Something we’re not used to Edmonton in November will be happening this year. No Canadian Football League (CFL) Western play-off game for the Edmonton Eskimos. For 34 straight years, the Eskimos have made it to the post-season battle each year.
The Eskimos amazing 34 year run came to an end on October 14 as they lost to the Toronto Argonauts by a score of 28-25. Hats off to the Edmonton Eskimos as they hold the North American professional sports record of being in the play-offs for an incredible 34 years.
Running Around received a great response from the readers and athletes from last month’s item stating some athletes who still haven’t received their medals from the North American Indigenous Games held in Denver, Colorado. At press time, I was not successful in reaching anyone from the games office as to why many athletes still haven’t received their medals in Canada. We hope to give you an update on this item in the next issue.

ISAIAH HUNTER MAKES VISIT TO TOOTOO HOMETOWN OF RANKIN INLET

Rankin Inlet, NU – When you get off the airport and head into the hamlet of Rankin Inlet, a huge sign welcomes you to Rankin Inlet – Home of Jordin Tootoo.

Seven year-old Isaiah Hunter has been following the hockey career of his hero, Jordin Tootoo, since 2003. Tootoo made international sports headlines by becoming the first Inuk to step onto the ice when he made the line-up of the 2003 edition of the Nashville Predators.

On October 18, 1999, Isaiah was born in St. Paul, Alberta, as a mere one-pounder. He was born 3-months premature and doctors at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton were uncertain if Isaiah would be able to beat the odds of surviving.

The doctors also indicated that if Isaiah survived, he would have a disability of some sort. Today, Isaiah has proved all those doctors wrong by being a ‘miracle baby’ and being a high academic student at Prince Charles School in Edmonton, Alberta. He is now in grade two and is a student at Neil Dunnigan’s School of Karate.

One of Isaiah’s dreams is to someday achieve his black belt and be a hockey player like his buddy, Jordin Tootoo. At home, Isaiah has accumulated quite a collection of autographed memorabilia from meeting various hockey players in the National Hockey League. But his favorite collections are the items he has of none other than Jordin Tootoo who he proudly calls his buddy.

On October 6th, Isaiah made his long-awaited trip to Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, to visit the parents of his hero.

Barney and Rose Tootoo were glad to host Isaiah and his grandparents in their own home for three nights. A special thanksgiving meal was prepared by Rose before sending Isaiah off back to Edmonton.

It was a dream come true for little Isaiah as he got a chance to see his special friends, Darrian and Jayda, nephew and niece of Jordin.

A big thank you to Barney and Rose for the warm hospitality and the awesome caribou jerky that Isaiah has been secretly hiding from his family and friends. He will not share that caribou jerky and proudly tells everyone that’s what his buddy Jordin eats before a big game.

Isaiah looks forward to repaying the Tootoo’s by hosting them at his home in Edmonton for one-week when Barney and Rose will make the trek to come watch their son Jordin and the Predators play the Calgary Flames on October 28th and the Edmonton Oilers on November 1st.

TOOTOO BOBBLEHEAD
AT ADMIRALS GAME IN FEBRUARY

Milwaukee, WI, U.S.A. - Milwaukee Admirals President Jon Greenberg announced the team's 2006-07 promotional schedule that features twenty-three games with promotional giveaways, four games with live entertainment, seven dates for fans to win vacations to Cancun, and contest to determine Milwaukee's biggest beer belly.

Highlighting the giveaways this season are three bobblehead giveaways. The first one will be of former Admiral and current Nashville Predator Jordin Tootoo, who brought his high-energy game to the Bradley Center for the last two seasons. The first 5,000 fans on, of course, February 2, 2007. (Jordin’s birthday) will receive one of the Jordin Tootoo bobbleheads, courtesy of the Aurora Sports Medicine Institute.

McGINNIS BROTHER-SISTER DUO HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE IN TAEKWON-DO

Edmonton, AB - It takes commitment and perseverance in being a successful athlete. Samantha McGinnis, age 12 and brother Joshua, age 8, attended their first dan at the Tien Lung Taewon-Do club in November 2004.

This first presentation was so addictive to the brother-sister duo that they are now one of the most successful students to take classes at the club. From their first tournament in 2004, the brother-sister duo have combined numerous wins and accolades in their bright future in taekwon-do.

From winning medals and making new friends, the main reason for taking taekwon-do is having fun and learning something new for Samantha and Joshua. They have set their goals high and working very hard in achieving them.

At the Canadian National Championships held at the University of Alberta Butterdome in May 2005, Samantha won a bronze medal and Joshua won two bronze medals in the respective age categories.

Both Samantha and Joshua are now blue belts and dreams of achieving their black belts are now within their grasp.

The parents of Samantha and Joshua can’t wait for that ceremony but know that there is a lot of hard work ahead for the young students.

Samantha and Joshua would like to first of all thank their parents very much for taking them to the lessons and for the encouragement and continued support. Very special thanks Mr. and Mrs. Wizniewski and to Mrs. Baretta.

Running Around will keep you updated on the progress of Samantha and Joshua as they work their goal of achieving their black belt in taekwon-do.

CHEECHOO HAS NATURAL HAT-TRICK IN EDMONTON

Edmonton, AB - San Jose returned to Edmonton on October 12th for the first time since last spring’s playoff exit but, in spite of a natural hat trick by Jonathan Cheechoo, and a second period 4-1 lead, fell to the Oilers 6-4.

The media scribes from across Western Canada are very curious on what kind of season Cheechoo will have this year after winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard trophy in 2005-06 season. Cheechoo scored 56 goals and also had 11 game winners which was also tops in the NHL. He had six hat-tricks and became the first player since Mario Lemieux to record 5 plus hat-tricks.

Cheechoo spent the summer in San Jose to work on his speed and getting his body into better shape. It was a clear indicator in the Edmonton game that Jonathan Cheechoo will no doubt have another great season.

After the game in Edmonton, Oilers head coach Craig MacTavish stated of Cheechoo, “I don’t think there’s any better goal-scorers in the game. He was having a fair bit of success even before he hooked up with Thornton.”

“He’s a great pure shooter. He’s got deceptive speed and he finds the open ice very well” added MacTavish.

“I know what kind of player I am. For me, it’s about coming to play every night and competing. That’s what I want to be known for. If we can win the Stanley Cup this year, I won’t care how many goals I get. Getting 56 again and winning the Stanley Cup would be nice,” says Jonathan Cheechoo.

SOURAY OFF TO A GREAT START IN 2006-07

Montreal, PQ – Sheldon Souray at press time is tied for first among Montreal Canadiens' players with 10 shots on goal, including five against the Buffalo Sabres on October 6th. Souray scored a power play goal on October 7, in Toronto and totaled eight shots on net (a team-high this season) and collected three points, including a pair of goals, in a Canadiens' 5-4 victory against the Calgary Flames, on October 17. Souray had his first two-goal game with the Canadiens since March 18, 2006, against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Bell Centre.

Souray leads all NHL defenseman in both goals with 5 and points with 9 in 7 games played so far in 2006-07.

Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 3rd round as the 71st choice over-all in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, Souray has definitely paid his dues and is classified as one of the best in the league. He has played 432 games and has a grand total of 45 goals, 86 assists for 131 points so far in his NHL career.

Should Souray continue filling the net at his current rate, he may not only shatter his own benchmark, but even make a run at the Habs' club record which has stood for over 30 years. In 2003-04, Souray exploded for 15 goals on his way to earning his first-ever All-Star Game invite. That breakout performance was still only halfway to the Canadiens' single-season record of 28 set by Hall-of-Famer Guy Lapointe in 1974-75.
Souray's weapon of choice remains the slap shot. While goalies league-wide would be the first to tell you how thrilled they are to no longer have to face the now-retired Al MacInnis, staring down Shelly these days is no picnic either.

Souray made that official on NHL All-Star Weekend in Minnesota in 2004 during the Hardest Shot Competition, where he registered a blast of 102.2 miles per hour, tying him with Adrian Aucoin for the hardest shot. Aucoin managed to edge out Souray in a shoot-off to decide the winner of the event to claim the hardest shot crown, and Sheldon has been taking it out on opposing goalies ever since.

Are we already thinking of the James Norris Trophy for Sheldon Souray? Definitely at the pace he’s going, Souray will no doubt have a great year. He is one of the most exciting defenseman in the National Hockey League.

BEAVER BITS:

From the Metis Settlement of Buffalo Lake, Alberta, Rene Bourque is now considered one the team leaders for the Chicago Black Hawks. Bourque appeared in 77 games as a rookie for the Black Hawks tallying 34 points (16 goals, 18 assists) and a plus-3 rating. Look for a great year from the 24 year-old Metis as so far he has 3 goals, 4 assists, for 7 points in 8 games played.

Aboriginal Sports and Recreation Association of BC (ASRA) has cancelled the first hockey talent identification camp scheduled that was scheduled for Saturday October 21, 2006 at the Ice Box Arena in Kamloops, BC.

"Due to lower than acceptable registration for the first camp in Kamloops, ASRA has decided to cancel the event.

Hockey athletes are encouraged to register now for the two remaining identification camps to ensure they have an opportunity to participate in the 2007 National Aboriginal Hockey Championships (NAHC) in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan," said Karen Henry, Program Manager of ASRA.

For registration information please visit ASRA online at www.asra.ca or call the office at (250) 544-8172.

The Cowichan Valley in British Columbia will be the site of the 2008 North American Indigenous Games.

As we look forward to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, VANOC is committed to achieving an unprecedented level of Aboriginal participation in the Games. With their partners, they are working to maximize opportunities for Aboriginal people in four key areas – sport and youth, economic development, awareness and education, and cultural involvement. Check out their website.

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