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By Ron P. Coderre
This week’s sporty hello goes out to Putnam resident Ray Bourque. Not to be confused with former Boston Bruin Hall-of-Famer Raymond Bourque #77, our Mr. Bourque is noted for his former exploits in the Putnam Men’s Rec Basketball League. He was a natural athlete who had leaping ability par excellence.
Local youth hockey players continue to make the news as they carry our area’s name to far away hockey destinations. The newest young hockey phenom is Ryan Black.
Ryan, who plays for the 99 Providence Capitals Elite, is on his way to the Quebec International Hockey Tournament. The Elites are one of two teams representing New England. The 12 year old has been a member of the team for three years. He originally cut his hockey teeth in the Griffin Youth Hockey league at the ripe old age of 4.
Last year, Ryan was chosen to play for Team Connecticut, an all-star team composed of the best nine forwards and six defensemen. The Connecticut team represented our fair state in the New England Yankee Conference showcase. He’s also played in The Metropolitan Boston Hockey League and currently competes in the Eastern Hockey Federation.
The Pee Wee International Quebec Hockey Tournament is in its 53rd year. It’s the largest youth hockey tournament held in Canada and is likened to the Little League World Series in the United States. The tournament, contested at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, attracts more than 200,000 fans with the playoff round live on national television.
The tournament, which originated in 1959, showcases teams from 16 countries. Some greats who have made an impact in the national Hockey League include Brad Park, Guy LaFleur, Marcel Dionne, Wayne Gretsky and Mario Lemieux. Participants also enjoy a fantastic cultural experience and are provided outside the classroom learning opportunities that remain with them for life.
Ryan, who is the son of Paul and Susan Black, also plays soccer, lacrosse and baseball.
Another Milestone Achiever…
In my many years of covering local athletes I can’t remember a season where so many players reached the 1000-point career plateau. This season’s 1000-pointers started with Kristian Medina and Hailey Griffin. Most recent entrants included Eddie Kopacz, Megan Gaudreau and Dino Porcic.
This week the quintet is joined by Marianapolis senior Melanie Mills. Her milestone achievement occurred in a late January contest against Buckingham Browne & Nichols. She joins former Lady Knight greats Irene Altdorf and Lynne Quintal-Hill who played for coach Jim Lucason in the early-'80s. Other members of the exclusive club include Jeannette Bugajski and Stacey Baron from 1995 and a member of last year’s team, Alyson Stolz. Mills is in striking distance of surpassing the career-leader Bugajski, who recorded 1150 points.
Mills, who plays for coach Charlie Baron, is the daughter of Donald and Cynthia Mills. She also plays volleyball and softball at Marianapolis.
Taking Care of Our Troops…
Three local individuals serving in ‘harm’s way’ recently were the recipients of a combined 210 pounds of assorted goodies sent to them courtesy of Putnam area veterans from the Class of ’57 and American Legion Post #13. The goodies were collected through efforts in December that took place in the WINY Radio parking lot and at Russ’ Kawasaki.
The recipients were U.S. Navy CPO Emily Bathgate of Pomfret, Army Sp 4 Matt Hill of Woodstock, and Cpl. Ernest Wetzel of Woodstock and the United States Marine Corps. Also included in the mailing was Marine Cpl. Ervin Tejeda of Brockton, Mass., who is allied with Wetzel.
The local collection effort was headed by former Putnam High School football player and Army veteran Russ Waters. Waters was a hard charging fullback for coach Jim Greenhalgh in the ‘70s. He was joined in the effort by Post #13 Commander Barney Seney, and Post members Donald Steinbrick and Ron Desrochers, and Post #111 member Todd Stevenson.
Anyone who knows of local military personnel serving in Afghanistan should contact Waters at Russ’ Kawasaki.
ECC Tournament Taking the Spotlight…
According to Woodstock Academy Director of Athletic Chris Coderre, who is a member of the Eastern Connecticut Conference Boys’ Basketball Tournament Committee, the tourney tipped off on Wednesday with play-in contests at five high school sites.
Along with the bracket and pairings, Coderre released the seeding for the tournament. Teams are seeded based on records, regardless of division. The 2012 ECC Tournament championship will be competed for by 13 teams that qualified. Only three teams from northeastern Connecticut will see action, Tourtellotte, Woodstock and Plainfield. The Tigers are seeded seventh; Woodstock ninth; and Plainfield 12th. All three fall below the half way mark in the rankings.
There’s been much discussion lately regarding the ECC and how it’s dominated in most sports by the larger schools from the Southeast. There’s some thinking about forming another league, similar to the old Quinebaug Valley Conference, which may not be a bad idea. Wheeler High School in North Stonington has been discussing the probability of exiting the ECC and joining the CSC.
The CSC may not be the answer either, because it’s spread throughout Connecticut and has similar difficulties with some bigger top heavy schools. Regardless, it’s probably time for some rational thinking individuals to get together and do some exploring.
In the meantime, root for the locals in the ECC Tournament, despite the fact that the odds (the casinos are in the Southeast also) are stacked against the trio. Enjoy the tourney which will have quarterfinal games at St. Bernard High Schools and the semifinals and finals at (16-0 New London, oops) the home of the Whalers.
RPC’s Closing Thought For The Day: When in doubt, punt.