By Andrew "A.P." McKay
Sunday, August 26, 2007
A couple of people asked me to write a little something on the Tuggy tournament this weekend. I didn’t think a scores and games recap was really appropriate, so instead, here’s a jumble of thoughts I put together when I got home Sunday night.
************
It was somewhat fitting that my drive home from the inaugural Tuggy tournament took me along the Highway of Heroes, with thousands of people standing on overpasses through Oshawa, Whitby and Ajax, waiting to pay tribute to Canada’s latest fallen soldiers. They smiled and waved, firefighters stood atop their trucks, sirens flashed along the highway, for miles. After this weekend, I think I understand.
The first annual Rick “Tuggy” Passfield Memorial Field Lacrosse Tournament for U-16s went off this weekend without a hitch. That doesn’t however, mean nothing went wrong; the first barbecue didn’t work, the ridiculous weather on Saturday forced the shutdown of two fields,the P.A. guy who seemed incapable of actually pronouncing a name correctly, one untrained timekeeper* either let guys out of penalties too early or made them stay too late, etc.
But really, none of that mattered. I don’t mean in a “big picture” kind of way, either. Anything that went wrong was quickly shaken off, and I’m not being melodramatic when I say there was a spirit of “get ‘er done” throughout the event that you normally don’t see…well, anywhere. When the fields were closed, everyone buckled down, moved to the last available field, and just played longer. When the barbecue didn’t work, they got another one. When the timekeeper screwed up, teams laughed it off. When the P.A. guy mangled names, we laughed at that too.
The tournament itself had its share of highlights – Oshawa 1’s last second (literally – the Blue Knights scored with 1 second left) win over Halton Hills in the A semifinal stands out the most for me – but the bigger impact was the stature the event gained in a short period of time. The tournament program tells a fair chunk of that story: letters of recognition from the Ontario premier, the Prime Minister of Canada, the Mayor of Oshawa, the Durham Regional Chair, the Oshawa Hospital Foundation, and the president of the OLA, as well as a formal recognition of Saturday, August 25th as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day in memory of Tuggy, by the City of Oshawa. The tournament raised over $10,000 for the Oshawa Hospital Foundation that will go towards purchasing an echocardiogram machine that will help diagnose conditions like HCM.
I can’t imagine the amount of work Joel Johnson, Linda Hurren, and everyone else had to put in long beforehand to get this thing off the ground, but they really did do a great job, and I was glad that Joel got a chance to get back from Owen Sound in time to see the final day and experience it all. It was equally impressive to see Team Alberta and a team from Pennsylvania come up to participate, not to mention the Iroquois and Akwesasne teams, to go along with Halton Hills and the strong Durham representation. As the clock ticked down on the final game, one of the officials noted that it was somewhat fitting that the inaugural winners of the A and B championships were Oshawa 1 and Oshawa 2, respectively – the same program Tuggy played for starting at age 10.
I think the officials summed up everything that was great about the event. They donated their time (which was estimated to be almost $3000 in fees normally), but it wasn’t a hodge-podge crew. Some well-known names, including Jim Price, Jon Watson and Bill Fox, joined an incredible crew of probably the most professional officials I’ve ever come across. More importantly, they treated the tournament with respect and helped give it the feel of a high-level tournament. I really can’t say enough about what an absolute pleasure it was to watch those guys work these games.
After the medals and trophies had been handed out, one moment stood fresh in the minds of many at the event. It happened late in the ‘B’ final. Jordan Passfield, Tuggy’s little brother, was sent on by his teammates with a short stick, after playing pole all weekend. Alas, the ball went the other way. So Jordan chased it down, came up with the ground ball, and took off up the field. Met just past midfield by a couple of Clarington defenders, Jordan tried to charge through, then jumped a bit, and flopped over them, into a full-out barrel roll – and held on to the ball. He got up, ran again, passed it off, and got an assist on Oshawa’s last goal. But what made it better, at least for me, was that Sheila Passfield, Jordan and Tuggy’s mother, was standing right on the sidelines, ready to hand out the medals. Anyone who knows Sheila would have loved the look on her face, watching her son run around with reckless abandon, pulling off the one play that got everybody off their feet and talking about it hours later.
I wanted to end with a little bit about Sheila. I haven’t seen Sheila smile this much in a long time, watching all of these teams play, watching a fantastic tournament named after her son, and really being a part of a lacrosse community that cares so much about her and her family. I think, this weekend, she was proud of everything Tuggy was able to do. So many of the people he played with came out to play again, or coach, or help out, or watch. So many others chipped in with donations, auction items, etc. And in the end, it was because of Tuggy that the tournament raised enough money to meet its goal, and take a step in helping Durham-area youths avoid the same tragedy that befell Tuggy.
For the people who lined Highway 401 on Sunday night, the significance lied not in their intent, but in their willingness to make an active statement. That was the same feeling I got all weekend in Oshawa: that regardless of their reasons, their relationships with Tuggy or the sport in general, all these people – players, coaches, sponsors, officials, volunteers, parents, fans – took a step above “remembering”, and stepped up to do something small to help out. It’s been said that small actions yield great results, and I think probably everyone who participated in the tournament feels like their participation, however small, helped Tuggy do something great yet again.
"If that’s the lasting legacy of this tournament, you couldn’t ask for much more."
From Ron Pallister: God bless you Tuggy, Jordan, Sheila, Andrew, all their relatives and friends, the officials, volunteers and players who participated in this great event - the first of many I trust.
Posts from the unofficialola Fan Forum
TG
by oakoach
People only die when they are forgotten.
Tuggy still lives.
Nicely done Andrew
by Ron Messer
Thanks Andrew that was a great piece. It was a lot of fun. As I said in my bit at the dinner Saturday night, the lacrosse family is unique, I examined my list of friends and acquaintences, they almost all come from the "family". My buddy Linda did all that work from her heart, as did all the volunteers, she never stopped all weekend. As this tourney hopefully grows over the years, it could well become the highlight of the Field lacrosse season.
Wonderful Post!!!!!!
by Ron Pallister
Andrew, this post touched my heart.
The feeling you have now is similar to how I feel when donations are made to the CBCF in my wife Brenda's memory.
It's this kind of support that is generated by "the greatest people on Earth", the lacrosse "family" that makes all the work more than worth while.
Thank you/Nya Weh to the lacrosse community/family.
Ron
With Thanks
by Sheila Passfield
Andrew:
Thank you for the wonderful "recap" ... Your words captured our weekend beautifully.
I cannot fully express my gratitude to the amazing group of people that made the idea of a Charity Tournament become a reality - it appears we may have reached our fundraising goal and more importantly, we have had an opportunity to share information about HCM ...
The planning for next year will be underway soon --- I hope to see everyone again ... A heartfelt THANK YOU to EVERYONE that attended, participated, volunteered ( I could go on and on and on ....) --- it means so much to know that Rick is still remembered and that those that did not know him get a chance to know of him ... He was part of an incredible lacrosse community of brothers ... no matter what color the jersey !! Your kind support proved the strength of that brotherhood over the weekend.
thank you
by akwesasnefan
Thank you so much for all your hospitality, letting others into your family's hearts, it was such a great weekend, it makes a person sit back and say wow, this person that none of us (from Akwesasne) knew must have been someone really caring and giving to have such great people looking out for him and never forgetting someone that can still help put smiles on peoples faces.
Even with the rain, imagine the skill levels of those kids enjoying the greatest game on earth, the love of the game of those boys and the love of knowing they too are now part of something special.
You can bet one thing "TUGGY" your new found friends in Akwesasne will be back next year and for many to come as you and your family plus the numerous friends that helped make this weekend a special part of our lacrosse lives.
Thank you or the memories and great lacrosse weekend, that is what lacrosse is all about.
From Carleton University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 16, 2007
Quote of the Day - "Lacrosse, where not every game ends in broken bones, just the good ones."
OTTAWA - The Carleton University Ravens men's lacrosse team is pleased to announce the addition of Team Canada star and former NCAA all-star Jeff Zywicki to the Carleton Ravens coaching staff.
Zywicki, a native of Nepean , Ont., will help head coach Robin Denis run the Ravens' offence.
He brings an immense amount of field lacrosse experience and knowledge to the team having played attack for the University of Massachusetts Minutemen between 2000-2005, as an attackman for Team Canada ’s gold medal winning team at last summer’s World Lacrosse Championships and most recently as a member of the Rochester Rattlers of the Major League Lacrosse.
Zywicki is a busy man, as he also plays professional indoor lacrosse for the San Jose Stealth of the National Lacrosse League and the Brooklin Redmen of the Ontario Major Series box lacrosse league.
This past May, he also represented Canada as a member of the gold medal winning Canadian team at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Halifax .
“This organization is serious about winning and is always looking for ways to improve its competitiveness,” noted assistant coach Philip Dubuc. “With the addition of Greg Kent to our coaching staff earlier this year and now with the arrival of Jeff Zywicki, we feel that we are heading in the right direction."
The Ravens welcome the extra coaches, as they will have to evaluate the over 40 players that will be attending training camp starting Aug. 27.
For more background on Zywicki, please visit: http://umassathletics.cstv.com/sports/m-lacros/mtt/zywicki_jeff00.html.
For more information on the Ravens and their league, visit http://www.cufla.org
Douglas "Bugsy" McLean (Retired employee of the Town of Ajax)
Suddenly on Thursday, June 7, 2007 at Toronto General Hospital in his 64th year. Beloved husband of Beryl for 46 years.
Loving father of Rob and his wife Heather McCullough of Oshawa, Sheila and her husband Larry Asselin of Whitby. Survived by his sister Agnes Lee and her husband Jack of Brooklin, and by his sisters-in-law Doreen McLean of Blackstock, Maureen Kellett and her husband Harvey of Langley BC and Sheila Dauncey of Whitby. He will be sadly missed by his many nieces, nephews and "adopted" children and grandchildren. Douglas is predeceased by his brothers William and James and by his sister Doris.
Family and friends will be received at the MOUNT LAWN RECEPTION CENTRE, 21 Garrard Rd., Whitby (just north of Hwy 2) on Sunday, June 10th from 1-4 & 6-9pm.
A Funeral Service will be held in the chapel on Monday, June 11th at 11AM. Interment to follow at Mount Lawn Memorial Gardens.
Donations in Douglas' memory directed to the Canadian Diabetes Association or The Heart & Stroke Foundation would be greatly appreciated.
Jina & Dave Rooney are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Cecilia Han Mae Rooney on April 21, 2007.
Mother, father and daughter are doing fine.
Dave was one of the prime movers in getting the Arthur Aces(now Centre Wellington Aces) organized and running for several years.
He has also been prominant in minor lacrosse with Arthur.
He is now taking a break from lacrosse to concentrate on family.
My congratulations to the happy family!!!
On June 9th when the Guelph Regals visit, the Windsor AKO Fratmen in conjunction with Windsor Factory Supply and AM800 will pay tribute to the men and women of the Canadian Military. We urge all fans to Wear Red to show your support. On this day we will make Cpl. Mike Barnewall an honourary Fratmen Lacrosse player. Please read the story from Maclean's magazine about Cpl. Barnewall.
Airlifted out of Afghanistan, Canada's wounded warriors are waging a whole new battle on the home front
By MICHAEL FRISCOLANTI, Mar 26, 2007, Maclean’s Magazine
Michael Barnewall answers the front door. Like usual, he is home alone this afternoon, dressed in a plain white T-shirt and a pair of black Adidas warm-up pants. He is standing. The hospital lent him a wheelchair when he checked out, but he hates using it. His crutches are nowhere to be found, either. "You want a cup of coffee?" Barnewall asks, hopping toward the kitchen. He bounces on his left foot, the one that didn't step on a land mine.
Cpl. Barnewall (everyone calls him "Barney") is 26 years old. He is blond and fit and drives a Ford F-150 pickup truck. "My baby," he says. Growing up in Essex, a small town near Windsor, Ont., Barney was always the fastest kid on the playground. Nobody could catch him. Lacrosse was his specialty. After high school he thought about using his speed to chase criminals, but college didn't quite pan out. So at 21, with three part-time jobs and an itch for something different, Barnewall stopped by a Canadian Forces recruiting office. During one visit -- April 10, 2002 -- he signed a three-year contract with the army.
After basic training -- he graduated as top athlete and top overall recruit -- Barnewall was posted to CFB Petawawa, home of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. He deployed to Bosnia in 2004. Kabul was supposed to be next, but his section was scratched from the mission. Barnewall liked the infantry, but he couldn't quite picture himself as a lifer. His plan was to sign a three-year extension, serve until 2008, then give college a second try. "I still wanted to be a cop," he recalls, lying on the green couch in his parents' living room
On Nov. 21, 2006, Barnewall was stationed in the Pashmul region of Afghanistan. His job that sweltering day was to help keep watch over a team of engineers as they rigged an abandoned enemy hideout with explosives. "We secured the spot," Barnewall recalls. "The engineers were carrying a whole bunch of stuff so myself and my section commander decided to go back and help them." He and four other troops marched in a single file, oblivious to the land mine buried in the dirt. "We already passed over it once," he says. "On the way back, I stepped on it."
Shrapnel and debris peppered his right arm as he fell to the ground. "I started crawling," he recalls. "I could push with my left leg but I couldn't with my right. I knew I was moving my right leg because I had feeling in my knee, but I wasn't able to dig into the ground. I knew the foot was gone." Surprisingly, there was very little blood. The blast was so hot that it cauterized the wound.
Barnewall was airlifted to Germany, then Toronto. The explosion severed everything directly below the ankle, but surgeons at Sunnybrook Hospital told him they would have to slice off at least another six inches from his shin. A prosthetic leg will fit easier that way, they said. A short stump now dangles from Barnewall's right knee. To close the wound properly, doctors took a flap of skin from the back of his calf and wrapped it around the other side, sewing it shut with a single line of stitches. When he scratches the scar, it still feels as if he is touching the back of his leg. "Sometimes it feels like it's still there," he says of his missing foot. "Not all the time, but sometimes. You'll even get phantom pains. Every now and again I feel a burning in the toes or something like that. Well, clearly I don't have toes."
To date, more than 300 Canadian soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan -- some in battle, some by accident. Nearly half -- 136 -- were so badly hurt they needed to be flown back to Canada. Few have returned to work. Most, including Barnewall, have settled into a daily routine of physiotherapy and uncertainty. For them, the war on terror proved to be much more than a six-month tour.
Of course, there is one thing the army can't do: turn back time. All the financial benefits and all the moral support will not change the fact that hundreds of Canadian soldiers have been injured in Afghanistan -- or that hundreds more will be. In the end, it is up to them -- and them alone -- to heal. And so every day, all across the country, anonymous privates and captains and sergeants endure the slow, monotonous grind of doctors' appointments and rehab sessions, teaching themselves to walk again or write again or remember things as easily as they once did. Some will see visible results. Others will only get so far. And then there will be those determined few who come so excruciatingly close to recovery, only to be told -- thanks to a controversial new policy -- that their careers are over. The complete story can be found online at http://www.macleans.ca
On June 9th, 2007 Cpl Barnewall will become a honourary member of the Windsor AKO Fratmen Lacrosse team. The Fratmen are proud of the men and women in our Canadian military
Mike Soulliere
AKO FRATMEN LACROSSE
www.akolacrosse.com
Home (519) 969-7518 Work (519) 948-1751
April 23, 2007
Scarborough, ON
Only three weeks until opening night of Redmen training camp, Monday May 14, 2007 at 7:45 pm at Iroquois Park. The Redmen start the season on the road with a pair in Akwesasne against the St Regis Indians, May 26, 2007 and May 27, 2007, before their home opener when they host Six Nations on May 30, 2007 at 8:00 p.m.
In preparation for the season Redmen GM, Barry Johnson and Head Coach, Ian McGough continue to try and fine tune the line-up which they hope will be playing well into August and even after Labour Day. The team announced that Andrew Burkholder and Corey Leigh were headed to Six Nations in exchange for Jamie Taylor and a third round pick in the 2008 draft. Johnson said “it's obviously tough to make trades, but we are trying to change direction and chemistry. We have coveted Jamie Taylor for some time, as he was our 1st round pick approximately four to five years ago years ago”. Johnson added, “When the opportunity to get him presented itself, we knew we had to give up something. We believe we have strengthened ourselves. Jamie brings some grit and is a guy you don't like to play against. We are bringing in some young players and we expect some of then to make the team, so rosters spots is also a consideration in trades.”
Meanwhile the National Lacrosse regular season ended April 14 and Steve Toll of the Rochester Knighthawks earned Transition Player of the Week honours for the final week of the season. Toll scored one goal and added three assists for four points and collected nine loose balls in a 14-10 road win over the Buffalo Bandits on Friday April 13, 2007. Toll also tallied an assist and collected ten loose balls in a 14-8 home win over the Bandits at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday April 14, 2007.
The N.L.L. semi-finals are this weekend as Rochester hosts Buffalo in the east and Arizona host San Jose in the west. A number of Redmen players will suit up in those games. The game to contest for the NLL Champions Cup is set for Saturday May 12, 2007.
http://www.brooklinredmenlacrosse.com/
Contact: Mark Stehlin 416.525.5624
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