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J Join us on the sports desk every Monday and Friday durham .com Shawn Cayley Brad Kelly Brian McNair 2006 ♦ durhamretjion.com Brad Kelly Life isn't always fair It's true what they .say, isn't it, about life not being fair? Ask any family who has lost a loved one well before they should have. Be it a parent, spouse or a child, the grief and sorrow runs deep. It's hard to imagine what the Thompson Thompson family must be going through today, as they bury a son, husband and father, well before his time. Saturday was supposed to be a day of reminiscing about good times among the rugby community, as the Oshawa Vikings Rugby Club hosted an alumni day. But the day took a tragic twist, when Ian Thompson collapsed and died on the very field in Raglan named after his dad, Dave. He was just 38 years old. ; This isn't one of those weekend warrior warrior stories, where a man who is out of shape and hasn't played for years, tries to recapture his youth on a hot and humid day, trying to keep up with the young bucks on the field. Thompson Thompson had played rugby for the past 25 years. He was fit and in relatively good i shape. Complaining of a headache, he was ; in the process of being subbed off when he fell to the field during a game against Cobourg. Training staff from the Vikings and paramedics who were, members of the Cobourg team acted quickly, providing treatment right away. Unfortunately, they couldn't revive ; him. It was a tragic day for all who were there to witness everything unfold in front of them, watching helplessly from the sidelines and stands. Among those, in attendance at the game were his dad and young son Jack. It's the kind of story that gives you chills. "I don't know of anyone who could say a bad word about him," says Chris McKee, who was refereeing the game at the time, and had known Thompson for years through their passion for rugby. "He was friendly to everyone and was always happy and cheerful." Condolences to the family have been posted on the Oshawa club's website, where the words shock and sorrow are predominant throughout the tributes. It's a sad story that causes everyone to pause for thought on a number of different levels. We look at life in terms of the long range. The next holiday holiday together, the next game, the next family get together, birthday, anniversary, anniversary, graduation, etc. etc. We look to those types of milestones and envision everyone together, sharing in the joy, the triumphs and the heartaches that will unfold. It's hard to imagine a husbaind not being there to share those moments. It's hard to imagine young kids not having a dad there to share those moments. It hits a little too close to home if you are at a stage in your life where you can relate to that. Try to put some kind of perspective perspective on this story, and there isn't one. Indeed, life's not fair. A.J. Groen/Metroland Durham Region Media Group Mighty swing Once a Cougar always a Cougar BY BRAD KELLY Sports Editor TYRONE - The city of Chicago left a lasting impression on Jessica Khouri last year when she visited as part of an arts trip. Now she's hoping to have the same positive influence when she lands there again in August as part of the volleyball program at Chicago State University. The 18-year-old from Tyrone has accepted a full scholarship to the Division I school, and will leave Aug. 6 to begin what she hopes is a great four years of athletics and academics. "I really liked the coach," she says of the meeting that took place with coach Krista Newman during a January visit. "It was a really nice campus, and the coach had a good plan for the team and it looked like they were going to have a good season. season. What was important was that I had to like the coach I was going to be playing for." Khouri has been playing club volleyball since Grade 8, first with the Ganara- ska Wolves, and then finishing up with the Durham Region Volleyball Club. It wasn't until a couple of years later, when she saw some of the older players getting scholarships, that she decided that was the path she wanted to pursue. An e-mail she sent to Chicago State set the process in motion. "I e-mailed the coach to see if they needed a middle hitter," she says of the initial contact. A game tape was requested, requested, she complied, and a scholarship offer soon followed. She also received interest from schools in Augusta, Georgia and Albany, New York. While Khouri will be changing schools, _ A.J. Groen/Metroland Durham Region Media Group she won't have any difficult adapting to a Jessica Khouri of Tyrone has accepted a volleyball scholarship to Chicago new name. Though leaving the Courtice State University. She is a graduate of Courtice Secondary School. Secondary School Cougars, ironically enough, Chicago State is also known as "I'm more excited than anything," she honours secondary and elementary stu- the Cougars. says of leaving home to pursue history dents throughout the Durham Region. The program could use an influx of and phys-ed in Chicago. "It's going to be Jeff Watt, a teacher at the school who new talent like Khouri. During the 2005 a new experience, but I love to play vol- nominated Khouri, describes her as "in season the program went a disappointing j leyball." addition to being an exceptional member 2-28 overall, but is looking to start climb- Khouri left her mark at Courtice Sec- of our sports community, she is a caring, ing the ladder in the Independent Confer- . ondary during her four years there, culmi- compassionate, empathetic and diligent ence. nating in being named one of the school's young student." Khouri is up for the challenge of help- Faces of the Future, a Metroland Durham Qualities that will serve her well as she ing to turn the program around. ' Region Media Group publication that begins a new chapter in her life. Jessica Khouri leaving Courtice Secondary Cougars to join Chicago State Cougars Brad Kelly's column appears WHITBY - Kendal Eagles batter Chris Boyd made contact with this pitch during a game in Whitby against the every third Wednesday. E-mail: Canadians in Eastern Ontario Senior League action at Portage Park. Kendal posted an 11-4 win to improve to 3-7 hkelly@durhamregion.com on the season. Clutterbuck leads trio of drafted Generals Feisty forward is Wild about Minnesota VANCOUVER - Right-winger Cal Clutterbuck was the first of three Oshawa Oshawa Generals selected in the National Hockey League draft over the weekend. weekend. Clutterbuck, who had 011L career highs with 35 goals and 68 points for the Generals last season, was selected in the third round, 72nd overall, by the Minnesota Wild. The 5-foot-10, 196 pounder from Welland participated in the 2006 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Ottawa, where he impressed both in the skills competition and the game itself. He entered the draft as the 24th ranked North American prospect according to NHL Central Scouting. Defenceman James DcLory was the next General to Ire selected, taken in the fourth Cal Clutterbuck round, 98th overall, by the San Jose Sharks. In 67 games for Oshawa Oshawa this past season, he had six goals, 26 assists and 136 penalty minutes. De Lory, a 6-l'oot-5, 212 pounder, was drafted by the Generals in the first round, eighth overall, in 2(X)4, Peter Aston, an overage prospect for the Generals, was somewhat of a surprise surprise selection, taken by the Florida Panthers in the. sixth round, 155th overall. Aston, who wasn't drafted when originally eligible, posted career-high 16-36-52 numbers for the Peterborough Petes and Windsor Spitfires last season. He was acquired for a second round pick in 2(X)S, conditional on him playing in Oshawa. "It is an exciting but nervous time for potential draftees," Generals' coach/ GM Brad Selwood said in a press release. "1 am very proud of Cal, James and Peter and 1 hope that with further development and hard word, all three will at some point play in the National League." Green Gaels string together five wins in a row BY BRIAN MCNAIR Staff Editor DURHAM - It was a mixed bag of results for local lacrosse teams on the weekend, with the A teams losing and the B teams winning. The Jr. A Whitby Warriors had arguably arguably the most important game and, surprisingly, came up with the flattest effort, falling 16-3 in Six Nations to the Arrows. The Sr. A Brooklin Redmen also lost, but it was a much closer contest on Scott McMichaèl Minor Lacrosse Night in Whitby Saturday. The Redmen dropped a 10-9 decision to the first-place Brampton Brampton Battalion. The Jr. B Clarington Green Gaels and Sr. B Brooklin Merchants, meantime, appear to be heading towards playoffs on a roll. The Gaels ran their winning streak to five games with a pair of weekend wins, while the Merchants posted their third straight win and are now unbeaten in six after a 9-7 victory over the Mohawks Stars Saturday. Junior B: Although the Clarington Green Gaels went into Scarborough last night (after our deadline) with a chance of closing out the regular season with six straight wins, the result had no bearing on their first-round playoff series. The Green Gaels will open a best-of- five series in Mimico Sunday, either with an identical 14-6 record to the Mountaineers Mountaineers or one off that mark. Either way, Mimico holds home floor advantage, also hosting Game 3 next Thursday. Clarington will host Game 2 of the series next Tuesday at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, had yet to be scheduled scheduled as of press time. The Gaels took a pair of road games on the weekend, winning 7-4 in Akwesasne Saturday and 11-7 in Cornwall Sunday. Goalie Kyle Waldron took advantage of an opportunity to play out in the latter latter game, scoring the Gaels' ninth goal. Mike McCusker led the way with four goals, while Todd Collins had one goal and five assists. Brandon McFarlane was Saturday's top scorer with two goals and two assists. Junior A: The Warriors were hoping to all but wrap up first place in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Sunday, but now appear destined for second place after a lop-sided defeat. The Arrows jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first period and never looked back, moving into a share of first with the Warriors Warriors at 12-2. The teams have now split their two head-to-head matches, with the Warriors having won 12-9 in overtime back in May. Coach Jeff McComb, who had given his troops a four-day' rest heading into the game, said it was just one of those nights. ' "They (the Arrows) played that well, they really did, and we came out a little flat," he said. "It's just one game and any number of factors can go into one game." The Arrows, who have been particularly particularly hot of late, will host the Minto Cup national championships this year, and the Warriors still plan on joining them. If the two teams meet up in the OLA finals both will be guaranteed spots. "Obviously you have to make them the team to beat now," said McComb, adding, "I don't have any qualms in my mind about playing them again and being able to compete." Marc Jackson, Colin Baker and Shane Sargent scored the Whitby goals Sunday. Sunday. The Warriors anticipated the return of star player Zack Greer for last night's game against Orangeville (after our deadline). Senior A: The Redmen (4-6) played well, but not quite well enough to beat the Excelsiors (8-2-1) Saturday, as sniper sniper Colin Doyle finished off a six-point night with a late goal to snap a 9-9 lie. Shawn Williams, Steve Toll and Stephen Stephen Hoar suited up for the Redmen despite having attended the 4 p.m. wedding wedding of Rochester Knighlhawks team- SeeLACROSSE, page B9 V