A strike that was set to begin at 6 p.m. Monday at the Timmins airport is “temporarily on hold,” says the union representing the 19 workers who are at the centre of a labour dispute.

“Throughout this process, all we’ve wanted was to get back to the bargaining table,” said Martin Mika, Union of Canadian Transportation Employees regional vice-president for Ontario. “Since we’re finally making some progress, we want to keep the conversation going until we reach a deal.”

With a strike looming at Timmins’ airport, a mediator had ordered both parties back to the bargaining table Monday morning.

The city revealed talks broke down during this process with no resolution reached.

Despite that, Mika said the “parties expect to meet again in the coming days.

“While negotiations continue, travellers can rest assured that the airport will remain fully operational.”

The City of Timmins, meanwhile, expressed its disappointment that mediation was unsuccessful with the prospect of the union taking its members out on strike still in play.

The 19 airport workers include maintenance and airfield technicians, mechanics, electricians and some administrative personnel. They are represented by the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, a union within the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).

“The PSAC has made claims about the cost of work clothing and premium pay eroding the wage offer of the city,” the municipality stated in a release.

“Even after addressing those items in mediation, the PSAC has now decided to ask for a 12.8% wage increase. This salary request is far beyond any settlements the city has had with its other unions and is well in excess of any reasonable cost of living increases.”

The city reiterated its assurance to travellers that, in the event of a strike, flights to or from the Victor M. Power Airport will not be grounded.

“The City of Timmins has plans in place and does not anticipate any significant disruptions to operations,” the city said in a statement. “Travellers should anticipate some delays when a picket line is formed, and are encouraged to factor that into their plans.”

After winning just two games during the Northern Ontario Bantam ‘AAA’ Hockey League Minor Division regular season, the Timmins North Stars find themselves one game away from knocking off the North Bay Trappers.

Were it not for a second-period collapse of unbelievable proportions Saturday night, the North Stars would already be basking in the glory of knocking off the division’s top team in the opening round of the playoffs.

Instead, Sunday morning’s 4-2 victory over the Trappers at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex evened the best-of-five series at 2-2, with the fifth and deciding game to be played in North Bay on Saturday.

After splitting the first two games of the series in North Bay the previous weekend, the North Stars blew a 2-0 lead and ended up on the short end of a 4-2 score Saturday night.

North Stars coach Stephen Surcon was naturally much happier with his squad’s effort than he had been with Saturday night’s setback.

“Saturday, we didn’t show up,” he said.

“We were lucky North Bay didn’t really show up either. Otherwise, it would have been a long night.

“We still got up 2-0, which is kind of what you hope for because good teams will find ways to be winning even when they are not playing well.

“The story of the game Saturday night though was our second period. We just got hemmed in our own end and chased the puck way too much.

“It was a good lesson about working hard and not having to chase the game. It was a classic example of everybody waiting for somebody else to be doing their job and it turned out in the end nobody was doing their job.”

THOMAS PERRY/THE DAILY PRESSTimmins North Stars goalie Bowen Harvey watches as a shot from North Bay Trappers forward Kaedyn Long deflects into the air to his right during the third period of Game 4 of their NOBHL Minor Division best-of-five playoff series at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex Sunday morning. After dropping Game 3 of the series Saturday night, the North Stars double up the Trappers 4-2 to tie the series at 2-2 heading back to North Bay for the fifth and deciding game on Saturday.

Special teams and strong goaltending were a factor in the North Stars’ victory at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex Sunday morning.

Patrice Lafontaine’s power-play marker at 8:01 of the opening period staked the North Stars to a 1-0 lead.

The Trappers tied things up early in the middle frame courtesy of Nolan Masson’s power-play marker, but the North Stars retook the lead and then pushed it to a pair of goals thanks to a pair of power-play markers of their own.

Lafontaine’s second goal of the game, at the 8:28 mark, gave the North Stars a 2-1 lead and then Nic Sullivan scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal with .18 seconds remaining in the period.

It looked like the Trappers might battle back and finish the series in four games when Chase Thompson scored an unassisted marker at the 6:29 mark to pull the visitors to within one goal with plenty of time remaining on the clock.

The North Stars were having none of it, however, as Kaeden McArthur deposited the puck into the empty Trappers’ net with 5.6 seconds remaining in regulation to make the final score 4-2.

Surcon knows with a little more effort on Saturday his squad could have completed its upset of the Trappers without having to make the journey back to North Bay.

“We had a golden opportunity, up 2-0,” he said.

“There was a mad scramble in front of their net and we just couldn’t convert on it. If we had put them down 3-0 that would have been it. That was the turning point of that game.”

Puck luck might have been on the North Stars’ side during Sunday morning’s contest, but hard work was clearly the decided factor.

“We just stuck to the game plan,” Surcon said.

“Saturday, we had a tough time getting pucks out of our end. Our forwards were cheating a little bit too far up the ice, but today they responded to what had made us successful.

“We made sure we exited the zone on time and our forwards worked hard on the backcheck to help out.”

While Surcon was happy with the effort put forth by many of his North Stars, two in particular caught his eye.

“Clearly our goaltending,” he said.

“Keiden Wynne has kept us where we are all series and Bowen Harvey might have played the game of his life today. He has had a lot of challenges this year and I was very happy to see him respond so well today.

“You need good goaltending in the playoffs to win games and we are getting good goaltending from both of them right now.”

So, going forward what will the North Stars have to do to close out the series on a positive note?

“Just maintain our focus and stick to the game plan,” Surcon said.

“I don’t think North Bay can handle our game plan. We just have to outwork them once we get the puck out of our own end.

“I think we are in position to win Game 5.”

After earning a split of the first two games in North Bay, the North Stars are confident they can win on the road.

“We could have won the second one, as well,” Surcon said.

“We just had no puck luck that game. The kids know North Bay is beatable. We are expecting them to come hard, but we are ready for the challenge.”

Harvey went the distance in net for the North Stars to record the victory, while Trappers goalie Vaughn Thompson was tagged with the loss.

TRAPPERS 4 NORTH STARS 2

Things started off well for the North Stars in Game 3 of the series Saturday night at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex.

They were able to build up a 2-0 lead, with McArthur and Lafontaine each finding the back of the net — the latter coming with the man advantage.

It was all Trappers in the second period, however, with the North Stars hemmed in their own zone for more than 14-and-a-half minutes of the 17-minute period.

Were it not for the stellar play of Wynne, the North Stars would likely have trailed badly after the middle frame instead of being tied 2-2 heading to the third period.

He held the fort until Thompson beat him with 3:27 to play in the frame and then surrendered the tying goal to Masson with just 21.9 seconds remaining on the clock.

Justin Rousseau’s power-play goal at the 5:27 mark of the third period gave the Trappers their first lead of the night.

They added a little insurance with 4:15 remaining in regulation when Thompson added his second of the night to make the final score 4-2 in favour of the visitors.

The North Stars pulled Wynne in favour of an extra attacker with 2:28 to play, but they were unable add to their total.

Dylan Lemcke went the distance in net for the Trappers to earn the win, while Wynne was tagged with the loss.

In the Mid-Town Mixed League, Joanne Sevigny was top bowler with a 374 single and 795 triple. She was followed by Lucie Audet with a 350 single and 745 triple. High singles also went to Lisa Roy (257), Jess Lavigne (245) and Rachel Shier (244).

On the men’s side, Austin Sanford led the way with a 292 single and 774 triple. He was followed by Darryll Belanger with a 306 single and 725 triple. High singles also went to Gary Legros (261), Don Gamache (259) and Romeo Merenda (242).

In the Mid-Town Ladies League, Bonnie Boissonneault was top bowler rolling a 228 single and 623 triple. She was followed by Marg Campsell with a 235 single and 562 triple. High singles also went to Cindy Richard (221), Stacy Dion (199) and Irene Beaudoin (192).

In the 55-Plus League, Ellard Beaven was top bowler rolling a 259 single and 650 triple. He was followed by Con Raymond with a 225 single and 633 triple. High singles also went to John Vukelich (273), Don Gagnon (250) and Randy Stojkiewicz (247).

On the ladies’ side, Helene Bilodeau led the way with a 243 single and 607 triple. She was followed by Huguette Peron with a 251 single and 602 triple. High singles also went to Sue Rogers (223), Bonnie Boissonneault (214) and Marg Vukelich (212).

In the Empire Mixed League, Patrick Philippe was top bowler with a 285 single and 798 triple. He was followed by Chad Champagne with a 265 single and 752 triple. High singles also went to Austin Sanford (298), Bill Smith (289) and Al Olivier (288).

On the ladies’ side, Danielle Bertrand led the way with a 274 single and 705 triple. She was followed by Joanne Sevigny with a 279 single and 669 triple. High singles also went to Jeannine Horner (250), Julie Poirier (241) and Nancy Belanger (236).

In the Timmins Special Olympics League, Pat Desjardins was top bowler rolling a 219 single and 419 double. He was followed by Eric Kaija with a 203 single and 383 double. High scores also went to Paul-Andre Leclerc (206), Joshua Armstrong (204) and Real Lavigne (204).

On the ladies’ side, Chandra Simard led the way with a 204 single and 351 double. She was followed by Patricia Malek with a 185 single and 330 double. High scores also went to Julie Plourde (193), Tina Ouellet (190) and Melissa Garceau (166).

In the Friday Night Men’s League, Shawn Nugent was top bowler with a 287 single and four-game total of 1,057. He was followed by Darryl Gauthier with a 290 single and four-game total of 965. He was followed by Dominick Dusseault (361), Marc Lafond (351) and Wayne Walker (291).

In the Mid-Town Youth Bowling Council, top bowler in the Senior Division went to Meghan Cassaniti rolling a 263 single and 679 triple. She was followed by Elissa Stinson with a 217 single and 536 triple. High scores also went to Mackenzie Belanger (182, 532), Ellisa Franklin (222, 508) and Isabelle Gobeil (180, 441).

On the boys’ side, Kyle Belair led the way with a 121 single and 307 triple.

In the Junior Division, Vanessa Berry was top bowler with a 241 single and 648 triple. She was followed by Mya Harvey with a 206 single and 505 triple. High scores also went to Mikayla Paquette (192, 496), Mea Dion (197, 484) and Emma Chaput (152, 456).

On the boys’ side, Ashton Vachon led the way with a 216 single and 601 triple. He was followed by Sebastien Blanchette-Miller with a 218 single and 560 triple. High scores also went to Nathan Prevost (233, 556), Evan Lawryniw (198, 480) and Riley Duchesne (195, 476). Bowler of the Week went to Evan Lawryniw.

In the Bantam Division, Kason Cecconi was top bowler rolling a 153 single and 440 triple. He was followed by Vincent Beaulieu with a 176 single and 418 triple. High scores also went to Marson Cariaga (164, 399), Austin O’Malley (155, 396) and Alex Desgagnes (141, 407).

On the girls’ side, Emilie Gamache led the way with a 152 single and 405 triple. She was followed by Melodie Chartier with a 110 single and 309 triple. High scores also went to Ava Massier (114, 292) and Camille Bouffard (101, 262). Bowler of the Week went to Melodie Chartier.

In the Peewee Division, Emilie Chartier was top bowler with a 89 single and 169 double. She was followed by Madison Vezeau with a 81 single and 156 double.

On the boys’ side, Mathieu Amyotte led the way with a 99 single and 153 double. He was followed by Daxxon Renaud with a 75 single and 146 double. High scores also went to Quyte Sutherland (75, 130), Caleb Amyotte (58, 116) and Logan Ahrens (58, 109).

In the Tot Division, Claire Ahrens rolled a single of 50.

The host Timmins High & Vocational School Blues opened the 2019 OFSAA Boys ‘AA’ Basketball Championships with a 52-28 win over the No. 13-ranked James Cardinal McGuigan Wolves at TH&VS Monday afternoon.

Inconsistency at both ends of the court resulted in the Blues, who are the tournament’s No. 7 seed, having to work hard for an 18-13 first quarter lead.

They managed to increase their advantage to 28-19 by the half, but struggled out of the gate to start the third quarter before getting on track and increasing their lead to 44-27.

Blues coach Peter Graham figures nerves might have been to blame for his squad’s inconsistent effort Monday afternoon.

“No matter how many times we say it and no matter how many times the coaching staff talks to them about being prepared, until they experience that first game at ‘AA’ OFSAA,” he said.

“We are happy it’s over. It was a game of ups and downs, for sure.

“As we got a little bit more into our rhythm, or defence certainly carried us. We were able to hold them to under 30 points. I am very happy with that.”

While the Blues were ice cold to start the second half, once they got their first basket you could feel the momentum swing in their direction.

“That took the pressure off our defence, for sure,” Graham said.

“It was another third-quarter lull until we finally found a group on the floor that kind of meshed a little be better together.

“Then, the guys started to get into a rhythm and realize how the other team was trying to play us. We recognized the spots on the floor we could attack from.

“I have to give credit to our guys. As the game wore on, we started finishing more and more around the rim. I thought our guys did a really good job of sharing the ball and making the extra pass so the other team was in a bit more of a scramble position.”

Outside shooting was a key factor for the Blues, as the rained down threes with great consistency.

“Trading threes for twos definitely adds up a lot faster,” Graham said.

“I think we did a better job as the game wore on of settling into our offence, too.”

It was the usual suspects when Graham was asked which Blues impressed him in the OFSAA opener.

“Jack Hagerty’s shooting in the first half let us hang around,” he said.

“The guys did a really good job of finding his brother, Owen, as well. Owen did a good job as a finisher and I was really happy with him taking four charges.

“As the game wore on, Jeremy Duguay did a great job of rebounding and playing defence. He had a couple of great drives to put the game away, as well.”

Jack Hagerty hit for 17 points to pace the attack for the Blues, while brother Owen was also in double figures with 13 points.

The Blues victory will see them take on Burlington’s No. 10-ranked Corpus Christi Secondary School at O’Gorman High School on Tuesday, at noon.

Corpus Christi defeated the No. 12-ranked Saint Paul Patriots, from Niagara Falls, 58-43, on Monday.

Graham is confident the Blues will be a little more relaxed for that contest.

“We are an ‘A’ school, hosting ‘AA’ OFSAA, so now that the boys have that out of their heads and realize we can play with anybody, we should be fine,” he said.

“It has been like that throughout the year. We have played against ‘AAA’ teams from all over Ontario in our tournament schedule and we have played against teams from Quebec a couple of times.

“Now, the guys realize we can play against any size school.”

Day 1 went pretty well as scripted, with all of the top seeds advancing to the second round on Tuesday.

Top seeded Kennedy Collegiate Clippers, from Toronto, had little trouble getting past the No. 19 seed, Brockville’s Thousand Islands Secondary School Pirates, 84-55.

The No. 2 seeds, Toronto’s Westview Centennial Wildcats rolled over the No. 20-seeded École secondaire catholique Thériault Flammes 96-20 at O’Gorman High School.

After building up a 25-6 lead in the opening quarter, the Wildcats blanked the Flammes 27-0 in the second quarter and enjoyed a 52-6 advantage at the half.

London’s Mother Theresa Secondary School, the No. 3 seed, had little trouble knocking off Sudbury’s Lo-Ellen Park Knights, the No. 17 seed, 65-27.

Toronto’s Crescent Coyotes, the No. 4 seed, the No. 18-seeded Father Austin Wildcats, from Whitby, 60-41.

The No. 5-ranked St. Joseph’s Jaguars, from Barrie, blasted No. 15-ranked St. Theresa, from Belleville, 92-56.

St. Catharines’ No. 6-ranked Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School Phoenix knocked off Thunder Bay’s No. 16-ranked St. Ignatius Falcons 78-37.

Kingston’s No. 8-ranked Frontenac Falcons defeated the No. 14-ranked St. James Lions, from Guelph, 55-44.

Ottawa’s No. 9-ranked Ashbury College defeated Thornhill’s No. 11-ranked Thornlea Secondary School Thunder 65-42.

Based on what he saw during the opening day of OFSAA, Graham feels any of the top seeds have the capability of making it to Wednesday’s championship game.

“There is a lot of talent in the gym,” he said.

“It was a great atmosphere in the gym today. We were happy to have a lot of our feeder schools here, along with the upper administration from the school board.

“It was great to see so many people out there supporting us from outside the building and in the community.”

Timmins residents may learn the answer to that age-old question Whose Line Is It Anyway? during the Timmins Rock’s second-annual Comedy Show at École secondaire catholique Thériault on Tuesday, March 12.

The show, scheduled to start 7:30 p.m., will be headlined by Whose Line Is It Anyway? star Colin Mochrie and his spouse, fellow comedian Debra McGrath.

It will also feature Caitlyn Langelier, who has appeared on CBC Connects and Just For Laughs.

She is a past winner of the Eugene Levy Writing Award.

Rock president Ted Gooch is hoping to build upon the success of the initial show featuring Gerry Dee at Thériault on Nov. 26, 2017.

“Last season, we branched out and wanted to try something different and fun,” he said. “We brought in a big name, with Gerry Dee, and hosted a comedy show and it was really the feedback from the fans and the people who follow the club and really enjoyed that night out that led to this year’s show.

“The fans asked if we could continue with it, so the directors got together and we decided to put on a second show to continue with it and we hope this one will be just as successful.”

This year’s show of course features three comedians — Mochrie, McGrath and Langelier — not just one.

“A couple of months ago, we posted some ideas on social media to get feedback on who people would like to see and Colin Mochrie’s name came up in the results quite a bit,” Gooch said.

“We looked into it and he does a great improv show with his wife, Debra McGrath, so we reached out to his team and they were available.

“Being the star of the hit television show Whose Line Is It Anyway? he is very famous and I think people are really going to enjoy the show.

“Colin and Debra are a duo and they are going to headline the show, with the opening act featuring a young comic, Caitlyn Langelier, who is part of the YukYuk scene.

“She also works with the CBC and has won some awards.”

When the Rock brought in Gerry Dee, he also dropped the puck as part of the opening ceremonies for one of the Rock games.

That is not on the agenda this time around and not just because there are three comedians and only one hockey puck.

“Things are definitely up in the air this year,” Gooch said.

“Although the (playoff) dates are scheduled, it’s a matter of trying to fit each team into each spot. It will come down to the last game of the season.”

The Rock at this point could finish either in third or fourth in the NOJHL’s wacky East Division, depending on the results of Thursday night’s game between Powassan and French River.

Being the fourth or fifth seed in the East would see them take part in the best-of-three play-in series, while finishing third or higher would ensure a bye through that round of the playoffs.

“Because of that, it was hard to try and line anything up,” Gooch said.

“It would be almost impossible to have them drop the puck this time but if this show does well, we will try to time a third edition in the middle of the season, to have the comedians come out and be part of a game, as well.”

Any profits raised from the show will help the Rock continue to ice a Junior ‘A’ franchise in Timmins.

“Last year, with Gerry Dee, was a success,” Gooch said. “There was a significant cost, of course, to bring these comedians Timmins, so once we hit that break-even point, anything above and beyond is going to be a plus.

“We would like to hopefully raise a good $5,000 and put that money back into the team and pay for a lot of the expenses we have. We hope to see everyone come out and support the club, enjoy a nice night out and have some laughs.”

It should provide a little relief from the intense battle for playoff positions that has been going on since the NOJHL’s Christmas break, as well.

“If we wind up in the play-in series, this show will be smack dab in the middle of that,” Gooch said.

The auditorium at Thériault has 735 seats and Gooch is hopeful the show will be a sellout.

“We have already sold more than 250 seats and we are encouraging people to not wait until the last second,” he said.

“We are very encouraged with the sales to date. Similar to our other fundraisers, the majority of the tickets are purchased in the days leading up to the event. We are confident we will be able to provide a sellout for our comedians.”

“They should log on to our website and pick out their seats through the interactive map the same as they would for one of our hockey games. They can reserve their spot and then enjoy the show.”

VIP meet-and-greet tickets had been available for the show, but Gooch notes they sold out within a half hour of tickets going on sale.

The remaining tickets range in price from $40 to $60, depending on where they are located in the auditorium.

To obtain tickets people should visit timminsrock.com.

The Timmins High & Vocational School Blues’ hopes of being crowned the 2019 OFSAA Boys ‘AA’ Basketball champions were gored 55-46 by Burlington’s No. 10-ranked Corpus Christi Secondary School Longhorns at O’Gorman High School Tuesday afternoon.

It might have been a stretch for the No. 7-ranked Blues, an ‘A’ school, to make it all the way to Wednesday’s title game, but after knocking off the No. 13-ranked James Cardinal McGuigan Wolves 52-28 on Day 1 of the tournament, the host school was hoping to make itinto the quarterfinals.

The Longhorns jumped on the Blues early, however, and TH&VS was forced to play catch-up the rest of the way.

By the end of the first quarter, the Longhorns had established an 18-12 lead in the contest and even though they were outscored by the Blues 13-11 in the second quarter, they still carried a 29-25 lead into the halftime break.

The Longhorns re-established their dominance in the third quarter, pushing their lead to 40-31.

Sam Pingle scored a game-high 20 points to pace the attack for the Longhorns, while Truxton Lama and Justin Beaudry, with 10 points each, were also in double figures for Corpus Christi.

Matthew Zhukas, with nine points was not far off the pace.

Corpus Christi coach Rob Biturajac was pleased with the effort put forth by his Longhorns Tuesday afternoon.

“They (the Blues) had the home crowd behind them, with a lot of parent supporters,” he said.

“Even though it wasn’t their gym, it felt like a home game for them. They were the hosts and a well-proven team that has played a lot of games, so coming in we knew it was going to be a bit of a difficult match-up for us.”

The coach feels his squad’s quick start was one of the keys to their victory.

“We always like to start strong,” Biturajac said.

“Definitely that gave us some confidence. There is a lot of nerves and pressure in these type of games, especially playing against a team in their home gym.

“So, if we knew if we could quiet the crowd it would be to our advantage, but they are a resilient group and they battled back, right into the fourth quarter.”

The Longhorns had equal success driving the ball to the hoop and putting up shots from outside in the contest.

“Our team and Timmins are pretty evenly matched,” Biturajac said.

“Both teams have strength inside and outside. We hit a couple more shots and I think the difference in the game is we were able to turn them over at times.”

There was no shortage of players who turned in a solid effort for the team in black on Tuesday.

“Sam Pingle did a good job bringing up the ball, shooting and leading the team,” Biturajac said.

“Matthew Zhukas also had a solid impact on the glass and finishing inside, but it was a team effort. Everybody contributed to the result.

“We really wanted to play in the quarterfinal game, so we were really motivated.”

The Longhorns reward for knocking off the No. 7-seeded Blues? A date with No. 2-ranked Westview in the quarterfinals.

“We have not seen them this year,” Biturajac said.

“We knew after our opening game we would be playing seeds higher than us. We have a skilled group and hopefully we can make a run.”

Jack Hagerty and Brayden Inishinipay each hit for 17 points to lead the way for the Blues.

Owen Hagerty chipped in with six points for TH&VS.

Blues coach Peter Graham acknowledged the Longhorns’ fast start did not make it easy on his boys.

“As a coach, it is the exact opposite of what you want,” he said.

“They got 18 points on us in the first quarter as we were forced to play catch-up basketball. We had our own runs at different times, but they it seemed like we made some of the mistakes that have plagued us all season.

“That is indicative of me not finding a better way of teaching the guys or coaching them to be prepared for what we were going to see on the floor.

“As I just mentioned to the guys in the room, I have got to be better about that as the season goes on.

“Certainly their press gave us some problems and that was while we were making a very good run at the end.

“It was just a couple of turnovers and then we shot ourselves in the foot with a layup.”

In the final two minutes of the contest, the Blues had a few opportunities to get back in the game, but down by three possessions they took too much time trying to get in position to get off shots.

Earlier in the contest, there appeared to be times where the Blues were not in sync out on the court.

“It was a challenge for us to find a rhythm versus their press,” Graham said.

“As I mentioned earlier, I should have done a better job of preparing us for it. It didn’t seem like we could get on the same page with where guys needed to go out on the court.”

Graham agreed there are a lot of similarities between his squad and the Longhorns.

“We are similar in size and shooting ability, similar in style,” he said.

“They are a familiar opponent. We had played them last year at the Silver Fox tournament.”

Graham doesn’t feel his squad coming from a ‘A’ school and taking on ‘AA’ competition was a factor in Tuesday afternoon’s loss.

“The size of the school doesn’t matter,” he said.

“We gave them everything they could handle and our goal now is to chase the consolation final. We want to end our season with a win. That’s our goal right now.

“That’s the beauty of sport. We get to play another game.

Despite the loss, Graham was pleased with the effort put forth by a number of Blues Tuesday afternoon.

“I am happy with the play of Jack Hagerty, especially with his leadership, and I thought Owen Hagerty did a great job once he dealt with his early jitters,” he said.

“Brayden Inishinipay had his best game of the season, by far. He did a great job finishing around the rim and helping with the press break.

“We also had a Grade 10, Conrad Bierman get out there to give us energy and effort that we needed. He certainly got his hands on some loose balls and did a good job.”

The Blues are only losing one member of this year’s team, Jack Hagerty, so they should have a strong team once again next year.

Other second-round action on the championship side Tuesday saw No. 1 Kennedy Collegiate run past No. 17 Lo-Ellen Park, No. 2 Westview beat No. 18 Father Leo J. Austin 57-39, No. 3 Mother Theresa stop No. 19 Thousand Islands 59-44, No. 4 Crescent knock off No. 13 James Cardinal McGuigan 63-35, No. 5 St. Joseph defeat No. 12 St. Paul 75-45, No. 6 St. Francis dump No. 11 Thornlea 75-52 and No. 8 Frontenac get past No. 9 Ashbury 51-42.

NEOAA’s other rep, the École secondaire catholique Thériault Flammes, fared much better in their second game at OFSAA than they did in their first — a 96-20 setback against No. 2-ranked Westview.

Relegated to consolation action, the Flammes dropped a 46-37 decision to No. 13 James Cardinal McGuigan — who had fallen 52-28 to the Blues earlier on Monday.

After falling behind 20-5 in the first quarter, the Flammes battle back to win the second quarter 7-4 but still trailed 24-12 at the half.

James Cardinal McGuigan re-established its court strength in the third quarter, outscoring the Flammes 17-12.

Thériault was not about to give up without a fight to the finish, however, and they won the final quarter 14-5.

Action at the 2019 OFSAA Boys ‘AA’ Basketball Championship will wrap up on Wednesday with the bronze medal game at TH&VS at 6 p.m., with the gold medal game to follow at 8 p.m.

In Timmins Ringette Association JBO Division action, the Timmins Kinsmen used a total team effort to upend Iroquois Falls 6-1.

In this game, Petite-level goalie Joanne Vane was called up to play and performed admirably.

She backstopped the win and was helped offensively by the two-goal efforts of Caelen Easton and Sydney Dagenais.

Rylee Kaye and Paige Brumwell added single tallies. Jordyn Bartolomucci and Sarah Deforge each had two assists.

Alex Cyr scored for Iroquois Falls.

Following are the results of other recent TRA contests:

JBO DIVISION

Cain Safety 6 Tisdale 1

Sonia Viel had a strong performance in the crease as Cain Safety defeated Tisdale Plumbing and Heating 6-1.

Karine Caron led her team to victory with a hat-trick, while Madison Seguin, Maria Aide-Rios, and Ella Brumwell had single goal contributions. Sam Richards helped out with two assists.

Erin Emblin replied for Tisdale.

Kinsmen 5 Tisdale 4

Timmins Kinsmen defeated Tisdale Plumbing and Heating 5-4 in a close and entertaining game, that was decided with 1:33 left on a goal by Kara D’Arcangelo.

It was her second tally of the game.

Kristen Vane, Jordyn Bartolomucci, and Sarah Deforge rounded out the Kinsmen scoring. Caelen Easton and Tessa Desjardins each added an assist.

Gabriele Larocque paced the Tisdale attack with two goals, while Kaylee Simoneau and call-up Lauren Bonsall potted one each. Bonsall also chipped in with two assists.

Cain Safety 5 Masonic Lodge 5

Cain Safety and Masonic Lodge duelled to a hard fought 5-5 tie.

Alexie Trudel chipped in with a hat-trick for Cain Safety, while Karine Caron and Jennifer D’Aoust each scored once and added an assist. Danya Desjardins and Rachelle Helin each contributed two assists.

Isabelle Rondeau responded with two goals for Masonic. Emilie Viel, Marie Bourdage-Côté, and Melanie Gagnon rounded out the Lodge scoring. Neomi Bordeleau, Kara Cloutier, and Karine Trudel each added two assists.

Both goalies (Adele Larochelle and Sonia Viel) played well in this game.

TWEEN DIVISION

Rehab Plus 5 Viel Auto Body 4

A great goaltending clinic from Viel Auto Body’s Emma Belanger and Rehab Plus’s Joanne Vane made for an exciting and close contest, as Rehab outlasted Viel 5-4.

Marie-Pier Durepos-Letourneau had a hat-trick for the winners, while Samantha Stewart chipped in with a two goal effort. Ella McCarty and Fiona Bernier added assists.

Viel’s attack was paced by the three goal and one assist effort of Alexandre Lent. Keyana Breault scored one goal and added an assist.

Albert’s 7 Rehab Plus 6

Albert’s Sports and Work Wear just edged their rivals from Rehab Plus 7-6 on a goal by Olivia Deforge with just over a minute left in the game.

Jessica Boileau added a hat-trick in the win. Maria Aide-Rios, Adison Roberge, and Ailah Duggan completed the Albert’s scoring. Zoe Brazeau, Karine Bolduc, and Camryn Hyde contributed assists.

Marie-Pier Durepos-Letourneau had two goals for Rehab in the loss, while Lauren Bonsall, Keenyah Murray, Ella Brumwell and Lea McLean added single scores. Bonsall also chipped in with two assists. Fiona Bernier and Samantha Stewart each added one assist.

Rehab Plus 5 Viel Auto Body 1

Rehab Plus played a strong defensive game in defeating Viel Auto Body 5-1.

Marie-Pier Durepos-Letourneau scored two goals for Rehab in the win. Ella Brumwell, Keenyah Murray, and (Birthday girl) Lauren Bonsall rounded out their scoring. Ella McCarty and Elise Aubrey each had one assist.

Alexandre Lent replied for Viel on a nice pass from Isabela Beatty-Peters.

Rehab Plus 10 Viel Auto Body 9

Viel Auto Body and Rehab Plus played all out in a high scoring affair, with Rehab outlasting Viel 10-9.

Karine Bolduc scored her second goal of the game with less than two minutes left to secure the exciting win, and added two assists. Camryn Hyde chipped in with a hat-trick while Marie-Pier Durepos-Letourneau contributed two goals. Ella Brumwell and Lauren Bonsall had single tallies. Martina Romain and Fiona Bernier each had an assist.

Elise Aubrey was playing only her third game ever in goal and was supported by Rehab’s strong defence.

Keyana Breault almost brought Viel back on her own by scoring four goals and adding an assist.

Emma Robertson and Janelle Rivard each potted two goals. Lea Mclean rounded out their scoring. Janelle Rivard and Olivia Peters each added an assist.

PETITE DIVISION

Designer Pools 12 Custom Concrete 10

Designer Pools outlasted Custom Concrete 12-10 in a high scoring back and forth affair.

Tatiana Dalcourt paced the Pool’s attack with four goals, while Lindie Young, Janelle Lapierre, Brooke-Lynne McGinn, and Alexis Jensen had two a piece. Alissa Duggan and Jillian Daguerre had two assists in the game.

Anika Allarie scored five goals for Custom in a losing effort. Juliette Bourdages-Côté scored two.

Single scores came off the sticks of Talia Rivard and Emilie Mathieu. Mathieu also added three assists. Rivard chipped in with two assists. Rya Lamirande and Gabrielle Cheff each contributed one assist.

Timmins Garage 5 Custom Concrete 3

Timmins Garage triumphed over Custom Concrete 5-3, with a total team effort, as five separate players — Amaie Aide-Rios, Tatiana Dalcourt, Janelle Lapierre, Jillian Dugerre, and Cristelle Berthier — scored.

Alissa Duggan added two assists. Isabella Merenda had one assist.

Anika Allarie responded with two goals for Custom Concrete, while Gabrielle Cheff completed their scoring. Jana Courchesne added two assists.

Two Tisdale Skating Club members recently became Skate Canada double gold medalists.

Tiana Andrews and Grace Manol achieved their Gold Skating Skills and had previously passed their Gold Interpretive test last year.

Coach Cathy O’Leary is very proud of her skaters.

“It takes hard work, dedication and determination to achieve success,” she said.

The skaters are currently working hard to achieve their goals for the next test day in Kapuskasing.

HAILEYBURY — Members of the Timmins Porcupine Figure Skating Club recently took part in the James Bay Competition, with some impressive results.

James Bay is an annual event hosted in the North, attracting skaters from Hearst to North Bay.

The Timmins Porcupine Figure Skating Club continued to impress at this event.

Following are the results turned in by members of the Timmins Porcupine Figure Skating Club:

• Lexis Blackwell — STAR 2 Freeskate, bronze; STAR 2 Elements, silver; Creative Improve, gold.

• Avenlea Cooper — STAR 3 Freeskate, bronze; STAR 3 Elements, bronze.

• Cheyenne Crowell — STAR 3 Freeskate, silver; STAR 3 Elements; silver; Creative Improve, gold.

• Gabriella Faubert — STAR 3 Freeskate, silver; STAR 3 Elements, bronze.

• Alicia Gallagher — STAR 3 Freeskate, gold; STAR 2 Elements, gold.

• Alexis Lachance — STAR 2 Freeskate, silver; STAR 2 Elements, silver; Creative Improve, gold.

• Charlotte Nichols — STAR 2 Freeskate, silver; STAR 2 Elements, bronze.

• Carine Plourde — STAR 3 Freeskate, silver; STAR 3 Elements, gold; Creative Improve, gold.

• Emily Sinclair — STAR 3 Freeskate, gold; STAR 3 Elements, silver; Creative Improve, gold; bronze Interpretive, fifth.

• Kaitlyn Skinner — STAR 2 Freeskate, bronze; STAR 2 Elements, bronze; Creative Improve, gold.

• STAR 2 Team Elements (Lexis Blackwell, Alexis Lachance, Charlotte Nichols, and Kaitlyn Skinner), bronze.

• STAR 3 Team Elements (Avenlea Cooper, Gabriella Faubert, Alicia Gallagher, and Carine Plourde,), silver.

• • •

Valerie Faucher competed at the Nepean Winter Skate Super Series Competition in January.

Competing against many talented skaters, Faucher proved her skills earning seventh for STAR 5 Freeskate.

• • •

Julia Romualdi competed at this year’s Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Winter Games in Sault Saint Marie.

She not only came away with a rewarding experience, but with respectable results. Romualdi received a silver for her STAR 2 dances (Fiesta Tango and the Willow Waltz), as well as bronze for her STAR 3 Freeskate.

It’s now a locked storage room next to the auditorium. But the names of students who attended École secondaire catholique Thériault nearly two decades ago are still scrawled in magic marker are still preserved as are the superheroes and cartoon characters painted on the wall.

Lise D’Arcangelo, a Thériault graduate who now teaches at the school, recalls before Grade 13 was phased out in the early 2000s, the room was used as a lounge, designated exclusively for final year students.

“The reason for its existence was so that students had a place to go during their spare, instead of just wandering around the school.”

The plan is to re-open it when Thériault hosts its 50th anniversary reunion, and bring back some of its décor.

The reunion is taking place on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of May Run weekend.

“We’ll have it set up with the couches and the tables and the chairs and try to make it like it did way back when,” said D’Arcangelo, who graduated in 1987.

Daphne Wallbridge, a Thériault grad from 1992 who is now vice-principal at the school, said their registration numbers are halfway towards their goal of 2,000 attendees.

“We feel the really positive energy in the school already,” said Wallbridge. “I have goosebumps just thinking about it. It’s going to be lots of fun.”

Wayne Bozzer, who graduated from Thériault in 1975, attended the school’s last reunion held in 1992.

With this being the 50th anniversary, Bozzer said he is already gaining the sense this is going to be a unique event.

“I think this one has a different vibe,” he said.

Bozzer said he has been communicating with old friends and fellow grads on social media where people have been sharing photos, not only from their days at school but of the city when around the time they were attending high school.

Bozzer among the first crop of students who transferred from the Collège Sacré-Coeur on Jubilee Avenue to what was then a newly built school.

“There was that special part of coming into this big entity which really galvanized everybody, having these new facilities, the gyms, the shops, the theatre, and the sports here.

“Seeing the people of that era will be very special.”

D’Arcangelo said she has kept in contact with old school mates through social media. But she is really looking forward to seeing them in person.

“It’s just getting together and being together again and reliving those memories, to be part of something special. The 50th doesn’t happen that often,” she said. “Even with Facebook being so popular, it’s not like seeing people for real.

“I think that’s what’s going to be fun and being able to share stories and reminisce, because on Facebook, there is only so much that you can say on there. So it’s coming together and being together and not only seeing the people I went to school with but also the teachers.”

While there are plans to set up “retro rooms,” representing different decades, D’Arcangelo said they also made a point of creating opportunities for people who were involved in different clubs or sports teams at school to also meet up.

“What they have planned touches a little bit for everyone. There are the athletes, there are the artistic people, there are the musicians, the academic people who were in Reach For The Top — so there is something for everyone.

“The committee really went out of their way to plan something so that everyone has a little niche that weekend that they can celebrate, come together and reminisce.”

Wallbridge said, “We do encourage alumni to bring their spouses and their children or their grandchildren, because there are activities for kids and it’s a family-oriented event.”

Neil Bangs, who graduated from Thériault in 1998 and now, teaches at the school, concurred.

He said there are a lot of activities and events planned over the three days of Les Retrouvailles 2019 that everyone will enjoy even if they didn’t attend the school.

Asked which events he’s looking forward to, Bangs replied, “The wine and cheese that’s going to be on the Friday night, I think that’s going to be fun. The party on Saturday night is going to be extraordinary with the bands coming in. We’re going to have a lot of former alumni that are part of the lineup.”

The performers include Claude et Simon, Céleste Lévis, King Melrose, Cindy Doire and Les Rats d’Swompe.

“It’s great to see they have a great lineup of music and if there is one thing that is popular in Timmins, is if you can put on a good concert, people will come,” said Bangs.

D’Arcangelo agreed.

“Saturday is going to be just like a big old party,” she said, “whether or not you were here as a student doesn’t matter because you’re going to enjoy the music and the company.”

Les Retrouvailles 2019 takes place May 17 to 19.

Those planning to attend can register online at www.esct.on.ca. The cost for registration is $75.

The finalists for the 2019 Nova Business Excellence Awards have been rolled out, as the Timmins Chamber of Commerce has announced the 45 game-changers of Timmins business who will strut and fret the monopoly board as finalists at the region’s biggest celebration of entrepreneurial achievement.

A record-breaking 165 nominations were submitted across 15 award categories for this year’s May 9 event, and were narrowed to three finalists per category by a panel of independent community judges. These finalists will be celebrated with a “NOVA-OPOLY – the Game of Business” theme to showcase the many ways these entrepreneurs are Timmins’ biggest players in the game, said Nancy Mageau, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce.

“This year’s slate of incredible nominees is yet another reminder that even though they may not own railroads or high-rise buildings on New York Avenue, Timmins’ business leaders are just as competitive and dedicated to building an empire in their own fields, and they deserve our recognition,” said Mageau.

“It’s clear from this list of finalists that our local entrepreneurs are truly making their mark on the board, which is why we’re looking forward to celebrating the best of Timmins business at the Nova Awards on May 9.”

Now in its 17th year, the annual awards gala is dedicated to Timmins business success stories, and highlights their positive impact on the region and its economy. As such, this annual celebration of business is a crucial one, said Mageau.

“Our businesses consistently work with each other and the community to help make Timmins a great place to work, live, and play. It’s why we’re honoured to have spent 17 years making sure their achievements are recognized and we look forward to more than 700 attendees joining us at the Nova Awards to help us celebrate this unforgettable evening.”

Tickets to the gala event will go on sale March 21 at $150 plus HST, or $120 plus HST for Chamber members, and tables of 10 are available. Ticket reservations can be made via email at info@timminschamber.on.ca.

The award categories and nominates finalists are:

• BMT Insurance & Financial Services Business Contribution to the Community Award (1-5 Employees) — Lemongrass, O’Reilly Sports, and The Barber Shop;

• The Venture Centre Business Contribution to the Community Award (6-10 Employees) — Foster Jane Eatery, McIntyre Coffee Shop, and Mendonca Law Office;

• NorthernTel Business Contribution to the Community Award (11+ Employees) — Dailey’s Your Independent Grocer, J.L. Richard’s & Associates Limited, and Rehab Plus Rehabilitation & Fitness Centre;

• FNETB Best Place to Work Award — Cain Safety Fire Protection Inc., Caron Equipment Inc., and Rainville Foot Health;

• Goldcorp Young Professional Award — Brianna Demers – Just Beecause Chocolates and Confections, Rachel Pessah – Bright Spot Therapy Services, and Sylvie Lamothe – Rebel Soul Tribe;

• RBC Marketing Award — Compass Brewing, Ellery, Ellery, Guillemette & Prabucki, and Family Eye Care;

• National Bank Innovation Award — DJB Mining Products & Services Ltd., Mine Safety Solutions, and Radical Gardens;

• Northern College Service Excellence Award — Majestic Professional Consulting, Steinberg & Mahn Ltd., and Viel Auto Body & Collision Inc.;

• Caisse Populaire Alliance New Business Award (Under 2 Years) — Borealis Fresh Farms, Certarus, and Starbucks Timmins;

• TD Bank Group Business of the Year Award (1-5 Employees) — Little Bit Western, Porcupine Advance Printers, and Smiles for Life Dental Hygiene Clinic;

• Scotiabank Business of the Year Award (6-10 Employees) — 360 Services Inc., Northern Ontario Audiology Services, and Vista Radio;

• Kidd Operations Business of the Year Award (11+ Employees) — De Beers Canada- Victor Mine, EACOM Timber Corporation, and Soucie Salo Safety Inc.;

• De Beers Canada Indigenous Partnership Award — dB Hearing Inc., Exsics Exploration Ltd., and Northern College;

• City of Timmins Non-Profit Organization Award — Centre Culturel La Ronde Inc., Timmins Learning Centre, and Timmins Snowmobile Club;

• OPG Lifetime Business Achievement Award — Pat Picard School of Dance, The Brick, and Western Auto Sales; and

• President’s Award — to be announced at the Nova Awards on May 9.

Plenty happening in the local arts scene and on stage this week.

The LOL Comedy Tour is bringing the sketch comedy troupe Women Fully Clothed to Timmins on Friday with their new show “Invisible.”

It features comedy veterans Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, Kathryn Greenwood and Teresa Pavlinek.

LOL is also hosting a post-show concert at The Working Class with Mike Charette & Brooke Bruce. Women Fully Clothed Invisible starts at 7 p.m. at the École secondaire catholique Thériault’s auditorium. Tickets are $40. Mike Charette & Brooke Bruce’s show starts at 9:30 p.m. at The Working Class and tickets are $10.

Tickets are available at Alfie’s Cigar Store, Wicked Stuff, The Working Class or online at www.lolsudbury.com/timmins.

Zacharie Fogal performs in concert at St. Matthew’s Anglican Cathedral, 331 Fifth Ave. on Friday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission by donation. Presented by Porcupine Music Festival.

Take Two Theatre is stating a production of Good Answer, written by Mark Montgomery and directed by Cass Lamarche, at Timmins High and Vocational School Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

On Friday, doors open at 6:15 p.m., show begins at 7 p.m., on Saturday, first performance is 12:30 p.m. with doors opening at noon. Second performance is 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. Sunday’s performance is 12:30 p.m. with doors opening at noon. Tickets are $30 and are available from Take Two Theatre members or from Altered Reality, Alfie’s Cigar Shop and EEGP Law Office.

The Timmins High & Vocational School Blues have officially bowed out of the 2019 OFSAA Boys ‘AA’ Basketball Championships after dropping a spirited consolation semifinal match to the Thornhill’s Thornlea Secondary School Thunder.

Wednesday’s semifinal between the host Blues, ranked No. 7 heading into the tournament, and the No. 11-ranked Thunder came down to the final seconds — with a number of lead changes in the final two minutes — with Thornlea prevailing 48-44.

In a bizarre twist, the Blues found themselves with too few fouls in the game’s dying minutes resulting in them having to take three fouls before they could get a Thunder player to the free throw line — costing valuable seconds.

With 33.8 seconds remaining on the clock, the Thunder guard Osagie Osagiede sank a pair of free throws to put Thornlea in front 47-44.

Then, after coughing the ball up and committing a series of fouls, the Blues sent Thornlea’s Kwabena Antwi to the free throw line with just 2.5 second remaining in regulation.

Antwi hit on just one of his two free-throw attempts, but it wouldn’t matter as there is no four-point line in high school basketball and the Blues just didn’t have enough time left to score, regain possession and score again.

The Blues got off to a solid start in the contest, building an 11-7 lead in the opening quarter.

Things fell apart in the second quarter, however, with the Thunder outscoring the Blues 20-11 to take a 27-22 lead into the halftime break.

The Blues battled back to tie things up at 32-32 after three quarters, but they once again stumbled in the fourth quarter, resulting in the four-point loss.

While the Thunder are a junior squad featuring eight Grade 9 students and one Grade 10, they certainly were not over-matched in the OFSAA tournament that featured 19 senior squads.

Vasean Allette finished with 16 points to lead all Thunder scorers, while Preston Gayle chipped in with seven points and Osagiede added six points.

Thunder coach Sean Bookal admitted Wednesday’s consolation semifinal was a bit of a nail-biter.

“We wanted to make them shoot the basketball,” he said.

“I told our guys they weren’t going to beat us with the three ball and we just wanted to pack in the paint.

“They were just beating us off the bounce the whole game, so we wanted to switch it up and play a little bit of zone towards the end.

“They are a really good team in terms of being disciplined and just taking gaps. We wanted to close as many gaps as we could. We wanted to make them a three-point shooting team.”

Bookal had a pretty good idea of what to expect from TH&VS in Wednesday’s consolation semifinal.

“We knew they were going to come out with high energy,” he said.

“We just wanted to stay low on defence and make them beat us off the bounce. They did a phenomenal job of just being solid fundamentally. They are a really good team that drives and kicks really well.

“We just wanted to be able to put them in pressure points they were not used to and we did a good job of that, I think.”

Bookal agreed their was plenty of intensity displayed by both sides in the contest.

“We pride ourselves with being the only junior program to go far in OFSAA,” he said.

“We are obviously not going to get a first-, second- or third-place medal, but we wanted to have a good showing as a junior program.

“We take pride in looking to change history and make history at the same time. So, we are going to play all out. Our guys have nothing to lose.”

A number of Thunder players impressed their coach with their hustle on Wednesday.

“Vasean Allette played really well, I thought,” Bookal said.

“Kwabena Antwi played really well, also. Osagie made some key free throws at the end, that really helped us push the lead and solidified us playing zone even more.

“Those three guys in particular played really well throughout the game today.”

Bookal and his Thunder were really excited to be in Timmins for OFSAA, although they found the weather a little overwhelming.

“Timmins is a great place, although it is a little cold but our guys are excited to be here,” he said.

“We don’t see snowbanks this high back home.”

Brayden Inishinipay hit for 13 points to lead all Blues in the contest.

Jeremy Duguay, with 10 points, was also in double figures for TH&VS, while Jack Hagerty added nine points in his final game with the Blues.

Tyler Marcotte finished with six points, all on three-point baskets, while Ethan Miron chipped in with four points.

Blues coach Peter Graham was also impressed by the level of intensity displayed by both squads.

“Both teams were still playing to prolong their seasons and also to try and get to a final,” he said.

“It was a fun atmosphere with two teams that went on runs at different times. We just didn’t go on a run at the right time.”

Graham acknowledged the 20 points the Blues allowed the Thunder to put up in the second quarter was a big factor in the outcome.

“Certainly, that is something we never want to do against any team,” he said.

“Turnovers hurt us at that point and then down the stretch we had some challenges getting around their length to the rim.

“As the game went on, I thought we did a better job of handling the press. Guys stuck to the game plan and did it to the best of their abilities.

“That is the only thing any Timmins High boys basketball coach has ever asked of their teams — play to the best of your ability. I felt like we did that today, for the most part.”

Graham agreed the Blues’ lack of fouls late in the contest — normally a good thing — was part of their undoing Wednesday.

“I guess it was a gift and a curse that way,” he said.

“I thought our defence had been pretty good, keeping their hands off.

“With about 2:10 left, I took a peak at that and (Blues assistant coach Wayne Bozzer) Bozz and I started to think about the next part of it.

“That was a factor, but we had a chance to get a steal right at the end, but the ball end through our fingers.

“We have said all season we just want a chance in the fourth quarter, be close to good teams and we were there today.

“We wish Thornlea good luck in the consolation final, but I can’t put into words how proud I am of the Timmins High boys basketball program and how proud I am of Jack Hagerty.”

Jack Hagerty, the heart and soul of the Blues squad, is the only player not eligible to return to the team next season.

“What a great leader he was, right up until the last possession,” Graham said.

“He was great during time outs and great in the huddle, always positive with his teammates.

“What he did every day will trickle through with the rest of the guys who will be returning, but right now our focus is just on celebrating our season.

“We won almost 40 games, we won tournaments, we made it to finals, we travelled all over the province and into Quebec.

“The guys did great in the classroom, as well, and I am proud of them. I think the community is proud of them and I know the school board is very proud of them.”

The coach was also pleased with the performance of a number other Blues players in the consolation semifinal.

“Brayden Inishinipay, I think, had the best tournament of his high school career,” Graham said.

“Owen Hagerty, once he settled down on offence, certainly gave us a lift. Jeremy Duguay was tenacious on defence and just dialled in on offence. He did whatever he could on offence to help us.”

After being knocked out of the championship side of the bracket earlier in the day on Tuesday, the Blues defeated Guelph’s No. 14-ranked St. James Lions 48-35.

The game was relatively close through the first two quarters, with the Blues outscoring the Lions 8-7 and 12-8 to take a 20-15 lead into the halftime break.

TH&VS pulled away in the third quarter, however, outscoring St. James 16-6 and they never looked back.

Miron hit for a game-high 22 points to pace the attack for the Blues, while Jack Hagerty, with 11 points, was also in double figures.

Owen Hagerty chipped in with six points, while Duguay contributed five points.

Matt Sanvido finished with 11 points to key the offence for the Lions, while Alex Garbuio added nine points.

On the championship side of the draw, Windsor’s No. 1-seeded Kennedy Collegiate Clippers sailed into Wednesday night’s gold medal game by knocking off Toronto’s No. 4-seeded Crescent Coyotes 58-49 in one semifinal.

The other saw Toronto’s No. 2 Westview Centennial Wildcats claw their way past St. Catharines’ No. 6-ranked Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School Phoenix 61-44.

Details from Wednesday night’s gold medal game were not available at press time.

The Jack Hagerty era of Timmins High & Vocational School basketball officially came to an end at O’Gorman High School on Wednesday.

Hagerty’s Blues dropped a 48-44 decision to Thornhill’s Thornlea Secondary School Thunder during a consolation semifinal game at the 2019 OFSAA Boys ‘AA’ Basketball Championships.

“Obviously, this is not the way I wanted to end my career with the Blues, but our guys did a great job throughout every game,” he said following Wednesday’s defeat.

“They gave it everything they had and that’s all I could ask.”

Hagerty was not surprised to see such a close game in Wednesday’s consolation semifinal.

“It’s OFSAA and you have the 20 best teams in the province competing and everybody wants to win,” he said.

“So, every game is going to be competitive and if you don’t bring your A game, you won’t win.”

Wednesday’s contest culminated a five-year career in a Blues uniform for Hagerty.

“The highlight that stands out the most for me is definitely every game our team won during that time, especially the games where we were the underdogs,” he said.

“There were some when I was in Grade 11, Grade 12 and this year and every single one of them you know you don’t have the best chance of winning and there are doubters in the crowd, but you find a way to get it done.

“It is great for the team and a great feeling as an individual.”

This was Hagerty’s third OFSAA as a member of the Blues and while he is the lone member of the team too old to return next season, he is confident the group he is leaving behind has the potential to get to a few more.

“These guys are very good,” he said.

“In my five years of playing here, this group works the hardest of any group I have been part of — especially our young guys, the Grade 11s.

“They are going to learn. They are going to get smarter than they are now and I know they will make a run at OFSAA again next year.”

One of the returning Blues is Hagerty’s younger brother, Owen.

“I had a blast playing with my brother,” he said.

“Ever since I started playing in Grade 9, Owen was playing on a team in Grade 7, so I said I am going to stay for Grade 13 because I wanted to play with him.

“I have had a great time. I have seen myself on camera yelling at him. I yelled at him every game, but it was all in love.

“I want him to be as good as he can be and I think he progressed really well throughout the year.”

Millions love the Black Sabbath sound in every corner of the world.

For 48 years, Black Sabbath toured the planet over and over, selling out stadiums and arenas spanning the continents.

But in 2017, they performed their final shows.

For all of us, including myself who never got a chance to see Black Sabbath live, there are tribute bands that will quench our thirst.

In the summer of 2018 at the Great Canadian Kayak Challenge, OZbourne an Ozzy/Black Sabbath Tribute made a lot of new fans in our city.

It was the talk of the town for the weekend and for the fans who missed that show, the band makes a triumphant return to Timmins at The Working Class on March 14.

Lead vocalist Anthony Ducharme told me the Timmins gig came about as a result of a chance meeting while here in town recently.

“I was in Timmins for a business trip and noticed a poster for the Kayak Festival and the lady at the front desk of the hotel suggested I should check it out. So with a night off I decided to go see what was up,” said Ducharme, speaking over the phone from his hometown in Winnipeg.

“The band Harlequin was headlining and they are from my neck of the woods, so I thought it would be a great way to spend an evening.

“I was standing by the soundboard which is the position players tend to take when checking out a show.

“Anyhow, I met a woman, Pauline, and she and her husband supplied the staging and sound for the event

“While standing there we began talking and I told her I had a Ozzy/Sabbath Tribute and she informed me that the organizer was Guy Lamarche and he loves that kind of stuff.

“She said go meet him, so I did and I played him a video and the rest is history.”

Ducharme has been in the music business about 30 years and did his first show at 16 years of age.

“I don’t think people realize how much effort and passion you have to put in a band to make it work at a professional level and then people expect you to play for free,” said Ducharme.

“I have sung multiple styles of music over the years from country to blues and of course rock — even some metal in my younger days covering Judas Priest and The Scorpions, etc.

“I guess you could say with cover bands you give the audience what they desire, a kind of a juke box effect.”

Even though the band is accustomed to playing bigger stages, Ducharme said they have no problem adjusting to the tighter stages of a bar gig.

“An Ozbourne show is geared for a large stage. But a smaller show gives the audience an up-close intimate experience and a greater relationship can be created with the audience.

“The first consideration that we as a band looked at when creating this kind of project was to pay homage to the music — for example, the studio albums.”

The stage presence, although very structured, works very well with their presentation.

“Yes being on point musically and stage wise was and still is a huge factor,” said Ducharme.

With such a vast catalogue of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne and so many great songs to choose from, Ducharme said he has a hard time choosing a favourite track or album.

“I will have to go with (the song) Paranoid it was so influential in my early music tutelage. As far as albums, the Sabotage album really expressed the band’s wide range of musical range from blues to jazz to rock, so many great textures it has to be my favourite.”

Guitarist Garrett Laye, bass guitarist Luke Bell and drummer Scotty “Rochester” Kelly will join Ducharme for a 90-minute high-energy show with songs covering the years from 1968 to the present, including songs from both the Sabbath and Ozzy catalogue.

Contact The Working Class for ticket details.

John Emms is a long-time musician in Timmins and writer of the local music scene.

As First Nation people, I know most of us worry about development on our lands by companies in mining, forestry, hydro and other resource sectors.

We come by these suspicions honestly, as we have been left out of the loop with all kinds of development on our traditional lands for a more than a hundred years.

When Europeans began to inhabit our lands, our ancestors signed treaties to share the wealth but these deals were never honoured. We instead became wards of the government and we were restricted to small parcels of land. Our culture, traditions and way of life was assaulted by the Europeans but surprisingly somehow we managed to survive.

These days we still operate with a lot of suspicion when anyone wants to come on to our lands and develop our resources.

In many cases First Nation communities and tribal councils get their backs up right away and go into fight mode. That is totally understandable but it probably is not the best way to make sure we get the benefits we want with any developments. On many levels, things have changed substantially with a more progressive and reasonable approach from industry and government in dealing with First Nations. Of course it helps that the courts have ruled that we must be consulted and recognized by anyone wanting to develop resources on our traditional lands.

My dad advised me that when you are dealing with powerful government and industry wanting to move on to your land, it is best to figure out how to sit down with them. This ensures we have input on protecting our lands, wildlife and waterways and that we get benefits from any initiatives. He believed in fighting for our rights and told me that sometimes the best way forward is not with conflict but through negotiation and leverage.

Recently, Wabun Tribal Council, here in Northeastern Ontario, followed through in that traditional wisdom of mutual respect. They made history when they negotiated with the Ontario government on the basis of resource revenue sharing.

For the first time in this country, Wabun and 32 First Nations will be provided with 40% of the annual mining tax and royalties from existing mines in areas covered by agreements, 45% from future mines and 45% from forestry stumpage.

Wabun negotiated this deal along with the Mushkegowuk Council and Grand Council Treaty No. 3 last year with the former Liberal provincial government.

The current Ontario government has given the go-ahead and money should start flowing to these First Nations this fall. That is a huge deal.

Never in our wildest dreams did we think that something like this could be achieved but there is a reason for this success. It has to do with management and leadership. That boils down to the talent, expertise, vision and tenacity of some very clever First Nation people.

Shawn Batise, former executive director of Wabun and his brother Jason Batise who currently holds that position, were instrumental in working with the Wabun Chiefs, councils and their staff to come up with this idea and then to drive it to reality.

Both of them grew up in a family that gave them exposure and experience in the Native and non-Native world. Their parents Barney and Doreen made sure they had a modern education and knowledge about their ancestral past.

They were guided by their father, a former Chief of Matachewan First Nation and a founding member of Wabun. They also had the benefit of working in the mining industry early on in their careers which gave them an insight on how these huge operations work.

Over the years, they acquired skills in research, strategic thinking and planning and negotiation. Twenty years ago, nobody here heard of Memorandums of Understanding or Impact and Benefits Agreements but Shawn and Jason were the first Indigenous people I knew of to push forward these strategies.

Did they have to stand their ground and fight for the rights of Native people where resource companies were coming onto the traditional lands to explore and develop resource projects? Yes, make no mistake about it, Barney, Jason and Shawn are fighters but they also excelled in negotiating fairness at the meeting table with these industry folk who wanted to move ahead with development. They did it under the vision and guidance of their Chiefs and Elders as well as the input and support of their First Nation members.

Today, the Wabun First Nations are so very different compared to what I experienced more than 20 years ago. Their people are working, taking all kinds of training for employment and starting businesses. Wabun First Nations have health services, educational support, housing developments and ongoing infrastructure being put in place.

Our First Nations are growing stronger and examples such as Wabun are showing the future of what our communities can achieve. It means independence and freedom with the ability to self-govern instead of being controlled by government and ignored by industry. This is what every First Nation strives for and I am happy to see that it is a path that more of our people are following.

There are no excuses for boredom next week. There is something to do in Timmins for children and adults of all ages this March Break.

Tourism Timmins has released the list of events early as some require pre-registration to participate.

• March 11-15: Free sponsored swims at the Archie Dillon Sportsplex Pool on Monday, Wednesday and from 1:15 pm to 2:45 p.m. sponsored by Tim Hortons. There will also be free swims the same time on Tuesday and Thursday sponsored by Caisse Populaire;

• March 11-15: There are special events planned every day during March Break at both the Timmins Public Library and CM Sheilds Library in South Porcupine. Call 705-360-2623 for more information;

• March 11-15: Digital Creator Make-a-Thon and March Break Activities will be taking place at the Timmins Museum. Call the Timmins Museum at 705-360-2617 to register;

• March 11-15: Art & Soul Creative Studio March Break will be hosting a number of events throughout the week. Call 705-579-2182 for more information.;

• March 12: Free skate at Whitney Arena sponsored by Charlie Angus MP and Gilles Bisson MPP from 12:30 p.m. to 2:20 p.m.;

• March 12: Weekly Evening Snowshoe at Porcupine Ski Runners. This event is open to everyone. Bring a headlamp or flashlight to join. Membership or day pass is required to participate. Rentals are available. See website for details. Day passes are adult $5, senior $3, teen $2, child $1. Rentals are adult $7, senior/teen $6, child $5;

• March 12: Timmins Rock Fundraiser second-annual comedy show featuring Colin Mochrie and Deb McGrath. Tickets can be purchased at www.timminsrock.com;

• March 14: Free skate at Archie Dillon Sportsplex sponsored by Charlie Angus MP and Gilles Bisson MPP from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.;

• March 14-15: YMCA Kidproof Home Alone Course. This is a two-hour course that is an interactive, participatory program that is designed to teach children to make safe choices when they are at home alone. It is for children ages 10 to14 and the cost is $25. Payment must be made upon registration, prior to the day of the course in order to hold your child’s spot. Contact the YMCA’s main office to register. Limited spaces available. Registration forms can be found at

http://timminsymca.org/ or at the main office;

• March 17: Brush Strokes Timmins Event. Includes paint, brushes, 11-by-14 canvas and apron. Ages 3 and over. Arrive by 1 p.m. to check in, find a seat and grab a drink. Light snacks will be available free of charge, and a cash bar will be open for drinks. Your reservation will only be held for 24 hours. If payment is not received during this time, your reservation cannot be guaranteed. Register at

https://www.brushstrokes-timmins.com/events/tdh_social;

• Neo Laser Tag will be open during the March Break with $5 laser tag and $5 access to the kid’s zone. For more information visit them at 440 Algonquin Blvd. E., Unit 5, call 705-531-4824 or check out at www.neolasertag.com;

• Cedar Meadows will be running Wildlife Tours 3 p.m. daily.

• Throughout the week there will be tubing and downhill skiing at Kamiskotia Snow Resort. For more information, visit online at www.kamiskotia.com;

• Porcupine Ski Runners has trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Call 705-360-1444 for more details; and

• Timmins Cinema 6 will be offering regular times and matinees.

The Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) is launching a Nutrition Month campaign in March focussing on the social aspects of food.

This year’s campaign focuses on food’s potential to bring people together by enjoying meals with others.

Dietitians at the PHU say there are many benefits to eating with family and friends. For example, eating with others promotes healthy patterns, including eating more nutritious foods such as fruits and vegetables as well as foods with more fibre, vitamins and minerals. People are then less likely to skip meals and eat unhealthy foods (like fried foods, sodas and foods high in saturated and trans fats).

“Eating with others encourages people to make connections, and strengthen relationships,” said Amy Boucher, a dietetic intern at the Porcupine Health Unit.

This applies to families, the elderly and individuals living alone, she added.

“We encourage families to eat together regularly, and those who live alone to share mealtime with friends and participate in meal programs available to them,” said Boucher.

Victoria Hall, a registered dietitian at the Porcupine Health Unit, said, “Foods prepared outside of the home are typically higher in fats, salt and sugar.”

Hall said consuming these higher-in-fat foods often raises the risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

“Healthy eating habits are more likely to be established through meal planning and cooking at home more often.”

Hall noted that families can involve children in food preparation to help them gain confidence in the kitchen, increase their knowledge about food and develop cooking skills to benefit them in the future.

The health unit dieticians suggest screen time during meals should be limited because of how it can affect our food preferences and choices.

Boucher said, “Watching television or playing on our phones at meal time is associated with distracted and mindless eating.

“When we eat mindlessly, we don’t pay attention to what and how much of what we eat and tend to over eat unhealthy foods.”