Team Canada Sochi 2014 Commercial

Canadian Paralympic Committee launches Sochi 2014 campaign to build hype around games

 "When we look at Paralympic athletes, we can make the mistake of focusing on their disabilities, instead of their extraordinary abilities," said Simon Craig and JP Gravina, Associate Creative Directors, BBDO Toronto. "This campaign forces the viewer to see all the amazing things that make these Paralympic athletes great. To catch them in the midst of competition is an awe-inspiring experience by any definition."

 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadian-paralympic-committee-launches-sochi-193000926.html

Saints Down Depleted Lake Raiders

Saturday Feb. 1st  2014 12:30pm -1:30pm. With their top goal scorer serving a 1 game suspension the Lake Raiders had a tough challenge against the solid saints. In first period action it was Lake Raiders who stuck first on a sweet pass from Goaltender Neil Mercer on to the stick of Erin Vassilakos, who buried her 14th of the season at 4:31. The second period saw the Saints Don Deschamps tie things up on a Brandy Edwards feed at 1:36, followed shortly by his second of the game on a solo effort at 4:08 for the 2-1 lead. The Saints added another with Braden Martz (Brandy Edwards) crashing the net scoring his fifth at 7:15 taking a 3-1 lead to the third. The final frame saw Brandy Edwards score the periods lone goal on a solo effort at 10:15 for the 4-1 win.

Despite the loss the Lake Raiders played hard and should be proud of their effort...

Sochi 2014: Sledge hockey players smashing stereotypes

Gearing up for Sochi!

http://www.thestar.com/sports/amateur/2013/12/02/sochi_2014_sledge_hockey_players_smashing_stereotypes.html

Intro to Accessible Curling

Three months ago, I wrote about how wheelchair soccer is becoming a popular sport. Wheelchair curling may not be far behind, at least in Canada. Unlike with wheelchair soccer, there are several wheelchair curling clubs throughout Canada. Presently there are clubs and organizations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland & Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Wheelchair curling has its roots in Europe, where it was first played in the 1990s. The World Curling Federation (WCF) held its first wheelchair curling event in Switzerland in 2002. In 2006, wheelchair curling was formally recognized as a Paralympic event in time for the Paralympic Winter Games held in Torino, Italy. Today, wheelchair curling is played by athletes in more than 20 countries.

What distinguishes wheelchair curling from standard curling is that there is no sweeping (i.e. no brushes are used to help the rock slide further), curlers throw from their chair with a “throwing stick,” and team members position their chairs behind the thrower to keep the chair from sliding backwards.

The Ontario Curling Association (OCA) is a member of the Canadian Curling Association (CCA), which in turn belongs to the WCF. In Toronto, games are played from October to March at the Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. In lieu of a playoff period at the end of the season, a Bonspiel tournament takes place in Toronto every January. Other clubs throughout the province come to compete, with an awards banquet at the end.

The most recent Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championship for curlers with disabilities was played in Ottawa in March 2013. Some of the players from these Provincial Championship teams have competed at both the national and international levels.

Wheelchair curling was initially played mainly by paraplegics in manual wheelchairs, but now people with various physical disabilities using power wheelchairs or scooters are known to play. This includes Douglas Gebhart, who has cerebral palsy.

Gebhart has played wheelchair curling in the Toronto club since 2010. His interest in curling began as a child, when he watched the likes of Sandra Schmirler and Glenn Howard.

“My friend (Ian) invited me to play, knowing that I liked curling,” he says. “I played before the (2009-10) season ended, and I found l liked it. I immediately signed up the following season,” he says.

Gebhart also says he wanted to find a sport that didn’t involve a lot of physical contact. “When I was 12 years old, I injured my eye when someone threw a basketball at it during a wheelchair basketball game.”

His eye healed up, but he quit playing basketball and vowed to find a sport that was safer. “I promised that as an adult I would find a sport where I wouldn’t get easily hurt. Once I started getting into wheelchair curling, I have never looked back.”

When I went to a curling session recently at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club, I was in awe over how the people played with their chairs on the ice. I also discovered you don’t have to have a lot of upper body strength to play. During a break in a game, I threw a few rocks, and they were all good attempts. Attending the curling rink helped me to better appreciate curling as a sport.

The incredible battle of the “Bulldogs” and the “Saints”

Saturday, January 25, 2014

It was a great game, with lots of efforts put forward by The Saints and The Bulldogs. During the first period the bulldogs scored the first goal. A smooth pass by Lorne to Jerry gave the bulldogs a 1-0 lead. Brandy from the saints scores a beautiful goal near the 7 minute mark to tie the game up 1-1. The first period ends 2 to 1 for the saints as Brandy scores a nice one with 25 seconds left. At the beginning of the second period Eli makes a nice save then Lorne clears it down to the other end. As Meghan plays a great defensive role for her team staying near the center line, making beautiful passes and clearing the ball. Bryan who plays defence on the saints scores a beautiful goal assisted brandy making it 3-1. Jerry scores a great goal at the 2 minute mark of the second period to make it a 3-2 game going in to the third period. To start of the third period Lorne scores a goal around a busy net with many players attempting to clear it to tie it up 3-3. Tracey on the saints has made some good saves during the game and has cleared some shots. Don on the saints scores a wild shot with 5:40 seconds left in the third to make it 4-3. At the 1:17 mark of the third period the saints play short-handed and Lorne scores the final goal from Jerry to tie the game 4-4! Great Job by both teams!

Wolves routs Mustangs

January 25, 2014 – Wolves vs Mustangs (Boxscore)

It was all about the Wolves in a one-sided affair in the 6-1 win over the Mustangs.

In the first period Mike Iacovene opened with a short-handed goal for the Mustangs that beat the goalie Torrance Ho five hole. Saverio Romano tied it at one and he also scored a late one to help the Wolves take a one goal lead.

In the second period Saverio scored a hat trick for the Wolves to take a commanding 5-1 lead. One of the goals was assisted by Matt Vocino.

In the third period Saverio scored his sixth goal of the game. It was a great defensive effort in the second half of the third period where the Wolves took a barrage of shots from the Mustangs.

Honorable Mentions: Krista Bath for the Wolves and Mitchell Stark for the Mustangs.