New: Facebook has blocked all Canadian news. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop.

New: Facebook has blocked all Canadian news. Join our mailing list to stay in the loop.

Canadas ice stock teams won gold and silver medals at the Ice Stock World Championships that wrapped up this weekend in Regen, Germany. The mens team captured gold with a 20 win - 2 loss record in the 12 team field, going an undefeated 11-0 on the second day of competition. With the gold medal, the men are promoted to Group A at the 2022 World Championships.

The womens team won silver with a 10 win - 2 loss record in their 7 team field and improved on the bronzes that they received in the last two world championships.

This is the most successful world championships ever for Canada said Karl Hammer Jr., President of the South Frontenac Stocksport Club. I was proud to represent and to have five other local athletes competing at that level is an incredible feat given that we resurrected the club just six years ago.

Canada sent a delegation of 13 athletes and coaches to compete in team and individual competitions. Highlights of the results:

Mens Team Gold Medal and World Champions B Group including South Frontenac residents Paul Blais, Karl Hammer Jr. and Mike Osborne

Womens Team Silver Medal B Group including South Frontenac residents Kathy Frenette and Jennifer McNeely

Womens Distance Throwing In this event the goal is to slide the stock as far down the ice as possible and it was a womens event for the first time ever. Jennifer Mayrl of Barrie qualified for the finals in the 30 athlete field and finished 10th overall with a throw of 90 metres.

Mens Distance Throwing Mike Osborne of South Frontenac finished 8th in the B Group field.

Mens Team Target Shooting Team member Paul Blais of South Frontenac finished 5th in the world for his performance in the third element.

South Frontenac resident, Tyler MacComish competed in Team Target Shooting and finished 43rd in individual target shooting.

During Congress meetings held last week, the International Federation of Icestocksport confirmed that Canada will host the 2021 America Cup. That competition is held in the summer months with competitors from across North and South America. By changing the sliding plates on the stock, the sport is playable on asphalt, concrete or similar surfaces. The location of that event is to be determined but the Canadian Federations first choice is the South Frontenac Stocksport Club who are anticipating construction of international-standard lanes later this year, a first in North America

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC

It certainly looks like the Frontenac Flyers Peewee rep team season is over, without much chance of their final series against the Ilderton Jets being played. The championship series had been scheduled to get underway this past weekend with two games in Ilderton before moving to the Frontenac Community Arena for the second two games this coming weekend.

But, the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association had this posted on its website March 12: “Message from the FCA — FCA is closed for the season — All sanctioned OMHA/Hockey Canada practices/games/exhibition games/tournaments/championships have been cancelled.

“Tryouts for the 2020-21 season will not be conducted this spring — Frontenac Rep tryouts will be in September — dates TBA later.”

“I would strongly bet we are done (ie the Peewees’ championship series),” said coach Al Pixley on March 15. “Only if cases of Corona get neutralized (don’t increase) could I possibly see them letting us finish the season in early-mid-April.”

Pixley is also the president of Frontenac Minor Hockey.

Published in FRONTENAC COUNTY

There was a point in the second period of last Friday night’s Peewee Flyers game won 5-2 over the Shelburne Wolves that may have summed up the entire season.

At that point, the game could have gone either way, as it had been a back-and-forth, end-to-end match so far.

After a goal-mouth scramble and subsequent scrum in the Shelburne end, Flyers Drake Thomas, not the largest man on the squad by any means, was shoved by a Wolf that was a good two heads taller. Thomas, didn’t back down in the slightest bumping the bigger lad right back and staring him down (er, up) to boot.

“He’s all heart,” Flyers head coach Al Pixley said of Thomas. “The whole team is.”

Shortly after that incident, the Wolves got a little chippy and found themselves down two men.

The Flyers didn’t score with the two-man advantage, the aforementioned Thomas notched one just after the second penalty expired, giving the Flyers a lead they’d never relinquish.

The first period was an entertaining, evenly matched contest. Braden Dillon opened the scoring with 6:20 left but Shelburne chipped in a rebound with 3 seconds left.

Thomas’s score at the 8:30 mark made the score 2-1 and Ryder Mallet made it 3-1 with 3:02 left but the Wolves got one back at 2:57.

There were some tense moments in the third but at 10:22, Jack Pixley made it 4-2 Flyers. Pixley then added a power play marker at 3:34 to make the final 5-2.

“There were a couple of moments but we really took it to them in the third,” Al Pixley said.

The Flyers now travel to Ilderton March 14 and 15 before returning to Frontenac Community Arena for games 3 and 4 March 21 and 22. If necessary, Game 5 would be in Ilderton March 28 and Game 6 in Frontenac March 29.

The series will be a rematch of last year’s final, which Frontenac won 3 games to 2.

“We’ve played Ilderton a couple of times this year,” Pixley said. “We’ll have our hands full.”

Published in General Interest
Wednesday, 04 March 2020 12:30

Peewees looking good, Bantams season done

When the Peewee Flyers return to Frontenac Community Arena Friday night (7:30 game time), it will be with a 4-0 lead over the Shelburne Wolves in their 6-point total semi final match.

In the first game of the semis, the Flyers came out strong, taking a 4-0 lead just four minutes into the game.

“But they (the Wolves) fought back and tied things up 4-4 heading into the third,” said coach Al Pixley. “There were no goals in the third but we got a quick break in overtime to get the 5-4 win.

“The teams were very evenly matched.”

Leading the scoring for the Flyers was Jack Pixley with two goals, Mason Norgaard, Wesley Jackson and Justin Doak each notched singles. Tyson Young was in the nets for the win.

After a scoreless first period, the Flyers opened the scoring in the second but the Wolves answered right back to make it 1-1.

“We added a goal late in the second to make it 2-1 going into the third,” Pixley said. “We made it 3-1 midway through the third and added an empty netter for a 4-1 final.

Scoring for the Flyers were Jack Pixley, Drake Thomas, Ryder Mallet and Braden Dillon.

On the bantam side, however, things didn’t go so well for the Flyers in Dundalk.

After promising start Feb. 22 and a 4-0 win at Frontenac Community Arena, the bantam Flyers dropped three in a row, one at Frontenac Community Arena and two in Dundalk 7-3 and 4-1.

“Disappointing weekend, we are out,” said coach Chris Nicholson. “Lost the Saturday game 7-3 with questionable officials again – another two suspensions.

“Aiden Foulds and Vann Thomas played their hearts out.”

He said for Sunday’s game, the Flyers were down four players in total with suspensions.

“However, the whole team played with everything they had,” he said. “I was very proud of the way they played.”

Published in FRONTENAC COUNTY

The Frontenac Bantam Flyers find themselves all tied up with the Dundalk Storm at a win apiece heading to Dundalk next weekend for the third and fourth games of their six-point total series OMHA Playdowns semi-final.

On Saturday at Frontenac Arena, it was all Flyers, as they downed the visiting Storm 4-0 on goals by Aaron Doak Anorae Hugheson, Andy Campbell and Carter Street.

Sunday was a different story, with Dundalk coming out on top 2-1.

But the story of Sunday’s game was penalties, as in the Flyers playing much of the game short-handed.

The first period was scoreless and went quite quickly. The Flyers took an interference penalty midway through the period and then were assessed another as the period was about to end. The crowd didn’t seem to agree with either call but then home crowds seldom do.

In the second, just as the interference penalty expired, the Flyers were penalized for too many men on the ice — a questionable call where the replacement stepped on the ice just as the penalized player was returning to the bench. Technically a penalty perhaps, but not something you see called very often at any level. Just as that penalty was expiring, the Flyers were called for boarding and the crowd was howling.

That was followed a bit later with offsetting penalties and shortly after that, the Flyers finally got their first power play of the game.

But one rush later, that got evened up with Carter Street being assessed a major for tripping on what certainly appeared to be a legitimate hip check that sent the Dundalk player to the ice, where he lay for a minute or two, which brought a visit from the trainer.

With the Flyers suffering a rare moment of disarray, Dundalk opened the scoring.

But with 1:22 left in the second, the Flyers actually got another power play, which Anorae Hugheson capitalized on to tie the score at 1-1.

In the third, Frontenac was again short-handed but goalie Lucas Steele stood on his head to keep his net clear, stopping two point-bland breakaways and adding a couple of beauty saves until, at 4:11 with the teams playing four skaters a side, Dundalk scored on a wicked shot and it was 2-1.

With 1:28 left, the Flyers pulled Steele and despite two excellent chances, couldn’t put one in.

The game ended with a bit of a scuffle in front of the Dundalk net.

“It’s tough to score goals when you play three-quarters of the game with somebody in the penalty box,” said coach Chris Nicholson. “But I thought the boys played well and played hard despite spending too much time in the penalty box.

“Our goalie, Lucas Steele kept us in this one though.”

That he did and it could very well be argued that the officiating was questionable most of the time.

But, Nicholson is optimistic they can put this behind them and perhaps win it in Dundalk.

“We were extremely confident going into this weekend,” Nicholson said. “And we’re still confident going into next weekend.

“We can totally play with this team.”

The next bantam game (if necessary) at Frontenac Arena is scheduled for March 7 at 4:30 p.m.

The winners of this semi will go on to face the winners of the BCH Ice Dogs-South Huron Sabres in the final.

The other Frontenac team still alive in the playdowns, the Peewee Flyers, open up their semi-final series against the Shelburne Wolves this coming Friday in Shelburne and return to Frontenac Arena March 6 at 3 p.m.

Published in FRONTENAC COUNTY

While the majority of South Frontenac Council supports a flat playing surface facility requested by the South Frontenac Stocksport Club, they’d like a little more information as to the multi-use aspects of the facility before committing $85,000 to it.

Actually, in its submission to Council last fall, the Stocksport Club said they’d commit to raising $25,000 of the total $100,000 price tag but CAO Neil Carbonne told Council staff could live with $15,000 from the club to start in order to get construction going in the spring rather than waiting for the full amount which could drop the start time to late summer.

Stocksport representative Karl Hammer told Council last fall that his group is applying to host the 2021 world championships, which would bring in significant visitors to the Township for such an international event.

Councillors Alan Revill and Ron Sleeth both had reservations about the project without knowing what other kinds of events the facility would support such as concerts, theatre in the park or perhaps even a farmers market (Dep. Mayor Ross Sutherland’s suggestion).

Many of the proposed uses would likely require a roof of some sort and since the final specifications for the facility were unclear, Council asked staff for a more detailed proposal before committing the funds.

The facility would be located in Harrowsmith’s Centennial Park.

“I think this gives us an opportunity to add another facility to our Township,” Sutherland said. “I’ve looked around for a good flat surface for things like cycle events and dog trials and there just aren’t any flat surfaces.”

“I do hear the concerns that there aren’t enough people participating in the sport to warrant a facility but if you don’t have a facility, you won’t have participants,” said Coun. Randy Ruttan. “I’m impressed with (the proponents’) enthusiasm and I support this.

Carbonne said that nothing would happen with the facility until the money from the club is received.

Senior Planner position approved, cap on private lane grants

Council approved the creation of a senior planner position, put a $7,000 per project cap on the private lane assistance program and a request for four noise bylaw exemptions for events at Desert Lake Resort between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Town hall I Perth Road

Dep. Mayor Ross Sutherland and Coun. Randy Ruttan announced they’ll be holding a Town Hall meeting at Harris Hall in Perth Road Village on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10 a.m

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC

By mid-morning Saturday, much of the Frontenacs were being blanketed by a considerable coating of snow.

That proved to be too much for the sixth annual 4 on 4 tournament at the Tichborne rink, held in support of Central Frontenac Minor Softball.

“It’s our kickoff fundraiser and we’d already postponed it once because of weather,” said Kurtis Jackson, league president. “So we decided to push on.”

But Jackson’s optimism wasn’t rewarded and they ended up calling it a day after the first round.

For the record (and annual bragging rights) Welch’s Snap On and the Tichborne Ice Hawks tied for first with the Bradshaw Woodchoppers and Tyrell’s trio tied for third.

Jackson said a registration date has yet to be set but he expects it to be in March.

“Check the Facebook Page for the date,” he said.

He said they do have an executive in place for this year but they could use some volunteer umpires, coaches, sponsors and/or helpers.

“It can be as informal as people want to be,” he said. “Any help is appreciated.”

Rec committee representative Bob Teal said the Tichborne Rink is slated for renovations in 2021 and they have blueprints in hand for some new boards that can be removed after the season and stored, thus extending their working life.

“This rink is coming up on 100 years old,” Teal said. “I think it was 1930 when some of the residents realized they could dam up the creek and let the water out when it got cold.

“It’s a natural place for a skating rink.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

In response to last week’s delegation of residents and several other requests Council passed a by-law extending the 2018 parking restrictions on both sides of the Devil Lake culvert, to be effective as soon as the signs are posted. This is intended to reduce the hazard to traffic and pedestrians along that stretch of road.

Councillor Ruttan asked what further measures Council could take to address residents’ concerns. Public Works Director Mark Segsworth said that any changes such as prohibiting fishing from the sides of the culvert or night fishing, would have to be consistent with other similar areas in the Township. Segsworth said the MNR was aware of the concerns around commercial night fishing; “We need to further explore (what the MNR can do). We don’t want to create unenforceable by-laws, and we aren’t the only area with these problems.” As for trespassing, it is up to the residents to clearly sign their property, and phone the police immediately if there are violations. Mayor Vandewal suggested it might be best to begin with the parking restrictions, which should make that stretch of road less dangerous, and see if the overall situation improves next spring when fishing season begins again.

Fire and Rescue

During Fire Prevention Week in early October, South Frontenac Fire and Rescue (SFFR) was very active in the Township, holding open houses at 5 of the 8 firehalls, visiting all six elementary schools in the Township, and through the media (Frontenac News, the Township’s website, Twitter, Facebook, and local radio stations.) Throughout, their message addressed smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and the importance of having a well thought-out and rehearsed home fire escape plan. They reported a lot of community interest and positive feedback.

Promotion of Frontenac County’s Bike trails

Council passed a motion to fund the Ontario by Bike 2020 publication to “promote the great trails throughout Frontenac County that currently are not identified as part of the Eastern Ontario bike trails.” Councillor Sutherland had brought this motion in response to a presentation and request made last week by Robert Charest and Bob Clinton.

Municipal Office Christmas Hours and January Meeting Schedule

The South Frontenac Municipal offices will close at noon Tuesday Dec 24, and reopen on Thursday Jan 2, 2020.

Council will meet January 14 and 28, and COW will be January 14.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC

The Sydenham High School Golden Eagles junior football squad was undefeated going into last Thursday’s KASSAA championship final versus Holy Cross (6-0 in the regular season). And it came down to a final drive by the Crusaders to eek out a 32-29 win.

“It was a nail biter,” said Sydenham head coach Karl Hammer. “In our regular season game, we beat them by three points — ironic, eh?”

This was the second year in a row the Golden Eagles fell to Holy Cross in the final, both years Hammer described as “a series of unfortunate events.”

In the 2018 final, Sydenham had a punt blocked in the dying seconds that led to a Holy Cross score for the win.”

This year, we were up 29-25 with two minutes left and we didn’t want to punt because of what happened last year but there was some miscommunication and we ended up giving them the ball on an interception,” Hammer said.

It was almost like the football gods had it in for Sydenham.

“After they intercepted, we stopped them but there was a roughing the passer call on third down,” he said. “And I’ve never seen our defensive backs tip three pass attempts only to have it fall into the hands of a receiver before.”

When Holy Cross finally punched the ball into the end zone, there were 11 seconds left on the clock.

“They won by a field goal,” he said. “Earlier in the game, they missed a field goal but an offside call gave them a second chance from five yards closer.

“Take away that field goal, and it’s a tie game.”

Hammer did acknowledge that the game was entertaining for the fans.

“And we did have a great season with a lot of support from the community,” he said.

And, he said, he’s looking forward to seeing his charges move up to senior next year.

“We’ve had two years of kids coming so close, I’m hoping it’ll light a fire in their bellies,” he said.

Hammer said one of the things he’s proudest of this year is the sense of culture and “family” his team showed.

“We also had several exceptional leaders too like lineman Nate Hamilton, two-way player Brennan Finucane, linebacker Sam McLeod and quarterback Keiren McNeely.”

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 27 November 2019 11:05

ATV club holds inaugural ride

The Verona district ATV club hosted their first OFATV event Sunday November 18.

Over 50 ATVs and 70 plus riders set off from RL Classics on the corner of Road 38 and Westport Rd at 10 am. The group made their way to Sharbot Lake following the KP trail. After a nice lunch at The Maples the group returned to Godfrey. Riders from Eastern and Central Ontario enjoyed the condition of the trail and Frontenac's beautiful landscape.

The new Verona and District club joins 18 other member clubs in the Ontario Federation of ATV clubs (OATV).

The OATV provides member services including 3rd party liability, and hleps with access to trails across the region and the Province.

To join the Verona district ATV club please email Marc or Wayne at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Page 1 of 26
With the participation of the Government of Canada