Sports Briefs - May

Neilson to enter Hall
Former defenceman Jim Neilson, an Aboriginal player who toiled for 16 seasons in the National Hockey League, is one of this year’s inductees into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

Neilson is one of four individuals who will enter via the athlete category. Four others will be inducted as builders. And a pair of teams will also be honored. Induction ceremonies will be held June 19 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.

Neilson, who is now 68, was born in Big River, Sask, but grew up in Prince Albert. During his NHL career, which lasted from 1962 to 1978, Neilson played in 1,088 matches. He was credited with 386 points (71 goals, 315 assists).

Neilson, who broke into the NHL during its Original Six days, spent the majority of his pro career—12 seasons—with the New York Rangers. He also played two years with the California Golden Seals. His leadership was evidenced by the fact he was the Golden Seals’ captain. And he stayed with that franchise and played two more seasons after it relocated to Ohio and became the Cleveland Barons.

After his NHL career wrapped up, Neilson played one more season, 1978-79, in the pro ranks. He was a member of the World Hockey Association’s Edmonton Oilers, a club that featured a youngster by the name of Wayne Gretzky.

Ontario honors Aboriginal runner
An Ontario politician has ensured legendary Aboriginal runner Tom Longboat will not soon be forgotten. Mike Colle, the Member of Parliament representing the Eglinton-Lawrence riding, introduced a resolution in the Ontario Legislature to have June 4 annually proclaimed as Tom Longboat Day in Ontario.

The resolution was introduced in the Ontario Legislature on April 15 and passed unanimously that same day.
Colle felt June 4 was the best day to honor Longboat as that was his birthday. Longboat was born in 1887 in Six Nations, near Brantford, Ont.

Longboat, an Onondaga runner, was a dominant long-distance runner in the early 1900s. He won numerous prestigious races during his career, including the 1907 Boston Marathon.

Longboat’s legacy also lives on through the Tom Longboat Awards. These are presented annually to recipients on a provincial or regional and national basis. The awards go to deserving Aboriginal amateur athletes across the country.

Souray wants trade
Returning to his home province has not turned out to be much of a pleasant experience for Sheldon Souray.  As a result, Souray, a 33-year-old Metis defenceman, has requested a trade from the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers.

Souray, who was born in Elk Lake, Alta., was viewed as a key acquisition when the Oilers signed him to a five-year, $27 million contract in July of 2007. Though he has two years remaining on his deal, Souray has let it be known that he wants out of Edmonton. The Oilers have not qualified for the NHL playoffs during the three seasons that Souray has played in the western-Canadian city. And Edmonton finished dead last in the over-all standings of the 30-team NHL this season, winning just 27 of their 82 regular season contests.

Souray has also been plagued by injuries during his stay in Edmonton. During his first year with the Oilers, he was nursing a shoulder injury and played in just 26 games. Souray rebounded, however, the following season and showed everybody why the Oilers’ brass thought so highly of him. He recorded 53 points, including 23 goals, in 81 games.

His offensive production was the second most points he had recorded in a season since breaking into the NHL back in 1997.

As for this past season, Souray once again spent more time on the injured list than he actually did playing. A concussion and a broken hand limited him to just 37 games. He only had 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in those matches.

New program launched
The Canadian Parks and Recreation Association has launched a new program aimed at First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth.

The program is based on the Everybody Gets To Play program. But the new program incorporates culture and tradition into recreational activities in the hope of getting youth to be more physically active.

The program, which was launched March 31, wants youngsters to take up activities such as hockey and soccer. But it also encourages sports officials to incorporate traditional activities into their programs, such as powwow dancing for First Nations youth, jigging and fiddle music for Métis and drum dancing, throat singing and other culturally-oriented games for the Inuit.