Sports – WestonWeb.ca

Johnny Bower day

January 3 was named “Johnny Bower Day” in the city of Toronto, and a celebration was held at the ACC in honour of the Westonian who played 11 seasons with the Maple Leafs.

Bower died on December 26 at the age of 93.

Johnny Bower dies

Johnny Bower, the four-time Stanley Cup-champion goaltender and former Weston resident, died on December 26 of pneumonia. He was 93.

Bower was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He served in World War 2 as a gunner, and joined the Leafs in 1958.

Bower lived for many years at 16 Patika Avenue, in Weston, and Patika was ceremonially renamed for him in 2014.

Dave Bennett awarded volunteer of excellence award

I can still remember Dave Bennett holding up the cage of my hockey helmet as I ate a hotdog from the snack bar of Weston Arena during an intermission of a Weston Dodgers game. Stories like this one aren’t unique to me as a hockey-playing kid from Weston; I’m sure hundreds of other kids have similar stories about Dave’s compassion and patience at the arena.

From as long as I can remember, Dave has been a tireless volunteer both in the arena and out in the broader community.

Last week Dave was awarded the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education’s Parent Volunteer of Excellence Award for his dedication and advocacy efforts in getting a new school for the students of St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Weston. When I heard about this, I couldn’t think of a better person to receive the award.

Securing the new school has been a successful, but ongoing, fight for Dave and other members of the community for years. Dave had been involved in the advocacy work every step of the way—long before the construction crews broke ground in 2014. I often get Dave to give me updates on the project, and he can tell me every single detail from the nitty-gritty of the floor plan to what’s going on with the construction process. This is just another example of his attentiveness to the “little things” that are often overlooked in community advocacy work.

His patience, dedication, and service to the community is inspiring for Weston. Thanks for all that you do, Dave! Congratulations!

Weston CI student Ramla Merlu athlete of the week

Athlete of the Week: Ramla Merlu

City News profiled Ramla Merlu, a Weston CI student, and named her “Athlete of the Week”. Huzzah!

Arnold Palmer’s Weston beginnings.

Golfing legend Arnold died yesterday at the ripe old age of 87. A few years ago WestonWeb did a short article on Weston Golf and Country Club. The article contains a reference to Arnold Palmer’s early days winning his first PGA title in 1955, here in our neck of the woods.

It’s not just about the game

As the days of negative weather come to a close, another hockey season does as well. On April 2^nd, family and friends from the Weston community and beyond gathered in the famous Weston Lions Arena for a day full of hockey and festivities. Players grasped their hockey sticks, as their families did the same with cups of warm drinks. A single glance at the venue would show that the hype behind this event was immense.

Crowds of hockey players filed into Weston Lions Area for the annual ‘house season championship game’. The arena was buzzing with excitement from participants, parents, and spectators alike. Stands that were usually filled with a handful of parents clutching their thermoses were now packed with excited fans.

The event was run throughout the day, with players from kindergarten to high school in attendance. At the start of the hockey season, players were split into multiple leagues made up of other kids in their age group. Each league was then split into around six teams, for friendly competitions. Throughout the October to April hockey season, players competed in games with others in their league. “it’s not just about hockey. The kids all get together and have a good time doing what they love” explained John Sichetti, father to one of the players.

The day consisted of final games being played and awards. Awards included: Most improved, Most Dedicated, MVP, and many others. Everyone seemed ecstatic to be on the ice, whether they were making a slap shot, or accepting an award. Jane Ross, dedicated volunteer for the Weston Lions Club and Arena stated, “It’s a great family event, and even the kids who don’t win, they aren’t crying”

Excitement teemed through the veins of everyone in attendance. Even those who were standing in the lobby of the rink snacking on fries and coffee seemed overjoyed that this event was taking place. Everyone was chatting about how hard the players had worked, and how much they had improved over the six-month season.

After every game was played, and every award was given, the players and their families filed into the top floor of the rink for dinner. As they feasted, they chatted about the season and excitedly fawned over each other’s awards.

Hockey at Weston has been a tradition for 65 years, and the excitement and joy the rink brings has been alive since the day it began.

Although this was the championship tournament, it’s not the end of the season. Later in the month, the ‘Last Gasp’ tournament will take place. The arena will host teams from all over the province for games (and famous arena fries).