Chatham-Kent Sports Year In Review: July

Wallaceburg’s Madison Broad showing off her hardware in Winnipeg following the 2014 Canadian Age-Group Swimming Championships – Contributed Photo

July saw Chatham-Kent athletes representing Canada on an international stage, offseason hockey news, and much hype for a new CKSN feature. It was a month filled with highs and lows, that left a lasting impact on the Chatham-Kent sports community.

Here are CKSN’s top stories from sports in Chatham-Kent during July 2014.

• Prospects Reports A Hit – CKSN started our Top Women’s Prospects and Top Men’s Hockey Prospects this summer. The response was an overwhelming hit. Thousands upon thousands of readers have viewed these original stories, and each update we publish, now on monthly basis during the season, receives an equal response.
• Johnson, Van Herk Commit To OUA Swim Teams – With a flock of commitments earlier in the year, two area swimmers announced their University intentions in July. Riley Johnson, a CKSS grad committed to Laurentian University, while Shania Van Herk, a UCC student, committed to Brock.
• Devin Tedford Passes Away – For the second straight month, Chatham-Kent’s sports community was rocked by the death of a young athlete. Devin Tedford, who played for the OMHA champion Ridgetown-Blenheim Chiefs, and was a member of Wallaceburg Minor Lacrosse, sadly passed away in July.
• Nicholas Named To Rugby 7s Roster – After an incredible OUA season, Blenheim’s Breanne Nicholas again donned the maple leaf representing Canada, this time at the FISU championships in Brazil. Nicholas would go on to help Canada win gold.
• Bridget Carleton Named To National Junior Team – Winning silver with Canada’s cadette team wasn’t enough for Chatham’s Bridget Carleton. The basketball star solidified her position as one of Canada’s top prospects after making team Canada’s National Junior team.
• Vanderveeken, Cunningham Sign In France – Dresden’s Wes Cunningham and Wallaceburg’s Jamie Vanderveeken both ended their professional hockey days in North America for the time being, signing pro contracts in France for the upcoming season. Cunningham who was the assistant captain with the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors last year, signed with the Rouen Dragons, while Vanderveeken, who played in the CHL last year with the Brampton Beast, signed with the Amiens Gothics.
• Brett Vandehogen Retires – Blenheim’s Brett Vandehogen, who finished his OUA career with the Windsor Lancers the year prior, bounced between the CHL and SPHL during 2013-2014, but decided one year of professional hockey was enough. The forward instead, chose to pursue a career in teaching, retiring from pro hockey in July.
• Broad Shines At Nationals – Madison Broad, a Wallaceburg resident, racked up two gold medals and two silver, and also hit a Senior National qualifying time in three events at the Canadian Age Group Swimming Championships in Winnipeg. Her performance was one of the most hotly followed stories of 2014.