Throughout the final week of 2011, the Trail Daily Times has taken a quick look back at the best moments in Greater Trail sports. This last instalment from September to December highlights some world-class accomplishments from Greater Trail athletes, which only bodes well for 2012. - Happy New Year.
Incredible achievements heralded the fall and onset of winter, topped off by Chris Kissock’s gold medal and Thea Culley’s fourth-place finish at the Pan Am Games in Mexico.
While endurance athletes Dallas Cain, Heather Johnson and Carol Corbett continued to amaze us, the West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby League exploded into an eight-team league and rapidly became the hottest ticket in town.
From all of us to all the athletes, coaches, organizers, volunteers and fans, thanks for making 2011 such a memorable year.
September
1 – Rossland’s Dallas Cain finishes in 18th overall at the Subaru Ironman Triathlon.
12 – Golden City Grind hits the trails of Rossland with David Palmer and Sierra Gibson winning the 10-K events.
13 – Rossland’s Gnarlies Angels capture Mountain Mayhem II, the pinnacle of West Kootenay Women’s Roller Derby success, by beating Salmo’s Babes of Brutality 181-174.
14 – Jason Bay of the New York Mets was named player of the week in the National League as he knocked out 13 hits including a grand slam and posted a .481 average.
14 – Junior golfer Kevin Bennett was awarded the Johnny Bucyk Trophy for the West Kootenay Zone Junior Golf champion by Johnny Bucyk himself. Bucyk is still an employee of the Boston Bruins so he shared his ‘day with the Stanley Cup’ with all at the presentation.
14 – The City of Trail adds 11 more names to the Home of Champions monument.
16 – Beaver Valley Nitehawks open their 30th season with a 13-0 victory over Grand Forks.
19 – Over 1,000 fans fill the Cominco Arena as the Trail Smoke Eaters play Thompson River University in an exhibition fundraiser for assistant coach Barry Zanier’s 14-year-old daughter Kolby.
October
4 – Brothers Mitch and Tommy Pitman head to Europe to train with the Canadian National Development Team.
9 – Fruitvale triathlete Heather Johnson wins the BMO Okanagan Marathon in Kelowna, in only her second full marathon.
13 –Chris Kissock of Fruitvale helps Team Canada to a bronze medal at the 39th IBAF Baseball World Cup.
14 – Montrose residents Brian Pipes and Richard Rhodes are honoured by Softball B.C. with a special recognition award for their tireless work over the years with the Lower Columbia Girls Softball League.
18 – Pride Gym Fighter Brad Causey makes a triumphant return to the ring defeating SFU fighter Daniel Swain at Caged Rage 5 in Castlegar.
23 - Chris Kent of Fruitvale races in the World Xterra Championships in Maui, finishing 40th in his age group.
21 - Rossland’s Thea Culley leads Team Canada’s womens field hockey team at the Pan Am Games.
25- Fruitvale’s Chris Kissock and Team Canada capture the gold medal at the Pan Am Games with a 2-1 victory over USA.
31 - Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau calls the Trail Times to talk about his team’s only visit to the Silver City 50 years ago.
November
2 – The Rossland Secondary School’s senior girls field hockey team return to the “AA” B.C. High School field hockey championships, finishing fourth overall.
7 – Trail Smoke Eaters captain Logan Proulx is traded to Cowichan Valley for future considerations.
15 – Former RSS Royal Sam Spearn leads the University of Calgary Dinos to the CIS national championship.
15 - Travis St. Denis from Trail and Aaron Hadley of Castlegar help Canada West win gold at the World Junior A Challenge in Langley.
25 – 1,100 fans help the Smoke Eaters celebrate the BCHL’s 50th birthday with $5 tickets, and 50-cent hotdogs as the Smokies skate to a rare 3-1 victory over Westside Warriors.
December
2 - The Beaver Valley Nitehawks and the Special Olympics floor hockey team play an exhibition match with both sides benefitting from the team building and bonding experience.
5 - Trail’s Mike Mondin coaches the Canadian sledge hockey team to gold at the World Sledge Hockey Challenge in Calgary.
6 - Bobbi Barbarich of Salmo’s Babes of Brutality women’s roller-derby team, skates with Team Canada to a silver medal at the World Championships in Toronto.
7 – Fruitvale’s Carol Corbett places second in the Arizona Ironman Triathlon qualifying for the World Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii in Oct. 2012.
13 - Eight Kootenay Wildcats were named to the “AAA” midget girls hockey all star team including Trail’s Christina Bonacci, Katie and Mckayla Yuris, Erin McLean and Denomie Vokeroth-Fisher from Rossland.
20 - Black Jack hosts the Haywood/Teck NorAm races with good results from Rossland racers.