By Doug Kennedy
Steve Travale from Kincardine is a very deserving winner of the OBA’s volunteer of the year award. Talking to so many of his players he has coached tells me that he is not just a great coach that stresses the fundamentals, but cares about what the kids are doing on and off the field.
Travale has coached minor ball in Kincardine for the last 15 years. His highlights are seeing kids grow as players and more importantly, as people. Seeing them develop confidence and having success is obviously something he is a big part off with all the successful teams he has coached.
Warren Beisel and Jay Bell have coached with Travale over the last 10 years. Beisel says he is known to the staff and players as Coach “T”. Beisel says coaching with Travale makes it fun for everyone, players and coaches. His passion for the game, willingness to learn, a strong desire to make himself better and those around him have made him a very successful and appreciated coach of Kincardine Minor Ball. Success follows him everywhere, mainly because he cares about each athlete, and he never stops thinking about the game. Bell and Beisel say he is a true mentor to so many young kids and he always gives up extra time to work with kids during the summer months. Beisel says he is extremely fortunate to spend so much time with Travale, and he has taught him a lot about baseball and more importantly, life skills.
The 2001-2002 age group and the 2003-2004 have brought some really good memories for Travale over the last few years. Winning big tournaments at home in 2018 and 2019 in front of big crowds is a lasting memory.
Also, the 2003-2004-OBA Bantam championship and then again this year with the same group going undefeated.
Travale says coaching with some great coaches like Beisel, Bell and Dwight Howald has been a great experience for him.
A tip of the cap to the OBA for recognizing a great coach and mentor in our community. Congrats, Steve—well deserved.
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Share your unused hockey equipment
Marina Wintermute, Brett and Mitch Burrows and Tracey Primeau are collecting new and used hockey equipment to send to remote Northern Indigenous communities. Everyone who has had kids in sports has an extra helmet, gloves or skates kicking around in the garage or basement. It is time to donate this equipment to someone who can use it.
On Dec.4, between 1-3 p.m., you can drop them off at the MKN store at 2057-2047-on the 12th Concession, Ripley. They will also take cash donations. You can contact Marina at 519-525-2399 or Tracey at 519-386-2718 to make arrangements if you cannot make it that day. Monetary donations will help subsidize storage, flights and cargo.
Truly a great thing to support, if possible. Let’s help get some kids on the ice.
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The Ripley Wolves won its only game on the weekend, 6-2 in Creemore. Logan Swanton, Tyson Soers, Jarrett Kuntz, Gerritt Satosek, Brett Catto and Garrett Meurs scored in the road win. Alex Kuntz got three assists and Cody Britton added two helpers. Gatlin Burt picked up the win in net. The Wolves play at home this Saturday night at 7 p.m. against Milverton.They also travel to Minto Sunday afternoon for a 2 p.m. game.
The Kincardine Bulldogs picked up two wins this past weekend. They defeated Walkerton at home on Saturday night 9-1 and picked up a big road win in Mitchell winning 3-2 in overtime. Jeffrey Fritzley had two goals on Saturday night with singles going to Jerrid Fossold, Jordan Moulton, Ben Nauta, Bryce McFadden, Steven Grant, Joseph Pringle and Carter Servais.
On Sunday afternoon, the Bulldogs scored two goals in the last five minutes of the third period, to tie the game before winning 3-2 in overtime. Bryce McFadden and Parker Millet scored in the third period to tie the game and then Bryce scored his second goal of the afternoon to help the Bulldogs knock off the first place Mitchell Hawks for the third time this year.
Joshua Jacklin picked up both wins in net for the Bulldogs. His dad is an assistant coach with Mitchell, so it would be a fun ride home.
The Bulldogs have two road games this weekend. They are in Walkerton Friday night and in Hanover on Saturday.