Chatham-Kent Sports Year In Review: May

Jamie Schaafsma receiving the CHL Playoff MVP award – Photo by the Allen Americans

Spring sports kicked off throughout Chatham-Kent, with basketball, lacrosse, rugby, track, and soccer taking the place of hockey. May was a month of commitments, as local athletes chose schools, and re-signed contracts.

Here are the top sports in Chatham-Kent highlights from May 2014:

• Emily VanDamme Plays With The Red Devils – VanDamme proved she wasn’t just one of the best lacrosse netminders in the women’s game, but that she was capable of playing with anyone. VanDamme suited up for the Junior B Wallaceburg Red Devils, becoming one of the few women over the past two decades to ever step into a men’s lacrosse game at the OLA Junior B level.
• Bridget Carleton Commits To Iowa State – One of the most coveted prospects on the planet, Bridget Carleton of Chatham chose the Iowa State Cyclones women’s basketball program for next season. Carleton, a star for Team Canada on the international stage, has been dominant throughout her four year high school career, and will be expected to carry that over next year in the NCAA.
• Zoe Ellis Commits To The Windsor Lancers – Ellis of Dresden, became the next in a line of local female hockey players to move on to the next level. Starring for the Chatham Outlaws Midget ‘AA’ team, and LKCS Cardinals, Ellis decided she was going to make the jump to the OUA level in Windsor.
• Aryn Finley Commits To The Brock Badgers – Another Dresden-ite, Finley was a sought after prospect, playing club basketball for the JUEL London Ramblers, and playing high school hoops for the UCC Lancers. She made her choice clear, choosing the OUA’s Brock Badgers.
• Schaafsma MVP and Champion – Blenheim’s Jamie Schaafsma made a big splash in the CHL, helping his Allen Americans win their second straight league title. Not only did he hoist the CHL’s championship trophy, Allen was one of the top scorers in the playoffs, and was named MVP.
• Montour USHL’s Player of the Year – Playing for the Waterloo BlackHawks, Tilbury product was one of the USHL’s top scorers, finishing 9th overall in scoring, and top among defenders. A UMass commit, Montour’s performance earned him top defenseman and player of the year honours in the USHL.
• Chris Clements Re-ups with the UFC – Dresden’s Chris Clements was healed and ready to return to the cage in the UFC following a year long recuperation from shoulder surgery. To mark his comeback, Clements re-upped with a four fight contract with the UFC.
• High School Season Wraps Up – It was a busy month in Kent high school finals, with the Track champions, the UCC Lancers won the girls rugby crown, and the CKSS Golden Hawks swept the soccer finals.