Page 10 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 15

10 Looking for deals on wheels? Visit our automotive “Teammates”.
Canadians Finish Strong in
Florida Endurance Race
were there to get a strong finish,”
By Jentry van Baal
Miller explained, clearly pleased
he North American with her outcome. Despite
TEndurance Team Challenge many regular obstacles present
may have taken its toll on on endurance rides, the main
competitors this year, but it was challenge that presented itself
nothing Team Canada couldn’t was the unique sandy footing that
conquer together. Florida is known for. “It’s quite
The 160km race held in Florida deep and loose, nearly six inches
in December 2013 attracted 70 in depth and it gets turned up as
horse and rider combinations each of the horses goes through,”
from all across Canada, the she added. “My horse’s best gait
United States, and Mexico. Only is canter, so 95 per cent of this
40 combinations finished the was done at a canter because of
event. the footing, the sand is so hard to
Of the four Canadian teams, trot or walk in. He relaxed into
seven of the fifteen riders came it and didn’t have any particular
out on top. For Berwick’s Dessia issues.”
Miller, the event was nothing Miller was quick to pass on the
either of her horses couldn’t praise to her fellow Canadians.
handle. Finishing 28th overall in “We had a great team,” she added
just under eleven hours, Miller appreciatively. “Both East and
and her Arabian stallion, Cognac Western Canadian teams really
Amberfyre, finished fourth of came together, our team vets
the Canadian contingent, with were amazing, and our support
her second horse Amber Kiera, from the overall crewing was a
ridden by Stephanie McLeod, big deal.”
completing the event in thirteen With a well-deserved break
hours and nine minutes. following a successful 2013
The first Canadian to finish season and a recent qualifi cation
was Robert Gielen of Flesherton, to the World Equestrian Games
Ontario, and his horse F.C. in France this August, there is
Galaxy, who broke the top ten no doubt that Miller, and the
finishers with a sixth place finish remainder of the Canadian team,
overall. will be back this year and stronger
“We weren’t there to race, we than ever.
Stephanie McLeod on Amber Kiera with mentor Lysane Cree joined by
Dessia Miller on Cognac Amberfyre accompanied by team veterinarian
Glenn Sinclair and chef d’equipe, Nancy Beacon. They were two of the
seven successful Canadians at the North American Endurance Team
Challenge held in Florida. Submitted Photo.
presents Sports Panel
Hockey Canada recently announced the players
selected to represent Canada as members of the
men’s hockey team at the upcoming Winter Olympic
Games in Sochi, Russia. As you might expect, not
everyone is happy, and almost everyone can think
of a player that they believe should have made the
team, while at the same time scratching their head
over some of the other selections. What say you?
Are there any players that you believe without
question should have been on the team and were
not selected? As well, are there any that did make
the cut, but whom you think should have been left
at home?
Terry Tinkess Being the general manager of the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey
team is a thankless task unless you win gold and Steve Yzerman is
welcome to it. Also being an NHL GM has to make it even more
difficult, particularly when players like Martin St. Louis, who didn’t
make the cut, go out and score four goals in a game, just because he
can.
You could argue till the 2018 Olympics about who should and
shouldn’t be on the team and really none of the opinions would be
wrong. We have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to world-
Canadian Press class players and for some players that means they don’t make the
Correspondent
experience that feeling. team. For many, it’s the first time in their life that they have had to
For me, St. Louis would have been a good choice and I think that Logan Couture would have
brought something as well. Not quite as simple is the thought of who shouldn’t have made it.
Rick Nash, perhaps, since the injuries seem to be taking their toll on him, and maybe Mike Smith
as the third goaltender, but even he has the ability to stand on his head from time-to-time. Better
you than me Steve!
Jim Riddell Choosing the group of players that would best represent our country
in Sochi was not a simple task. The choices made were debated over
several months and finalized just before making the announcement.
The Team Canada management group led by Steve Yzerman brought
back eleven players from their gold medal winning team of 2010.
I wouldn’t say that there were any obvious omissions, but thought
that perhaps Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall, both putting up points this
season, would be a fit on the larger ice surface. Making the proper
choices may not have been easy, but with the number of top quality
Seaway Karate Club NHL players available to the selection committee, Yzerman and Co.
could put together an Olympic “B” team capable of bringing gold
back to Canada.
Robert Walker The debate that starts a year before an Olympics and ends only after
a gold medal, is Team Canada’s Men’s Hockey Team. Knowing first-
hand the anxiousness coaches go through at tryouts, I cannot imagine
the stress that Steve Yzerman and his staff go through in determining
the direction they want the team to go and then in picking 25 players
to form the team that will represent our country.
Just like everyone else, here are the changes I would have made,
had I been in the selection room: 1. Brent Seabrooke instead of Dan
Hamhuis - Hamhuis is the better skater but Seabrooke is clutch in
Minor Hockey Coach
big moments and has a veteran leadership status for Vancouver 2010
and 2 Stanley Cups. 2. Martin St. Louis instead of Jeff Carter - nobody has the heart and desire
that St. Louis has and has proved his scoring and overall skill level again and again whereas I
feel that Carter needs good players around him to excel but he also needs time to adjust to new
players as seen in his first years at Philadelphia, Columbus and LA and there just isn’t time in this
tournament for that. 3. Jordan Eberle for Patrick Marleau - Marleau is the veteran and can skate
well, but he is a more straight forward player whereas Eberle has creativity beyond belief and on
the big ice surface he would be able to create so many opportunities and, oh yeah, has scored a
couple of clutch goals for Canada.
I am very happy for Jamie Benn, he deserves it even though nobody sees him play and too bad
Logan Couture got injured just before the announcement.