The Athenaeum

Tag: hockey

  • Axemen end season on sour note

    The U SPORTS No. 7 ranked Acadia Axemen (11-5-2) ended the first half of their season on a sour note, losing 3-2 in OT to the No. 2 UNB Varsity Reds (15-0-3).

    Acadia held the lead twice in the game, but the league’s best V-Reds answered back each time.

    The Axemen head into the holiday break with fourth place in the AUS standings.

    The first period was dominated by the Axemen, as they outshot UNB 12-7 and took a 1-0 lead into the second frame.

    Axemen forward Boston Leier scored at 6:07 in the opening period when he picked up the puck off the back boards and fired it past UNB’s goalie Alex Dubeau to ignite the home crowd.

    UNB responded with a strong second period, where they dominated most of the play and outscored the Axemen 2-1 in the period to tie the game 2-2 heading into the final frame.

    The Varsity Reds tied the game a little over three minutes into the second period, when UNB forward Stephen Anderson scored on a wrist shot in tight of the Axemen net.

    Acadia regained the lead 10 seconds later when Axemen forward Kyle Farrell scored high blocker on a breakaway.

    UNB tied the game again late in the period, with a power-play marker from defenseman Olivier LeBlanc.

    Although both teams had their chances in the third, neither were able to break the tie and so the game headed to OT.

    UNB defenseman and Subway First Star of the Game, Matt Murphy scored 16 seconds into OT to end the game.

    A dejected Axemen squad was well represented by captain Liam Maaskant’s thoughts following the game.

    “In the first period, we just wanted to get shots on net. I think we had a great first period, we came out hard. The second period is when they got their chances and took advantage. In the third period, we definitely battled back and we had twenty guys in the room who bought in for the third period. We played them hard and just a couple of bounces didn’t go our way and as a result, we just got one point,” said Maaskant.

    Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves stopped 29 of 32 shots on the night, while his UNB counterpart Dubeau turned aside 21 of 23.

    Acadia was unable to make use of their power-play, going 0-for-6 on the night, while the Varsity Reds were not much better at 1-for-6.

    The Axemen defeated the UPEI Panthers 6-3 in the first of two home games this weekend before the Christmas break. Axemen forward and Subway First Star of the Game Boston Leier scored two goals on the night to help the Axemen secure the win.

    Acadia was strong offensively in the first and held a 3-0 lead heading into the second period.

    Axemen forward and Third Star of the Game, Chance Braid, opened the scoring, lifting the puck past the left shoulder of the Panthers’ goalie Matt Mahalak, knocking the water bottle off the top of the net in the process.

    Adding to their lead, Axemen forward Boston Leier scored a power-play marker late in the period.

    Leier added another goal with 1.6 seconds remaining in the opening period, with a wrist shot over the left shoulder of the UPEI goalie to give the Axemen a 3-0 lead into the locker room.

    “We wanted to come out strong and we didn’t necessarily execute the game plan. We took a couple early penalties. It’s a little harder when you are up against the ropes right off the bat, but we battled off those penalties, got a couple of goals, which is nice and it’s always good to get a good lead,” commented Leier after the game.

    The Panthers and Axemen each added a goal in the second to make it 4-1 heading into the final frame.

    UPEI scored on their fifth power-play of the game, off a low wrist shot from Second Star of the Game, Beau McCue.

    Acadia responded with a goal in the last minute of the second from rookie forward Owen MacDonald, who was left wide open in front and made no mistake on the pass from Remy Giftopoulos.

    Both teams added two goals in the third period, with both teams scoring an even-strength and power-play goal.

    Ryan Foss went end-to-end with the puck and tucked it through the legs of the Panthers goalie for a highlight reel goal.

    The Panthers added two late goals from forward Brent Andrews and Cody Payne.

    Axemen goaltender Robert Steeves turned aside 21 of 24 shots, while Mahalak stopped 21 of 27 shots.

    The Axemen will take to the ice in 2018 in Wolfville on Friday, Jan. 5 as they host the Moncton Aigles Bleus, while the Varsity Reds host Dalhousie on the same night. Puck drop for both games is 7:00 p.m.

  • Harper showing quiet leadership for hockey Axemen

    It takes a special type of player, with a particular blend of skills, to have a real impact in Canadian university hockey today. It’s becoming more apparent by the day that second-year hockey Axeman Stephen Harper is one of those players.

    A 22-year-old native of Burlington, ON, Harper arrived at Acadia in the fall of 2016 after a solid major junior career in the OHL. The fact that he spent time with several different organizations is more a reflection of his being in demand than not being wanted or appreciated.

    A more telling fact is that Harper, who stands 6’3”, weighs 215 pounds and is a strong skater with solid hockey instincts, has had four invites to NHL training camps, most recently that of the Ottawa Senators in 2016.

    “I started out in Erie,” he said of his major junior career. “Then I went to (a rebuilding program) in Belleville, which then switched cities and became Hamilton. I did pretty well there, and I was close enough to live at home.”

    His final year in major junior, “I was an overager, and I was traded again, to Niagara. That ended up okay, we made it to the OHL final” before losing to a London Knights team that went on to capture the 2016 Memorial Cup.

    Between Hamilton and Niagara, Harper had 25 goals and 71 points in 68 regular season games his final season in junior, then added 16 points, including six goals, in 17 playoff games.

    Harper termed the NHL camp invites – first Philadelphia, then Los Angeles, San Jose and Ottawa – as “unbelievable, a great experience. They were crazy, but in a good way. It’s rigorous, and you’re pushed to your limit, but it’s worth it for the experience.”

    As for how he came to play university hockey for Acadia, Harper acknowledged, “during my OHL days, my focus was on signing an NHL contract. If that didn’t happen, I had to look at my future.”

    After finishing junior, he received “a couple of AHL offers,” but ultimately “decided to go to university and get a degree. I can still play hockey afterwards if that ends up happening.”

    Once he chose the Canadian university stream, Harper did his research “on the best universities for both hockey and school.” He received “multiple offers, from almost every CIS school,” but eventually narrowed his choices down to Ryerson (in Ontario), Acadia, Saint Mary’s and UPEI.

    There were “a lot of factors” involved in his decision, including scholarship funding. “I decided to come east. This looked like a really competitive conference, I was happy with what Acadia had to offer,

    and Burnsie (Axemen head coach Darren Burns) is a good recruiter.”

    As well, some former Erie teammates, notably Brett Thompson and Mike Cazzola, had chosen Acadia. Cazzola had just graduated by the time Harper arrived, but Thompson was in his fifth and final year.

    Because of attending the Ottawa training camp, Harper was late arriving at Acadia. Then an injury cost him a few more games.

    Asked if he found the adjustment from major junior to university hockey difficult, Harper said, “the on-ice part wasn’t a big adjustment. The biggest thing was being back in school. I hadn’t really taken classes since I finished high school.

    “Having classes, doing schoolwork and then having a game that night took some getting used to. Since I found the right balance, it’s been great.”

    Harper finished his first season at Acadia with nine goals and 25 points in 26 games, good enough to earn a berth on the AUS All-Rookie team. He acknowledged, “if I had been able to be in school earlier, I might have ended up with better stats.”

    As it was, he ended up with a trip to the University Cup, and was part of a U Sports national bronze medal-winning team. He had five goals and eight points in eight playoff games, and added a goal in a 4-1 win over Alberta at the University Cup.

    “I was happy with my year, but I knew I could do better,” he said. He has certainly done that. As of Nov. 23, he was leading the AUHC this season with 29 points, including 11 goals, in 14 games.

    He acknowledged, “I’m obviously happy with how I’ve done so far, and how the team has done, but I know if I put my mind to it, I can take my game to the next level. It’s about getting better each day, and getting it done in the classroom.”

    One factor in Harper’s play this season has been having Kyle Farrell as a linemate. The pairing has also been beneficial to Farrell, who had nine goals and 19 points in his first 15 games.

    “He’s a good friend off the ice, and our chemistry on the ice stems from that,” Harper said of Farrell. As well, “we’re not afraid to give each other a kick in the pants if needed.”

    The Axemen have been among the top teams in the AUHC so far this season despite losing several key players, notably fifth-year defenseman Geoffrey Schemitsch, to injury.

    “The injuries have been a challenge,” Harper acknowledged. “You can’t lose players like we have and it not have an effect.” At the same time, “we’re better than our record shows right now, and we should be right there in the second half” and into the post-season.

    Harper is committed to being a success academically as well as athletically, and believes “staying disciplined” is a key to success in both. “I’m really focused on both school and hockey,” he said, – “in fact, right now I’m overloaded academically,” which he is hoping will allow him to graduate with his Business degree on schedule, if not slightly ahead of schedule.

    “I try to take care of my schoolwork first,” he said. “When I stay on top of my classes, it helps with the hockey. In my down time, I like to hang out and chill, but there hasn’t been a lot of down time so far.

    “The key is to have fun and enjoy what you’re doing. Right now, I’m feeling pretty good. It’s a joy to come to the rink each day.”

    Asked if he sets goals for himself, Harper said he normally doesn’t. “I think I know what I’m capable of. I hold myself to a pretty high standard, and try to maintain that.”

    As for the remainder of the season, Harper says, “I like the make-up of our team.” The AUHC “is the best conference in the country. The results at nationals show that, year after year.

    “Our ultimate goal,” he said, “is to compete for the national championship. We’re one of the best teams in the country. All the guys in the room know that. Once we get everybody back and healthy, (a national championship) is an attainable goal.”

    Harper said he he takes part in team activities. “We had a Thanksgiving dinner as a team a few weeks ago, and we have a Christmas party coming up.” These kind of activities are good for team bonding. “Good chemistry off the ice makes for good chemistry on the ice.”

    Harper said he has “no real regrets” with his choice to attend Acadia, and no regrets with his decision to come east for his post-secondary education. “I don’t get to see my family as often as I’d like,” he said, but on the other hand, “I’ve been away from home since I was 16.”

     

  • Axemen Hockey Weekend Update

    Axemen at UNB – Friday, October 27

    One week after suffering a 3-2 overtime loss in Wolfville, the UNB Varsity Reds handed the Acadia Axemen a 7-2 loss.

    Freshman forward Kris Bennett scored twice and added three assists to the lead the Varsity Reds. He was named the Subway Player of the Game.

    Stephen Anderson (Morell, PE) had two goals and two assists, and Mark Simpson scored twice. Olivier LeBlanc also had a goal for UNB.

    Boston Leier and Stephen Harper scored for the Axemen.

    Acadia’s Alex Lepkowski took UNB’s Chris Clapperton hard into the boards.

    Clapperton lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being taken off on a back board. Lepkowski was assessed a five minute penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

    “You just hate to see that in sports,” said Axemen head coach Darren Burns. “We want to compete, but you never want to see a guy get injured.”

    Bennett opened the scoring on the ensuing power-play.

    Leier tied the score 1-1 early in the second before Bennett and Simpson scored 45 seconds apart as UNB built a 3-1 lead.

    A four goal third period was too much for Acadia to overcome.

    Burns feels his team started well, but couldn’t recover from UNB’s quick strikes midway through the second period.

    “Obviously that bang, bang, that opened the flood gates a little bit and we got outside our structure, what we need to be successful, from there,” he said.

    Alex Dubeau stopped 13 of 15 shots in the UNB net, while Robert Steeves made 36 saves on 43 shots in the Acadia net.

    The Axemen dropped to 4-2-1 and tied for the third place in the AUS, before visiting UPEI on Saturday.

    Axemen at UPEI – Saturday, October 28

     

    The Acadia Axemen surrendered their lead three times, but held the Panthers down long enough to escape the Island with a 7-5 win Saturday night.

     

    Subway Player of the Game Samuel Fioretti scored the game’s first and last goals, while teammate Kyle Farrell scored a pair as well to lead the Axemen to victory.

     

    Boston Leier finished with four points on a goal and three assists, with Owen MacDonald and Rodney Southam finding the back of the net for the other two.

     

    “We played hard but there are things we need to sharpen up,” Fioretti said. “We just stuck to it and we didn’t quit when they started to get momentum.”

     

    “We got goals here and there, but then we let up a bit and took our foot off the gas,” Fioretti said, “I think a lot of it is discipline too. We took some penalties, which allowed them back in the game. It’s definitely something we’re going to focus on moving forward.”

     

    The Panthers look to snap their five-game losing streak on Nov. 1 when they travel to Moncton, N.B. to take on the Université de Moncton Aigles Bleus. The Axemen, who improve to 5-2-1, return home to host the 2-5-1 Dalhousie Tigers this Wednesday evening starting at 7:00 p.m.

    Contributed by Andy Campbell (UNB Athletics Communications)  and Thomas Becker (UPEI Athletics Communications)

  • My First Cheaton Cup Experience

    Recently transferring to Acadia from Western, I was clueless about the tradition of Cheaton Cup. I had never heard of it, but all my friends swore it would be the best time of my undergrad. Hesitant, and to be honest a little intimidated, I decided to join the crowd and see what all the fuss is about.

    Step One: make a shirt. This was a stressful process since, being from a different University, I had no allegiance to either Chipman or Eaton. I did, however, have friends in both houses. After hearing why each person thought their house was the best, I decided to make two shirts and hit up both parties. That was mistake number one. I was criticized for this and was even called a traitor (even though that was impossible because I never supported either house before). Even though I was playfully harassed for this, I still went ahead with my plan.

    Step Two: party time. Every student who participates in Cheaton Cup swears that one party is better than the other, depending on which house they are faithful to. Sorry Acadia, but both parties were pretty much the same sans a few minor details. Without going into too many details about the two separate parties (because honestly, I won’t hear the end of it), let me just say that I did enjoy both. At first. But then people started getting sloppy. I have never seen so many inebriated people in one place before, and I fail to see the appeal in it. You couldn’t hear yourself think, couldn’t hear your friends talking to you, people bumping into you, drinks spilling all over you, and I swear every 30 seconds I heard people asking others for a “dart”. The basics of the house parties are as follows: drink as much as you can in a short amount of time and stand around in a barely audible space full of vomit and smoke. I suppose some may find this fun, but I really couldn’t understand it. Perhaps it’s that famous Atlantic drinking culture I’ve been hearing so much about? Or maybe that scene just isn’t my cup of tea. Either way, my Cheaton experience wasn’t impressive.

    Step Three: the game. Okay, I must admit; the game was ridiculously fun. I was surprised to see that not as many people showed up to the game compared to the number of people I saw in the morning, but I assume the majority were just too drunk to either care or get to the arena. That aside, the game was full of energy and it got me amped. The players were determined, the crowd was enthusiastic, and emotions were running high. At the end of the game, I was a little surprised to see how many emotions there were. I saw tears of joy, tears of sadness, expressions of anger, giant smiles, and heard cussing out of rage, but also cussing out of excitement. I know school spirit is infectious, and rivalries bring these emotions out in people, but I couldn’t help but think: “this is just an intermural game. It isn’t that big of a deal”. I was wrong, friends. I apologize. Cheaton Cup is the Stanley Cup of Acadia. Remember when I said that I didn’t see the appeal? Well, I do now. Cheaton Cup is a day where students can come together and celebrate their pride, teams, and Acadia family. I just didn’t get it because I haven’t been here long enough to establish any of these things.

    I want to take this opportunity to apologize to anyone who was at the other end of one of my snarky comments about Cheaton Cup being a waste of time, energy, and money. Just because it wasn’t necessarily my idea of a good time, does not mean I can come to Acadia and shit all over it. Tradition is important, bonding is important, and celebrating is important no matter what it is that we are celebrating. Oh and for those who are wondering: yes, I made my decision by the end of the day, and that was Chipman.

  • Canadian NHL Teams Comeback from 2016

    The 2016 Stanley Cup Playoff games were a disappointment to Canadians everywhere as none of the Canadian NHL teams moved on to compete for the Holy Grail of hockey. It was only the second time in Stanley Cup history where this happened, the first time being in the 70’s. This time around, the Canadian teams are undoubtedly feeling the pressure to at least qualify for the postseason games. The question on everybody’s mind is how many teams, if any, will represent our country in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

    So far, so good! 2017 is looking promising for Canadian hockey, and I’m happy to say that last year’s disappointment will not happen again. The teams sitting in playoff positions are the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators, currently sitting at first and second place respectively in the Atlantic division. Sitting third in the Pacific division, the Edmonton Oilers can also see playoffs in their future. The Calgary Flames are even incredibly close to a wildcard position. This is not surprising, not for me at least. But let’s look at something that is: the Toronto Maple Leafs.

    As it currently stands, the Leafs are currently 4th in the Atlantic division trailing by a measly 3 points behind Boston who are current playoff position holders. This makes the Leafs 3rd on the wildcard list, where only the top two teams from each conference will move on to the playoffs. The Leafs are 3 points behind Philly for one of the wildcard spots. I repeat, the Toronto Maple Leafs are 3rd on a list that accepts the top two and 4th on a list that accepts the top 3. Is 2017 their chance? The energy that the Leafs have been putting out this season has shocked some, and confused few. In my opinion, the team has improved greatly, especially in terms of defense. But will that be enough to snag a spot in postseason? Unlikely. But then again, stranger things have happened on the ice.

    After the catastrophe of having no Canadian teams qualify for the Stanley Cup games, having three currently secured playoff spots and two teams inching closer and closer to wildcard slots is something to celebrate. This is Canada’s game, so let’s take it back.

  • Religion of the Player

    Our temple
    is the arena.
    Our shrine
    is the ice.
    Our skates,
    are the Holy texts.
    Our equipment
    is our prayer robes.
    The moment
    those doors open,
    as the cold air
    caresses the face,
    mysterious magic
    overwhelms the body.

    That first sound,
    that smooth crackle,
    of sharp skates
    on still-wet ice,
    are our church bells.
    They mark the start of the service.

    It becomes loud
    with praises of joy
    and excitement.
    The whistle blows.
    The teams chant,
    then break.

    There is silence.

    But this silence
    is not
    silent.
    Energy
    and
    anticipation
    crackle and spark
    through the air—
    The atmosphere electric.

    The puck is dropped.
    Our worship
    has begun.

    The worship
    of our game
    Of our lives.
    The worship
    of those who
    played before us
    and for those who
    will play after us.

    This is no ordinary game.
    This is no ordinary religion.
    This is our source of life.
    This is our source of light.
    This is
    hockey.

  • World Cup Hockey

    World Cup Hockey

    With the conclusion of the World Cup of Hockey comes the realization that the sport still belongs to its founder, Canada. There was really never any doubt as to who was going to win the world best-on-best tournament, even from the time it was announced to the final buzzer. Despite a few blemishes, the Canadians cruised their way to an undefeated round robin followed by a semi-final victory over Russia and two game sweep of the overmatched Team Europe. Besides Canada’s domination, there were some other important takeaways from the tournament as well.

    It’s not the Olympics

    Well, of course it’s not, but I’m talking about the hype around the tournament. There’s just something about the Olympic atmosphere that makes it so much better than this tournament. Maybe it’s the fact that the Olympics put people in the competitive spirit, or the fact that other Olympic athletes are in the seats cheering on their fellow countrymen. Whatever the case may be, there is simply no way to match the Olympic craze that brings a nation together to watch hockey, especially Canada. The World Cup lacked this competitive spirit, one that Canadian hockey fans long for. With the International Ice Hockey Federation still considering whether it will send NHL players to the next Olympic event in South Korea, fans should be concerned about the lack of entertainment the World Cup offered.

    Canada Really is That Good

    Canada is hands-down the hockey capital of the world and it showed why in this tournament. Despite not having arguably the best defenseman in the world in Duncan Keith and Dallas Stars’ goal-scoring tandem of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin due to injuries, the Great White North still picked other teams apart with their incredible depth. The top line of Crosby-Bergeron-Marchand was by far the best, leading the way up front for the Canadians. On the back end, all six defensemen, including 2016 Norris Trophy winner Drew Doughty, contributed to an outstanding shut down system that nullified the few chances other teams did get. If they were lucky enough get past the Canadian skaters, they still had to try to put the puck past the best goalie in the world in Carey Price. Not an easy task, to say the least. Overall, the Canadian depth is something no other country has and is really the differentiator in international play. The fact that Braden Holtby wasn’t even dressed exemplifies the amount of skill Canada has. He won the Vezina trophy last year for being the best goalie in the NHL!

    There were some Awesome Surprises

    You probably could have guessed that the youngsters from North America were going to be fun to watch, but seeing it actually happen was far better than anyone could have imagined. Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews, and so on and so forth, all skating for the same team – something we may never see again. Although they didn’t quite have enough to make it to the playoff round, it was very fun to watch while it lasted. Their overtime win over Sweden capped off an unreal tournament for the young guns. None of these guys were over the age of 23. The future of North American hockey looks very bright indeed.

    The other great surprise of the tournament came in the form of 8 different countries. Team Europe not only exceeded expectations, but they defied the logic of chemistry and showed how guys from all over the world can come together to achieve a common goal. They were certainly overmatched in the final against Canada, but if it weren’t for a 3-minute span when the train came off the tracks, they would have pushed the series to a deciding game. Anze Kopitar, Mats Zuccarello, and Tomas Tatar can all be applauded for their hand in carrying their team of relatively average players all the way to the finals against an incredible Canadian team. Bravo to Team Europe for their outstanding success that was inspirational for all underdogs.

    All in all, the two-week long tournament showed the entire world why Canada enters these kinds of tournaments as heavy favourites. Sure they’ve had their struggles in recent World Junior Championships, but the fact remains that in the world best-on-best games, Canada is 16-0 since their preliminary round loss to the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Yes, that’s two full tournaments without a loss. Should Canada be worried about this streak coming to an end? Connor McDavid might have something to say about that.

  • The Rise of Cheaton Cup

    The Rise of Cheaton Cup

    This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the ever-so controversial tradition of Cheaton Cup. This annual hockey game expresses the rivalry between two campus residences, Eaton and Chipman. Many people choose to remember this day as one to forget; long-lasting parties, front lawns stained with solo cups, swinging fists over shirt colors, the list goes on. What people don’t remember is the history of the game, the school spirit, the precautions we take to ensure student safety and most importantly, the charitable donations which this game collects year after year. Just as in life, those who want to concentrate on the negatives will always be able to find them. Hopefully, we can look past the few bad apples who bring these negatives too light and focus on the countless positive outcomes of this timeless tradition.

    Since the beginning of time there has been a rivalry between Eaton and Chipman. The on-campus antics which took place between these two houses we’re in good spirits, but commonly taken too far. Out of character for nineteen-year-old boys? I’d say no. Twenty-years ago we we’re at the point where guys would just walk twenty steps to the opposing house just to vandalize it. There would be fights between groups of guys in opposing houses due to a combination of ego and liquid courage. What a poor excuse for house pride, simply stupid. In order to channel this energy a hockey game was proposed. One game, each house handpicks their best team, leave it all on the ice kind of mentality. This game was started by Steve Hassapis who, at the time, was head of both houses. Steve is now the Coordinator of Student Community Development and handles the non-academic judicial process. Most students probably just know him as the guy you do not want to get a letter from. After a conversation with Steve I was able to put in perspective of how far this event has come. The very first game, Cheaton Cup 1996, was a pleasant disaster. With a grand total of three authoritative figures, two referees and an overwhelming amount of students. It ended in an on-ice team brawl which carried through to the crowd, absolute chaos. On a positive note, the event was able to generate around $1000 which went towards feeding those in need, in Wolfiville, in its very first year.

    Since then the transformation has been unbelievable. Incidents at the game itself have diminished entirely. The crowd has been limited to solely Acadia students, and others who personally request to attend. Students stream in from either side of town to support their chosen residence anticipating a good, old-fashion hockey game. The arena is littered with rent-a-cops, yellow jackets, events staff, organizers and representatives from the chosen charities (L’Arche and the SMILE program.) too ensure a safe and controlled event. There have been multiple provisions which have been put in place to promote the positive, healthy environment which the game initially intended.

    We recently had representatives from our Student Union, Ted Higa and Jess Boone, give a presentation outlining four helpful hints for Cheaton-day participants. The ASU is offering free food, half an hour before the game because as many people forget, lack-of-food hurts in drinking situations. It’s a lesson we are trying to teach without the need for experiencing it. Another tip was outlining the pace of the day. Too often we see people get overly excited because they’ve got a beer in their hand before noon and their mother still in another province. The day is not a sprint. It is not a marathon. It is a jog at your own pace, for however long you feel like stretching your legs. The third tip was one which I believe is unbelievably important, and commonly overlooked. We need to watch out for one another. Over-consumption is sketched into the human DNA, and it will happen to those who aren’t careful. So, be a good friend, or a good neighbor at least. If you see someone over-the-top pissed, take them home. Regardless if they admit it at the time, it will be appreciated. Ted and Jess also warned students of the consequences which unfortunately happen time after time again during Cheaton cup. The fines for underage drinking, open liquor, drunk tank experiences and others. In conclusion, they are all expensive and two-hundred percent never worth it. Be smart.

    After looking at all of these ways in which we, the students, can make this an enjoyable, safe and memorable event – you still may be asking yourself, why? I’m going to give my personal reason, hoping that you will appreciate the first hand benefits charitable donations can give. The Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience Program is a free, predominantly student-run organization. A vast amount of their funding every year comes from Cheaton cup. Last year it generated nearly $5000 dollars to split between itself and L’Arche Homefires, a community of homes helping people with disabilities. This year was the first time I became involved in the S.M.I.L.E program as a volunteer. I was fortunate enough to be partnered with my new friend Owen. Owen has cerebral palsy, and has very restricted fine motor movements. During our first day, we were unable to go swimming so we spent the morning in the Snoezelen Room. To my disappointment we had a limited amount of games that he could play.  We got out an ancient, homemade ramp, eight bowling pins, and an assortment of spheres, one bowling ball, one tennis ball and a soccer ball. We took turns rolling the balls down the ramp and celebrating wildly every time we were able to knock some pins down. You knew it was a good throw when you saw Owen’s face light up before the ball even left the ramp. But, the ramp has decayed from its years of service in the SMILE games room, giving us difficulty during every roll. The balls were either deflated or warped. As far as pins go, I guess all eight of them we’re simply perfect. We bowled happily for about twenty minutes, we didn’t even give him the opportunity to get a strike.

    This year, the Twentieth Anniversary of this great hockey game, we hope to generate more money for these local causes. So when we think about this day, let’s try not to focus on the negatives. Forget the parties, the early wakeup, and the trash the next day. Think about where this has come from, what it has become and why we do it. Myself, along with many other students believe that Cheaton Cup is more than just what it is rumored to be. This is an annual opportunity; an opportunity to bond with one another, an opportunity to show our town some maturity, an opportunity to continue this well-intentioned tradition, and for myself – an opportunity to show Owen what a strike feels like. So let’s take advantage of this opportunity and make this year another success and keep Cheaton Cup alive for years to come.

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