Dickson now leading NLL scoring race
Everyone remembers their time in school and the things they learned along the way. Advancing through the different classes on the weekly short track scene is like gaining a racing education.
After finishing ninth in the final 2016 Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun division at Peterborough Speedway, Kent Missons will make the jump to the Jiffy Lube Mini Stock pack to kick off the new campaign at the Mount Pleasant Rd. 1/3-mile paved oval.
The 34 year-old, father of two from Courtice – who works as a mechanical design engineer technologist – got his first taste of the sport in 2006, doing some ice racing in Minden. A year later, he was introduced to short track action by helping his friend Brandon Crumbie in the pits at Barrie Speedway whenever he could.
Missons says he got to practise the car on a few occasions and from there, he was hooked.
“I bought a used Mini Stock, but only ran it for a few events before I sold it to buy my house,” Missons said.
“I built some low-budget derby cars over the next few years because I couldn’t afford to race. Once my daughter and son were older, my wife Katie and I took them to Peterborough Speedway and they loved it. Eventually, I decided to build the 4Fun car I ran last year. Like so many people before me, I went from the grandstand to behind the wheel.”
After wrapping-up his first full season as a regular in the track’s entry-level division, Missons looked back on his accomplishments with pride. He’d managed a number of qualifying heat race victories and several top 10 main event finishes. The driver – who selected No. 10 for his race car because it was the number he used in sports, including as a young hockey player – started to think about the 2017 season.
“The original plan was to spend another year running in the 4Fun division,” said the driver, who lists Bristol Motor Speedway as his favourite track on the NASCAR circuit.
“That idea changed when the chance to make a great deal on a Mini Stock came around. It was all put together pretty quickly, so I’ll be running a different car, in a different division, against a new group of competition. Its an exciting time, but also a little nerve wracking.”
In addition to getting the car ready for Peterborough Speedway’s 50th anniversary season, Missons and his team of family, friends and fans will be looking for some sponsorship to help with some of the expenses incurred with weekly racing.
“Up until now, I’ve been doing everything out of my own pocket. It would be nice to have some financial or product help to get the car to the track, but that will come together in time.”
Peterborough Laker Curtis Dickson moved into first place in the National Lacrosse League scoring race with a 10-point game over the weekend, while Peterborough’s Shawn Evans sits tied for fifth in league scoring, 11 points behind Dickson but with two games in hand.
Dickson now has 96 points on the season and moved ahead of Corey Small of the Vancouver Stealth for the lead.
Dickson has four goals, six assists to lead Roughnecks past Bandits
CALGARY — Peterborough Laker Curtis Dickson had four goals and six assists to lead the Calgary Roughnecks past the Buffalo Bandits 13-8 on Saturday night in National Lacrosse League action.
Jeff Shattler added a hat trick while Wesley Berg, Tyler Digby and Riley Loewen all struck twice for the Roughnecks (7-9). Frank Scigliano made 46 saves for the win in net.
Pat Saunders led Buffalo (5-9) with a hat trick and Mitch Jones had a pair of goals. Blaze Riorden, Steve Priolo and Dhane Smith rounded out the attack. Davide DiRuscio kicked out 40 shots.
Calgary converted four times on seven power plays and the Bandits were 2 for 4.
Adam Jones scores four as Rush get past Stealth
SASKATOON — Peterborough Laker Adam Jones had four goals and two assists while Mark Matthews scored a hat trick as the Saskatchewan Rush beat the Vancouver Stealth 16-12 on Saturday night in National Lacrosse League action.
Ben McIntosh and Ryan Keenan both struck twice for the Rush (10-4). Jeremy Thompson, Adrian Sorichetti, Robert Church, Jeff Cornwall and Mike Messenger supplied the rest of the offence.
Rhys Duch and Joel McCready each scored hat tricks for Vancouver (6-9). Corey Small added two goals with Cliff Smith, Justin Salt, Jordan Durston and Cory Conway rounding out the attack.
Aaron Bold made 37 saves for the win as Tyler Richard turned aside 27-of-37 shots in 41:11 for the loss.
Saskatchewan was 1 for 2 on the power play and the Stealth were scoreless on their lone attempt.
Swarm beat Black Wolves on the road
UNCASVILLE, Ct. -Peterborough’s Shawn Evans had a goal and three assists in a 21-12 New England Black Wolves loss to the first-place Georgia Swarm on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Peterborough Laker Chad Culp had a goal for New England while Laker Chad Tutton had a goal for Georgia.