Windspeaker Sports Briefs - December 2012

Aboriginal partners named
A total of 14 Aboriginal Leadership Partners have been named for the 2015 Pan Am Games, as well as the ensuing Parapan Am Games. Both games will be held in Toronto and surrounding areas. The Parapan Am Games, which feature athletes with physical disabilities, are traditionally held in the same city shortly after the Pan Am Games, which are staged every four years.

The Aboriginal Leadership Partners, announced in mid-November, are comprised of Aboriginal leaders, communities and organizations. Their role will be to help create an engagement strategy for economic development, volunteer recruitment, arts and culture, as well as youth engagement.

Chief Bryan LaForme of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations will serve as the chairperson of the Aboriginal Leadership Partners. LaForme’s First Nation is one of the partners. The others are Six Nations of the Grand River, Métis Nation of Ontario, Chiefs of Ontario, Huron-Wendat Nation, Aboriginal Sport and Wellness Council of Ontario, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Hamilton Executive Directors Aboriginal Coalition, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto, Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre and Two-Spirited People of the First Nations.

More than 10,000 athletes, coaches and team officials are expected to participate in the two games.

The Pan Am Games, featuring athletes from 41 countries, will be held July 10 to July 26 in 2015. The Parapan Am Games, which attract participants from 26 nations, will follow from Aug. 7 to Aug. 14.

New equipment
Thanks to the efforts of their coach, some Aboriginal football players in northern Quebec will be receiving some new equipment. Trevor Allen Monaghan was one of two runners-up in the National Football League’s Youth Coach of the Year contest. The Canada-wide contest received 687 submissions. People had been asked to nominate coaches and write a short essay or why they deserve some recognition.

A team’s record was not a factor in deciding the winners. Instead, judges were looking for individuals who make an impact on young players in their community. A panel of football journalists as well as officials from the National Football League and Football Canada then selected the winners.

The first-place winner was Dave Hocking, an Ontario-based coach, who will be awarded $5,000 in football equipment. He coaches with the London Minor Football Association and John Paul II Catholic Secondary School.

Monaghan, a Wemindji band member, was honoured for introducing Cree youth to football. He’s had an instrumental role in an Aboriginal youth six-a-side football program in northern Quebec. Monaghan’s team, called the James Bay Eagles, will be receiving the $2,000 in new equipment. The Eagles represented Football Quebec in a recent national tournament.

Monaghan, a fitness centre manager and personal trainer, had grown up in Ottawa. He went on to play football for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, graduating in 2001.

Nick Longval, from Russell, Ont., was also a runner-up in the contest. His high school team will also receive $2,000 in equipment.

The contest has been running for the past 14 years. More than $170,000 in equipment has been presented to deserving coaches for their programs.

Former pro charged
Stan Jonathan, a popular member from Six Nations and a former National Hockey League player, has been charged after a man was killed in a hunting accident.

Jonathan was charged with criminal negligence causing death on Nov. 11 after a 28-year-old Hamilton man, Peter Kosid, was accidentally shot and killed on Six Nations near Brantford, Ont.
Kosid, who had been cross bow hunting for deer, was wearing camouflage at the time of the accident. He was reportedly shot from about 375 metres away.

Jonathan was also hunting for deer at the time. The ex-pro hockey player, who is now 57, was released following a bail hearing on Nov. 14. There’s a publication ban on details from that hearing.  His next scheduled court appearance is set for Dec. 14.
Jonathan played a total of 474 NHL contests, primarily with the Boston Bruins. In his final NHL season, 1982/83, he suited up for 19 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored a total of 213 NHL points, including 99 goals. His best season points-wise in the pros was during the 1977-78 campaign with the Bruins. He earned 52 points (27 goals, 25 assists) in 68 games.

Though he was listed at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds during his playing days, Jonathan was also known as a scrapper. He had a career high 208 penalty minutes in the 1979/80 season.