Windspeaker Sports Briefs - July

Shattler wins MVP
Jeff Shattler, a 26-year-old Ojibwe who grew up in Toronto, has been awarded the National Lacrosse League’s most valuable player award. Shattler starred with the Calgary Roughnecks this season, averaging five points per game. He racked up 75 points (29 goals, 46 assists) in 15 regular season contests.

Shattler though was somewhat of a surprise winner for MVP award. That’s because he had finished tied for 10th in league scoring. And Shattler admitted he wasn’t really anticipating the MVP award since he had earlier been chosen as the NLL’s top transition player of the year.
For Shattler, this marked the fifth season he played for the Roughnecks. He had broken into the NLL during the 2006 season when he played just one game with the Buffalo Bandits.

Shattler was one of the main reasons the Roughnecks posted the best regular season record, 11-5, in the league this year.

The Roughnecks, however, were upset 10-8 by the Washington Stealth in the West Division final.

Washington was then edged 8-7 by the host Toronto Rock in the NLL championship match held May 15.
After his NLL season was over, Shattler joined the Iroquois Nationals, who competed at the world box lacrosse championships in Prague.

Shattler and his teammates captured silver medals at the world tournament, which was won by Canada.

Shattler, who recently bought a home in Calgary, is now spending his spring/summer toiling for the Victoria Shamrocks, members of the Western Lacrosse Association.

Funding awarded
The Kwanlin Dun First Nation is one of the latest recipients of the Yukon’s Community Development Fund (CDF). An announcement was made in early June that the Aboriginal community will receive $100,000 to plan and develop a sustainable, broad-based, culturally appropriate community recreation program.

The Kwanlin Dun First Nation was one of eight recipients in the latest round of funding, which saw a total of $1.2 million awarded to provide social and economic benefits to Yukon residents.

The CDF has three levels of funding.

The most recent recipients had all applied for Tier 3 level funding, which is a request for more than $75,000.
The CDF also offers Tier I level funding for those seeking up to $20,000 for a project. And Tier 2 funding is available for those applying for a request between $20,000 and $75,000.

Four Ontario teams
As in most previous years of the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships, Ontario is planning to have four of its teams compete at the 2012 tournament in Saskatoon.

A traditional power at the national event, Ontario only sent one squad, a boys’ entry, to this year’s tournament, which was also staged in Saskatoon.

That team ended up winning a bronze medal at the event which was held in late April. Ontario doubled Manitoba 6-3 in its bronze-medal contest.

Saskatchewan won the gold medal in the boys’ category while Quebec-based Eastern Door and the North took the silver.

An Ontario girls’ team did not compete this year due to a lack of funding and the fact that support staff was not in place.

Having just one Ontario team take part was a bit unusual. That’s because the province traditionally sent four clubs—Ontario South and Ontario North female and male teams—to the national tournament, which has been held annually since 2001.

There had been some uncertainty whether a national tournament would even be held this year. It was in mid-January before the Saskatoon Tribal Council, which was keen to host the 2012 event, agreed to also stage this year’s tourney.

Due to the relatively late announcement, some previous tournament participants felt they did not have sufficient time to prepare entries for this year.

Ontario officials are already working towards the 2012 tournament. They are currently seeking coaches, managers and trainers for all four of their planned teams for next year.

Moncton race
A half marathon and five-kilometre walk/run will be held in Moncton on July 10. The event is part of IndigenACTION, which was launched last summer to enhance support for Aboriginal athletes and promote health, fitness and wellness in First Nation communities across the country. IndigenACTION was created by the Assembly of First Nations Youth Council.

The Moncton race will be staged at Tidal Bore Park. The registration fee is $50 for those entering the half marathon (21.1 kilometre) race. And there’s a $25 entry fee for those who wish to enter the 5K walk/run. All participants who register before June 30 will receive a free T-shirt.