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THE SPEAKER’S WEEKEND EDITION Visit us on eekenderFRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021 WVol. 20 – No. 12 BEST GAME YOU CAN Next NAME station Splash pad park readies for construction Diane Johnston Speaker Reporter TEMISKAMING SHORES – Skaters are currently making use of an icy path on the New Liskeard waterfront. But in a few months’ time, construction of a children’s splash pad park is expected to begin at the site. Temiskaming Shores council has approved the purchase of a $72,500 lift station that will transport water discharged from the new facility into the municipal sewer system for treatment. The city has been advised that the ideal time to install the new equipment is mid-spring, when the water table at the site is at its The Tyke players were back on the ice at the Don Shepherdson Memorial Arena on Saturday, February lowest, said recreation director Matt Bahm in a February 2 report 20, enjoying the best game you can name while having fun learning. The Tyke program uses a half ice to council. surface in order to give players more puck time as demonstratedhave zones by suited this player. for different (Staff photo age groupsby Sue and The supplier will need eight to 12 weeks’ lead time prior to Nielsen) will also be accessible to kids in wheelchairs. delivery, he said. Construction is expected to be completed The cost of the prefabricated lift station is included in the The 2,600-square-foot park will be located on sometime this summer, Bahm told council ear- $522,000 budget for the splash pad park. the waterfront north of the Spurline conces- lier this month. The project reached its fundraising goal late last year. sion building. The idea for the new attraction was brought to city council in It’ll offer some two dozen features that spray, the spring of 2017 by the Rotary Club of Temiskaming Shores and Area. splash and dump water on youngsters. It will THE TEMISKAMINGWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 The club pledged to raise $100,000 over ten years, and the city 1B SPEAKER made a matching commitment. Donations big and small have since come from individuals, lo- Brazeau’s journey from Puckhound to hockey pro Part II (David Elford, a former Temiskaming break I was second fect you. The Maple Leafs’ farm team wants ShoresWorking Minor Hockey Association in the league in on aI didn’t dreamplay my me. and New Liskeard Cubs player, is cur- goals. At this point I best game ever, but IN THE SYSTEM cal businesses, service clubs, foundations and fundraisers. rently a student at Laurentian Uni- was looking to sign I didn’t feel that it I had good interest from a couple of versity in Sudbury. He wrote this fea- an NHL contract. I was a bad game for other teams too, and I narrowed my ture with his friend Justin Brazeau knew there were me either. I got a choice down to three teams. The fi rst who is now part of the Toronto Ma- teams interested call from my agent two told me I would be playing for ple Leafs organization.) in me, but I hadn’t after the game, and their AHL teams, one step below the By my third year (with the North heard of anything he told me right NHL. Everyone knows the pedigree of Bay Battalion of the Ontario Hockey really solid. I was then and there that the Toronto Maple Leafs, and looking League), I’m a different player than starting to get frus- I wasn’t going to be at the names on their prospect list was when I came into the league. I’ve grown trated. I knew I still getting an NHL con- a little intimidating. My dad is a huge area councils reaching out to the province for help. another two to three inches and I’m had lots of time, tract. Leafs fan and I think it would be a up over 200 pounds. I’ve learned how but I heard of other I was crushed. dream for any kid from Ontario to play to use my size to my benefi t and I’m 20-year-olds in the It felt like my entire for that team, myself included. getting better at it every day. I fi nished league getting se- game and the player The Marlies told me pretty much the season with 39 goals and 36 assists, rious interest and it I am was judged by right away that they wanted me to go which were massive numbers for me. If wore on me. Tye Fel- just one showing. down and play in the East Coast Hock- How many 61-goal he ity of emisaming hores is interested in you asked me if I thought I was capable haber was having a Justin Brazeau signed a contract ey League for the Growlers in New- DID YOU GET The Speaker THIS WEEK? scorers get zero con- of that in my fi rst year, I’d say I probably great year in Ottawa, with the Toronto Maple Leafs and foundland. Once again, I’m being told tract offers from the never dreamt of it. Now here I am, with too, and I remember after last year in the ECHL is ready something I did not want to hear and NHL? Was it all for another year to go and the chance to he signed with the to make a mark with the Toronto being thrown another curveball. On Here are some of the stories in our February 24 edition… nothing? Does that the surface it looked like I was maybe top it. Dallas Stars at the Marlies of the AHL. (Supplied not mean SOME- going to get buried-in down there. But before I got that chance, I had an- beginning of March. photo) purchasing waterfront property in aileybury. other big thing on my mind. THING? I ended up getting a call from the That was tough for I had already been through the NHL I didn’t know what Leafs’ GM, Kyle Dubas. He spoke to me me because I was having a great year Draft twice before this one, so I already to do. In that moment, I thought may- about how much he’d seen me play and myself and felt like that deal could have knew that feeling of being passed on. be I wasn’t going to have a shot at my develop and improve over the years, been mine. I kept working and ended My fi rst draft was after my fi rst year in dream and that I was going to be head- and basically laid out a plan for me for up fi nishing the regular season second the league and I think I knew I hadn’t ed to school in the fall. if I signed with Toronto. It showed me in points and leading the league in he obalt egion has received federal funds for produced at a level that would get me I decided that I’ve come this far, and how interested the entire organization goals. I felt like it was only a matter of drafted. I was a little optimistic after I’m so close, that I couldn’t stop there. really was in me and how invested they time before I signed that NHL contract the second half I had in my sophomore Niagara knocked us out of the play- were in seeing me succeed. It made the I had worked my whole career for. year, that maybe someone would see offs that year and my Junior career was pill of being sent to the East Coast a lot something in me and take a chance, We matched up with Niagara in the over. I now knew I wasn’t getting the easier to swallow, and it gave me more but nothing came of it. After my third fi rst round of the playoffs. Darren Dre- NHL contract I wanted, but I had a deci- motivation not to quit. • The Tri-Town Ski and Snowboard Village opened last weekend ger from TSN tweeted that there was infrastructure upgrades. year, I thought that even though it sion to make. I chose to sign with the Toronto Mar- would be a stretch for me to get picked going to be a pretty good list of teams I had American League offers to con- lies. on my third time through the draft, in the building for Game Two in Niag- sider to play for an NHL affi liate, or I I bet on myself and took maybe the someone was going to like what they ara. Of course I knew I was under the could have chosen to go and play at toughest road I had because I believed saw in me. microscope and teams were watching, a university and likely end my chances in myself and I knew I could do it. under sunny skies and warm temperatures. Nothing. but it obviously made me nervous to of making the NHL. I decided that I’ve See, that’s the thing. It doesn’t matter he best and the brightest from the fi rst semester at see that in the middle of a playoff se- come this far, and I’m so close, that I I wasn’t taken again, and it was the how many people think you can do it same old story that I kept seeing every- ries. You try not to think about it, but couldn’t stop there. if you don’t believe in yourself.