Page 8 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 43

8 JUNE 2016 Our advertisers are always on top of their game. Please support them!

Riley Giving Back

to Local Soccer
Whistle Stops

By Todd Anderson

ornwall’s Jason Riley has been The “Team” has just completed Issue # 43, and as
Cinvolved in the game of soccer always, I would like to thank Lynn (Graphic Design),
for 35 years. During that time Margo (Editor), Gary (Sales), Bernadette (Website),
he has experienced a lot of wins
and losses. Many of those results our writers Todd, Molly, Victoria, Jordan, Derrick
have been shared with the same and Ashley, our editorial columnists, Jim, Jorge, Dave
teammates who have become close and Tony, The Sports Panel, Gilles, Jake, Jim, our
friends.
“I have been playing soccer distribution locations, our advertisers and of course
locally since I was five years old and the people who are featured in our stories. I hope you

I have made a lot of friends while enjoy # 43
playing,” Riley says. “I still play

with the same core bunch of guys As most of us know, a tragic fire recently
that I have been playing with for destroyed the residence of The Ontario Hockey
over 10 years. We play for the love Academy. Thank God no one was hurt in the blaze.
and passion of the sport, as well as
the comradery. We may not be the League. Since then he has played Sports Energy wishes owner Gilles Lascelle and his
best team on the pitch but that does on a variety of teams over the years staff all the best in their rebuild.
not matter to us. We go out, play in the CDSL, including Akwesasne
hard, and do the best that we can.” Mohawk Casino, East Side Mario’s, One thing that stood out to me in this tragedy
During his years in the game, McDonalds, Cornwall BBQ, and was how school staff rallied together and worked
Riley has also put in time as a Cracked Up. with multiple embassies to ensure their international
coach to many soccer teams in While he has an extensive list of
the Cornwall area. This year he memories as a player, his favourite students (who lost passports) got home without delays.
is coaching the Cornwall Coyotes comes as a coach, and it can’t be OHA has it right, students are their top priority.
U18 girls’ team. He has seen this narrowed down to just one event.
team grow together, just like he has “My favourite sporting memory Speaking of OHA, Cornwall native Jeff Legue
with his teammates. ran from March to August 2015. has joined the staff. Since retiring from a successful
“I am really looking forward to It was during this time that I was playing career in England, coaching at OHA should be
a good season with these young the head coach for the Cornwall a positive experience for both Jeff and the players.
ladies,” he says. Coyotes U16 girls’ soccer team. It
Riley’s passion for the game was my fi rst time being a head coach The Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League
doesn’t stop as a player or coach. for a competitive team. Sure I have
“My favourite professional soccer coached house league for several will begin its inaugural season in the fall of 2016,
team is Manchester United. years as my children developed the with local teams in Maxville and Akwesasne. The
Growing up we didn’t get a same passion for the sport as I did, Akwesasne Chiefs will be holding tryout camp July
lot of European soccer games but this was my first experience 16th & 17th in Cornwall at the Benson Centre. For

on television, but when we did
being a coach for a competitive
Manchester United was a popular information on the camp or the Chiefs, please contact
team. The challenge both excited
team to show games. Then there Phil Difranco at info@akwesasnechiefs.com
me and scared me all at the same
was the 1999 Champions League
time. We had a successful season Whistle Stops would like to welcome Tony Luis
final where the likes of David

as far as results go. We won our
Beckham, Andy Cole, Ryan Giggs, who will be contributing a monthly column on boxing,
last tournament of the year and had
Gary Neville, and Peter Schmeichel and welcome back local writer Ashley March.
a second place showing earlier in
were taking on Bayern Munich.
the summer with a heart-breaking
Man United were losing 1 - 0 going David Murphy vs Dan Allaire in the boxing ring?
loss in penalty kicks in the finals.

into injury time and scored twice in This should be interesting. Inside informer has told
This was an exceptional group of
three minutes to win the Champions
young women. Being able to pass Whistle Stops the training sessions are going well and
League. Every since then I was a
on some of my soccer knowledge

fan.” it should be a fierce battle.
As a child, Riley played for the has been very rewarding. I hope
SDG Blazers. As a teenager he that I was able to make them better Winners never Quit and Quitters Never Win,
started playing for the Cornwall soccer players but more importantly Signing out Until next Month

City Soccer Club and eventually influenced them in a positive way.
ended up running one of their teams is what I will take away from my Mike Piquette, Publisher
in the Cornwall District Soccer fi rst experience as a head coach.”