Spring is in the air, which means the Ontario Hockey League draft and the Masters are back
This is a great time of the year to be a sports fan with an abundance of exciting events happening
The calendar has turned from March to April. The robins have returned, the grass is beginning to green up, temperatures are becoming more moderate and residential neighbourhoods are becoming more active.
Spring has arrived, and what is known as March Madness, the NCAA women’s and men’s basketball tournament, has concluded.
In the women’s final, despite a 30point performance by Iowa scoring phenom Caitlin Clark, South Carolina scored an 87-75 win over the Hawkeyes. On the men’s side, the Connecticut Huskies repeated as champions, claiming an impressive 75-60 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.
This weekend, I will be following two important events simultaneously. The OHL Priority Selection Draft began Friday night and will conclude Saturday. I’ll also be glued to the television watching the Masters, my favourite professional golf event. Last year, I was in Augusta, Ga., attending the 87th Masters tournament. What a phenomenal experience it was.
Fans of the Peterborough Petes will be interested in which players are selected. Golf enthusiasts will be watching to see if LIV golf’s Jon Rahm can win a second consecutive green jacket.
There are a variety of upcoming sporting events to which we can look forward.
The Toronto Raptors will be concluding a disappointing National Basketball Association season and hoping to select some new talent at the NBA draft in June. The Toronto Blue Jays have concluded spring training and are now playing for keeps.
Of course, for hockey enthusiasts, junior playoffs are in full swing in a variety of leagues. The Memorial Cup will be played this year in Saginaw, Mich. A new national junior-A champion will be crowned at the Centennial Cup, which will be played in Oakville from May 9 to 19.
In professional hockey, the NHL’s 1,312-game regular season concludes on Thursday, followed by playoff action. Who will win the Stanley Cup this year is anyone’s guess, but I’m predicting a new champion will be crowned.
The Professional Women’s Hockey League will be concluding its inaugural groundbreaking 72-game regular season on May 5. The top four teams will then compete for the Walter Cup.
Closer to home, a variety of sports organizations are preparing for competitions. Lacrosse fans will soon be watching and cheering on the junior and senior Lakers, and Peterborough Minor Lacrosse Association teams will begin play.
The Senior Ladies Slo-pitch League begins play May 15. Games are played every Wednesday morning at the George (Red) Sullivan East City Bowl. A variety of men’s leagues will also begin play in May.
Once May arrives, youngsters and adults will begin play on the soccer pitches, Peterborough Thunder fastball teams will take to the field, as will participants of the Peterborough Baseball Association.
At the high school level, field lacrosse will be in full swing, and athletes will have begun training for a variety of track and field events. Elementary school students will be competing in 3-Pitch tournaments and track and field events.
At golf courses in the region, players will be making pars, birdies, eagles and a few bogeys or worse. I am told that some creative accounting is often done to keep a player’s final score in double figures.
By taking a casual drive from Trent University to Lakefield, you might see people enjoying a variety of activities, from canoeing and kayaking to rowing and cycling.
Of course, walking is an activity that can be enjoyed. All you need is a comfortable pair of sneakers, a water bottle for hydration and about an hour of your time.
The Peterborough area offers a plethora of recreational activities. Let the games begin!