Howard shines at PHF all-star game

 St. Thomas native scores in final game as the Canadian All-Stars win the event 

 to lead this week's sports highlights for local athletes and teams

    February 3, 2023

  

Brittany Howard, from St. Thomas, shared the points lead at the PHF All-Star weekend with four points.

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - Brittany Howard shined at the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) All-Star weekend, at the Mattamy Athletic Centre, in Toronto.

The 27-year old from St. Thomas had a goal and three assists, plus a shootout winner, sharing the lead for most points at the event.

In the final, Howard had a goal and an assist, as the Canadian All-Stars beat the World All-Stars, 3-2, Sunday.

In game one of the event, Howard scored in a shootout, lifting the Canadians over the American All-Stars, 2-1. Howard also assisted on Loren Gabel's goal during regulation time.

Howard assisted on Gabel's goal against the World, the lone goal for the Canadians in a 2-1 loss.

On the season, Howard has 23 points and a league leading 15 goals, playing for the Toronto Six. She was the player of the month for December.

The Six are second in the league with a 10-2-2 record, four points behind the Boston Pride, at 12-2-1, for 34 points.

Silver Stick hat trick

Three St. Thomas Jr. Stars teams won International Silver Stick titles over the past two weekends.

It is the first time the minor hockey organization has won three Silver Sticks during one season.

Both the U15 (2009 born) and U16 Stars won silver sticks in Newmarket this past weekend.

Rhys Smart scored the lone goal and goalie Darren Hagerty picked up the shutout, in a 1-0 win over Cambridge in the U16 final.

A week earlier, Ryder Doxtator was named MVP, as the U13 Stars downed Erie North Shore, 7-2, in the final, January 22 in Port Huron, Michigan.

St. Thomas teams have been winning tournaments all over the place.

The U11 Stars won the Gene Harrington tournament, January 22 in Buffalo, New York, while the U13B Stars won
 

Dettloff wrestles gold

Kendall Dettloff won the women's 53-kilogram class, at the Western Open wrestling tournament, January 28, at Western University.

The 21-year old from Dorchester calls this tournament her best wrestling of the season and it included victories of 10-0 win and a pin.

The gold medal performance helped the Western Mustangs pin down the women's team title.

Up next is the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) provincial championships, February 11 in Hamilton.

"My season has been going pretty good. My biggest improvement has been my mindset for sure," Dettloff said. "I'm approaching OUAs by just going over the basics, not over doing it, but putting lots of work in. Just perfecting technique at this point."

Dettloff is aiming for a podium appearance to qualify for U Sports, the Canadian University championships.
 

Wright skates to double gold

Madison Wright, with the St. Thomas Skating Club, won gold in Elements and a second gold in Free Skate, in the Star 3 category, at a Skate Ontario event, January 28-29 in Norwich.

Silver medals went to Emilee Aspden, in Star 3 free and MacKenna Wright, Star 1 Elements.

From the North Dorchester Skating Club, Erin Weaver won gold, in Star 4, while Alexandra Galajda brought home silver, in Star 1.

Samantha was second in Star 5 artistic qualifying and bronze in Star 8 dance, provincial qualifier. Leading up to the competition, Sam passed her Gold Skills.
 

Coles to World XC

The Team Canada U20 men's roster for the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country championships was announced and it included Tristan Coles.

   Tristan Coles heads to the World cross country championships for the U20 men's race, February 19 in Australia.

The St. Thomas native, a freshman at Iona University in New York State, qualified last fall at the Canadian cross country championships.

Coles will be joined by Heath McAllister, a teammate from the London-Western Club.

The world championships are February 19, in Bathurst, Australia.
 

Cyclists in Quebec

Eve Buczkowski posted four top 10 results at an U19 women's track cycling event, at the Bromont National Cycling Centre velodrome, January 22 in Quebec.

Buczkowski, from St. Thomas, a first year U17 rider, was third, in the opening Scratch race, fifth, in the Kerin, sixth, in the Elimination and fourth, in the final scratch race.

Brody Mann, also from St. Thomas, finished second, in the junior men's scratch qualifier, third, in the scratch final and sixth, in the elimination race.

Empty Tankard

It was a tough week for the St. Thomas curling team of skip Aaron Squires, vice Travis Fanset, second Craig Van Ymeren and lead Scott Brandon, at the provincial men's Tankard in Port Elgin, January 23rd-29th.

The Squires rink failed to win game in five pool games, but did have two games decided in an extra end.
 

Top high school teams

Next week the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) winter sports playoffs begin.

Both the St. Joseph's Rams junioir and senior boys basketball teams, went 8-0, to finish first in the South Division.

Brendan Bogart, who is leading the senior Rams in points, officially signed on February 2, to play hoops and continue his education at Lambton College, in Sarnia.

The Rams also placed first for boys hockey, in the Central Division two, with a 7-1-0 record.

The Parkside Stampeders are the TVRA South-East leaders, with their seniors undefeated with a 9-0 match record and the junior sitting atop with a 5-1 record.

On the ice, the East Elgin Eagles are 5-0 in girls' hockey in the South-East.

In curling, the Dorchester Beavers placed first on the girls' side, with a 6-1 record.

On the mat, Parkside placed third, in the dual meet standings, at 6-2, behind Banting and Saunders, out of London.

The TVRA swim championships, are February 8, at the Aquatic Centre in London.