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Page 18 June 6, 2007 • The Huron Expositor
Wildfong bringing small town roots to job as
head coach of CHL's new Texas Brahmas
Susan H u n d e r t m a r k
MMOWEINED
Dan Wildfong says he's bringing his
small town roots to the job as he
begins as head coach of the Texas
Brahmas, of the Central Hockey
League.
"I'm bringing the hard
work I learned playing
minor hockey in Clinton
and junior hockey in
Seaforth. You've got to
wake up every day and
earn your pay cheque or
you don't play for me,"
he says during a phone
interview from North
Richland Hills, Texas.
Wildfong,- 31, who
grew up in Hullett
Township, has played
for the past eight years
for the Bossier -
Shreveport Mudbugs.
A press release on the Central
Hockey League website calls.
Wildfong "one of the grittiest and
most competitive players within the
Western Professional and Central
Hockey Leagues over this eight-year
professional career."
He graduated from Colgate
University in 1999, was named all-
star in 2000, 2003 and 2007 seasons
and was selected "best leader" each
of the last three seasons. He retires
from the Mudbugs as the team's all-
time leading scorer.
While he's never coached before,
Wildfong says he gained some expe-
rience as an assistant coach while
still a player for the Mudbugs, help-
ing to recruit new players and sign
contracts and "doing a lot of what
coaches do:"
"I'm really excited
about it," he says of the
next stage of his hockey
career as a coach.
"It was always my
dream to
get to the
NHL but
playing -
wise, it
'ust wasn't
happen-
ing. So,
I'm going
to keep
that vision
going as a
coach but
first I've
got a long
row to hoe
in getting
the Brahmas into the
best team I can," he
says.
"It's tough to stop'.
playing after eight
great years in
Shreveport but my
body was taking a good Shreveport News photo
beating so this is the Dan Wildfong fights for the puck during his time with the Bossier -Shreveport Mudbugs.
next step. I love the game team, not just on stats," he says, Since 80 per cent of the players in
so much and I did not want to leave adding community involvement and the Central Hockey League are
the game," he says.' a strong Abated minor hockey pro- Canadians, Wildfong says he's now
Used to playing hard, Wildfong gram are also important. in a position to be able to recruit
says he's going to tackle coaching "Hockey is growing like you from "my roots."
the same way with high expecta- wouldn't believe in 'Ilexas. We have And, as he comes to Seaforth this
tions of his players both on and off four different teams on each level of August to help run the Score2Score
the ice. minor hockey and every rink that's hockey camp with Brian Melady,
Since the team is new, he is facing
the challenge of recruiting 18 play- built doesn't have enough ice time Wildfong says he'll be keeping his
for the teams. Hockey is one of the eyes open for local talent.
ers. best games in the world and it's "You never know what's going to
"I want these guys to be role mod- catching on down here," he says. catch my eye," he says.
els. I want to build a character
Dan Wildfong
Six S Anne's athietes to
fight for provincial title
Seaforth's
Nicholas McGillverytop seed in 100 -metre ambulatory event at OFSAA
five medals — three gold and two in one of her remaining races she Claiming first -place in the 100 -
bronze — from the Ontario will earn a spot on the national metre ambulatory, Nicholas
Federation of Schools Athletic team and represent Canada in the McGillvery is also the top seed in
Association (OFSAA) western- Junior Pan-American his event heading to OFSAA.
region meet held at Sandwich Championship in Brazil this July, Ellen Tousaw will compete in two
Secondary School in LaSalle last Robinson added. provincial events, the 300 -metre
week. "She was just off the mark to hurdles and the junior 4x100 relay.
Senior Julia lbusaw finished first qualify for the junior national She finished third in her individual
in both of her events — the 400- team," he said. "Hopefully it will event at the regionals and is seeded
metre and 400 -metre open hurdles. happen at OFSAA. (At the region- fourth overall in the province.
In the 400 -metre hurdles she ran a als) it was a windy day and the The junior girls' 4x100 relay team
time of 61.05, closing in on the track isn't known for fast times." — consisting of lbusaw, Jory Uyl,
national qualifying time. lbusaw is seeded No.1 in both her
If lbusaw can run 60.88 or faster events.
Jennifer Hubbard
IIIIIMMENMEND
Six St. Anne's students will fight
for a provincial track title this
weekend, after an impressive show-
ing at the regionals.
"I like our chances going in,"
coach Baird Robinson said of the
school's most successful track sea-
son to date. "We're medal con-
tenders in all five events that we're
competing in."
The local athletes brought home
See ST. ANNE'S, Page 20