Two Island players reunite to play for Fred Page Cup

Evan Carmody and Ben MacSwain celebrate after winning the Kent Cup 4-3 in triple overtime of game seven and will now move on to the Fred Page Cup in Kanata, Ont. (Submitted photo)


 

By Bo Ford

A pair of Sherwood Falcons alumni are set to do battle together once again. This time it will be at the Fred Page Cup in Kanata, Ont.

Ben MacSwain and Evan Carmody grew up playing minor hockey together, going to school and hanging out together, now they will get a chance to live out a dream.

Both players have taken almost the same paths to being where they are today, but for MacSwain the trek has been a little bit longer.

Both players have played for the Falcons, both have played for the Cornwall Thunder and now they can say they both play for the Woodstock Slammers.

Carmody started his rookie season with the Slammers putting up 35 points in 52 games.

As for MacSwain he started his second season in the MHL with the last place Miramichi Timberwolves.

MacSwain got news from the T-Wolves on Dec. 7 that he was traded to the Slammers for two other players and ending his season with a combined 17 points in 44 games.

MacSwain said when he found out the news he was excited, he knew he was joining a special team, with a great group of guys.

He said it didn’t take him long to reunite with his long time friend Evan Carmody.

“When I pulled in, the first person to greet me at the front door was Evan.”

Carmody was just as excited as MacSwain when he heard the news that he was on the way to Woodstock to join the team.

“I was the only one on the team that knew him. We were always good buddies, I knew he would be a good fit for our team. It was a good trade for us,” said Carmody.

Both players agree it was great to get back together.

“It’s just like old times, we hang out pretty much everyday. Away from the rink were together a lot,” said Carmody.

The two players have won a handful of minor hockey tournaments back in there Falcons days. Now after a 4-3 triple over time victory over the Yarmouth Mariners the two boys will now get a change to bring their friendship to whole new level at the Fred Page Cup.

Both players enjoyed a stellar playoff run, each putting up a nine points in 15 playoff appearances.

“It’s been quite the ride, but I’ve learned a lot. Jason (Tatarmic), our coach has given me lots of ice time and a chance to prove myself,” said MacSwain.

It was also Carmody’s first junior playoffs. He said it didn’t feel like it until the final round.

“Until we got to play Yarmouth and faced some adversity, it didn’t feel like the playoffs.”

Carmody was on the ice for the game winner against the Mariners and recalled the crowd going crazy.

“We were just trying to get it over with, I was on the ice when it went in the net, the whole place erupted. It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had in my whole life.”

The team didn’t have much time to celebrate the hard fought victory, hopping on a bus Monday for the 10 hour long bus ride to Kanata. But MacSwain said it is for the best.

“We aren’t that far removed from the series, so we should be ready to go for the tournament.”

Both players said they want to do whatever it takes for the team to win the championship.

“We need to work hard, stay focused on the task at hand. If we stick to the game plan, we’ll be alright,” said Carmody.

MacSwain said Carmody is the model of consistency with the Slammers, playing both offensively and defensively.

“He’s really good in both ends, he knows is defensive zone well. He has a powerful shot and he knows how to score goals.”

As for MacSwain, Carmody said his hard work and grit allows him to jell with the team.

“He brings a ton of energy to the team, he throws hits, battles in the corners. He’s also the type of guy who can score at just the right moment.”

The team practiced last night (Tuesday night) in preparation for the Slammers first game on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m (6:30 Atlantic Time) against the host Kanata Stallions.

MacSwain said he hopes to be able to chip in on the points department as much as possible.

“If it means me hitting, if it means me chipping in a few points. We came here to win, and I don’t think anyone will be satisfied if we don’t give it our all.”

Carmody agreed saying he has the same mentality as MacSwain going into the tournament.

“Whatever it takes to win. Every player has bought in all year, none of us expect it to change now.”

MacSwain summed it up at the end of the interview, when asked what it would be like to win the Fred Page Cup.

“Were all out here with the same mindset. To win. To give ourselves the best chance possible to move onto the Royal Bank Cup.”

New Vehicle sales see big boost on P.E.I

By Bo Ford

Car dealers on P.E.I. are very happy with the recent release of new motor vehicle sales on P.E.I over the past year.

Statistics Canada released numbers earlier this week that show car sales on P.E.I are up 20 per cent from February 2011 to February 2012.

President of the P.E.I. Automobile Dealers Association Peter MacDonald said it is hard to pin point the biggest reason in the increase.

“I do think one of the big things is the increase in inventories in some of the Japanese manufacturers. The large inventory helped with their sales.”

MacDonald said the inventory has been low due to some recent disasters and now the inventory is there.

“There was some pent-up demand from some of the manufactures because they couldn’t get inventory for a lot of last year. Now that those inventories are now on the lots, the customers who have been waiting for that product can buy the product.”

He also believes the incentives being offered have really pushed people to buy new vehicles off the lot.

“It’s more affordable to buy a new car now then it ever has been. With the large amount of incentives out there, the zero percents and large cash backs.”

P.E.I. also had the second largest increase in new vehicle sales from January 2012 to Februray 2012 with a 1.4 per cent increase only Saskatchewan had a bigger increase.

MacDonald said he can’t point his finger as to why the Island was one of only three provinces with an increase.

“Yes we did have a great winter, but so did every where else in Canada.”

He said, now is the time to buy a new vehicle.

“Now, more then ever is the time to buy a new vehicle, it is the cheapest it has ever been.”

ARCH P.E.I. attracts new ideas

By Bo Ford

The Association of Rural Community Halls of P.E.I. held a group meeting this past Saturday (April 21) to discuss new ideas for the 2012 year.

The association introduced a new model of operation to try and come up with better funding.

Vice President, Shari MacDonald said the association received most of its funding from the government.

“We received our funding from the government. This year it doesn’t look like we are going to receive any, so we have to come up with something new.”

Without the funding from the government they will not be able to have six-month workers to help during the big season.

“Instead were going to have to find one person who can control the website and be able to set up workshop,” said MacDonald.

Erskine Smith was also on hand and shared a story about raccoons invading the Victoria Playhouse and Community Hall, giving the small crowd a good laugh.

“There wasn’t a big crowd, but it allowed us to share our ideas and let everyone get a chance to speak,” said MacDonald.

The meeting was mostly members of Central Halls and ARCH plans on expanding out.

“ We plan to take trips to the east and the west, we’re an Island group so we need to expand to all of the halls,” said MacDonald

Engineering students put projects on display

By Bo Ford

Second and third-year Engineering student finally had the day they had been waiting for.

The UPEI Design Expo went last week at UPEI. The student put on six different displays for judges from Engineers P.E.I.

At the first of the year the students were assigned to a company and asked to create a project to cure one of their problems.

The student were given a $500 -1000 budget depending on which company they were working for.

The first two displays were groups paired with the P.E.I. Bag Company.

The first group was asked to reduce the overall workforce dependency through investment in automation for paper bag production. They had to find away to create a project, which would replace a worker for counting out 6 or 15 bags at a time.

The other group was asked to do almost the same thing, except their project made out of wood, metal and computer technology was asked to stack the bags.

The five members of this group all agreed their project covered more engineering then the other projects.

“Our project covered electrical, mechanical and industrial engineering, it really allowed us to work with all three types and learn more as about each,” said group member Patrick McKenna.

This team was also a little different then the others, they had the twins, Patrick and Jon Thomas McKenna, the team agreed they defiantly had the upper hand.

“It was a great experience, we got the computer side of it but we also had to physically build it, there were some challenges to that part, but were here today,” said John Thomas.

Another member of the team Alex Hunt said they were all new to it, but it only helped in the long run.

“It did take us a while to get going, but once we got the ball rolling it was all straight ahead from there.”

Hunt said the drawings really forced the team to work together to get going.

“There were some interesting drawings for the physical model, we just combined a few of them and made them into one.”

The third group was paired with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. They were asked to build a temporary stream crossing to help allow farmers and wood lot owners to not receive fines for driving over streams and also building permanent structures, which affect water levels.

The group of 12 created a removable bridge, it operates by tractor so it is hauled by tractor, removed by tractor all using hydraulics.

Phillip Curley, is the head behind the students who built the bridge. He said the bridge has been made with hydraulics that are attached to a tractor.

“What that means is the bridge can be picked up with a tractor, but not only that. Your tractor can actually drive away with it. Not only can a tractor drive over it but it also deploys it.”

Lyle Gauthier worked on the project with his group said the fact the tractor hauls it and drives over it make it effective.

“You can leave it over the stream after you drive over it, then at the end of the day after you go back, you can simply deploy it and take it back.”

Evan Getson said with such a big number of people the group was able to excel in all areas.

“We had people who were great welders, another guy who was great with tractors, a good group of drawers, it allowed us to come together as a great team, and a great bunch of guys.”

The only other single group was paired with Duck Unlimited to try and find a way to restore the Johnston’s River freshwater wetland.

Also a group of 12 they created two ideas. The first idea was good but it had one flaw, the speed of the water would not allow the fish to take a break from swimming.

The second idea was to remove the infrastructure in the wetland and reverts in into a tidal salt-water estuary.

As a group they all agreed if they would have had a little more time the first idea would have worked wonders.

Morning Star Fisheries, a company from B.C. that rears Atlantic Halibut teamed with the last two groups.

The first group was asked to modify a tank in which the water flows through in order to improve fish waster removal.

The tanks used by Atlantic Halibut are all rectangular which makes it harder to produce any circulation.

Andrew Smith said the group had no idea about fish farming.

“The project took us some extra work, first semester was all straight research, we had four proposals and put them all together.”

They decided to create a circular motion in the rectangular tank by making curved corners, much like a hockey rink.

“It moves the water in a more circular motion, we have it set so the water knows to keep flowing, this way allows the middle to drain more waste so it doesn’t build up.”

The groups also used a dual drain design, the design allows for as much recirculation as possible.

“It drains 20 per cent of the dirty water, and allows 20 percent of new water to come in. Then it cleans the water so it can recycle as much water as possible,” said Shaw.

The other group of five was asked to find a way to create a grading table.

Halibut grow at different speeds, every few months they need to be graded to see the growth, this way they grow bigger when they are with fish around their size.

Currently the job is done by one work that uses his own preference to choose where the fish should go.

Evan Kennedy said the group introduces more computer technology to grade the fish.

“We modified the current system on how they send one fish down at a time, and instead of a person sorting the fish, we use a camera about the water and a computer to grade the picture to decide where the fish should go.”

Kennedy said they were asked to do this because of the lack of consistency in the size of some of the Halibut.

“It’s true though, if its 4:30 on a Friday afternoon are you going to be concerned about the size of a fish. You might think different then me too, what I think is a bigger fish, you think is a small fish.”

They have also adjusted the table so the workers no longer have to lean over into the cold water, they can no adjust it to their height preference.

“They already said they like are idea and they would like to try it out. Most of all it is going to benefit the workers,” said Kennedy.

Although the students don’t receive any kick back from the projects they created, they all seemed to be okay with it.

“It was all a fun experience, although at the end of the day there is an announced winner, were all winners today, it’s going to be something as engineers we can always say, yes we made that,” said Jon Doyle.

UPEI students finding a way to help

By: Bo Ford

Most people don’t realize the struggles people from third-world countries go through everyday but through the first-year Engineering Design Course at UPEI, students really found out.

The students were asked to build a project that would help the people of Kenya use their agriculture waste into solid bricks.

The project is thought the Mikinduri Children of Hope. Engineering professor Dr. Andrew Trivett explain the struggles people go through everyday.

“They use wood for cooking in doors, not their own wood. Stolen wood. We were asked to find a way for the people to start using agriculture waste to cook with, so when they were finished they could use the agriculture waste for something else.”

Dr. Trivett then asked his students to find a way to pack the agriculture waste and make it into bricks so people could use it in building.

“They took off with it, they were on Youtube and Google looking for the best idea, the better part about it, it wasn’t only helping out a charity but it was also worth mark,” said Trivett.

The students recently put their projects on display outside of the Engineering Design Expo at UPEI.

Trivett said it was good for the student to get exposure.

“They put their projects on display for people to see how it works, and then after the Design Expo, Engineer’s P.E.I. are going to come be the judge of this too.”

The students took a hand full of ideas some using wood PVC well others used a keg to make the bricks.

“Starting out, I thought it was one of the worst ideas I’ve seen. Turns out I was wrong, because it turned out to work pretty good,” said Trivett.

Trivett said the students learn a lot more working in groups with people they enjoy.

“It gives them a taste of the real world as well, you have to be able to work in groups in the classroom and the work force.”

First-year student Matt MacEachern agreed with Trivett about his experience.

“I learned a lot through this experience, I can’t wait to do the big Expo next year.”

Now the projects will be sent to the Mikinduri Children of Hope charity and they will decide if they like a certain project better then another.

“They could use all eight of them, them may use one. Or they may not use any of them,” said Trivett.

The students who participated in the build are very unique explained Trivett.

“This group of students will be the first group that will have the chance to graduate from UPEI, the get the option to stay put or head off, second and third year students won’t have that option, unless they want to wait it out.”

City oval ready for new season

By Bo Ford

The lights will be turned back on, the harnesses will be shining and the horses will be pacing tonight at Red Shores in Charlottetown.

The city track has been in darkness when it comes to live racing since January when it shut down for the winter seasons.

The track has 11 races scheduled to go behind the gate tomorrow night with post time at 6 p.m.

The top class Preferred 1 features six of the Islands top horses all vying for the $2,200 purse.

From the rail out has Casual Motion (Joey Pineau), Blue Star Outlaw (Jason Hughes), Barrett Jackson (Mark Bradley, Matt Trapper (Brian Andrew), Unstoppable Speed (Corey MacPherson) and the outside post to Oakrock Almighty (Ron Matheson).

Blue Star Outlaw is the morning line choice of Gerald Smith, but track handicapper Les MacIsaac leads towards 2011 Cecil Ladner runner-up Oakrock Almighty.

“They don't come much more consistent than this guy. Closed out the year hitting the board in six of seven and today's outside post shouldn't be a factor since that's where he was for all of those. Top call,” said MacIsaac.

MacIsaac keyed in on This Bird Will Fly in the fourth race. The three-year-old stakes hopeful will leave from post-position three.

Paphos in race five is his value play of the day and Prince Country Horse of the Year Blu Meadow Willie is the long shot play of the day.

One name not listed to drive is one of the top drives in the Maritimes Kenny Arsenault who is out with an upper body injury.

“It’s just an old injury that happened a couple of years ago. Nothing to serious,” said Arsenault.

He has himself returning in a couple of weeks time once everything feels back to 100 per cent.

Mark Bradley has picked up seven drives on opening day and really likes his chances with Rich Raider in the 11^th.

“He qualified in 2:00. It’s a pretty good class, and I like my chances with him,” said Bradley.

The track will also feature five more qualifying races starting at 4:15 p.m. including Govener’s Plate winner Serious Damage and the tough top class pacer Roscoes Child.

Twelve engineering student one bridge

  Phillip Curley a third year engineering student stands with the bridge his group built for the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the 2012 Design Expo at UPEI.(Bo Ford photo)

 

By Bo Ford

Twelve UPEI engineering students have created a portable bridge to help farmers and wood lot owners.

The students were paired up with the Department of Agriculture and Forestry as part of a project for the 2012 Design Expo held yesterday at UPEI.

Currently the Department of Agriculture and Forestry has streams all over P.E.I. It is a fine if a person drives a tractor or ATV across them. This has caused people to create permanent infrastructure.

The permanent infrastructure has started to affect the water levels in the stream and it stops fish travel.

The Department asked the students to build a quickly deployable and quickly removable bridge, because it has to be taken out during the high flood seasons.

Phillip Curley, is the head behind the students who built the bridge. He said the bridge has been made with hydraulics that are attached to a tractor.

“What that means is the bridge can be picked up with a tractor, but not only that. Your tractor can actually drive away with it. Not only can a tractor drive over it but it also deploys it.”

This makes the concept very easy for laying the bridge over a stream driving and driving over it.

Lyle Gauthier worked on the project with his group said the fact the tractor hauls it and drives over it make it effective.

“You can leave it over the stream after you drive over it, then at the end of the day after you go back, you can simply deploy it and take it back.”

Curley said the group was given two hours for the bridge to be deployed and extracted.

“We can do it in about seven minutes, so were pretty satisfied with it.”

  The group pitched three ideas, a trailer that backed up and flipped over, an accordion idea and a simple bed frame

“We took the idea of the accordion and we tried to make it as much into the trailer thing,” said Curley.

“We realized through the use of hydraulics and the fact it’s for a tractor. The idea just evolved to say, to say why don’t we just hook it directly up to the tractor and use its own hydraulics.”

Curley explained the group got lucky in their situation; one of the group’s members has a father that is a welder.

“We did all our own welding, but we did have him there to supervise.”
The project now goes to the Department of Agriculture, they then make sure the math is correct and the bridge is safe before distributing it around the Island.

Curley said the group doesn’t receive any money for the creation.

“We receive the benefit of doing the project,” joked Curley.

The group was given a $1000 budget from the Department to complete the project and they clocked in around $920.

The bridge is not built to normal size. If it was built to normal size it would cost about $2500.

The group members explained the main idea was to keep it around the $2000 fine, so there would be more of a benefit for people to build or buy one of these bridges.

“It took us about nine hours of work to do it, but if we were to do it again, it would only take about half the time,” said Gauthier.

The Department has already sent members out to check out the bridge the group has built.

“They are actually coming back with a group of wood land owners, to see if they would be interested in it,” said Curley.

The bridge was constructed by Curley, Gauthier, Tyler Bernard, Andrew Walsh, Abdullah Abdullsalam, Christian Chatham, Dawson MacMillan, Dylan McIssac, Edward Lush, Evan Getson, Matthew Tong and Nico Verhoeven

Five other projects were entered in the contest. The UPEI Design Expo Award is the one all the groups are hoping on. The award is handed out to the group who produced the best product as voted on by Engineers P.E.I.

“Everybody’s chance is pretty good, you never know. I feel pretty solid,” said Curley.

Two of the other projects were teamed with the P.E.I. Bag Company to make there company more efficient. One with Ducks Unlimited to help restore the wetland in Johnston’s River. The other two groups were paired with Morning Star Fisheries to make a grading table and another to help tank circulation.

Baby barn for diabetes

By Bo Ford

The Crossroads and Area Lions Club has finished its seventh baby barn and are set to sell it.

The Lions Club has been building baby barns for seven straight years, with all proceeds from the sale being donated to diabetes.

Clair Jenkins engineered this years project, the 35-year Lions Club member said the barn is just about finished.

“We just have to put the doors on it, and the barn is pretty well ready to be sold.”

Jenkins said diabetes was just something they picked when they first started the projects back in 2005.

“Every year we do it all of the donations go to diabetes, it’s just been the same every year.”

The club receives donations from different locations and all the donations really make the project come together.

All members have taken part in the project, if not this year in other years, even the president Avery Blaxland.

Jenkins said the baby barn does not go under auction, it’s just a straight sale.

If you are in the need of a baby barn or are just interested in purchasing it from the Crossroads and Area Lions Club, you can contact Clair Jenkins at 569-3610.

Remembering a great man

By Bo Ford

Some may remember him as a public servant, as a leader in sports, but most of all he will be greatly remembered as a loving son, brother, father and husband.

The funeral for the late Rory Beck was held this morning at the Central Christian Church, more then 500 people took in the service to remember a P.E.I legend.

The service touched on all the tremendous work Beck had done during his time spent on this earth as a public servant, in sports, but most of all as a loving family man.

Beck was the father of three sports oriented boys, Luke, Jacob and Dylan. He was the brother of four, Angus, Gordie, Callum and Norman, the son of Shirley and the late Dr. Malcom Beck, But more then anything a loving husband to his wife Gaylene.

Beck has left a giant footprint on the Island, in all characteristics in his life. His brother Angus read a poem about his family, it touched on all aspects of his family life, but during this time, he stressed Rory was the most like his father out of all five boys.

Longtime friend Kevin Murphy had lots of good things to say about Beck, as he put it, how couldn’t he, everybody who knew Rory, knew how great of a man he was. Murphy credited hockey for being the main reason the two friends were so close.

Beck, was well known in the hockey circle first as a player with the Charlottetown Islanders when they won the Hardy Cup in 1981, from there Beck would go on to become a UPEI Panther and then later in life become president of the Charlottetown Jr. A Abbies. Beck loved to coach and teach young people, not only into loving the game and becoming great players but also into young gentlemen.

His nephew, Rory spoke about how his uncle could talk for days and how he would always have the inside scoop on things. He was like a bicycle tube, all the spokes connected to him said nephew Rory.

Beck was known as the premier’s right hand man over the past couple of years. Robert Ghiz was on hand and shared a gospel reading during the funeral.

Beck’s pallbearers were some of his closest friends during his lifetime, Matt Bolger, Mac Giffin, Terry McKenna, Kevin Murphy, Brian Ostroski and Jeff Squires.

To show just how much Beck did for the people who knew him, the family made each and every person in attendance of the funeral consider themselves as honorary pallbearers for him.

The services ended with a song Beck had admired dearly. Those in attendance exited the church to Rise Up.

It is safe to say Rory left a mark on a lot of peoples lives, not only his family, but their friends, his friends and everyone on P.E.I.

Holland College students on the fence with tuition increase

By Bo Ford

Holland College announced yesterday they would be increasing it tuition costs for all full-time students next year.

The increase will be $200 to $250, the college hasn’t had an increase since 1998. The tuition increase is one of a series of measures that included targeted reductions, across the board cuts to departmental budgets, and the suspensions of two programs.

Eddie Zhakata who will be the Holland College Student Union president for 2012 said no student is ever happy with a tuition increase.

“Most students are okay with it. The increase isn’t all that much, and we haven’t had a tuition increase in over 14 years.”

The announcement came just days after the college announced a cut of two full-time programs for next year.

Dr. Brian McMillian, president of Holland College said in a press release, the current fiscal climate has required the college to make some difficult decisions.

“We have undergone a systematic review of all expenses and revenues. We have employed a balanced approach to cost reduction and revenue generation to ensure that our students continue to have access to the excellent learning environment to which they have become accustomed.”

 Holland College has several tuition levels. The majority of its program tuitions fall into three primary bands that vary from $3,250 to $5,500 per year.

Zhakata said they received no warning of either the course cancellations or the increase in tuition

“They told us there were going to be some changes made, but never specified what moves they were planning to make.”

Zhakata hasn’t had a meeting with the management of Holland College yet to figure out what other changes may come to not only the college but Student Union as well.

“Now that most of the changes have been implemented, we will meet with management and find out what changes are possible, and what we can do with the tuition increase,” said Zhakata.

Queen Charlotte students learn cameraless animation

 Grade seven student Natasha Beaton receives instruction from filmmaker JoDee Samuelson Monday at Queen Charlotte Intermediate. (Bo Ford photo)

By Bo Ford

Grade seven students at Queen Charlotte Intermediate in Charlottetown were guests of a presentation about cameraless animation yesterday.

The activity, which was presented by filmmakers JoDee Samuelson and Dave Ward, is part of lead-up activities for the Island Media Arts Festival that takes place May 8-13.

The students of Deborah Christie’s grade seven science class learned how the cameraless animation is produced and shown to viewers.

Cameraless animation is identical to shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy on television.

It all started over 100 years ago when plastic was first invented said Samuelson, the film is actually black but when lights hits the film it produces a chemical reaction and the picture appears.

Most people think computers make animation but Samuelson said it isn’t completely true.

“You still have to draw. The computer can make movement possible, but a person still has to draw the objects by hand.”

Samuelson talked about how much work goes into producing an animation film, she said 24 images would only be one second worth of film and 100 feet would be just two minutes of film

The students were first treat to a few short films, one of which was made by Samuelson herself. The film targeted the history of Charlottetown and how the city has changed over the years.

After seeing the film students in the class were asked to make there own animation Ward will collaborate together, the students will then add a soundtrack to the film and create there own cameraless animation.

It will be shown Thursday with comparisons to other classes that the duo will be working with at the school over the next three days.

 R.J. LeClair a grade seven student at Queen Charlottetown Intermediate takes tips from filmmaker JoDee Samuelson. (Bo Ford photo)

 R.J. LeClair works on his own animation as part of his grade seven class learning about cameraless filmmaking at Queen Charlottetown Intermediate on Monday. (Bo Ford photo)

Trotter sets the pace

PEISHOA President Tom Clarke presents co-owners Ralph Annear,left, and Steven Sorrie,right, with the Trotter of the Year award for Maple Leaf Spirit.(Bo Ford photo)

By Bo Ford

Three-year-old trotter Maple Leaf Spirit stole the show Saturday night at the P.E.I Horse Standardbred Horse Owners Association year end awards at the Dutch Inn in Cornwall.

The colt took home three awards including three-year-old Trotting Filly, Trotter of the year and Horse of the Year.

The  filly co-owned by Ralph Annear and Steven Sorrie, trained by Annear, enjoyed a one-of-a-kind season, from 13 starts in the Maritimes the filly won 11 of those and finished second in her other two starts producing over $40,000 in the process.

Charlottetown`s top driver in 2011, Marc Campbell, finished off his season with a bang at the awards banquet taking home three awards.

Marc Campbell receives his award for Leading Dash Winner from banquet committee chair Betty Gregan,left, and guest speaker Mark Ford,right.(Bo Ford photo)

Campbell was awarded two driver awards, Leading Dash Winner and Leading Percentage Driver. In partnership with completing his record setting season with a total of 122 wins and a UDRS of  .336, the awards were never in question

Campbell said it was a great way to end off a great season but said there will be room for improvement this season.

“Everybody in this game will tell you there is always room for improvement, but I love seeing my owners get trophies, and I like getting them myself.”

While most people know Campbell for his ability to drive, he also had a good season as a trainer, having seven horses from his stable nominated for awards.

 His trainee Malabrigo was the only one to win an award receiving two-year-old Pacing Filly. Owned by Greenoaks Farms, the award capped off a bitter sweet for both Campbell and The Greenoakes Farms.

“She fought through some adversity to win some big races. Marc did a great job with the filly, we all really happy,” said Angus Buntain from Greenoakes Farms.
 As for Campbell he said he couldn’t have had the year he did all on his own.

“I have good workers, I try and keep my workers young. That way they want to work and they’ll work even harder when were winning. They know who they are and I thank them for what they do.”

Leading Percentage Trainer Jackie Matheson receives his award for Leading Percentage Trainer from Minister responsible for harness racing on P.E.I Wes Sheridan,left, and Guest Speaker Mark Ford,right. (Bo Ford photo)

Jackie Matheson was named Leading Percentage Trainer with a .327 UDRS not to mention over 40 trips to the winner circle and three nominees at the award banquet. The first year trainer had much of the same to say about his award.

“It’s nice to win, but this is one of those awards that goes out to the whole barn, everyone in our barn was a part of this right from the horses, the grooms, the owners and the drivers.”

The other multiple award winner went to Charloettes Maggie, a three-year-old filly owned by Shaun MacIsaac and trained by Tom Weatherbie the filly made 16 starts in the Maritimes winning 12 of those and banking over           $35,000. She won the three-year-old-filly Pacer and the Pacer of the Year awards.

A crowd of over 300 packed the Dutch Inn listened to guest speaker Mark Ford Answer a few questions and give his insight on the state of the harness racing industry.

“It`s very refreshing to come to P.E.I. for the enthusiasm. Maybe there isn’t as much money here as other places, but the people actually enjoy racing. It`s a real breath of fresh air.’’

A winner of over $40 million in earnings and the youngest to ever accomplish the feat is staying positive about his situation in New York.

“Everybody wants to be a neigh sayer, it’s terrible, it’s terrible. It has never been better for me, we race for money than I’ve ever raced for and probably the generation before me. It’s very good right now.”

Ford said he thinks the best is yet to come, especially with a plan to bring gaming to the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

“It would be money like we’ve never seen before.”

Islanders encouraged to grow a beard for Heart and Stroke

By Bo Ford

It is that time of year again. Where you can’t turn on your television without seeing some sort of talk about the NHL playoffs.

With the playoffs in session the Heart and Stroke Foundation has launched the Beard-a-thon fundraiser for the second year in a row.

During the playoffs players are known to grow out their facial hair as long as their team stays in the playoffs. Last season the NHLPA joined with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to have people pledge money for players from the league or people from around Canada to grow a beard during the playoffs, with all the money going towards the foundation.

That’s right, you yourself can help the Heart and Stroke Foundation raise money, you can choose to grow a beard and receive pledges, pledge money to a friend or family member, or even pledge money to one of your favorite NHL players.

This year the Heart and Stroke Foundation of P.E.I. is calling on Islanders to throw away their razors and grow a beard in support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation in the cause.

Last year over $200, 000 dollars was raised with 2,037 beard growers receiving pledges of at least $25. Scott Hartnell of the Philadelphia Flyers has sent out a challenge to all Canadians to toss aside their razors and grow a playoff beard better then him. Last year Hartnell raised over $12,000 and was the leader among all Canadians.

Sharon Hollingsworth, Communications manager with the Heart and Stroke Foundation on P.E.I said the idea came from the annual Movemeber contest which supports prostate cancer.

“We want our volunteers, stake holders and supporters to grow a beard, or go online to make pledges,” said Hollingsworth.

Islanders looking for an NHL players to pledge for include players such as former P.E.I Rocket defenseman now Vancouver Canuck Marc-Andre Gragnani and teammate and another Rocket player Maxime Lapierre.

For people who choose to grow a beard for pledges, there will be prizes given out. For raising $25 you will be entered in a chance to win a signed jersey, raise over $1000 and be entered to win a grand prize trip to watch a NHLPA member play in a game next season.

For people interested in supporting this cause you can check out the website at www.beardathon.ca

PEISHOA set to hand out awards

The P.E.I. Standardbred Horse Owners Association awards banquet for the 2011 season happens this Saturday night at the Howard Johnston Dutch Inn in Cornwall with a reception starting at 6:30.

The association has announced Mark Ford will be the guest speaker for the banquet, which will close out the 2011 harness racing season on P.E.I.

Ford, best known for being the trainer of two-time O’Brien Award winner Gallo Blue Chip the richest pacer in the history of the sport with $4.2 million in earnings. He is the youngest trainer in history to reach $40 million in career earnings, during that time he has 17,332 starts as a trainer and 2,689 wins.

PEISHOA president Tom Clark said the committee is delighted to have Ford as a guest speaker for the banquet.

"He has perennially been one of the leading trainers in North America, and we really look forward to hearing about his operation and his views on the industry today.”

Expected to have a big night is the Island’s top driver for 2011 Marc Campbell who was the leading dash winner this season on the Island and also put up a big year as a trainer with likely 2-year-old filly nominee Malabrigo and a nominee in the direction of claiming horse Benny Rabbit is not out of the question.

Another likely candidate for Claiming Horse of the year comes from leading dash winning trainer Jackie Matheson in Keystone Dimitri, who enjoyed his first season in the Maritimes.

With Maritime Free-for-all stand out Formal Affair not eligible due to a start requirement, it gives local top class horses Ricarras Sun, Oakrock Almighty a chance at winning Aged Pacing Horse of the year.

The Aged Pacing Mare award will also be a toss up between a couple of iron tough mares including J K Special from the Joe Smallwood stable, the Wade Sorrie trainee Onehotvett, Grace and Harv trained by Wayne Bell, as well as the late addition to the Jackie Matheson barn General Luckypercy.

The most intriguing award of the night will likely come from the Two-year-old Pacing Colt category with a lot of local talent putting up some big numbers this season. Names such as Astronomical Union and Dukes Up trained by Albert Davies and owned by Reg MacPherson, as well Touch Of Lighting from the Earl Smith barn and Lyndale Royale trained by Terry Affleck and the late blooming Mr Thompson could all be in consideration for the award.

In the trotting category, three-year-old filly standout Maple Leaf Spirit is as strong of a sure thing as there can be, only being defeated twice in her sophomore season.

Aged Trotting mare will likely see Merdian Farms Warrawee Jade trained by Brian Andrew and Napanee Seelster trained and co-owned by Danny Macdonald nominated along side Campbell’s Diana Car.

For horses to be eligible for awards, owners must have their PEISHOA membership paid for the 2011 season.

Also included in the awards ceremony are Horsemen and Horsewomen of the year as well as the Fan Favourite award and Grooms of the Year.

Tickets for the banquet are $30 and can be purchased from PEISHOA committee members, Charlottetown Veterinary Clinic, or by contacting Tom Clark by email at tclark@clarkemotors.net .

Island born driver fall short for second year in a row

For the second year in a row Wally Hennessey was nominated to enter the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and for the second year in a row he fell short to being inducted.

The Hall of Fame announced the 2012 inductees Tuesday and Hennessey’s name didn’t appear on the list.

Hennessey who is based out of Pompano Park in Florida has sat in the sulky for over 40,000 lifetime drives including 8036 trips to the winner circle and over $54 million in earning while supporting a .339 driving average.

He also became only the 21^st driver to hit the milestone of 8,000 when he did so earlier this season.

This season he has 62 victories from 334 starts and just shy of $300,000 in earnings.

Hennessey also won the Gold Cup and Saucer in 2001 with Scarlet and Gold and then again in 2005 with Driven To Win.

Also nominated for induction was Islander Llyod Duffy, a regular jockey who enjoyed success at Greenwood Raceway, Woodbine and Fort Erie Racetrack. A winner of over 2000 races, Duffy, also occupies a driving license for standardbred horses as well.

Both men are inductees of the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame. Hennessey is also induced in the Harness Racing Hall of Fame, located in Goshen, New York.

Angling license sees few changes this season

By Bo Ford

The 2012 trout fishing season is set to kick off this Sunday. With the new season ready to begin, it means changes to the angling licences for the year.

The trout and Atlantic salmon angling licences have been combined into one and will cost $10 with an added $20 to go towards the Wildlife Conservation Fund. Residence of P.E.I between the ages of 16-18 and 60 and over will receive a free licence.

The Forest, Fish and Wildlife division encourages adults to take their children fishing. An adult does not require an angling licence while assisting the children as long as the number of rods doesn’t exceed the number of rods.

New this season are closures to the Big Pierre Jacques in Glenwood, the Trout River in Coleman and the Mill River in Carrruthers Brook will have special regulations for the 2012 season. These rivers are closed do to fish kills in the area in 2011.

Re-opening this season is the Montrose River. The Dunk river will have its special regulations lifted for the 2012 season.

The daily catch limit is eight, of which not more than one trout may be greater than 40 cm long.

With the 2012 season fast approaching staff at Gone Fishing in Sherwood have found themselves busy trying to help Islanders prepare for the opening.

Harmen Bofhuis, Owner of Going Fishing said his company sees a solid increase in business this time of year.

“For the first two weeks of April before the season starts. It is really what we do. We have two busy seasons the start of fishing and the start of hunting.”

He also said the store has loaded up on inventory for the busy time of the year to supply Island fishers with the essentials to fish.

“We add to our inventory, the inventory goes up quite a bit. There isn’t anything really new this year.”

As for Bofhuis himself he said he is excited to finally get back out on the water once the store business calms down a bit.

“I don’t get to fish for at least the first three weeks or so, supplying everybody else first. Before I get to go.”