Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts gives motivational talks to youth at Brunswick House First Nation and Chapleau Cree First Nation

Dakotah Woods, who plays hockey for the Quebec Remparts, says that a highlight for him at his motivational talks was "seeing all the kids with smiles on their faces."

Dakotah, who was born in Chapleau and started his career in the Chapleau Minor Hockey Association returned home to speak to youth at Brunswick House First Nation and Chapleau Cree First Nation. 

The son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods, he is a member of Brunswick House First Nation.

 His talks focused on dedication, commitment and determination to achieve goals. "It's what you need, not only in sport but in life overall.

However, twice in our texting interview he mentioned the "special feeling" he got in seeing smiles on the youth's faces.

"It was a great experience for me. going back to my community and putting smiles on the kids' faces", adding that it is  "always good to share your story with others as well".

Dakotah signing rookie cards

Dakotah added: "It was a great opportunity for me to share my story with people back home, to let them know there's more out there than getting into trouble and going down the wrong road".

He was pleased with the response to his talks where he also signed Rookie cards for each of the attendees who also received a cap, puck and Quebec Remparts hoodie.

He plans to continue his talks with young people sharing "what's going on" from his point of view.

"I had a great time doing this. It was very good for myself as well as for the people listening and good for the people in the community. It's always s special feeling seeing all the kids with the smiles on their faces."

Dakotah with from left Christine Redbreast, Angela Saunders and Margaret Quakagesik at Brunswick House First Nation

His hockey career actually started in the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena when he was four years old with figure skating lessons. In an earlier interview, he explained that figure skating had helped him a lot. 

"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 with from left Tracy Martin and Peggy Domingue at Chapleau Cree First Nation

He played minor hockey in Chapleau until his family moved to North Bay in 2008. Before joining the Remparts of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League for the 2015-16 season, he played for the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

He also played several exhibition games with the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, so has the distinction of playing in two of Canada's major junior hockey leagues.

Dakotah is already preparing for the upcoming hockey season. He advised that he is in the gym five or six days a week, working on his weaknesses as well as his strengths. "Foot speed is the biggest weakness I am working on now".

"I am getting the proper rest and enjoying the rest of the time with friends and family before this upcoming season."

Dakotah added: "I thank both reserves for welcoming me to come and visit and hear what I had to say. I also thank everyone who has supported me. I wouldn't be where I am today without thrm".

His father Gordie extended thanks to Mervin Cheechoo who is helping Dakotah with his motivational speaking, and also to his agent Adrian Gedye for all his help. Gordie also thanked Dakotah's  personal  psychological and physical coach, Chris St. Marseille, who deals with these aspects of his son's game.

I extend my most sincere congratulations to Dakotah for taking time to chat with the youth and Brunswick House First Nation and Chapleau Cree First Nation, and yes, it is always a great feeling when we can put smiles on people's faces. All the best for the upcoming season Dakotah. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Reflections on Chapleau Moments: "With old friends, you've got your whole life in common"

Reflecting on having written Chapleau Moments for seven years now, increasingly I agree with a comment once made by country singer Lyle Lovett about old friends.

"You don't have to have anything in common with people you've known since you were five. With old friends, you've got your whole life in common." the singer wrote.

For example, when Kevin Walker contributed his "I'm so Chapleau" anecdotes, others commented, all having Chapleau in common, no matter where they may live now.

In 2015, after Dakotah Woods started to play for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, it resulted in much hockey talk, mostly about who (in my opinion) was Chapleau's greatest hockey player. 

As an aside Dakotah has visited Chapleau and met with youth from Brunswick House First Nation and Chapleau Cree First Nation... Watch for details!

That's one I wouldn't touch although several who played on teams I coached and managed in the 1970s would most assuredly be in the running -- "homebrew and otherwise" -- which incidentally was the title of a column written by my father Jim Morris in the Chapleau High School magazine circa 1932. How do I know as there was no byline on the story -- the late D.J 'Jim' Broomhead, a friend of my dad's told me so.

My personal favourite hockey player as a kid was Garth 'Tee' Chambers. 

When I was 'home' in 2015 for the launch of 'The Chapleau Boys Go To War' which I co-authored with my cousin Michael McMullen, it was a mini reunion with friends who still live in Chapleau and those who came home to show support -- yes, Lyle Lovett was right. As we chatted, I realized we had our whole lives in common.

And, thanks to Jim Hong, whose family has been running a business in Chapleau for nigh on to  100 years, we gathered at the 'Boston' about which at least one book could be written.

A highlight of my visit was the kindness of my lifelong -- at least since we were both five -- friend, Ken Schroeder, who took me on a nostalgic tour of backlanes, pointing out all the backyards and who lived there when we were kids.

Ken has an incredible memory, but I still have not quite figured out why he insisted he take my photo in the rhubarb patch in the backyard of the house where he was raised on Aberdeen Street.

I have been doing and teaching journalism and communications, one way and another close to 60 years now, and while doing a column on Ernest Lepine, reaiized that one of the stories I covered was the occasion when Mr. Lepine presented eggs to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at the CPR station in 1982, and I had photos of it. I covered it for CBC Television News, while living in Chapleau.

I am so pleased to have been able to do  a column about the refugee family which arrived in Chapleau this year, and be able to refer to comments made by the late George Evans about why live in Chapleau. Although George arrived as an adult, I am sure all would agree he was so Chapleau!

During the seven years that I am been writing Chapleau Moments, thanks to Mario Lafreniere, it has struck me time and time again, of the accomplishments of Chapleau people both within the community and beyond its borders  -- ordinary people from a community, carved out of the wilderness of Northern Ontario -- doing exceptional things in times of peace and war.  I have only scratched the surface in sharing their success stories.

In  2016, for example, Chapleau can be justifiably proud of Liz Howard, who became the youngest winner of the prestigious Griffin Poetry prize.

Congratulations Liz.

Thanks to Doug Greig for all his help over the years.

Finally, I am so indebted to my friends Margaret Rose (Payette) and Bobby Fortin for kindly loaning me the Richard Brownlee Papers which provide such meaningful insights into the early history of Chapleau. 

Incidentally, Mr. Brownlee became my first real friend before I was five years old. My mother Muriel E. (Hunt) Morris and I were living with Mom's sister Elsie and her husband B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt on Beech Street. 

I would wander over to Main Street and Mr. Brownlee's barber shop to visit. He would take me for drives in his car. When my grandmother Edythe Hunt came home in 1944 after serving as a nurse in England during World War II, she arrived with her arm in a sling. I couldn't wait to go and tell Mr. Brownlee that "Hitler had wounded her." She had sprained her wrist!

Thanks to all who have been in touch with comment, ideas, suggestions. Yes, we do have our "whole lives in common." 

Thomas Wolfe told us that you, and me, "can't go home to your family, back home to your childhood ... back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting all the time -- back home to the escapes of Time and Memory." Sorry Mr. Wolfe but I disagree.

Every blessing!  My email is mj.morris@live.ca

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!!!!

Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts wins 2015 annual Buckwheat Award

Dakotah Woods, from Chapleau, who is playing for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is the winner of the 2015 annual Buckwheat Award.

Dakotah, 17,  who now lives in North Bay, the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods, had the two most popular stories on The Michael J Morris Report, making him the award winner. He is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation.

He started his hockey career in Chapleau and before joining the Remparts, he played for the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

The Buckwheat Award is named after my beloved cat who died in 2009, shortly after I had started the blog.  Previous winners include Harry Pellow, Michael McMullen, Ian Macdonald, John Theriault, Larry Martel and Kevin Walker.

Congratulations Dakotah, and thanks for your cooperation --- and to your Dad too!!

Here are links:

DAKOTAH SIGNS

http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com/2015/09/dakotah-woods-of-chapleau-signs-with.html

CHAPLEAU's DAKOTAH WOODS  'UNREAL FEELING...'

http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com/2015/10/chapleaus-dakotah-woods-of-quebec.html

Dakotah Woods nominated for 2015 annual Buckwheat Award

Dakotah Woods becomes the first nominee in 2015 for the annual Buckwheat Award presented annually for the most popular story (ies) on The Michael J Morris Report.

In fact, the two stories about Dakotah, 17. who is playing for the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League are among the top stories ever in the blog's history.

And, they have been the top stories since they were posted.

Dakotah, the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordie Woods started his hockey career in Chapleau and last season played for the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hoekey League.

The Buckwheat Award is named after my beloved cat who died in 2009 shortly after I started the blog. Previous winners include Harry Pellow, Michael McMullen, Ian Macdonald, John Theriault, Larry Martel and Kevin Walker.

The winner will be announced at the end of the year.  Congratulations Dakotah.

Here are links:

DAKOTAH SIGNS

http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com/2015/09/dakotah-woods-of-chapleau-signs-with.html

CHAPLEAU's DAKOTAH WOODS  'UNREAL FEELING...'

http://michaeljmorrisreports.blogspot.com/2015/10/chapleaus-dakotah-woods-of-quebec.html

Chapleau's Dakotah Woods of Quebec Remparts 'unreal feeling making a dream become reality'

Shortly after Dakotah Woods signed to play with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, he posted on Twitter, "unreal feeling making a dream become reality."

A bit later, Dakotah, born in Chapleau in 1998, whostarted his hockey career when he was four years old at the Moore Arena with figure skating lessons, added, "Proud to announce my commitment with Quebec Remparts. Thanks to family, friends and everyone that helped me getting there."

After his father Gordon Woods told me that his son had taken figure skating lessons, 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 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 Elite Hockey Prospects web site says that he played Bantam AAA with the Sudbury Wolves in 2012-13, then joined the Nickel City Sons Midget teams until he joined the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League for the 2014-15 season.

Playing now with the Quebec Remparts, a major junior team,assures Dakotah a spot in the annals of Chapleau hockey history. I asked him how he felt about it.

His text: "Making Chapleau hockey history is great knowing that my name will always be there is just unreal. Good to know that the town I spent my childhood days knows what I have accomplished throughout the years."

I asked Dakotah how he felt when he signed with the Quebec Remparts: "Unbelievable feeling. All the hard work you put in growing up as a kid, whether it is working out all Summer, going to different camps and all the sacrifices you have to make. Making a dream become r eality -- hard work does really pay off in the end."

One of the camps that Dakotah attended was as a member of the Hit the Ice Program for two years.It is an annual Summer hockey program for aboriginal hockey players ages 16-19. Only 15 from across Canada are selected each year, and he was named team captain by the other players this past Summer

Dakotah also attended the Oshawa Generals camp and played in several exhibition games. In effect he has now played in games in the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Chris Dawson of  Bay Today explained in an article that Dakotah was a free agent invite this summer to the Oshawa Generals Main Camp. 

Mr Dawson quoted Dakotah: “Because I was overlooked (in drafts), I became a free agent which is the best thing for me because nobody owned my rights, I was able to go skate with a bunch of different teams and give myself a good chance at making that step into leagues like the OHL, QMJHL or WHL.”  (Western Hockey League out in my part of the country)

After Dakotah signed with the Remparts, Carl Tardif of Le Soleil newspaper wrote that he had become a new member of the team not a tryout player. "We intend that he remain with us," he quotes head coach Philippe Boucher as saying.

"The Quebec team had an eye on this player since the beginning of the summer, but its rights belong to the Oshawa Generals (OHL)" but was released by them so he would have chance to play with a major junior team this season," according to Mr. Tardif.

Dakotah, 17, is six feet four inches tall and weighs 205 pounds. His National Hockey League draft year is 2016.

Summing up all that has happened with his hockey career, Dakotah paid tribute to all who have helped him especially his parents Gordie and Isabelle.

"It is a family thing. "I'd like to thank both my parents for pushing me and making me the person I am today. Also family and friends for being behind me throughout this journey, all the money they put in the game of hockey for me is just crazy, all the fees, new equipment, travelling all over ontario, all the time they have put in for me. I can't thank them enough for what they've done for me since I've started," Dakotah said in a text message.

I think Dakotah's father summed up the feelings of his mother Isabelle, his sister Cedar and younger brother Hunter, in a Facebook message as Dakotah came on the ice as a member of the Quebec Remparts: "What a feeling. So proud. Watched him come out of dressing room and seeing the smile on his face was priceless," Gordie wrote.

On a very personal basis, I am so very proud too. I have known Gordie for over 30 years, and even though I now live in British Columbia, we have remained friends, and over the past few years he has kept me posted on Dakotah's progress. 

As Dakotah told me in our interview, "It's a family thing", and he is right. He is also right that we can make "dreams a reality".Dakotah and his family are proof positive of it.

My most sincere congratulations to all of you. Happy Birthday Gordie, and, to my good friend, Carol (Woods) Byce, Dakotah's grandmother, all the best and thanks for being my friend too. It was great to see Carol and Gordie when I was home in Chapleau.  

This column was done entirely with the exception of a phone call, using texting, tweeting and facebooking with links to Internet sites for information. An historic moment in my lifetime of journalism LOL...My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Dakotah Woods of Chapleau signs with Quebec Remparts of Quebec Major Junior Hockey League

Dakotah Woods

Dakotah Woods, who started playing hockey in the Chapleau Minor Hockey Association has signed to play in the 2015-2016 season with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.

Dakotah is the son of Isabelle (Saunders) and Gordon Woods, of Chapleau, now living in North Bay. He is also a member of Brunswick House First Nation.

Randy Russon of Hockey News North reported that Dakotah, a 1998 birth-date defenceman who played with the Elliot Lake Wildcats of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League as a 16-year old in 2014-2015, has signed with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Jr. Hockey League.

The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Woods, who hails from Chapleau, Ont., played in 58 of Elliot Lake’s 63 games in 2014-2015 and took a regular shift on a Wildcats team that advanced to the second round of the NOJHL playoffs. Mr Russon wrote.

Dakotah makes the move from the NOJHL and Elliot Lake to Quebec and the QMJHL after having a strong camp with the Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League. He signs with Quebec as an undrafted free agent.

Elliot Lake general manager Todd Stencill praised the work ethic of Dakotah in an interview with Mr Russon,

“You’re not going to find many players that will put as much time and effort into their off-season training than this young man did,” Stencill told HockeyNewsNorth.com.

Gordie and Dakotah