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Huron Expositor, 2016-12-07, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, December 7, 2016 sports DrissmoT#11 4 • 2001" POINT ASA GLADIATOR NOW 2 IN GLADIATORS HISTORY FOR °OILS ' �� • NOW 5" IN FRANCHISE HISTORY FORMALS monk Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Gladiators Facebook page Born and raised Egmondville native, Derek Nesbitt was in the midst of an interview relating to his milestones in professional hockey, however a tornado in the area concluded the interview. Four tornadoes whirl through Atlanta, during the turmoil, Egmondville native remains calm and proceeds with interview Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor As every TV channel in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov 30 was warning residents that a tor- nado would soon touch down, Egmondville native Derek Nesbitt was calm and collected as he spoke with The Expositor about making hockey history with the local ea orthhuronex.ositor.co ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) team. Nesbitt, captain of the Atlanta Gladiators, became only the second player in the team's history to reach the 200 -point mark, and as he was saying what the accom- plishment meant to him he stopped mid sentence. "Sorry, we just got a tor- nado warning, so we have to clean some stuff up here, we are just rushing it." He continued the conver- sation for a few minutes more then his wife, with concern, said a dangerous funnel cloud was swooping in and was potentially head- ing to their neighbourhood. He hung up. The southeast city has seen roughly 80 tornadoes since 1950, according to weather. com, and it looked like it was about to see a few more. Nesbitt later contacted the Expositor via text message to say the coast was clear. "Sorry my wife came down the stairs freaking out because she was getting a bunch of alerts on her phone about tornado warnings heading straight to our area," the text message read. Over the next 24 hours, four tornadoes had descended over the metrop- olis with one reaching 100 mph and an astonishing 100 -yards wide, reported several news agencies. Thankfully, Nesbitt said that the storms were all located away from his home. The 34 -year-old has had a reasonable amount of whirl- winds of his own in profes- sional hockey dating back to 2004 when he first started his long journey. He's played the better part of his career in the American Hockey League for several different clubs, as well as playing for an Austrian league. The most notable was in the 2006-2007 season when he played for the Idaho Steel - heads also in the ECHL. He hoisted the Patrick J. Kelly Cup that year with the team as league champions. in the December 21st edition of the Seaforth Huron Expositor Please contactty. December 14th Nancy @ 51.9.52,7.0240 Ndegans@postmedia.com 1► 4 i 14111 H_IiiJ_:[MF•Y+'IJILODI•`? Through the length of his career, however, the Huron County native seemed to always land back with the Gladiators -- a perfect fit, he said, seeing as his wife is from Atlanta and that's where he resides to this day. "It's not a traditional market, obviously. When you think Atlanta, people from home hockey -wise, they see how the Thrashers left," said Nesbitt referring to Atlanta's former NHL team that relocated to Canada due to financial woes. "That's kind of the black mark on our hockey." This is the Gladiator's 14th year as a franchise, which "must mean there are some pretty strong roots there," he said. The hometown arena is not located in the downtown region but rather borders the north- east suburbs, which doesn't aid in upping their attendance, he said. Regardless, Nesbitt is impressed by how many fans come out every night. "Especially because they recognize us on a more per- sonal level. You can always hear them yelling your name, when you have the puck," said Nesbitt. Living the life of a local sports celebrity is a great feeling, he said -- especially since he's nearing the end of his career. For the time being his body feels fine and he's pro- ducing points, he said. "I don't know how much longer I [will] continue to enjoy it. If I can still contrib- ute that kind of tells me to continue on." If a tornado cannot hold back this man who played his entire minor hockey career in Seaforth, a couple more years added to his age are not going to stop his path in hockey. "Clearly, the body will tell at some time," he said. "I don't knowifthe mind and body [are] always on the same page:' LtIJftERC'H RY IRE T You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN 21 Jarvis St., Seaforth Church Office 519-527-1522 holyspirit@tcc.on.ca Rev. Shaun Eaton - Deacon -in -Charge Sunday December 11 Third Sunday in Advent Worship at 9:30am Everyone Welcome Office Hours with Rev. Shaun on Fridays from 10am to noon Mon. Dec. 12 at 5:30pm Potluck supper at Thehe Bridges Rec Centree EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH 3rd Sunday of Advent Worship Leader: Pastor EIIy Dow December 11th 10:30 Youth Sunday School 10:30 Like us on facebook g www.e mondvilleunitedchurch.com BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Interim Pastor: Rev. Laurie Morris December 11 - 11 am "Beholding God #12" Sunday School 9:45 am December 18- 11 am Family Christmas Concert Tuesday Evenings: Youth Group - 6:30 - 9 pm B & G Club - 6:45 pm Wednesday Evening: Men's Bible Study - 7 pm (`v EVERYONE WELCOME FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Rev. Dwight Nelson Lorrie Mann - Organist Sunday, December 11, 11am Sunday School ' Nursery Provided as Needed �� ALL WELCOME ea orthhuronex.ositor.co ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) team. Nesbitt, captain of the Atlanta Gladiators, became only the second player in the team's history to reach the 200 -point mark, and as he was saying what the accom- plishment meant to him he stopped mid sentence. "Sorry, we just got a tor- nado warning, so we have to clean some stuff up here, we are just rushing it." He continued the conver- sation for a few minutes more then his wife, with concern, said a dangerous funnel cloud was swooping in and was potentially head- ing to their neighbourhood. He hung up. The southeast city has seen roughly 80 tornadoes since 1950, according to weather. com, and it looked like it was about to see a few more. Nesbitt later contacted the Expositor via text message to say the coast was clear. "Sorry my wife came down the stairs freaking out because she was getting a bunch of alerts on her phone about tornado warnings heading straight to our area," the text message read. Over the next 24 hours, four tornadoes had descended over the metrop- olis with one reaching 100 mph and an astonishing 100 -yards wide, reported several news agencies. Thankfully, Nesbitt said that the storms were all located away from his home. The 34 -year-old has had a reasonable amount of whirl- winds of his own in profes- sional hockey dating back to 2004 when he first started his long journey. He's played the better part of his career in the American Hockey League for several different clubs, as well as playing for an Austrian league. The most notable was in the 2006-2007 season when he played for the Idaho Steel - heads also in the ECHL. He hoisted the Patrick J. Kelly Cup that year with the team as league champions. in the December 21st edition of the Seaforth Huron Expositor Please contactty. December 14th Nancy @ 51.9.52,7.0240 Ndegans@postmedia.com 1► 4 i 14111 H_IiiJ_:[MF•Y+'IJILODI•`? Through the length of his career, however, the Huron County native seemed to always land back with the Gladiators -- a perfect fit, he said, seeing as his wife is from Atlanta and that's where he resides to this day. "It's not a traditional market, obviously. When you think Atlanta, people from home hockey -wise, they see how the Thrashers left," said Nesbitt referring to Atlanta's former NHL team that relocated to Canada due to financial woes. "That's kind of the black mark on our hockey." This is the Gladiator's 14th year as a franchise, which "must mean there are some pretty strong roots there," he said. The hometown arena is not located in the downtown region but rather borders the north- east suburbs, which doesn't aid in upping their attendance, he said. Regardless, Nesbitt is impressed by how many fans come out every night. "Especially because they recognize us on a more per- sonal level. You can always hear them yelling your name, when you have the puck," said Nesbitt. Living the life of a local sports celebrity is a great feeling, he said -- especially since he's nearing the end of his career. For the time being his body feels fine and he's pro- ducing points, he said. "I don't know how much longer I [will] continue to enjoy it. If I can still contrib- ute that kind of tells me to continue on." If a tornado cannot hold back this man who played his entire minor hockey career in Seaforth, a couple more years added to his age are not going to stop his path in hockey. "Clearly, the body will tell at some time," he said. "I don't knowifthe mind and body [are] always on the same page:'