Photo cutline: The Novice Muskrat Voyageurs are participating in the International Silver Stick Hockey Tournament in Pelham, Ontario in January 2018. Team members are, front row from left, Jakob Dumouchel and Callum Kenny. Second row from left, Nolan Lang, Jaxson Allmand, Colten Vereyken, Cedrik Dionne, Wyatt Lang and Jack Lynch. Third row from left: Lou Danis, Seamus Darrah and Andrew Enright. Bench staff from left, manager Michelle Allmand, trainer Greg Kenny, assistant coach Jeff Vereyken and head coach Mark Lang. Photo submitted
By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION — Eleven young lads are hoping for community support as they prepare to compete in the International Silver Stick Tournament in Pelham, Ontario early next year.
The Novice Muskrat Voyageurs won six games in the recent regional Silver Stick Tournament in Pembroke for the opportunity to compete in the international event, which is January 11 to 14, 2018. This is the second year in a row the novice team is going to the international event, however, only three of the players are from last year’s team.
The team is now hoping to raise about $6,000 to cover transportation costs to the event, said Michelle Allmand, the team manager.
She has started a gofundme page titled Shooting for Silver Stick and so far has one donation of $300.
The team is also sending out sponsorship letters to businesses and organizations throughout the area as well as in the Fort Coulonge area, as a few team members come from there, she said.
Ms. Allmand noted there’s not much time to organize a fundraiser, especially with the Christmas season soon here, so the sponsorship and gofundme page seems the best way to go.
“We’re hoping the local people will sponsor the team,” she said.
The Muskrat Voyageurs will pay the entry fee for the team, as well as provide pins for trading at the tournament, Ms. Allmand added. There will be just over 700 teams at the event.
The team’s home tournament has been cancelled, because it’s the same weekend as the international tournament. She noted this is another way the team makes money, however, that will have to wait. And, she added, it can’t be done before, so there’s hope it can be re-scheduled later in the season.
This international tournament is “pretty exciting for the kids,” she said. “We’re a small team, with only 11 kids. But, we’re a good little team. We’ve only lost one game all season so far.
“They’re pretty pumped.”
If anyone is interested in donating to the team, or sponsoring the team, please call Ms. Allmand, 613-582-3800.
