Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts shares details on importance of finding good hockey stick

Dakotah Woods, who is playing for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, joins our series on finding your good stick with his comments on its importance to success as a hockey player.

Dakotah, from Chapleau, who is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation, took time to do a texting interview on how he decides on his hockey stick.

Dakotah commented that finding the right stick is "pretty important. It's the thing you use most as a hockey player other than our skates."

He explained that the process in selecting a hockey stick depends on a player's preference - by the curve, the flex, the roundedness of the shaft.

"The way I pick my sticks is by talking with one of the stick reps and tell him where I like my kick point in my sticks, my curve, the flex and length. Then you look to grip. See how you like your grip.

"I like a grippy stick with a tarsal pattern. You gotta make sure you get the one that's right for you. One you like.

Dakotah's favorite stick is a "Bauer apx. It's light and has a nice kick point, the blade is strong so my shot doesn't fumble."

After texting with Dakotah, I realized how out of touch with the game I am since coaching my last game in 1987 at the Mrs A.W. Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre --- Chapleau All Stars versus NHL All Stars with Guy Lafleur.

With all respect to the awesome players on the teams I coached at the Midget and Intermediate A level when I did hockey in Chapleau between 1970 and 1987, I doubt if any of us could have provided the detailed explanation on selecting the "good stick' that Dakotah did.

Dakotah's hockey career started in Chapleau minor hockey, continued in North Bay for one season ,then on to Sudbury for three seasons, two with Nickel City Suns and one with  Sudbury Wolves, bantam team, and then with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. This is his first season with the Remparts at the major junior level.

He is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods.... thanks again Gordie for your help.

And, thanks Dakotah for being part of the finding your good stick series. All the best!!!!

Chapleau refugee project another 'spectacular' instance of its citizens caring about others

(Ludie O'Hearn photo)

But, seriously, "Why live in Chapleau?", George Evans asked in an article he wrote in one of his Snapshots of Chapleau's Past series, all of which are available online at the Chapleau Public Library site.

As I followed the Chapleau Refugee Project, headed by Father Sebastien Groleau of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church on Facebook and in the Chapleau Express, I really wondered if the community would pull it off, but suddenly there was the headline in the paper, 'Chapleau has done it again!'

And, Chapleau's newest family of mother, father and six children arrived to a wonderful welcome in the Lucien Pilon Hall at Sacred Heart church.  How did I know so quickly about the welcome? I followed it moment by moment on Facebook where photos were posted on an ongoing basis.  My thanks to Ludie O'Hearn for giving me permission to use some of her photos.

George Evans would not have doubted for a moment that Chapleau did it again. As many will recall, George arrived in Chapleau in 1961 to teach at Chapleau High School where he was also assistant principal until he retired in 1989. He moved from the community returning regularly and in due course returned to live in Chapleau permanently.

He wrote his article about why live in Chapleau after his return. I decided to share some of his comments because, even though I have been away now more than 25 years, Chapleau is still home. and George captured the essence of the community so well.

George wrote that "on a Spring day, there is a view from the overpass that takes the breath away. The eye ... follows the Kebsquahseshing River past the town, into the green wilderness of the Canadian Shield. You know that the water in this river flows into James Bay. The river was once, in the days of the 'gentlemen and traders of the Hudson's Bay Company, the only way in and out of this place. It has always been a distant, challenging place."

Chapleau's newest family. Father Sebastien Groleau on left. (Photo courtesy of Ludie O'Hearn)

He mentions the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, the lumber industry, the highways, and 'public assets" including the hospital, recreation centre, the schools, the civic centre with public library, one of his favourite places,and the water treatment plant and sewage system.

Then he proceeds to answer his own question "Why live in Chapleau?" and moves beyond the natural beauty of the location. It is here, in my view, that he captures the essence of Chapleau  -- its people, as the community's greatest resource.

The drummer broke down communication barrier. All children love drums. (Photo courtesy of Ludie O'Hearn)

George wrote: Chapleau's underlying sense of community attracts and holds the affection of its citizens. The town is still a town of very self-reliant people who care about each other," and if I might add, those in need in the wider community of the world like the newest family, refugees from another place.  

When the first citizens arrived in 1885 and following, they were not called "refugees" but they came seeking a better life for themselves and their families and carved a community out of the wilderness. Some of the descendants of those people have been assisting with the refugee project!''

He mentions the importance of volunteers in all aspects of community life, and pays special attention to the first Relay for LIfe in 2008, calling it a "spectacular instance" of the town rallying together to remember victims of cancer and to celebrate survivors.

"It is good to live on the solid granite base of the Canadian Shield among the lakes and forests and it is the people of Chapleau who make it so," George wrote.

See names below

If George was still with us I am sure he would have been involved in the refugee project, and have added it to his list of "spectacular" instances in the life and times of the community. I sure do.  George died in a motor vehicle accident in 2012, just before the 90th anniversary reunion of Chapleau High School, which he was helping to organize.

One of my favourite quotes is by Stephen Grellet, a Quaker missionary:  “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good things, therefore, that I can do, any good kindness that I can show a fellow being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”  The refugee project is a shining example of Grellet's comment. Congratulations and welcome to Chapleau's newest family!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photo info   George was deputy reeve of Chapleau in 1978 when the Chapleau Civic Centre was opened. He was MC for the occasion. From left are Lt. Gov. Pauline McGibbon, her husband Donald, George at podium, MJM and aide to the L-G. In back are Mrs. Ernie Gilbert and Rev. William Ivey.

J.T. Serre known for 'happy, jolly, good natured manner' at work and play in Chapleau

J.T. Serre, who arrived in Chapleau in 1886, was well known for the "happy, jolly, good natured manner"  he always maintained.

When he arrived Chapleau consisted mainly of a group of box cars in which lived a number of families as well as 'Old Chapleau' about where the Lady Minto Hospital was located on Queen Street, and where Richard Brownlee had his barber shop in a tent.

It didn't take these early pioneers long to lay out the community on the "other side" of the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks.

Mr. Serre first worked for the CPR but the Hudson Bay Company was looking "for a smart young man who could talk French and English",  so he moved there, according to a Chapleau Post article in 1930.

"Telesphore was everything on that job. He rassled barrels of pork, kegs of molasses, bags of flour, cases of salt pork and bags of beans around until an ordinary fellow would have been glad to call it a day. But not him".

Chapleau party Mr Serre standing on right

The article noted that after the work day, which ended when the manager said it did, Mr. Serre, along with the rest of the young bloods of the town" enjoyed a good time, and would head to the "Indian reservation, and there they danced to the music of an accordion or a fiddle until the wee small hours."

Mr Serre on right

The reservation to which the article refers would have been what is now generally referred to as the Memegos Property on the Nebskwashi River where the Hudson Bay store was located before moving into Chapleau. Just imagine, they would walk along the CPR tracks in the pitch dark, and cross the river about where the Highway 101 turnoff is to Timmins today. And return home!

In 1891 Mr. Serre started working  for J. McN. Austin and as hardware became more important, he was put in charge of that department. By 1905, when it became important to have someone as an undertaker, he took a course and assumed this position too.

After joining what soon became Smith and Chapple Ltd. he became hardware manager there.

 Top items in the hardware department included rifles and shotgun shells, toboggans, axes, canoes, tents, and tin and iron cooking wares. 

one department

He saw changes in the store from "flickering old coal oil lamps, acetylene lamps, then unsteady electric light to fine lighting equipment" by about 1930.

"From the old cast iron stove in the middle of the store on to the hot air furnace then to the modern hot water electric blower, thermostatically controlled blower now installed."

The article also noted that in the early years of business no one ever saw an apple, orange, grapefruit, any fresh vegetables, ice cream and other items seen in the store by 1930 or so.

"Fast freight trains coupled with good refrigeration played a great part..." in bringing them to Chapleau.

I wonder if anyone today can find Mr. Serre's name inscribed in the cement in the cellar of what is now Chapleau Village Shops.

The article notes that "some cement work was being done in the cellar of the main store ... and this young fellow scratched his name in the fresh cement and it's still there (circa 1930)" Maybe Lucy Bignucolo could take a look!!!

T.R. Serre, became known as the "Grand Old Man" of the store in work and play. 

Thanks again to Margaret Rose and Bobby Fortin for loaning me the Richard Brownlee Papers. A treasure of information about Chapleau.  My email is mj.morris@live.ca