skateboarding or roller-skating be sure to respect others and share sidewalks. Don’t skateboard or rollerblade in the middle of the road and helmets are always a safe bet.

When driving through school zones, be alert of activities and the children in the area and remember that fines are increased in these areas. Children should be cautious around motorists as well when playing near roadways. Most importantly, expect the unexpected and be aware of school buses.

In regards to quads and off road vehicles operated on roadways, the OPP wants you to know that you they must be operated on the shoulder of the highway without passing any other vehicle. Speed limit should be keep to 20 kph where highway speed is 50 kph or less and 50 kph where the speed limit is anywhere over 50 kph. Off road vehicles are not to be operated in construction zones, on closed highways, on highway 17 or 17a or within a Provincial Park unless the driver has be given permission by park staff. The driver must always be wearing a helmet, have a minimum G2 license, valid registration and insurance. Even if the off road vehicle can hold to passengers, only one is permitted.

These are just a few tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable summer!