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JULY/AUGUST 2017 London & Area Edition

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fitness................................................ pgs 4-7 bowling................................................... pg 5 Big Game Road Trips............................... pg 8 baseball............................................pgs 8-12 soccer.............................................pgs 12-22 events................................................... pg 16 dance.................................................... pg 24 cheerleading.................................. pgs 25-27 gymnastics..................................... pgs 27-29 karate.............................................pgs 30-31 tennis............................................. pgs 32-33 golf................................................ pgs 32-35 aquatics......................................... pgs 36-38 volleyball....................................... pgs 39-42 lacrosse................................................ pg 43 accessible sports........................... pgs 44-45 football.......................................... pgs 46-47 pickleball.............................................. pg 48 senior games........................................ pg 49 contests................................................ pg 49 hockey............................................pgs 50-61 scholarship........................................... pg 57 basketball.......................................pgs 61-62 FC London cover photo by Samantha Connell-Tombs. LGA photo by London Gymnastics Academy.

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Premier running event lives up to hype Submitted by Forest City Road Races The Forest City Road Races are Southwestern Ontario’s premier running event of the year, and the festivities certainly lived up to that reputation this year. On April 30, a record 2,500 individuals came out to take part

in the 35th annual event, participating in one of the four offerings – the 5K run, 10K run, Half Marathon, and Kids Fun Run. It was a great day, filled with fun for participants, volunteers, and fans! And

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JULY/AUGUST 2017 PUBLISHER: Greg Matthison GregM@SportsXpress.ca, 519 619 6029 London.SportsXpress.ca

Greg Matthison and family: Sam, Jack & Kate EDITOR WEB GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Todd Devlin Alyssa MacLeod Britt Cobean

CONTRIBUTORS

Richelle Hirlehey, Tyler Schepens, Natascha Wesch, Rob Jamieson, Gavin Corcelli, Dawn Desrosiers, Rod Noseworth, Sharon Docherty, Glenn Mackinnon, Brad Brown, Linda Eckert, Derek Henderson, Aaron Brady, Kim Benke, The Little Gym of London, London Lightning, EBBA, NorWest Soccer, Bowlerama, BodyWorx, Komoka Kings, London Pickleball Club, Eurostar Football Academy, London Majors Baseball Club, Forest City Road Races, Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association, Ball Hockey International, Forest City Diving Club, Sport Clips London, Millar Sports Chiropractic, London Jr. Mustangs Hockey, Byron Optimist Soccer Club, London Wheelchair Basketball Association, Progressive Hockey Development, Gymworld, London Gymnastics Academy, Of Courts, Mountain Equipment Co-op, London Youth Whitecaps (2002 Boys Blue Soccer Team), George Bray Sports Association, London Junior Knights Bantam AA Green Team, London Annihilators Wheelchair Rugby, Family Karate, Extreme Indoor Golf, London Devilettes Hockey, London Volleyball Club, Lexus of London, Western Mustangs Athletics, Forest City Volleyball Club, FC LONDON Academy, BMO Centre, London Minor Lacrosse Association, London Minor Football Association, University of New Orleans Privateers Athletics, London Sharks Volleyball, FC LONDON, Power Cheer Gym, Middlesex Swimming, CheerStrike, Olympic Karate, London Aquatic Club, the SportsXpress Team and local sports enthusiasts.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS

Ryan Legros, Andrew Goodfellow, Marta Antolini, Samantha Connell-Tombs, Gary Fisk, Anita Watkins, Judy Reddick, Mike Froussios, Martin Bazyl Photography, Memories Photography Studio, Matt Hiscox Photography, London Blizzard Sledge Hockey, BodyWorx, LDBA Baseball, London Youth Whitecaps (2002 Boys Blue Soccer Team), London Senior Games, EBBA, Dance Extreme, Eurostar Football Academy, Elgin-Middlesex Soccer Association, Gymworld, Woodstock Stallions, Forest City Diving Club, Family Karate, Komoka Kings, Sport Clips London, FC LONDON, London Gymnastics Academy, Forest City Road Races, BMO Centre, George Bray Sports Association, Millar Sports Chiropractic, Extreme Indoor Golf, Byron Optimist Soccer Club, London Annihilators Wheelchair Rugby, London Wheelchair Basketball Association, London Junior Golf Development Centre, London Knights, Lexus of London, London Sharks Volleyball, Western Mustangs Athletics, Progressive Hockey Development, NorWest Soccer, Bowlerama, Of Courts, London Junior Knights Bantam AA Green Team, Mountain Equipment Co-op, University of New Orleans Privateers Athletics, Forest City Volleyball Club, London Volleyball Club, London Devilettes Hockey, London Junior Mustangs, London Lightning, London Minor Lacrosse Association, London Minor Football Association, Middlesex Swimming, The Little Gym of London, CheerStrike, Power Cheer Gym, London Aquatic Club, Antony Chodas, Forest City Image Centre, Jason Delage, Edge Imaging Photography, the SportsXpress Team, various sports group photographers and community sports fans. Editorial Contributions: Submissions are welcome from writers, photographers, athletes, coaches and individuals. Please contact the publisher. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. Contributors are responsible for obtaining all approvals for publication of photos and content prior to submission. All submissions may not be used. We may edit, publish, reproduce, distribute and archive submissions in any form or medium without any compensation. We are not responsible for lost or damaged submissions. Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission of any article, photograph or artwork in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher is prohibited. SportsXpress London is published six times per year. SportsXpress London is committed to protecting your privacy as our customer. We may collect personal information only if it is required for the proper functioning of our business and only share this information with our business partners. The editors and contributors who write for SportsXpress London attempt to provide accurate and useful information and commentary. However the editors, contributors and SportsXpress London cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. We assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any readers based on the information provided.

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Busy bowling lanes! Submitted by Bowlerama Bowlerama Royale has had some highlights over the past few months and some great success! Congratulations to George Smith, who was the winner of the ‘Bowling Night in Canada’ Draw. Eight different bowling centres across Ontario were involved with the BNIC program, which took place between October 2016 and May 2017. George, who bowls in the Monday Night Men's league, won the grand prize – an all-expense paid trip for two to Australia. Come the new season, you too can have the opportunity to win the grand prize by acquiring ballots through open bowling at Bowlerama Royale. Bowl Canada Cup Provincial Finals were held at Bowlerama Royale during last week of April. Congratulations to Bowlerama Royale's team who represented us very well! The team of four (Brenda Dottermann, Amy Baker, Deb Linington, and Mylene Comeau) finished with silver medals. Congratulations! During the first two weekends in May, Bowlerama Royale hosted the Ontario Youth Provincials. The youth are the future, and we were honoured to host them. For the most part, all 32 lanes were filled from morning until night, for two solid weekends. Congratulations to all the winners in their respective categories! We would like to recognize all the bowlers from Bowlerama Royale who competed in the Canadian Team Trials (Dylan Scott, Kyle Molto, Rebekah Loker, Deb Linington, Dave Linington, Mikaela Mitchell, Jill Friis, Ryan Trussler, and Mylene Comeau). Special congratulations

to Jill Friis, who made the Ladies Senior Team, and to Mikaela Mitchell, who made the Ladies Youth Team. Bowlerama is pleased to help our bowlers by providing competitive lane patterns to practice on. Coming in the new year, Bowlerama Royale will be providing a monthly training program to get the competitive bowlers ready for Canada's most prestigious bowling tournament. Trying to fit nine months of training into a month or two is next to impossible, but by conditioning mentally and physically in a routine fashion we will be able to provide the best opportunities for our players to be successful and make the Canadian Team – or even win the Championships! Interested in trying a new sport? Try 10 pin bowling on for size. Whether you’re new to the sport, or you’re aspiring to be among Canada’s elite, 10 pin bowling has much to offer. Either way, you can do it all here at Bowlerama Royale. We have leagues every day, and we can help you find the one that suits your style. We have some summer leagues that are just wrapping up, but fear not, starting in September we will have all new leagues forming that are open to all. In case you feel that you’re not good enough, not to worry! To better your game, we offer professional coaching to help get you started or to enhance your game. We offer different coaching packages, which include individual and/or team coaching.

www.bowleramaroyale.com

Bowlerama Royale’s team in the Bowl Canada Cup Provincial Finals, who earned a silver medal at the event (from left to right): Amy Baker, Deb Linington, Brenda Dottermann, and Mylene Comeau

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Youth and multi-sport training Submitted by BodyWorx Multi-sports is a hot topic these days. In terms of specializing in a sport, there are some major concerns for coaches. Correlating practice times, commitment and injuries all creep up into the conversation between parents and coaches. And having my own kids in sports and being a coach for competitive volleyball – both beach and court, I completely understand. I see many youth athletes who are at an age where multi-sports is an advantage. Physically speaking, bodies are not meant for repetitive movements. Challenging the body to move in different ways, with a variety of stresses, makes for a strong and injury-free athlete. Soccer players who also play volleyball, for example, are some of the strongest, fittest and well-rounded athletes that I’ve personally seen. The same goes for gymnasts who delve into another ‘ball’ sport. Finding a good trainer who can understand how to create BALANCE and SUPPORT is key. I tend to focus on the injury prevention exercises which adhere to the sport where the most stresses on the body occur. For soccer players, knees are key, while shoulders are key for volleyball players. And ALL athletes require special attention to ACL and ankles. Challenging our youth through various sports can not only alleviate sport-

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specific injuries, but more importantly, make them stronger, faster and more agile for whatever sport they eventually choose to dedicate themselves to. Sports have been moving into the mindset of ‘more touches,’ ‘more reps,’ and choosing which sport (one sport) to compete in at a young age. But allowing our youth to delve into many activities will produce a long-term athlete that will play at a higher level. From a fitness point of view, younger athletes (between ages 6 to 13) develop their strengths though multiple activities. Be it playground activities, recreational teams, or simply a trampoline in the backyard, kids benefit from using different muscle groups in a variety of patterns. Once they reach 13 or so, it may be time to think about specializing to be competitive in a specific sport. But that being said, it’s still imperative that these young athletes get the proper conditioning that both mimics the activity but also challenges the complete opposite muscles. After all, well-rounded bodies prevent injuries.

www.bodyworxtraining.com

Tania Admans

BODYWORK TRAINING Tania Admans, Owner/Personal Trainer/ Conditioning Coach www.bodyworxtraining.com 519-858-BODY 142 Fullarton Street London, ON

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Team-building on the water Submitted by Mountain Equipment Co-op On Saturday, June 10, MEC London participated in the Fanshawe Dragon Boat Festival at Fanshawe Conservation, a fun one-day event designed to promote healthy activity, community spirit, and friendly competition. Sanctioned by Dragon Boat Canada, the event is attended by roughly 1,500 to 2,000 people, with about 65 teams competing. The classifications include business, health, community, breast cancer survivors, juniors, and competitive club teams. For MEC, it all started with two mandatory practices, where we learned paddles up, ready ready, power on 10, and syn-

chronicity. For these practices, our team sprinted from the store after it closed and somehow gathered up 20 paddlers to get out on the lake – where we belong! Practices went well, but finding a way to balance the boat always seems to be tricky for us! Luckily, with a few dry runs, we were ready for race day! Captains meeting began at 6:30 am, the MEC tents were set up, as well as chairs, games, music and, of course, our potluck items. A boat of 20 paddlers, one drummer, and one steer person set out for our first race. At 9:00 am in the business division, paddles were up, we readied, and we made it down the 500m course. We placed first with a time of 2:22:89, a personal best! Once everyone finished the first round of races, our ‘place’ was set – fourth out of 65 teams! In our second race, the

weather had changed and a head wind had picked up. It was hard and very close, but we placed second with a time of 2:27:23. This placed us in the Division ‘A’ final, which was quite amazing, really, as MEC only practiced twice in total and were racing against teams who practice twice every week! The final race had very steep competition. When the race began, MEC felt in sync, and we did the best we could to get down with as much power as possible. In all, we finished fourth with a race time of 2:28:48, which was an improvement against the elite top three teams. A huge thank you to team Rowbust who organize and volunteer to make the whole Fanshawe Dragon Boat Festival event possible. This was an amazing day for MEC London, and it was a great local teambuilding event. We can’t wait for next year!

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The MEC team impressed at the Fanshawe Dragon Boat Festival in June, coming together after only a couple of practices and putting up very good times – all while having a great time!

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Angels in the outfield Contributions by Linda Eckert and photo by Gary Fisk The Acura West Angels play in the Ladies Southwest London Baseball/ Softball league at the Dreamers complex. The team, which this year carries a roster of 14 players, was formed eight years ago, says Linda Eckert, one of the players on the team. “A bunch of girls just wanted to play some ball and have fun,” Eckert said. “Although the faces have changed each season, the team grows stronger and we enjoy our ‘sistahood’ on the diamonds.” The Angels play all of their games in London, and many of the team’s players are active on other teams as well. In other words, this team loves its baseball. This year, players range in age from 17 to 50. Most of the players have played the game since they were kids. “Life is so fast-paced, and for some of us this is our only downtime away from work and family life,” said Eckert. “So, we capitalize on our two hours together.

It’s all about our Monday night time.” Jennery at Acura West London has been The Angels have won the league chama great supporter of the Ladies Slo Pitch pionship a few times, and that’s the main program, and we want to give him a big on-field goal for the team this season. thank you.” They’ve also had success at tournaThe Acura Angels are excited to continments. But mainly, they’re looking to play ue their ‘sista’ bond on and off the field, their best when it counts – while making and they’re looking forward to another sure to have fun! Besides her teammates, full summer of baseball fun. Eckert says she’s also been thrilled to receive the support of the team’s sponsor. “Over these eight years, we’ve been so fortunate to have an amazing sponsor,” she (Left to right) Front row: Lindsay Sears, Patsy Bowes, Kayden Thornton, Missie Gosse, Jensen Thornton, Ellen Thornton. Back row:Greg Barnes/Coach, Andrea Grech, Cheryl Sauve, Jennifer Hare, Becky Back, Linda Eckert, Cheri Budd, Jenn Petzke, Laura said. “Paul Eyraud and Gary Piper/Coach

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Hold the cheese Contributions by Brad Brown and photo by Memories Photography Studio ‘Cheeseburgers, no cheese’ is their team name, and it’s safe to say that the Byron Optimist Minor Baseball Association’s #4 Peewee team has a lot

of fun – both on and off the field. “They’re a great bunch of kids, and we always have a good time,” says the team’s head coach, Brad Brown. The squad plays all their games in London, and the team is made up of 15 players – some of whom have played together in years past. Others, though, are brand new to the game of baseball. So, the primary focus is on working on the fundamentals of the game. It’s been a fun season for the team known as ‘Cheeseburgers, no cheese’. (left to right) Front: Drew Brown, Lukas Soldan, Harper Johnson, Luc Reaume and Austin Romero. Back: Rodnet Merchant, “Baseball can Soloman Kicknosway, Connor Ileapi, Brandon Merchant, Jaiden McCully, Robert Oliver and Brad Brown. Missing Tyler Hicks, be slow, but then Josh Trotskiy, Nathan Brackstone, Arthur Vlasyak and Cooper Hatfield.

all of a sudden there’s a play to be made, so we’re working on keeping the team engaged and in the game,” says Brown, who has been coaching for six years as his son, Drew, has made his way through the Byron Minor Baseball system. “I think our team’s main strength is the ability to play better when we get down on the scoreboard and we’re able to get some runs late in the game.” And for Peewee team #4 – aka ‘Cheeseburgers, no cheese’ – there has been plenty to celebrate this season. Particularly in the comeback department. The team’s never quit attitude has led to some exciting wins. And they hope to continue that throughout the season and into the postseason. “We’d like to win a couple of playoff games this year,” said Brown. And why not? That would just add to the fun for this group of baseball-loving youngsters.

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Creating diamond memories Submitted by EBBA Eager Beaver Baseball, London's first organized youth sports program, is once again proving that baseball is a game for all ages. From Little Sluggers (4 & 5-year-olds) to Juniors (19 to 22-yearolds), EBBA has been teaching the game of baseball and instilling sportsmanship and leadership in the youth of London for 63 seasons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all while creating lasting memories! The Little Slugger program is assisted each Saturday morning by the volunteer help of players from a Tecumseh competitive team. The T-Ball program (6 & 7-year-olds) is coached not just by parents of the players, but by volunteer Junior Coaches from the EBBA Bantam (14 & 15-year-olds) division. These teenage players give up their Saturday mornings to coach and mentor the youngest and most impressionable of players. Junior Coaches attend training clinics prior to the start of the season and

develop their coaching and training skills while instilling their love of baseball into the T-Ball players. Rookie players (8 & 9-year-olds) move from batting off a tee to facing a pitching machine. Myles Goodfellow made a lasting memory when he got his first hit as a Rookie player. Owen Legros created his baseball memory the first time he stepped on the mound to pitch in the

Photo by Ryan Legros Owen Legros pitches in his first season in Mosquito division

Mosquito division (10 & 11-year-olds). Baseball memories are being created at Mornington Park, EBBA's home field every Saturday morning and each weeknight, as well as at other diamonds around the city. For more information on EBBA, including schedules, please go to our website, www.ebba.ca.

www.ebba.ca

Photo by Andrew Goodfellow Myles Goodfellow gets his first hit in Rookie division

Photo by Marta Antolini Junior coach Roman Antolini fine-tuning the batting skills of T-ball player Evan Elviss

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their passion, skill and dedication, the game we all love would not be possible. Congratulations folks!

By Rob Jamieson for LDBA Baseball

www.ldbabaseball.ca

As we near the halfway point of this year’s London District Baseball Association (LDBA) schedule, it’s time for all of our local teams to prepare for Eliminations and National Championships in their respective age groups. However, it’s not only our athletes that are honing their skills in preparation for the tournaments. Our umpires are fine-tuning their game-calling abilities throughout diamonds in London and the surrounding area. Umpires and umpire supervisors from across the LDBA will be front and centre at many of the biggest tournaments that our country has to offer this summer. LDBA has assembled what is widely regarded as a top-notch umpiring crew, one

ELIMINATIONS

which is filled with umpires that the LDBA and their affiliates are proud to have don the mask and take their positions behind the dish and in the infield. With umpires and supervisors (most of whom are levels 4 and 5) running games on our city diamonds, we can be sure that each game is in good hands. From the Canadian East Coast and Quebec, to Southwestern Ontario, the LDBA is proud to have several umpires and supervisors represent the LDBA at the championships mentioned on the right.. Please join the LDBA, their affiliates, and our athletes and parent groups in congratulating all those participating in these championships. Umpires and the umpire supervisors are often the forgotten ones when it comes to running games throughout Canada, but without

13U - Windsor Rob Stevenson - Supervisor Isaac Zywczok Ben Flesher 18U - Burlington Allyn Ward Senior Men - Strathroy/London Rob Companion - Supervisor Justin Snively - Supervisor and Series Chair

NATIONALS DQ 13U National - Repentigny, QC Rob Stevenson DQ 13U Atlantic - Moncton, NB Steve Cochrane (1st National) 15U Ray Carter Cup - Summerside, PE Justin Snively - Supervisor 18U – London/St. Thomas Eldon Dunseith Senior Women - Windsor Jim Cressman - Supervisor Taylor Taconne

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Gouvea a real get for Majors Submitted by London Majors Baseball Club and photo by Matt Hiscox Photography The London Majors are rolling, and the pitching staff has been a big part of the team’s success. Newcomer Murilo Gouvea has already played a big role in helping the Majors get off to a historic

start (at the time of this writing, the Majors had won their first 14 games of the season). Gouvea, a native of São Paulo, Brazil, has been lights out for London in the early going. In his first three starts, the 28-year-old went a perfect 3-0 with a miniscule 0.81 ERA and an impressive 31 strikeouts in 22 innings of work. In his second start in a Majors uniform, Gouvea tossed a complete game shutout against Burlington on May 26, racking up 11 strikeouts in the 1-0 win. “Murilo has been a great addition to our team,” said Majors manager Roop Chanderdat. “He gives us an ace that can pitch against the top teams in the league. Plus, he’s a good mentor for the other pitchers on our team.” Gouvea signed a professional contract with the Chicago White Sox back in 2007, and he played in the Dominican Summer League and the Appalachian League before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2009. In 2011, as a reliever for the Class-A Lexington Legends in the South Atlantic League, the righthander struck out 83 batters in 74 Murilo Gouvea, one of the Majors’ import players for the 2017 season, 2/3 innings. has been brilliant on the mound over the first half of the season for the Gouvea’s resume also includes

time spent playing in the World Baseball Classic for Brazil in the 2012 Qualifiers, and then in the WBC tournament in 2013. In 2015, he saw time in Triple-A with the Fresno Grizzlies, and he represented Brazil once again in the 2016 WBC Qualifier. Now, the talented pitcher finds himself in the Forest City, leading a staff that has put up some impressive numbers. There’s plenty of season to go, but the Majors have enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2017 season, as they try to win their first Intercounty Baseball League championship since 1975. “I love the experience of playing in a new country and in a new league with different players,” said Gouvea. And the Majors love having him in their rotation.

www.londonmajors.com

LONDON MAJORS 2017 HOME SCHEDULE July 1 – vs. Toronto July 7 – vs. Guelph July 9 – vs. Barrie (Doubleheader) July 14 – vs. Kitchener July 22 – vs. Brantford July 23 – vs. Hamilton July 28 – vs. Burlington

upstart London team

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Contributions by Glenn Mackinnon and photo by Jason Delage, Edge Imaging Photography

A combination of skill development and fun is the focus this season for the Lambeth FC 2006 Girls teams (Tier 1 and 2), and the players have made sure to stick by that strategy. There are 24 girls in all, and they’ve trained alongside one another all season long. “It’s been one large group, and we’ve taught similar messages and systems to the girls,” said Assistant Coach Glenn Mackinnon. “That makes it an easy

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transition from one [Lambeth FC] team to another.” This year, the team has switched to 9 v 9 play (a change from 7 v 7 last season). That makes positional play more important, says Mackinnon, and particularly having the girls learn new positions on the field. Mackinnon, who has coached many of the players in the past, credits the team’s head coach, Steve Dicola, with helping

move the Lambeth FC 2006 Girls squad to the next level. “He’s great at developing kids,” Mackinnon said. In other words, Dicola is successfully carrying out the mission of the Lambeth FC soccer club, which is to foster dynamic, creative and intelligent soccer players who will enjoy the game for life!

www.lambethfc.com

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Great start on the pitch Submitted by Eurostar Football Academy The outdoor soccer season at Eurostar is in full swing, and there have been 3 to 4 training sessions scheduled per week for athletes born between 2000 and 2007. The outdoor SAAC league, which began in April this year, will continue on through early November. We have had the opportunity to host many games at our home field this spring. There will be many highlights this summer for Eurostar soccer: Two teams in the Club – the U10 and U13 squads – will be travelling to Barcelona and Benidorm, Spain in early July to participate in the annual Costa Blanca Cup; The 2nd annual Lazio Summer Camp, which is open to all players in the London region, will take place the week of July 17; Our U17 and U15 teams will be attending the upcoming Showcase of Champions in Ottawa in early August; and the U14 team will

be travelling to Ohio over the September For more information about the long weekend to play in the Mead Cup. Eurostar program, or to request a tryout, Meanwhile, planning for the fall provisit our website at www.eurostarsoccer. gram is well underway. Training will concom, or contact us at 1-800-742-3076. tinue, uninterrupted, and move indoors www.eurostarsoccer.com in October. Given the recent closure of the old soccer dome, we have opened a Eurostar indoor centre in London that will host all of our fall and winter training on turf. Open tryouts for ages 2008 and older is now available ongoing The Eurostar U16 team attended the Umbro Top Rated Showcase in Mississauga this past May. throughout the summer and fall.

CONGRATS TO COACH BULKU! Eurostar would like to congratulate Coach Isa Bulku after successfully completing the UEFA B coaching license this past June. There are now three coaches supporting our program with a UEFA coaching accreditation, including Eris Tafaj (UEFA B) and Luka Shaqiri (UEFA A). Way to go, Coach Isa! Coaches from SS Lazio Academy will return to London the week of July 17 for the 2nd annual Lazio Soccer Camp. Registrations will continue to be accepted online at the Eurostar website up until Friday, July 14.

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Playing for today, planning for tomorrow Submitted by FC LONDON and photos by Martin Bazyl and Samantha Connell-Tombs Summer has made the crowd goes wild and the kids love it.” its way to the Forest Both FC LONDON’s men’s and women’s City, and the FC teams have their hands full this year. LONDON soccer sea“After such successful seasons in 2016, son is well underway anything but top spot is unacceptwith games on Friday able,” says women’s head coach Mike and Saturday nights Marcoccia. But as the league enters its featuring the League1Ontario men’s and third year, teams are continuing to gain women’s teams. in strength – and new teams like Ottawa “It has become a bit of an institution, and Unionville Milliken are gaining much with games practically every weekend attention. at the beautiful German Canadian Club With the inaugural year of FC stadium field,” says Ian Campbell, FC LONDON’s youth stream (‘FC LONDON LONDON President. “Every weekend, Academy’), many teams are playing in families make their way to ‘the Cove’ to the OSA’s new O.A.S.L. (Ontario Academy enjoy drinks on the patio, pizza, sauSoccer League), pitting top academy sages, and some great football featurprograms throughout the province in ing top-shelf players from London and competitive play. around the world.” Graduates from the FC LONDON And the fans agree. Academy program then make their way to “It’s our regular routine,” says one the U21 program. In 2017, two men’s and of those many fans who attends games with his family. “The atmosphere rivals that of professional clubs, with enthusiastic fans singing and chanting throughout the game. And when FC LONDON Women’s action, featuring players Julie Benatti and Chelsey Zavitz London scores,

two women’s teams will compete with other U21 clubs across the province. “Having two U21 teams is key to the continual growth of the club,” says Marcoccia. “If you think a few years ahead, we’re creating a sustainable stream of top-quality players who will be able to train and compete at the highest level. Not only is that great for Canadian Soccer, but it’s creating opportunities for London players.” Several of those players are already making their mark. Kaila Novak, 16, is now training part-time with the U17 Canadian National Team, and Maddy Michienzi attended a National Team Excel ID camp in Burnaby, BC earlier this year. For a full overview of FC LONDON’s program, visit us online at www.fclondon.ca.

www.fclondon.ca

Sean Fawsitt, taking on Toronto FC

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Elite training at a young age Submitted by FC LONDON Academy The FC LONDON Academy is what London soccer has been waiting for – a full pathway from U8 right through to League1 Ontario and beyond. And now, FC LONDON is launching a Pre-Academy for boys and girls aged 7 and under. The Academy program offers a curriculum that is based on proven training techniques that optimize performance for players of all ages. “We’re excited about what this means for both male and female players as they pursue their dreams,” says Ian Campbell, President of FC LONDON. “The FC LONDON brand has become recognized – throughout North America – as a club that can create opportunities for young

athletes.” The Pre-Academy will serve as a stepping stone to the FC LONDON Academy, which is an elite soccer skills program for boys and girls aged 8 to 21. The PreAcademy will offer an excellent opportunity for youngsters to hone their skills in the beautiful game. The program will cover 40 weeks, including two training days and one game per week, from October to September. The extension of the regular U8 to U21 FC LONDON Academy will provide players at an even younger age to start their development early as they work their way through the FC LONDON stream, which includes not only the Academy but then

the men’s and women’s League1 Ontario FC LONDON team, as well as the potential to attract interest from Toronto FC, which is a partner in the Academy program. The Pre-Academy is, of course, part of the Long-Term Player Development model (LTPD) and part of the Ontario Soccer Association development stream. All coaches have OSA certification and are well-versed in FC LONDON’s curriculum. The Club is excited to offer this program for kids U7, and the players will certainly benefit from the top-notch coaching and exposure to elite training at a young age.

www.fclondonacademy.ca

FC LONDON is launching a Pre-Academy, an elite soccer skills program for boys and girls aged 7 and under which will act as a stepping stone to the program’s U8 to U21 Academy program

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Strikers succeed in Sandusky Submitted by Byron Optimist Soccer Club The U12 Byron Strikers opened their season by travelling to Sandusky, Ohio to play in the Cedar Point Coaster Classic Soccer Tournament, where they enjoyed great success. After losing their opening round robin game to Glanbrook FC, 2-0, the Byron squad went on to win the remainder of their games in the division, beating Lambeth 2-0 and Lyon FC 10-0 to secure the wildcard and advance to the finals to play the Puslinch Predators. And then they steamrolled the Predators, 4-0, to win their bracket and a championship title! “It was a total team effort,” said the Strikers’ head coach. “[We had] a rock-solid goalkeeper, tough and unforgiving defensemen, smart plays from the midfielders, and great finishing from the forwards. This tournament was a great way to start the season, and everyone is looking forward to more team growth and success in the months to come.”

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The U12 Byron Strikers soccer team Matthew Blake, Jack Builder, Noah Cameron, Hugh Dawson, Matthew Dunn, Theo Enns, Owen Kennan, Jacob Kemp, Owen Larsen, Jack Pais, Chris Rowley, James Troyer, Owen Worby (not pictured: Nolan Meola, Adam Toman)

Calendar of Events July 7-9 Slo Pitch Ontario Eliminations, Slow Pitch City July 8 London's Corporate Challenge, Harris Park July 12 West Haven Charity Golf Classic, West Haven Golf and Country Club July 15-16 & July 22-23 St Thomas Soccerfest, Athletic/Cowan Park, St Thomas July 15-17 NAPA/Stratford Spectacular Weekend, Grand Bend Motorplex July 21 Barking Frog Summer Night 5K, Barking Frog July 23 Slo-Pitch Super Series, Slow Pitch City July 27 Rug-Rat Back Pack Beach Volleyball Tournament, Port Stanley

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July 29-30 PWC MS Bike Tours, Grand Bend to London July 29-30 World Koshiki Karatedo Championships, Fanshawe College July 30 Slo-Pitch Super Series, Slow Pitch City July 30-Aug 1 The Color Run 5KM London, Weestern Fair District August 6 WWE Live Summer Slam Heatwave Tour, Budweiser Gardens August 12 1st Annual “Hey Slugger” Softball Tournament, Stronach Diamonds August 19 5K Foam Fest Fun Run, Boler Mountain August 26 Wheels of Hope Ride, London City Chrysler

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August 26-27 Slo Pitch Ontario Superseries, Slo Pitch City September 1-3 Thunder by the Beach, Grand Bend Motorplex September 2-3 John Henderson Memorial Soccer Tournament, Various London fields September 8-17 Western Fair, Western Fair District September 9 MEC London Race Four: 5K, 10K, 15K Road & 6K/12K/ Half Marathon Trail, Fanshawe Conservation Area September 9 Fanshawe Live, Budweiser Gardens September 11 May Court Club of London Charity Golf Tournament, Forest City National September 17 Showdown in the Downtown, Western Fair District

September 17 Ontario Grand Nationals (Martial Arts), Carling Heights Community Centre September 18-23 The Nash Cup, London Squash Club September 21-24 Drew Doughty Ronald McDonald House AAA Invitational, Western Fair Sports Centre September 22-24 Air Show London, London International Airport September 23 Western Mustangs Home Opener, TD Waterhouse September 24 Seize the Day 5K Run/2.5K Walk, Kiwanis Park North October 1 CIBC Run For The Cure, Victoria Park

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Kick-off Cup commences season Submitted by the 2002 London Youth Whitecaps Boys Blue Soccer Team After a long winter, the 2002 London Youth Whitecaps (2002 Boys Blue Soccer Team) was eager for the 2017 season to get under way, to prove why they were the 2016 WOYSL League champions and Ontario Cup Finalists.

Their first test came at the Kick-off Cup in Tillsonburg (May 13-14), and the boys started the tournament with a 4-1 win over Guelph. After a 1-0 loss to Windsor, the boys faced Guelph once again in the quarterfinal, where penalty kicks decided the outcome – a 2-1 victory to advance the Whitecaps to the semi-final and a chance to redeem themselves against Windsor. Penalty kicks again decided the fate of the teams, and the Whitecaps again came out on top, 2-1, to advance to

the final. In a great tournament finale, the 2002 London Youth Whitecaps Blue Boys came away as 2017 Kick-off Cup Champions, as they defeated the Kitchener Spirit Academy, 3-2. As the 2017 regular season started, the team looked to carry their Kick-off Cup momentum forward and build on the success of their undefeated 2016 regular season. The boys jumped out to a fast start, going undefeated over their first six matches while outscoring their opponents 19-5. And the boys have continued their success on the pitch, as they look to lead the pack in the U-15 WOYSL standings. Come out to support the boys as they start their run towards a second Ontario Cup Final, when they play host to the first round on July 7-9 at the North London Athletic Fields. Go Whitecaps!

londonyouthwhitecaps.com

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Fifa’s Top 10 Things about NorWest Soccer Submitted by Norwest Soccer 1. Community initiatives! 2. Free Preferred Training Model Events! 3. Our Volunteers! 4. 24hr, online registration via www.norwestsoccer.com No line ups. 5. SWAG… 6. Our kids! 7. Year ‘round programing for Rec & Rep Grassroots. 8. Our staff! 9. Rec & Rep Player Partnerships & Pathways. 10. It’s Home!

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Stallions shining on pitch Contributions by Sharon Docherty The Woodstock Stallions Division I who has been coaching soccer for more men’s team is officially firing on all cylinthan 30 years and has worked with this Columban on their home field, which is ders now that the players have gelled as Stallions squad, which is led by head notoriously a tough place to play. But a team and learned to trust each other. coach Jay Jones, for the past five years. the Woodstock men persevered, hanging The older core of players have competed “It’s exciting to see them compete week tough all game and coming away with a with each other for many years, but the in and week out.” well-deserved victory. new core of players are very young for a Under Jones and his coaching staff, the One of the team’s goal is to finish in men’s squad – including six players who Stallions are working on blending the old the top 3 of Division I. Docherty certainly are under 18. with the new. In addition, besides workthinks the Stallions can do it, and she’s “We still have to get the youngsters ing on overall fitness levels, the team is excited to see just what the young men to realize that they don’t have to carry focused on structure and strategy, as will accomplish this season. the team, like they did in high school,” well as developing players – for today “They’re a fantastic group of young said Sharon Docherty, who is Woodstock and for the future. men who love the game,” she said. “It Soccer’s president and the manager (and One of the highlights of the season really is a privilege to coach them.” a member of the coaching staff) of the thus far for the Stallions was beating St. Stallions. “It’s tough for them to do, but they’re starting to get it, and the future looks very promising for this team.” The Stallions travel as far as Sarnia, and also play in Chatham and against the Taxandria Soccer Club. The team’s strengths are its strong work ethic, its speed and competitiveness, and the fact that the 17 players like each other. “They strive to get better each and every match,” said Docherty, The Woodstock Stallions Division I men’s team is looking to make a lot of noise this season, and they’ve already secured some big victories

Audi stepping up Submitted by FC LONDON It’s been a great partnership in 2017, as Audi London has been a sponsor of FC LONDON and its high-level men’s and women’s soccer clubs, which compete in League1, as well as the Club’s elite FC LONDON Academy. London’s team uniforms have been graced with the iconic ‘4-rings’ Audi logo and branding, and the company has also supplied a decorated vehicle to the club for the season. There’s no doubt, Audi London is a strong supporter of soccer, and manager Leo Malcevic says he’s been thrilled to partner with London’s top

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soccer club. “We’re great supporters of soccer teams, and that means the world to us,” Malcevic said. “And this partnership is a great way to be able to make a positive impact in the community, as part of what we do every day. And this is the first step of a great opportunity for us to be tied up with MLS.” The players and coaches have certainly enjoyed the partnership with Audi, as they strive to win League1 Ontario titles

in 2017. “We consider ourselves one of the top organizations, and having one of the top companies sponsoring us, I think, is a great partnership,” said Mike Marcoccia, the head coach of FC LONDON’s women’s team.

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What makes a league successful? Submitted by Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association (EMSA) With Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association’s 2017 Outdoor Season in full swing, we are seeing the fruits of our administrative labour in full force. The work performed in the background – by the Club and Team Administrators, League Boards and the EMSA Staff – involve year-round processes that make the league more efficient and better for all. We are faced with new technological

advances on a daily basis, and the key is to find what works and teach/learn from each other on how to incorporate these processes into our current system. As the majority of EMSA administrative positions are entirely volunteer-based, the number one roadblock is time – as in, there is never enough. That being said, even paid administrators face this same issue, and getting to everything in a

timely fashion is a goal that we all aspire to achieve (as difficult as it may be!). At the EMSA office, Anita, Jaime and Reid are always pleased to assist our members regarding EMSA’s 2017 Outdoor Season and beyond. The new identification card system with E2E, along with the changes in obtaining validated player rosters, has reduced the number of required trips to our office. If you need to come in to the office, make sure to visit our website (www. emsadistrict.com) to see our hours, as the normal schedule changes throughout the summer to accommodate staff holidays. As a reminder, when you do visit the office, make sure to check out the construction on the exciting addition to the BMO Centre, which is scheduled to be completed in September!

www.emsadistrict.com

EMSA staff provide the best possible soccer experience for its players. Back Row (left to right): Gus Katsiroumbas, Mike Ayyash, Brent Ashby, Dean Palmer, John Laverty. Front Row: Anita Gray, Danny Clarke, John Dutot, Jaime Earhart. Absent: Matt McCready and Joyce Stewart

Both Audi London and FC LONDON are looking at the collaboration as a long-term partnership – to promote Audi London and the sport of soccer in the community, and to provide opportunities

for female and male players to be the best that they can be – both on and off the field. “This partnership certainly helps to create opportunities for all players,” said

Ian Campbell, CEO of FC LONDON. “And it has helped promote our brand to a larger audience. It’s been a great relationship with Audi London.”

FC LONDON has enjoyed a great partnership with sponsor Audi London during the 2017 season, and the team hopes to continue working with the soccer-supporting company in the future

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Soccer opportunities expanding Submitted by the BMO Centre There is a lot happening at the BMO Centre in London. With the new expansion, increased programming, and updated technology platforms, the BMO Centre is preparing itself for a busy and exciting fall season. It was a sad day when the old ‘Dome’ on Cuddy Boulevard came down, but now that it has been The BMO Centre’s expansion project continues throughout the summer. The upgraded facility, which will include two new soccer fields, as well as activity and meeting rooms, will celebrate its grand opening in September decommissioned it will season will begin Saturday, October 14, information, please visit the BMO Centre be up to the BMO Centre 2017, and it will run until mid-April 2018. website at www.bmocentrelondon.com. to pick up the slack. With its two addiWhile there will be lots of extra sports tional 1/4 fields, which makes the facility For more information on SWISL, please visit the league website at www.swisl. activities taking place with the new a six-field complex, the BMO Centre will com. expansion at the BMO Centre, there will be bustling with activity, and there is The BMO Centre also runs a number also be some additional space for meetalready plenty of excitement surrounding of popular Adult Leagues (Men’s and ings and community events. Whether a its grand opening which is scheduled to Women’s only, as well as Co-ed). The corporate seminar or a birthday party, take place this coming September. numbers were very good last season, and the BMO Centre can accommodate most One of London’s most popular socwith the two new fields at BMO Centre, requests. And in-house catering is also cer leagues is the Southwest Optimist an even higher participation rate is exavailable. Indoor Recreational Soccer League pected this year. Registration for returnThe BMO Centre, one of Canada’s larg(SWISL) for boys and girls aged 5 to 18. ing teams began on July 1, 2017, and new est indoor sports facilities, will certainly As London’s largest indoor co-ed youth teams can start registering on August 7, be the place to be this fall for young socsoccer house league for over 30 years, 2017. Registration can be done online cer players – and moms and dads too! SWISL attracts players from all over the or in person. The deadline to register is city and throughout the region. Since the www.bmocentrelondon.com league moved to the BMO Centre in 2011, September 10, 2017. For more its popularity has skyrocketed – over 1,200 children were registered for the 2016/2017 fall and winter season. Registration for the upcoming SWISL season started online on May 1, 2017, and it will continue until September 15, 2017. Players can also be registered in person at the BMO Centre from Monday to Friday (between 10am and 8pm) throughout the summer months. The The Southwest Optimist Indoor Recreational Soccer League (SWISL) is one of the most popular leagues in London, and the BMO Centre hosted more than 1,200 boys and girls aged 5 to 18 during the 2016-17 season

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Diet mistakes athletes make Submitted by Millar Sports Chiropractic There is plenty of conflicting nutrition information out there, making it easy for people to fall into unhealthy eating habits without realizing it. This is especially true when it comes to losing weight, as people make mistakes that unknowingly sabotage their efforts. Read on to learn about three common diet mistakes … 1. Not eating enough fat. Since the 1980 release of the first US dietary guidelines, fat was considered something to avoid because it is high in calories. The whole diet industry adopted this idea, but over the next 20 years obesity rates continued to increase. Then it was discovered that moderate intake of fat wasn’t the problem – rather, too much sugar was a much more potent cause of obesity than dietary fat. In fact, healthy fats are an important part of your diet. They are used in the production of hormones, give you long-term energy needed in endurance sports, and could

3. Eating too much protein. Protein is an essenDr. Donald Millar of Millar tial part of a healthy Sports Chiropractic diet, as it helps build your muscles. However, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Protein still has calories, and it can still cause weight gain if overeaten. For an 80-kilogram (180-pound) man, 80 to 100 grams of protein per day is adequate for endurance training (64 grams for weight training). For a 60-kilogram (132-pound) woman, 60 to 70 grams of protein per day is adequate for endurance training (48 grams for weight training). Examples of healthy proteins are meat, fish, chicken, eggs, milk and cheese. I hope these recommendations will help you to eat a healthier diet and be more successful in controlling your weight!

even lower bad cholesterol. You need healthy monounsaturated fats in your diet every day, like those found in olive oil, almonds, peanut butter, coconut oil and avocados. 2. Not eating enough carbs. So many people are on low carb diets because they think that carbs are the cause of their weight gain. But they are only partly right. High glycemic index carbohydrates such as sugar, white pasta, and white bread can cause a large increase in your blood sugar levels, which act as a trigger for insulin which converts them into fat – particularly belly fat. But complex carbohydrates, which are high in fiber, have a low glycemic index, and only cause a small rise in your blood sugar, so they are not converted into fat, and they give you energy for a longer period of time. Examples of healthy complex carbohydrates are oatmeal, quinoa, whole grain pasta and boiled potatoes.

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Dance; Not Just For Girls By Richelle Hirlehey for Dance Extreme At Dance Extreme, we celebrate our male dancers. For many years, male dancers have been making a name for themselves. Often, boys shy away from dance, as it is seen as a female-dominated activity. But this is not the case. Dance is becoming much more popular with boys, who are choosing it both as a primary activity and as a secondary activity to complement their involvement in other sports activities that require flexibility and agility. We thought we would share with you what our boys at Dance Extreme love best about dance … Xander Wilkes has been dancing with

No, dance is not just for girls. In fact, there are numerous boys who are benefiting from Dance Extreme’s instruction and developing their skills in a fun environment!

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Dance Extreme for the past six years. When asked why he dances, 10-year-old Xander said, “It’s a fun experience to have the talent of dance. For example, if I were ever to stop dancing when I am young, I always know that I will have my dance background.” For some of our younger Dance Troupe dancers, like Michael Antaran and Vince Vieira, the love for dance is shown on their smiling faces – when they’re on stage, and when they’re hanging around the studio taking class. “Dancing makes me happy,” says Michael, whose biggest challenge, he says, is “remembering to point my feet and go in the right direction

Boys are joining dance in larger numbers, sometimes as a primary activity, and other times to complement other sports that they’re involved in

and not look down at the stage.” Vieira, 7, has been dancing at Dance Extreme for the past three years. “My favourite thing about dance is getting to learn new dance moves,” he said. Dylan Maczko was introduced to the studio because of the many hours his older sister spent there. As a result, Dylan started dancing when he was 5 years old. He says he has made many relationships with his dance peers, and he has developed social skills that will help him after his dance career. “This is one of the best things about dance!” he says. We have many boys that dance with us at Dance Extreme, and we are very proud of all their accomplishments – both in the studio and on the stage. We encourage the boys in your life to try out a class or two with us. We not only offer hip-hop, break dancing, jazz, musical theatre and ballet, but also a boys only class. And the best deal? Our boys class is FREE when taking another class concurrently! Why not try us out this summer! Remember, dance is not just for girls! For more information about Dance Extreme, visit us online at Dylan Maczko started dancwww.danceextreme.com. ing at Dance Extreme when he was 5 years old

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In their own words… Submitted by Power Cheer Gym For this issue of SportsXpress, we asked some of the athletes and parents of the Power Cheer Gym what cheerleading and training at PCG means to them. Here are some of the comments … “I like cheerleading because it is empowering for girls. You learn to work and

Youth Team – friends and sisters

trust one another. You have to work together to make it all happen, and it pushes you to be your best.” – Kadence, 12 (Thorndale) “I love the gym because when Senior Level 4 girls – together on and Senior Surge in competition I’m there I feel at home. And I off the mat love to cheer because it gives me confidence and teaches “When I am down, cheer makes me me what hard work and teamhappy! It gives me strength.” – Ella, 11 work can achieve.” – Jordyn, 10 (London) (London) “It’s fun. You get to perform in front “Cheerleading has made me of hundreds of people with a group of stronger, and I have built strong your friends. Cheer has taught me to stop friendships with girls who are like saying ‘I can't.’ If I want to do somesisters to me because we all work thing, I have to keep trying.” – Riley, 11 together to obtain the same goal. (Wellburn) This is a sport that makes me “My daughter loves the gym! She has happy and feel confident because always been athletic, but this is the most the coaches are really good and motivated I have ever seen her. Cheer believe in me.” – Kelsey, 10 really clicked with her.” – Cheer Mom C (Thorndale) (Woodstock) “My daughter has had a wonderful Senior ‘Surge’ Flying High experience with the Vipers over the last two years. PCG has some really talented coaches, and they are so great with the kids. Keep up the excellent work!” – Cheer Mom L (London) Power Cheer Gym offers competitive and recreational teams and classes for cheer and tumbling for kids aged 5 through 18. There is also a Special Needs team (resumes in September) and Learn to Cheer 101 summer sessions. Drop in any day, or call 519-667-0565 or email pcg@powercheerleading.com.

www.powercheergym.com pcgvipers

Youth Level 2 Team Circles up with the coaches

Mini Team ready to hit the stage

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Youth Level 1 team ready to compete in Brampton

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New home, same great program Submitted by CheerStrike Season 5 of the CheerStrike Royals competitive cheer program has officially started in our new facility at 1195 Gainsborough Road (Unit 12). The new, larger facility allows us to offer more competitive teams, more recreational cheer

classes, more tumbling classes, more private tumbling lessons, more birthday parties, and bigger camps! CheerStrike is busy this summer with 15 competitive teams (of all different ages and levels) training and learning their routines for the 20172018 season. This year our competitive teams will travel to Toronto, Ottawa and Niagara Falls to compete against the best teams in Canada. As our Recreational Cheer program continues to grow, we will be offering classes this fall for athletes at all different levels of training. If you’ve been in our program before, Now housed in a new facility, the CheerStrike Royals are offering even more cheer opportunior have experience in ties to youngsters in London and area

dance or gymnastics, you can take our intermediate or advanced classes. If you are new to all things cheer, we have beginner recreational classes for you. Recreational cheer offers athletes the opportunity to learn the skills of cheer without the longterm commitment of being on a competitive team. With our new leveled class process, our athletes can progress through all the levels of cheer while enjoying the sport that so many are falling in love with. Looking strictly for tumbling instruction? We have that as well! Every Saturday, starting this fall, we’ll have group tumbling classes for athletes at all different levels, not to mention private tumbling lessons offered every night of the week and on weekends. Register by going to www.cheerstrikeroyals.com or by emailing us at info@cheerstrikeroyals.com.

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Stapleton tabbed to lead

consecutive conference championships from 1999-2001 and five straight appearances in the CIS Final Eight, winning a national champi-

Submitted by Western Mustangs Athletics Christine Stapleton, a proven leader in athletics at both the university and national sport level, was recently announced as Western University's new Director of Sport and Recreation Services. Stapleton comes to Western with more than 30 years of experience in university sports, serving as an administrator, coach, and competing as a student-athlete. Since the fall of 2015, Stapleton has been the Director of Athletics at the University of Calgary, leading all elements of strategic planning and program development, as well as the day-toChristine Stapleton, who was recently named day operations Western’s new Director of Sport and Recreation Services, has more than three decades of the Dinos

program. Prior to this, Stapleton served as Associate Director – Athletics at the University of Waterloo. “We are delighted to bring Christine to Western,” said Jim Weese, who is currently serving as Acting Director of Sport and Recreation Services and led the search. “Her vast experience across the sport spectrum brings valuable perspective to Western’s Sport and Recreation Services. Her experience and leadership will be a great asset. We congratulate her on securing this exceptional opportunity following our highly competitive national search.” Prior to moving into an administrative role, Stapleton had a successful run as coach of the University of Regina's women's basketball program from 1993-2002, winning three conference coach of the year awards, CIAU Coach of the Year in 1996, and 3M Canadian High Performance Coach of the Year in 2001. She also guided the team to three

onship in 2001. “This is such an exciting opportunity for our family, and we look forward to joining Western's great team in Sport and Recreation services,” said Stapleton. “Western has such a rich tradition of excellence and delivering a superior student experience will continue to be our top commitment.” Stapleton also served Canada Basketball in various capacities from 1998 to 2009, including as a national team head coach and as National Development Coach. Stapleton earned an Honours in Human Movement degree from Laurentian University in 1991, and is a certified NCCP Level 4 Coach and Master Coach facilitator. Her tenure as Western’s Director of Sport and Recreation Services begins in July.

www.westernmustangs.ca

of experience in university sports

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LGA All the Way Submitted by London Gymnastics Academy

LGA ALL THE WAY! BIG NEWS! Jen and JP Kraemer, owners of London Gymnastics Academy, are thrilled to announce that we will have a new building in 2018! Loyalty from our LGA families, along with the hard work and dedication of our athletes and staff, has allowed us to move forward with this exciting adventure! For progress updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, our website, or the News Board in our lobby. LGA ALL THE WAY!

London Gymnastics Academy Competitive Team The London Gymnastics Academy finished the 2016-2017 competition season on top! Congratulations goes out to all of the LGA Optional Level 6-10 and National Competitive Team athletes on their amazing performances at this year’s Ontario Championships, which were held at the Better Living Centre in Toronto April 6-9. We are so proud of these superstars, and we commend them for their hard work and dedication! A special shout out to the athletes that medalled and placed in the Top 3 Overall at Championships: • Lauren Delage: 2nd Vault, 2nd Floor • Emma Crowell: 2nd Overall, 1st Vault, 2nd Bars • Helene Bouffard: 3rd Bars • Shayla Kellett: 1st Floor • Alice Zaric: 2nd Vault • Bailey Inglis: 2nd Overall, 3rd Vault, 3rd Bars, 3rd Beam, 1st Floor

• Chloe Burridge: 3rd Overall, 2nd Vault, 2nd Beam LGA had some very special news with London's only National Level athletes, Bailey Inglis, 11, and Chloe Burridge, 13, competing at the 2017 Canadian Championships! Jen and JP (Head Coaches and Owners of LGA) accompanied these two athletes to Montreal on May 23-28. Inglis and Burridge stepped up and hit the mark at this prestigious competition. Nationals is one of the primary competitions that brings together the top athletes from across Canada from the novice, junior and senior categories. Inglis placed 13th All Around, and 5th on Vault and Floor, while Burridge placed 6th on Vault in the Novice category. Congratulations to Bailey and Chloe on all of your hard work this season!

The 11th season of London Heat Cheerleading is going to be packed with skill training, team bonding, and routine choreography

quickly, so secure your spot soon! Visit us online.

londongymnasticsacademy.com Heat Cheerleading London Heat is excited to be going into their 11th season, growing to 11 competitive teams and with recreational cheerleading being offered. Our summer training is packed with skill training, team bonding, and routine choreography. Our staff is excited to start working with our amazing teams and to start new adventures with our newest team – Team Glow, which consists of athletes 6 years old and under! If you missed tryouts and are interested in joining, please email londonheatjamie@yahoo.ca for more information.

Summer Camps and Classes Summer is here! Don't miss out on the summer camps and classes! We have a few spots left for your child. Registration is available online and at our office. Registration for our busy Fall Session opened on June 26! These classes will fill

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The London Gymnastics Academy enjoyed a phenomenal season in 2016-17, ultimately finishing the competitive season on top.

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Child starting school in fall? Submitted by The Little Gym of London As parents, we often think about preschool for intellectual development, play groups for social development, and nutrition for health and wellbeing. But what we commonly take for granted is the role that physical development plays in the overall growth and development of our children. Physical abilities facilitate socializing, which bolsters confidence and self assuredness and directly improves the learning process and retention of information. According to Dr. James Bruno of UCLA, along with many other professors who have conducted individual studies over 70 years, the fusion of knowledge AND confidence is essential – both intellectually and behaviourally. Dr. Bruno asserts that the measure of knowledge and confidence is a better predictor of performance than measuring knowledge alone. Preschool is a wonderful developmental opportunity, and so is THE LITTLE GYM! The great thing about OUR program is that it promotes confidencebased learning that is proven to work hand-inhand with preschool in

the overall development and success of your child. If you’re not familiar with our School Readiness Camps this summer, or the WONDERKIDS program available in the fall, make sure to pick up a schedule and ASK. We offer Preschool combined

with Physical development, making us the SPRINGBOARD to your child’s future success! Call us at 519-642-0660 for more information.

www.tlglondoncan.com

What is great about the Little Gym of London is that it promotes confidence-based learning that works hand-in-hand with regular preschool, which means optimal development and future success of your child!

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Building on a solid foundation Submitted by Gymworld Are you looking for a program for your children that will help build their confidence, strength, flexibility, balance and coordination? Well, we have it! Gymworld Inc. can help your child develop these skills. We offer programs to children of all ages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from 18 months to early teens. Gymworld offers youngsters in and around London a place to learn and grow as active healthy children. Throughout the year, we offer seasonal recreational gymnastics and tumbling classes, day camps, and birthday parties. Meanwhile, our GW Elites pre-competitive and competitive teams are very popular and are quickly growing. Our new facility at 1712 Hyde Park Rd. will provide more opportunities in programming for families in and

around London. Gymworld has been a dominant force in London gymnastics for 15 years. Since January of 2002, owners Mike and Ildiko Inglis have grown their business into a highly-respected and popular organization providing quality recreational gymnastics to London and area children. With the addition of our competitive program, Gymworld can now offer quality gymnastics to children of all levels and abilities. Mike and Ildiko are well known in the gymnastics world and are both accomplished gymnasts themselves. Ildi(ko) was born in London and started training at the age of 6. She went on to become a member of the National Team for seven years and represented Canada at many international competitions, including the 1987 Pan-American Games where she was team captain for the bronze medal-winning Canadian team. Mike was raised in Burlington and trained in Toronto until 1988 when he moved to London to

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attend Western University and be closer to Ildi. Mike competed at the 1991 World Championships, placing 5th in the vault finals. He also represented Canada at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Both Mike and Ildi have many years of coaching gymnastics under their belts. Ildi has trained several provincial champions and has had athletes selected to represent Ontario at Tour Competitions in the United States. Having such backgrounds in the sport, Mike and Ildi are in a unique position to pass on to children and youth their passion for the sport of gymnastics. Mike and Ildi have instilled in their programming safe and exciting opportunities to develop children's self-esteem and personality. They lay the foundations for lifelong activity, health, and success. Gymworld is a family-friendly organization built on family values that develop concentration, persistence, social skills and self-discipline. We are excited for our new and improved facility and to continue our partnership with community organizations such as Thames Valley Children's Centre and the Forest City Diving Club. Please join us as we expand our thrilling venture in the sport of gymnastics!

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The Cousins Family Submitted by Olympic Karate and photo by Anita Watkins Parents often bring their children in to Olympic Karate to help them with focus, confidence, and fitness. And that’s exactly what Heather and Jayme Cousins

did with their son, Alan, when he was five. Now 10, Alan has been an exemplary student - he’s two belts away from junior black belt, and a member of the STORM team that assists with leading classes. Heather and Jayme saw the benefits that karate was having on their son and inquired about adult classes for themselves. Both joined, and now the entire family trains with us! Heather has become a dojo supermom. She trains in adult class two times a week, and cardio kick boxing when she’s able. Jayme, having trained in Judo in the past, joined with the A Karate Family (left to right): Jayme, Alan, and Heather Cousins

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intention of getting some physical fitness and practical martial arts techniques that he could partner with his past training. Training as a family has allowed the Cousins’ to help each other with practicing their skills. Outside of karate, the family loves the outdoors; Alan is a Cub Scout and has traveled extensively to Scouts and Provincial Parks in Ontario, Heather is a Cub leader and an avid cyclist, and Jayme enjoys training and working with their puppy, Jasper. Our dojo is made up of so many awesome families, and we are very proud of the community that we have – thank you to the Cousins family for their continual support and passion. To book a free trial class for yourself (or for your entire family!), visit www. olympickarate.on.ca for more info!

www.olympickarate.on.ca

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Karate and community Submitted by Family Karate The Family Karate Competition Team had five team members travel to Ottawa to compete in the WKC National Team tryouts in May. The team was made up of

Jake, Nathan, Athena, Eccaia, and Dana, and all five members qualified for at least one event! They are now eligible to complete in the WKC World Championships in Orlando this November. Way to go! This spring also saw our team members participate in two charity run/ walks. The first was the Kids Help Phone ‘Walk So Kids Can

Five members of Family Karate’s Competition Team, including Jake, Nathan, Athena, Eccaia, and Dana, have qualified to compete in the WKC World Championships in Orlando in November

Talk’ event on May 7, and the second was the Brain Tumor Walk on June 11. The team put on fantastic demonstrations to entertain and amaze the crowds. They also led warm-up activities prior to the run/walks. As always, all members of the team demonstrated tremendous generosity and sense of community. Thanks also goes out to the parents of the team members who helped make these initiatives possible!

www.familykarate.ca

“The Family Karate Competition Team had five team members travel to Ottawa to compete in the WKC National Team tryouts in May.” WI

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Stangs a force on the court Submitted by Of Courts The Western Mustangs men's tennis team finished with a perfect record of 10-0 during the 2016-2017 season en

route to winning the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships last fall. In the final, the ‘Stangs beat the defending champs, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, 6-1. The Mustangs have also won the C.L.T.A. Cup four of the last five seasons, and 19 times in the program’s storied history. In other words, it’s been a great time to be a Western Mustang tennis

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player in recent years. This season, there were three men’s players with perfect records, going the full year without losing a singles match. One of those players, Iain Sneddon, who won league MVP honours, went undefeated in all of his singles and doubles matches. When the hardware was handed out, Mustang OUA All-Stars were Sneddon (London, ON) and Andre Szilvassy (Burlington, ON). Cam Cross and Anthony

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Glavanic, meanwhile, won the Coach of the Year Award, marking the third time the pair has received the honour, having previously won in 2012 and 2013. In the OUA final against U of T last fall, the Western men won all of their doubles matches and 5 of 6 singles matches to win in commanding fashion. Now, the team will play for a U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport) title in August. Stay tuned to www. westernmustangs.ca to find out how the Mustang men perform on the national stage â&#x20AC;Ś

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The Western Mustangs celebrate winning the 2016-17 OUA Championships after a perfect 10-0 season and a 6-1 win in the final over U of T.

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Team London set to tee off By Tyler Schepens Team London junior golfers continue to develop their skills to prepare and compete in the 2017 tournament season. The year started with MJT regional tournaments and qualifiers into Golf Ontario’s Provincial events, and a few local golfers have had a great start to the season and enjoyed outstanding experiences. These golfers are part of the London area’s nationally-recognized program, the London Junior Golf Development

Centre (LJGDC). Two Team London members, Carson DeThomasis and Cameron Kellett, have qualified to battle at the highest level provincially and compete in national junior events. Cam participated in Golf Canada’s Future Links Ontario Championship in Brockville, Ontario in June, and achieved a T40 finish (77, 74, 77). Both Carson and Cam have qualified to participate in Golf Ontario’s Junior Boys Championship in early July at the

Team London’s developing competitors (left to right): Aaron Lopez, Ethan Spencer, Aidan Smith, JP Marochko, Austin Kuiack, Carson DeThomasis, Tommy Burnside, Quinton Cosby, Julia Davis (Absent: Sullivan Gibb, Cam Kellett, Colin Warren)

Rock Golf Course. Cam and Carson are joined in the Team London program with 13 new competitors (aged 9 to 14), 11 developing juniors (14 to 18), and three advanced juniors on U.S. scholarships. The juniors are led by award-winning PGA Professional Brian Gallant, who has a great passion to further each junior’s golf game and life skills.

www.londonjuniorgolf.com

The London Junior Golf Development Centre’s new competitors (left to right): Bennett Hawrelak, Phillip Millward, Cam Deeks, Brandon McDougall, Mason Wittur, Paige Cunningham, Aidan Sims, Daniel Quan, Grant Cunningham, Tyler Beharrell (Absent: Liam Georgeson, Gabrielle Harrison, Mackenzie Mercer)

The MVP Treatment Submitted by Sport Clips London Nothing comes close to making you feel like an MVP quite like Sport Clips’ MVP Haircut Experience! After your in-chair consultation by a Guy-Smart Stylist, you will receive a precision haircut. Then, enjoy our legendary hot-steamed towel wrap, invigorating massaging shampoo with Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo and leave-in conditioner, and a relaxing neck and shoulder treatment that leaves you feeling refreshed. The only thing that could possibly make it better? If you double it (which, by the way, you can!). Sport Clips Haircuts has three locations in London (all London-owned and operated): 1985 Hyde Park Rd, 1103 Adelaide St. N, and 3059 Wonderland Rd S. Sport Clips’ mission is to provide a ‘Championship haircut experience for men and boys in an exciting sportsthemed environment.’ Come in today to get a fresh new look for summer!

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Love sports and want to experience the ‘MVP Treatment’ while getting a haircut? Sport Clips London is the place to go!

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Teeing up for a cure Submitted by Lexus of London The 17th Annual Lexus of London Golf Classic was held at The Oaks on Monday, June 26th, 2017. A seventeenth consecutive sold-out event saw 144 golfers enjoy a fun-filled day of competition and camaraderie. We expect this years event to bring the 17 year total to close to 1.5 million. All of these funds will be

donated to Dr. Joe Chin and his team to assist in the fight against prostate cancer. For further details on sponsorship or registration for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event, please visit

www.lexusoflondongolfclassic.com

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Swimmers garner gold Submitted by Middlesex Swimming The Middlesex Swimming Club has been busy in the pool in recent months, enjoying some impressive accomplishments and accolades along the way – even on the national stage. At the, Terri MacDougall won three gold medals and a bronze in the 50-to-54 age category at the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships, which was held May 1114 in Quebec City. Meanwhile, Middlesex swimmers showed well at the Western Region LC Championships in Windsor the weekend of June 2-4, earning a total of 51 medals in all (23 gold, 19 silver, and nine bronze). It marked the most medals in club history, as Middlesex swimmers

also managed to set another 27 club records during the weekend event. As a Club, the Middlesex Swimming team finished 8th overall out of 29 teams, with the men finishing 4th overall as a team. On the Water Polo front, the Middlesex Club was honoured to host the 12U Provincial Championships at Western University the weekend of May 27-28. Nine teams – and 120 athletes – from around the province attended and competed for the coveted provincial title. The Middlesex team finished 2nd in their division, and Connor Maloney finished 2nd in scoring in the tournament, tallying an impressive 15 goals in four games.

www.middlesexswimming.ca

Terri MacDougall won a trio of gold medals, as well as a bronze, at the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships

Middlesex swimmers earned 51 medals (including 23 gold) at this summer’s Western Region Championships while finishing 8th overall as a team

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Well-deserved Wall of Fame additions Submitted by London Aquatic Club The City of London and the London Aquatic Club recently honoured four LAC members for their outstanding contribution to aquatic sport by inducting them onto the Judge Allan Guthrie Aquatic Wall of Fame at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre. Three-time Paralympian Devin Gotell, 1977 World University Games finalist Ron Campbell, and super volunteers Rose Bloch-Hansen and Mark Lukings were all acknowledged for their outstanding work as either athletes or builders. The Wall of Fame was established in 1992 to recognize those individuals who have made a significant contribution

to aquatics while representing the City of London. The ceremony took place at LAC’s annual Hollandia Invitational Swim meet, which was attended by almost 800 swimmers from across southern Ontario. A total of 98 LAC swimmers competed at the Western Region Long Course Championships in Windsor in early June and won the overall team title by almost 400 points. Later in June, LAC swimmers competed at the Provincial Championships in Markham and Scarborough, and in July they will be competing at the junior and senior national championships.

Cleo (left) and Junsoo (right) both broke into the LAC All-Time Top 10 Rankings in the 11 and 12-year-old age category with recent swims

www.londonaquaticclub.ca

Canada Games Aquatic Centre Wall of Fame inductees pose with London Mayor Matt Brown and Director of Parks & Recreation Bill Coxhead. From left to right: Karol Maar, Scott Chrissley, Rose Bloch-Hansen, Mark Lukings, Devin Gotell, Mayor Matt Brown, Ron Campbell, Bill Coxhead

LAC’s graduating swimmers, who are all moving on to university in September

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Give diving a try! Submitted by Forest City Diving Club Are you or your children looking for a new sport to try out this fall? Look no further than diving with London’s Forest City Diving Club! In the exciting sport of diving, you will experience something that requires not only courage but also grace and strength. At FCDC, we offer programs for children with no prior experience – you just need to know how to swim. Aspiring divers start out with the PLOUF program, which offers a standardized way to learn in a fun, active and safe environment. The goal is to develop a lifelong love for the sport of diving. There are six skill levels in the program.

To advance, a diver will need to achieve a certain level of proficiency. As diving is a sport that requires profound attention to detail, great care is taken in teaching the sport’s fundamentals. FCDC coaches are mainly past or present divers, with a profound knowledge of the sport. Our young athletes experience one hour of dryland training, water practice, and pool safety instruction. All this takes place in a fun and nurturing environment that children love and enjoy being a part of. New Friendships are formed, and your young athlete will be happy about having accomplished something that they had not experienced before! All skill levels are taught and implemented on the pool deck, from the side of the pool and on a 1- and/or 3-meter springboard. FCDC runs four sessions a year, Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer. Should you have previous experience in diving, dance or gymnastics, consider joining our precompetitive program! Training time is twice a week, with a one-hour dryland component and ballet instruction. For our pre-competitive program, we hold tryouts twice a year for those who are eager to progress and move on to the next The Forest City Diving Club offers a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to level. The focus is on developing

personal excellence, work ethic and a high level of self-esteem. The goal for our pre-competitive divers, in general, is to work on establishing a dive list in order to be competing at the next level. In diving, individual development may vary and each athlete is encouraged to reach their own level of success. Technical characteristics of diving let athletes develop at their own pace. Here at Forest City Diving Club, we take special care in preparing our athletes for competition – mentally and physically. To request a full assessment or ask for information on any of our programs, please send an email to: forestcitydivingclub@ gmail.com.

www.forestcitydiving.com

learn the sport of diving and become the best they can be!

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That’s a WRAP! Submitted by the London Volleyball Club What a way to wrap up the season! Twenty-two teams, 257 Competitive athletes, 186 ‘Feed the Fire’ athletes, and

201 LVC Timbit athletes! The annual LVC year-end Palasad Party marked the end of Year #5 for the London Volleyball Club. And what a successful year it was! The 2016-2017 season saw another 10 athletes invited to the Team Ontario HPC, four Team Ontario beach athletes, five athletes invited to the Team Canada Camp, one 16U Team Canada selection, and one Canada Games selection. And one athlete, Maddie Lethbridge, earned the Evelyn Holick Award for top 18U Female athlete in the OVA. The LVC Pathway was cemented via the hiring of Pathway Coordinator, Chris Lawson, and a model for the future was created. Year #5 also marked LVC’s alignment with Volleyball Canada, through the partnership in running the Volleyball

Canada Excellence Program and the LVC Physical Testing database to monitor athlete development. With summer programming already underway, athletes are encouraged to enjoy their summers! Get on the beach! Have some fun! If you’re enrolled in our summer programming, we look forward to working with you to improve your game ahead of next season. For those interested in the 2017-2018 season, LVC will be hosting a Family Info Night on Monday, August 21 at Fanshawe College! Tryouts begin in September. Follow us on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram or check us out at www.LVCFire.com and #lovethegame with us!

www.lvcfire.com

Season #5 was a great success for the London Volleyball Club, which celebrated with their annual year-end Palasad Party to wrap up the season and recognize the amazing accomplishments throughout the year!

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A quarter century of V-Ball Submitted by Forest City Volleyball Club May 24 was an evening of reflection, camaraderie, storytelling, and laughter as we celebrated a successful finish to the 25th season of the Forest City Volleyball Club! Thank you to the 500+ FCVC visionaries, supporters, volunteers, coaches, parents and athletes who joined us for this special evening. We are

grateful for the commitment this community has made to FCVC for 25 years and we look forward to delivering an unparalleled coaching program to you for another 25 years! We wish everyone a wonderful summer and look forward to seeing you all in the gym in September! Go FC!

15U Boys win Premier Bronze at Nationals

The great FCVC coaches and staff!

FCVC Award of Excellence Winners

FCVC Founders: Barry Brownlee, Vaughan Peckham, Jane Peckham, Dave Preston, Rob Atkinson

FCVC Team Award Winners

FCVC Award of Achievement Winners

OVA Award of Excellence Winners

forestcityvolleyball.com | facebook: FCVCLondon | twitter: @go_fcvc | instagram: forestcityvolleyball

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A decade on the court Submitted by London Sharks Volleyball As the London Sharks Volleyball Club well as our summer camp at the end of More kids will have a chance to play with enters its 10th anniversary year, the club July. For more information, check out our us, but it will also be more competitive has just wrapped up its most successful website at www.londonsharks.ca. to enter our teams due to the great talent season ever and is poised to make an The Club wants to celebrate its 10th that we have. We will have a great Gala even bigger impact this coming year. anniversary by making a bigger impact at the end of the year, as well as many Our 10 teams earned 12 OVA medals this coming season. We are recruiting special events to celebrate our 10th year. and five Ontario Championship medals; more coaches to help us continue our Cheers to 10 years! Two teams moved up to the premier divipath to develop great players and teams. www.londonsharks.ca sion, and six teams finished the season in division 1; Another major accomplishment for Sharks Volleyball was to be the leading club in five of 13 age categories among London clubs, all in the younger divisions, which demonstrates that our developmental programs are extremely successful. We also launched the first ever Volleyball House league in London (London Youth City league), and in no time we had over 80 participants, which further demonstrated the need to offer such a program to fill a growing love to play volleyball in our community. This summer the club is offering another House league program, our successful Performance program (for competitive players looking The London Sharks Volleyball Club is celebrating its 10th year as an organization in 2017-18, and there is much to celebrate, as the Sharks have grown to become a fantastic Club to fine-tune their skills), as dedicated to providing youth with plenty of opportunities to play the great game of volleyball

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health&fitness

The Mind Gym – Why imagery? By Natascha Wesch, PhD You train hard in the gym to get stronger, faster, and more powerful. But do you train your mind? Do you want to learn to train your mind for optimal performance? If the answer is yes, then read on!

What is Mind Gym? Mind Gym is a new concept for mindset training that is being launched by Natascha Wesch. Natascha is a former international athlete and coach, and now a Mental Performance Consultant who works with elite athletes the world-over to help them reach elite mind performance. Mind Gym utilizes the same approach as a regular gym: to develop fitness and strength. At the Mind Gym, we develop strength of mindset rather than strength of body.

Imagery Training Program: July – August 2017 The first Mind Gym training program being launched this summer is the 4-week Mental Imagery training program.

Imagery (also commonly known as visualization) is a skill that athletes can tap into to help them reach their goals. Most athletes already use mental imagery naturally, though often not in a systematic or purposeful manner. Similar to physical skills, mental skills like imagery need to be practiced and used in a variety of settings so that one can call on them when the pressure is on. Mental imagery is a powerful mind-skill that can be used for many purposes, including: • Achieving goals through mental preparation for success • Adjusting pre-competitive and competitive mood and energy levels (for example, if you are too nervous, you can help yourself relax by mentally taking yourself to a quiet, calm environment) • Learning, correcting, or enhancing sport skills or sport strategies • Maintaining sport skill levels when injured This 4-week training program includes 4 one-hour training sessions offered in small groups (maximum 10 athletes)

Natascha Wesch is a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) and a Mental Performance Consultant in private practice who works with individual athletes, coaches, teams and performing artists of all levels and backgrounds. Natascha has over 25 years of Natascha Wesch high performance sport experience as a former international athlete and coach. As well, Natascha is highly trained in the fields of Sport Psychology and High Performance Training. To learn more and to contact her, visit her website.

where you will learn how to develop strong imagery skills, use and master imagery for performance enhancement, and learn to create your own imagery training program.

Two session options *All sessions at Western Student Recreation Centre, Western University in London, ON Session A – Tuesdays at 4-5 PM (July 18 & 25, August 1 & 8, 2017) Session B – Thursdays at 4-5 PM (July 20 & 27, August 3 & 10, 2017) 4-Week program fee: $150 +HST (special discounted Rate to celebrate CANADA 150) Register: http://www.elitemindperformance. com/getting-started.html 'In the body of the message, state that you want to register for Mind Gym.'

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Carr off to New Orleans Courtesy University of New Orleans Privateers Athletics The University of New Orleans beach Norden. “She had several options for her volleyball team added some firepower for collegiate career, and she and her family the 2018 campaign, as Canadian standbelieve in the vision we have set for our out Ally Carr signed a National Letter of program and see how well she fits at Intent to play for the Privateers. New Orleans. She’s a dynamic attacker The 5-foot-7 native of Shedden, Ontario, joins the Privateer outdoor program out of Parkside Collegiate Institute where she was voted team captain and MVP each year while helping lead the school's indoor team to a Thames Valley Regional Athletics Division title all four seasons. “Ally is a dynamic and explosive athlete who I believe will make an immediate impact on our program,” said UNO Volleyballer Ally Carr has signed a Letter of Intent to play for the University of New Orleans on head coach Millicent Van their beach team for 2018

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and quick defender. I look forward to the many great things to come for our program with Ally as a part of it.” In two seasons playing on the Ontario Volleyball Association Beach Circuit representing the Zephyr Beach Club in Port Stanley, Carr racked up 12 wins, including back-to-back gold medals at the Provincial Championships in Toronto and an AAU US Midwest Open Title.

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Invitational kicks off season Submitted by London Minor Lacrosse Association For the third year running, the London Minor Lacrosse Association and the London Jr B Lacrosse Club joined forces to host the Blue Devils Invitational Box Lacrosse Tournament during the weekend of May 26-28. A total of 43 boys teams battled it out in 78 games played at Kinsmen, Stronach and Lambeth

arenas. London Lacrosse has been very successful in giving Ontario Lacrosse Association C/D-ranked teams a competitive event to kick off their year, with the Blue Devils Invitational happening on the opening weekend of the tournament season. An impressive 23 different OLA associations from across the province were represented (the Sault St. Marie Spartans have made the long trek to London each of the past three years). This year they were joined by far away Gloucester and Cornwall in the Midget division. Bantam teams came from afar as well, including Kingston, Nepean, Sudbury and Cornwall. London fielded teams The Gloucester Griffins’ captains accept the Midget Championship trophy from tournament convenor Ron Elijah in five of the six divisions.

The London Blue Devils’ undefeated Paperweight team!

For the first time, the Blue Devils tournament offered a Paperweight division for the province’s youngest competitive age group (those born in 2011 and 2012). Although championships are not awarded at this level, the London Paperweights did manage to run the table and finish undefeated. In addition to playing ‘the fastest game on two feet,’ participants enjoyed vendors, splash pads, free t-shirts and tacos in a bag, all of which drew positive feedback from those in attendance. We hope to welcome all of the teams back for the 4th annual Blue Devils Invitational in 2018!

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The Paperweight teams take part in post-game congratulations and awards

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Ballers enjoy success down south Submitted by London Wheelchair Basketball Association The London Wheelchair Basketball Association has wrapped up the 20162017 season. It was another great year of training, learning, and competing for the Forest City Flyers and the Forest City Flash. The Flyers competed in both the Canadian Great Lakes Conference and the American National Wheelchair Basketball Associations Division 2 league. The team traveled to Louisville, Kentucky at the end of March to compete in the American National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament. The Flyers came into the tournament seeded 16,

but impressively defeated the number 1 seed in their opening game. They then fell to Detroit (9th seed) and moved over to the seeding bracket. After losing to San Antonio, the Flyers bounced back

players moving up from Jr. teams around the conference, including London's own Natalie Robinson. This was Natalie's first full season playing with the Flyers. She has been playing now for three years and has been constantly improving her game. She is fearless and always willing to learn. She also joined the Women's Ontario team this year and has been selected to the Ontario Junior team. Natalie is still also very involved with the Forest City Flash Jr. team, taking her new skills and knowledge and passing them on to her Jr. teammates. The LWBA would also like to say a special thankyou to the GoodLife Kids Foundation and the London Community Foundation for their support this year of our programs. If you would like any more information about supporting the LWBA's programs or would like to join, please contact us.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was another great year of training, learning, and competing for the Forest City Flyers and the Forest City Flash.â&#x20AC;? and won against Charlotte to come out seeded 7th overall in Division 2. The Flyers finished up their Great Lakes Conference this year with a 5-9 record. It was a great year for teaching in the Great Lakes Conference, with several new

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The Forest City Flash gather for a season-ending cheer

The Forest City Flyers in Louisville

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Natalie Robinson

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sportsfiles Locals help lift provincial squad Submitted by London Annihilators Wheelchair Rugby The London Annihilators rugby program finished out the year with a bang. The program sent players to compete with three different Ontario teams for the 2017 Coloplast Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championship. Annihilators players helped two different Ontario teams finish first and second on the Division 1 side, while Annihilators also helped Ontario clinch first place in the Division 2 battle. Notable performances over the weekend came from four Annihilators in particular. Garrett Hickling is no stranger to all-star awards, and he grabbed best 3.5 on the Division 1 side. Meanwhile, three other Annihilators dominated awards on the Division 2 side. Jamie Sopha had a breakthrough performance nabbing best 3.0 accolades. Faisal Burale took home both best 1.5 on the Division 2 side and the award given to the most sportsmanlike player

across the entire tournament â&#x20AC;&#x201C; quite an accomplishment. Lastly, Ian Crowe was named most valuable player for the entire Division 2 side. The Annihilators would like to generously thank all family, friends, fans, and volunteers for their support during the incredible weekend that was the 2017 Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championship.

off to recover and enjoy the sun before starting to prepare for the 2017-2018 season.

Player Spotlight: Ian Crowe Annihilator Ian Crowe, known to teammates simply as 'Crowe', stepped up his game and led Ontario as they defeated a solid Alberta squad. Crowe's court presence, knowledge of the game, and ability to effectively communicate with teammates on the floor was no match for any team on the Division 2 side. Teammates describe Crowe as a hard worker, great guy, and quick-minded player who can lay bone crushing hits on the floor. Crowe will now take some much-deserved time

Ian Crowe impressed at the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championship, helping Ontario to a big win over Alberta and earning MVP honours for the entire Division 2 side.

Winter hockey recap! Submitted by George Bray Sports Association What a great 2016-17 hockey season we had! We saw more players than ever taking part in the great game of hockey, as we had a total of 18 teams in our Fundamentals, Junior, Senior and Intermediate divisions. It was the first year for our Fundamentals Division, which consisted of new players and some returning players who benefited from a slower start to their hockey career and more one-onone instruction. The season included 12 weeks of skating drills and skills, with lots of fun and personal attention. Our volunteers are truly second to none, and they make learning

Following a successful winter season of hockey, the George Bray Sports Association (GBSA) got together again in June to play in their third annual Fun Golf Tournament at Maple Ridge Golf Course. A great time was had by all!

a pleasure. On January 1, we combined all players in Junior and Fundamentals to form six teams to play together in our Junior Division until the end of the season. It was our first year with this new division, and it was a great success! Our players and their families loved it, and we will continue the program. In April, we held our annual year-end banquet at the Marconi Club with 650 attendees. Awards included a trophy for all players, as well as individual presentations for the Sportsmanship Award, Most Improved Player, Most Dedicated Player, and many other special league awards. On June 11, we held our 3rd Annual Fun Golf Tournament at Maple Ridge Golf course. Almost 50 players participated in our Texas Scramble and our putting contest, straightest drive, and closest to the pin challenges. We enjoyed a beautiful day followed by some good fellowship and an amazing steak dinner. A huge thank you goes to all our sponsors, players, and Greg and his staff at Maple Ridge for

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another great tournament. We look forward to seeing everyone in the fall. Registration dates for the 20172018 season are Sept. 16, 20, 23 and 27, and will be held at Glen Cairn Arena. Our season starts on Oct. 30!

www.georgebraysports.ca

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Players’ determination recognized Submitted by London Minor Football Association Recently, some impressive London Minor Football players who have overcome adversity were recognized at a reception at the Arva Flour Mill, which was sponsored by Fulton Jay Financial, the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada, and the Xenith football equipment company. As part of the event, Hamilton Tiger-Cat and Western Mustang alum Andy Fantuz was on hand to meet the players and parents. The players were nominated by their LMFA coaches and were then selected by the Concussion Jason Preece

Legacy Foundation. All are great examples of the teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship that football teaches. In addition to being invited to the reception, Xenith supplied each player with some free football equipment, including their new state-of-the-art X1 helmets. The recognized LMFA players at this year’s reception were Gio DeSando, Keyshawn Manning, David Matias, Camden Melrose, Jason Preece, and Pierce Smith. Each of these young men have represented the LMFA extremely well. We are very proud of all that they have accomplished so far, and we look forward to seeing them again this fall on the field at Citywide Park. For more information on the 2017 LMFA fall season, please visit www.lmfafootball.ca or call 519-852-4465.

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At a recent LMFA reception, Gio DeSando, Keyshawn Manning, David Matias, Camden Melrose, Jason Preece, and Pierce Smith were recognized for their perseverance in overcoming adversity

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A smiling Camden Melrose (front) and his fellow award winners have represented LMFA extremely well – both on and off the field

Andy Fantuz (at back) of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was on hand to meet the honoured players and their parents

David Matias, football in hand, was a worthy award recipient

Road Trips vs.

Green Bay Packers

Fueling the young ‘Stangs Contributions by Derek Henderson and Aaron Brady

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Spartan Nutrition has more than two decades of experience helping thousands of clients in London and surrounding area achieve their health, fitness and athletic goals. And they’ve partnered with top-notch organizations in the city, including the London Knights and London Lightning. Now, they’re happy to announce a partnership with the London Junior Mustangs football program, as the company has joined as a Gold sponsor for the upcoming season. “The times have really changed from back in the day when it was often McDonalds pregame …” said Derek Henderson, Director of Sponsorship &

Fundraising for the Junior Mustangs. “It makes a lot of sense for us to partner with an organization like Spartan Nutrition as we try to prepare our athletes for competition this summer as well as their future goals. The focus is on good nutrition and quality protein.” Spartan Nutrition, which is owned and operated by Aaron Brady, has five locations in London and employs more than 20 knowledgeable staff members. Brady is passionate about helping Londoners achieve their goals, and he’s excited to partner with an upstart organization like the Junior Mustangs, providing the players with their nutrition and supplement needs. “It’s all about helping these young athletes adopt a good diet and proper supplementation, which will improve their endurance, energy, and recovery, while also Spartan Nutrition, a local company with a track record spanning more than two decades, has now part-

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building strength and power that they can use on the field,” said Brady, who played varsity football back in his days at Queen’s University and has 25 years of weight training experience under his belt. “I’m happy to provide my expertise to the Junior Mustangs to help the players be the best that they can be.” The more than 300 players in the Junior Mustangs program are encouraged to visit any of Spartan Nutrition’s five locations throughout the city, and Spartan Nutrition will be in attendance at the team’s home games. No longer do players show up to practice or games on an empty stomach, and the Junior Mustangs are hoping to tap into Brady’s knoweldge – and high-quality products – to fuel their players to success. “It’s a partnership that works really well, particularly with the expertise that Aaron brings to the table,” said Henderson. “This will lead to our players being in better shape and less prone to injuries. It will no doubt improve performance on the field, contributing to success on the field for the Junior Mustangs organization.”

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Bentley Hearing recognizes Sporting Seniors Featuring: London Pickleball Club

Pickleball tourney a hit Submitted by London Pickleball Club and photos by Judy Reddick The 5th annual London Pickleball Club Tournament was held in late May at Fanshawe College, and the event brought out 266 participants from all across Ontario for some fantastic (and fun!) competition. With a rated competition from 3.0 up to 4.0, the Fanshawe gym featured some great pickleball action. Check out the photos to see tournament medal winners!

Thomas Conway & Aart DeVos – Gold (Men’s Doubles 3.5 – Age 60-69)

Allen Dawe & Walter Telewiak – Silver (Men’s Peter Singleton & Kent Wheeler – Gold (Men’s Christine Bidmead & Susan Singleton – Gold Lorna Popofski & Karen Hill – Gold (Women’s Doubles 3.0 – Any Age) Doubles 3.5 – Age 60-69) (Women’s Doubles 3.0) Doubles 3.5 – Age 60-70+)

Ralph Hackbarth & John Blackwell – Silver (Men’s Doubles 4.0 – Age 60-69)

Judith Shelton & Tracy Smith – Silver (Women’s Doubles 3.5 – Age 50-59)

Connie Lange & Irina Chulkova – Bronze (Women’s Doubles 3.5 – Age 19-49)

Judith Shelton & Grant Shelton – Gold (Mixed Doubles 3.5 – Age 50-59)

Akiko Nakamaru & Thomas Conway – Gold (Mixed Doubles 3.5 – Age 60-69)

Heather Canon - John Blackwell – Silver (Mixed Doubles 4.0 – Age 50-59)

Gary Hill & Grant Shelton – Silver (Men’s Doubles 3.5 – Age 60-69)

Heather Canon – Gold (Women’s Singles – Open)

Patricia Beaver – Silver (Women’s Singles – Open)

Peter Singleton & Kent Wheeler – Bronze (Men’s Open – 70+)

Lynn Levandoski & Anne Evans – Gold (Women’s Open – Any Age)

Al Dawe & Walter Telewiak (Men's Doubles 3.0)

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Summer winners crowned By Kim Benke, for London Senior Games 55+ Through May and June, London District 30 held a full schedule of events for residents aged 55+, for serious competition – and mostly for fun. Winners from these events qualify for the Southwest Regional event to be held in Sarnia on Aug 16. The Regional events are organized by the Ontario 55+ organization called OSGA 55+. Some Londoners braved the elements for Prediction Walking and Slo-Pitch,

but the cool weather didn’t dampen their enthusiasm. Many other events were held indoors, kindly hosted by the Marconi Club, Longworth, Richmond Woods & Windermere Retirement homes, Kiwanis & Horton Street Senior Centres, Victory Legion & City of London Optimist Community Centres. For more information about upcoming events and opportunities to volunteer, check out our website:

www.londonseniorgames.com

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Hitting the road for hockey Submitted by Progressive Hockey Development (PHD) If travel miles were NHL points, Mike Ellis would have shattered the Great One's NHL all-time points record somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean. This spring, Ellis and the team at Progressive Hockey Development/Ellis Hockey Detail have had their own version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles with their Spring Development Camps. The goal of the spring elite camps is to develop kids who show a passion to work hard and the drive to keep learning, as well as to work with and share ideas and philosophies with coaches from all over the world. Starting in Komoka at the end of March, the PHD/Ellis Hockey Detail crew took their show to Toronto to teach some of Ontario's top prospects and coaches. The journey continued to eastern Canada with a stop in Coal Harbour Nova Scotia, home of

Sidney Crosby, to work with the top 9901s. Then, it was on off to Switzerland and Italy and their Olympic-sized ice surfaces to work on offensive attack strategies and develop new drill ideas with local coaches for their European draft prospects. Once back on Canadian soil, it was time to get to work with the Women's Canadian Olympic team. “I have never worked with a group that has the drive and work ethic that these girls have,” Ellis said. “They understand

what it takes, and then they push each other to hit another level.” The next stops were Canmore and Edmonton to work with Team Alberta. “From coast to coast, I can see just how good these kids are getting,” Ellis said. “The skating, puck control, and effort … it’s all there. It’s awesome to be working with the future of hockey.”

www.progresivehd.com

Progressive Hockey Development (PHD) and Ellis Hockey Detail has been busy traveling around the world working with talented players and coaches on the ice.

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Traveling with the Blizzard Contributions by Dawn Desrosiers and photo by SportsXpress Team By all accounts, the London Blizzard Sledge Hockey organization offers a highly-successful program. The Blizzard has two teams – the Intermediate squad, which consists of 12 to 15 players aged 16 and up, and the Junior Sledge Development (JSD) team, which is made up of 21 players from ages 7 to 15 (the club is looking to expand the JSD team this coming season).

Each team plays a 10-game schedule at arenas from Buffalo to Essex Kent, and also competes in a couple of major tournaments each year. One is hosted by the Blizzard program itself, and it happens to be the largest sledge hockey tournament in the world, with around 40 teams traveling to London to participate each year (the next one will be held Jan. 20-22, 2018). The other major tourney is one hosted by the Mississauga Cruisers during the first weekend in November, which

serves as a great start to the season. Fortunately, Blizzard players don’t face accessibility challenges at arenas, as all are accessible and most dressing rooms are large enough to accommodate players and equipment. But traveling to games and tournaments can be a challenge. “Transportation can be an issue for teams with kids and/or adults with disabilities,” says Dawn Desrosiers, the president of London Blizzard Sledge Hockey. “I know families try to carpool, but that gets difficult when you have hockey bags and sledges to transport.” Not all players, for instance, have been able to make the Buffalo games due to transportation issues, and the JSD team often talks about renting a bus or large van for trips. They’re a company that transports many sports team to and from games and tournaments – and they can help with accessible transportation issues as well – both in sport and regular day-to-day life. The Blizzard plan to use the accessible vans again in the future, as it makes life easier – for players and coaches alike. And why not? The Bennett Auto fleet seamlessly transports players and equipment so that the team can focus on what matters – the game!

The London Blizzard Sledge Hockey team has traveled to games in accessible vans provided by Bennett Auto, which has made transporting both players and equipment a whole lot easier

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Midgets crowned OHF champs Submitted by London Jr. Mustangs Hockey and photo by Mike Froussios The London Jr. Mustangs Purple Midget AA/A hockey team was crowned OHF AA Champions on April 9 in London. The Mustangs, led by head coach Cam

Galloway, entered the tournament as underdogs against league champions Caledon Hawks (OMHA), Mississauga Jets (GTHL), Sudbury Wolves (NOHA), and

London Jr. Knights (Alliance). But the Jr. ‘Stangs advanced from the round robin as the 4th seed and faced off against the No. 1-seeded and tournament host London Jr. Knights in the semi-final. It was the 13th meeting between the two evenlymatched rivals this season, and the Jr. Mustangs advanced to the finals with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win. Team captain Joe Ryan stepped up to deliver the game-winning goal. In the finals, the Jr. Mustangs faced the defending champion Mississauga Jets, and battled hard to a 2-1 victory to secure the first-ever OHF championship for the organization. They did so behind the stellar goaltending of Michael Cauduro, as well as a two-goal performance by finals MVP Jovin London Jr. Mustangs Purple Midget AA/A team. Eterno. Team members include Duncan Baxter, Michael Cauduro, Nathan Devereux, Doug Dietrich, Jovin Eterno, Jack Foote, Chris Froussios, Wilson Galloway, Colton Gaul, Patrick Hogan, Luke Merrimen, Ryan More, Josh Moore, Addison Ross, Owen Russell, Joe Ryan, Nicholas Schildroth, Gabe Spagnuolo, and Eric Thibodeau. Coaches are Cam Galloway, Tim Hogan, Jim Foote, and Harry Froussios.

Bantam Knights provincial champs Submitted by London Junior Knights Bantam AA Green Team LJK Bantam AA Green Win Ontario Championship! The London Junior Knights Bantam AA Green Team enjoyed an extremely successful season in 2016-17, as they finished with a record of 49 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie en route to being crowned

Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) champions. In Alliance league play, London posted a record of 27 wins and 2 losses, and went undefeated in the playoffs, resulting in an Alliance Championship. The Bantam Knights advanced to the OHF Championship Tournament in

Timmins in early April. London defeated Nickel City, Timmins, Humber Valley, and Garden City, before beating Nickel City again in the semis and Humber Valley in the finals to win the Ontario title. Each of the team’s players had an equal role in contributing to the team’s success this season (while Head coach Dave Weber, and assistant coaches Glenn Brennan, Chuck Davidson and Terry Wickham were instrumental in preparing all the players for the success they achieved). The team consisted of Riley Miszczyk, Alex Tidd, Joseph Brennan, Reece Davidson, Aidan Long, Nathan Marques, Taylor Elgersma, Sam McLaurin, Justin Sanders, Quinton Pepper, Jack Weber, Joey Stimac, Josh Short, Isaac Sturgeon, Ethan Blair, Jakob Walker, and PK Mills. Congratulations to all players on an amazing accomplishment!

The London Junior Knights Bantam AA Green Team went an impressive 49-6-1 during the 2016-17 season, as they were crowned OHF champs

NHL road trips to see

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Gearing up for girls hockey Submitted by London Devilettes Hockey The London Devilettes offer girls-only House League hockey programs, from ages 4 and above. Teams generally have two ice times per week – usually one practice and one game. All games and practices are played at City of London arenas, including Argyle, Stronach, and the Western Fair. The season is approximately 26 weeks in length and begins in early October and runs to the end of March. There are breaks at Christmas and during March Break. Based on fun and friendly competition, London Devilettes Hockey provides a great bonding experience with females from across London and surrounding regions. Devilettes players are grouped together

as follows: • Tyke FUNdamentals: ages 4-6 (born 2011/2012/2013) • Novice: ages 7-8 (b. 2009/2010) • Atom: ages 9-10 (b. 2007/2008) • Peewee: ages 11-12 (b. 2005/2006) • Bantam: ages 13-14 (b. 2003/2004) • Midget/Intermediate: ages 15-21 (b. 1996-2002) All players are responsible for their own equipment, including full hockey protective gear, skates, and a stick. The league supplies jerseys and socks, and distributes these after teams are chosen. The Devilettes also supply goaltending equipment for those girls interested in playing

goalie. Each year, the Devilettes hold player evaluations in order to ensure balanced teams for the upcoming season. All House League players are invited on the ice in early October for a few sessions run by our coaches. The players participate in a series of skating and shooting drills. Teams are then created to ensure a fair and enjoyable season for all. Register now at www.londondevilettes.ca!

Devilettes hosting First Shift Program! The London Devilettes are excited to offer the Canadian Tire First Shift Program for the second consecutive year. This ‘learn-toplay’ program allows kids to easily try the sport of hockey in a convenient, affordable and fun way. No experience is necessary. The participant registration fee of $199 includes: • BAUER Equipment (Head-to-Toe) • Welcome Event • Equipment fitting demonstration • Expert fit session and equipment distribution On-Ice experience including: • 6 Weeks (one-hour session/week on a consistent day and time) • Focus on Fun and Learn to Play • Insurance for participants Hockey Canada has created a fun on-ice curriculum that focuses on: • Small area games and skills stations • Wide variety of skating skills, puck handling, passing and shooting exercises • Discovering the sport through a variety of basic motor movement patterns • Fun games to ensure that participants enjoy a full range of hockey experiences Praise and encouragement will serve as the foundation of the instructors’ approach to working with all participants. For more information and to register, please visit www.firstshift.ca!

AtoMc Red Rockets – Atom division champs Back row – coaches (left to right): Chris Hare (Trainer), Jennifer Potts (Assistant Coach), Nikki Anderson (Bench Mom), Mark Hannam (Head Coach), Brodie Watson (Assistant Coach). Players standing (left to right): Ella Potts, Emma Ballantyne, Ella Hare, Molly Anderson, Tatum Watson, Allie Moyer, Abigail Hannam. Players kneeling: Katie Hayman-Abello, Olivia Smith, Chelsea Claypole, Gabrielle VanderPloeg, Maggie Anderson, Maren Gardner, Maddie Sharrard

Sparr Metals – Midget/Intermediate division champs Back row (left to right): Kate Higins, Emily Hunter, Erin Hexter, Abby Spriggs, Abby Natterer, Sarah Beadle. Front row: Christina Critch, Ally Eigner, Meg Allen, Cassie Lamond, Rachel Lundrigan, Andrea Vanwetering, Dominic Regaudie. Celina George (G)

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Bantams overcome adversity

Contributions by Rod Noseworth and photo by Antony Chodas, Forest City Image Centre

It wasn’t an easy season for the London Devilettes Major Bantam A hockey team this year, but the players nevertheless persevered and achieved some impressive accomplishments along the way. Injuries played a major factor in 201617, and at times the Devilettes dressed

only 13 players. Fortunately, most of those players had competed alongside one another in years past, and their teamwork and camaraderie worked to their advantage to make up for their short bench. “Our team’s biggest strengths were hard work and determination,” said Rod

The London Devilettes Major Bantam A hockey team (left to right) Top row: Brendan Mcglinchey:Goalie Coach, Jamie Buchanan:Forward, Emma Guy:Forward, Abbey Dalton-Hayter:Defense, Paige Clarke:Forward, Kayla Lentz:Forward, Danielle Young-Vermue:Forward, Grace Moir:Defense, Emily Griffith:Forward, Natasha Chisholm:Defense, Amanda Keys:Forward, Kylie Brock:Forward, Valerie Keys:Trainer, Dan Clarke:Asst. Coach, Front Row: Sierra Brown:Goalie, Rod Noseworthy:Head Coach, Cierra Troyer:Defense-Asst. Captain, Gabbriella Mackintosh:Forward-Captain, Brooke-Lyn Noseworthy:Defense-Asst. Captain, Dale Hayter:Asst. Coach, Ella Wouters:Goalie, Absent from photo: Darryl Buchanan-Asst Coach, Barb Troyer-Trainer, Special Mention to: Coleen Dalton:Team Manager, Paula Clarke:Team Treasurer

Noseworthy, the team’s head coach this past year. “We had a slow start, but we picked up steam throughout the year and managed to finish third.” It helped that the Major Bantams had an experienced coach. Noseworthy, who will be moving on from his position next season, has coached hockey for 10 years, including six as a head coach or assistant in the Devilettes organization. And it certainly helped that the team had two talented goalies who had at their disposal a special goalie coach at each of the team’s practices and games. Thanks in part to those netminders, the Devilettes reached the final in two tournaments – their own home tourney and a tournament in Buffalo. In regular season play, the Devilettes played in the West region division, traveling as far as Windsor, Sarnia and Stratford, as well as playing plenty of local teams. The 2016-17 season wrapped up in the spring, and the girls are excited to enjoy their offseason before getting back to business next year for more Devilettes hockey action.

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Club to call Komoka home Submitted by the Komoka Kings It’s official … the Junior B Lambton Shores Predators are moving to Komoka for the start of the 2017-2018 season. Middlesex Centre Council unanimously approved the move during their June 21 meeting, which will allow the team to play out of the Middlesex Centre Wellness and Recreation Complex in Komoka. President, owner and general manager of the Predators, Roop Chanderdat, says he’s looking forward to the move. “We're very thankful for our time in Lambton Shores, and it's unfortunate that things didn't work out the way we wanted them to, but we’re excited about the potential in Komoka,” said Chanderdat. “They have a state-of-theart facility in an ideal location, and I think

it’s going to be a great fit for our hockey club.” Chanderdat added that there is a strong contingent of volunteers in Forest that will be missed. “We had some great volunteers in Forest,” he said. “We didn't have as many fans as we would have wanted, but our volunteers were tremendous. They helped keep everything running smoothly. “And we want to thank our loyal fans for their support.” With the move comes a name change as well, and the team will now be known as the Komoka Kings. Stay tuned for more information on the move and other exciting announcements from the Komoka Kings.

“The Junior B Lambton Shores Predators are moving to Komoka.”

Roop Chanderdat, president, owner and general manager of the newly-branded Komoka Kings, is excited about the move into a state-of-the-art arena

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Top two picks inked By Gavin Corcelli The London Knights have signed their top two picks from the 2017 OHL Priority Selection, Lucas Rowe and Andrew Perrott. The Knights selected Rowe in the

first round, 18th overall. The 5-foot11, 164-pound center from Etobicoke, Ontario played for the Mississauga Reps last season. In 33 games, Rowe tallied 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points. He helped lead the Reps to an OHL Cup Championship back on March 21, as the Reps defeated the Young Nats, 3-2. Rowe brings a good mix of power and speed to the Knights. The dynamic forward comes from an athletic backThe top two Knights draft picks in 2017, Lucas Rowe (18th overall) and Andrew Perrott (34th overall), have ground, as his signed OHL contracts with London’s team

father, Rod, was a draft pick of the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Defenceman Andrew Perrott was drafted by the Knights in the second round, 34th overall. The 6-foot, 195-pound product from the Detroit HoneyBaked 16U team played 46 games this season, scoring six goals and adding 19 assists for 25 points on the year. Like Rowe, Perrott also comes from an athletic family. His father, Nathan Perrott, played in the OHL from 1994 to 1997, and spent time in the NHL with the Predators, Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars from 2001 to 2006. Perrott brings a strong two-way defensive game to the Knights. The Knights signed both players to an Ontario Hockey League Standard Player’s Agreement.

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History on the hardcourt Submitted by the London Lightning It was Monday, June 5, and the crowd inside Budweiser Gardens was on their feet. The cheers grew louder as the clock ticked down. The players on the bench could hardly stay off the court with their excitement and eagerness to hug their teammates. The buzzer sounded, and black and yellow confetti fell onto the London Lightning as they secured the 2016/17 National Basketball League of Canada championship with a 129-116 win over the Halifax Hurricanes. The London Lightning set the longest winning streak – and then broke it two months later. They set numerous team and individual records, had the league

MVP, the playoff MVP, and the Coach of the Year. Add all those milestones together and you get the best record in NBL history and a third NBL title. The Lightning are one of the few teams that have been in the NBL since the beginning, six years ago. The Bolts won their first championship back in 2011/12, and again in 2012/13. The closest they came to winning again was last season when they took the Halifax Hurricanes all the way to seven games and fell just short. With only three players returning from that finals appearance, there was still the hurt of a game seven loss. But the Lightning management worked hard in the offseason to bring together the talent they believed could take them back to the finals for another shot at the title. Ryan Anderson, who has been with the Lightning for two seasons, was named finals MVP. Anderson has In a record-setting NBL season, the London Lightning capped off the year by winning the league championship over the been around the Halifax Hurricanes

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NBL, and other leagues, and he knows what it’s like to win a championship. But this experience, he says, was different. “To see it manifest like this is really special,” Anderson said. “This is the best place to win. The fans are awesome. We couldn’t have done it for a better owner, coach or teammates. I knew it would be special, but not this special.” The Lightning was the heavy favourite all year, as they spent the majority of the season sitting in first place in the central division and continued to meet and exceed expectations. The pressure was always on them, but they stayed calm, bonded as brothers, supported one another, and knew that together they were stronger and could bring a winning culture back to London. To the city of London, and the best fans in the league, thank you for being a part of this historic season. We are grateful for your endless support. We are the NBLC 2017 champions. Now, let’s do it again. See you in November! For season tickets and news, visit www.lightningbasketball.ca. #GetStruck #LightningvsEverybody

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