The Muskie soccer teams kicked their seasons into gear last weekend.
The girls’ squad opened action with a home exhibition tournament on Friday and Saturday so the players could accumulate some experience before the NorWOSSA season began.
The tournament not only was an opportunity for the girls who make up the roster to play soccer, but those who did not try out and those who did not make the team, also were given the opportunity to play.

The local Ducks Unlimited committee commemorated its 25th year by raising funds at its annual banquet at La Place Rendez-Vous on Friday night.
The event raised more than $20,000 through raffles, silent and live auctions, and ticket sales.
“They [Ducks Unlimited] go and they use the money to restore wetlands and also to maintain them,” noted past committee chairman Barney Maher.
Maher was honoured Friday night with a 25-year award for excellence in service to Ducks Unlimited.

On Saturday, Joe Basaraba and Mitch Cain both were given news that they had been selected in the annual OHL draft.
Basaraba, who played for the Muskies last season, went in the second round (22nd out of 301 players drafted) to the Erie Otters while Cain, a member of the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres, was selected in the 10th round (183rd overall) to the Windsor Spitfires.
Basaraba is the son of Al and Laurel while Cain’s parents are Ed and Lori.
Meanwhile, four other hockey players from Northwestern Ontario also were drafted Saturday.

Tim Desjardins and Jamie Jensen competed in the all-Ontario badminton championships held May 1-3 at Brock University in St. Catharines.
They were entered in the senior boys’ doubles division and had their eyes set on the gold medal, but unfortunately they came up a little short.
The pair certainly got off to a great start last Thursday, beating Ryan DeMarchant and David Chuang (Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference) in their best-of-three opening match by scores of 21-16 and 21-15.

Muskie badminton players Tim Desjardins and Jamie Jensen were eliminated from the all-Ontario badminton championships on Friday after losing their first match in the ‘B’ division flight of boys’ doubles play.
The duo were swept 21-16 and 21-12 by Brad Gemmel and Tim D’Ana (Southern Ontario Secondary School Association).
The pair had begun OFSAA action well Thursday morning, opening with a two-set victory over Ryan DeMarchant and David Chuang (Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference) by scores of 21-12 and 22-20.

After winning their first two matches yesterday, Muskie badminton players Tim Desjardins and Jamie Jensen lost their third one to drop down to the ‘B’ division in boys’ doubles play at the all-Ontario badminton championships.
The duo opened with a two-set victory over Ryan DeMarchant and David Chuang (Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference) by scores of 21-12 and 22-20.
Then they went on to edge Jonathan Tessier and Michel Robin (North Eastern Ontario Athletic Association) in three sets.

Tim Desjardins and Jamie Jensen now have their sights set on winning all-Ontario gold.
The Muskie senior boys’ doubles team advanced to OFSAA, being held May 1-3 in Niagara Falls/St. Catharines, after finishing in second place with a 3-1 record at the NWOSSAA showdown last Wednesday in Wawa.
The duo opened action with a 21-13/21-14 victory over Keough/Heath of Manitouwadge.

The weekend’s heavy snow may have delayed Monday’s planned season-opener at Kitchen Creek Golf and Country Club, but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the club’s incoming president, Jim Strachan.
He hopes the course will be playable later this week.
“The greens came through the winter in excellent shape,” said Strachan, attributing an early winter snowfall that blanketed the greens and stayed in place throughout the winter providing just the right conditions.

Play ball!
The Rainy River District Fastball League will begin its 2008 season on Tuesday, May 13.
From then through August, regular-season games will be played each Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. (weather permitting).
The only exception will be Sight & Sound’s home games, which will be played at 8 p.m. every Thursday at VanJura Stadium here in Fort Frances.
The league once again will feature seven district teams, including Sight & Sound, the defending champion Barwick Blue Knights, Big Island, Big Grassy Lightning, Sabaskong Cubs, Rainy River Royals, and Stratton Eagles.

The Fort Frances Minor Hockey Association has taken the plunge.
Under the stewardship of registrar Kelly Jolicoeur, the FFMHA has undertaken a new online registration system.
As Hockey Canada moved away from the old printed cards, Jolicoeur said Hockey Northwestern Ontario began urging its members to embrace new technology and implement an online registration system.