London Alliance FC is looking to bring home a National title to go along with their five consecutive Ontario Cup championships. The 15U squad represents Ontario in Surrey, BC. “It’s a group that has been very talented since a young age,” said Luigi Sorbara, head coach of the 2011 born squad. “It actually was two rival teams coming together a couple of years ago to produce this team. We’ve won five Ontario Cups in total and this year was a big year for us because we knew that there was a national championship on the line.” The girls arrived in Surrey Tuesday after having their early morning flight cancelled, but managed to get a training session in before play started Wednesday afternoon against Halifax. “It’s a pretty grueling tournament,” added Sorbara. “We begin play on Wednesday and then one-off day and then we’re Friday all the way through to what we hope is a medal match on Monday. We’ve drawn in a difficult group with Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to start, but that will set the stage for some bigger games later on. This this team wants to win because we’re used to winning. Our mindset is to come home with gold.” CHIP-IN ON 2nd PLAYOFF HOLE TO WIN WOSSAA GOLD Preston Gryp knew he had to chip in from off the green to have a chance to win the gold medal. He did just that. The Parkside Collegiate student won the WOSSAA golf championship at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club in dramatic fashion. The Stampeders had captured the team title securing a berth at the OFSAA tournament in Windsor, but the individual title came down to a three-way playoff between Gryp, Jacob Bosma of Parkside and Oliver Watt of Mitchell DHS. All three of them made bogey on the difficult first hole, so it was off to #18. Watt made a five to finish third, while Gryp hit his second shot near the front bunker. Bosma nearly holed out from over 100 yards and sat just about six feet for birdie. Gryp knew he had to make the shot, and chipped in from off the green. Bosma lipped out his putt giving Gryp the individual title. “I had a wedge in and I was kind of a in between number and I hit it came up just a little short,” said Gryp, one of three players to shoot 76 (+4) on a windy day. “Jacob threw one in tight and I knew I probably had to chip in for the win. Maybe a little lucky, but I’m happy with the shot I hit.” Bosma nearly won the gold twice with birdie putts on 18 in both regulation and the playoff but could get to either putt to drop. He’s thrilled to be going to OFSAA as a team member, but a little disappointed in finishing second. “We qualified as a team, so the playoff was just for the medals,” said Bosma. “I hit one so close and it just lipped out then just missed for birdie and made the par. It’ll be super fun (OFSAA) going with everyone.” The Stampeders (Gryp, Bosma, Damon Fish and Van McVeigh) won the team title by ten strokes. “We didn’t really know what to expect coming in,” said Gryp. “We knew there was going to be a lot of great teams, and we’re all grade 12, so this is our last chance to get it done.” LONDON KNIGHTS NEED BETTER STARTS The London Knights are 4-1 to start the season, good enough for top spot in the Midwest Division of the Ontario Hockey League. They have managed to achieve that record, despite not scoring a single goal in the first period of any of their five matches. “We have a young team this year, so just like preaching how big preparation is before the game,” said forward Cohen Bidgood. “Even off ice, just making sure you’re showing up to the rink to get all your preparation you need to be ready to go. So just getting the legs into a little earlier and maybe in the gym before if you need to get a little workout in just to get that extra juice and legs for the first period.” Knights staff have been preaching taking a professional mentality pregame to be ready from the opening faceoff, but attribute some of their slow starts to their style of play. “We don’t send two-one-twos (formations), we do a one-two-two,” said Dylan Hunter, Knights assistant coach. “We’re a transition team, so it generally it takes a little bit to get going. I mean obviously we want to get more shots. I think we’re trying to make too many good plays right off the start. Instead of just trying to drive that puck to the net and going for rebounds.” Hunter would like his team to keep the play more simple from the opening draw. “it’s more about getting the puck in deep, getting shots on that when you get them and then trying to get them out of sorts on their system,” said Hunter. “We’re trying to make a quick play and then making a nice little sauce pass and you know that takes a little bit of timing.” PANTHER DAY CELEBRATES GIRLS HOCKEY IN ST. THOMAS, ONT. The third annual Panther Day in St. Thomas, Ont. was a celebration of community spirit and girls hockey. A full day of action started with girls games in the morning and continued on both ice pads all the way through the evening and was capped off by an exhibition game between the Western Mustangs and Guelph Gryphons . “The big difference this year is on and off the ice,” said Panthers coach and spokesperson Jessie Karn. “We’re taking donations at the door, the rink is entirely pink and as well for our game day fit. All the Panthers have pink t-shirts for their warm up, but then also on the ice they have their jerseys as well.” The day was in support of breast cancer awareness and the mammography unit of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital. “It’s about awareness at a young age and also caring and love,” said Karn. “At the end of the day, everyone can feel united as one and that’s what the community is all about.” During the day, the Mustangs players were around the arena taking photos with the young girls before playing their game. “I love this stuff,” said Emma Campbell, Mustangs captain. “I talked to a couple of girls and we would have loved having this as kids. Like seeing girls like to look up to, I actually think I really believe if you can see it, you can be it. It sounds cheesy, but it is really true and it really is a community event. There are girls who have their little brothers, and their parents and grandparents out to support them. As someone who’s been playing the game for almost 20 years now, it really reignites the fire and the passion.” The Mustangs also featured some local ties during the game with head coach Brittany Howard and starting rookie goalkeeper Mya Hepburn from St. Thomas. Howard is entering her second year with the team, but her first real recruiting class. They are young, but hopeful to surprise some teams and make the playoffs. “The eight new girls that we have, have been absolutely amazing so far,” said Campbell. “With Britt (Howard) having a full year under her belt now coming in this year, really like having time to get her bearings and get everything going, we’re so excited. We’ve been learning a lot as a group and we’re super excited to get the season going.” RISING STARS BRINGS MMA, BOXING AND KICKBOXING UNDER ONE ROOF For the first time in London fighting history, Mixed Martial Arts, Boxing and Kickboxing all came together under one roof at the latest Rising Stars event at 100 Kellogg Lane. The collaboration between Adrenaline MMA and Boomerz Boxing was a massive hit with more than 1,000 people attending the sold out show. “There were electric fights, and the production spoke for itself,” said promoter Chris Horodecki of Adrenaline MMA. “We’ve never had a venue like this and everyone came out wanting more after these fights. There is a very, very deep history when you look into the fighting community in London, Ontario, between Adrenaline MMA, Team Tompkins, Boomerz Boxing, we have many, many schools in the city. But to have something like this for the two forces connected, we’re hoping to make this a regular thing, at least like a once-a-year type of basis.” They also recognized two legendary coaches in the local fighting community. “We respect the coaches, we honour the coaches and we pay tribute to our fallen leaders,” said Horodecki. “Shawn Tompkins and Lawrence Boom, we had a moment of silence and a ten-bell salute honouring those who paved the path before us. We’re doing something bigger than just putting on fights, we’re instilling the martial arts in the fighters and instilling the martial arts attitude in our product.”
