Page 23 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 105

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #105 October 2021 23

Shea and Charley Baker:

From British Columbia to Queen’s University

By Molly Kett “We both started playing volleyball and highly respected academic
when we were 11 and became foundation, as well as a great sense
hea and Charley Baker have avid club and high school players. of school spirit and community. Our
Srecently made the move from When we realized how physically Head Coach, Ryan Ratushniak is an
British Columbia to Kingston to compatible we were with volleyball, incredible coach, and my teammates
attend Queen’s University and play we devoted all our time to it, adding in are all passionate, competitive, and
for their volleyball team. Of course, beach volleyball and playing for the
the school is a top choice, but there BC provincial team,” said Charley. likeminded girls that create the
are other reasons that the girls wanted “We had the opportunity to play best atmosphere,” said Charley. “It
to make the move from British on the same high school volleyball has been the best experience of my
Columbia to Ontario. team for Crofton House School in life! Our training environment is so
Vancouver, and we won our school’s exciting, and we practice at such a
“Our parents were born and raised
in Cornwall, and growing up, every first-ever provincial title in women’s high level. After COVID-19 and not
volleyball and continued on to repeat
summer we flew back to go to our the following year. After seeing playing competitive volleyball for
family cabin on Stanley Island and Shea’s commitment to university in a year and a half, everybody on the
spend time with our relatives,” said team is so eager and fired-up all the
her Grade 12 year, I realized it was
Charley Baker. “Ontario felt very a goal of mine as well, so we began time and it creates such an amazing
comfortable for both of us, as we
the recruiting process and one thing experience on court. I’ve loved
have a lot of family out here. I love led to the next, and now we’re both getting to know different teammates
BC, but I wanted to move away and on the Queen’s Women’s Volleyball and being a Gael gives me so much
try something new and experience Photo Submitted
Team!” pride that I can’t wait to compete.
living in a different province.” “My favourite experience so far
For Charley, her choice to play We have set big goals this year and
According to Charley, their parents for Queen’s was influenced by the these first few weeks of training have has been practicing in our main gym
instilled a love for sports in the pair caliber of the volleyball team and her really brought those possibilities into and imagining the atmosphere when
at a young age, and they grew up
sister’s choice to play there, but the perspective for me.” the stands are filled with crowds,”
trying everything: soccer, basketball,
school itself was also a big attraction. said Charley. “It’s so fun to compete
swimming, and volleyball to name a This year, the team is hoping to
few. “Queen’s has a very strong, win a National title with QWVB. in that gym and represent Queen’s.”

Colts Alumni Then and Now - Leigh Dean

By David Murphy great learning experience as the team
really came together when it mattered
L eigh Dean was just one of many most.”
American born players to find
The Colts won Game 7 in arguably the
success with the Cornwall Colts.
most memorable home game in franchise
While Dean only played one season
history, in front 4,000 fans at the Ed
with the Colts, as a rugged two-way
Lumley Arena.
defenseman, he was a key player on
the highly successful 1995-96 CJHL Dean credits his time with the Colts
for preparing him for the next level
Championship team. He scored 9 goals
of education and hockey, “The Colts
and added 24 assists in 53 games to go
allowed me to play a more rigorous
along with 89 penalty minutes.
schedule than I was used to which helped
Dean still holds the Colts home “barn”
me prepare for the college game.”
of the Si Miller Arena in his heart. “No
Dean spent three seasons at Providence
other atmosphere could ever compare
College.
to playing in that building,” said Dean.
“I’ll always be grateful for having had Thanks to social media, Dean keeps
the chance to experience that.” in touch with several former Colts
teammates, even seeing Doug Shephard
Another standout memory from that
at rinks in Massachusetts.
season 25 years ago, was the seven- Photo Submitted
game championship series against the The Denville, New Jersey product
Gloucester Rangers. The Colts were offers the following advice to current
the favourites heading into the series junior hockey players, “Set the bar high
but found themselves down 3-games- for yourself, much higher than you may and train physically and just as much things.”
to-1. “Being down should’ve never think possible. Make the most of the time mentally. If you have the right mindset, Longtime Colts fans say thank you to
happened,” said Dean. “But it was a you have while you are young to develop you can accomplish extraordinary Leigh Dean for the fond memories.