Page 5 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 19

Sports Energy
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Sports Energy
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Sports Energy 5
If you saw an ad in Sports Energy, Please mention it to our advertiser.

Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
3-on 3 Spring Hockey

Sports Energy Program a Success

Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
By Erynn Henry program like this is even possible
presents Sports Panel ockey is one of the most in our area.

“The great thing is it’s a great
Hhighly recognized sports,
The Stanley Cup Finals are upon us and after a very long skate, we don’t keep standings. We
best known for its fast pace and
regular season, and three rounds of playoff hockey we can competitiveness. It takes sacrifice, keep the score of the game and than

settle in for the climax (something to do, I suppose, while determination and hard work. But after that, the next week it’s a whole
waiting for the entry draft, and free agency.) does it always have to be that way? new week. We encourage the kids
The question this month is a fairly simple one: Are you Not everyone thinks so. That is why to skate hard and play to have fun

surprised at the teams that still have a chance to it into the the Gerry Brown 3-On-3 Spring and to play with friends. It’s very

final round in pursuit of Lord Stanley’s Cup? What do you Hockey program exists. recreational and it’s basically just a
little bit of cardio a little bit of hard
think gave them the advantage over the other teams that Lorne Taillon, Leisure Arts work and a lot of fun,” he says.

qualified for the playoffs? Which of the remaining do you Coordinator for the City of
think will prevail? Cornwall describes the program The program is held after the
as a mixed (allowing boys and end of the regular hockey season
Terry Tinkess That so many series in this year’s playoffs have from the months of April until June
gone the distance (or close to it) seems to indicate girls) recreational hockey program ending just before the summer
that there is a great deal of parity in the league once which has kids from the youngest begins.
we get down to the really important games. There Initiation Program (IP) level right

is a very fine line between success and failure and I through until Midget. “I think it’s most popular because
think you have to look at mental toughness, which the puck’s on the ice and the kids get
Like the name of the game says, it
Canadian Press give the ability to focus repeatedly on attention to play,” says Taillon. “The whole
Correspondent involves three players on each side
to detail as well as superb goaltending that is the idea is, whether you are in IP or in
keystone for each of the teams remaining. plus the goalies. The rules differ Midget, like we use to do when we
Frankly, I have to say that I am surprised at both teams still remaining from a normal game of hockey were young, on the outdoor rink,
in the east. Heading into the playoffs they didn’t seem to have what making it a faster paced game. you just throw the puck on the ice
was needed for a long run. In the west, more of a toss-up, but anyone There are no starting and stopping
choosing Chicago or L.A. to make the finals would not have been for whistles or icing or face offs. and everybody just played and had

gambling a great deal. It’s just continuous play with each fun.”
In the end, I see New York and Chicago as the last two standing with the group getting to play for a one- For a program like this the main
City that Never Sleeps getting by with the slimmest of margins. minute interval and switching with goal is to give the children the
the next group when the timer goes opportunity to continue with their
Jim Riddell off, signaling their time is up for physical fi tness during the last
Well, we are not quite into the finals yet. In the west,

no real upsets there with Chicago and L.A. going the moment. couple months before school, and
into game six. Montreal has been the surprise of During the Programs first year, it’s also a great way for them to

the east, as few of us expected them to get past the back in 2009, Taillon says they keep playing the game that they
Boston Bruins. Even with Carey Price out due to an started off with just 47 players and love.
injury they are still very much in this series, winning since then it has grown to over
Seaway Karate Club without him. Can the Habs beat Hendrik Lundqvist “First and foremost it’s just a fun
400 kids from around the area, and social program where the kids
and the Rangers three games in a row? Quite possible, but it certainly
some even coming from the United get to play the game they like and

won’t be easy. As for the finals I will have to go with whoever comes out
of the west to win the Stanley Cup. States. that’s basically what you see. The
system and the rules in place allow
Again, this program isn’t designed

Robert Walker I am answering this while the final four teams are to be competitive, so anyone and them just to have fun and play
still playing and are both heading to game six in everyone from the early IP levels hockey,” says Taillon.
their respective series. When I look at the teams left, right to Midget are able to sign up All in all the goal of this sport is
I am not surprised that I see four very good teams and register for the program. as Taillon says, is to create a fun
that play well as a team and do not rely solely on and healthy atmosphere for kids.
the star players. The depth of the lineups allow for “It’s a fun program that we heard
Minor Hockey Coach the teams to be able to provide offence and defence about happening elsewhere and we “It’s a good program and we’re
decided as a department that there glad that the kids love it and the
from all spots in their lineups. The team concept is very evident in the
style of play and the amount of sacrifice that players are making so that might be a need or an interest here,” parents love it as well so we get a

says Taillon of the decision to bring lot of great feed back from both the
the team can achieve success. I also note that the final four have arguably

four of the five best goaltenders in Price (although injured), Lundquist, a program such as this one to the kids and the parents.”
Crawford and Quick. These goalies are the backbone of the team and area. The 3 On 3 program is a great way
they reinforce the thought that successful teams are built from the goalie With its wide success, comes for kids to kick off the summer with
outwards and that these teams can point to them as the biggest reason
more responsibility. Taillon says a bang and to get their last taste of
for their success.
it’s thanks to the volunteers that a the ice until next season.