Truro team receives Ron Conrad Award
A panorama moment; automatically we go to the memory bank
Both as spectators and as participants, sports can give us quite an uplift at times. For freedom from life’s discomforts, a sports moment might be the answer.
And, you’ve probably been there, when totally unexpected, a wonderful picture unfolds in your mind.
This happened to me during April when watching a championship game, part of Hockey Nova Scotia’s Day of Champions played at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. While following the play on the ice, I chatted with Charlene Bagnell, the
chair of the Wilsons Home Heating Cyclones program.
Something Bagnell said had my attention.
“Our Cyclones Atom A team is going be presented with the Ron Conrad team award. It will take place at a Hockey Nova Scotia banquet in Halifax in early May. This is quite an honour for one of our Cyclones teams.”
Agreeing fully with Bagnell, my mind focused on ‘Ron Conrad.’
A panorama moment? Immediately, my memory bank kicked in and I pictured Conrad a long time ago.
Getting to practice on Sunday mornings with the Truro District Hockey League Brookfield Elks as a 12-year-old, I would
travel with the Hendersons, the Mathesons and others – driving from Brookfield to Truro for a 10 a.m. practice. Before
arriving at the Truro Forum, we would swing up to Brunswick Street and pick up coach Conrad.
I can still almost see Ron coming out the door. Once in the car, everyone listened closely when he talked hockey.
Conrad knew the game well, his background included playing in the high calibre APC Hockey League with Truro Bearcats, something not many players got to do.
Yes, that day last month, when Bagnell mentioned ‘Ron Conrad,’ a number of good memories resurfaced. One was remembering finally getting to play for coach Conrad in 1959- 60. Player, playing coach, bench coach, Conrad piloted quite a number of Elks and Bearcats teams to championships over the years. He also served with Hockey Nova Scotia for a long period.
Fast forward to last Saturday night, Hockey Nova Scotia’s closing banquet saw Wilsons Home Heating Cyclones, the Nova
Scotia atom A champions, presented with the Ron Conrad Award Female Team of the Year.
A good picture all the way round, the Shawn Evans-coached local team winning the Conrad Award.
Founded in 1996, the award was named fittingly in honour of HNS past-president Ron Conrad.
“Saturday night was awesome,” Bagnell told me later. “Our girls stole the show, there they were parading around, people couldn’t believe the energy of these young players. They were high-fiving each other and all the rest. To see these girls presented with the Ron Conrad Award, I can only describe it as being really awesome.”
The third annual Colchester Cup was played last weekend at the RECC. There were 26 teams in six divisions. The tournament, a fundraiser for the Nova Scotia Heart and Stroke Foundation, saw two high calibre teams faceoff for the A Division championship.
Action Seal was loaded with hockey talent; their lineup included G Blackmore, Ryan Porter, Carson Lanceleve, Dana Fraser, Denver Lynds, Daniel Parigo, Alex Anthony, Dan Little, Lee Davidson and goaltender Dennis Nolan.
Island Lake All-stars were led by former NHLER Zach Sill, just back from a season in the Czech Republic. In goal was Bobby Sill. On defence were Patrick Stewart, Andrew Roop, Jack Roop, Brent Harrison, Cole Baker and Cory Sutherland. Up front the All-stars had Jimmy Scullion, Jay Duffy, Chipper vantassell, Brooks vantassell, Jason Sanford, Troy Sutherland, James Rutherford and Charlie Flemming.
“There were a lot of people in the stands for that game,” tournament organizer Mathew Shipley said. “It was a fun game to watch, the two teams put on a good show with Action Seal winning 3-2 in a shootout.”
Action Seal’s Porter, a former Truro Bearcats forward, commented.
“Zach Sill has another gear, that guy can really fly.”
All-stars defenceman Andrew Roop, 44, of Brookfield was quick to credit the opposition.
“It was some hard trying to keep up with those young guys,” Roop told me.
Shipley plans to continue running the fundraising tournament as long as things go well.
“Everything ran smooth again this year. Although there’s a lot to do in putting this tournament on, it’s really good for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.”