Page 39 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 88

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #88 March 2020 39

In The Good News Update:

ZONE Brennan Ferguson

By Casey Leger

bout a year ago, Sports Energy
Aran a story about a young
With Justin Roethlingshoefer This all comes back to your why leukemia survivor and his first
and what your passion is. It is not experience with organized sports.
t is not enough to want something… a question as to if, but rather when These days, Brennan Ferguson is still
Iit needs to be a want so great that road blocks will come up. If we leukemia free and he’s still playing
it burns inside your soul. It needs don’t have that fire and passion, then soccer.
to be so clear, that you know it is this is where the pattern of starting Brennan was diagnosed with
there even if you cant fully see the something new continually re-starts, leukemia when he was just 2 years
path to get there yet. It needs to be and we never get out of it unless old. Now, at the age of 10, he’s got
actionable, that you can start moving we STOP. This can happen in all four house league soccer seasons
on it NOW. habits of our life, health, wealth, and under his belt, playing two indoor
relationships.
I bet you have never heard that and two outdoor sessions with the
before. The advice is usually, “Just If you need help with this, Seaway Valley Soccer Club. He’s
wait and it will come” or some other please email me justin@ also made the Cornwall Coyotes, the
excuse as to why you are doing justinroethlingshoefer.com or check first team that he’s ever had to ‘try Photo Submitted
something that doesn’t give you out justownit.co. I cannot tell you out’ for. general are things that the Fergusons
energy every single day. That way of how many people’s lives we have Brennan’s dad, Jesse Ferguson, is need to take very seriously. Leukemia
thinking is why we may feel stuck, changed in the last year simply from also his house league coach. Like treatments can be particularly hard on
unfulfilled, depressed, and even creating structure, accountability, any father, Jesse is proud of his son’s a child’s joints, but Brennan, under

confused about what we are doing on and purpose with them. Let’s help accomplishments. “His first goal his father’s tutelage, is working hard
a day to day basis. you break the barriers to master your scored was in a game on January 25th, to maintain good playing condition.
health, wealth, and relationships. 2020, and he was really pleased,” “He’s learning to read the signs his
The first thing people usually do is
take a step forward and start acting Until next month… says Ferguson. “For most of his time body is giving him,” says Ferguson,
or re-acting to the opportunities stay happy, stay healthy! playing soccer, he was a defender, so “and of course he’s still monitored
he didn’t pursue goal scoring much; regularly by his doctor in town and
that come their way, and that is the but this season, we’ve been pushing the oncology team at CHEO.”
best way to get into a vicious cycle Justin Roethlingshoefer him to play midfield as well, so he’s
to nowhere. The real first step in Email questions to: more involved in the attack. His Brennan and his parents are happy
achieving a goal is we need to stop, justin@ shooting power has improved, in part that he’s made the Coyotes. “He’ll
take a step back, and identify these justinroethlingshoefer.com due to his work on weightlifting with travel to tournaments for the first
3 things: Follow and reach out via me. He can now deadlift more than time ever, and we’re excited about
• What do you want? Instagram: his bodyweight and he can squat his the social aspect of bonding with
a team on the road as much as the
• What is your desired outcome? @justinroeth bodyweight.” higher level of play he’ll face,” says
@thehockeysummit Weightlifting and training in Ferguson.
• What is the result?

Q&A Hi JR,
I am playing bantam hockey at a high level in the Cornwall area. The players on the team all get along, but we have some parents who
constantly criticize coaches, referees, other teams, and players on our own team. My dad recently heard a parent complaining about me and
almost called that parent out. How can we get our parents to just chill out and come enjoy our game?
ANSWER:
The golden question! First off, you as the kid shouldn’t be the one asking this question - it should be coming from the adults. But with
that being said, reframing the question being asked is important. Instead of asking how they can ‘chill out’, I think the question needs to be
turned inward and the players need to know that whatever is going on up there in the stands has nothing to do with you or your teammates.
Instead, it’s a bigger issue that those parents need to deal with. Secondly, it should be addressed with the parents directly.
Go out, enjoy the game, know why you’re playing, and do it with passion.