Local Sports for Thursday July 29

Two more teams in the Rainy River District Fastball league are on the bubble in the double knockout playoff round.

Rainy River defeated the Big Grassy Braves 5-3 .

The Braves will play Northwest Bay tonight with the loser eliminated from further play.

Manitou was forced to forfeit its game with Big Island because it didn't have enough players to field a team.

Manitou plays Sabaskong tonight in a must-win situation.

Local Sports for Wednesday July 28

The Stratton Eagles and the Sight and Sound Wolves have opened the Rainy River District Fastball league post-season with victories.

Guy Arpin picked up the win on the mound and hit a homerun in the Eagles 5-3 win over Northwest Bay.

John Desaulniers accomplished the same feat for the Wolves in a 6-0 victory over Sabaskong.

The playoffs are a double-knock out format

Local Sports for Tuesday July 27

There will be a Super Truck race at Emo Speedway this year.

The Borderland Racing Association is confirming it will hold the race on August 7 as part of its regular night of racing.

Most of the drivers are expected from Manitoba.

The last time trucks raced at Emo Speedway was in 2005.


Pharmasave moved within two points of the lead in the Borderland Soccer League men's division with a 1-0 win over Emo.

Craig McTavish scored his league leading twelfth goal of the season.

In women's play, Taggs Source for Sports won for just the second time this season, upsetting the women's division leaders Al's Racquet Stringing 9-2.

Stephanie Mattson paced the way for Taggs with four goals.

Michelle Cournoyer scored twice while Jess Taggart, Susie Sonnasign and Blaire Hartnett added singles.

Nichole Rogozinski and Emily Brown replied for Al's.

Local Sports for Monday July 26

After four tries, Ron Westover has finally won his one-hundredth street stock feature.

Westover reached the milestone by beating out Bemidji's Don Bowman for Saturday's win at Emo Speedway.

He's raced at Emo for the past 18 years.

In the other race divisions, Greg Ferris won his first feature of the year in the Modified division while Matt DePiero earned his first checkered flag in over a year and a half by taking the win in the Midwest Modified class.


The first step towards the selection of an all-star peewee hockey team to compete for a berth to next March's all-Ontario championship will take place next month.

An evaluation camp will be held August 21 and 22 in Vermilion Bay.

Twenty-five players from that camp will be selected to the team's selection camp in September.

Registration for the evaluation camp must be made before August 11 by calling coach Dan Reynard at 807-467-2727

Local Sports for Friday July 23

Former Fort Frances native and hockey executive Art Berglund is headed to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

He'll join bothers Kevin and Derian Hatcher, Jeremy Roenick and long time University of Minnesota men's hockey team physician Dr. V. George Nagobads as this years inductees.

They'll be enshrined October 21.


Former Fort Frances Jr. Sabres star netminder Ryan Faragher has committed to joining the Dartmouth College Big Green, a Division One team, for the 2011-12 season.

Faragher backstopped the Bismark Bobcats to a U.S. national junior title last season.



The Fort Frances Muskies football team will open its 2010 season at home.

A schedule released by the Winnipeg High School Football League sees the Muskies hosting Elmwood September 10.

It will be the first league game under new head coach Chad Canfield.

Local Sports for Thursday July 22

The regular season for the Rainy River District Fastball League has come to a close.

The Big Grassy Lightning defeated Sabaskong 8-2 to secure second place behind Barwick.

The Cubs close the season in sixth.

Playoffs will begin next Tuesday

Local Sports for Wednesday July 21

A long-time hockey coach of the International Falls Broncos is being inducted into the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Centre's Hall of the Fame this September.

The late Larry Ross, a Duluth native, was an All-American goalie at the University of Minnesota before coaching 31 seasons at Falls High School, winning six state championships.

He was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988 and died in 1995 at age 73.


An old-timers fastball game is being planned for this Friday in Fort Frances.

The Sight and Sound Wolves will host game at Van Jura Field.

Former fastball players wanted to participate can call Derek McKinnon at 275-9583

Local Sports for Tuesday July 20

Guy Arpin pitched shutout ball for his sixth win of the season as the Stratton Eagles blanked Sabaskong 11-0 in the Rainy River District Fastball League.

Stratton's Tom Armstrong punched his second homer of the year in the game.

The win leaves the Eagles with a 9-and-9 record on the season and a seventh place finish in the standings.

Playoffs have now been set for July 27 with a schedule to be released following the outcome of one final league game between the Big Grassy Lightning and Sabaskong.

Local Sports for Monday July 19

Steve Arpin finished thirteenth at the NASCAR Nationwide race in St. Louis Saturday night despite a last lap accident.

The Fort Frances native was one of two drivers to strike Brad Keselowski who got spun on the final turn by eventual race winner Carl Edward.



At Emo Speedway Saturday, Mike Wilson led from the start and withstood a late race caution to win his first Midwest Modified feature of the year.

Brad Loveday battled with Kyle Gavel for much of the race to win his third straight modified feature.

Gavel lost control with about seven laps remaining and finished fifth.

Scott Messner of Bemidji outdistanced the field in the street stock feature for the win.

Local Sports for Friday July 16

The Sight and Sound Wolves has taken over sole possession of second place in the Rainy River District Fastball league with a 12-5 win over Northwest Bay.

The potential of a three-way tie with the Big Grassy Lighting and Sabaskong Cubs, who still have games to play, exists, forcing the league to consider tie-breakers.

Elsewhere, Rainy River held on for a 13-11 win over Big Island despite giving up the long-ball to the Huskies Albert "Sask" George and twice to Sean Comegan.

The Royals finish the season two games over five-hundred.


The La Place Rendezvous Voyageurs under 18-girls' team got goals from six different players in a 7-1 beating of Taggs Source for Sports in a women's game in the Borderland Soccer League.

Jessica Caul with two, Courtney Roach, Sara Coish, Wynona Kavanaugh, Alexis Hampe and Sara Roach scored for the Voyageurs.

Stephanie Mattson had the lone goal for Taggs.

In men's play Jeff Campbell scored twice and Craig McTavish added another as Pharmasave blanked the Voyageur's under 18 boys team 3-0.

Timeo Breilman picked up the shutout win in net.


The Fort Frances Lakers will hold a summer camp this weekend in International Falls for prospective newcomers.

More than 35 junior aged players are expected to attend the camp at Bronco arena.

Head coach Wayne Strachan says they have plenty of goalies and defencemen to look at, but still have room for forwards players interested.

Registration can be done on-line at the Lakers' website.

Local Sports for Thursday July 15

The Sight and Sound Wolves moved into a tied for second place in the Rainy River District Fastball League after taking both ends of a double header against the Rainy River Royals.

The Wolves won by scores of 2-1 and 5-0 in make-up games from earlier this year.

It improves their record to 12-and-5, tying them with the Big Grassy Lightning in the battle for second.

Five more make-up games yet to be played in the league before the final playoff match-ups can be determined.


Manitou Forest Products recorded its seventh shutout of the season with a 4-0 win over Emo in a men's division match-up in the Borderland Soccer League.

Nick Ashworth, Chad Faragher and Sarah Noonan and Mike Sande did the scoring.

In women's play, Al's Racquet Stringing edged Boston Pizza 2-1.

Nicole Rogozinski and Taylor Meyers scored for Al's.

Caitlin Hyatt replied for Boston Pizza.

Local Sports for Wednesday July 14

The Barwick Knight have captured the Rainy River District Fastball League's regular season crown.

They did so with a 3-2 win over the Sabaskong Cubs last night.

The Cubs are still in a battle for second with four other teams including the Big Grassy Lightning who blanked Northwest Bay 18-0.

Jeff Morrison picked up the win while hitting his sixth homer of the season.

Sight and Sound stayed in the hunt with a 14-5 win over Big Island.

Bob Andy and Joe Sinclair hit home runs for the Wolves.

The Big Grassy Braves doubled up Rainy River 6-3

Stratton defeated Manitou 12-4.



In the Borderland Soccer League, the La Place Rendez-Vous Voyageurs under 18 boys team got back on the winning track in the men's division with a 4-2 win over Emo.

Gavin Moorhouse, Colton Spicer, Jeff Gustafson and Tim McMahon scored for the Voyageurs.
Justin Bujold and Garnett Cornell replied for Emo.

In women's action, Al's Racquet Stringing beat the Voyageurs under 18 girls team by the same 4-2 score.

Lauren Pierce with two, Nicole Rogozinski and Katie McTavish got goals for Al's.

Jessica Caul and Wynona Kavanaugh scored for the Voyageurs.

Local Sports for Tuesday July 13

Two goals from Craig McTavish helped Pharmasave to a 4-2 win over Manitou Forest Products in the Borderland Soccer League last night.

It's was Manitou' first loss of the season.

Jimmy Nussbaumer and Josiah Morris also replied for Pharmasave.

Tanner Kaemingh and Mike Sande scored for Manitou.

In women's play, Laureen Peters scored twice and Amy Wilson-Hands notched her second straight shutout win as Boston Pizza blanked Taggs Source for Sports 4-0.

Sam Bell and Sarah Gould had the games other goals.


The Duluth Clydesdales and the Spooner Wisconsin Wilderness are the newest teams to the Superior International Junior Hockey League.

The two franchises join the league after successfully appealing earlier rulings from USA Hockey to deny entry.

Spooner, playing as the Mustangs, played a partial schedule last year.

For Duluth, it's their first junior hockey in more than forty years.


Chris Jack, Jeff Morrison and Ryan Jack all hit homeruns as the Big Grassy Lightning defeated Stratton 18-8.

It was one of two make-up games played last night in the Rainy River District Fastball League.

Elsewhere Rainy River blanked Manitou 10-0.

Local Sports for Monday July 12

An accident on lap 52 left Steve Arpin with a disappointing twenty-eighth showing at the ARCA Series race in Iowa Saturday night.

Arpin's night ended after when he lost brakes in his car and crashed into the wall in turn three.

It dropped the Fort Frances native to ninth in the standings.


At Emo Speedway, Gavin Paull won the feature in the modified division.

John Hettinga took the win in the Midwest Modified class and Don Bowman captured the win in the Street Stock.

Local Sports for Friday July 9

The Sight and Sound Wolves won their fifth in a row with an 8-1 decision over the Sabaskong Cubs in Rainy River District Fastball League action last night.

Dale Jerry cracking a home-run in the game for the Wolves.

Elsewhere, Travis Tom became the league's first 10-game winner on the mound as the Big Grassy Braves walloped Manitou 18-1.

Barwick doubled up on the Big Grassy Lightning 6-3.

Rainy River beat Northwest Bay 10-8.

And Derek Andy hit his first homer of the season in helping Big Island to a 14-3 win over Stratton.


Rebecca Cornell scored three times as Al's Racquet Stringing defeated La Place Rendezvous Voyageurs under 18 team 9-3 in a woman's game in the Borderland Soccer League.

Nicole Rogozinski added two for Al's with Kaitlyn Ferris, Taylor Meyers and Sarah Kellar getting singles.

Alexis Hampe with a pair and Courtney Roach scored for the Voyageurs.

In men's action, Jake Esselink scored the game's only goal as Emo blanked the Voyageurs under 18 boys team 1-0.

Local Sports for Thursday July 8

A pair of goals from Tanner Kaemingh paced Manitou Forest Products to a 6-1 win over Pharmasave in the Borderland Soccer League Wednesday night.

Chad Faragher, Chris Faragher, Scott Bridgeman and Joel Ashworth also scored for Manitou who remains unbeaten in the men's division this year.

Jeremy Neussbaumer scored the lone goal for Pharmasave.

In women's play, Boston Pizza netminder Amy Wilson-Hands helped secure a win by scoring a goal and getting the shutout in a 6-0 victory over Taggs Source for Sports.

Laureen Peters and Alyssa Holiday scored twice with Sarah Gould adding the other.

Thursday night, the La Place Rendez-vous Voyageurs under 18 teams are on the soccer pitches.

The boys team does battle against Emo while the girls team faces Al's Racquet Stringing.


Steve Arpin was eleventh in the feature of a USRA modified event at Deer Creek Raceway in Spring Valley, Minnesota Wednesday night.

It was Arpin's first dirt track race in over a year.

He competes in an ARCA series race this weekend in Iowa.

Meantime, Arpin will leave the ARCA series temporarily following this weekend's race.

It's too allow him to focus development in NASCAR's Nationwide Series where he's scheduled to behind the wheel of a Dale Earnhardt junior owned car for two races.

Arpin is expected to return to the ARCA series in August.


Sight and Sound puts a four-game win streak on the line in the Rainy River District Fastball League Wednesday night as its hosts Sabaskong.

The Cubs beat the Wolves back on June 1st in their first meeting.

Elsewhere its Barwick travelling to Big Grassy to play the Lightning.

Manitou hosts the Big Grassy Braves.

Northwest Bay is at Rainy River and Stratton travels to Big Island.

Local Sports for Wednesday July 7

Kevin Gemmel belted his league leading eighth homer of the season and Josh Mann added another as Barwick beat Rainy River 5-2.

The Knights lead the Rainy River District Fastball League with a 13-3 record.

Elsewhere Big Grassy Lightning overpowered Big Island 19-2. Ryan Kirkrude had a home run in that game.

Homeruns from Bob Andy and Beeker Watson paced Sight & Sound to a 13-1 pounding of Stratton.

Pitcher Travis Tom won his 9th of the season as the Big Grassy Braves topped Northwest Bay
19-3.

Sabaskong blanked Manitou 13-0.


In the Borderland Soccer League, Pharmasave battled Emo to a 2-2 draw in men's action.

Dave Chambers and Brendan Hyatt scored for Pharmasave with Joel Veldhuisen and Dougie Veldhuisen getting goals for Emo.

In women's action, Katie McTavish and Lauren Pierce shared a shutout in net and scored a goal as Al's Racquet Stringing blanked Taggs Source for Sports 5-0.

Sarah Kellar with a pair and Taylor Meyers rounded out the scoring.

Tonight the La Place Rendez-vous Voyageurs under 18 teams are in action.

The boys team does battle against Emo while the girls team faces Al's Racquet Stringing.


The Blairs Hits Project are this year's winners of the Canada Day Beach Volleyball tournament, winning the championship in straight sets.

The Parking Brakes were second and Sets on the Beach finished third.



Steve Arpin is making a brief return to dirt track racing tonight.

The Fort Frances native is competing in a USRA modified event at Deer Creek Raceway in Spring Valley, Minnesota.

It's a track he's won six times over the course of his dirt track racing career.

Following the race, he'll head to Iowa to prepare for this weekend's ARCA series race.

All-Academic Honours Named

Two area hockey players are among those to earn all-Academic honours with the Atlantic Hockey Conference.

Steve McLeod of Atikokan and Derek Fisher of International Falls were among players to post a 3.0 grade point average or higher in all their courses during the year.

For Fisher, a senior at Mercyhurst, it was his fourth straight award.

McLeod, a junior at American International, earned his third selection.

Local Sports for Tuesday July 6

Another shutout win for Manitou Forest Products in the Borderland Soccer League.

The leaders of the men's division blanked La Place Rendez-vous Voyageurs under 18 team 4-0.

Mike Sonnasinh had two goals with singles from Mike Sande and Andrew Sonnasinh.

Manitou has held its opposition scoreless in six times this season.

In women's play, Boston Pizza edged the Voyageurs under 18 girls team 4-3.

Sam Bell and Laureen Peters each scored twice for Boston Pizza.

Courtney Roach, Wynona Kavanaugh and Jamie Taylor replied for the Voyageurs.



In the Rainy River District Fastball League, Stratton defeated Big Island 14-6 in a make-up game from June 1st.

Guy Arpin and Rob McGinnis belted homeruns for the Eagles.

Shelby Nosan picking up the win on the mound.

Bid for 100th Win Delayed

Bemidji's Don Bowman halted Ron Westover's bid for his one-hundredth career feature win.

Bowman won the street stock feature at Emo Speedway Saturday night.

Westover had to settle for second.

Brad Loveday won his second consecutive feature in the modified division while Kendall Gamsby won his second of the year in the midwest modified class.

Local Sports for Friday July 2

Steve Arpin will be looking for a good qualifying position for tonight's NASCAR Nationwide Race at Daytona. It's the Fort Frances native's fifth race in the Nationwide Series and has had two top ten starting spots in four previous races. Tonight's race begins at 6:30 p.m. Central Time.


In Borderland Soccer League action from Wednesday night, the La Place Rendez-Vous Voyageurs under-18 girls team blanked Taggs Source for Sports 4-0. Sara Roach had the hat-trick with Caitlin Sande getting the other goal.