Thea - The Golden Girl on Skates

What a day - if your name is Theadora (call me Thea) Imbrogno.

If I was principal at St. Basil The Great high school, yes that small Catholic school in northwest Toronto, I might want to consider changing the name of the school - just for a day - to Thea The Great.

Yes, I have bragged about this teenage athlete in blogs and featured her as an athlete of the week and a two-time Toronto Star high school hockey all-star. All of it deserving.

So, what does she do on her final day as a high school hockey player?

How about two overtime goals in sudden-death games - at the provincial playoffs in Richmond, just outside Ottawa. First, the goal that knocked out Bishop Tonnos of Ancaster in the semifinals - 3-2 - in OT. Then, in the gold medal game for all the marbles - an OT goal in a 2-1 win over Oshawa's Monsignor Paul Dwyer.

Result: second consecutive provincial gold medal for her school and for her. Something that has never been done before by a Toronto high school girls' hockey team. Well done, Thea - and teammates. Oh yes, she's off to Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh on a scholarship.

Easily, the most exciting female teenage hockey player to watch on skates in this city. And now, the rest of the province got to see her. More coming on her in the future. I'm not a gambling guy, but this time I just might go as far as to say she'll be wearing red and white one day for Canada.

Yes, I am in St. Catharines catching up on the boys' playoffs. Last year, with Orillia hosting the girls and North Bay the boys, I was able to get to both finals. But this time, the people organizing these provincial playoffs scheduled them all at the same time ...well....just a bit too far.

Some very good hockey out here in the Niagara belt. But first, for all those people - and there are many who just can't stand the private schools competing with everyone else - you must be very happy. The Toronto tandem of St. Michael's and Upper Canada lost in the triple/quad-A playoffs and Appleby, top-ranked, was eliminated in the single/double-A playoffs. St. Mike's went out with a bang, taking the host Denis Morris team from this city to OT and losing on a penalty shot. Ouch.

I, like many more hockey fans, have enjoyed watching the private schools compete - and, I say again, why not? They are bonafide schools in this province and abide by all the necessary rules. I say let the kids play. Get over the jealousy. Private schools are not dominating in every school sport. As for hockey, check out the best high Ontario high school hockey gold medal games. Save the time, I saw them - and they involve private or independent schools.

Friday, down to the Final Four. Top-ranked and undefeated St. Marcellinus of Mississauga meets St. Mary of Pickering. Denis Morris meets Orangeville in the other sudden death game. Final is at 8 p.m. at this marvellous facility - the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre.

Comments

[Basshat]

Once, just once, Mr. Grossman will actually post from OFSAA without whining that they aren't all scheduled on different dates for his convenience. I still wait for that day with bated breath.

I guess he would much rather have the students (i.e. the ones who are supposed to be the first concern) playing ridiculously compressed or elongated league schedules just so the four events can be held over 16 or more days instead of 5.

Here's a thought, why doesn't the Star use its extensive network of community papers to arrange for coverage at each of the events...or does Mr. Grossman not want anyone but himself with their name under a high school headline?

Any arguments that they should be spread out for the sake of high school sports fans across the province is a bunch of bunk. Everyone who actually attends the OFSAA hockey events, including Mr. Grossman, knows that once you remove family, supporters from the competing schools and volunteers, there is almost no one else there anyway.

You might get an argument for more community support in the stands for basketball, especially in the GTA, but that is only for AAAA anyway.

[Marie Gagorsky]

Write all you want about how wonderful St. Basil's is but Imbrogno and Richards never come off the ice. In the third period of the semi-final, Richards was pulled off for 13 seconds of a 12-minute period. Imbrogno sat for 25 seconds (and an extra two minutes for a penalty). They both started the OT and of course, finished it. Most of the better high school teams roll their lines and only double shift the higher level players if the game is close. The girls they are leaving behind will have a tough time because they hardly ever played. If that's what it takes to win at the high school level, they can have it.

[John McCarthy]

I sense a great deal of jealousy by some people who can't swallow that a team won a championship with good players, followed all the rules and deserve what they worked hard to achieve. If Marie wants to pick faults, do it with many other schools who are in similar situations. That's right, Marie, penalize kids for doing well. Penalize coaches for using their players in playoff games. Get a life.

[Marissa Parker]

I know it must be difficult to try give all these playoffs equal attention but I was just wanting to get my comments in about your efforts to try recognize high school sports and equity.
This morning, I read your comments about this young lady and it sounds like she is quite the athlete. Thanks for giving these girls the attention they deserve while you are at a boys event.
Something is better than nothing and the Toronto Daily Star is way ahead of any other newspaper in doing this.
I noticed the comments by one other lady and she is out-numbered by those who care about school sports. It really is too bad that some people sound so vindictive.

[S. Cooper]

I don't know how you put up with some comments from certain individuals, especially those who don't show their name, and why your screening people don't ignore yahoos. The comments by Basshat are laughable at best. I was going to say "fishy".

[Ken]

Congratulations to St. Basil for doing something that no other Toronto school has done and that is win back-to-back OFSSAA girls hockey championships. Thea and Kristen - you girls are the greatest and ignore all the people who can't stomach your achievements.

[B. MacKinlay]

I am a retired teacher and have been reading Grossman for years and years. I have also dealt with him and have no problems. Some people need to do their homework and realize that he is the Toronto Star's reporter for high school sports. I think he has been very fair over the years and gets under the skin of some people who get defensive and don't agree with some of his opinions but he also has rules to follow. This Basshat character needs to understand that no major newspaper is going to have multiple stories from various cities about high schools. We're lucky to get one in a world where the Leafs, Raptors, Blue Jays and everything else is going on. And I have been to several high school events and disagree that the audience is restricted to just families and school supporters. Maybe Basshat should go to OFSAA and offer to do their marketing which can only be better than the poor job they're doing now. I wanted to see the girls hockey but I'm not going to Ottawa when I easily see boys hockey down the highway.

[Morris]

I used to coach high school hockey and have lots of time now that I am retired. It is very refreshing to see some newspapers, like the Star reporting about these young players.
I was also at the hockey championships in North Bay, Ottawa, Oshawa and Fort Frances and I guess all those people watching must have been cardboard figures or some players must have huge families.

[Durham Region Sports Fan]

This must be Friday after reading what some people have to say. Golly, I am not a big fan of organizations that don't have the best leadership and have a right to say what I want as long as I am not breaking any laws. I agree with David and all those playoffs at the same time. Maybe next year OFSSAA will come up with more championships and break the categories down even more. They're doing this as a revenue-generating thing and not all this pomp about fairness with school populations. Read between the lines.If they were so concerned about students, they would clean up so many other problems.

[Michael]

Congratulations St Basil you have made us proud. Don't worry or listen to any of these people with negative comments soak up the moment and cherish all the memories. The Barons cleaned up nuff said

[Carol]

I find it quite sad when people have to resort to using sarcasm when they can't accept the fact that a team won fair and square. This is a high school hockey game folk and nothing more. To all the girls who played, well done. To those who won, you deserve it. To those who have a guilt conscience, get help.

[Rose]

I read this and read it again. I don't see Grossman saying these playoffs should occur over 16 days. He's offering up an opinion, that some people have problems with and that's fine, that OFSAA playoffs should be spread out so they don't conflict.
Sounds fair to me.
If people are worried about players missing too much school, then maybe they should cut back on tournaments and re-examine their entire school sports program.

[Mark J. Curran]

I find there is a need for a group to oversee high school sports in this province, but there comes a time when we have to ask questions questions about the competency of this current group.
I read far too many problems and I know the Star doesn't make them up.
Bring back the old group, get them out of retirement or hire people who know what's best for our young people, set examples and not just walk around looking like zombies.