It’s in the books; the PeeWee Frontenac Flyers are the Ontario Minor Hockey Association CC champions, having beaten the Ilderton Jets 5-1 last Saturday evening at Ilderton.

The series went five games, with the Flyers winning the first two at home, by identical 4-1 scores. The Jets won the next two, in Ilderton, 4-1 and 6-1, setting up the iconic clash for all the marbles.

“I was very nervous going in, but confident,” said Flyers head coach Al Pixley. “Like every game in the series, the team that scored first won the game.

“And we scored first.”

That first goal came early in the opening frame, but Ilderton tied it up before the period ended.

Coming out for the second, tied 1-1, the Flyers started playing like they have been all year, and before you knew it, they had built a 3-1 lead.

“This was the best defensive game our forwards played all year,” Pixley said. “They played like I hoped they would.

“Ilderton did have their chances though and when they threatened to score, our goalie, Severing Steele kept us in it.”

The Flyers added an insurance goal in the third and in the waning minutes, Braden Dillon notched an empty netter to put the final nail in the Jets’ coffin.

Beau Reade scored two for the winners, with Blake Buchanan and Vann Thomas adding singles.

“We scored two late goals in the second but Ilderton didn’t quit,” Pixley said. “But after we got one in the third, they kind of conceded the loss.

“But we had our backs to the wall in this one, and like I said before, if Ilderton had beaten us, they would have deserved to win.

“But we beat them and I think we deserved it.”

He said there were plenty of Flyers supporters in the stands too.

“Many parents drove down the day before and stayed overnight, so we were kind of relaxed with the drive out of the way,” he said. “And there were a lot of former Flyers living in the area who came out for the game too.”

Pixley had much praise for the coaching staff of Derek Joynt, Ian Irving, Travis Young and Sean Reade.

“They did a marvelous job,” he said.

With this season in the books, Pixley said he hasn’t really thought much about next season, partially because he was leaving Monday for a much-deserved vacation in Barbados. But when asked, he did admit to some excitement when he did think about it.

“We should have five or six core players returning,” he said. “And there will be some good Atoms moving up, including coach Jamie Craig.

“I’m excited and have a lot of respect for Jamie.

“After all, we’re only five months away from tryouts.”

The GREC gym somewhat resembled a mediaeval competition last Thursday as the Gryphons hosted teams from Holy Cross Secondary in Kingston, the North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne and Percy Centennial Public School in Warkworth for a National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) championship.

“The program was designed in Kentucky and now we have 18 million kids participating worldwide,” said Tim Watts, who helps run the program in Ontario. “And not one insurance claim.”

Safety is paramount for obvious reasons. The participants are regulated and told when to approach the shooting line, when to shoot and when to retrieve their arrows.

Watts said all shooters use the same Mathews compound bows.

“That’s so a Grade 4 can hand the bow to a grade 12 and not have to adjust anything,” he said.

There are 125 schools in Ontario active in the program and more than 500 teachers trained, he said.

“The schools purchase the equipment (at 65 per cent of retail) and we train their teachers,” he said.

Shawn Lavender and Jamie McCullough run the program at GREC.

“This is our 4th year participating in the tournament,” said McCullough. “This is our second live and we’ve been in two virtual tournaments.

“When we found out they were looking for a host site, we offered ours.”

“Archery addresses students that don’t normally participate in group sports,” said Lavender. “It’s a bit of a niche in that you’re competing for a personal best all the time.

“And there’s a lot of camaraderie.”

He said they had six archers when they began and have 15 now, including students in the community program members.

“We’re trying to offer a variety of sports,” said McCullough. “Including ultimate frisbee and we even have a fishing team.”

They even lured retired teacher, Tom Corneil, out of retirement to help out with the younger members.

“I enjoy archery,” he said. “You can do it anywhere.

“And giving people an opportunity to participate is what teaching is all about.

“I like watching the kids participate, smile and improve.”

Senior student Tyee Davis is one of those participants.

“I’ve been shooting since I was three years old with a little plastic bow,” he said. “Archery is just really fun in general but it also connects me to my Native ancestors.

“And it’s good practice for hunting.”

The Association has been putting a lot of focus into Developmental Programs and this has shown at all levels of our hockey program. This success, however can be seen most prominently in our Rep Program.
It had been years since one of our Frontenac Flyers teams made it to the OMHA Finals and two years ago our Novice Rep team (Coached by Jason Quesnel) broke that drought. But it didn’t stop there, last year the Novices (Coached by Jamie Craig) set the ground and made headlines by Winning and becoming the OMHA Champions.

This year we are proud to have 4 out of 5 of our Rep Teams advance to the OMHA Semi Finals and one step closer to again winning.

Our Novices, coached by Don Rowat & Cory Thompson, had been dominating their season and series but The Campbellford Colts are showing true competition and have us on the ropes winning the last two games. But our young Flyers are resilient and will prove that when they bring the game home Tuesday March 6th at 7:00pm.

Our Atoms, coached by Jamie Craig, put on a good show last weekend when they took to the road on an overnight trip to Haliburton to kick off their OMHA Semi Finals against The Highland Storm. They took the win Friday night with a quick back and forth game which ended in our favour at 7-4. Saturdays game was just as good but ended in overtime with Highland Storm taking the win. The series now continues with the Atom Flyers having the home ice advantage this Friday March 9th at 7:00pm and again on Saturday March 10th at 2:00pm.

The Peewees, coached by Al Pixley, hope to bring a close to their Semi-Final series against The Shelburne Wolves and clinch a spot in the OMHA Finals. They currently lead the series with two wins and one more win npaves the way for a chance at the OMHA Championship. Although for the next two games we cant pack the stands again to cheer the Peewees on as they are in Shelburne, don't think that we aren't all rooting for them and wish them all good luck.The Bantams, coached by Jon Senior, are making history as it has been a long time in Flyers history since a Bantam Team has made it this close to winning the infamous Red Hats that come along with winning the OMHA Championship. The Bantams swept their Semi Final Series against the Highland Storm and are now waiting to see who they will face off against in the Finals.

We are so proud of all of our team’s accomplishments and the true FLYERS SPIRIT that has been exhibited. We encourage everyone to come to the games and see how our Rep Program has flourished and continue to leave our reputation from Novice all the way to Midget.

All in all the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association and its programs have continued to grow and show success. With our Inter Community House League (ICHL) winding down this last weekend our success not only showed on the score boards but also on the progression and advancement in skills for all of our players. Our association supports over 350 players and many awesome volunteers, coaches and bench staff which lead our programs to be as positive as they are. Our ICHL offers recreational hockey for two if not three teams per division starting from as young as 5 years (Tyke/IP) to 18 (Midget). We also offer Learn to Skate which is available for youth ages 3 and up and the First Shift Program (6-10yrs old).

We know it is tough to see our ICHL season so quickly come to an end and our Rep teams closing the gap to the end of their season so what better time to think about what to do next. Frontenac Ball Hockey Association is pleased to announce that registration is now open. Frontenac Ball hockey is open to everyone and offers full inner squad ball hockey for youths age 3-18 and is excited to again offer a co-ed Adult Ball Hockey (18 and over). Be sure to check out our website www.frontenachockey.ca or find us on facebook for registration and information on all of our programs.

The Association has been putting a lot of focus into Developmental Programs and this has shown at all levels of our hockey program. This success, however can be seen most prominently in our Rep Program.

It had been years since one of our Frontenac Flyers teams made it to the OMHA Finals and two years ago our Novice Rep team (Coached by Jason Quesnel) broke that drought. But it didn’t stop there, last year the Novices (Coached by Jamie Craig) set the ground and made headlines by Winning and becoming the OMHA Champions.

This year we are proud to have 4 out of 5 of our Rep Teams advance to the OMHA Semi Finals and one step closer to again winning.

Our Novices, coached by Don Rowat & Cory Thompson, had been dominating their season and series but The Campbellford Colts are showing true competition and have us on the ropes winning the last two games. But our young Flyers are resilient and will prove that when they bring the game home Tuesday March 6th at 7:00pm.

Our Atoms, coached by Jamie Craig, put on a good show last weekend when they took to the road on an overnight trip to Haliburton to kick off their OMHA Semi Finals against The Highland Storm. They took the win Friday night with a quick back and forth game which ended in our favour at 7-4. Saturdays game was just as good but ended in overtime with Highland Storm taking the win. The series now continues with the Atom Flyers having the home ice advantage this Friday March 9th at 7:00pm and again on Saturday March 10th at 2:00pm.

The Peewees, coached by Al Pixley, hope to bring a close to their Semi-Final series against The Shelburne Wolves and clinch a spot in the OMHA Finals. They currently lead the series with two wins and one more win npaves the way for a chance at the OMHA Championship. Although for the next two games we cant pack the stands again to cheer the Peewees on as they are in Shelburne, don't think that we aren't all rooting for them and wish them all good luck.The Bantams, coached by Jon Senior, are making history as it has been a long time in Flyers history since a Bantam Team has made it this close to winning the infamous Red Hats that come along with winning the OMHA Championship. The Bantams swept their Semi Final Series against the Highland Storm and are now waiting to see who they will face off against in the Finals.

We are so proud of all of our team’s accomplishments and the true FLYERS SPIRIT that has been exhibited. We encourage everyone to come to the games and see how our Rep Program has flourished and continue to leave our reputation from Novice all the way to Midget.

All in all the Frontenac Minor Hockey Association and its programs have continued to grow and show success. With our Inter Community House League (ICHL) winding down this last weekend our success not only showed on the score boards but also on the progression and advancement in skills for all of our players. Our association supports over 350 players and many awesome volunteers, coaches and bench staff which lead our programs to be as positive as they are. Our ICHL offers recreational hockey for two if not three teams per division starting from as young as 5 years (Tyke/IP) to 18 (Midget). We also offer Learn to Skate which is available for youth ages 3 and up and the First Shift Program (6-10yrs old).

We know it is tough to see our ICHL season so quickly come to an end and our Rep teams closing the gap to the end of their season so what better time to think about what to do next. Frontenac Ball Hockey Association is pleased to announce that registration is now open. Frontenac Ball hockey is open to everyone and offers full inner squad ball hockey for youths age 3-18 and is excited to again offer a co-ed Adult Ball Hockey (18 and over). Be sure to check out our website www.frontenachockey.ca or find us on facebook for registration and information on all of our programs.

One thing about the Sydenham High School senior girls volleyball team is that they think of themselves as a team. Just ask them, they’ll tell you.

“We all work so well together,” said left-side striker Robin Melnick. “We have a positive atmosphere here and all our parts work together.

“If somebody gets down, we’re all supportive.”

“We have a lot of individual strengths but we work together as a team,” said setter Jocelyn Farmer. “At the beginning we weren’t as much but at the end, our biggest strength is when we’re combined.”

“We always have each other’s backs,” said middle striker Tess Fraser. “Under (coach Bryan) English’s leadership. “He knows every decision to be made.”

In fact, they’re all only too happy to give the coach credit for the team’s success.

“He’s never super high or super low,” said Fraser.

“Like a rock,” said Melnick. “English always stresses ‘play like you can.’”

“Great guy,” said Farmer.

But they also see the strengths in each other.

Melnick on Fraser: “Tess is super calm. She’s really a team player and a big blocker.”

Fraser on Farmer: “She involves everyone and . . . she knows when we really have to get a point.”

Farmer on Melnick: “I don’t know where to start. She’s an amazing player, a leader, and what athleticism.

“She has an amazing vertical.”

And, they have fun with each other, such as Melnick’s little idiosyncrasies and superstitions.

“I am superstitious,” Melnick admitted. “Little things like changing my hair, tying my shoelaces.”

And her service routine, the others remind her.

“Well, I have to walk across the line left foot first,” she said, demonstrating. “Then it’s spin, bounce, deep breath and serve.

“We all have them (but) our biggest success is that everybody puts in the effort so we don’t have to rely on one person.”

Fraser, Farmer and Melnick are three of seven seniors on this squad so they know this is the time if they’re going to be successful in Streetsville.

“This is the last big hurrah for the seniors,” said Melnick.

“We’re a unit,” said Fraser.

“Just better the ball in front of you,” said Farmer.

It has all worked very well for the Golden Eagles all year. They were 10-0 in league play at the Kingston Area Secondary School Association (KASSAA) play and won the playoffs to take the League Championship 3-2 over Regiopolis. They moved on the Eastern Ontario Secondary Schools Association AA tournament, which they also won.

But they have been in tough this week at the Ontario Federation of Secondary Schools Association AA finals in Streetsville.

Sydenham is the 16th seed of 20 schools in the tournament. They lost their first two games in straight sets on March 5 to Lockerby SS and Nelson , before winning their first game on March 6 over Westgate and then losing to the tournament host, Streetsville in their final pool game. This relegated them to the consolation tier, but they rallied after losing the first set bya score of 25-20 in a best of five contest with 9th seeded Mclaughlin, taking the next three sets, 25-21, 25-21, and 25-9. The Golden Eagles went on to play the consolation semi-final against 10th seeded St. David on Wednesday morning, which they lost in straight sets. St, David then went on to win the Consolation final. St.Mary, the 2nd seed, won the gold medal final.

The upcoming softball season in Harrowsmith could be cancelled if help isn’t found to oversee the teams.

“We hope to continue playing softball in Harrowsmith, but we have encountered a few challenges that are making it difficult to continue,” says Pam Morey, President of the Harrowsmith Social & Athletic Club which is affiliated with softball in the area.

“This year, we have run into a few issues,” explains Morey about the need for help. “And after talking with the area convener, we have learned that these issues are not isolated to Harrowsmith, but are prevalent everywhere.”

According to Morey, the community needs one or more people to manage the program this year after a volunteer stepped down from the role.

“It’s a commitment, but I’m hoping to divide all of the responsibilities up,” she notes.

“We have a few members who are willing to help with registration and maybe even a year-end tournament, but are not able to make the day-to-day commitment,” says the community activist about the job. “If a few parents or players could become involved with putting-out the bases and lining the field, we could possibly make this year work.”

At stake this year is four children’s teams and one Junior Men’s team.

“It is the children’s teams that we are the most concerned about,” says Morey. “The men’s league pretty much takes of itself.”

In Frontenac County, Harrwosmith is known for its competitive baseball teams. This year, the teams are full of players and are almost full of coaches. All that is needed is someone to run the program, a roughly 40-minute commitment four nights a week at the ballfield in Harrowmsith.

“If anyone whose children play ball could help with the bases and lining the field, we would very much appreciate it,” explains Morey. “It would be great to have more than one-person to do this work because many hands make light work.”

Speaking from her home in Harrowsmith, Morey notes, “Time is marching-on. We are going ahead with registration on March 7 in hopes that someone will come forward. If everyone did a little bit, it would help. Otherwise, we’d would hate to see softball not exist in Harrowsmith. Let’s keep ball alive in Harrowsmith for our children.”

For more information about this volunteer opportunity in Harrowsmith, please contact Pam Morey at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or attend the upcoming softball registration night on Saturday, March 7 from 6 to 8 pm or Saturday, March 10 from noon to 2:30 pm at the Harrowsmith Social & Athletic Club on Colebrook Road

The Sydenham Golden Eagles senior girls volleyball is off to Streetsville (Mississauga) March 5-7 for the AA provincial championship following their EOSSAA championship last week in Brockville.

The KASSAA champs went into the EOSSAA championship as the No. 1 seed following an undefeated season in the KASSAA loop.

“Sometimes being the top seed isn’t the best thing,” said head coach Bryan English. “But it worked out for us as we went 2-0 in pool play beating Gananoque and Carleton Place in 2-straight each.

“We followed that by beating Fellowes High School of Pembroke in the semis 2-straight.”

Sydenham then met Carleton Place in the final and it was touch and go in the early play.

“They were up 16-14 at one point,” English said. “But then we came back.

“The second game was our best of the year. We won that one 25-11 and got everybody into the game.”

The Golden Eagles are led by striker Robin Melnick, Grace Finucan and setter Jocelyn Miles.

A broomball tournament Saturday in Mountain Grove raised $350 to go towards a portable pitching mound for the baseball (yes, hardball) team at GREC.

The baseball club isn’t the highest profile squad at the school, in fact they don’t even have a real baseball diamond or pitching mound to practice on and have to play all their games in Kingston.

But what they lack in facilities, they make up for with enthusiasm, said coach Jamie McCullough.

“We’re going into our second year and it’s a co-ed team with 15 players,” he said. “We play in Kingston but our pitching suffers without a real mound to throw off of and so that’s why we’re raising money — to get a portable pitching mound so we don’t have to go to Kingston to practice.”

So, McCullough approached the District 2 Rec Committee and the rink was free last Saturday.

“We have four teams, two from the high school, one team with some staff and one with just parents,” McCullough said. “The final game was staff vs. students.

“Although the students beat the staff team 2-1 during round robin play, the staff played some shutdown broomball beating the students 5-0 in the final game.”

You can support the baseball team by dropping a donation off at GREC and telling the staff it’s for the pitching mound.

It’s February in the Frontenacs.

Like most of Canada, there’s a lot of hockey going on. Down at the Frontenac Community Arena, there are of course the Frontenac Flyers and Frontenac Fury organizations for boys and girls organized hockey respectively.

But what about when you leave your teens?

Well, on Sundays at noon, the Frontenac Arena is the home of the Frontenac Fly Girls, a ladies team that boasts 18 members on its roster — and they’ve been doing it for 17 years.

“It’s a bunch of ladies having social fun time,” says Glenna Asselstine, Fly Girls captain, player/coach, organizer (“all of the above”). “We play some tournaments but essentially it’s just for fun.”

The Sunday games are played against two other ladies teams, one from Kingston and another essentially based in Tamworth that includes players from all over.

They play real games, with referees and timekeepers. And they keep score but they don’t have standings or playoffs.

“Our officials are kids of some of the players who are looking to get some refereeing experience,” Asselstine said. “We had one penalty called today (in a 3-3 tie with Tamworth).

“But we like to have some structure to the game, you know, some stoppages for line changes and such.”

And perhaps the odd break for aging legs?

“Yeah, that too,” she said, chuckling.

Their oldest player is 67 and their youngest “28, I think,” Asselstine said.

“Some players leave and we recruit new ones,” she said. “We’ve had a core of six or seven players for quite some time now.”

One of the newer recruits is self-confessed ‘rink rat’ Julia Schall.

“It’s great, lots of fun,” Schall said. “If it were up to me, I’d be on the ice the whole time.”

And fun is kinda the point with this bunch.

Asselstine’s been playing hockey since she was 11. She took some time off to have a son, but was soon back into it.

And it’s still fun for her.

“Well, there’s a tournament in Tamworth next weekend and at the end of April, we’ll be going down to Lake Placid for a four-day tournament with men’s and women’s division, but essentially that’s for fun too.”

Lisa Myles, a Napanee fitness trainer who plays with the Tamworth group said they do have a tournament team (The Bucketlisters) who placed second in the 55+ provincials last year and will be heading to St. John NB in August for a national tournament agreed that the fun aspect was the big attraction.

“You know, some young girls came into our dressing room after the game and said ‘there’s a bunch of old ladies in there,’” Myles said.

For hockey players, age is just a state of mind.

Mountain Grove Mites brought home the Frontenac County Minor Softball Association championship trophy on Saturday July 22nd. Coaches: Joe Mallet, Blayne Thompson. L-R: Braedon Scott, Isaac Badour, Nolan Morrow, hunter Mallett, Liam Thompson, Jacob Godfrey, Jackson Mosher, Ella Barr, Parker Thompson, Ryder Mallett. Missing from photo: Maddy Tryon, Isabelle Tryon, Shyann Whan and Alex Gill.

The St. Lawrence Employment Centre Bantam Girls team from Central Frontenac (which includes Sharbot Lake, Plevna, Mountain Grove and Parham) overcame a first-inning, 6-run deficit to defeat Kingston Kia 12-6 in the B Final the Greater Kingston Softball Association Intercommunity Year-End Tournament in Sydenham Saturday. 

Back row: Nicole, JessieMae, Julia, Tangie, Meg, Autumn, Marcie; middle row: Vanessa, Sidney, Tori, Amber; front row: Michaela, Claudia. Photo/submitted