Synchro skaters are No. 2 in the world
Nexxice became just the second Canadian team and the first in eight years to win a medal at the World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships. Nexxice, based in Burlington, took home a silver medal over the weekend at the junior worlds in Angers, France, rising from fourth after the short program with a strong free skate to finish second behind Finland’s Fintastic.
The silver medal concluded an outstanding season for head coach Trish Perdue-Mills and her welltravelled Nexxice juniors. They won the Canadian championship in Oshawa and the Hevelius Cup in Poland, and took at bronze medal at the Challenger Series Cup in Italy.
From the fire (department) to the frying pan
Stephen Keogh worked an overnight shift for the Hamilton Fire Department ending Saturday morning, then had four goals and three assists Saturday night to power the Rock to a 12-6 win over the Albany FireWolves before 8,421 fans at FirstOntario Centre. Dan Craig had a hat trick for the Rock, who acquired 14-year NLL veteran defender Greg Downing from Albany on Monday. He’ll bolster the league’s top defensive unit, which is suffering from some injuries.
The Rock, second in the NLL East at 10-3, are on the road the next two weekends in Halifax and Albany before returning for a critical home game April 1 against the divisionleading Buffalo Bandits (10-2).
Forge will be a little warmer
Forge FC, back in heavy training and releasing their new kits Tuesday night, will play the top two teams in the strong Costa Rica premier league when they head to the town of El Llano for two weeks, beginning Thursday. They’ll play three friendlies there against Primera Division sides, including current league leaders LD Alajuelense, who’ve been around for 104 years, and Deportivo Saprissa, last year’s second-half champions and the 2020 CONCACAF League finalist. The Hammers will be training at Alajuelense’s facilities.
Although they made a big splash by landing Canadian international Majrekar James last week, Hamilton has yet to announce any new import-player signings, but head coach Bobby Smyrniotis says the club is biding its time:
“We have a very good group and we want to bring in one or two guys who can make a big difference. Sometimes if you wait, good things can fall into your lap.”