Kingston article

An article from the KTown sports blog about Bob Moses, who is known in the area as fastball umpire and also include references to Bryan Murray of Shawville, who donated fund to help upgrade the Shawville diamond where the Pontiac Flyers play.

Harv Milne & Bob Moses: Two Kingston Athletes being inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Their Rockland, ON Junior ‘A’ Team won the Centennial Cup in 1976 | KTown Sports Blog

Steege named top forward in NHPL - Capital branch

Jared Steege, who was named an All-Canadian infielder for the Micksburg Twins at the Softball Canada Men's Canadian Championship in Kitchener in 2025 has been recognized for his ability in another sport.

The Northern Premier Hockey League named Steege the Top Forward in the Capital branch of the league. As per the NPHL website, "Steege’s speed and finishing ability made him one of the most impactful forwards across the division." He plays for the Madawaska Valley Wolves whose home games in Barry's Bay. The Wolves lost in playoffs to the eventual champions, the Manotick Mariners.

Finn Barton wins CCHL Rookie of the Year

Finn Barton was named Rookie of the Year for the Central Canada Hockey League (Jr. A) 2024-25 season.

Finn, who plays hockey for the Carleton Place Canadians, will be a member of the West Carleton Electric U20 Men's fastball team and is the son of Trevor, a longtime member of the Trics.

UPDATE June 2025: Finn has signed with the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's Gatineau Olympiques for the 2025-26 season, moving up a level to Major Junior.

Jr B hockey award winners with fastball connections - updated

The Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League has been announcing their award winners for this past season and two of the recipients have connections to local fastball.

Twenty-year-old Dylan Rorwick, in his final year of Junior B hockey, was the league's leading scorer with 75 points (45 goals, 30 assists) for the Richmond Royals. Dylan plays for West Carleton Electric in the Greater Ottawa Fastball League and was a key member of the WC U20 which hosted the 2024 U20 Men's Canadians in Carp last season. UPDATE: "Dido" was also named the league's Most Valuable Player. 

The league's Coach of the Year is Mike "Bundy" Seed from the Athens Aeros. Bundy has been involved for 30 years in the Junior B hockey league with Athens and formerly with Westport. He has also been involved in fastball for many years, most recently as the manager of several OASA teams based out of Westport.

An upcoming playoff series between the Aeros and the Royals starts Sunday in Richmond at 7:20 p.m.

UPDATED: Local fastball players enjoying success in hockey

Several local fastball players also play senior or junior hockey. Here is a roundup of local fastballers who also play high level puck. 

Eastern Ontario Super Hockey League (Senior Men's)

Four Micksburg Twins (GOFL) are playing in the 16-team EOSHL for the Madawaska Valley Wolves, based out of Barry's Bay. Forward Jared Steege is sixth in league scoring with 38 points in 13 games. John Enright plays defence for the Wolves, and has a point a game in 9 games. Brothers Nolan Rook and Quinton Rook both play defence for the Wolves as well.

Former GOFL players for Team Easton, John Peck (Assistant Coach) and Randy Peck (General Manager and Head Coach) are on the bench and own the Paugan Falls Rapids which play out of Low, QC. Between the two Peck brothers they have four sons and a nephew who play on the team. 

Chad Mosley who plays in the Shawville Men's Fastball League is a backup goalie for the Pontiac Senior Comets who play out of Fort-Coulonge, QC.

Kristian Knapp, an infielder for GOFL Kars Aces plays defence for the South Grenville Rangers, based in Prescott.

Central Canada Hockey League (Junior A)

Finn Barton, who plays in the Fitzroy Harbour Men's Fastball league and will be on the West Carleton U20 roster this year, has 30 points in 38 games for Carleton Place Canadians and is fourth in rookie scoring in the league; he was also named November Rookie of the Month in the CCHL. 

Bryce Rebertz, who also plays in the FHMFL and will be joining WC U20, is in his rookie season with the Renfrew Wolves. 

Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (Junior B)

Dylan Rorwick, who plays in the FHMFL, the Glen Cairn Men's Fastball League and the GOFL for West Carleton Electric is currently the leading scorer in the EOJHL with 35 goals and 20 assists in 35 games for the Richmond Royals.

National Capital Junior Hockey League (Junior C)

Manotick Brewers (GOFL) players brothers Tyler Branchaud (34 pts) and Zach Branchaud (27 pts) are 1-2 in scoring for the Metcalfe Jets. Kevin Collins of the GOFL's Osgoode Chiefs is the Jets coach.

The Westport Rideaus have four players who also on the fastball roster for the North Leeds Men's Fastball League's Westport Lumberjacks: Brock Seed, Thomas McLean, Reagan Donnelly, and Evan Rice.

Did I miss anyone? Let me know in the comments and I'll add them in.

Leapin' Lou Nistico, dead at 67

 Lou Nistico has died at 67.

"Leapin' Lou" was born in Thunder Bay, but has lived in eastern Ontario for many years, most recently in the Vankleek Hill area. He was a professional hockey player in the World Hockey Association in the 70s and played three games in the NHL. Lou was a mainstay coaching and managing in the local Junior A hockey league for many seasons.

Lou was also a senior men's fastball player, including with Ottawa Turpin Pontiacs back in the hey dey of men's fastball when many pro hockey players also participated in the fastball circuit. 

CCHL2 all-stars have fastball connections

The Central Canada Hockey League Tier 2 (formerly Eastern Ontario Junior B) announced their all-star teams today.

There are two fastball connections on the list.

Andrew McIntrye, shortstop for the Micksburg Twins who was named to the Greater Ottawa Fastball League first team all-star this fall, was also named a first team all-star forward for Renfrew Timberwolves of CCHL2. McIntyre is the leading scorer and point-getter in the league.

The all-star General Manager of the league is Mike "Bundy" Seed. Bundy is the general manager for the U16 Westport Storm boys fastball team which participates in Ontario Amateur Softball Association play. It's also a club on which the Caveman has played for a couple of seasons.

Congratulations to both.

Caveman's perfect recall

It's now hockey time for the Caveman, and the teams have been selected. He has been assigned to a team in the Atom (U10) house league.

At his first practice, his hockey coach said to me something along the lines of “Jeez, I was impressed when I saw your son this spring. Caveman can sure throw a softball - I don’t know if I could hit his pitches!”

Caveman was of course pleased to hear this. I asked him afterward: "Do you remember playing against Coach's son in softball this year?" (I must have missed the game coaching Fitzroy Junior's team because I don’t remember seeing him play this kid.)

Caveman: “Oh yeah Dad, I remember. Struck him out on five pitches.”

Me: “C’mon, as if you remember how many pitches!”

Caveman: “It’s true. Strike, strike, ball, ball, strike three. You don’t have to believe me but that’s what I did.”

So, either the Caveman has a photographic memory for softball, has a great imagination or is completely insane....or all three.

Kanata Storm hockey playoff pool fundraiser

The Kanata Storm men's fastball club is hosting a playoff hockey pool as a fundraiser.

$10 to enter, $500 in prize money. Deadline April 17 at 6 pm.

Enter online by creating an account: http://www.officepools.com/pool/invites/pick/HYA84Q2G 

For more info and to make payment arrangements, contact T-Mac at macton17@hotmail.com.

More to follow soon on the Kanata Storm roster and schedule for 2015.

GOFL star is a two-sport athlete

In the summer, he's a GOFL all star outfielder. In the winter, he's a featured goaltender in the Stittsville Town League.  See below for a clip from this week's Stittsville News.

Senators group tickets available

A message from Broker 4 Tickets

Broker4Tickets has extra tickets for the following games where we are looking to do special packages for minor hockey teams: 

Nashville March 10^th 7:30pm

Colorado March 16^th  5pm

Tampa Bay March 20^th 7:30pm

Calgary March 30^th 5pm

Carolina March 31^st 7:30pm

We have up to 40 – 300 Level tickets (many in the same section and same row) for all of the above games and we are willing to sell these tickets for $30 each to minor hockey teams (gate price is $49.50 per ticket). 

All taxes and fees are included.  We will also give a free parking pass with every 6 tickets purchased.

If you have any questions, please contact Neil directly at 613-222-9989.

Caveman the movie buff

As mentioned in some previous blog posts, the Caveman is a bit of a hockey trivia nut. Sometimes, he demonstrates his knowledge of obscure hockey information through his lack of knowledge of other things.

Recently, on a rare off night from the ball diamond, the family watched the 1994 movie "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective". As the movie goes through the opening sequence, the star's name is flashed across the screen: Jim Carrey.

Caveman immediately says "Wow, he was in movies too!"

To which of course I replied, sighing, with: "Uh, what do you mean, Caveman?"

Caveman: "Jim Carey! He was a goalie in the NHL and I guess he is in this movie too."

Only the Caveman would know Jim Carey, a former NHL goalie for four seasons who hasn't played in the pros in 15 years (the Caveman is 8 years old), but would never have heard of Jim Carrey, the list actor who has starred in 35 plus Hollywood movies.

Would you buy hockey tickets from this man?

Well, if you would, read this.

Caveman recovery and other news

Recovery

Well, the Caveman has almost completely recovered from his broken arm. It's been a long 10 weeks of recovery, with two different casts followed by a custom splint.

Last week, we went for a check up. After the x-ray, the doctor said that he didn't have to wear the splint all day, but he did need to put it back on for a couple of weeks during gym class or other activities where there was a risk he could fall. Now, the Caveman has been away from hockey since Christmas and he misses it desparately. His novice (U8) team has a tournament this weekend - I asked if it was at all possible if Caveman could play. "No, it wouldn't be a good idea to play hockey that soon."

NOT the answer the Caveman was looking for at this time. His face got very red, and tears started slowly to drip out the corners of his eyes. The young doctor felt bad, gave him a pat on the head and said "Sorry, but it's for the best."

He kept his rage bottled up until we left the examination room. Then, he could hold it no longer as we walked out to the parking lot.

"Stupid doctor, what does he know. I never fall at hockey, I'm not like the other kids, I'm good, I can stay on my feet, I won't hurt my arm, just let me play Daddy, we don't have to tell that dumb doctor, can I just play in the tournament Daddy!?"

Clearly, I shouldn't have mentioned the tournament to him. Oh well, he's over it now and looking forward to softball season.

New curse word

It may not surprise you that the Caveman has invented a new 'curse' word. Recently, he was playing ministicks hockey with his brother (using his left hand, as his right hand was in a cast) and Fitzroy Junior cheered after what he thought was a goal. Caveman, unconvinced said "That's bullshoes, no goal!"  We not sure if he misheard the actual word in the past, or if he just decided this version would be better as it wouldn't get him in trouble. In any event, "bullshoes" is the newest profanity in our house. Try saying it the next time you want to curse but don't want to offend anyone.

Birthday beverage

Caveman celebrated a birthday last month; he has now spent 8 years entertaining us. For his special day, he wanted to go out for supper, for his favourite restaurant meal, chicken 'muggets'.

Before we went, he asked if he could order a special drink. He's doesn't get to have soft drinks at home, so we were thinking maybe he wanted a Sprite or something similar. But no.....he wondered "Could I get a .5 beer at the restaurant?" Uh no, sorry, we don't need the Children's Aid making a house call. "But it's not REAL beer, Daddy, why not?"  I am figuring his high school years may be problematic.

Amazing discovery

The other morning, Caveman got out of bed late once again. He shambles into the bathroom - and I hear "Wow, this is cool!".  Turns out that the Caveman had figured out that he didn't have to completely lower his underwear down to his knees to have a pee. He discovered that there is a opening in the front of his underpants to allow 'access'.  "Did you know about this, Daddy?"  Mrs Fastball claims I am a failure as a father because I never taught him that.

Hockey season

While the Caveman has been sidelined, Fitzroy Junior has been playing hockey (or as my US American friends sometimes refer to it, "soccer on skates") with his atom (U10) team.  They have had a very good season, including a tournament win in Barry's Bay - a town which is not the end of the world, but you can see it from there.

Fitzroy Junior has been working hard, practicing on the outdoor rink and really seeing some success on the ice. This year, he's scored 20+ goals in league, tournament, and playoff play - a far cry from three years ago when he led the league in "almost goals".

His team is in the division final vs their arch rivals from Carleton Place. Hopefully he will take home the crown, then ease right into softball season full of confidence!

Cookie Launches new business

Neil Cooke, CEO of I4C Consulting (and sponsor of the GOFL's Carp I4C Victory club) has launched a new business. Read the article in the Ottawa Business Journal and find out more below:

Broker4Tickets offers a unique ticket resell service where season ticket and suite holders are given the opportunity to recuperate some of their cost from unused or unwanted game tickets and where fans can
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accepting various forms of payment while providing guaranteed electronic tickets.

By working directly with the season ticket and suite holders we manage the entire resell process which allows us to guarantee the authenticity of the tickets (removing the risk of fraudulent tickets for fans that
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Broker4Tickets offers SMART hockey fans a secure and guaranteed medium for purchasing premium NHL hockey game tickets. By working directly with and season ticket holders, we know where our tickets come from and we guarantee their authenticity and validity. Our program allows our FANS to get access to great seats that were previously held by season ticket holders for great prices with NO service fees.

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Caveman earns a prize

Caveman's novice hockey team had a big exhibition game recently at ScotiaBank Place, where the NHL Senators play. They did it up right, with the pre-game national anthem and P.A. announcements. In between whistles, they played music, and we got to see the Caveman dance to "Gangnam Style" at the face-off dot. (I have that on video if I can figure out how to get it off my phone.)

As you can imagine, the novice hockey intensity was ratcheted up for this one. The Caveman played his best game in his short career, displaying some excellent stickhandling skills using his personally designed Combat hockey stick (SHAMELESS PLUG) - also on video, working on getting it off the phone. He played so well that his coach recognized him as "player of the game" for the West Carleton team.

To recognize the game's top performer, the team hands out a Viking helmet for the kids to proudly wear and take home for the next game.

Justfiably proud, Caveman asked if he phone Grandma on the way home to tell her.

He calls Grandma on the cellular and says:

"Grandma, good news! I won the Horny Hat!"

Wish I could have seen Grandma's reaction to that.

(When I heard it, after I stopped laughing, I asked him if I could borrow it for the night, but before he could answer Mrs Fastball gave me a good punch in the arm.)

GOFL All Stars coming..... but results of "All-Star Dad" voting are in

Voting is now complete for the Greater Ottawa Fastball League all-star teams for 2012. I will do the high powered math and post the results shortly.

In other news, I am disappointed to report that I am no longer an "all-star Dad" in the view of my two boys.

Fitzroy Junior has a favourite uncle, who he calls simply "Uncle". Just "Uncle". It was one of the first words he ever spoke at about ten months of age (he was an early talker, unlike the Caveman who just grunted until he was almost two). He has always admired Mrs Fastball's brother. He's a firefighter, which of course is cool - just ask half of the Stittsville 56ers. And like most firefighters, he has all the toys: four wheeler, fishing boat, snowmobile, lots of guns, bows, and of course a motorcycle. Recently, Uncle took Fitzroy Junior on his first ride on the crotch rocket Suzuki around the village of Fitzroy. Pretty exciting stuff for a ten-year old.

Me: "So, I hear you went on a motorcylce ride with Uncle."

Fitzroy Jr: "Yes, it was cool. We went 80 miles an hour!"

Me (shocked): "What? 80 miles an hour!?"

Fitzroy Jr: "Ummm, it might have been kilometres an hour."

Me (relieved): "Oh, OK. So you liked it? You weren't worried?"

Fitzroy Jr: "I wasn't scared at all! If you were driving, Daddy, I probably would have been scared, but not with Uncle, he's a good driver!"

*****************

As far as the Caveman is concerned, as mentioned earlier this month, he is beginning his novice hockey career and is very excited about playing real games. Unfortunately there was a small hiccup in hockey debut.

The morning of his first ever game, he was dressed in his equipment and ready to go early and kept asking to leave. He was so excited and bouncing up and down, eager to play. Grandma, Nana, Grandpa all were going to be there.

So we packed up the family in the car and headed out to Carleton Place for the big game. Fitzroy to CP is about 40 minutes or so, but we left lots of time and got there fairly early.

We went into the rink and there wasn't anyone from the team there yet. Seemed a bit strange. Went to find a dressing room, but none was available for his team. Checked over on the second arena to make sure that the game wasn't over there. Then....as time was getting short, checked online - the game was in Carp, not Carleton Place!

Daddy had read the schedule wrong. Caveman's team was playing against Carleton Place, but it was in Carp.

Rush back to the car, pack up the stuff and start driving to Carp. Covered the 35km in about 16 minutes.

Needless to say Caveman was NOT pleased with Daddy. There was barely suppressed rage, small tiny tears beading down his cheeks, and a look of genuine despair.

Disappointing your kid really sucks. And this was probably the most he was ever disappointed in me.

Thankfully, we had got to the wrong rink early (at Caveman's insistence) so he only missed half of the first period at the correct rink.  Also good news is that we are back on speaking terms - but I hope I don't screw up again, at least in the near future.

Fitzroy Junior - tougher than his dad

Long time, no post. Best of the holiday season to all blog readers, belated Merry Christmas (if that's what you celebrate) and Happy New Year to all. Sorry for the long delay between items, but been busy with things as I am sure you have too.

From a fastball perspective, our friends at Fastpitch West have this news - Owen Sound senior men's fastball is folding for 2012, which sucks. Let's hope that they get it back together for 2013.
In the world of big time hockey, Fitzroy Junior's team is in this Bell Capital Cup tournament. Have you heard about this thing? It's absolutely nuts, 400+ teams from across the world converge in the Ottawa area for some furious Atom and Peewee hockey excitement. In Fitzroy Junior's category alone there are 60 teams! (Makes we weep when I think that we had a 3 team fastball jamboree at Fitzroy Jr's age group this summer.....but anyway, we're working on that.)

Today, Junior's team finished the round robin with a highly unexpected 3-0 record to advance to the playoff round. The good news is that Fitzroy Junior notched two assists in the crucial 4-1 win over Embrun, thanks of course to his Combat Sports Group stick.

The bad news is that at the end of the second period, there was an incident that as a parent it makes you a bit sick to the stomach. Fitzroy Junior is a first year atom player, and as nine-year olds go, he's a bit wee. So he's skating at his blue line, looking back in his zone for the pass and turns WHAMMO right into a much larger opponent. He bounces of the other player like he's hit a brick wall, falls backward and whacks his head - hard - off the ice, his helmet actually bouncing.

I'm looking on, more than somewhat worried. Mrs Fastball hasn't seen it (gabbing with another mom) but sees him on the ice and is worried as well. The Caveman - well, there's music during the breaks in the play, so no worry for him, he's dancing to the tunes.

Now over the last three years or so, Fitzroy Junior and I have had a few chats about how one should play the game of hockey. Some of these discussions have included the topic of being a wuss. For example, for small bumps and bruises, you don't want to be the kid that lies on the ice like you've been shot rolling around. GET UP, and get off the ice. Only stay down if you are REALLY hurt, I told him.

Well obviously he's listened. After whacking his Bauer off the ice surface, the poor little guy tries to get up - and goes Bambi legged, wipes out and back down. But the young lad doesn't give him, gets to his knees, wipes out again, then finally struggles to his skates and gets off the ice just as the trainer is coming out to help him.

Given the severity, he went to the room for the remainder of the game. Turns out (thankfully) he seems to be OK, no headaches or nausea or anything and he should be fine to play in their next game on Saturday morning.

Tears just barely welling in his eyes as I helped him to the dressing room, he was more mad that the other kid didn't get a penalty than anything else. "He meant to do that, Daddy" (actually he didn't).

Gotta say, I would have given him a mulligan on this one - he definitely could have / should have stayed down. But he showed he was the toughest one in the family on that play.....they probably would have just got the Zamboni and scraped me off the ice if it would have happened to me.

Semi-regular collection of miscellany

In fastball related news, the West Carleton Minor Softball Association is going to look into hosting a "CANPitch" program for boys and girls this winter or spring. If anyone knows of young person that would like to get into fastball pitching, please contact me at fastball[at]fitzroyharbour.com and we'll get them on the list.

A few other items to share :

- Some proof attached that Fitzroy Junior does indeed use a Combat hockey stick, as per his sponsorship agreement. Season is going well as Jr is up to four goals in Atom house league action. Recently, he showed that he had his mother's temper. After getting his stick lifted in front of the net and missing a scoring opportunity, he followed the defenceman into the corner and promptly laid him out with a forearm shiver to the helmet (2 minutes for roughing). Definitely gets that from the Mrs Fastball side of the family tree.

- I took the Caveman and Fitzroy Junior to the Senators - Vancouver NHL game on Saturday night. As can be expected, they were looking forward to this for quite some time. So, it was a bit worrisome when during our pre-game meal at McD's, the Caveman puked up his chicken nuggets in a feces-filled toilet in the men's room. (Turns out his chocolate milk had soured and he was too busy chugging it down to notice.) However, tough little nut that he is, he recovered quickly and insisted on attending the game, where he polished off two pieces of pizza and a Sprite. My appetite however, after witnessing that, just returned on Monday.

- Commuting to the City from the far reaches of Fitzroy means that sometimes I take public transit. Occasionally I see interesting things on the bus. Yesterday, it was a midget. A surly, cursing, swearing little person wearing an Elmer Fudd hat. Good times.

67s deals from Pugs

I was corresponding with local fastball afficianado Shawn "Pugger" Williams, and he advised that he has some deals available for fastball players and fans (sorry: no slo-pitchers need apply).

Pugs has lead responsibility for suite rentals for Ottawa 67s hockey games. He's offering $50 of as follows, if you use the secret code word "FitzroyFastball".

10 seat suites regularly $300 on for $250 + HST
12 seat suites regularly $350 on for $300 + HST
16 seat suites regularly $375 on for $325 + HST

In addition, any business owner or any business decision maker advertising or marketing that is looking for branding opportunities at 67s games for their business should contact Pugger.

And finally, if anyone who is looking for a group outing with tickets in the arena bowl, he can help out for groups of 20 or more.

Please contact the big man at shawn@ottawa67s.com or 613.232.6767, Ext. 258 or 613.302.5019 by phone or text. And make sure to tell him "FitzroyFastball" sent you.