Windspeaker Sports Briefs - February 2012

By Sam Laskaris

Influential women
Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq and Olympic boxing medal hopeful Mary Spencer are among those selected to a prestigious group of women. The pair was among 20 names announced in mid-January as having made the list of Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity for 2011.

The list is annually compiled and released by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS). The list recognizes women who are leaders and role models making a difference either in Canada or on the international scene.

Aglukkaq, an Inuk, was named to the list for her influence and leadership in addressing childhood obesity. She’s using her current portfolio to work with officials across the country to promote healthier lifestyles.

Spencer, who is Ojibwe, is a three-time world champion. She is favored to win a medal at this summer’s London Olympics. Women’s boxing will make its Olympic debut in London.

The CAAWS list has been released for the past 11 years. Those who are selected are athletes, coaches, officials, politicians, professors, administrators or volunteers.
Some of those on this year’s list have also been previously named other years. For Aglukkaq and Spencer this marked the first time that they had been named to the list.

The CAAWS also has a ‘Ones To Watch’ list and named a pair of women to that for 2011. Spencer had been on the ‘Ones To Watch’ list in 2010.

Besides public nominations, sport and physical activity leaders can make submissions for those they deem worthy of being on the list. A CAAWS selection panel chooses those who eventually make the grade.

Bourque traded
Rene Bourque is still playing for a National Hockey League team in Canada, but it is not in his home province.

Bourque, a Metis born in Lac La Biche, Alta., was traded from the Calgary Flames to the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 12. Bourque had spent the past three-and-a-half seasons in Calgary. Prior to that the 30-year-old left winger had played three years with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Bourque enjoyed his most productive years in the NHL while in Calgary. His career high of 58 points (27 goals, 31 assists) was registered during the 2009-10 season.
Bourque had 50 points last season with the Flames.
But he was struggling somewhat this season with his point totals. He only had 16 points in 38 games with Calgary.

Bourque had three points, including a pair of goals, in his first five matches with the Canadiens.

Bourque was part of a multi-player deal that brought him to Montreal. The most notable player that headed to Calgary in the swap was Michael Cammalleri.

Youth tournaments
More than 100 teams are expected to compete in what is believed to be the longest running Aboriginal sports event in North America.

The 41st annual Little Native Hockey League—more commonly known as the Little NHL—tournament will be staged March 11 to 15 in Sudbury.

The event has certainly grown in size and stature over the years. During its first year, 1971, the tourney attracted 17 teams.

The event, which includes both female and male clubs, features players as young as three up to 18. Meanwhile, about 40 teams are expected to compete at the Little Bands Native Youth Hockey Tournament. The event will be staged Feb. 14 to 19 in Sioux Lookout, Ont.

The tournament will feature five age groupings, ranging from novice (5-7) up to midget (15-17). There will also be atom, peewee and bantam divisions.

The majority of the contests will be held at the Sioux Lookout Memorial Arena. Some games might also be staged at the Eagle Lake First Nation Arena.

National volleyball championship
Aboriginal volleyball clubs will be vying for national bragging rights this summer in Akwesasne. The eastern Ontario community will be the site of the 2012 Aboriginal National Invitational Volleyball Championships.

The event is scheduled to begin on July 29 and continue until Aug. 3. The tournament will be staged at the A’nowara ko:wa Arena, which is also home to the Akwesasne Warriors, a minor professional squad in the Federal Hockey League. The event will feature youth and adult divisions, for both female and male teams.

The youth categories that will be contested are under-13, under-15, under-17 and under-21. And there’s two adult groupings, 22 and over and 40-plus. The adult portion of the tourney will be staged first, from July 27 to July 29. The youth categories then start on July 30.

More information is available by contacting Kahnastatsi Nancy Jacobs at (613) 575-1594.