Windspeaker Sports Briefs - September 2012

Rebels win national title

The Six Nations Rebels are now the two-time defending Canadian Junior B lacrosse champions. The Rebels won their second straight Founders Cup tournament by edging another Ontario-based squad, the Akwesasne Indians, 8-7 in the championship final held Aug. 19. The Rebels played host to the six-team event at their home facility, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.

The Six Nations squad had won its national title last year in Saskatoon. This time around more than 2,700 witnessed the Rebels’ triumph at home.

“It definitely feels better to win it at home,” said Rebels’ general manager Cam Bomberry. The Rebels have now won the Founders Cup a total of five times. They captured their first national title in 1997. And they also had back-to-back Canadian champions in 2007 and ’08.
The Six Nations squad was able to persevere this season despite a tragic, late-season incident. One of the Rebels’ players, Carney Johnson, who had played with the club for three years, committed suicide on Aug. 6. Johnson was 19. At the time of his death the Rebels were holding a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Ontario Lacrosse Association championship series, which was also against Akwesasne. The Six Nations squad managed to win the match immediately following Johnson’s death to win their league championship series in three games.

Volunteers sought

The Aboriginal Sports and Wellness Council of Ontario (ASWCO) is seeking volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors. Three individuals are being sought for the board to represent the north, south and central parts of the province.

The board directors are expected to commit between five and eight hours per month for their responsibilities. They will also be expected to attend probably two meetings per year, which will require some travel.

Applications are available by contacting Lynn Lavallee through email at lavallee@ryerson.ca or by calling
(416) 979-5000 ext.4791. The deadline to submit nominations is Sept. 7. The ASWCO is then expected to stage its annual general meeting in Sault Ste. Marie on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23.

Fundraising run/walk

Registration is open for the second annual Aboriginal Physical Activity and Cultural Circle’s 5 KM Run/Walk. The event, which begins at Vancouver’s Musqueam Recreation Centre, will be held on Oct. 14. The event is open to both competitive and recreational runners and walkers. The fastest Aboriginal male and female runners will win $500 each.

All youth under 10 and seniors over 70 can enter the run or walk for free. Those looking to enter the competitive run can sign up for $35 before Oct. 1. The fee increases to $40 after that.

And those that want to take part in the community walk can do so for $8 now. The entry fee increases by $2 on Oct. 10. All registrants will be able to win raffle prizes at the event. Those interested can sign up via The Running Room website http:// www.events.runningroom.com/ site/?raceId=7877.

Also, more race information is available by sending an email to aboriginalpacc@gmail.com

National champs crowned

Some familiar names once again came out on top in their divisions at this year’s Canadian Native Fastball Championships. A total of 65 clubs in four divisions competed in the tournament, which concluded on Aug. 5 in Cranbrook, B.C.

The two host teams, the Invermere A’s and the B.C. Arrows, both successfully defended their national crowns. The A’s captured their second consecutive national title by finishing atop their division, which attracted 29 clubs. And the Arrows once again won the men’s masters division, which featured players 40 and over. This grouping featured 12 clubs.

Both of the host teams had dedicated this year’s nationals to Randy Martin, who was supposed to play for the A’s. Martin, however, died suddenly at the age of 38 this past May. Besides playing in the event, Martin had served as the tournament director prior to his death. Martin’s father Dean stepped up following his son’s death to handle the organizational details of the event.

Meanwhile, the Red Nation Jets, a squad comprised of players from across the country, took top honours in the women’s division. The Jets, runners-up a year ago, also won the Canadian crown in 2010.

This year the Jets’ 11 player-roster included players from six provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan. The women’s category featured 19 teams.

A women’s masters division was also staged at the nationals this year. Five squads entered this category, which was won by a team from Westbank, B.C.
Looking ahead, it has been announced the 2013 nationals will be staged in Grande Prairie, Alta.