(Editor’s Note: This is the second of a three-part series on Pictou County sports in 2017, a series that will run through Saturday. If you feel your big moment – or someone else’s – was overlooked, please contact us at [email protected] and tell us about it.)
MAY
• Pictou-based boxer Brody Blair made his professional debut on May 27, winning the bout on a TKO. In November, he improved his pro record to 2-0.
• On May 14, roughly 750 people took part in the Miss Miles Mother’s Day 5K Classic in New Glasgow.
• Tragedy struck the Pictou County sports scene on May 19, when former Junior Scotians hockey player Kale Mason died in a swimming accident at Park Falls. The 19-year-old Mason had been a member of the 2016 NNEC high school rugby and hockey teams, both of which won provincial championships in 2016.
• On May 22, more than 350 runners took part in the annual Joe Earle Memorial Road Races.
• The NRHS Nighthawks won a regional boys rugby banner by beating the NNEC Gryphons 29-17 in the regional title game. The rugby girls at NNEC also won regionals.
• The Pictou County Recreation & Athletic Society won Association of the Year honours at the Support4SportsAwards.
JUNE
• On June 1, the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame announced that New Glasgow native Colin White would be a member of the 2017 induction class. White is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the New Jersey Devils and played 13 NHL seasons, 12 of them with New Jersey.
“This is something I take a lot of pride in,” White told The News.
“It’s obviously an honour, to be in a class of those calibre of people. I wasn’t expecting it, that’s for sure.”
• On the weekend of June 2-3, the NNEC Gryphons captured a provincial girls fastball championship, going undefeated in the tournament.
• Albion Amateur Boxing Club coach Al Archibald was named Volunteer of the Year at the Sports Nova Scotia awards, and Norma Marshall won Female Boxer of the Year.
• On the weekend of June 17-18, some 30 Pictou County Special Olympics athletes competed at the Summer Games in Antigonish and combined to win 47 medals.
• Nine Pictou County athletes won gold medals at the 2017 NSSAF track and field provincials. The NRHS Nighthawks 4X400 relay team (Brett Corbin, Duncan Corbin, Dan Stewart and Luc Corbin) captured their event, as did Jenna Reid of Pictou Academy (Intermediate javelin), Lauren Quann of Pictou Academy (high jump), Myla Briand of PA (junior girls hurdles), Brett Corbin also won the Intermediate boys long jump and Tatum McLean of NRHS won senior shot put.
• On June 18, Scotsburn’s Dave MacLennan placed second in the Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow. Dave Hood (fourth) and Scott Langille (seventh) were other Top 10 local finishers.
JULY
• Winners of numerous individual medals, Pictou Couny Athletics was also the Top Team at the Atlantic track and field championships, held in Stellarton on the weekend of July 22-23.
• On July 21, retired NHLer and hockey hall-of-fame member Dale Hawerchuk was the marquee guest at the annual Scott Weeks Charity Golf Tournament.
• On July 23, a record 170 people took part in the Melmerby Triathlon. Greenhill’s Ryan MacDonald was the top finisher in the Olympic distance, with a time of 2:08.57.
AUGUST
• A large group of Pictou County athletes took part at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Flin Flon, Man., and while they came home without medals, they’re richer for the experiences gained there. Pictou Landing’s Randall Bernard came within one game of securing a bronze medal with the men’s softball team.
List of Pictou County athletes who competed at the 2017 Canada Games: Heather Beaton, Randall Bernard, Peter Corbin, Logan Coulet, Megan Graham, Jaren Johnson, Jenna MacDonald, Lucia MacKay, Tatum McLean, Kelyn Palmer, Breanna Sandluck, Kaelan Schmidt, Tim Shea, Courtney Smith, Hilary Taylor, Jake Temple, Lauren Quann.
• The Pictou County Junior Scotians promoted assistant coach Brandon Verge to the position of head coach, after the resignation of Al Whidden.
• On Aug. 13, Pictou-based Kong Freight Racing placed third at the Cat 250, held at Scotia Speedworld outside Halifax.
• Also on Aug. 13, the Stellarton Stingers U12 fastpitch squad won a provincial championship on their home field.
• Mid-August saw Stellarton’s Parker Swain win three medals at the National Youth Track and Field Nationals. Swain, competing with 10 other Pictou County athletes in Brandon, Man., won gold in the discus, and bronze in both the shot put and hammer throw. Heath Miller of Merigomish was third in the javelin event (Youth).
• Garret Holmes helped organize the 4th annual Swing for Tourette Lob Ball tournament in Trenton. Around $3,000 was expected to be raised for the Tourette’s Syndrome Foundation of Canada.
• In late-August, internationally renowned figure skating coach Doug Leigh conducted a seminar with Mariposa East skaters at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
