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Message From Niagara Catholic
Buses are cancelled but schools are open today (Fri., Feb. 4). Most main roads are reported cleared, but if you have to travel today, please take your time and be safe. If you're keeping your children home, please report their absence through School Messenger.
By Bernie Puchalski - January 28, 2022
The Saint Francis basketball community’s hopes of hosting the 2022 Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations boys AA basketball championships March 7-9 in St. Catharines have been dashed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Thursday, OFSAA announced it would be cancelling its winter championships scheduled for February and March. It will be the second year in a row that OFSAA has cancelled boys basketball and girls volleyball championships and the third year that the pandemic has prevented OFSAA from staging boys and girls hockey championships. Denis Morris was set to host the boys AAA championships March 23-26 in St. Catharines.
By Bernie Puchalski - January 28, 2022
Also cancelled are alpine skiing, nordic skiing, snowboarding and curling. Earlier OFSAA announced there would be no swimming and wrestling championships in 2022 because the host organizing committees for both events withdrew and no replacements stepped forward.
“We are thankful for the commitment shown by our convenors and host organizing committee members who volunteered their time during the planning stages of the OFSAA winter championships and festivals,” OFSAA president Carolyn Chesney said in a statement. “Despite this cancellation of February and March OFSAA events, we again wish to reiterate our continued support for sports and activity for the benefit of students’ physical and mental well-being. School sports play a vital role in education and in the lives of students.
Letter to Parents & Guardians:
By Bernie Puchalski - December 8, 2021
It was obvious to anyone watching that Dylan Maltby loves being back on the court with the Denis Morris Reds senior boys basketball team.
“Oh my God. It has been so long. I haven’t played basketball in two years other than playing outside for Pelham,” the 12B student said Wednesday, after leading the Reds to a 57-52 victory over the visiting Blessed Trinity Thunder in Niagara Catholic Athletic Association action. “This is our second game back and I love being back on the court. It has been awhile.”
The 5-foot-11 point guard enjoys playing for the Pelham Panthers but nothing beats suiting up for your high school.
“It is very, very important,” the 18-year-old said. “It is a completely different atmosphere. There’s more people watching and you see your team at school every single day.”
Mike Ukiomogbe and Maltby are two key pieces to the Reds’ roster.
“He (Maltby) is an incredible leader and you can count on him to not only to put the ball in the net but to get his teammates going,” Reds head coach Michael Doodeman said. “He’s reliable and he steps up when we need him.”
Maltby is a more than capable point guard but he likes to look for his shot.
“One hundred per cent. I like the midrange.”
He makes room for himself with a nice fadeaway jumper.
“I got that from my brother. He is the one who taught me that,” Maltby said.
His brother, Devon, played with the Thorold Golden Eagles.
By Bernie Puchalski - November 22, 2021
Denis Morris rower and St. Catharines Rowing Club member Cait Whittard won the junior women’s single at the recent National Rowing Championships. Kevin Light photo.
Cait Whittard has had a most excellent fall.
The Grade 12 student at Denis Morris kicked off her amazing autumn by placing third in the under-19 women’s single at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.
The St. Catharines Rowing Club member then put her name on the dotted line by committing to row at the NCAA Division 1 level for the University of Tennessee.
Four days after that major moment, Whittard captured the gold medal in the junior women’s single at the National Rowing Championships on Elk Lake in Victoria, B.C.
“I thought my race went very well,” the 2021 CanAmMex team member said. “It seemed that everything I had practiced had come together at the right moment. I was very happy where I ended up finishing overall and in the junior category.”
Whittard came out of the time trial ranked 14th in the overall standings and she ended up ninth. In the junior category, she went from fourth in the time trial to national champion.