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Sudbury Playground Hockey - and so much more
2025-01-16
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With more than seventy years of experience behind them, the Sudbury Playground Hockey League (SPHL) collective seem to have this whole “kids hockey thing” down pretty much pat – largely because they know that this is about far more than just hockey.

As the SPHL teams contested their annual in-house tournament this past weekend at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex, off-ice stories shared equal billing with the on-ice drama – in a very good way.

The 14th Annual Police Cup / SPHL Tournament once again celebrated the involvement of the GSPS (Greater Sudbury Police Services) via undertakings such as the Chiefs Youth Initiative Fund and the Sudbury Police Association.

“They have been tremendous champions of this tournament,” noted SPHL treasurer, Mickey Mouse Division convenor and twenty year volunteer Marisue James. “They do the majority of the fundraising for us.”

This event, however, runs full circle as SPHL players and parents embrace the “Play it Forward” weekend challenge in support of the Sudbury Food Bank – with more than $3800 raised and two tons of food collected over the course of the past few days.

“I am very much a proponent that kids need to learn that it’s not only about taking, but also about giving back when you can,” explained James. “I was thinking about what our kids could do that would be relatable for them and came up with this program.”

With then GSPS Chief Paul Pederson also involved as a board member of the Sudbury Food Bank at the time, the fit was only natural – as has been the involvement of folks like Claudio Clarini and the remainder of those who assist with the Ten Rainbows Foundation.

Launched in 1992 through the efforts of co-workers with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB), Ten Rainbows has become not only an integral part of the fundraising landscape for a diverse cross section of worthy causes, but also a key contributor in allowing the SPHL to fulfil its mandate to provide a low-cost houseleague hockey alternative to the standard far more expensive offerings.

“We try and minimize our costs and help as many children in the community as possible,” noted Clarini, all while acknowledging that the Ten Rainbow efforts would simply not be possible without the incredible support of Sudbury Charities and Delta Gaming Bingo.

The crossover to the SPHL dates back to Sudbury Sports Hall of Famer Larry Rubic, who passed away back in 2009. “He always tried to help out kids that needed equipment,” said Clarini. “In his memory, each and every year, we go and buy a handful of full sets of equipment and donate it to the SPHL.”

All of which helps contribute to the on-ice excitement, of which there was plenty.

Among the highlights was an Atom final that went to overtime as Oliver Duquette scored with 90 seconds to play to deadlock the Lo-Ellen Lightning – Algonquin Hawks contest at 4-4 before sending the LOE fans into a frenzy, netting the game-winner in period number four.

Duquette would finish with a hat trick on the day, joined on the scoresheet by Lightning teammates Lyvleigh Tolkacz and William Walker with Dominic Whynott (2), Mickey Edsall and Charlie Napier answering in a losing cause.

Of course, no SPHL championship day would seemingly be complete without the requisite matchup of the now Bantam-aged lads who suit up with the Kivi Park Thunder and Lo-Ellen Lightning.

“There are very competitive, very passionate hockey players on both sides – and we’re all good to each other,” noted Kivi Park blueliner Bennett Timmers, his team squeezing out a 2-1 gold medal win this time around courtesy of markers from Liam Ng and Ben Lamarche (Ewan Duncan scored for Lo-Ellen).

Fifteen years-old and in grade 10 at Lively District Secondary School, Timmers is likely more well-known as the feature running back with the highly touted Lively Hawks junior football team last fall, a young man who often appeared more than happy to run over opponents than around them.

Not exactly a strategy that SPHL friendships on competing teams are forged in.

“I’ve got to really think about what I am about to do (on the ice),” said Timmers with a laugh, acknowledging that he carries a vastly different mindset to the hockey rink than he does to the football field.

“I take my football really serious,” noted the ultra polite and very well-spoken teenager. “I love playing hockey because I am enjoying my time there with my friends. I’ve been playing for about eight years now with the same people all the way through.”

The lowest scoring final of the day also featured a game plan that is honestly seldom seen in the SPHL ranks. “We just had to lock down on defense and make sure that they didn’t get in our end for too long,” said Timmers. “We could always dump the puck, if needed.”

In other finals, a four goal effort from Jaxon Lewis powered the Algonquin Hawks Peewees to an 8-3 win over Lo-Ellen as Tavish Irving, Kurtis Whynott, Austin Bailey and Hudson Schmidt chipped in with one goal apiece.

Jakob Tremblay replied with a two-goal performance for Lo-Ellen, with Carter Crichton also finding the back of the net once. The Novice final turned out to be a bit of a lopsided affair, unfortunately, as the one-two punch of Nicolas Belisle (3 goals) and Charlie Fortin (2) proved to be too much for the Cedar Park Red Wings to contain as Algonquin posted a 7-0 win on Sunday.

Grayson Quesnelle and Zxander Theriault added one goal apiece as tournament organizers wasted little time turning their attention to January of 2026.

“I’ve always said that as long as I can bend down and pick up a four year old off the ice, I will continue to do this,” said Marisue James, with a smile. “The group of people that I have worked with on the executive just really work well together.”

“I’ve always had fun with the kids and saw how important it was to provide a hockey program like playground hockey.”

With registration fees ranging from $265 to $575 for the winter and games scheduled only on weekends, all contested in rinks in the city proper, Sudbury Playground Hockey enjoys an appeal all its own.

It’s an SPHL uniqueness that shines through, in every corner of the rink.

Golf Sudbury