Windspeaker Sports Briefs

PETITION GATHERS SUPPORT
More than 1,800 people have signed an online petition to get former National Hockey League star Reggie Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The petition can be found at www.petitiononline.com/TheRifle/petition.html
It was created by Steven Anthony Taylor, who lives in Leach's hometown of Riverton, Manitoba. He was also the first person to sign the petition, adding a simple comment:
"Great memories, Reg, Thanks."
Leach played his minor hockey in Riverton. He then went on to become a high-scoring forward in the junior ranks with the Flin Flon Bombers.
Leach then graduated to the pros where he became one of the best Aboriginal NHL stars ever. Between 1970-83 he played in 1,028 NHL games and racked up 735 points, including 428 goals.
Leach played for four different NHL teams: the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings.
He's best known for his days with the Flyers. He scored a career-high 61 goals with Philadelphia during the 1975-76 campaign.
Leach also represented Canada in international play. He was a member of the winning Canadian squad at the 1976 Canada Cup tournament.
Leach is still involved in hockey today. He's coaching the Manitoulin Islanders, members of the Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League.

FUN ON ICE
An indoor facility is not a requirement to enjoying some hockey action.
That's obviously one of the main messages in the Fun on Ice program organized by the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic.
Reps from the group were expected to travel to 10 communities in the Northwest Territories during January and February that do not have indoor arenas. Once there, they'll introduce the Fun on Ice program, which teaches basic skating and hockey drills.
The program is designed specifically for those in remote northern communities that do not have an indoor facility to skate on. The program teaches aspiring hockey players to make-do with what they do have ­ ice outdoors.
At each of the program venues, ASCWA officials will be providing free skate sharpening as well as hockey sticks for all of the youth participants.
The following communities were expected to have the Fun on Ice program; Kakisa, Jean Marie River, Fort Liard, Nahanni Butte, Gameti, Wekweti, Lutsel K'e, Wrigley, Colville Lake and Trout Lake.

SPORTS FORUMS STAGED
Alex Nelson, the president and CEO of the Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Association of BC (ASRA) will be hosting six regional forums throughout British Columbia during February and March.
Aboriginal sports, recreation and physical activity leaders are urged to attend a forum.
Events will be held in Nanaimo, Vancouver, Kamloops, Terrace, Prince George and Fort St. John.
The forums are being held to gather feedback on the province's Strategy on Aboriginal Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity.
Officials are hoping to discover priorities and how to respond to the needs of Aboriginal communities as well as their coaches and athletes.

PRICE PLAYS TWICE
As it turned out, Montreal Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price was one of the busiest players at this year's National Hockey League all-star festivities.
For a while it appeared an ankle injury would prevent Price, Montreal's star sophomore puckstopper, from taking part in the all-star activities.
But Price, who was voted by fans as the starting netminder for the league's Eastern Conference all-stars, returned to action from his injury a few days before the showcase match, staged Jan. 25 in Montreal.
Price played the first period of the contest. He stopped nine out of the 11 shots he faced.
The Eastern Conference stars went on to edge their West Conference counterparts 12-11, in a match decided by a shootout.
Besides the league's main all-star game, Price also participated in the NHL's Young Stars contest held one day earlier. He was a member of the league's Sophomore squad that was downed 9-6 by the Rookies team in a condensed game, which featured a 3-on-3 format.