Truro connections enjoying Australian hockey
The NSSAF Division 1 girl’s slo-pitch championships is taking place in Amherst this weekend.
Play began yesterday and continues through today. Members of the South Colchester Academy Wolves, winners of last weekend’s regionals played at Amherst, practiced daily this week at Elk Park in Brookfield in preparation for provincials.
A number of the Wolves shared interesting outlooks.
“We certainly weren’t sure how things would go coming into the season,” Melissa Raymond, one of the Wolves four coaches, said. “We lost four key players from 2016 and realized this would be a rebuilding year. But, things have worked out really well; this is a team really dedicated to their sport and we’ve only lost one game all season.”
Emily Moore, 18, Stewiacke, plays in the outfield. Moore, who will graduate from SCA this year, is a second-year player.
“We’ve been practicing every day this week to get ready for provincials. We’re all really excited and every player is working hard. If we play our usual game, we’ll do all right.”
Faith Langille, 19, Truro Heights, is also a graduating player. An outstanding pitcher, Langille has been part of four Wolves provincial championship teams.
“This is really an awesome team this year – we’re definitely ready for provincials. Myself, I’m a little nervous going in but this being my last year I’m really hopeful of going out a winner.”
Charlea Lowe, 15, Hilden, is the team’s first-baseman. The Grade 10 student is a third-year player.
“We’re a very close group, we stay together on trips and we all play for the team. This is an important weekend and I know we’ll work together during provincials.”
Hannah Raymond, 15, Hilden, plays third base. The Grade 10 student has played on two provincial champions.
“We learned a lot as a team this season. We have several players playing at new positions. It was like starting from the beginning. Once we won a few games though this team really came together.”
Hayley Elliott, 16, Brookfield, plays shortstop. The Grade 10 student has played on four provincial champions.
“We’re usually very competitive at provincials – it probably has something to do with us South Colchester Academy Wolves players, from left, Emily Moore, Faith Langille, Charlea Lowe, Hannah Raymond and Hayley Elliott. Shown in Australia, Adelaide Blackhawks Casey Babineau, Steve Sutherland of Bible Hill and Adelaide Redwings Trevor Walsh.
starting to play school ball in Grade 7. While a player might not get a lot of playing time in grades seven through nine, these are still important years for players to
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The Wolves compete in Pool B, which includes Yarmouth, Glace Bay and Horton High.
Games begin at 9 a.m. with the championship game at 2.30 p.m.
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It was just a few mornings ago that Mickey Sutherland telephoned from Australia.
Sutherland and I had worked goaltending schools together during the 1970s. The former junior puckstopper with Strait Pirates advised that Truro connections, Casey Babineau and Trevor Walsh, had just come off the ice following an early season South Australian Premier Hockey League game.
Babineau’s team, Adelaide Blackhawks, edged Walsh’s first place Adelaide Redwings 3-2 in an upset.
“It’s just after 9 p.m. here,” Sutherland, a former player now involved with administration, promoting and marketing of Australian hockey, said. “It’s 13 hours later here, it’s just after nine o’clock. I just took a photo of Trevor, Casey and my brother Steve, who is visiting me from Bible Hill. You’ll have the photo is important.”
in five minutes.”
Sutherland said Babineau, who is from Beaver Brook, was in his first season and besides suiting up on defence with the Blackhawks in the premier league, the former Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and University of PEI defenceman was also playing with Adelaide Adrenaline in the higher calibre Australian Ice Hockey League.
“Casey is in his prime, he’s a smart, heady defenceman. Casey is well received here in Adelaide; young players of all ages look up to him. I hope he’ll stay over here for a couple seasons.”
Sutherland was a key figure when Walsh made the move to Australia. After starring in Ontario junior hockey with Windsor Spitfires and spending several strong seasons in senior ranks with Truro TSN Bearcats, Walsh went down under during the 1990s.
“Trevor has been one of the great players to play in Australia,” said Sutherland. “Back when he was in his prime he was one of the most prolific scorers in our national league history. Trevor is older and smarter now, he’s still a real leader and a fierce competitor from back on defence.”