Mentoring in mind
A third Mississauga brother enjoying playing for Bearcats
A chance meeting had a big impact
Following the 33rd annual Truro Sport Heritage Society awards night in Truro recently, a young athlete approached MC Bruce Rainnie.
The Prince Edward Island CBC News anchor, Hockey Night In Canada analyst and broadcaster of seven Olympic Games, was noticeably impressed by the young athlete.
“I believe he is with the wrestling team,” Rainnie said later. “I didn’t get his name but he was very polite and enthusiastic, a real nice young man.”
Contacting Cobequid Educational Centre wrestling coach Hans Budgey, I learned the young athlete’s identity. Chris Googoo is a grade 12 student and has been involved in wrestling for two years.
“I approached Bruce Rainnie as a mentor,” said Googoo, 18, of Millbrook.
“I said to Bruce, give me three top tips for being successful. Bruce said ‘you have to read books, you have to listen,’ I think the third thing he said was ‘you have to find something you like and pursue it.’ I know Bruce Rainnie has a fine reputation; he is a smart guy – it was my opportunity to talk to someone who’s years ahead of me.
“I’d sum our talk up this way, Bruce is a very genuine guy. I hope he was impressed with me because I was really impressed with him. I’m really thankful for that opportunity to meet and talk to Bruce Rainnie. Bruce wants me to let him know in a year’s time how things are going.”
Planning to take a two-year business course at Nova Scotia Community College following graduation from high school, Googoo intends to become an entrepreneur. With a background in both judo and jiujitsu, he said wrestling has been a good experience.
“The first time I won a wrestling match it was like achieving glory. What a feeling! Win
or lose, at the end of a match you’ve given it your hardest. I don’t think any person should be afraid of failure. I would like to thank my coach Hans Budgey.”
Budgey, a teacher at CEC for 17 years and the wrestling coach for five, said he was impressed with Chris from day one.
“Chris won the NSSAF provincial bronze medal in 2016 as part of our CEC senior boys banner-winning team. Chris is always willing to learn new techniques. Chris Googoo is the kind of enthusiastic and dedicated athlete who makes coaching a pleasure. I anticipate a bright future for Chris. His ambition, hard work and ability to empathize with those around him, will make him an asset to his community and those close to him.”
During the TSHS awards presentations, the CEC wrestling team was one of two runner-up teams for the Caldwell Roach Insurance outstanding high school team award.
It happens often: Truro Bearcats’ No. 9, Connor Morrison, offering encouragement to teammates. On and off the ice, fans take notice that the rangy Morrison is a team player.
On the roster for the Bearcats in 2014-15 and 2015-16, Morrison played the first half of this season with Leamington Flyers of the Ontario junior A ranks.
“I was really happy to return to Truro,” Morrison, 21, of Mississauga, Ont., said. “I found a new group of players but still a few guys I had played with before. It has worked out well, I’ve gotten to know the new guys and here we are right in the thick of things in the playoffs.
“We’re a passionate team, there are a lot of emotions and every player pulls for the other guy.”
Connor is the third Morrison brother to suit up with the Bearcats. An older brother, Kyle Morrison, played with the Bearcats in 2012-13 and won the Maritime Junior Hockey League scoring championship with 35 goals and 53 assists. Tyler Morrison played the same season and put up big numbers the next year, 2013-14 (23 goals and 46 assists) as Truro
captured the MHL’s Kent Cup Championship.
Still in hockey, Kyle, in his final year with Wilfrid Laurier University, in Waterloo, Ont., is the team’s captain. Tyler played his second season with University of Windsor. In a recent best-of-three playoff series – the two brothers went toe-to-toe with Windsor defeating Laurier.
Truro Bearcats and Yarmouth Mariners resume their exciting MHL playoff series tonight at 7 p.m at the Rath-Eastlink Community Centre. The Bearcats lead the best-of-seven series three games to one.