Windspeaker sports briefs

Aboriginal entrepreneur new owner of pro team

Curt Styres was hoping to one day own a National Lacrosse League (NLL) team in Canada.
Well, that dream didn't quite work out the way he had originally envisioned.
The Oshweken, Ont. resident had discussed the possibility of putting a NLL franchise in London, Ont.
While that plan did not become a reality, Styres did not give up hope. And now he's got a bit more than he originally bargained for, albeit south of the border.
During the off-season Styres purchased the NLL's Rochester Knighthawks for a reported price of about $5.5 million. As a result, Styres became the first Aboriginal to own a major professional sports franchise in North America.
Styres also bought the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans for an undisclosed price. The AHL is one step below the National Hockey League.
Styres is one of the partners of Grand River Enterprises, a hugely successful cigarette manufacturing company. But he's no stranger to the sporting world. Through his company Arrows Express Sports he built the lacrosse arena in Oshweken.
And he helps operate the Six Nations Arrows Express, a Junior A lacrosse squad.
Styres' partner in Arrows Express Sports, Lewis Staats, has been named president of both the Americans and Knighthawks.
The Americans are one of the AHL's most storied franchises, having operated since 1956. The Rochester squad has won six league championships.
The Knighthawks have been a member of the NLL (formerly Major Indoor Lacrosse League) since 1995. They've won the league title twice, most recently in 2007.

Native Coach Promoted

The Ontario Hockey League's Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds once again have an Aboriginal serving as their head coach. But, Denny Lambert, a former NHL player, is no stranger to the Greyhounds' franchise.
During his junior days, the native of Wawa, Ont. played three seasons, 1988-91, with the Greyhounds. Lambert, now 38, also spent the past five seasons in Sault Ste. Marie, working as the Greyhounds' assistant coach.
Lambert's junior coach was Ted Nolan, arguably one of the top Native hockey coaches. Nolan coached the Greyhounds for six seasons, from 1988-94.
Nolan then went on to coach in the NHL where he worked for the Hartford Whalers, Buffalo Sabres and the New York Islanders, the squad he was recently fired from.
The Greyhounds' head coaching position became available when Craig Hartsburg left the squad to become the head coach of the NHL's Ottawa Senators.
Lambert inherits a squad that posted an impressive 44-18-2-4 mark last season and placed atop the league's West Division. The Greyhounds also enjoyed some playoff success advancing to the league's semi-finals.
During his NHL playing days, Lambert toiled for four different squads; Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators and Atlanta Thrashers. He appeared in a total of 504 NHL games.
During his pro career, Lambert also suited up for two American Hockey League franchises, Milwaukee Admirals and Baltimore Bandits. He also toiled for the International Hockey League's San Diego Gulls and the Colonial Hockey League's
St Thomas Wildcats.

Wanted:
Aboriginal role models

Aboriginal role models are being sought for an athletic poster campaign.
Nominations are being accepted for athletes to be featured in the second series of the Find Your Passion in Sport campaign.
The campaign is a joint effort between the Four Host First Nations (FHFN) and the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The Find Your Passion in Sport is a poster campaign celebrating the feats and dreams of young and talented Aboriginal athletes from across the country.
The first series of the program features snowboarder Chelsie Mitchell, biathlete Mareck Beaudoin and speedskater Peter Aqpik.
The second series of the poster campaign is expected to be launched in early 2009.
Nomination forms are available at www.vancouver2010.com. Nominations are being accepted until Sept. 12.
All nominees must have Aboriginal ancestry. Both able-bodied and athletes with a disability are eligible to be nominated.
And nominees must be currently active in an amateur or elite level sport, preferably a sport that is part of the winter Olympics.
Nominees should be between the ages of 13-30. And they should already have some great sporting achievements and have demonstrated leadership in either their sport or community.
Those being nominated should also be leading healthy lifestyles and already be considered role models by their peers or community members.
The poster campaign is part of the goal of FHFN and VANOC to have unprecedented
Aboriginal participation in the planning and staging of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Both groups are also keen on encouraging greater Aboriginal participation in sport.