Rocky’s, Lake Wanapitei – Saturday proved itself a great day for pond hockey on Lake Wanapitei, with the sun shining, light winds, and a record breaking 22 teams coming out to vie for top honours in the Ontario March of Dimes (OMOD) Third Annual Edith Casaletto Memorial Pond Hockey Tournament.
“We’re thrilled to see so many people come out to support such a great cause.” said 2008 Tournament Coordinator Normand Lanthier. “We have more teams here this year than in both previous years combined. I think that really says something, not only about the increasing popularity of our event, but of this variation of our nation’s game, as well.”
True to its name, pond hockey is played outdoors, the way that hockey was first played over a hundred years ago. A simplified version of the sport, there are no offside or icing calls, and to make it as accessible and practical as possible, there are no goalies. Standard nets are instead replaced by dwarf 10-inch nets into which players need only shoot the puck to score a goal. “It makes for some high-scoring games, but goalies can be tough to recruit at this level of play, so I believe that that key difference is largely responsible for this game’s rapid explosion in popularity all over Eastern Canada in the past few years.” says Lanthier.
Established by friends, family, and co-workers shortly after Mrs. Casaletto’s tragic passing due to cancer in 1998, her memorial fund serves the Sudbury office of Ontario March of Dimes in their mission to help people with disabilities of the region find or maintain meaningful employment. It was set-up specifically to assist with individual needs through the purchase of articles that were not covered by any other source of funding. “The Sudbury office helps over 450 people a year. That’s a costly endeavour, so I’m glad to see so much support from the community here, today. Our goal was to raise $10 000 in net proceeds, and by the end of the day, it’s going to be close.” said Lanthier enthusiastically. The final tally actually came to a very respectable $9 500, surely not too disappointing to Lanthier and his committee.
Although the true winners today were those who benefit from the services of Ontario March of Dimes, the tournament’s top performing teams were determined by the end of the day, just as the sun began to set. Taking top honours in the Skate category (of 16 teams) were Kevin Brosseau’s Berkshire Securities Burninators. In second place was a first-time entry: Team Vale INCO, Captained by Justin Pilon. The Boot category (6 teams) saw Rene Paquet and Friends claim the top prize, with Team Whitefish Lake, Captained by Daniel Naponse, coming-in a close second. Thirty percent of all registration fees collected were divided among these teams as cash prizes for their efforts, with first place in each category bringing home $800 and $300 respectively. Thanks to the generosity of over 60 local businesses, every participant and volunteer left with a participation gift, 126 of them in all.
“Overall, the response from local businesses has been very positive this year.” commented OMOD Sudbury Employment Services Coordinator Janine Roy. “From key event sponsorships by groups like the Rainbow Centre, Grand & Toy, and nearby Lions Clubs, to prizes for all players, so many of them helped us out in whatever way they could, and our entire organizing committee is very grateful. I’d also like to thank the many volunteers who came out to help make this event possible. Without them, we never would have been able to manage 45 games between 22 different teams. And a special thanks to the players themselves for being here today to make this event everything that it has become. Without them, these 8 rinks would be a terribly lonely scene.” she added.
Anyone interested in entering a team in next year’s tournament, scheduled for February 28th, 2008, can contact Linda Jones, Ontario March of Dimes Office Administrator, at 674-3377, ext. 36.
Registration is expected to reach its maximum again next year, so interested parties are encouraged to register early. It will once again take place at Rocky’s, which is currently planning an expansion due to the popularity of their many events.
Your 2008 Skate Category Champions, The Berkshire Securities Burninators. Back row, left to right: Roy Jones (Score Keeper), Kevin Pierce, Matt Williams, and Normand Lanthier (Tournament Coordinator). Front row, left to right: Al Brosseau, Kevin Brosseau (Captain), and Eric Boucher.
Tournament Coordinator Normand Lanthier prepares to drop the puck for the ceremonial opening faceoff between Janine Roy, Ontario March of Dimes Sudbury Office Employment Services Coordinator and Roy Roque, Co-owner of Rocky’s and Tournament Logistics Manager.
Your 2008 Boot Category Champions, Rene Paquet and Friends. Back row, left to right:, Brian Rivard, Bruce Cook, Mike Champagne, and Normand Lanthier (Tournament Coordinator). Front row, left to right: Joe Joyce, and Rene Paquet (Captain).
In this Boot Category Action Shot, Joanne Therrien of the D&M Service MOD Squad (representing the Sudbury office of Ontario March of Dimes Employment Services) does her best to defend her team’s net against the much taller Fernand Roy, Captain of a team sponsored by Lifestyle Homes of Garson. Luckily for Joanne, the entire tournament was “non-contact”.