SPORTS 20
THE OBSERVER
SPORTS
» Saturday, September 10, 2011
Hockey’s back and it’s game on for the Kings Opening on the road Friday, Junior B squad plans special ceremony at Sunday’s home-opener James Jackson
PHOTO
t’ll be uncharted territory for members of the Elmira Sugar Kings this year when they start the regular season as the defending Ontario Junior B champions for the first time in a decade. The Kings opened their season last night (Friday) in Owen Sound to take on the Greys and take to the ice tomorrow (Sunday) in their home-opener, an afternoon tilt against the Listowel Cyclones at 2 p.m. at the Dan Snyder arena. After a grueling preseason schedule that saw the team play five games in nine nights, head coach Dean DeSilva is ready to get the season underway, his first behind the Elmira bench. “I can’t wait to get the season started. Training camp is always tough but I’m really pleased. I’m looking forward to getting started,” he said. “We do have some work to do still, but overall I’m really happy with where we’re starting the season.” The team features a good mixture of first-year and returning players. In goal, fans will recognize Nick Horrigan who is entering his third season with the team. He will be joined by newcomer Nick Coone from Cambridge. Hopefully that tandem can provide some stability in goal
» COLIN DEWAR
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FIGHTING FOR POSITION Andrew Brubacher (right) of the Sugar Kings battles Ryan Watson of the Stratford Cullitons as Elmira forward, Brett Priestap, charges in during GOJHL action at the Dan Snyder Arena Sept. 4. The Kings would go on to defeat the Cullitons by a score of 2-1. because the defence has witnessed a lot of turnover. Gone are Shane Smith and Jordan Benton, along
with Cory Genovese and allstar Wade Pfeffer. Only two defenders from last year’s squad – new captain Colton
Wolfe-Sabo and second-year player Clayton Greer – are back, and they will be called on to be a steadying presence
for the young core of blueliners, DeSilva said. “We’re still pretty young at the back end and we haven’t even started working on any systems or anything,” said DeSilva, stressing the importance of maintaining good defensive presence in the zone and making a good first pass to start the offence. Getting the puck to the forwards will be critical, because that is where the Kings should really shine. With the return of six Kings from last season, including leading scorer Lukas Baleshta and rookie of the year Brady Campbell, as well as former King Riley Sonnenberg who suited up for the Guelph Storm of the OHL last year, putting the puck in the net shouldn’t be Elmira’s primary concern this season after finishing fourth in the conference last year with 219 goals. “We have a lot of offensive players and I’m going to give them full room for creativity,” said DeSilva. Sunday’s home opener will have some extra flair as the Kings will raise their Sutherland Cup champion banner and present last year’s team with their championship rings, something the head coach knows will likely distract many of his players
> SEE KINGS ON PG. 22
Synchro club opens doors of new Elmira home Public invited to check out the sport and the refurbished former municipal pool James Jackson
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early three months after closing the deal, the Waterloo Regional Synchronized Swimming Club is opening the doors to the new and improved Elmira pool, and welcomes the public to come and see the changes and experience synchronized swimming for themselves. “We’re pretty excited,” said club president Erika Lindner. “They’ve been working really hard since we purchased it in June.” Work on the building, which has been idle since 2009 when the Woolwich Me-
morial Centre was built, was done by Kitchener’s Gateman Milloy and includes a completely refurbished pool and new ventilation and electrical systems. The contractor also knocked down several walls to make the entrance more open and to create two dry-land training rooms, along with new office space. Lindner said that it will be the only space in Canada dedicated solely to synchronized swimming. “The building just flows a lot better and it will work really great for us.” The club closed the deal on the purchase from the
township back on June 6 for $450,000 and has been hard at working preparing it for the beginning of their new season, which also starts on Saturday. The new facility is more than twice the size of the group’s current location in Waterloo, its home for the past 18 years. The Elmira pool is 200,000 gallons compared to 100,000 in Waterloo, and the building itself is 13,000 square feet compared to just 5,000 at the former location. The move was necessary given the clubs continued growth and its reputation as one of the best in the prov-
ince. The club boasts some 60 to 70 competitive swimmers and another 80 to 100 recreational swimmers who come from as close as Kitchener, Waterloo and the townships and as far away as the GTA, Hamilton and Georgetown to compete for the club, said Lindner, and swimmers compete at the local, provincial and national level. In 2010 the club earned the title of top Ontario club for the fourth time in five years, and at the Western Ontario regional meet this past summer in Waterloo, they captured 38 podium finishes, 10 of them gold. Aside from their wide-
spread success, Lindner said that the clubs popularity lies in their continuity. This is the 20th year for the club, founded by Leanne McDonnell who is still involved as the WRSSC’s program coordinator. “We haven’t had a lot of turnover. Our coaches and the leadership is long term,” said Lindner. The open house runs from 10 a.m. to noon today (Saturday) at the Elmira pool. It will include a free synchronized swimming demonstration and sessions for kids to try the sport for free, as well as a barbecue and ribbon cutting ceremony.