Glancing Through the High School Notebook

Just going through my desk and lots of recent e-mail, voice mail messages, letters - even a fax - and came up with a number of items that I thought were worth sharing.

Reading through some notes after meeting Sanjeev Malhotra, coach of the senior basketball team at St. Edmund Campion in Brampton, at the recent 50th annual St. Mike's tournament. His team, now at full strength, looks good. He had some issues with players - attitude, attendance, academic and truancy. Malhotra insists on standards to play on his squad and he said players have been removed and suspended if they don't adhere to rules. Life lessons and a good education come first and he's right. His players got the message. Give this guy a medal.

Celebrations in Keswick after the school senior boys' hockey team beat Cardinal Carter of Aurora, 9-7. It was Keswick's first win in seven games while Cardinal Carter is considered to be one of the top teams in York Region.

Gerome Mair scored 48 points in a 32-minute game for his senior basketball team at L'Amoreaux Collegiate - but the Saints, struggling with a 2-7 record, still lost 83-80 to Macdonald.

And Josh Jameer, from St. Theresa of Lisieux, scored 46 points in a 67-61 win over Ottawa's Mother Teresa in an exhibition junior game. Jameer might have the lead for the most points in a game by a junior-age player in the Greater Toronto Area.

Clement and Clayton Law, tough to tell these twins apart I am told. Apparently, tough to beat them in the pool too. Both, who came to Canada last year from Hong Kong, swim for Richmond Green High and combined for five individual wins and a relay first at a recent York Region qualifying meet for the league final.

Things are heating up in Halton region hockey. The world hasn't collapsed even though highly touted Notre Dame and Nelson lost the other day. Iroquois Ridge. Who? The Trailblazers are now 9-0-1 in first place and don't rule out Christ the King who have seven of the top nine point-getters in the league on their roster.

Max Grossman. Don't think he's related to me. He scored a game-high 19 points in a York Region basketball game for Thornhill. Sorry, got to praise a kid with that last name.

Whatever happened to the high school sports of curling, wrestling and skiing as I rarely hear from a school or coach....and if they have high school bowling and mountain biking and frisbee, why not squash? St. Andrew's leads the nine-team private school boys' league with a 4-0 record.

Does the name "Keon" sound familiar? Well, Kaitlyn Keon won a bronze medal at the Toronto Science Fair a few years ago. She plays a number of sports at her high school - but is also a forward in the Ontario Women's Hockey League. She attends Birchmount Park Collegiate and scored a goal in a 3-2 loss a few days ago to Martingrove. Yes, old guys like me will know her grandfather - NHL Hall of Famer Dave Keon, No. 14 with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the past.

Also received an e-mail from a reader angry that I insist on having accurate names of scorers in games. Need I say anything more?  And how about the coaches who like to communicate - but only when their team wins? Here's another one, and I'll spare mentioning his name, submits score to a daily newspaper - late - and then questions why we don't have flexibility and threatens that he will have better things to do in future.

Time for a coffee - or a good stiff drink.

A Start to 2010, Ten Top Performances

I know, I know - I'm late just a bit with the list of 10 of the better performances in the first week of high school competition of 2010.

Busy week, lots of tournaments too - and I wanted to give everyone a shot at making the list.  Thank you to the many people that submitted names too consider and, well, some didn't even bother to inform us of tournament results. I've also noticed a pattern of coaches not wishing to share school scores - when they lose a game.

On to my 10 picks of the week. And, I could have had a list of 25.

Megan Barrack, Mulock. She's one of the better female teenage swimmers in York Region. Four races, four first-place finishes in the Open category. She won the 50 and 100-metre freestyle, 100 metre back and was on the 400-metre freestyle relay team at a zone meet.

Mark Belvedere, St. Andrew's. He's been on this list before and is a great hockey player. Scored not one, but all three goals in the Saints 3-1 win over St. Francis High. Yes, it was the St. Francis Invitational in Buffalo. Five goals and five assists in four games and tournament MVP.

Sarah Edney, Mount Carmel. One of her coaches can't stop talking about her success on ice. He may be right. Four goals in a 7-6 win over Humberview in a Peel Region girls' hockey game. She plays defence and has 13 goals in her past seven games. Very impressive.

Ally Evanyshyn, Notre Dame. I thought she was good in just field hockey. Give her skates and look out. Three goals in a 3-2 Halton Region ice hockey win for her Burlington school over Holy Trinity of Oakville. She's been the sparkplug since grade 9.

Mitch Hancock, Bowmanville. Don't know much about this hockey player. But he did deserve to make this list. Get this, he scored all five goals for his Durham Region high school team, but they still lost a league game. It was O'Neill that won, 6-5.

Raheem Isaac, Father Henry Carr. He missed his first three-point shot, got the rebound and didn't miss a second time - with six seconds left in the game. Top scorer too and tournament MVP as the Crusaders beat Campion 57-55 in the basketball final of the St. Michael's Classic.

Clement Law, Richmond Green. He's a very good water polo player and only been in Canada a few months after moving here from Hong Kong. He won the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 individual medley and was on the winning 200 freestyle relay team at a York Region zone swim meet.

Miquel Martin, Downsview. At one time, he led the Greater Toronto Area with the most points scored in a basketball game. That was 45 for the junior star on the hardwood. Top scorer in his past six games, he had 21 in a 50-39 win over West Hill for the Xavier Rimrocker bronze medal.

Daniel Mullings, Laurier. Game after game, he's put up some big numbers on a team that is middle of the pack in the Toronto District School Board. He had 33 points in a 78-60 win over Milliken Mills in the Blue and Silver Classic and was chosen tournament basketball MVP.

Stephanie Thomson, Trinity. Her hockey team has a 6-12-3 overall record, but she had nine goals and three assists in her past five games. She had two game-winners, was last year's team MVP also awarded the highest athletic award at the Port Hope private school.

That is it for now.

OFSAA and sanctioned events

It appears that far more people read this blog than many may assume.

And, I am told, it's very easy for people to also read in to things that didn't appear.

Some very interesting responses to a previous opinion piece that I had about schools attending sports events in the United States and the possible problems if rules are not followed.

Lots of people, judging from the response to me, apparently liked what was said and have issues with OFSAA and its insistence on giving approval to sanctioned events. That's a debate for another time.

And there were others, far less in numbers, who were upset. They felt I hit below the belt, downright nasty and should be spanked.

That's fair. I'm a big boy. People can have different opinions and interpretations.

I know, some are reading again for a follow-up.

And, I thought one was worthy after speaking to several coaches, athletic officials, convenors at U.S. tournaments and the president of the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association.

First, there are many high school coaches who did not know that they have to advise OFSAA - and well in advance - if they attend a U.S. sanctioned event. They have told me so, don't like it and say time is not easily available to check out websites for clarification.

Second, schools can compete in the U.S. at any sports event that is not sanctioned. No penalties, fines or suspensions. It's when they're at sanctioned events, and don't get the green light from OFSAA, that problems can erupt.

Third, OFSAA President Martin Ritsma told me that his organization goes out of its way to help student athletes compete. I know people who will debate that with him. In fact, Ritsma said there are cases when schools accidentally attend sanctioned events and have forgotten to notify OFSAA. First time offences, depending on the scenario and investigation, tend to go with a warning is what he said. Those who try to dance around rules, different story.

Fourth, Toronto's Eastern Commerce and Oakville's St. Ignatius of Loyola have very good senior basketball programs this year. They did not circumvent rules and attended tournaments in New York and Florida respectively that were not sanctioned.

Fifth, OFSAA needs to do a better job communicating its fuzzy rules, policies and procedures - and particularly to new coaches and school administrators. It's not good enough to say "it's on our website" or hand out a piece of paper that gets lost.

Finally, I have now found out that there are schools that have attended sanctioned events without OFSAA approval and, well, they're now wondering if I am going to let the cat out of the bag.

Would I ever do a thing like that?

Tournament organizers set the bar high

This is the time of the year for a slew of basketball and hockey tournaments.

Here are just a few of the major ones, and those whose convenors have contacted me. In boys' basketball, the St. Michael's Invitational, Silver Fox, Sheridan Cup, Mother Teresa Invitational, Scarborough Basketball Invitational, Jarvis Invitational and Milliken Blue and Silver Classic. In hockey, not so many - the St. Peter's Classic, MacPherson Tournament and York Canlan Classic

And whenever I hear someone mention the word "tournament", I often think about a couple of veterans.

Marv, Dan and Ian.

With lots of respect to all the convenors who plan, organize and even coach at tournaments, excuse me for just singling out this trio for now. And, yes, I have missed several names.

Marv Pearl, Dan Prendergast and Ian LeMarquand. Retired educators. Retired coaches. Retired from many, many years of countless hours going beyond teaching and coaching. They were also convenors of very successful high school tournaments. Three very different guys.

Marv ran the annual Jarvis Classic in basketball. Dan did the same for the St. Michael's Invitational and Ian was the guy behind the Father Goetz Memorial Classic in hockey. Neither events conflicted in dates.

Marv, a teacher, was an icon in basketball. Toronto's Jarvis Collegiate was his second home. The annual Jarvis basketball tournaments, for many years packed the school gym, attracting people of all ages and from all over. School teams would be begging to get in to this tournament. Marv even organized, for years with the Star involved, all-star events with teams from Michigan and New York State. I also remember Marv as the guy who would be walking the gym floor - with one of those special brooms to keep the surface clean and sparkling. You see that at Raptor games.

Dan and St. Mike's were like bread and butter. This was "the" tournament on the hardwood and, now celebrating a 50th year, this event had many great players take part -- and, at one time, filled the gym of the all-boys' private school. Dan taught in the regular classroom but also did a great deal of teaching on the court. He coached too and while he often says the players made him look good, there was a great relationship and one of respect and admiration from these kids who looked at Dan for great advice.

Ian, a teacher and later Principal, was at various schools in the Dufferin/Peel Catholic Board. But, many knew him as the guru in hockey tournaments. Close to 100 schools meeting for two days at rinks around the Greater Toronto Area culminating in a final at St. Michael's arena -- and with lots of gifts. Wow, try organizing that year after year. Teams came from all over Ontario. Talk about a recipe for a headache -- and kick in the inclement weather that caused havoc at times. Sure, there was a committee helping and they stuck with Ian for years and years. Says something, eh?

Marv, Dan, Ian and I didn't always agree on things. There were times when would we would have some serious discussions. Them, from the perspective of coaches. For me, as a journalist having to write what I see -- and it always wasn't pleasant. I remember Ian getting upset when a school team showed up drunk for a game -- and I wrote about it. Yet, we respected each other, remained friends and worked towards building high school sports.

They were gung-ho about seeking publicity too, not just to make sponsors happy, but to give students a chance to see their names in the paper and promote the event. What it did was set the challenge for others to try copy. Some have, with success. Some tried, and flopped.

But one thing is missing these days -- and it could very well be a reason why less and less people care about school sports. Many responsible for tournaments, and there are dozens, don't seem to want to take the time to promote their events and yet get upset when there is no media coverage.

Has me thinking that Ian, Dan and Marv could do well picking up consulting jobs in their retirement years.

Hockey, High School and Players To Watch

I know about the disappointment. Can't tell you how many times I have heard it today — by phone, by e-mail, parking my car and at the dentist. Even my cat looked depressed.

The losing syndrome, or call it what you want, after that dramatic rally in the third period we lost that big hockey game and the world junior gold medal in overtime to the United States. Well, we still have the Olympics and the Paralympics.

On the subject of hockey, and now the high school game, the Ontario playoffs are set for March in St. Catharines. I have seen many players graduate to the university game, play in the OHL and even on to the pros. This year, some coaches have been after me to highlight some of the "players to watch".

Thought I might do what went well for basketball. That's to offer up some names of players who don't always get the spotlight. Darn good on skates and they know what to do with a puck. Here are five.

• Louis Belisle, Ridley. Fast, physical and aggressive is a way of describing him. He also plays on defence for this private school team and you'll see him on the power play and penalty kill units. Advice from those who see him play: keep your head up crossing the blue line.
• Eric England, Pearson. That's the school in Burlington. This kid is a forward and, at one time, scored eight of the 15 goals recorded by his team. He's fifth in scoring in the league and his team has a 3-6-0 record.
• Blake Ertel, Mowat. He's a giant on the team. Only 16 years old, he's 6-foot-4 and tips the scales at around 200 pounds. In his first season on the team, he is a playmaker, goal scorer and was drafted by the OHL's Niagara Ice Dogs.
• Brandon Gaunce, Markham. Some claim he could very well be the best forward in the York Region league. Only in Grade 10, he was also impressive on the football field in the Marauders Metro Bowl title. He will go high in the OHL draft and his brother was drafted by the NHL's Colorado Avalanche.
• Brandon Sellars, Ajax. Plays defence for a Durham Region school team that won 30 games last year and the year before in a very tough league. He's the team captain and could be one of the top blue-liners in his league.

Here's your chance to add to the list.

 

 

 

A Red-Faced Provincial Sports Organization - OFSAA

Not even a week old in a new decade, and sounds like we already might have a stinker.

The Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association, which likes to lay down some strict rules and then penalize certain teams and people for not following them, might need to do some explaining regarding its position on sanctioning of events.

OFSAA's website, in several places and some in red type to accentuate its dictatorial stand, states that "all schools sending teams or individuals to sanctioned meets or tournaments in the United States MUST receive OFSAA sanction in order to participate." That means, follow the rules or look out. Heck, they might even call in the army.

Well, remember last year, when OFSAA blew a gasket and sent one coach - from Pickering High School - in to never never land (a suspension for one year from voluntary coaching) because he played two students in a U.S. tournament. Remember that? OFSAA didn't act on other violations. At least, none that we were told about by them. An overwhelming majority of replies to the Star suggested OFSAA went too far. Even OFSAA, apparently, thought so by suspending the Pickering senior basketball team. Then, just pointing a finger at the head coach.

Back to the approval process. Sanctioned meets need the OFSAA blessing or the wrath of that provincial association could be nasty, right? It says so on the website — need approval to participate. Then, OFSAA lists all those events and schools approved by them — as of Dec. 18, the last day before the school break.

I don't see two high school senior basketball teams, with very good programs, on the OFSAA list of approvals. Toronto's Eastern Commerce and Loyola, from Oakville, did travel to New York and Florida, respectively, for tournaments — but those schools are not listed with the almighty blessings on the OFSAA website. Hmm.

I wonder if OFSAA is going to keep with its strict policy and blast those who violate it. Uh, like hand down some heavy punishment to those teams? I hope not. The coaches, voluntary people who have given lots of time to help young athletes learn, don't deserve to be dragged under a bus — my language — like they did to teacher and coach Mike Gordensky at Pickering.

OFSAA needs to look at the big picture. That is, make sure that students benefit from the commitment of coaches, including those who give up their time with families and friends at the holiday season to showcase youngsters. I raise this because OFSAA appears to have more than one set of rules.

I am waiting for an answer from OFSAA, and if past history is any indication, I likely won't get one. OFSAA might take the approach that, well, it was the festive season and staff left early. Updating the website was one of the things they didn't get around to doing.

Yeah, right.

I'm baaaa...ck

 

With respect to recording artist Rihanna, I've lifted the last line in one of her songs - "Back with you again".

I've been away on vacation and upon my return found a slew of emails from Star readers with their best wishes, also comments from recent stories to questions about why no high school results from Holiday tournaments to predictions for 2010?

One by one.

First, comments from the story about Anthony Lue, the former Pickering High School student and athlete. There was a huge response to the tragic story about this great athlete. If you missed it, click the name above and it's linked. The story, especially during the holiday season, touched many and donations were made, offers of assistance as well as prayers for his recovery.

Lots of email from people about the annual Toronto Star football and basketball all-stars. Can't say I was surprised. Mind you, this had to be one special year when there was an overwhelming show of support for the Top Five female basketball stars - and lots of kind words about the various regional all-stars.

As for football, more players - and, again, people were replying with thumbs up. There are the odd few wondering why their sons weren't chosen or people expecting half a dozen or more players from their team on this year-end list?

The football all-stars ran in the paper with the story about linebacker Travis Bent. For those who couldn't find the list of all-star names and graphic on the website, check above the story and click "interactive".

No science to our selections, we asked for opinions from a wide range of people and I added my thoughts based on various factors. I am quite happy with the choices and, yes, may have missed a few but could not put 75 names on an all-star squad.

Holiday tournaments?

Well, if coaches provided results when games were played - they would be in the paper and on our website. The McKerlie Classic in hockey was the last for 2009.

Now, for predictions for 2010. Really don't like doing this, so here are a few in various sports.

Oakwood has the talent, coaching and potential to leave the provincial basketball playoffs in Oshawa in March with a medal. But, high school sports being what it is, funny things do happen.

If St. Andrew's had chosen to compete for the Ontario hockey gold medal, odds are very good the all-boys`private Aurora school would leave St. Catharines in March with gold or silver. Now, St. Mary of Pickering - who beat St. Andrew's in pre-season - could have a medal. That's assuming the team stays injury-free and avoids a repeat of last year's loss on the road to Ontario gold.

Now, to the individual sports.

If Brampton Centennial wrestler Chenelle Williams is back, she gets the nod to repeat as Ontario wrestling champ in the Unlimited category. Big sister has graduated, time now for Brittany MacLean to light it up at Martingrove in swimming and if Ricky Davids is back at Georgetown, more medals for him too. And an early look at the Spring, sprinter Cassandra Pascal at St. Marcellinus and hurdler Chanise Taylor-Chase at Notre Dame in Ajax - a cinch for Ontario medals.

Enough for now before I get coaches and parents telling me that I'm a jinx.