Chapleau's Dakotah Woods signs to play junior hockey with Temiscaming Titans for 2019-2020 season

Dad looks on as Dakotah signs

Dakotah Woods, who started his hockey career in Chapleau has signed to play for the Temiscaming Titans for the 2019-2020 season, the hockey club has announced.

In a news release the club based in Temiscaming, Quebec said that "Former QMJHL Rempart joins Titans The Titans are proud to announce a major signing."

It added that  "Titans defense got a lot bigger as rear guard Dakotah Woods, 1998 born, 6 '6” 225lb signed his contract and joined the Titans blue line. Dakotah spent 1 complete season with the Remparts of Quebec in the QMJHL at the age of 17.

 "Since then, he won the Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) Championship in 2017-18, and then participated in the Dudley Hewitt Cup that same year with the Dryden Ice Dogs.. 

"The veteran then wore the colors with the NOJHL’s Powassan Voodoos last season."  Dakotah has also played for other junior teams.

In a Facebook post the Titans said  that "The impact that Dakotah will have on the Titans, but also on the league as a whole, is major. Dakotah is an experienced defenseman who has played at the highest level Junior, the Major Junior, while being a champion in another junior league. 

Dakotah with his number and team manager

"These are experiences that can’t be bought and that very few players possess in our league. Dakotah has played in almost 240 games at the junior level.  In terms of hockey, Dakotah is a solid blueliner, with a long reach that helps him particularly in 1-on-1 situations, and a physical strength that his opponents do not have. All teams are looking for a defender like him but, very few find. Dakotah Woods will be number 66 with the Blues.

"Welcome to the Titans Dakotah !."

According to Wikipedia the Temiscaming Titans are a junior ice hockey team based in Témiscaming, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the North Division of the Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League. The Titans play their home games at the 750 seat Le Centre de Témiscaming.

In an earlier column about Dakotah when he signed with the Quebec Remparts, his father Gordon Woods told me that his son had taken figure skating lessons when he was four years old, I just had to include a question to Dakotah about it in an interview in which we texted back and forth --- he texts much faster than I do. Dakotah was born in Chapleau.

Dakotah said that figure skating helped him out "a lot really. You know you learn all your edges and have to stay balanced or you fall. Strapping on a pair of skates at young age is tough. Figure skating taught me a lot."

Dakotah is the son of Gordie and Isabelle (Saunders) Woods. He is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation.

Before the family moved to North Bay in 2008, he played Initiation, Novice and Atom on Chapleau Minor Hockey Association teams. 

;The following is the announcement of Dakotah's signing with the Titans in French from the hockey club: 

"Les Titans sont fiers d’annoncer une signature majeure. 
Le défenseur format géant Dakotah Woods (98) 6’ 6’’ 225l a signé son contrat ce midi et portera les couleurs des Titans cette saison Dakotah a passé 1 saison complète avec les Remparts de Québec à l’âge de 17 ans. Depuis, il a remporté le Championnat de la Superior International Junior Hockey League (SIJHL) en 2017-18, puis a participé à la Coupe Dudley Hewitt cette même année. Le vétéran s’est aligné avec les Powassan Voodoos de la NOJHL la saison dernière. Voici ce que notre directeur général peut nous dire à propos de sa plus récente acquisition. 

« L’impact que Dakotah aura pour les Titans, mais aussi pour la ligue en entier, est majeur. Dakotah est un défenseur expérimenté ayant joué au plus haut niveau Jr, soit le Junior Majeur, tout en étant un champion dans une autre ligue Jr. Il s’agit d’expériences qui ne s’achètent pas et que bien peu de joueurs possèdent dans notre ligue avec presque 240 matchs disputés au niveau junior 

"Sur le plan strictement du hockey, Dakotah est un solide arrière défensif, doté d’une longue portée qui l’aide particulièrement à 1 contre 1, et d’une force physique que ses adversaires ne possèdent pas. Toutes les équipes recherchent un défenseur comme lui mais, bien peu en trouvent. »Dakotah Woods portera le numéro 66 avec les Bleus. 
Bienvenue chez les Titans Dakotah"

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

George Bucciarelli honoured at 'Bucciarelliville' ceremony for good work especially for his 'best friends' the children

George Bucciarelli was honoured  in appreciation for the good work he had performed for Chapleau citizens especially the children at a ceremony led by Reeve Frank Edwards on November 2, 1947.

Mr. Bucciarelli was asked to attend at his property and was greeted by a large group of citizens and the Town Band.

Writing in his book 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario', Vince Crichton noted that Mr. Bucciarelli's "best friends were the children of Chapleau". 

A letter to Mr. Bucciarelli, signed by Reeve Frank Edwards expressed the community's sincere appreciation of the many improvements he had undertaken in Chapleau and for the spirit of citizenship that prompted him to make them available for the public pleasure and enjoyment. Particular tribute was paid for Bucciarelliville. The reeve commented from the letter at the ceremony.

The Chapleau Post reported more of a speech by Reeve Edwards based on the letter.

"The citizens of Chapleau desire to convey to you their very  sincere appreciation of the many improvement projects that you have undertaken in the district during the past years and for the spirit of citizenship that prompted you to make them available for public enjoymernt and pleasure.

"Today we in particulat desire to pay tribute to your effort in developing what we will always be known as BUCCIARELLIVILLE.

"Here out of the rugged bushland at considerable personal expense you are now in possession of of a splendid picnic grounds with bathing beach. Having made this pleasure spot available yo the public, the citizens of Chapleau unite in saying ; "We thank you Mr. Bucciarelli. We know that you desire much satisfaction in seeing the enjoyment the people -- particularly the young folk -- find in visiting your grounds".

"It is our earnest wish that you may enjoy many years of good health in order that may continue to witness the happiness that you have brought into the lives of others."

Mr. Bucciarelli, who had arrived in Chapleau circa 1910, and established a store, actually held the first picnic for the children on August 22, 1931, as the effects of the Great Depression were being felt. Vince Crichton called it a "brilliant idea" (which it was) and he added that "without a doubt was the biggest event of the year for kids."

The Chapleau Post reported that Mr. Bucciarelli had asked a small group of children if they would like to attend a picnic the next day at his farm. They liked the idea and 275 children showed up the next day. 

Needless to say Mr. Bucciarelli had to scurry to get rides and extra food for the occasion. But it all worked out successfully and the Bucciarelli Picnic began.

When I was growing up in Chapleau in the late 1940s and the 1950s, Bucciarelli's Beach was the place to go in the summer months. For years Chapleau High School ended its week long Grade Nine initiation activities with a wiener roast and dance there.

Frank Bucciarelli, Mr. Bucciarelli's nephew advised that in due course, "The "beach" had four small cottages, a dance hall with a juke box, and a small confectionery store open in the summer. It was also a great place to swim, complete with sandy area and diving board and became very popular. Frank also noted there was great blueberry picking in the bush near the beach."

George Bucciarelli was another of Chapleau's outstanding citizens. He died on January 6, 1967.

My thanks to Frank Bucciarelli as well as to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for lending me the Richard Brownlee papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Dr. J.J. Sheahan one of Chapleau's "best loved and public spirited citizens" died in 1942

Chapleau residents and those who lived for miles around the community lost one of the best loved and public spirited citizens on October 26, 1942 when Dr. J.J. Sheahan died, the Chapleau Post reported.

For 35 years Dr. Sheahan had lived in Chapleau "and he practised his profession conscientiously for the entire period except for the last few hours of his life. He was in his office attending a patient when he suffered a sudden stroke. He died in the Lady Minto Hospital..."

The Chapleau Post in its tribute noted that "Commanding the respect and trust of his fellow citizens from the first, he put his profession above all else. Never known to take a holiday when work was pressing, (he) took few holidays."

Dr. Sheahan also took a great interest in community affairs. Besides being the CPR doctor he was the Medical Officer of Health, a member of the Chapleau High School board and honourary president of the Chapleau Red Cross Society. He was also the official doctor for several lumber companies in the area.

He was also the first president of the board of Lady Minto Hospital when it opened in 1914. In 1963 a renovated wing in that hospital which became the children's ward was named after him. That plaque is now displayed at the Chapleau General Hospital.

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Dr. Sheahan became a member of the Chapleau Citizens Recruiting Committee.

"He took active interest in social and welfare activities in the community and was one of the best supporters of (Sacred Heart) Roman Catholic Church. He was also a member of Chapleau Council of the Knights of Columbus."

He also served on the executive of the Kebsquasheshing Golf Club.

Before his remains were taken to Portage du Fort for burial a requiem high mass was sung at Sacred Heart church by Rev Father Romeo Gascon, the parish priest.

"The schools and stores were closed. Everyone, young and the old attended the funeral one of the largest Chapleau has ever known," the Chapleau Post reported. "Children of the separate school prayed at his bier and with the students from the high school marched behind the Knights Of Columbus in the cortege to the station."

As a sign of the high respect and esteem in which Dr. Sheahan was held, Trinity United Church paid tribute to him. In part it said that Dr. Sheahan's hands were different. "There was something about his life that made him different. Those hands ministered to us in sorrow and in need.

"His personality made his presence in the sick room a benediction. He sought to save human lives but he also helped people make their lives worth living. His personality among us will be greatly missed but his gracious spirit, his untiring devotion to duty and his Christian character will ever be an example and and incentive to all of us>"

Dr. Sheahan was popular with everyone and years earlier circa 1920 the community bought him a new Ford car which prompted him to comment  that "Instead of babies coming in a little black bag, they will now come in a little black car." According to the late George Evans it may have been the first car in Chapleau.

In 1940 he was crowned as King of the Chapleau Winter Carnival.

Born in Pembroke he graduated in medicine from McGill University in Montreal. At the time of his death he was survived by his wife the former Beatrice English, three sons John, Joseph and James, and two daughters Evelyn and Mary.

Following the service in Chapleau, his body was taken by train to Portage du Fort where another high mass was celebrated before burial in the family plot.

In a tribute to Dr. Sheahan at the time of his death an unknown writer said that he was blessed by patients adding that "Our doctor, yes, but more than that, our friend!" John Joseph Sheahan was truly one of Chapleau's most outstanding citizens. 

My sincere thanks again to Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for lending me the Richard Brownlee Papers. My email is mj.morris@live.ca