Eastern Ontario Fastball Blog

A blog dedicated to news about the Greater Ottawa Fastball League and other happenings in the world of fastball / fastpitch softball in eastern Ontario and western Quebec, with occasional stories featuring Mrs Fitzroy Fastball, Fitzroy Fastball Junior and the Caveman. If you have info to send on, send me an email at fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com. Follow @fitzroyfastball on Twitter.

Follow fitzroyfastball on Twitter
Google
 

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Calgary Road Tour

Check out this story for some familiar names on a road tour this weekend in Calgary.

Ultimate weekend for Big Horns
West Carleton Review - Feb 26, 2009

Tonight (Feb. 26), as members of local hockey team the Big Horns settle into their seats aboard a plane bound for Calgary, Alberta, they will likely raise a glass and toast fellow player and friend Darryl Affleck.

After all, it was Affleck who entered the online contest that won the group of local men’s recreational league players the opportunity to have The Ultimate Rec Hockey Experience, courtesy of Molson Canadian and Hockey Canada.

“I’m pretty ecstatic,” said Affleck, who says it took some convincing for his teammates to believe they were headed to Calgary for the weekend. When he got the news, he was excited to share it.

“I started making some phone calls and nobody really believed it,” he said.

The prize includes an opportunity for the players to demonstrate their skills on the ice with Hockey Canada coaches, and pick up some tips to improve their game.

Four teams are involved in the event: two from Alberta, one from Ontario and one from the Halifax-area.

Hotel and meal accommodation, transportation, surprise gifts, and use of the Team Canada dressing rooms are also part of the prize pack. The Big Horns is made up of a pretty good group of friends, so the trip is sure to be a good one. “We’ve been playing together for about 10 years,” says Affleck of the hockey team, but many of the guys go back farther than that. “We grew up together, playing hockey, school, stuff like that.”

He’s looking forward to the whole experience and some time on the ice.

“We’re supposed to have a practice with Hockey Canada coaches, that’ll be pretty interesting,” says Affleck.

Hockey is not the only sport for the Big Horns, the guys get together for a golf event each year, too. Team member Matt Mulvihill says the Big Horns are really looking forward to the trip. “We’re very excited,” says Mulvihill. “The lads are pumped up.”

Along with the “free stuff,” Mulvihill agrees that the time with Hockey Canada coaches will be a highlight.

“I think we’re going to turn a few heads with Hockey Canada,” he says with a laugh. Mostly, he’s looking to have a good time with an “unbelievable” group of friends.

“I’ll be very excited to see the Big Horns on the Red Mile in Calgary. I think of the 14 lads who are going, there’s probably a few of them who haven’t been away for awhile,” says Mulvihill of the guys, some of whom are now married with children.

The Big Horns hockey team started playing Pakenham on Tuesday nights about 10 years ago, says Mulvihill, and now play at the Nick Smith Centre.

Along with Affleck and Mulvihill the Big Horns traveling to Calgary are Cory Cardiff, Dave Kelly, Mike Cavanagh, Jim Smith, Steve Styles, Trevor Barton, Tyler Robertson, Shawn Rebertz, Ryan McKenna, Tyler Rafter, Cory Habecker and Mike Camelon.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey there, it's Adam from Molson here. We're pretty excited for the boys. Hope they're having the time of their lives.

Cheers!

10:46 pm  

Post a Comment

<< Home