All I have to say is that it’s nice to be back!  What is up friends. I am Darryl Smart and welcome back to Smart Sports Podcast. This week on the podcast I have a very special guest. Jason Burgess is Norfolk County’s Chief Administrative Officer, and we are going to talk Norfolk recreation. With recreation hockey, arenas, and now a failed HUB attempt all in the spotlight the last while, I thought there is no better way to open up season 3, than to have Jason on the show. Make sure to listen to previous episodes of Smart Sports Podcast. There are lots of great guests and conversations. For more local sports, when it happens, make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page. I’ve had a habit of breaking some of the bigger stories related to sports and recreation in the area, so always stay tuned. And remember to give the page a like and share it with your friends so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

Smart Sports Podcast

Jason Burgess | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 3 Episode 1

This week I have another great local athlete on the show. Not everyone can say they have a small shrine dedicated to them in their hometown’s arena. But this week’s guest can say that. Max Coyle has had a very interesting journey to get where he is. And with the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers shutting its men's hockey program down late last week, things have gotten a lot more complicated for the Tillsonburg resident. After finishing up his minor hockey in Brantford with the 99ers, he played one season with the Woodstock Navy Vets, before earning a spot on the Listowel Cyclones, where he spent three seasons. In his final GOJHL season, he and his teammates captured the Sutherland Cup. The next season, Max headed west and was a champion again, this time capturing the BCHL’s Fred Page Cup with the Prince George Spruce Kings, and coming very close to an RBC Cup title, losing to the Brooks Bandits in the final. And this year, Max completed his freshman season with the University of Alabama Huntsville Chargers. And as you will hear, Max’s journey isn’t over yet. Thanks for listening!

Max Coyle | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 17

Welcome back friends. My apologies for not having a podcast the last two weeks.  Today I have Major Series Lacrosse commissioner Doug Luey on the show. Doug was named interim commissioner for the league in 2016 and the next year took the role full time. He’s done an amazing job trying to grow the league. But this week, he had to do the unthinkable, and cancel the 2020 season. During our chat we talk about the difficult decision, what it means for the league and its teams, and what direction MSL is going. Remember to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. I’ll do my best to keep you up to date during these strange times. Also make sure to LIKE & SHARE it so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening!

Doug Luey | MSL commissioner | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 16

This week on the podcast we have another very special guest.  She’s represented Canada between the pipes, set numerous records while playing for the University of University of Connecticut Huskies, and is now a member of the new NWHL franchise in Toronto. Please welcome Elaine Chuli to the podcast. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated.  Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. Also be sure to LIKE and SHARE it so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening!

Elaine Chuli | NWHL Toronto | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 15

This week the podcast I have the pride and joy of Selkirk Ontario.  Jack Phibbs, like many hockey players, had his junior hockey career come to an abrupt end a few weeks ago, when the Ontario Hockey League, like everyone else, was forced to shut things down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jack was playing in his fourth season with the Flint Firebirds. He and his teammates were poised for a big layoff run before the season was canceled. But it’s not all bad news. Jack recently announced that his hockey career will continue after committing to play for the University of Waterloo Warriors. Thank you so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Please head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page, for more local sports news when it happens. Remember to like and share the page and posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks!!

Jack Phibbs | Flint Firebirds | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 14

This week on the podcast we’re going to talk hockey with Norfolk’s newest provincial champions. After having their OMHA midget C final against the Mariposa Lightning come to a halt because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Delhi Knights of Columbus Rockets and Lightning were named co-champions earlier this week. I have players Ryan Hill, Liam Twinem, and Jared Austin on the show. Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports when it happens. And always remember to give us a like and share us so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

Delhi Rockets midget team | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 13

This week on the podcast I have one of the five Brantford 99ers taken in this past weekend’s OHL Priority Selection. Simcoe’s Ryan VanNetten was drafted by the Flint Firebirds in the 11th round (216th overall). This season with the 99ers, Ryan was his team’s rock on the blue line. He also showed off his great decision and play making abilities, netting three goals and 25 assists, which was good for the 99ers third leading scorer. SHOUT OUTS This week I’ll give a shout out to the other Brantford 99ers taken in the OHL draft. A huge congratulations to Gavin Bryant who was selected in the second round (37th overall) by the Owen Sound Attack. Beau Jelsma, from Brownsville and a former Tillsonburg Minor Hockey product was picked in the third round (55thoverall) by the Barrie Colts. Tillsonburg’s Brandon Balazs was taken in the 10th round (198 overall) by the Saginaw Spirit. And Luke Bibby was selected by the Attack in the 13th round (250th overall) Remember to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news when it happens. And remember to LIKE AND SHARE it, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening.

Ryan VanNetten | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 12

This week is another fun episode of Smart Sports Podcast.  I have two local vision impaired athletes that have won a number of Canadian curling championships. And this year as Team Canada, Mike Vrooman and Jimmy Simmons earned silver medals with their Nova Scotia teammates at the AMI Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championships in Ottawa. Thanks so much for listening. It really is appreciated. Remember to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the local sports news when it comes in. And make sure to share it with your friends, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. thanks for listening!

Blind curling | Mike Vrooman and Jimmy Simmons | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 11

This week on the podcast I thought it would be great to talk some Olympics, and golf. And there’s no better person to do that with than Turkey Point’s Ralph Bauer. Ralph’s story is a great one. And like one story in the Hamilton Spectator headlined a couple of years ago, the best PGA player coach you never heard of. A long time golf pro and coach, he’s seen and done just about everything, from rubbing elbows and giving his points of view on the PGA Tour, to being part of the Olympics, to shaping some of the top young golfers in the country. Ralph, it is great to have you on the podcast, thanks for joining me. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to Brantford’s Hunter Jones. The Peterborough Petes goalie from Brantford just inked his first NHL contract this week. This couldn’t happen to a better kid. Congratulations Hunter! Next shout out to Lexi Paulmert. The forward from Waterford had her hockey season cut short like many. But before the season was cancelleded, Lexi and her Liberty University Lady Flames teammates won the first-ever Midwest College Hockey title. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebok page for more local sports news when it happens. And remember to like and share us to continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening.

Ralph Bauer | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 10

Hello friends. I hope you are all having the best week possible despite everything going on in the word. And I hope this podcast can be one of those things to give you a break from our new normal. This week on the podcast we have a guest that is in quarantine after just returning home to Nova Scotia from Germany. Jim Midgley is the hockey  pride and joy Townsend. After spending four years as an assistant coach and one as the head coach with the Halifax Mooseheads, Jim was overseas this season as an assistant coach with the Iserlohn Roosters of the DEL in Germany. SHOUT OUTS This week’s shout out goes to Delhi’s Adam Brady. The first-ever guest on Smart Sports Podcast was just named a Western Collegiate Hockey Association First-Team All-Star after a brilliant senior year with the Bemidji State University Beavers.   Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news, and more. And remember to like and share the Facebook page and its posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening.

Jim Midgley | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 9

Welcome to the podcast! Well, it certainly has been a strange couple of days in the word, and I really hope this podcast will give you a little break from your day to day. This week on the podcast I thought we would talk a little volleyball. And there’s no better story to tell, than the Valley Heights Bears. This senior girls volleyball team truly is the definition of the little team that could. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes out to Waterford’s Zach Zona. The local swimmer who now trains in Montreal was just named the Swim Ontario Para Swimmer of the Year. Next shout out goes out to the Delhi Knights of Columbus Rockets, the Caledonia Thunder and Norwich Knighthawks midgets, as well as the Tillsonburg Tornadoes atom team. These four minor hockey teams were in their OMHA finals before the season was suspended because of the COVID-19 situation. I just wanted to congratulate these teams on a great season. Hopefully things settle down after the extended March Break and these teams can get back on the ice. The final shout out goes to the SouthCoast Special Needs Kids. This group of sledge hockey players are going to take on the OPP Auxiliary in the annual game Sunday at 2pm at the Waterford Tricenturena. And as of right now, on Friday, the game is still on. Make sure to head over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more sports news, scores and more. Also be sure to give it a like and share what we’re doing, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks again for listening.

Joe Hamm | Valley Heights Bears volleyball coach | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 8

This week’s podcast has been a long time in the making. The rep hockey partnership between Simcoe, Port Dover and Waterford is a topic I’ve wanted to talk about for quite some time.  I have Pat Meahan, who is Port Dover Minor Hockey’s immediate past president, and is the vice president of the new Norfolk Minor Hockey Association.   SHOUT OUTS A big shout out goes to Maté Marschalko. The Holy Trinity swimmer captured a silver and bronze medal at this week’s OFSAA swimming championships in Toronto. Congratulations! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your day to listen. It really is appreciated. To find out more about our local sports scene, make sure to check out the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for more local sports news, scores and more. And Make sure to like and share Smart Sports Podcast, so we can continue to grow this thin into the place for all things local sports. Thank you again for listening. 

Pat Meahan | Norfolk Minor Hockey Association | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 7

This week on Smart Sports Podcast we’re going to talk a little minor hockey. With the Ontario Minor Hockey Association playdowns in the semifinals now, I thought it would be great to feature one of our local teams making a run for a provincial title. Gary Lazou is the head coach of the Simcoe Kocir Automotive Warriors. The midget rep team hosts Game 1 of its best-of-six point OMHA midget B  semifinal against the Petrolia Oilers on Thursday night at 6:30pm and will return for Game 3 on Sunday at 7:15pm at Talbot Gardens. This is a unique team as you will hear throughout this podcast. Not only does this team represent the future of what minor hockey will look like in the county, this team is also the symbol of an end of an era sort to speak. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes to Taylor Bennett. The Port Dover Skating Club member just captured a silver medal in dance at the Special Olympics Winter Games in Thunder Bay. Our second shout out goes to last week’s guest Jacob Erwin. Jacob played his final collegiate hockey game over the weekend. He and his Castleton University Spartans teammates lost 9-0 to the No. 1 ranked Norwich university Cadets in the New England Hockey Conference quarter-final. Well, that’s all the time we have for this week. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen. It really is appreciated. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for much more local sports news, features, stories, scores, and more. Also remember to give it a like and share what we’re doing so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks you again for listening. 

Gary Lazou | Simcoe Warriors midgets | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 6

In this week’s episode of Smart Sports Podcast, I have a local athlete that has somewhat flown under the radar. We’re talking about a dual-sport athlete at the collegiate level. Port Dover’s Jacob Erwin celebrated senior night with his Castleton University Spartans teammates last week, and is now set to take a run at top-ranked Norwich in the playoffs this weekend. But that’s not all. Before the hockey season began, Jacob helped the Spartans men’s golf team to a fourth place finish at the North Atlantic Conference championships, while finishing second overall himself. He was named to the conference’s All-Acedemic team and First-Team All-NAC. SHOUT OUTS The first shout out goes to our local special Olympians. Beginning Monday, Simcoe Special Olympics has four five-pin bowlers and one figure skater competing in Thunder Bay at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games. Good luck to Korissa Hammond, Kaitlyn Ferguson, Jason Gordy, and Kendall Steinhoff coach Karen Hayward in bowling. And good luck to figure skater Taylor Bennett. Thank you so much for listening, it really is appreciated. Make sure to go over to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for much more local sports news, photos and video. And make sure to LIKE and SHARE our posts, so we can continue to make Smart Sports Podcast the place for all things local sports. Thanks

Jacob Erwin | Castleton University Spartans | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 5

I don’t like to mix politics and sports, especially on the podcast. But in this week’s episode the two cross paths. Our guest this week  is Melinda Tewes-Howard, the president of the Delhi Water Dragons Swim team. And with the recent budget news of the Delhi Kinsmen pool being among the budget cuts, and then subsequently taken off, I thought it would be very appropriate to talk to the person who used her persuasive skills at council to tell them how important the Delhi Kinsmen pool is, not for just Delhi. But the entire county. SHOUT OUTS First shout out goes to the Simcoe Sabres jr boys basketball team. Last weekend, they hosted their annual Junior Sabres Shootout, and looked great as hosts. The Sabres beat Paris and and then Waterdown in overtime to get to the final. That’s where they ran into a buzz saw of a team in the form of Saltfleet. Next shout out goes to Simcoe’s Jake Luke. As you saw on Smart Sports Podcast’s Facebook page, Jake, who plays for the Norwich Merchants,  scored three goals against the Burford Bulldogs in the last game of the season to capture the PJHL goal scoring title. Make sure to go to the Smart Sports Podcast Facebook page for all of the local sports news, scores and more. Also be sure to LIKE & SHARE us so we can continue to grow and make Smart Sports Podcast, the place for all things local sports. Thanks for listening!

Melinda Tewes-Howard | Delhi Water Dragons | Smart Sports Podcast | Season 2 Episode 4

Welcome to Smart Sports Podcast! Right now the plan is to have a weekly podcast that drops every Thursday about sports in Norfolk, Haldimand and surrounding areas. Most of the time it’ll be an interview or two, diving into our local sports scene in ways never done before because of this format. Also, be sure to find Smart Sports Podcast on Facebook, where there is lots more local sports stories and scores. Thank you very much for listening and joining us on this journey!

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Smart Sports Podcast

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