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SPORTS Newmarket player deals with mothers death Canes captain Sumsion working through tough times BY JOHN CUDMORE It would be difficult to fault New market Hurricanes captain Chad Sumsion if his game was a little bit off lately The 19yearold Newmarket Hurricanes centre has been dealing with the extended illness and death of his mother Bonnie who passed away Jan 13 just days after a family vacation in South America It was a display of his inner strength that enabled Sumsion to participate in every one of the Hur ricanes five games during a 12day lapse between his mothers death and funeral which was delayed until last Monday in Woodstock when her body was returned from Panama All the while the Hurricanes leading scorer managed to main tain his usual high level of play despite a heavy heart The eldest of her two sons Sum sion was in Grade 9 when Bonnie Sumsion was diagnosed with breast cancer It seemed she had won that battle only to discover last year the disease had returned in her bones and liver She shared the news with her family in May We knew it was more serious recalled Sumsion who will attend Bowling Green State University in reach my goals and dreams It was s important to her as it was to me Last season Sumsion wore a pink ribbon sticker on his hel met a tribute to his mother and her battle with the disease That personal tribute eventually spread through the team as this season progressed Many team members and officials travelled to Woodstock for the funeral CHAD SUMSION Newmarket Hur ricanes captain dealing with moth ers death Ohio in the autumn on a hockey scholarship Its definitely been on my mind this year Ive been think ing about it Sumsion who leads the Hur ricanes with 69 points in games entering todays contest against the Wellington Dukes 330 pm at the Ray Twinney Complex credits his mother with playing a significant role in helping achieve his scholar ship My mom helped me a lot with that stuff he said She was doing whatever she could to help me My mom would want me playing I think I was able to use hockey to take a couple of hours away from that stuff and get it all behind me This whole thing showed the good friends we are and how tight this team is Sumsion said Its a pretty good feeling on and off the ice While it happened the Hurri canes schedule didnt directly con flict with his family situation Sum sion suggests he would have done everything possible to attend the games I never thought about missing anything he said My mom would want me playing I think I was able to use hockey to take a couple of hours away from that stuff and get it all behind me For head coach Brian Perrin there was no hesitation when the Sumsion family request came ask ing Sumsion be able to leave the team for a week to be with his fam ily for the vacation For a situation like hes gone through Chads character strength has been phenomenal said Per rin who readily obliged knowing his top scorer and captain would be out of the lineup for several games It speaks volumes to the way his parents raised him I think hes been using hockey getting between the boards and doing something he loves as his way of dealing with it A winter vacation was a regular event for Sumsions parents This year was a chance for the couple and their two sons to spend a few final cherished days together She knew something could happen at any time said Sum sion who returned home while his parents finished their trip I guess she was thinking lets do it now while we can It was a lot of fun and a great week The trip really meant a lot to her so Im glad I was able to do it SPORTS SHORTS Novice Tigers slay Ajax Knights in final Malcolm Johnston scored twice to highlight a threegoal third- period outburst as the Aurora Tigers blanked the Ajax Knights 30 last Sunday in the novice doubleA championship game of the 52nd annual Preston Tournament The Tigers received shutout netminding from Matteo Orlandi and a single goal by Evan in capping a fivegame undefeated run in the tournament After posting a 201 record i in pool play Aurora blanked the Markham Waxers 30 in semifinal i action Tigers Hurricanes host Sunday matinees Junior A hockey fans can enjoy a doubleheader today But they will have to be quick on their feet The Aurora Tigers host the Mis- sissauga Chargers in an Ontario Junior A Hockey League contest at the Aurora Community Centre Game time is 230 pm Meanwhile die Newmarket Hurricanes host the Wellington Dukes in Central Canadian Hock ey League action at the Ray Twin ney Complex at 330 pm John Cudmore Wheelsca has tens of thousands of active listings and lets you search and compare multiple vehicles at once So finding the right car is easy And fast Wheels Your friend in the automotive business