Page 30 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 40

30 Looking for deals on wheels? Visit our automotive “Teammates”.

Continued from page 27 also coach so that my own children
master skating, stick handling, game see the value of sport. I want to Congratulations
awareness. It’s a beautiful game and expose them to an environment that
these athletes are usually dynamic fosters health and wellness, team
and multi-sport athletes.” unity, dedication, and inclusiveness. to Dave Cassell and Staff

Gibbs has a clear handle on her I am very lucky to coach as part
coaching philosophy, encouraging of my profession, to coach at the on their 1st Anniversary at
her athletes to work hard. “I always community level, and to be married
tell my athletes to practise and play to a dedicated and inspiring health S.G. WELLS
with purpose. I repeat this so many and conditioning coach.”
times that my athletes have now Gibbs truly has nothing but
given it a social media twist #PWP”,
love and passion for her athletic & Sons Ford
says Gibbs. “To be honest, I feel like community. “I am so grateful to
my coaching philosophy is always
evolving. I aspire to be a coach that have sports in my life because it has Highway 2, Ingleside
opened so many doors and provided
is dynamic and is willing to adapt
and grow with my athletes.” so many opportunities for me. All of
my closest friends are relationships
Gibbs says she continues to coach that began in a sport setting either as
year after year due to the inspiration
a teammate, competitor, or coach,”
she receives from her athletes. “These says Gibbs. “To this day, I still
athletes are well-rounded individuals play indoor soccer with a team that
who succeed in many aspects of their
is compromised of about 7 family
lives. When you coach, you become members. How lucky am I to spend
a family. Sometimes a dysfunctional from
time with my family and friends
one, but you are a team. You practise
for the team, you play for the team, doing something that I love? Plus, Sports Energy
you win as a team and you lose as a now I get to include my own kids as
well.”
team,” says Gibbs. “At this point, I

Ginny Shoniker:

Local Hockey Mom and Hockey Manager

saying the coaches are always in the
By Derrick LoRusso
limelight, but could not be without a
inny Shoniker, local hockey good manager. “The coaches always
Gmanager for the Seaway Valley get the credit and share the limelight
Major Atom AA, has been a part of the with the players when the team is
team for two seasons now, along with successful but the team is nothing
without a great manager behind them
the coach, Shawn Pilon, who’s also
been a part of the team for three years, guiding them and taking care of the
knowing Shoniker for two years. In team’s needs,” he says.
the two years Pilon has worked with Shoniker tells us how she became
Shoniker, he has nothing but positive manager for the team, “The coach
things to say about her. “She has received a recommendation from
been our manager for the past two another coach from my home
years and it’s quite the undertaking association.” Citing her past
to manage a minor hockey team,” experience with her son, she says,
he says. “As the manager, she is “I was the hockey registrar for my
the team scheduler, the organiser of son’s home association and managed
team events, the team stats keeper, the hockey teams my son played on,
the booker of tournament lodgings, previous to this team,”
the team accountant, the fundraising

chair, the buffer between the parents Pilon finished off by personally
thanking Shoniker for all her
and the coaches, etc.”
volunteer work and resourcefulness
Pilon tells us Shoniker is a very for the team. “The past two seasons,
hands-on manager. “Ginny has a for me, have been a tremendous
knack of handling all of these tasks honour; to coach such a dedicated

with great ease and professionalism. group of kids and to work with Ginny
Many times she has said to me, has made my job so easy,” he says.
‘you concentrate on the coaching, I “So I would like to thank her on
will handle all the other aspects of behalf of the players, coaches, and Ginny Shoniker tackles all her duties with enthusiasm.
the team’,” he says. He continues, parents for a job well done!” Photo Submitted