Smart Sports Podcast

All I have to say is that it’s nice to be back! What is up friends. I am Darryl Smart and welcome back to Smart Sports Podcast. This week on the podcast I have a very special guest. Jason Burgess is Norfolk County’s Chief Administrative Officer, and we are going to talk Norfolk recreation. With recreation hockey, arenas, and now a failed HUB attempt all in the spotlight the last while, I thought there is no better way to open up season 3, than to have Jason on the show. Make sure to listen to previous episodes of Smart Sports Podcast. There are lots of great guests and conversations. For more local sports, when it happens, make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page. I’ve had a habit of breaking some of the bigger stories related to sports and recreation in the area, so always stay tuned. And remember to give the page a like and share it with your friends so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

This week I have another great local athlete on the show. Not everyone can say they have a small shrine dedicated to them in their hometown’s arena. But this week’s guest can say that. Max Coyle has had a very interesting journey to get where he is. And with the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers shutting its men's hockey program down late last week, things have gotten a lot more complicated for the Tillsonburg resident. After finishing up his minor hockey in Brantford with the 99ers, he played one season with the Woodstock Navy Vets, before earning a spot on the Listowel Cyclones, where he spent three seasons. In his final GOJHL season, he and his teammates captured the Sutherland Cup. The next season, Max headed west and was a champion again, this time capturing the BCHL’s Fred Page Cup with the Prince George Spruce Kings, and coming very close to an RBC Cup title, losing to the Brooks Bandits in the final. And this year, Max completed his freshman season with the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers. And as you will hear, Max’s journey isn’t over yet. Thanks for listening!

Welcome back friends. My apologies for not having a podcast the last two weeks. Today I have Major Series Lacrosse commissioner Doug Luey on the show. Doug was named interim commissioner for the league in 2016 and the next year took the role full time. He’s done an amazing job trying to grow the league. But this week, he had to do the unthinkable, and cancel the 2020 season. During our chat we talk about the difficult decision, what it means for the league and its teams, and what direction MSL is going. Remember to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. I’ll do my best to keep you up to date during these strange times. Also make sure to LIKE & SHARE it so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening!

This week on the podcast we have another very special guest. She’s represented Canada between the pipes, set numerous records while playing for the University of University of Connecticut Huskies, and is now a member of the new NWHL franchise in Toronto. Please welcome Elaine Chuli to the podcast. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. Also be sure to LIKE and SHARE it so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening!

This week the podcast I have the pride and joy of Selkirk Ontario.  Jack Phibbs, like many hockey players, had his junior hockey career come to an abrupt end a few weeks ago, when the Ontario Hockey League, like everyone else, was forced to shut things down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jack was playing in his fourth season with the Flint Firebirds. He and his teammates were poised for a big layoff run before the season was canceled. But it’s not all bad news. Jack recently announced that his hockey career will continue after committing to play for the University of Waterloo Warriors. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Please head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, for more local sports news when it happens. Remember to like and share the page and posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks!!

This week on the podcast we’re going to talk hockey with Norfolk’s newest provincial champions. After having their OMHA midget C final against the Mariposa Lightning come to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi Knights of Columbus Rockets and Lightning were named co-champions earlier this week. I have players Ryan Hill, Liam Twinem, and Jared Austin on the show. Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports when it happens. And always remember to give us a like and share us so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

This week on the podcast I have one of the five Brantford 99ers taken in this past weekend’s OHL Priority Selection. Simcoe’s Ryan VanNetten was drafted by the Flint Firebirds in the 11th round (216th overall). This season with the 99ers, Ryan was his team’s rock on the blue line. He also showed off his great decision and play making abilities, netting three goals and 25 assists, which was good for the 99ers third leading scorer. SHOUT OUTS This week I’ll give a shout out to the other Brantford 99ers taken in the OHL draft. A huge congratulations to Gavin Bryant who was selected in the second round (37th overall) by the Owen Sound Attack. Beau Jelsma, from Brownsville and a former Tillsonburg Minor Hockey product was picked in the third round (55thoverall) by the Barrie Colts. Tillsonburg’s Brandon Balazs was taken in the 10th round (198 overall) by the Saginaw Spirit. And Luke Bibby was selected by the Attack in the 13th round (250th overall) Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. And remember to LIKE AND SHARE it, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening.

This week is another fun episode of Smart Sports Podcast. I have two local vision impaired athletes that have won a number of Canadian curling championships. And this year as Team Canada, Mike Vrooman and Jimmy Simmons earned silver medals with their Nova Scotia teammates at the AMI Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championships in Ottawa. Thanks so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Remember to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the local sports news when it comes in. And make sure to share it with your friends, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. thanks for listening!

This week on the podcast I thought it would be great to talk some Olympics, and golf. And there’s no better person to do that with than Turkey Point’s Ralph Bauer. Ralph’s story is a great one. And like one story in the Hamilton Spectator headlined a couple of years ago, the best PGA player coach you never heard of. A long time golf pro and coach, he’s seen and done just about everything, from rubbing elbows and giving his points of view on the PGA Tour, to being part of the Olympics, to shaping some of the top young golfers in the country. Ralph, it is great to have you on the podcast, thanks for joining me. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to Brantford’s Hunter Jones. The Peterborough Petes goalie from Brantford just inked his first NHL contract this week. This couldn’t happen to a better kid. Congratulations Hunter! Next shout out to Lexi Paulmert. The forward from Waterford had her hockey season cut short like many. But before the season was cancelleded, Lexi and her Liberty University Lady Flames teammates won the first-ever Midwest College Hockey title. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebok page for more local sports news when it happens. And remember to like and share us to continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening.

Hello friends. I hope you are all having the best week possible despite everything going on in the word. And I hope this podcast can be one of those things to give you a break from our new normal. This week on the podcast we have a guest that is in quarantine after just returning home to Nova Scotia from Germany. Jim Midgley is the hockey pride and joy Townsend. After spending four years as an assistant coach and one as the head coach with the Halifax Mooseheads, Jim was overseas this season as an assistant coach with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL in Germany. SHOUT OUTS This week’s shout out goes to Delhi’s Adam Brady. The first-ever guest on Smart Sports Podcast was just named a Western Collegiate Hockey Association First-Team All-Star after a brilliant senior year with the Bemidji State University Beavers. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news, and more. And remember to like and share the Facebook page and its posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to the podcast! Well, it certainly has been a strange couple of days in the word, and I really hope this podcast will give you a little break from your day to day. This week on the podcast I thought we would talk a little volleyball. And there’s no better story to tell, than the Valley Heights Bears. This senior girls volleyball team truly is the definition of the little team that could. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes out to Waterford’s Zach Zona. The local swimmer who now trains in Montreal was just named the Swim Ontario Para Swimmer of the Year. Next shout out goes out to the Delhi Knights of Columbus Rockets, the Caledonia Thunder and Norwich Knighthawks midgets, as well as the Tillsonburg Tornadoes atom team. These four minor hockey teams were in their OMHA finals before the season was suspended because of the COVID-19 situation. I just wanted to congratulate these teams on a great season. Hopefully things settle down after the extended March Break and these teams can get back on the ice. The final shout out goes to the SouthCoast Special Needs Kids. This group of sledge hockey players are going to take on the OPP Auxiliary in the annual game Sunday at 2pm at the Waterford Tricenturena. And as of right now, on Friday, the game is still on. Make sure to head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more sports news, scores and more. Also be sure to give it a like and share what we’re doing, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening.

This week’s podcast has been a long time in the making. The rep hockey partnership between Simcoe, Port Dover and Waterford is a topic I’ve wanted to talk about for quite some time. I have Pat Meahan, who is Port Dover Minor Hockey’s immediate past president, and is the vice president of the new Norfolk Minor Hockey Association. SHOUT OUTS A big shout out goes to Maté Marschalko. The Holy Trinity swimmer captured a silver and bronze medal at this week’s OFSAA swimming championships in Toronto. Congratulations! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to listen. It really is appreciated. To find out more about our local sports scene, make sure to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news, scores and more. And Make sure to like and share Smart Sports Podcast, so we can continue to grow this thin into the place for all things local sports. Thank you again for listening.

This week on Smart Sports Podcast we’re going to talk a little minor hockey. With the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playdowns in the semifinals now, I thought it would be great to feature one of our local teams making a run for a provincial title. Gary Lazou is the head coach of the Simcoe Kocir Automotive Warriors. The midget rep team hosts Game 1 of its best-of-six point OMHA midget B semifinal against the Petrolia Oilers on Thursday night at 6:30pm and will return for Game 3 on Sunday at 7:15pm at Talbot Gardens. This is a unique team as you will hear throughout this podcast. Not only does this team represent the future of what minor hockey will look like in the county, this team is also the symbol of an end of an era sort to speak. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes to Taylor Bennett. The Port Dover Skating Club member just captured a silver medal in dance at the Special Olympics Winter Games in Thunder Bay. Our second shout out goes to last week’s guest Jacob Erwin. Jacob played his final collegiate hockey game over the weekend. He and his Castleton University Spartans teammates lost 9-0 to the No. 1 ranked Norwich university Cadets in the New England Hockey Conference quarter-final. Well, that’s all the time we have for this week. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen. It really is appreciated. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for much more local sports news, features, stories, scores, and more. Also remember to give it a like and share what we’re doing so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks you again for listening.

In this week’s episode of Smart Sports Podcast, I have a local athlete that has somewhat flown under the radar. We’re talking about a dual-sport athlete at the collegiate level. Port Dover’s Jacob Erwin celebrated senior night with his Castleton University Spartans teammates last week, and is now set to take a run at top-ranked Norwich in the playoffs this weekend. But that’s not all. Before the hockey season began, Jacob helped the Spartans men’s golf team to a fourth place finish at the North Atlantic Conference championships, while finishing second overall himself. He was named to the conference’s All-Acedemic team and First-Team All-NAC. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes to our local special Olympians. Beginning Monday, Simcoe Special Olympics has four five-pin bowlers and one figure skater competing in Thunder Bay at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Good luck to Korissa Hammond, Kaitlyn Ferguson, Jason Gordy, and Kendall Steinhoff coach Karen Hayward in bowling. And good luck to figure skater Taylor Bennett. Thank you so much for listening, it really is appreciated. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for much more local sports news, photos and video. And make sure to LIKE and SHARE our posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks

I don’t like to mix politics and sports, especially on the podcast. But in this week’s episode the two cross paths. Our guest this week is Melinda Tewes-Howard, the president of the Delhi Water Dragons Swim team. And with the recent budget news of the Delhi Kinsmen pool being among the budget cuts, and then subsequently taken off, I thought it would be very appropriate to talk to the person who used her persuasive skills at council to tell them how important the Delhi Kinsmen pool is, not for just Delhi. But the entire county. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to the Simcoe Sabres jr boys basketball team. Last weekend, they hosted their annual Junior Sabres Shootout, and looked great as hosts. The Sabres beat Paris and and then Waterdown in overtime to get to the final. That’s where they ran into a buzz saw of a team in the form of Saltfleet. Next shout out goes to Simcoe’s Jake Luke. As you saw on Smart Sports Podcast’s Facebook page, Jake, who plays for the Norwich Merchants, scored three goals against the Burford Bulldogs in the last game of the season to capture the PJHL goal scoring title. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the local sports news, scores and more. Also be sure to LIKE & SHARE us so we can continue to grow and make Smart Sports Podcast, the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

This week on Smart Sports Podcast we have a goalie that has seen more rubber than most goalies in junior hockey. Luca del Rizzo is in his first year of junior hockey and plays for the Delhi Travellers. As of the recording of this podcast, Luca and his teammates are the only junior team in Ontario without a win at 0-39. It’s been a tough season for these guys. I thought it would be great to have Luca on to tell his story. SHOUT OUTS A huge shout out goes out to Hannah Ward. The 15-year-old from Waterford qualified for the upcoming Canadian Olympic swimming Trials, thanks to her efforts at the Mallards Winter Invitational in Markham. She recorded a time of 27.17 seconds in the 50 metre to qualify for the Olympic Trials to be held in Toronto March 30 to April 5. The 2020 Olympic Games are in Tokyo, Japan from July 24 to August 9. A big shout out to Simcoe’s Jake Luke. The Norwich Merchants forward is in the hunt for the PJHL goal scoring title this weekend. He was one back of Rylie Cribbin, from the Mount Forest Patriots. And a giant shout out to podcast guest Trevor Oakes. Remember you heard it hear first on Smart Sports Podcast, that the owner of ABO baseball has had his bats approved by Major League Baseball. I can’t wait to see an ABO during an MLB game this season. Make sure to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the local sports news, scores and more. We’re doing our best to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all-things local sports in our area. Thank you again for listening.

This week on the podcast we have a very special guest. Our guest has a black belt in karate, has been all over North America competing in the sport, and has won a pile of medals doing it. Not only that, Kyle Chambers has turned his love for his sport into a new passion in the form of a podcast KC's Sports Talk. Kyle has done so much, and he’s only 19-year-old, and has cerebral palsy. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to the Port Dover Pirates peewee rep team. This is the only rep team in Port Dover, and they are having a great run so far in the OMHA playdowns. With a 5-1 win at home Sunday, the Pirates sweep the Cayuga Stars to move on to the third round of the OMHA peewee DD playdowns. They will now take on the winner of the Plattsville and St. George series. Next shout out goes to the Delhi Travellers goalies, Raine Steadman and Luca DelRizzo. These two guys have had more rubber than probably any other goalie in junior hockey this winter. Despite the Travellers allowing 555 goals with only a handful of games left, these guys have done everything they could possibly do to help their team. Make sure to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, where there is a ton of local sports news, scores, videos, and more. It’s our hope that Smart Sports Podcast becomes THE place for all things local sports. And to do that, we need your help. Make sure to LIKE & SHARE us to help grow this thing. And if you or your business would like to sponsor what we’re doing here, please get a hold of us. Thanks! Darryl

Welcome to the season 2 premier of Smart Sports Podcast. Thanks for joining us this week. This week’s guest has turned into a fan favourite for Kingston Frontenac fans. Maddox Callens has shown a ton of hustle in his rookie season with the Ontario Hockey League team, and we are very happy to have him on the podcast this week to share his journey. SHOUT OUTS First Shout out goes out to my nephew Jack, brother Chad and the rest of the Waterford Wildcats atom team. On Monday they completed the sweep to become the first team in the area to move on in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playdowns. They beat the Burford Coyotes in three-straight games, and will now take on Six Nations in the next round. And a shout out to Ryan Vandenbusche, Norfolk County and the Stix 'N' Pix on a successful first night of the First Shift Program in Simcoe. Also a shout out to Delhi Minor Hockey who held its First Shift program to get new kids out to play hockey on Sunday. SHARE & LIKE Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the areas local sports news, scores and more. In 2020 we will make this thing the place for all things local sports for our community. To help out, please LIKE & SHARE the page so we can continue to grow. And if you or your business would like to sponsor what we are doing here, please drop us a line on the Facebook page, or call or text 519-865-8089. Thank you again for listening. Darryl

Hello friends, and welcome to the last episode of Smart Sports podcast of 2019. With some giant news that I’ll share later on, the podcast is going to take a rest for the holiday season, so I can spend some time with family and start to focus on the future of what we’re doing here. This week on the podcast, we have one of the best goalies in the Canadian Hockey League. Our guest has helped the Peterborough Petes get to the top spot in the Ontario Hockey League, while having the most wins in the league, and is among the league leaders in every statistical category. And during the Christmas break, Hunter Jones, along with some of his friends, are hosting his second annual Shutout Hunger Skate on Sunday at the Gretzky Centre in Brantford from 6pm to 7:30pm. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, to see more local sports news. As always, the hope is we can make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. To do that, remember to LIKE & SHARE our posts and page. And in the new year, we are going to dedicate more time and energy to this on a full-time basis, with a website and much more. When all the details are available, you will be the first ones to know. I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. 2020 is going to be a huge one for this podcast, and I can’t wait to get it going again. Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to listen. Because of you, this thing is going to grow into something much bigger than it already is. Enjoy!

Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 26 of Smart Sports Podcast. This week's guest doesn’t need an introduction, but he’s getting one anyways. He’s 6’7’, was a standout with the Waterford Wolves and the Western Mustangs, before becoming a two-time Grey Cup champ with the Calgary Stampeders. And now Shane Bergman can add Canadian Football League All-Star to his title. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes to the Holy Trinity Titans swim team. Tuesday they captured the Norfolk/Brant overall swim title for a third consecutive year. The Titans were the lone Norfolk entry at the meet and 15 individual swimmers and seven relay teams have qualified for the CWOSSA February 19, in Wilmot. You’ll be able to read more about it on the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page. Next shout out goes to the Delhi Rockets local league atom team. This group of kids played five games in two days and won them all to capture the International silver Stick Regional title in Haliburton and Minden. Well, that’s all the time we have for this week. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Don’t forget to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for a more extensive look at the local sports scene. And remember to LIKE & SHARE it so we can really make this thing the place for all things local sports in our area. Thank you again for listening!

Thank you friends for listening. This is episode 25!!! This week Teagan Fitch joins the podcast. Teagan is a graduate of Valley Heights Secondary School, Brock University and Niagara College. Now that she has returned home, Fitch is fulfilling her dream of opening a local gymnastics club - Spectrum Gymnastics. Her story is a great one. I hope you enjoy it. Remember to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page where there is more local sports. The goal is to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports in our area. While you are there remember to LIKE & SHARE it so we can continue to grow. Believe it or not, there are lots of people that don't know Smart Sports Podcast exists. Thanks for listening.

Hello friends and welcome to Episode 24 of Smart Sports Podcast. This week on the podcast, our guest doesn’t need an introduction. But he’s getting one anyways. He’s one of our local Norfolk Pros, who played 310 NHL games for the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, plus 353 more professional games all over North America and in Finland. But more importantly, Ryan VandenBussche has and continues to do great things in our community. And in this episode he talks about one of those things, Stix 'N' Pix. Also, here is some information on the First Shift program in Simcoe SHOUTOUTS First shout out goes out to Jonah Cochrane, Keegan DaMota, Ryan VanNetten, and Brandon Balazs. These four local hockey players, who suit up for the Brantford 99ers took part in the annual Minor Hockey Alliance of Ontario All-Star games this past weekend in Woodstock. Ryan, who is from Simcoe, and Brandon, who is from Tillsonburg played in the minor midget game, while Jonah and Keegan, both from Simcoe, played in the midget showcase. Next shout out goes to Teeterville’s Shane Bergman. The Calgary Stampeders offensive lineman was not only his team’s O-lineman of the Year, but was named to the Canadian Football League’s All-Star team. Make sure to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, where there is much more local sports news. If you would like to get the word out about your team or league, make sure to drop us a line and we’ll do our best to post about your results, news, or event. Also hit those LIKE & SHARE buttons, so we can truly make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks so much for listening!

Hello friends, and welcome to episode 23 of Smart Sports Podcast. This week on the podcast is a real story of if you build it, they will come. A couple of year ago, Trevor Oakes started making baseball bats for himself and some friends. Fast forward to this past Friday, ABO Bats are not just catching on all over the world, he and his business partners opened up the ABO Baseball Facility in Tillsonburg. If you love baseball, or just love a story about chasing your dreams, this is a great one. Trevor. It’s great to have you on the podcast. Thanks for joining us. ABO Bats Facebook page; Instagram page @abo_baseball SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes out to the Simcoe Sabres junior girls basketball team. Last week, they hosted the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association girls AA championships and capped a perfect season by going undefeated over two days to win the title. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page to read all about it. Next shout out goes out to the Norfolk HERicanes. If you love girls hockey, Simcoe is going to be the place to be this weekend, beginning Friday, when the Cassie Turner Memorial Tournament takes place. Good luck to all of our local teams taking part! Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, where we have done our best to be THE place for all things local sports. If you have results, news, or an event you’d like to have the community know about. Drop us a line and we’ll get it out there. And remember to LIKE and SHARE Smart Sports Podcast and all of our posts, so we can continue to grow. Thank you so much for joining us this week. Enjoy!

This week we have a great story to tell. Meagan Wilson and her mom, Melanie Squire thought of a great idea a couple of years ago. They wanted to share the great sport of rugby with the Indigenous youth in our area, so they created Iroquois Roots Rugby. Fast forward to this past weekend. With the program flourishing, Meagan was named the National Indigenous Coach of the Year and was honoured at the Petro Canada Sports Leadership Awards Gala in Vancouver. SHOUT OUTS •First shout out goes to all of last week’s Norfolk Secondary School Athletic Association champions. Like I said before. Last week was a busy one. In girls basketball action, the Holy Trinity Titans took home the senior title, with a 53-34 win over the Simcoe Sabres, while the Sabres junior team won the championship thanks to a 69-29 win over the Titans. In boys volleyball action, congratulations goes out to the Holy Trinity Titans, who won the NSSAA senior title with a 3-2 nail-biter over the delhi Raiders. In the junior final, the Simcoe Sabres took home the title with a 3-1 win over the Titans. Good luck to all of the teams at this week’s CWOSSA championships! •Next shout out goes to Maddox Callens. The forward from Langton who plays for the Kingston Frontenacs, scored his first OHL goal over the weekend. We know it’ll be the first of many. •And a big shout out to Hunter Jones. He was huge in Team OHL’s loss to Russia Monday night in London during the CIBC Canada Russia Series. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports scores, news, and events. Make sure to also LIKE and SHARE Smart Sports Podcast, so we can continue to grow this thing. Thanks for listening!

Hello friends and welcome to Episode 21 of Smart Sports Podcast. This week we talk football on the podcast. Leroy Foster is one of the founders and a coach with the Port Dover Steelheads. He looks back at the season that was in the Ontario Football League, girl power within the organization, the growth of the Steelheads, and where he sees it going in the future. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes out to the members of The Pitt Martial arts club. As usual, the little martial arts club that could is showing the rest of the world what they are all about this week at the WKC World Championships in Niagara Falls NY. Be sure to tune in to Smart Sports Podcast with all of their results. Another shout out goes to Kyler Pehlke. The Grade 9 student at Simcoe Composite School wrapped up a brilliant first high school cross country season with a very impressive 37thplace finish at the OFSAA championships in Sudbury. In his first full cross-country season, he won the Young Canada Day road race and the NSSAA novice gold, before placing fourth at CWOSSA to qualify for this past weekend’s provincial championships. On top of it all, he and his SCS Sabres teammates won the NSSAA junior boys volleyball title Wednesday night. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to listen. It really is appreciated. Make sure to head over to the Smart Sorts Podcast Facebook page. There you can find much more local sports news and scores. Also remember to LIKE & Share Smart Sports Podcast so we can continue to grow this thing. Thank you again for listening!

Hello friends and welcome to this week’s episode of Smart Sports Podcast. This week we have a great story to tell on the podcast. Brianna Spanics was a great athlete that did it all at Valley Heights Secondary School. One of those things wasn’t rowing. And now the fifth-year student at Brock University is an OUA gold medalist in rowing. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes out to last week’s guest Landon McCallum. A couple of days after being on the podcast, Landon scored his first OHL goal. Congratulations. We know it’ll be the first of many. Another shout out goes to Maddox Callens. The forward from Langton got his first OHL point, with an assist against the Sarnia Sting. And a huge shout out goes to Kyler Pehlke. The Grade 9 SCS student is going to be the lone competitor from Norfolk running at the OFSAA cross country championships in Sudbury this weekend. Good luck Kyler. Well, that’s about all the time we have for this week. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Remember to head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for much ore local sports news and scores. While you’re there, make sure to LIKE and SHARE the posts and page. So far, together we really are growing this thing, which is awesome. Thanks for listening!

Hello friends and welcome to episode 19 of Smart Sports Podcast. This week we have Delhi’s Landon McCallum on the podcast. Landon is in his rookie season with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League. He was the team’s first round pick (15th overall). Last week, the 5’10’ forward was selected to play for Hockey Canada’s Team Black at the upcoming World U dear-17 Hockey Challenge. Shout outs The first shout out goes to last week’s podcast guests Carter McDonald and Evyn Sherman, while the Simcoe Warriors atom AE team get one as well. Make sure to check out the Smart Sports podcast Facebook page where there is tons more local sports. Also remember to LIKE & page so we can continue to grow. Thank you so much for listening. Enjoy!

Hello friends and welcome to episode No. 18 of Smart Sports Podcast! This week we are talking October baseball with Simcoe's Carter MacDonald and Delhi's Evyn Sherman. These two guys helped the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks capture its second-straight Ontario University Athletics men's baseball championship over the weekend. MacDonald, Sherman, and the Golden Hawks will now battle it out for the first-ever Canadian University National Invitational in Ajax this weekend. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes out to Delhi's Landon McCallum. The Sudbury Wolves first-round pick was chosen to represent Canada at the World Under 17 Challenge in November. You can read all about it by CLICKING HERE. Next shout out goes to Brantford's Hunter Jones. Hunter is a friend of the podcast and was selected to play in his second-straight CIBC Canada Russia Series game. He will play on November 7 in Kitchener. To read more CLICK HERE. Final shout out goes out to all of the participants in last week's Norfolk Public School Athletic Assocaition cross-country meet that took plae at Memorial Park in Simcoe. Hopefully we will have the results soon so we can post them. And on Friday, those that qualified, will race in the CAGE cross-country championship, also at Memorial Park. **Remember to find Smart Sports Podcast on Facebook, and LIKE & SHARE it with your friends. The goal is to make this the one-stop shop for all things local sports** Thanks for listening!!

This week on Smart Sports Podcast we are talking Friday Night Lights football at Delhi District Secondary School with Grade 12 Delhi Raiders, Hunter Raymond and Taylor Matthews. On Friday, at 8pm, the 2-0 Delhi Raiders host the 1-2 Holy Trinity Titans in the annual high school football game. As part of the festivities, DDSS is going to pay tribute to the 1991 Raiders team that won the school’s first-ever Haldimand-Norfolk Bowl, and the late Brian Stead, who was a basketball coach at the school. SHOUT OUTS A huge shout out goes out to everyone who participated in the Young Canada Day activities at the Norfolk County Fair. It was another amazing day, and ever3y school has tons to be proud about. Between the Raiders 10-peat, Holy Trinity taking home the overall road race title, while Simcoe Composite School’s Kyler Pehlke and Fiona Joyce won the races. Then Valley Heights captured the tug-o-war championship. And last but not least, Waterford taking home its first cheerleading title in over a decade. It really was a Young Canada Day to remember for everyone. One more shout out goes out to Brock Dyxhoorn. The right-handed pitcher, who played for the Lotte Giants in the KBO in Korea this season, was named to Team Canada for the upcoming 2019 WBSC Premier12® that takes place from November 2 - 17. There are two spots in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on the line, with one going to the highest-placed finisher from the Americas and one to the highest finisher in the Super Round/Finals from the Asia/Oceania region. Make sure to head over to our Facebook page for all of the latest local sports news. And remember to LIKE and SHARE Smart Sports Podcast so we can continue to grow this thing. Thanks for listening!!!

This week we have Chris Longthorne on the podcast. Chris is the general manager of the Delhi Travellers and comes on the podcast to talk about his team, the harsh realities of recruiting in junior hockey, the state of the Provincial Junior Hockey League, and thoughts on seven years after the dislodging of junior D hockey. SHOUT OUTS A big shout out goes to my friends Ty Backus, Paul Meiklejohn and Amélie Chandra, who helped raise $3,446 during their Paddle for Pedals fundraiser. They, along with other participants paddled from Turkey Point to Port Dover on paddleboards. The event was a fundraising adventure to help people with disabilities in Norfolk County maintain, repair and purchase bicycles. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news. With the winter schedules in full swing, we have lots on there. If you have a score or news to share, remember to send it our way, so we can post it. And also remember to LIKE and SHARE Smart Sports Podcast, so we can grow this thing. Enjoy!!

This week we are going to talk junior hockey with Jason Do Paco, who is the head coach and general manager of Norfolk’s newest team, the Langton Royals. Jason sits down with Smart Sports Podcast and talks about how the Langton Royals came to be, the Canadian Premier Junior Hockey League, and what he's had to do to assure Norfolk County that his program is here to stay. And yes, because the Royals are in the CPJHL, we talk Brian Fish. SHOUT OUTS • To Maddox Callens and Landon McCallum, who made their OHL debuts last week with the Kingston Frontenacs and Sudbury Wolves respectively. Hopefully we will be able to get them on the podcast very soon. • To Dan Avey and the crew at YFC Youth Unlimited Norfolk. They hit the links Wednesday for their golf-a-thon fundraiser and raised $7,000. This is a huge deal. YFC Youth Unlimited is all about the youth, and Dan does some pretty amazing things for our community. • And finally, a shout out goes out to Jukassa Speedway. The local race track is hosting the Pinty’s Fall Brawl for a third straight year to close out the season at Jukasa Motor Speedway and the NASCAR Pinty’s Series on Saturday. The evening’s twin-bill will showcase the 200-lap season finale for the NASCAR Pinty’s Series where the National Champ will be crowned as well as a 50-lap invitational for the perennially competitive Limited Late Model division. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sport coverage. And remember to LIKE and SHARE it so we can continue to grow this. Thanks for listening!

On this week's Smart Sports Podcast, we are talking junior hockey. And since the Provincial Junior Hockey League kicked off over the weekend, we thought it would be great to have one of the local teams on the podcast. This week, Port Dover Sailors head coach Mike Tobin joins us. He talks about his Sailors 2019-2020 season, PJHL, the Bloomfield Division, and junior hockey in general. SHOUT OUTS • The Port Dover Steelheads bantam team continued its dominant ways this weekend in Ontario Football League action. The Steelheads crushed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 54-0. This victory improves the Steelheads record to a perfect 3-0 so far, where they have been incredible on both sides of the ball. What's even more impressive, is the fact they haven't allowed a point against so far in the 9-vs-9 division. They began the season with a 56-0 win over Tottenham, and then beat Halton 34-0. • Hurricane Hannah Ferrell raced her way to the Strickland's Brantford Chevrolet Crate Sprint Cars checkered flag Friday night at Ohsweken Speedway. The Delhi District Secondary School graduate, Ferrell got by Jesse Costa one last time, and with two laps to go, earned her first career Crate Sprint Car victory. Thank you again for listening to Smart Sports Podcast. It really is appreciated. .*****MAKE SURE TO LIKE AND SHARE the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page. The hope is to make this a portal for all things local sports.*****

One of the local high school football super powers is looking for a new challenge. The McKinnon Park Secondary School Blue Devils have left the Haldimand-Norfolk High School Football League and are heading to Hamilton. The Blue Devils have been one of the most dominant forces in local high school football for about a decade, have asked and were granted permission to join the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board league. The Blue Devils join the Gold Division, and will take on Glendale, Westdale, Westomount, and Bernie Cultis secondary schools in the regular season. Their first game is September 19 at Westmount SS at 3:30pm. Blue Devils head coach Jason Pudwill and Haldimand-Norfolk league convenor Chris Harvey join us on the podcast to go a little more in depth and share some McKinnon Park Secondary School Blue Devils football stories. .*****MAKE SURE TO LIKE AND SHARE Smart Sports Podcast Facebook Page. The hope is to make this a portal for all things local sports.*****

This week on the podcast, we have Norfolk’s newest national champion. Cory Ann Pond came home over the Labour Day weekend to capture the 2019 ILDC Canadian Long Drive Championship at Stark's Golf Course. Pond drilled a 328 yard drive in the final to win the event. She will now represent Canada at the International Long Drive Championship in Mexico in November. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes out to my old baseball teammates, the Simcoe Giants senior team. The Giants captured Norfolk’s only Baseball Ontario OBA title. This has been five years in the making and the Giants beat Thorold 14-3, Essex 4-3 in 11 innings, Courtright 7-4, Creemore 14-2, Mitchell 4-3 in eight innings, and 10-0 over Creemore in the final to win the OBA senior C championship. We were supposed to have a couple of the guys on the show this week. But we will save that for another week. Sticking with OBA championships, Delhi’s Rhett Roney won the senior AA title with his Exeter Express teammates in Vaughn. A huge shoutout goes to the Six Nations Rivermen. They captured the Presidents Cup, winning the national senior B lacrosse championship in Kahnawake. The Rivermen beat the Akwesasne Buck 9-5 to win the gold. My buddy Warren Hill was named tournament Most Valuable Player. Make sure to head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, where there is lots more local sports coverage, Remember to LIKE and SHARE it with your friends. With the fall and winter seasons about to begin, we want to make sure everyone knows about what we’re trying to do here. Thank you very much for taking the time to listen. It really is appreciated.

This week on the podcast we are going to talk baseball with Steve Scheers. Steve is one of the backbones behind Delhi Minor Baseball, not to mention, one of the coaches of the Delhi Tigers bantam team that won the town’s first bantam Southern counties title in 34 years over the weekend. He talks about his team's accomplishment, how it's affected the association and community. Scheers also talks a little more about baseball, new pitching rules, and how Delhi has really taken ownership of its recreation facilities . SHOUT OUTS First big shout out goes to the Norfolk County Roller Derby team. With two big wins on home turf on the weekend, the local roller derby team captured the Southern Ontario Derby Association B division title. This capped off an amazing season for this group of women, that also saw them featured in a documentary for Eastlink TV, called Down and Derby. I was hoping to have someone from the team on the show this week. Hopefully we can make it happen after the long weekend. A huge shout out to the Simcoe Giants peewee tier 1 team. This group of kids were in Toronto, playing at the CNE Tournament and lost in the semifinal to Mississauga North AAA. The Giants were exactly that in this tournament, finishing fourth in a 32 team tournament featuring some of the best A, AA and AAA teams in the province. Finally, a shout out goes out to the Six Nations Rivermen. This lacrosse team is currently in Kahnawake, PQ, and are undefeated so far in the Presidents Cup tournament, where they are battling for the Canadian Senior B title. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, and then like and share it with your friends so we can keep growing this thing. Thank you!

Episode 10… Holy crap… I can’t believe it. Welcome to this week’s episode of Smart Sports Podcast. This week we have Delhi’s Ashley Spain on the podcast. And I couldn’t be more excited. Ashley just returned from the 2019 Royal Canadian Legion National Track & Field event at Cape Breton University. And for a second time, Ashley has a medal on the national stage, this time a silver medal in javelin. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes out to a pair of new world champs! Bailey Donaldson and Chloe Nadrofsky returned home from the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Show in Oklahoma City, and brought with them world titles. Yes, that’s right, world titles in Level 2 Ranch Sorting. Congratulations Next shout out goes to The Port Dover Clippers, who successfully defended their SCBA senior title with a 14-6 win over the Scotland Scales. The Clippers were a perfect 3-0 during the tournament. Next up is the provincial championships in Port Lambton on Labour Day weekend. The final shoutout goes to the Simcoe Minor Baseball Association. Over the weekend, the mosquito and rookie Giants both went undefeated to win the SCBA titles. ......... Make sure to join us on our Facebook page, where we have much more local sports coverage. While you are there, remember to like and share us, so we can continue to grow Smart Sports Podcast. Thank you very much for listening. Enjoy!!

This week we are going to focus on senior baseball. The Southern Counties league made a return five years ago after a long absence. And this weekend the league is hosting its championship tournament, so Shortty and I are going to talk about how the league returned, and where it’s going. The tournament begins FRIDAY (although Shortty said Saturday). So go down to the ball park and cheer these guys on. SHOUT OUTS In a busy week in local sports, the first shout out goes to the Norfolk Timberwolves. The bantam boys and midget girls did an amazing job of representing the county at the Ontario Lacrosse Association Festival in Whitby. Both teams went and conquered, bringing home the gold. Congratulations to both teams. What a great accomplishment. The next shout out goes to the Farmers of Norfolk Football Association. On Sunday, the FNFA held its annual soccer tournament featuring migrant workers from more than five countries representing our local farms. What a great success. Next year I can’t wait to dig a little deeper about the tournament. Final shout out goes out to the Lights and Sirens 3-pitch tournament. This was the fifth year for the event and last Saturday 12teams battled it out at Win-Del park for a great cause. Led by Michael Bollert, the tournament run by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, raised money for local Special Olympics. It really was a great time. I was out there umpiring all day, and everyone had a great time for an even greater cause. SHARE US Remember to head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports. While you are there, make sure to like and especially share the page with your friends so we can keep on growing. Enjoy this week's episode!!

This week we have an extraordinary athlete on the podcast, that just recently had the chance to represent Canada in her sport. Kaitlin Kloet just completed her third tour of duty with Team Canada at the Softball Border Battle in Midland, Michigan. I am super excited to have her on the podcast to talk about representing Canada, competitive slo-pitch and being a new mom. SHOUTOUTS First shoutout goes to the Delhi peewee Tigers. They are taking on the Ingersoll Ironbirds in a bes-of-three series to determine who gets to take part in the OBA D championships in Port Dover on Labour Day weekend. The Tigers struck first in the series, winning Game 1 21-10. They will try and wrap it up Sunday at 4pm in Courtland. A huge congratulations to Corey MacLean. The former Waterford District High School standout athlete and his New Hamburg Mustangs teammates captured the Softball Canada U23 national title. Corey was a huge contributer on both sides of the ball. But htat .333 batting average was something else. Congratulations Corey. Congratulations to the Six Nations Rebels. Wednesday night they beat the Akwesasne Indians 12-9 on the road to capture the Ontario Jr B Lacrosse League title. They now head to Winnipeg for the Founders Cup, the national junior B championships. And a final shoutout to all of the Simcoe Timberwolves teams competing at the Ontario Lacrosse Association Festival in Whitby. Good luck and have a great time. Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports. And make sure to like and share the page, as well as this podcast. Thanks for listening.

This week I have Evan Anseeuw on Smart Sports Podcast. Evan is one half of a dynamic duo, which includes Erik Haines, who are representing the Langton area, and Norfolk County on the grid iron this summer for the Brantford Bisons varsity football team. To say these two have had a summer to remember is an understatement. Not only have they helped the Bisons get to the Ontario Football Conference varsity final on August 3 against the Huronia Stallions, Erik and Evan got the chance to play with and against some of the best young football players in the country recently at the ACG All-Canada Bowl in Chilliwack, British Columbia. SHOUTOUTS This week we have a couple of shoutouts. The first goes out to Kait Kloet. Kait is a good friend, and we all couldn’t be more proud of her. Over the weekend she represented Canada at the Border Battle 3 in Michigan. The border battle pits Canada against the United States in a winner take all slo-pitch game. Unfortunately the Americans won this year. But it’s always great to see Kait wearing the red white and black. Expect her to be on the podcast soon to hear about her experience. And a HUGE congratulations to Norfolk’s newest provincial champs!! Over the weekend, the Port Dover lassie girls team captured the Ontario Rural Softball Association A title. Congratulations to my buddy Jason Smith, who coached the group and the rest of the Dover team. Finally, a huge shoutout goes to the Norfolk County Roller Derby team. Make sure you get out to the Aud on August 24 because they are going to battle for the SODA B South Final at 12pm. Also remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news and information.

This week we have two local sports trailblazers on the podcast. John Macdonald and Jim Merrick were two inductees at the recent Norfolk County Sports Hall of Recognition ceremony. These two played football at Simcoe Composite School, McGill University, and in the CFL. But more than that, they carved a path for so many other local football players and are mentors to many, and not just on the football field. Jim and John talk about their time in high school, university, and in the pros. But most importantly, they talk about the lessons they learned and are now passing down as role models and educators to students . Enjoy!

This week we are in for a treat. I like to call our guest the professor of rugby in our area. Ian Fitzgerald, fondly known as Fitz to pretty much everyone, is, like always, on the road coaching rugby. He joins us by phone in Guelph, where he is helping out with the Ontario program. But that isn’t why Fitz is on the podcast. Last week, Fitz and his Niagara Rugby Union Thunder U18 girls team arrived home from France, with gold medals around their necks. The Thunder, made up of young women from all over the NRU, including members of the Norfolk Harvesters, won the Paris World Games rugby 7s title. CLICK HERE to see the full Thunder results and game streams. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to last week’s guest Hayden Halstead. Hayden was back on his home track at Gopher Dunes over the weekend, and tore it up at the Rockstar Triple Crown MX Series. In the fourth stop on the series, Hayden earned his first top-10 finish of the season in the Pro 250 division. In the first moto he placed 11th, and finished the day with a ninth, to give him 10th overall on the day. Next up is a shout out to big weekend in local sports. If you’re looking for something to do, or watch, there is plenty, including the Norfolk RAM Rodeo at Timmerman’s Ranch which runs all weekend. On Sunday the Tour de Norfolk hits the roads, beginning in Delhi, while the North Shore Challenge open water swim event takes place in Turkey Point in the morning. Final shout out goes to Ohsweken Speedway. On Monday and Tuesday, the stars will race in the Northern Summer Nationals, featuring Tony Stewart, Christopher Bell, & Rico Abreu. Tuesday things wrap up with the Race of Champions.

This week I have Waterford’s Hayden Halstead on the podcast. For those that aren’t familiar with his story, he has been a pro motocross rider for the last several years. Hayden is back home this week because he is racing in the 2019 Canadian Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MX Tour stop at Gopher Dunes on Saturday.He talks about his homecoming, and his season thus far, that has seen just about everything after recovering from a broken leg in February. Enjoy! Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page and take a look at what else has gone on in the area in local sports.

Since summer is now in full swing, I thought it would be very appropriate to hit the beach in this episode. I have Josh Reid on the podcast. He is currently enjoying some vacation time before the North Shore Challenge for Camp Trillium takes place on Sunday July 21 in Turkey Point. Josh is one of the organizers of this event that has grown over the last four years. And to celebrate its fifth anniversary, which is also a fundraiser for Camp Trillium, and has raised over $51,000 for the charity so far, it is going to be a Canadian championship. That’s right folks. This year’s event is also the Global Swim Series Open Water Canadian Championship. To learn more about the North Shore Challenge for Camp Trillium or if you want to donate to the charity CLICK HERE

Heading into this Canada Day weekend, and with the best fastball players in the world coming to Simcoe for the Hill United Chiefs Challenge at Lions Park, I thought it would be very appropriate to have Adam Walker on the podcast. Adam is the head coach of the Simcoe Braves bantam fastball team. And the Braves have teamed up with the 4-time International Softball Congress champion Hill United Chiefs to put this tournament on. Shoutouts this week: Brantford’s Hunter Jones. He and his family are friend of the podcast and I couldn’t be happier for them. Last weekend in Vancouver at the NHL Draft, Hunter, who plays for the Peterborough Petes, was selected 59th overall and in the second round by the Minnesota Wild. Right now he’s at the Wild development camp. Hopefully one of these days we can catch up with him. Secondly, a shoutout goes to Langton’s Austin Pasztor. The Tennessee Titan is hosting a FREE football camp in Brantford. The 2nd Annual Free Youth Football Camp and Combine takes place July 1 at the Gretzky Centre from 9am-2pm. Lunch and t-shirt is provided. And no equipment is necessary. For more information go to https://www.pasztorsprinciples.com/ A big shoutout to Delhi's Landon McCallum. Landon, the Sudbury Wolves first pick (15th overall) in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection, will participate in Hockey Canada's under-17 national development camp in Calgary, July 19-26. And finally, a huge congratulations to the Jarvis atom girls fastball team. This team captured the ORSA title last weekend. What a great accomplishment.

Welcome to my first-ever podcast! In episode 1, I thought it would be very fitting to share a story of resilience, and that hard work can get you places. We have Delhi’s own, Adam Brady on the phone. Adam is currently in Bemidji, Minnesota, getting ready for the upcoming NCAA hockey season. And if you’re unfamiliar with Adam’s story, it’s a great one, and I know a lot of people in the area couldn’t be happier for him. And to add to that, the other week, the Bemidji State Beavers named its leadership group for the upcoming season. And Adam will be one of two players wearing the captain’s C. https://www.thespec.com/community-story/6703769-adam-brady-looking-for-a-fresh-start/ http://www.bsubeavers.com/mhockey/news/2019-20/11267/brady-and-muck-to-captain-2019-20-bsu-mens-hockey-team/ https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/101102/adam-brady