SAINTS VOLLEYBALL CAPS OFF HISTORIC SEASON
CELEBRATING
DISCOVER
THE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
Every child has a future waiting to emerge. A passion ready to ignite. We offer the possibilities that make it happen. A place where they are known, supported and inspired. Basketball shoes, theatrical costumes, or robotics code? A goal, a song, or a speech? With us, students discover themselves. They find big, dreamy answers to the most important question of all:
WHO WILL YOU BE?
CENTRAL YORK GIRLS HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (CYGHA) CELEBRATES
PANTHER SPIRIT DAY
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On November 3rd, the Central York Girls Hockey Association (CYGHA) celebrated Panther Spirit Day in honor of World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend, a global event aimed at growing and supporting girls’ and women’s hockey. The day began with an all-members skate, bringing players of all ages together to connect on the ice. A highlight for many was the autograph session with the Junior Panthers, who serve as role models for younger players. The main event, a thrilling game against the Ottawa Lady Sens, showcased the Junior Panthers’ skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, inspiring fans of all ages.
Throughout the day, fun activities like raffles, a “chuck-a-puck” contest, and prizes added to the excitement and helped raise funds for CYGHA programs. Young flag bearers from both the rep and house league teams had the unique chance to skate around the rink with the Panthers’ flag and experience the pre-game atmosphere in the dressing room. This special opportunity lets young athletes connect with their role models and fosters a strong sense of Panther pride and community spirit.
In addition, CYGHA hosted the Panther Pride House League Tournament from November 15th to 17th, welcoming over 50 teams from U9 up to the women’s division. This event celebrated camaraderie, friendly competition, and Panther pride, further strengthening the community’s commitment to girls’ hockey development.
Upcoming event for the Central York Panthers
• International Silver Stick Women’s FinalFeb 7th - 9th
• Queen of House, House League Tournament - April 13th- 14th
• House League Championship Day –March 29th 2025 for U9 to U18
For more events follow CYGHA on social media (Instagram) @cyghaofficial and check out our website www.cygha.com! With each event, CYGHA continues to build a stronger community and a brighter future for girls’ hockey.
For families and players new to hockey, CYGHA is thrilled to offer the First Shift program, designed for beginners ages 6-10, interested in trying hockey for the first time. With guidance from experienced coaches, First Shift provides a welcoming environment for players to learn. For more information, please reach out to info@cygha.com
Together, let’s continue to play with pride, passion, and perseverance. Thank you to everyone who helped make Panther Spirit Day and World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend an inspiring success!
November/December 2024 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 6
PUBLISHER
Insport Media & Publications Inc.
EDITOR
Ron Weese – Sport Aurora E-mail editor@sportinaurora.com
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Laurie Mueller
Phone 905.713.5027
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ART DIRECTOR | GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Christian Baird
E-mail christian.jp.baird@gmail.com
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTION
Sport Aurora Members Ron Weese
Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club
Gabriel Franzoi Elizabeth Keith
Kim Silcox Sarah Tracey
Neil Moore
CONTACT US
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EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS Submissions are welcome from writers, photographers, athletes, coaches and individuals. Contact Ron Weese, editor. We assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. Contributions are responsible for obtaining all approvals for publication of photos and content prior to submission. All submissions may not be used. We may edit, publish, reproduce, distribute and archive submissions in any form or medium without any compensation. We are not responsible for lost or damaged submissions. Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission of any article, photograph or artwork in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher is prohibited. Sport in Aurora Magazine is published six times a year. For detailed circulation information, contact Insport Media & Publications Inc. Insport Media & Publications Inc. is committed to protecting your privacy as our customer. We may collect personal information only if it is required for the proper functioning of our business and only share this information with our business partners. The editors and contributors who write for Insport Media & Publications Inc. attempt to provide accurate and useful information and commentary. However the editors, contributors and Insport Media & Publications Inc. cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. We assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any readers based on the information provided.
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\\\ Story by Sarah Tracey, Director-a-Large, Central York Girls Hockey Association
Photos Courtesy of Central York Girls Hockey Association.
Sport Celebration Month is Here!
he Town of Aurora Proclaimed October 2024 Sport Celebration month and Sport in Aurora Magazine was there to capture every bit of the events that made the month special.
The Annual Breakfast of Champions (page 7) had the largest crowd of athletes honoured in the history of the event. It demonstrates how well our local sport organizations build athletes and champions. The Coach and Athlete-of-the-Year were also announced for 2024.
Likewise, the Volunteer Recognition Luncheon, held for the first time at Wicked Eats in Aurora, brought together the best-of-the-best sport volunteers nominated by their respective sport organizations. Read about the event and the special awards made on page 8.
On page 4 we learn about the special ‘Spirit Day’ in honour of World Girls’ Ice Hockey Weekend and the Panther Pride House-League Tournament, held on Nov 15-17, 2024. Take note of the upcoming events this Organization is planning for 2025.
And we continue to celebrate women in hockey by hearing about a CDS student who is excelling at not only ice-hockey but numerous other sports on page 6. Women and girls in sport is alive and well in Aurora.
The Aurora Barbs continued their impressive record when two of the Rugby Club’s members received accolades at the Ontario Rugby Hall of Fame Awards Night. Read about the coach and athlete honoured on page 10.
The St. Andrew’s Saints volleyball team left an historic mark by going 8-0 in an undefeated season winning the CISSA championship. Read about this team’s accomplishments on pages 12 and 13.
Pickering College also won an important soccer championship and posted an undefeated season. Read about this accomplishment on page 14.
And as the holidays approach we thank our local elected representatives for their continued support of sport and this magazine and indeed all our advertisers who make this unique publication about amateur sport possible. At Sport in Aurora Magazine wish everyone a safe, happy and active holiday season.
Ron Weese Editor, Sport in Aurora Magazine
The Mission of Sport Aurora is to promote participation in sport and recreation for all citizens of the community we serve. For more information on Sport Aurora, visit our web site at: www.sportaurora.ca
This year, Charlotte Endicott is playing for the Central York Panthers U18 AA team, Richmond Hill Jaguars U14 AA Boys team, and the Senior Girls team at The Country Day School.
This year, Charlotte Endicott is playing for the Central York Panthers U18 AA team, Richmond Hill Jaguars U14 AA Boys team, and the Senior Girls team at The Country Day School.
SPOTLIGHT ON CHARLOTTE ENDICOTT AND THE CDS SENIOR GIRLS HOCKEY TEAM
For Charlotte Endicott, who has been on hockey skates since the age of two and a half, hockey is unquestionably her first love. At the age of four, she started playing house league and has been setting her sights on the next level ever since.
Now in her first year at The Country Day School in Grade 8, Charlotte prepared for the hockey season by running on the CDS Middle School Cross-Country team in advance of getting noticed by the coaches during her U14 CDS hockey practice. It came as quite a surprise when her mother got a call from CDS’s Director of Athletics, Geneva Winterink, expressing an interest in having Charlotte play for the Senior Girls team instead.
No stranger to playing on all-boys teams, Charlotte has done so ever since she can remember. Most recently she played GTHL AAA for the Toronto Titans U13, North York Rangers U12, and Toronto Titans U11 teams where she continually grew her game under the direction of some amazing coaches.
This year she is playing for her home team, the Richmond Hill Jaguars U14 AA Boys team, in addition to playing with all girls on the Central York Panthers U18 AA team, both of which have been extremely supportive with her aspirations. In the season so far, she has combined total of 15 goals and 20 assists and is amongst the U14 league leaders in scoring. Playing with the CDS Cyclones Senior Girls team will be another opportunity for her to reach ahead and help lead her new school on the ice.
Over the past few years, Charlotte has also travelled further afield playing in invitational tournaments with the U13 Girls Team Ontario. Last summer, her team represented the GTA travelling to play a tournament in South Carolina. In prior years, she has also played in other invitational girls’ tournaments in Las Vegas, Nashville and Toronto.
The five-foot-five right winger is willing to do whatever it takes to chase her dreams and aspirations for the future, including playing NCAA D1 hockey in the U.S., the PWHL and Team Canada. We wish her well!
This year, Charlotte Endicott is playing for the Central York Panthers U18 AA team, Richmond Hill Jaguars U14 AA Boys team, and the Senior Girls team at The Country Day School.
Charlotte Endicott
\\\ Story by Kim Sillcox \\\ Photos action shots by Kent Wo
SPORT AURORA CELEBRATES LOCAL ATHLETES AT BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
Aurora’s Stonehaven Banquet Hall bustled with energy and pride at Sport Aurora’s 13th annual Breakfast of Champions, where 12 teams, 125 athletes, and 28 coaches were celebrated for their accomplishments in provincial and national championships. Sponsored by the Town of Aurora, the sold-out event highlighted achievements across various sports, from gymnastics to lacrosse, underscoring the community’s commitment to athletic excellence.
Sarin Gosal (on left) at the High School Boardercross invitational at Beaver Valley in February 2024.
speaker Andrew Kooger, co-founder of Maximus Athletics. After a mountain biking accident left him paralyzed in 2020, Kooger transformed his life, becoming an advocate for adaptive sports. Now a competitive adaptive mountain biker and hand cyclist, Kooger delivered an inspiring address. “Your hardships do not define you, and they most certainly do not define the outcome of your life. So never let that inner athlete die. Let it fuel every choice you make in your life – and find purpose.”
TEAMS AND ORGANIZATIONS HONOURED
Returning as emcee for the 10th year, former NHL player Jim Thomson spoke about the difficulty in winning a championship, and that many athletes never achieve this. “As someone who knows the highs and lows of professional sports, I can tell you, becoming a champion is no easy feat.”
A highlight of the event was keynote
This multi-sport celebration underscored the resilience and dedication of Aurora’s sports community. Attendees also honored the achievements of this year’s Coach and Athlete of the Year, Todd Martin and Chloe Daniels, whose stories inspire local athletes. For more on their journeys, see our feature on Sport Aurora’s 2024 award winners.
The 12 teams and organizations recognized at the event included a diverse array of sports, from gymnastics and martial arts to lacrosse and swimming. Those honoured were: K.O. Club Martial Arts, Aurora Master Ducks, Kids Super Gym, Shaolin Martial Arts Canada, Redbirds Lacrosse (U13 Boys Division D), York Artistic Swimming, Spectrum North Baton Club, Global Gymnastics, Evolution Gymnastics, Special Olympics Ontario-Aurora, Team Ontario Astros (U16 Boys), and Team Ontario Astros (U14 Boys)
\\\ Story by Neil Moore, Communication Director, Sport Aurora. \\\ Photo Courtesy of Sport Aurora.
CELEBRATING DEDICATION: SPORT AURORA HONOURS VOLUNTEERS AT ANNUAL EVENT
Aurora’s sports community recently gathered to celebrate the volunteers who drive local sports, honouring 28 coaches, organizers, and supporters at Sport Aurora’s fourteenth annual Volunteer Recognition event. Hosted at Wicked Eats on Yonge Street, the event highlighted contributions across baseball, tennis, swimming, martial arts, Special Olympics, and more, celebrating those who make a positive difference in our community.
Emceed by Stephen Forsey, the ceremony included presentations from Sport Aurora, as well as certificates from Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy and Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa. “Thank you for everything you do,” Parsa remarked, noting that volunteers are the backbone of organizations across Canada. “Congratulations to the team at Sport Aurora for going above and beyond and recognizing these great individuals.”
Sport Aurora president Ron Weese emphasized the financial impact of volunteerism, explaining that the value of hours contributed by local coaches, managers, and organizers amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars each season. “Without volunteers, we wouldn’t have local sport,” Weese stated. “So, I want to thank you and your family members who support you while you’re putting in the time.”
The event also featured two special recognitions. The President’s Award, was presented to former Mayor and Sport Aurora Vice-President Geoffrey Dawe. Sport Aurora President Ron Weese cited his many leadership initiatives in the Community and within Sport Aurora.
Stephen Forsey, who has been the Chair and Emcee of the event since the event’s inception was recognized by the Board of Directors for his “notable contributions” for his leadership of the event for 14 years and his contributions to Sport Aurora on the Board.
Each year, Sport Aurora’s Volunteer Recognition event shines a spotlight on the dedication and passion that keep Aurora’s sports programs accessible and thriving. This year’s honourees exemplify the energy and commitment needed to sustain community sports, celebrating the spirit of volunteerism that supports athletes of all ages.
The 28 recipients honoured were: Geoffrey Dawe (Sport Aurora President’s Award), Stephen Forsey (Sport Aurora Honoured Member Award), David Maguire (York Oldtimers Hockey League), Sarah Tracey (Central York Girls Hockey Association), Stacey Barron (Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club), Craig Lloyd (Aurora Lawn Bowling Club), Luch Condarcuri and Wayne Scott (York North Basketball Association), Dan Banks and Simone Hubers (Special Olympics Ontario-Aurora), Charles Marek and John Cooper (Aurora Tigers Jr. A), Sandra Gismondi (York Artistic Swimming Club), Erik Tolles (Aurora Community Tennis Club), Kathie Sharkey (Storm Volleyball), Greg Rank (Elevation Athletics), Warren Craney (York Region Football Association), Jane Snape (Aurora Seniors Association/Pickleball Division), Kiyana Emami and Aisuda Zandy (K.O. Club Martial Arts & Fitness), Suzanne Hoy (Aurora Skating Club), Suzanne Charlebois-Bin (York Curling Club), John Stoner (Team Ontario Astros), Liz Miller (Toronto & North York Pony Club), Paiten Kopecny (Shaolin Martial Arts Canada), Shelly Thunder (Gauntlet Road Tennis), Jill Green and Andy Jenicek (Aurora Diggers Girls Softball Association).
Sport Aurora would like to thank the Town of Aurora’s Community Partnership Grant for enabling them to sponsor the awards, and to promote the recipients on social media platforms and in local media at no charge to the organizations.
\\\ Story by Neil Moore, Communication Director, Sport Aurora. \\\ Photo Courtesy of Sport Aurora.
Sport Aurora President Award Winner, Geoff Dawe, receives Volunteer-of-the-Year Award from President, Ron Weese Sport Aurora Honourary Members Stephen Forsey and Ron Weese
TODD MARTIN AND CHLOE DANIELS HONOURED AS 2024 COACH AND ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
COACH OF THE YEAR
Todd Martin
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Chloe Daniels
The spotlight fell on Todd Martin and Chloe Daniels, who were celebrated as Sport Aurora’s Coach and Athlete of the Year at the 13th annual Breakfast of Champions. Hosted at Stonehaven Banquet Hall and presented by the Town of Aurora, the event gathered a passionate community to recognize the resilience, excellence, and influence of local sports leaders and rising stars.
Coach-of -the -Year Todd Martin was celebrated for his work with the Aurora Diggers Girls Softball Association. An International Softball Hall of Famer, Martin has spent over a decade coaching young athletes, guiding his teams to titles while instilling values that last beyond the game.
This year, his U19 team captured Gold at the Ontario Provincial Championships and Silver at the Canadian Nationals. “A good coach can change the outcome of the game,” said Martin. “A great coach can change the outcome of a life.”
Chloe Daniels, recognized as Athlete-of -the-Year, has quickly become a standout in Canadian rugby. At just 21, Daniels plays for Queen’s University and the Canadian Women’s Rugby Sevens team. This year, she helped lead Canada to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, earning widespread recognition. Though recovering from surgery and unable to attend, her father, Nick Daniels, accepted the award on her behalf, expressing her appreciation for the
overwhelming hometown support. “She wanted to thank the Aurora community for all their support during the Olympics. She received thousands of text messages, Facebook messages, Instagram posts – and it was very humbling for her.”
The awards were part of an inspiring morning that also featured keynote speaker and adaptive athlete Andrew Kooger, who urged athletes to persevere through setbacks. The Coach and Athlete-of-the-Year awards capped off an event that highlighted the passion and dedication shaping Aurora’s sports community.
\\\ Story by Neil Moore, Communication Director, Sport Aurora.
\\\ Photo Courtesy of Sport Aurora.
Two Barbarians Awarded Provincial Honours at the 2024 Rugby Ontario Hall of Fame/Awards Nights
\\\ Story and photos courtesy of the Aurora Barbarians Rugby Football Club
Rugby Ontario announced their 2024 Award Winners, and the list included two members of the Aurora Barbarians. Club Co-President/Treasurer and Women Coach Khalil Ajram was awarded the Volunteer of the Year, while the club’s top junior boys player: Briar Barron was awarded the 2024 Junior Provincial Player of the Year.
Khalil Ajram was awarded the Volunteer-of-the-Year for his work within the club coaching with the Women and Junior Girls Sevens program and his work on the board as the co-president/ treasurer/ director of rugby operations. Outside the club, he also coach with St.. Andrew’s College and handled all the referee assignments for the YRAA high school leagues and most of the private schools in York. At the Regional level with the Toronto Reds, he was the development manager for all nine of their programs and coached their U19 Girls, Senior Women and Junior Sevens programs. At the provincial level he was the Central Girls Academy Coach and Manager for the Senior Women West program. At the national level he organized three ID camps for the men 7s program in Halifax, Toronto and Calgary and lastly was the tournament director of the Great North 7s series, that hosted or supported ten different tournaments across Ontario.
Briar Barron who played for the Men 1st XV and U18 Boys this past summer had a very busy year representing the club level in the provincial leagues, captaining his high school team at Sacred Heart before graduating and heading to Queens University. At Queens he’s
presently a member of the Varsity team and has started or appeared in every game this year as a rookie. He was a member of the Toronto Reds U19 fifteens program and U18 sevens program, who captured both the Ontario Interbranch and Great North 7s title. Barron was also a member of the Rugby Ontario Development Academy, the U19 Boys program who won the 2024 Canadian Rugby Championship and with the Arrows Academy team who travelled to Halifax for the coast-tocoast cup and were runners-up. Last Summer, Briar was selected for the Rugby Canada U18 Boys program who played fourth at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Tobago where Khalil Ajram was on the coaching staff as an Assistant Coach and Manager.
The 2025 will start in January with winter training, registration for the 2025 Summer season will open in February. Learn more at ww.abrfc.ca/play
Wishing you and yours a joyous and relaxing holiday season!
For all those in the sport community who celebrate, may your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, and happiness.
Thank
MICHAEL PARSA, MPP
SAINTS VOLLEYBALL CAPS OFF HISTORIC SEASON
\\\ Story by Gabriel Franzoi, St.. Andrew’s College \\\ Photos Courtesy of Paul Mosey and Natasha Daley, St.. Andrew’s College
The St.. Andrew’s Saints Varsity Volleyball team concluded their season by winning the CISAA championship game, putting a stamp on a historic season. The team went undefeated in CISAA league action, finishing 8-0 and taking on all competition with the highest standard.
SAC competed in several tournaments throughout the season, showcasing their strong play by winning both events. The Saints captured victories at the Maxwell Heights Tournament in October and the Trent University HS Tournament to start the season in late September.
The Saints faced a formidable St.. Mike’s team in the CISAA finals, where every point in the opening set felt like a hard-fought battle. After fending off two set points, the Saints secured the crucial opening set, setting the tone for the match. From there, they delivered a dominant and cohesive performance, clinching the CISAA Championship title with a thrilling 3-0 victory over St.. Mike’s (27-25, 25-20, 25-19).
Coach Claudio Numa praised the team’s remarkable season: “They played an exciting
game to earn their first championship in over 25 years while demonstrating inspired volleyball, class, and sportsmanship all season long.”
The entire team and coaching staff were catalysts for the team’s success this fall, but some players truly elevated the squad. Seniors such as Hank Heider, Jacob Kirchmair, and Michael Sim were dominant net-front presences, scoring key points and executing pivotal spikes against opponents.
Some of the sophomore newcomers even made a name for themselves and are set to be mainstays during their time at SAC.
With the demanding schedule the team faced throughout the season, competitive levels reached an all-time high. Varsity volleyball demonstrated resilience and an unwavering commitment to competing at the highest level in every game they played.
An overall record of 23-1-1 is no fluke—it is earned. These achievements will be remembered as one of the most successful
volleyball seasons in the history of St.. Andrew’s College. A mind-blowing statistic from the season is that the team only lost five sets. In CISAA league play, they dropped just one set—a testament to their dominant performances.
Throughout SAC, students, teachers, and staff have celebrated the remarkable achievements of the varsity teams in the fall term. While the Varsity Volleyball team’s historic run stood out, the Varsity Soccer and Football teams also performed exceptionally. SAC’s top teams enjoyed tremendous success during the fall term, culminating in a clean sweep in the CISAA Championships, with Varsity Soccer, Football, and Volleyball all claiming CISAA gold.
A SPECIAL SEASON AS PICKERING COLLEGE WINS SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
The Pickering College Pumas are soccer champions once again.
The Senior Boys’ Soccer team won the CISAA Division III championship game at home on November 1 after an undefeated season.
The team has won five of the last six championships, but coach Steve Cope said this one was special.
“This year we only had 11 players at the start of the season. The junior team made a sacrifice to give us four of their players so that we could have a sustainable squad, and this paid off for us. It is always a challenge to mould a group of individuals into a well-functioning team, but we had a good basis to work with players from last year and went on to win every game,” he said.
Sam Walker, Grade 11, is one of the students who played on the senior team for the first time this year.
“It was such a great experience playing on the senior soccer team. Everyone was amazing in how they played but also with how they acted on the field, being able to lift everyone’s spirits if we were in a rough place at the time,” he said. “I’m glad I was able to win the championship with this team because I don’t think any other team would’ve brought me the same joy with the win.”
Walker received a Coach’s Award for his contributions to the team this year.
\\\ Story by Elizabeth Keith, Pickering College \\\ Photos Courtesy of Pickering College
Open House
Saturday, February 1 1:00 p.m.
Register: www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/sphere
Introducing the Sphere Program
An exclusive Grade 4 & 5 academic experience, empowering students to master cutting-edge technology while crafting real-world solutions
• Rigorous academics in all curriculum subjects
• Tech-based learning (AI, coding, robotics)
• Enriched, immersive science exploration
• Farm-to-table, health and wellness
• Art, design and prototyping
• Outdoor education and leadership
• Community engagement and action
• Interdisciplinary curriculum
• Pathway to the Middle School SPARC program at Pickering College
• Small class sizes with self-directed inquiry
Learn more & apply: www.pickeringcollege.on.ca/sphere
SPHERE STUDENTS ARE:
• Curious, active problem solvers
• Eager and passionate to be challenged
• Seeking enrichment opportunities
• Motivated to test solutions with hands-on projects
• Enthusiastic to understand complex ideas
