A Saturday morning tilt between the Highland Storm U11 Cottage Country Building Supplies and Almaguin Ice Devils featured two top teams vying for the right to crown themselves first in the league.

Both teams brought their A-game – a busy opening period saw the two teams cancel one another out. Heading into the second, James Hamilton gave the Storm the lead, potting after a net front scramble to get the home side on the board. The score remained 1-0 heading into the final frame.

The Ice Devils continued to push hard during the third period, creating several scoring opportunities after pinning the Storm back. They maintained continued offensive zone pressure, but stellar goaltending from Mason Bishop, and a concentrated team defensive effort, halted the comeback attempt.

It was a gutsy effort for the Storm en route to a 1-0 win.

With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, and a competitive game in a hostile barn on a knife’s edge, Haliburton County Huskies netminder Brett Fullerton shut out all the noise, vacated his crease, brought a bouncing puck under control by the boards, gazed down the ice and let fly.

Time seemed to stand still at Lehigh Arena, home of the rival Wellington Dukes, Dec. 1 after Fullerton recorded an uber-rare goalie goal. Not only was it the first in Huskies franchise history, it’s believed to be the first league-wide in more than 11 years.

Officially timed at 19:40, the late tally was the icing on the cake for a Huskies outfit chasing its first-ever win at the venue. It secured a 3-1 result for the blue and white.

The Highlander caught up with Fullerton and several other Huskies players and staff members this week to reflect on the goal. The 19-year-old Ancaster, ON native said it wasn’t planned, noting his instincts kicked in once he realized there was a chance.

“All I remember is them dumping it in and so I skate out to meet the puck, look up and I notice their goalie was gone, so I just shot it. I didn’t even think about it, it kinda just happened,” Fullerton said. “The rest, after that, is a bit of a blur.”

The Huskies social media manager, Noah Giordano, spotted the opportunity before Fullerton had reached the puck. The teams were all square on the ice, five-on-five, after Dukes blueliner Dimitri-Alexander Tzaferis took a tripping call at 18:59. Chasing the game, home coach Kent Lewis brought his netminder, Jack Lisson, to the bench.

“I just said ‘shoot Fully, go for it’, and he did,” Giordano said. “It was insane.”

Captain Patrick Saini was skating back into his own zone when he saw Fullerton leave the net.

“I know he likes to play the puck, so I wasn’t thinking anything of it. Then I notice him look up and I just remember thinking ‘there’s no way he’s trying this right now’,” Saini said. “It’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen playing hockey. You see goalie goals on clips on Instagram and it’s cool, but to see one in-person is nuts.”

Huskies forward Lucas Stevenson had a front row seat.

“I was on the ice and he ended up shooting it up my side – the puck just flew up into the air. It almost hit the scoreboard they have coming down from the roof at centre ice,” Stevenson said. “It looked like it was going to miss just to the right initially, but then it swung left, bounced, and trickled in. We all went nuts.”

Isaac Larmand was watching from the bench with bated breath. He was following the play when one of the coaches called out, “wow, he’s trying it boys.” From his angle, it didn’t look like it was going to go in. Then it did.

“It was just an explosion, none of us could believe it,” Larmand said. “We were all just in awe, coaches included. For him to do that, with a couple of Wellington forwards hounding him, it was a one-in-a-million moment, for sure.”

As those on the ice celebrated, Stevenson told Fullerton to “run the train” and mark the occasion with the rest of the team. He skated by the bench, receiving high-fives from everyone.

After the game, he was presented with the puck, which he has since taped and added the result, date and opponent.

“That’ll be a nice keepsake probably for the rest of my life,” Fullerton said. “It’s definitely something really cool. Not something you ever think you’re going to experience as a goalie. I’m glad I did it… I think this is top of the list now as far as career accomplishments go.”

The teen noted it wasn’t his first attempt – he tried for one last season while playing Jr. B with the Chatham Maroons, and again a couple years back with the Ontario Hockey League’s Saginaw Spirit.

It was a special moment for head coach Ryan Ramsay, who has enjoyed a near 20-year career playing professionally and coaching junior without ever seeing a goalie goal in-person. He said he was delivering some final messages to some guys preparing to hit the ice when he saw the puck fly up into the air.

“I didn’t know who had shot it until it went in and everyone started going crazy,” Ramsay said. “His shot is unbelievable – it’s the hardest goalie shot I’ve seen, and he’s probably the best goalie for coming out and playing the puck [that I’ve worked with]. The kid has got a cannon. Good for him, it was a great moment.”

Fullerton’s family were able to share in the moment while watching the game live online. The goalie credits his heavy shot to his dad, Greg, who set up a shooting room in the family home for he and his brother while growing up.

“It definitely makes it more special knowing they were watching – I owe everything I have in hockey to them. They called me right after the game and said they had a bunch of family friends over at the house for the game, and everyone went crazy when I scored,” Fullerton said.

“This is something that will stick with me forever.”

Fancy spending an hour on a sailing adventure in the Philippines?

While the Haliburton County Community Cooperative can’t transport you there Dec. 13, you can hear all about Andrea Hagarty and Johnny Waite’s tale of their February 2023 trip at the Speaker Series at the fish hatchery Dec. 13.

The two travelled on a 74’ wooden Paraw through the Palawan Islands.

The Cooperative’s Barrie Martin said that in addition to sharing their experiences of sailing, snorkeling and sleeping in traditional bamboo huts on remote islands, Hagarty and Waite “will be telling the incredible story of how the provider, Tao Adventures, has become an integral part of the local economy, providing hundreds of jobs for the wonderful people from this extraordinary corner of the world.”

He said the two have promised to share images of spectacular scenery, stormy seas, and endless adventures.

Hagarty is the long-time proprietor of Bonnie View Inn on Lake Kashagawigamog. Waite is a coach, speaker and international event organizer, having created various adventure races in dozens of countries.

They started dating in February 2015 and, after agreeing to “keep it casual” ended up traveling the world together instead – and got married in December 2015 in Mendoza, Argentina after climbing Mount Aconcagua (the tallest mountain outside the Himalayas).

Since then, they have never looked back and, now retired, have founded The Golden Age of Adventure – a company devoted to creating travel experiences for others.

This is the second time they have been speaker series guest presenters.

“When we spoke about our Aconcagua climb, it took us right back to the mountain ourselves, so we are very much looking forward to revisiting this awesome sailing experience,” the two said.

Martin added, “the season is off to a great start with three very entertaining and informative presentations behind us. We are very excited for the months ahead. Maryam Monsef, Ian Tamblyn, Charlie Angus, Ted Barris, Ruth Walker, Jane Selbie, Wendy Wood and Sandi Luck will be our featured speakers.”

The series happens on the second Wednesday of the month, at 7-9 p.m. at the HHOA Fish Hatchery. Admission is $15 per person payable, at the door. If you would like to receive more information or have a story you would like to tell, please email barrieinthehighlands@gmail.com or call 705-457-7557.

A Minden Hills council decision to disband its committee of adjustment has been criticized by existing members, although the town’s mayor says they are within their rights to make a change.

Committee members have received a phone call and follow-up letter, and the township is advertising for new committee members.

Two of five publicly-appointed committee members – Bill Blakes and Dick Schell – spoke with The Highlander on Dec. 1, as did mayor Bob Carter.

Blakes said he had been on the committee seven or eight years, and dealt with hundreds of applications, with no problems. He added while he suspects the move is because the committee went against the town planner on a couple of recent files, he claims the committee members were not given a reason for the decision.

However, he said his interpretation of bylaw 2084 s. 623 is that there has to be supporting rationale for the disbanding of a committee. “There was no reason given at all.”

Carter said, “I think it’s important that we didn’t fire them. We disbanded the committee with the intention of appointing a new committee. Anybody who was on the old committee could apply to go on the new committee. We can restart the committee at any time. It’ll come down to seeing who else in the community is interested and qualified.”

Carter added when they set up the committee following the last election, they wanted to be able to review its work. “This is sort of like a one-year review, and so, we’re going to reappoint for the upcoming year type of thing.”

Asked if they would reapply, Schell, who said he has been a township volunteer for 43 years and a member of the committee for 27, replied, “no, once bitten, twice shy.”

The committee – for which council chooses members – is looking for people to serve from 2024-2026. The deadline to apply is Dec. 8. The committee considers applications for minor variances from the township’s zoning bylaw as set out in the Planning Act. A minor variance may allow property owners to use their land in a way that does not comply exactly with the requirements of the bylaw. The committee comprises the town planner and five community members.

Carter added the committee is quasi-judicial and its decisions are final unless appealed.

“I’m not saying that everything has to be copasetic and there’s never going to be a disagreement… but they just seemed to be going in the wrong direction, so we want to see if there is a possibility of doing something different. Having said that, in a small community, you can’t make this just business, it’s taken as personal.”

Blakes and Schell said they are taking it personal as word spreads.

Blakes said during meetings, the members look at information from the town planner but also from consultants representing the applicant. He said they had recently voted in favour of the applicants on a couple of cases.

Blakes, who worked for the City of Toronto for 28 years and believes he is highly qualified, said, “they (council) may have authority to do it (disband the committee) but it’s questionable. There is something wrong with this.”

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) is investigating the ongoing demolition of the Wigamog Inn property in Haliburton.

Shannon Simpkins, MECP spokesperson, told The Highlander the ministry received a complaint in August and has followed up, with site assessment ongoing.

“The ministry was made aware of demolition activities occurring at the Wigamog Inn through public concerns related to waste disposal activities and potential impacts to species at-risk. We are currently assessing site activities to ensure compliance with the applicable environmental legislation,” Simpkins said.

Asked for specifics on the legislation, what the ministry was investigating, protocols used to determine if rules had been broken, and the potential punishments, Simpkins said, “it would not be appropriate to speculate” until the investigation is complete.

Hailey Cole, Dysart et al bylaw officer, has been assisting with the investigation. She said all remaining demolition and removal of debris is on hold until the MECP wraps up, with the municipality aiming for a tentative completion date sometime in spring 2024.

The Wigamog has been in a state of disrepair for years. Aurora Group purchased the property in March 2016, announcing big plans for the site. A proposal posted to the company’s website included reopening the inn and the Moose Bar and Grill. There was also talk of a new residential development, featuring 180 condos, townhouses, and detached homes.

Years went by without any action. Dysart’s previous bylaw officer, Robert Mascia, reported carrying out multiple inspections of the property between 2019 and May 2022, when he issued a remedial action notice to Aurora Group outlining 47 infractions of the township’s property standards bylaw. Issues varied from downed power lines to smashed windows, damaged doors, and collapsed decks.

At a property standards committee meeting in fall 2022, Aurora Group said they intended to demolish the 37 buildings that make up the Wigamog site. They then missed a deadline to submit a demolition permit, which led to the committee, in October 2022, directing Dysart’s chief building official, Karl Korpela, to issue an RFP to have the site torn down.

Staff were still working on the RFP in March when Aurora Group started the demolition process. To date, around a dozen buildings have been taken down.

The Wigamog was discussed briefly among Dysart’s elected officials Nov. 28, with coun. Barry Boice saying he’s heard there are squatters living inside the building.

“People are telling me there are lights going off throughout the night… someone found canisters in there that look like [they store] propane, canned food,” he said.

Cole said this was the first she had heard of people illegally residing on the property, telling council she would follow up.

Deputy mayor, Walt McKechnie, told The Highlander he was pleased the MECP had gotten involved, believing it will force Aurora Group into action.

“When you bring the ministry into the playing field, the game kind of changes a bit. You’ve got to start playing by their rules,” McKechnie said. “This is a really big concern. Every week we’re getting calls, all of council. I’m running into people in the street, in the store, and they all want to know what’s going on with the Wigamog… I think a lot of people will still not be happy, because they wanted action yesterday, but they’re going to see action soon.”

Aurora Group did not respond to The Highlander’s request for comment.

With Christmas just around the corner – and many feeling the need to tighten their budget this year – SIRCH is bringing back its repair café Dec. 3.

The event takes place at the SIRCH Bistro this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This event is free and welcomes young and old to enjoy a day of tinkering, fun and an opportunity to learn new skills,” said Repair Café coordinator, Dianne Woodcock.

Repair Café helps people repair broken items, such as small household appliances, toys, electronics, pottery and more. A team of volunteers with expertise in making things work will be on hand to assess items and get them working again.

This will mark the fourth Repair Café SIRCH has held this year. All have contributed to keeping reusable items out of landfills and helping the environment, Woodcock said. It also benefits the community by connecting individuals with their neighbours, teaching them new skills and saving people money.

“SIRCH Repair Café wants to help reduce the mountains of waste that our landfills experience. We have gotten used to saying ‘oh, it’s broken, I’ll have to buy a new one’ when what we’d like is for people to say ‘oh it’s broken – I hope it can be repaired’,” said Woodcock. “Many of us have forgotten that so many things can be repaired and SIRCH Repair Café wants to change that”

If you have children, Woodcock said you won’t want to miss out on the tinker table. In partnership with the Haliburton County Public Library, the tinker table allows kids to use their imaginations and try their hand at fixing things. This week, the tinker table will feature maker toys including Snap Circuits and 3D pens.

The SIRCH Bistro is located at 49 Maple Ave., Haliburton, next to Emmerson Lumber. For more information call 705-457-1742 or email info@sirch.on.ca.