My Ten Standouts Of The Week

My apologies for the short delay. It has been a very busy week of school playoffs and, well, pulling together all the information to try come up with 10 very good performances has been a bit of a struggle.

Nice variety of sports too. Let's see, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, volleyball, cross country, hockey and football. Yes, heavy again on the gridiron but well deserved.

Glad this is as popular as it seems from so many e-mails, voice mail messages and people stopping me at various events. Remember, here are 10 from what I know - and sure wish more coaches would be plugging their athletes. In alphabetical order, we have:

Rohan Boney, Loyola. This Oakville basketball star has created lots of attention early and chosen MVP of the Pinky Lewis tournament. Top scorer in the final with 17 points in a 67-64 win over Eastern Commerce.

Brandon Bridge, St. Marcellinus. Former Team Canada quarterback had three touchdown passes and 300 yards in the air in a 25-15 Peel Region senior football title win over St. Joan of Arc. Lots of U.S. scouts watching.

Matt Coates, Markham. Caught seven passes (three for TDs) for 127 yards, solid game at safety, two kick-off returns for 95 yards and player of the game in a 22-15 senior win over Huron Hts in the York football final.

Justin Danforth, Maxwell Hts. Can`t avoid history at new Oshawa school. He scored the first hockey goal at 2:14 of the third period in a 4-1 loss. School bringing in new Hockey Canada PE course. Could attract players.

Eamonn Kichuk, Bill Crothers. Almost forgot. Yes, he is in Grade 10 and now has back-to-back Ontario cross country gold medals. Midget two years ago, junior this year. Future Canadian Olympic distance runner.

Blake McClelland, Etobicoke. Grade 9 gifted volleyball player helped lead the Rams to a 16-4 record this year. Had 70 kills, converted 90% of his serves and was the cornerstone of the junior team. Club player too. 

Aaron Milton, Sinclair. Gets my vote as MVP in his league. Can kick for points and score touchdowns. Had 30 points in a senior football playoff and 10 points in a 16-13 win over O'Neill for the Durham Tier Two title.

Fabian Nardone, King City. Scored five touchdowns, one off a 100-yard kickoff, and piled up 400 all-purpose yards as the Lions chewed up Brother Andre 44-7 for their third straight York Region football junior title.

Camilla Paluch, Christ the King. She had 15 points in the Halton Tier Two basketball final, a 49-27 win over Iroquois Ridge, capping an undefeated junior season. She also had 24 points in a quarterfinal and 11 in the semi.

Maddie Stephen, Lawrence Park. Scored 40 points (same as the entire opposition) in a 59-40 Toronto basketball playoff win over West Humber. A 5-foot-11 forward, Star all-star last year and MVP in grades 9 and 10.

Comments

[Lisa]

No need to apologize. This is worth waiting for each week and it's nice to see that you include students from all over the Toronto area. I have watched that basketball player from Lawrence that you mentioned. Her name is Maddie and is very skilled at the game. I am sure there will be lots of universities chasing her down next year.

[Ben]

That kid Aaron Milton is the real player.
He plays on a Tier Two Whitby school team at Sinclair that won the championship the other day but he's very deserving of being on your list.
And nice comment about him being the most valuable player. It was announced that he won the MVP award after the game.
There is too much emphasis on this Tier One league and it's nice to see the others get the recognition they deserve.

[KT]

I know of some players who would have been on that list if there schools and coaches only got off their butts and helped them out by informing you rather than gloating in their own esteem. That's why I don't coach high schools anymore. They take this too seriously.

[Kellie]

Interesting list. I agree that coaches need to do a better job highlighting their players. They can learn a few things from the football coaches.

[Gord]

I really am getting fed up of reading constantly about how coaches are crapping out. We teach and coach. That's all that matters. We don't care if players get recognized by the media and if we choose to let the media know, so be it. We get no sympathy from people about the difficult jobs we do during the day and in our spare time. I think the public needs to know that and cut us some slack. Without our involvement and dedication to education and coaching, the entire system would collapse. In short, we are tghe dsaviour for many kids who would have no sports if it wasn't for all the great things we as coaches do to help them. If it was up to me, we should only be patting these kids on the back when they win games and not to single them out when they lose. Now, when we get to the playoffs, that's a different thing, the media should be attending all the playoffs and giving us front page coverage. Too much is devoted to the sports that not many people care about like volleyball, tennis and swimming. More stories for football, basketball and hockey. Thank you