Third title in a row for Div III Statesmen
Duncan's Kahlil Fontana scored the overtime winner in a 2-2 final against Utica on March 30 to give the Hobart College Statesmen their third-straight NCAA Division III men’s hockey championship.
Fontana cut off a clearing attempt just in front of the crease and deked out a would-be defender, launching himself off the ice to push the puck past the goalie for the win.
The move, reminiscent of Bobby Orr's 1970 Stanley Cup-winning goal, drew a nod from Orr himself on Instagram, who wrote "Looks familiar......." under the posted video.
Fontana was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In 30 games played this season Fontana scored 10 goals and had eight assists for 18 points.
The Statesmen finish the season with a 29-1-1 overall record.
Field hockey accolades near and far
Cowichan field hockey standout Sara Goodman earned a milestone 50th cap with Team Canada at the Nations Cup in Santiago, Chile in early March. The midfielder broke onto the national stage in 2018 and her first major tournament with the senior national team was the 2022 Pan American Cup, also in Chile.
Closer to home, Ashton Aumen, of the Cowichan Cardinals, won the prestigious Vancouver Island Ladies Field Hockey Association League’s Hibbert Trophy as the league's Most Outstanding Player. She was also named Div. 2 MVP.
The Cardinals won the Kelman Trophy as the Div. 2 league champions and the Al Chedd Memorial Trophy as the Div. 2 playoff champions this season, too. Cardinals making the Div. 2 all star team were: Aumen, Julianna Cross, and Grace Paddle.
Cowichan Stellers players Alexandra Miller and Hayley Picard were named Div. 3 all stars.
Kerry Park officials selected for big games
Former Kerry Park Minor Hockey Association official Issac LaRoy was selected to work the U18 T1 BC Hockey Championships in Coquitlam, earning the gold medal game.
Current KPMHA official Matyas "Ty" Martiniuk was selected to officiate the U15 T2 BC Hockey Championships in Nanaimo earlier in March and his efforts earned him work in the bronze medal game.
Martiniuk is the Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association’s reigning Official of the Year. His officiating career has been put on hold, however, as the teen was diagnosed with T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia earlier this month. Supporters can visit the "Ty Fights Cancer' Facebook page to send their well-wishes and to get a link to a fundraising page.
Former Cowichan Capital signs with Leafs
Luke Haymes, a former Cowichan Valley Capital (2021-22), has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs following his NCAA season at Dartmouth College. The Leafs announced on March 24, that Haymes, 21, inked a two-year contract with the franchise and has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies for the remainder of their AHL season.
Haymes played the 2021-22 season with the Caps, scoring 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 52 regular season games. The Cowichan Capitals Rookie of the Year added another goal and three assists in four playoff games that season, too.
The centre attended a Maple Leafs development camp in July of 2023.
Senior stars strut stuff at basketball all-star games
The 2025 South Vancouver Island Basketball Association held its 36th annual Seniors Classic all-star games on April 5 at the Spectrum Secondary School Gym in Victoria. The games highlight the exceptional play and high school careers of some of the Island's top basketball players for one final game.
Players from schools up and down the Cowichan Valley participated.
Playing for the North girls team were: guards Ruby McDougald of Brentwood College School, Violette Mueller of Duncan Christian School, who scored six points, and forward Elyse Henwood of Quw'utsun Secondary, who had four.
Playing for the North boys 'A' team were: guards Braydon Rodgers of Ladysmith Secondary, who scored two points and Julian Bishop, of Brentwood College School, who had eight.
The North boys 'B' team included: forwards Grasyon Dunn of Duncan Christian School (seven points) and Temi Sapara of Brentwood College School (three points), as well as guard Eddie Kitsch of Quw'utsun Secondary, who scored 15 points en route to the game's Most Offensive Player award.
Andrew Shepherd of Shawnigan Lake School was the boys 'B' team coach.
The annual all-star games have been taking place since the 1988 season.
