Moving on up: Local hockey player prepares to move on to bigger things next season

If things go the way he plans, Cody Drover has played his last game as an EVH Eagle.

The 16-year-old forward from Grand Falls-Windsor is slated to be drafted in this summer’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League draft, a huge stepping stone in furthering his hockey career.

The rankings, compiled by Central Scouting for the QMJHL, have Drover ranked as a probable mid-round selection.

Drover says to be drafted would be a big step for his future.

“It’s pretty unreal, I never thought I’d be ranked at all,” he said. “All the hard work I’ve put in over the years is finally paying off.”

Drover had a standout season this year, both with the Central AAA IcePak and with the Exploits Valley High Eagles. After posting 57 points in 26 games, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the NL Major Midget league. He was also a big part of the Eagles amazing season, in which they dominated high school hockey both province and nationwide, winning four championships.

Despite all the accolades, Drover says it is hard for players from Newfoundland to get the recognition they deserve from higher levels of hockey.

He points to the time and money required from scouts to travel to Newfoundland to watch players for a weekend. The only chance out-of-province scouts got to look at Drover was at the Monctonian tournament in Moncton, NB earlier this winter.

However, with several Newfoundland players such as Zach O’Brien, Brandon Hynes, and Travis Randell having successful season in the QMJHL this season, Drover believes scouts may be more interested in what our province has to offer.

“It gives us more of a name. They’re up there doing well, and scouts are starting to look at the talent down here and see that we have a pretty good program.”

Drover began playing hockey at the age of four with the encouragement of his dad, who is a big hockey fan. He’s been helping his son along ever since.

“He’s been pushing me all the way through to get better, go to camps and get that extra time in so I can improve.”

Terry Goulding, who has been coaching Drover from the beginning, says his attitude towards the game is what sets him apart from other players.

“He just loves to play,” said Goulding. “There’s not a game of hockey available to him that he won’t go to.”

Drover is quick to give credit to his long-time coach for much of the success he’s enjoyed over the years.

“Terry Goulding coached me the whole way up through; he’s really helped me out.  He taught me a lot about hockey.”

Despite the personal awards, championship banners, and draft talk, Drover remains a modest kid on and off the ice. He said he didn’t expect to win the Major Midget MVP award, and recognizes that he still has a lot of work to do to have success at the next level.

Despite scoring three goals in a game in front of a PEI Rocket scout last season, the scout still told Drover he needs to get bigger to perform at the next level. Since then, he’s been training with Jason Barton of FUNdamentals to work on getting stronger.

Drover remains realistic about his chances of making a QMJHL team next season. While his main goal is to make it in the league, he has the option of Junior ‘A’ to fall back on. He’s been offered a tryout spot for the Metro Marauders of the Maritime Junior ‘A’ Hockey League next fall. If he chooses to go that route, he could follow in the footsteps of several other players from this area, including Grand Falls-Windsor native Alex Dalley, who currently plays for the Truro Bearcats.

However, no matter how the odds are stacked, Goulding believes Drover will make it difficult for anyone to overlook him.

“He won’t make it easy for any coach to drop him, that’s for sure.”

Regardless of where he ends up, Drover will be enjoying himself playing the game he loves.

“It’s a great sport. The excitement and the nerves before the game, and being able to go out and win with your friends... It’s great.”

Tyler Whiffen, goalie for the IcePak and fellow Grand Falls-Windsor native, is also slated to go in the draft, listed as a fourth round prospect. He is currently in New Brunswick attending the UNB Varsity Reds prospects camp, and could not be reached for comment.

 NL AAA Major Midget MVP Cody Drover looks out over his home ice surface at the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium. With the QMJHL draft just around the corner, it may be the last time Drover steps on home ice for a while. Ryan Cooke photo.

Botwood comes together for entertaining show of support

By RYAN COOKE

If there was ever a reason to be proud of being from a small town, Thursday night was just it.

It’s been nearly a month since 17-year-old Jordan Chippett was diagnosed with leukemia, and the support has been tremendous. From organized leukemia awareness days, to selling bracelets and t-shirts, to making “get well soon” cards, the community has rallied around the Chippett family.

And Thursday night was the pinnacle of it.

What seemed like the whole town of Botwood showed up at the Harry Ivany Arena to showcase their support, and to watch Chippett’s Botwood Collegiate Warriors take on a team put together by the RCMP.

As soon as you stepped through the front door, you were mobbed with a throng of people lined up to pay admission. In what was probably the most common phrase of the night, many said “keep the change” as they handed members of the Botwood Collegiate student council their money for the three dollar admission.

Just inside the arena doors, more student council members sat at a table selling t-shirts and bracelets. The shirts, all white with an orange ribbon and an orange #7 on the back, sold like hotcakes. Starting out with two boxfuls, the students had one measly stack of them left by night’s end.  The orange rubber bracelets were inscribed with “Get better captain”, alluding to Chippett being the leader of the Warriors hockey team.

The game featured a good-natured, slapstick affair between the high schoolers and the local police.

Several of the Warriors players donned homemade pig’s heads on their helmets, as a hearty jab at the opposing team.

“It’s always nice to see someone stick it to the cops,” one spectator chuckled after a Warriors goal by one of the pigheaded players.

The police retaliated with their “play” on the ice, at one point dragging down Warriors forward Noah Brace, and handcuffing him to the goalpost.

Officer Duane Paul led the play on the ice for the RCMP team, as the gargantuan cop went on end-to-end rushes and didn’t let up on anyone. He drew the ire of the crowd when he squared off against two Botwood Collegiate players, Joe Parmiter and Brett Butler. The crowd roared with laughter and cheers as the two students took Paul down and hauled his jersey up over his head.

However, Paul didn’t just lead the play on the ice. Off the ice, he was one of many people responsible for co-ordinating the event.

“Jordan’s a friend of the family’s,” Paul said. “We know him pretty well, so we just threw something together.”

Throwing something together is a modest way of putting it.

The event was put off by co-operation between the student council, the RCMP, Botwood Collegiate, the Harry Ivany Arena, and many friends and family of the Chippett’s. Together, they raised over $2000 for the family and the Leukemia Association in just one night.

“I think it’s great,” said Paul. “The young fella is really involved in the community through sports and just about everything else, and the family is very involved in the community. It’s great to see some support back.”

In the end, the circus-style game ended in a 6-6 tie, with both teams coming together on the ice to pose for pictures.

The outcome was in many ways similar to the circumstances it was supporting. Nobody goes home a winner, but for one night, everyone leaves with a smile.

 Botwood Collegiate students Ryan Benson, Brett Butler and Joe Parmiter skate back to the bench following a Warriors goal, sporting pig heads on their helmets - a hearty jab at their RCMP opponents.

 Constable Dwayne Paul, one of the event co-ordinators, snaps a shot on goal late in the first period. Paul, a friend of the Chippett family, was responsible for getting the RCMP on board for the event.

 Warriors coach Paul Keough runs the show on the bench, with Chippett's number seven jersey hanging from the glass behind him.

 Butler and Parmiter take down Paul in a playful scrap late in the third period. The crowd roared as they pulled the cop's jersey over his head and brought him to the ice.

The two teams shake hands after a 6-6 tie. The score was not the most important thing, however, as the event raised over $2000 for the Chippett family and the Leukemia Association. 

All photos by Ryan Cooke.

Daughter of war hero requests street name tribute

Daughter of war hero requests street name tribute

By RYAN COOKE

On July1, 1916, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment was ordered out of the trenches and across the fields of Beaumont-Hamel toward the German line.

Trudging through the muck and mud in plain sight, they were gunned down one by one like sitting ducks.

Left to slaughter, only 110 men walked away from the battle. With 91 per cent of the regiment wiped out within 20 minutes, it is regarded as one of the most devastating tragedies in World War I.

One of the lucky men to get out alive was Peter Sampson.

Born in 1893 in Fox Harbour, Sampson was one of the first 500 men to enlist in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. He left his job as a fisherman in Placentia Bay, and was shipped off to join the front in Gallipoli in 1914.

Having served in Gallipoli, the Somme, Flanders, Armentiers and Passchendale, Sampson was an experienced and brave soldier.

It was in Guedecourt on Oct. 12, 1916, however, that he made a name for himself.

Having suffered extensive casualties from German machine gun fire, Sampson led the charge towards the gunners with a sandbag of hand grenades and his bayonet. Despite having been shot in the chest and shoulder, he overtook one of the machine gun posts, killed the crew and scared another post into surrender. His actions that day saved the lives of many of his comrades. For his valiant heroics he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and French Croix de Guerre, two prestigious medals. He was also later handed the British War Medal by King George V.

Now his daughter believes he deserves a local honour.

Betty Alaverdy was just 10 years old when her father died, but she remembers him as a quiet man who didn’t like to speak about the horrors he faced in Europe or seek accolades for his efforts.

However, she believes he has earned the honour of having a street named after him in Grand Falls-Windsor, the town he adopted as his home following the war.

“He was wounded four times throughout the war. Imagine the guts he had,” she said. “He deserves it.”

Jim Molloy, former president of the Grand Falls-Windsor branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, agrees with Alaverdy.

He has been sending letters to the town each year, requesting they name a street after Sampson. Alaverdy herself first applied to obtain the honour for her father nearly 30 years ago.

“He was a soldier’s soldier,” said Malloy. “Veterans will sometimes argue over who deserved what medal, but everybody agrees when it comes to Peter Sampson.”

C. Sydney Frost, former WWI military captain and later President of the Bank of Nova Scotia, also extended his gratitude for Sampson’s service.

“There is no better regiment than the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, and no better soldier in it than Peter Sampson,” Malloy recalls Frost saying.

Sampson was known for his reckless bravery throughout the war. Whenever they were moved to a new sector, he would go out on his own into No Man’s Land and scout out where every German listening post, machine gun nest and sniper was located. He’d pass the information on to the other patrolmen before they’d enter No Man’s Land.

Even through his valiant service throughout the war, Sampson and his family have struggled to get the recognition they deserve when they needed it.

Having moved to Grand Falls-Windsor after the war to work in the mill, Sampson would eventually suffer the repercussions of being wounded four times. His war injuries caused him trouble with his chest and lungs, and he would eventually succumb to illness in 1942.

However, his family was only able to collect a pension after several years of struggling with the military, who said his death was not war-related. They’d later come to realize it was, and pay his family what they were owed.

Now, after nearly 30 years of trying, Alaverdy hopes her father will get one last thing he is owed; the honour of having his name immortalized in the town he raised his family in.

Betty Alaverdy holds up a picture of her father, which she keeps in a folder of records and articles to keep his memory alive. She believes his memory deserves to be preserved in a street name in the town he raised his family in.

Outstanding service leaves behind an outstanding record

Outstanding service leaves behind an outstanding record

By RYAN COOKE

Over the past 33 years, the name Bruce Andrews has become synonymous with volleyball in Newfoundland.

With a bevy of awards and honours from the Newfoundland and Labrador Volleyball Association and School Sport Newfoundland, as well as 28 provincial championships between playing and coaching, he’s one of the most decorated figures in all of Newfoundland sports.

But above and beyond that, it’s the volunteer work that sets Andrews apart.

A friend of his once asked him how many hours he’d volunteered towards volleyball, and Andrews took the time to sit down and do the math.

“When I did the estimate, I couldn’t believe it,” Andrews said. “It was the equivalent to seven teaching years.”

Since 1979, Andrews dedicated his evenings and weekends to coaching kids to play the game he loves.

After his teaching career took him to New World Island in 1979, Andrews began coaching as a way to remain active in the game. Having played in high school and university, he had never considered coaching, but soon found himself back in the game.

“When I came out of university, I had no intention of coaching volleyball whatsoever,” he said. “But once I started, I got the bug and I kept going.”

Andrews returned to his hometown in 1993, and brought his passion for coaching back with him. He’s been a figurehead for volleyball in Grand Falls-Windsor ever since, coaching teams and running clinics at all levels.

Andrews coached many outstanding teams over the years, including a 25 year span in which he coached a team to the semi-finals 24 times. But Andrews says success isn’t the main thing he strives for.

“It’s always rewarding to do well. But the most rewarding thing for me as a volunteer is to see that once they leave high school, they continue to play.”

It’s this sort of personal impact that hits a soft spot in the veteran coach.

This past year, while helping to run mini-volleyball at Millcrest Academy and Sprucewood Academy, a young student had trouble coming up with the money to pay for second-half registration.  Andrews and his associate, Edith Hanlon, later learned that she had paid for the first half of the year with her birthday money. Struck by her dedication, Andrews and Hanlon decided to let the child play after Christmas without paying.

During the first session in the New Year, the student approached them and said it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her.

“There’s wins and there’s tough losses, you remember all those things. But to me, that was better than any win at any tournament.”

Andrews said his first 14 years of coaching were dedicated to finishing as high as possible, but experiences like this have changed his perspective.

He began to look at ways he could better improve the game of volleyball and impact the players he coached. This led to him starting the mini-volleyball program, which has since produced many varsity athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers.

“It’s all about putting back into the program,” he said.

Andrews urges young people to get involved in volunteering, but issues a couple of warnings.

“Make sure you really want to do it. Nothing is worse than doing something you don’t want to do. And make sure you’re willing to make the commitment.”

He said if anyone is interested in giving some spare time to help the volleyball program in the area, they should feel free to contact him.

After retiring from teaching and coaching in 2008, he returned to the mini-volleyball program the following year, where he continues to devote several hours of his week to the program.

In the past 33 years, Andrews has kept busy and built an impressive record behind him. His list of accomplishments includes two NLVA Coach of the Year Awards, two NLVA Community Development Awards, the NLVA Reg Soper Award for provincial contribution to the game, and the 2008 SSNL Coaching Service Award.

Yet even with all of that, and the seven years’ worth of volunteer hours he’s put in, he still finds time for himself.

 “In between all that, I tie about 5000 salmon ties a year,” he laughs. “That’s something you learn in life. Time management.”

 Dedicated volunteer Bruce Andrews takes time out of his busy day to stop by the Advertiser to talk. Andrews has been active in the community for years, and is no stranger to the paper. Ryan Cooke photo.

Buzzer Beater - Major title brings back minor memories

Buzzer Beater

Major title brings back minor memories

By RYAN COOKE

This past weekend, American golfer Bubba Watson spoke the words which are likely to become some of the most famous words in sports history.

Just moments before being handed the treasured green jacket for winning the Master’s tournament on a thrilling playoff hole, he was asked if he had any words to explain how he felt.

He paused for what seemed like minutes, before finally coming up with something.

“I never made it this far in my dreams.”

As a journalist, a sentence like that turns on more bells and whistles in your head than a winning slot machine at a casino. It’s a golden quote, a story in itself.

I instantly picked up my phone, went to Twitter and sent it out. Within moments of him saying it, hundreds upon hundreds of people had tweeted the exact same line.

Something about those words resonated with the entire audience.

Watson, more commonly and amicably referred to as Bubba, came into the tournament riding high. He and his wife had just adopted their first child, after planning it for over a year.

But you can rest assured that wasn’t the only thing on his mind heading into the final hole.

In October 2010, Watson lost his father to throat cancer. The senior Bubba Watson had been a Green Beret and a Vietnam veteran, who one day handed his six-year-old son a nine iron and said, “I’m going in the woods to find my ball. You whack this one down the fairway as far as you can.”

The rest was history.

As Watson found himself buried in the forest after his tee shot in the playoff hole, it’s like everything came full circle. He was now the father rooting through the trees for his ball.

Faced with a near impossible shot, Watson made the moment even more magical. He hooked the ball out of the weeds, over the trees, across the fairway and onto the green. It was one of the most amazing shots in Master’s history, and put him just feet away from tapping home the championship.

It was a Hollywood moment; the type of moment where you’re alone on the couch and you jump to your feet, accidentally letting out a yelp of excitement. Like when the Americans beat the Soviets in Miracle, or when Scott Hatteberg hits the walk-off homerun in Moneyball.

These are the moments that make professional sports a spectacle. They’re captured on live television, talked about for years, put into film and immortalized. We all feel a part of it.

The truth is everyone has moments like that. It might not be in the Master’s, but the feeling is the same. I scored the overtime winner in a Summer Games ball hockey gold medal game when I was 15. My line mate literally shot the ball at me and banked it into the net, but I celebrated the hell out of it like it was the most glorious goal in the history of hockey.

Every beer league athlete has one of those moments that they love to brag about in the shed on a Friday night. As he proudly rambles on, all of his buddies neglect to remind him it was 20 years and 50 pounds ago, in division “F” minor hockey. Just let him have his moment.

It’s like David Bowie sings, “We could be heroes, just for one day.”

It feels good, no matter how small the scale.

That’s why Twitter exploded with Bubba Watson quotes. We all saw that magic, and felt it right along with him. It feels good to see a deserving contender win on such a large scale, just as good as it feels to win on your own scale. And so we can relate to athletes like Bubba Watson, even though we’re probably not nearly as rich or privileged.

As Bubba said, you can only dream so far into the moment. When you finally experience it, it’s the greatest thing in the world.

Congrats Bubba, and thanks for reminding us what it feels like to be a hero.

Orange Day a success: Botwood students raise $2000 for ailing classmate

Orange Day a success

Botwood students raise $2000 for ailing classmate

By RYAN COOKE

Support continues to roll in for Jordan Chippett, and his family couldn’t be more grateful.

The 17-year-old from Botwood was diagnosed with leukemia three weeks ago, and is currently in St. John’s for chemotherapy treatments.

While there is a long road ahead of him, Jordan remains in good spirit and the support he has received is not lost on his family.

 “We are overwhelmed, in a good way, with all the support shown to Jordan and ourselves,” said Darryl Chippett, Jordan’s father and vice-principal at Botwood Collegiate. “From closest friends to complete strangers, he is encouraged by all the acts of kindness and gestures of support.”

Last week, Jordan’s closest friends put together Orange Day at Botwood Collegiate and Memorial Academy, where many students and staff wore orange clothing in support of leukemia awareness. They made t-shirts and sold them to raise money for the Chippett family and the Leukemia Association.

By the time Emily Paul and Kelsey Cole finished going around the school collecting donations during the first class of the day, they had already raised $692. The totals came in around $2000 between the two schools, in just one day.

And the good deeds extend far outside of Botwood as well.

With the help of doctors and ferry workers, Jordan was able to travel to Bell Island yesterday to watch his Botwood Blades teammates defeat Gander in their Easter tournament.

Prior to the game he was presented with an orange jersey, signed by every Botwood and Area minor hockey player and coach. His teammates are all playing with an orange number seven sewed to the left chest of their jerseys, where the captain’s ‘C’ would be on Jordan’s jersey. Also, all Botwood and Area minor hockey players are playing this week with an orange number seven sticker on their helmets.

One of Jordan’s doctors even gave him her tickets to the final St. John’s Ice Caps home game of the season.

Despite being described as a quiet kid, his father says he has learned through Jordan’s ordeal that you don’t need to be outgoing or public in your actions to leave an amazing impact on those around you.

Chippett said his son had his best day in three weeks on Monday, being able to be around his friends and the game he loves. He attributes much of that to the support and prayers that have come their way, and for that he is grateful.

“It has been appreciated beyond what my limited verbal skills can express.”

Botwood native Jordan Chippett is presented with a special orange jersey by coach Den Butler (middle), and teammates Joe Parmiter (left) and Brett Butler (right), before the start of his team's Easter Tournament in Bell Island. Chippett was diagnosed with leukemia three weeks ago. Photo courtesy Darryl Chippett.

Chippett recieved his first chemotherapy treatment from Dr. Lynette Bowes on April 11, starting his long road to recovery. Photo courtesy Darryl Chippett.

Students at Botwood Collegiate made signs and cards for Chippett and his family. This one, made by Donna Buckley and Nikita Herron, was signed by all the students and staff in the school, and mailed to the family. Ryan Cooke photo.

Brandon White (left) and Ryan Benson (right), friends and classmates of Chippett, sell t-shirts during their lunch break to raise money. Ryan Cooke photo.

Botwood Collegiate rallies behind student’s illness

By RYAN COOKE

“The greater the adversary, the greater the strength needed.”

A sign with the slogan marked on it sits on the gymnasium stage amidst a sea of orange, as students from Botwood Collegiate gather round to sign it.

The sign is for their classmate, Jordan Chippett, and the orange clothing is for leukemia awareness.

Last week, the school was shocked to hear the news. Chippett, an honour roll student, captain of the hockey team and one of the most beloved students in the school, has leukemia.

Principal Jim Hibbs says the news shook the school, but rather than wallow in despair, the students came together to support their friend.

The day after the news broke, many of Chippett’s close friends showed up to school wearing orange clothing. By the end of the week, the orange support had spread as fast as the news of his illness.

 “The number of students who came in independently wanting to do something to support Jordan speaks volumes of the impact he’s had on everybody in this school,” said Hibbs.

Hibbs describes Chippett as a “silent leader”, who treats everybody with respect and receives the same respect from all his peers.

A standout hockey player, musician, and active member of the church community, Chippett has received support from far and wide. Dozens upon dozens of friends have reached out to him through writing messages of support on his Facebook page.

His closest friends took the lead at Botwood Collegiate in fundraising for Jordan, who will undergo chemotherapy treatments for the next six months, and additional treatments at intervals for the next three years.

“It’s expensive,” said friend and teammate Jaden Diamond. “Travelling and staying in hotels. It’s not cheap. ”

“Every little bit counts,” adds Emily Paul, Chippett’s girlfriend.

Paul led the way, coming up with the idea to sell t-shirts at the school. The shirts are white with an orange ribbon on the front, and the orange number seven on the back, Chippett’s hockey number since he was a child.

The t-shirts were also being sold at Memorial Academy in Botwood, where staff and students also donned orange clothing in support of their former student.

Despite the shock of the news, Paul says Chippett is not the kind of guy to get down on things, and remains in good spirits.

“He’s just out there enjoying the free food for now,” she laughs.

Other students have come up with their own ideas for showing their support as well.

The sign in the gymnasium was put together by fellow students Nikita Herron and Donna Buckley. They said they’ve known Jordan for so long that when they heard the news, they felt compelled to do something to help out.

“We just want him to know that if he needs anything, we’re just around the corner,” said Buckley.

“Ever since we found out last week, everything has been orange,” said Herron. “Bracelets, ribbons, t-shirts, Orange Day…It’s been in support of Jordan Chippett.”

Hibbs says the support the school has generated for the Chippett family is what every school administrator is proud to see from their students.

“What we try to do as a school community is raise good citizens. And I think that’s exactly what we’ve seen here with the way they’ve responded to meet the needs of another person.”

The responses from students and teachers (namely Natasha Burry and Lianne O’Reilly) have been typical of the reputation the school has for caring and respect, Hibbs says.

“They’ve stepped up and they continue to do it again and again. I can’t say I’m even surprised.”

Botwood Collegiate students Brandon White (left), Dylan Rose (center) and Ryan Benson (right) lend their free time to selling t-shirts to support their friend, Jordan Chippett, who was diagnosed with leukemia last week. Ryan Cooke photo.

Students at Memorial Academy in Botwood also joined in on Orange Day, wearing the Leukemia Awareness colour to support Jordan Chippett, a high school student diagnosed with leukemia last week. Ryan Cooke photo.

Botwood Collegiate students Nikita Herron (left) and Donna Buckley (right) hold up a card they made for classmate Jordan Chippett, who was diagnosed with leukemia last week. The card was on display for all staff and students to sign. Ryan Cooke photo.

Badger native gets taste of Juno fame

Badger native gets taste of Juno fame

By RYAN COOKE

From dropping the gloves with a former NHL tough guy, to signing autographs on the red carpet, it was certainly a weekend to remember for Kellie Loder.

The 22-year-old singer/songwriter spent the weekend in Ottawa where she was nominated for a Juno, Canada’s most prestigious musical awards.

Loder was nominated in the “Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year” category back in February. While the award went to another artist, Loder says the experience of being there overshadowed the loss.

“To be nominated is a huge privilege,” she said. “It’s a little disappointing that I didn’t win, but I had lots of fun and it was great just being here.”

Loder got to experience the full effect of the event, from a dinner and gala, right down to the red carpet.

She got the chance to walk the red carpet with her family, stopping along the way for pictures and autographs.

“It was great to get a taste of fame,” she said.

Loder also got to take part in what is likely the most interesting event of the Juno weekend, the Juno Cup; a faceoff on the ice between the artists and NHL alumni.

On the musicians side, artists such as Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, Chris Murphy of Sloan, and Sam Roberts all suited up to go against NHL legends such as Paul Coffey, Claude Lemieux  and Gary Roberts.

Loder, a former EVH Eagle and no stranger to the ice, put up a goal in the game and even dropped the gloves with former NHL tough guy Troy Crowder.

“It was a great experience,” she said. “I got to build some foundations and relationships with some great people.”

As a first time nominee, Loder says she prepared herself to not be too carried away by the awe of the star-studded event.

“I just kind of put myself in their shoes, and thought how they would act. I wasn’t overly star struck, but it was definitely exciting.”

Another highlight of her weekend came when she was invited to Cuddy’s hotel suite for an after party that many of the musicians attended. The experience was something she said not many people would expect from celebrity musicians such as Cuddy.

“It was like a big kitchen party basically, everyone was singing and passing around guitars,” she said. “Jim Cuddy is such a down to earth guy.”

Loder’s album, Imperfections and Directions, was released and promoted independently, and went up against several other albums released through divisions of major labels such as EMI.

However, Loder said coming from a small town like Badger and not having a major label backing her has never held her back from believing in herself, and her music.

“I think anything is possible if you work hard enough and stick at it.”

Now with a foot in the door and a taste of fame, this is likely only the beginning for the young musician.

Kellie Loder signs autographs for fans as she walks the red carpet at Sunday's Juno Awards. Photo courtesy Facebook.

Buzzer Beater: Did anyone really win the Herder?

Buzzer Beater

Did anybody really win the Herder?

By RYAN COOKE

I tried to come up with some kind of snappy introduction for this week’s column, but I couldn’t do it without sounding like just another sore Cataracts fan. So I’ll just get straight to the point.

The Herder final we saw this past week was not a true final.

A hockey team is only partially made up of the players on the roster. It also encompasses the management, the coaching staff, and “most importantly, the fans”, as any player with a trophy in his hands will tell reporters.

But the fans were not there this time around, and we have Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador to thank for that.

It might sound like I’m being a sore loser, like the Soviet fans who complain about Valerie Kharlamov being knocked out of the Summit Series, while ignoring the fact that Bobby Orr didn’t play for the Canadians.

But really, think about it.

The Joe Byrne is small, yes. It’s much smaller than the Pepsi Center, or Mile One. But that only adds to the atmosphere in the building.

As a fan, it’s exhilarating at times to watch a close game in the arena, whether it be the Cataracts or your 12-year-old nephew’s Easter tournament. You can attribute that to the wild fans, the size of the building, the acoustics, whatever you want. But simply put, it gets loud.

And that isn’t just exhilarating for the fans.

I attended the University of Prince Edward Island this past year, and worked for the school newspaper. I interviewed the captain of the UPEI Panthers men’s hockey team following a thrilling playoff win in double overtime. The team had played three games in four days, and had been outplayed and outshot in all of them. He told me the only thing pushing the team past the exhaustion they felt was the fact that the fans were still right there with them. In a small arena similar to the Joe, the place was literally shaking.

That kind of energy generated by a home crowd is what can make or break a game. And we saw none of that last week.

Senior hockey in Newfoundland could very well be at a higher level now than it ever was. It’s sad that such great hockey had to be subject to such petty insolence from HNL.

There’s always been an “us versus them” attitude when it comes to the rest of Newfoundland and the Avalon. In politics, we’ve seen it too many times. In sports, we often see it on the ice/field/court.

And that’s where it should stay.

There’s a feeling going around that the Cataracts and Caribous were screwed over by the HNL boys at the executive level in St. John’s, who don’t care about hockey outside of town. Some say HNL would just prefer an Avalon league and leave the rest of the province out.

But you know, it’s probably a good thing the turnouts for the Herder games were so weak. Now HNL can’t possibly ignore the fact that the focus of this year’s final was not on hockey, but on the weak attendance and poor decision-making of the wonderful governing body of the province’s favourite sport.

Maybe now they’ll see it the way we saw it all along. You can move the Herder, you can screw the sponsors and you can gyp the arenas. Go ahead. But you won’t see us travelling three or four hours to watch the games and feed money into your pockets. The tournament might be called the Herder, but the fans are not sheep.

It’s just a shame that the Cataracts coaches, players, management and sponsors had to be the casualties in this.

But don’t worry, boys, there’s always next year (well, depending on how far in the hole HNL wound up last week).

Heading to the finals: Eagles soar to victory in triple overtime

Heading to the finals: Eagles soar to victory in triple overtime

By RYAN COOKE

Despite the best efforts of Lewisporte Lynx goaltender Drew Manuel, the Exploits Valley High Eagles are heading to the Central High School Hockey League finals.

In what was certainly the most thrilling game of the season for both teams, the Eagles managed to trump the Lynx 4-3 in triple overtime of the third and final game of the series.

Team captain Brandon Jewer scored in sixth and final frame, propelling the Eagles to the final series against the Gander Concordes.

Despite the Eagles clinching the series in front of a large home crowd, it was Manuel who stole the show for the Lynx, turning aside an astounding 69 shots.

Jewer said his team never lost confidence, but was battling exhaustion after battering 71 shots on goal over the first five periods.

“In the dressing before the third overtime, our second line said to us ‘you guys have got to score. We don’t know if we can play anymore’”.

And so Jewer took that request to the ice.

“We’re scoring right now,” he said to linemate Cody Drover, just before the drop of the puck.

Sixteen seconds later, they did exactly that.

For the majority of regulation, nobody could have guessed the game would go on as long as it did.

After falling behind 2-0 early in the first on goals by Shawn Loveridge and Tyler Marsh, the Lynx seemed down and out. However, Manuel managed to stifle the Eagles while his team slowly rallied around him.

Johnny Canning would score for the Lynx late in the second to make it 2-1 heading into the third, where Jordan Freake would tie it up on a feed from Nathan Hill just under five minutes in.

With momentum building for the Lynx, Shawn Loveridge would once again take the wind out of their sails with a go-ahead goal just two minutes later.

However, the pesky Lynx would once again battle back despite being badly outshot.

After a pair of penalties put the teams four-on-four, Trevor Layte knotted the game up once again with just 5:32 remaining in the third period.

And then the Drew Manuel show really began.

The first overtime was marked by end-to-end rushes from both sides, including a breakaway for Drover, the Newfoundland Major Midget AAA MVP, that Manuel briskly turned aside.

The second overtime began with the shots reading 52-26, and the Eagles continued to pour it on. They piled up 19 more shots in the period, plus two hit goalposts that left the hometown crowd in agony. But they still couldn’t find a way to solve Manuel.

That is, until the third overtime.

Right off the opening face-off, the Eagles rushed the puck in over the line. Drover handed the puck off to his defenceman as Jewer headed for the net. A blocked shot on goal put the puck in prime real estate for Jewer to net the game winning goal.

“The puck was just lying there for me, and I managed to put it in,” Jewer said.

Jewer credits his team for putting in all-out effort for six periods of play. He also thanks the fans for rooting them on through fatigue, and the coaches for getting them this far.

And as for Gander…

“We’ll beat them in two games,” Jewer says with confidence.

EVH forward Cody Drover is turned aside on a breakaway by Manuel in the first overtime period. Ryan Cooke photo.

Eagles captain Brandon Jewer beats a Lynx defenceman to a loose puck, banging it home in the third overtime period. Ryan Cooke photo.

 Eagles players pile on top of their captain after he scores the winning goal in a thrilling game that saw three overtime periods. Ryan Cooke photo.

 Eagles goalie Jordan Bennett shakes the hand of Lynx goalie Drew Manuel, who turned aside 69 shots in the 4-3 loss. Ryan Cooke photo.

The Eagles raise their sticks in salute of Lynx goaltender Drew Manuel. Ryan Cooke photo.

Get ready for a Hart Attack: Joe Byrne to host wrestling show

Get ready for a Hart Attack: Joe Byrne to host wrestling show

By RYAN COOKE

Professional wrestling is set to make its return to Grand Falls-Windsor this summer, with the coming of Legend City Wrestling’s “Hart Attack Tour”.

The Newfoundland-based wrestling promotion, formed in 2009 by Dan Bjorkdahl, will be stopping in to the Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium on June 3.

While the Grand Falls-Windsor tour date will not feature WWE legend Bret “Hitman” Hart, it will feature many of the LCW regulars, including Mr. Fantastic and Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, “Kowboy” Mike Hughes.

Bjorkdahl, a British Columbia native and professional wrestler himself, said he hopes the tour will help promote the LCW as well as professional wrestling in Newfoundland as a family event.

 “We’re not promoting excessive violence or brutality,” he said. “It’s more of a classic good guy versus bad guy thing, where hopefully the good guy rallies to victory.”

The promotion works with the Church Lad’s Brigade, frequently putting on shows at the CLB Armoury in St. John’s. Bjorkdahl was approached by Bernard Davis, executive director of the CLB in the province, about the possibility of a tour to promote both of their organizations.

After one thing led to another, former five-time WWF Champion Bret Hart was on board.

Bjorkdahl says having a legend such as Hart on the bill is a huge help to promoting the LCW.

“It’s every wrestler and wrestling fan’s dream. He’s a huge name, known all around the world. We all grew up cheering for him, or booing him.”

He said it would also be a huge benefit to the younger wrestlers, to be able to learn from someone with as much experience as the “Hitman”.

“He has so much knowledge, it would be amazing to sit down and pick his brain.”

He said it is also a help to the future of professional wrestling in Newfoundland, which faces many obstacles. The largest of which is small local groups who label themselves as professionals, but give the sport a bad name, according to Bjorkdahl.

He said small-time promotions such as his have grown in popularity in the last 10 years, due in part to World Wrestling Entertainment moving towards a show based in theatrics aimed at a younger audience, rather than wrestling.

“You have so much more great potential out there than you would see on television, with WWE or TNA (Total Non-stop Action).”

With the addition of Bret Hart to the June 7 show in Torbay, 30 per cent of the V.I.P. tickets for the event have been sold in the last three days.

Bjorkdahl expects audiences upwards of a thousand for the tour, and says they are only just getting started.

“The sky is the limit. The only thing that can hold us back is ourselves. All you have to do is come check it out once, and you’ll be hooked.”