Dancers to crack open the iconic Christmas tale

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December 9, 2022

LG-nutcracker 9 — Students from Skyline Dance Studio performed an excerpt from The Nutcracker ballet Dec. 3 at the Shindig. Photo by Lisa Gervais.

In many ways, Heritage Ballet’s The Nutcracker is synonymous with the Christmas season in Haliburton County.

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the iconic ballet returns to the stage of the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion for the 18h time this weekend, Julie Barban said Heritage Ballet is producing The Nutcracker this year but has worked with Skyline Dance Studio and utilized its dancers and space.

Rehearsals began around the Thanksgiving Day weekend. Meanwhile, the team dug out the costumes and props. Barban said they have made some updates to costumes “because it’s been a couple of years.”

She said Dani Smolen is making two new tutus, one for Sugar Plum and one for Dewdrop. There will be a lot of new dancers this year due to the roster at Skyline, who all want to do The Nutcracker, she said.

This year’s main character, Marie, is played by two dancers, students Chloe Morissette and Alexis Dacey. Alyssa Morissette is the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Sophie Longo is the Snow Queen. Michaela McCready-DeBruin is Marzipan and Avery Bullock leads the Chinese tea dance. Barban said she’s excited “and the kids are super excited” to bring the ballet back to a Haliburton County audience.

“Especially because we have so many new kids who are doing it this year, too.” She said they have 50 children and teens. In 2019, they had 83. “But this is better, 83 is a lot and we have 14 adults.” She and the dancers can’t wait to, “be at it again and be in public, whether it’s in the audience or up on stage. It’s just so nice to be out there dancing again. “A big thank you to Skyline for their support and using their studio for rehearsal space and promoting us as well.” For dates and times and tickets, go to onstagedirect.com

Curry Bishop remembered as pillar of Haliburton County community

By

Mike Baker

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December 9, 2022

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As one of the most influential people in the Highlands over the past 60 years, Curry Bishop’s fingerprints can be found across all four corners of Haliburton County.

Whether through his work as a land surveyor, his passion for developing property or his half century-plus commitment to various public causes, Bishop played a pivotal role in shaping the County. On Nov. 21, Bishop passed away at the age of 91.

Hundreds attended a celebration of his life at Sir Sam’s Ski/Ride Nov. 30. “Dad was one of a kind,” son, Greg Bishop, told The Highlander. “He got involved in so many things around town.

His legacy is one that is shared by many from his generation – they were doers, who made a difference. They helped build and develop this whole area.”

Born in Niagara-on-the-Lake in September 1931, Bishop was a boy when his family relocated to Haliburton in 1940.

They moved in with his grandfather, W.R. Curry, after his dad, Harry Bishop, enlisted in the war effort. Curry had a huge influence on Bishop’s life, passing down a ferocious work ethic that Greg said was unmatched.

In his 20s, he earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Toronto, taught math at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, worked for consulting firm Marshall Macklin Monaghan in northern Quebec, and eventually settled in Haliburton, purchasing FT Webster’s surveying business. He married Aldyth Sisson, and had his first daughter, Deb. He later had daughter, Shirley. “My favourite thing about my dad was his sense of adventure. We enjoyed a lot of them (adventures) over the years,” Deb Bishop said. He loved being outdoors, with hunting his favourite pastime.

Deb would accompany her dad on hunts, appreciating the time they got to spend together. Owning property on North Lake, the family would hike regularly, and enjoyed snowmobiling and ice fishing.

Remembering one of her dad’s quirks, Deb recalled being regularly dragged out in the family vehicle on cold winter nights for what they thought was an exciting reason. “He’d say ‘we’re going to see a man about a dog’. We’d head out, drive for a while and then, after he parked, he’d pull out his survey equipment.

A lot of times he’d be out there for an hour, and we’d lose sight of him. When he came back, he’d say ‘oh, the man doesn’t have any dogs today,” she said. Some of the best memories involve family trips south of the border, to properties the Bishops owned in Florida and Arizona.

Later in life, Deb would bond with her dad over their shared love for dancing.

Mayor Murray Fearrey knew Curry well, working with him on Dysart et al council in the 1990s. Elected as deputy reeve in 1992, Bishop served a single term in office, taking over as reeve after incumbent Chris Hodgson became the riding’s MPP in 1994. “He was thrifty, certainly very concerned about municipal finances and taxpayers’ dollars,” Fearrey said.

To his Rotary family, Curry was always seen as “Mr. Reliable.” “He was kind of like the elder statesman of Rotary,” said club president Ursula Devolin. “He had 56 years of perfect attendance and was our longest serving member… it’s going to be strange going back for regular meetings and knowing Curry won’t be there for a visit.” He maintained an active role in various initiatives, such as the annual car draw.

Curry would sell upwards of 1,000 tickets alone, with Devolin saying many area residents refused to buy tickets from anyone else.

Almost all of Greg’s favourite memories with his dad came while they were out in the bush, chasing down a kill.

“We had our best days together while out hunting… we had one special moment a few years ago, when he was 85. He wanted to score himself a big buck, and so we all came together to try and get him set up and sure enough, he got himself an eight-point buck,” Greg said. “I still remember that because he said ‘I’ll never shoot anything again. I’ll never hunt again.’ It was nice that I got to share that with him.”

TLDSB students testing below provincial average

By

Mike Baker

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December 9, 2022

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JQ - First day of school - 1 — TLDSB began its staggered start to the school year Sept. 8. File photo.

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) director of education, Wes Hahn, believes student learning is “moving in the right direction” board-wide after the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) reported an increase in local student achievement in the 2021/22 school year, though still down in many areas when compared to the provincial average. EQAO tests assess students’ literacy and math skills during Grades 3, 6, 9 and 10.

Testing resumed virtually in the spring following a two-year COVID-19 enforced absence. Seventy per cent of Grade 3 students across TLDSB are reading at the provincial standard, up from 67 per cent in 2018/19; 57 per cent are meeting the provincial standards for writing, the same as in 2018/19; and 56 per cent are meeting the minimum expectations in math, up from 53 per cent three years ago.

Despite these improvements, TLDSB students come in under the provincial average in each category. Seventy-three per cent of students province-wide met the minimum standards for reading, 65 per cent for writing and 59 per cent for math literacy.

There were some improvements at the Grade 6 level too.

Seventy-eight per cent of TLDSB students can read at a grade equity level, up from 76 per cent in 2018/19; 75 per cent are writing to the provincial standard, up from 73 per cent in 2018/19. Meanwhile, just 40 per cent of students are hitting provincial targets for math, down from 42 per cent in 2018/19. These were all down from the provincial average for reading (85 per cent), writing (84 per cent) and math (47 per cent).

At the high school level, 45 per cent of Grade 9s met provincial standards during math testing, down from the provincial average of 52 per cent.

Hahn noted it was difficult to compare these results from prior years since new de-streamed math courses, introduced by the province in September 2021, replaced the old applied and academic teaching practices.

In 2018/19, 57 per cent of TLDSB students enrolled in applied met provincial standards, up from the provincial average of 44 per cent, while 86 per cent of those taking academic courses met the minimum expectations, up from 84 per cent province wide. Grade 10 students who took the literacy test in TLDSB fared better than the provincial average. At the applied level, 57 per cent were found to meet provincial expectations, up from 50 per cent Ontario wide; 92 per cent of those enrolled in academic classes passed the test, up from the provincial average of 91 per cent.

Hahn noted an in-depth report on EQAO testing would be delivered at a Dec. 6 board meeting. “This is a good indicator of our baseline, where we’re starting. We have a lot of work to do, but in the elementary [level] we’ve seen four of our six areas improve, which is a testament to the staff and their commitment to learning through a very difficult time period,” Hahn said.

“We have a lot of work to do in our math area, across the board. We will continue to make this a focus moving forward.”

New board

There were four new faces inside the boardroom at the Lindsay Education Centre Nov. 22 as the new TLDSB board of trustees met for its inaugural meeting.

Heather Bradley, Tim McAlpine, Esther Childs and Deb McInerney were each welcomed by returning board member Bruce Reain, who is back as board chair for a third successive term.

He will be joined by familiar faces Louise Clodd, who will serve as vice chair, Haliburton County trustee Gary Brohman, Judy Saunders and Colleen Wilcox. “I look forward to working with everyone. It’s been a couple of tough years and I’m pleased with the job we did as a board, the strategic plan we developed and how we’re focusing on that. It’s our job now [to guide that work forward],” Reain said.

Animal rescues struggle to meet demand

By

Sam Gillett

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December 9, 2022

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SG-stray rescues — Don Kerr will provide free makeshift cat shelters.

Don Kerr hoists an orange cooler onto the table inside a building at Minden Cat Angels, a volunteer-run shelter outside the village.

It won’t keep drinks cool anymore but it will help stray cats stay warm this winter, with a hole cut out of the side and a dry bed of straw inside. It’s a strategy Kerr will use throughout the season to help Minden cats once his location is at capacity. “I can’t take them all,” he said. “But I can offer [people] at no charge a shelter box as long as they’re willing to supply cats with food and some warm water during the winter.”

Kerr operates one of the only shelters for cats in Haliburton County and is expecting to have to turn cats away this fall as the weather gets colder. “I limit at 18 in here,” he said. “And that’s pushing it because I only have, right now, maybe two volunteers coming every week.” Cats such as George and Oreo lounge in Kerr’s heated shelter, or take strolls along elevated catwalks. It takes hours of work a week to keep up with their needs.

One way Highlanders can help, Kerr said, is to donate coolers.

Kerr will turn them into single-home dwellings, that residents can put outside to help keep stray cats alive during the deep freeze. There’s always a need for adoptees too. Kerr expects an influx of cats due to one of the only other shelters in the Highlands being forced to shut its doors to new cats. Cats of Paint Lake’s property is likely to be sold.

Operator Heather Deveaux said the non-profit is in a “holding pattern.” The organization’s board will decide what the future could look like at an upcoming board meeting. “I kind of feel guilty because I’ve had to sort of step back when I know the need is so great,” Deveaux said. “But on the other hand, on a personal level, it’s gruelling. It’s exhausting. It’s heartbreaking.”

She said running a shelter, especially a small volunteer effort like Cats of Paint Lake, means no days off and lots of late-night animal hospital visits, long drives and sad moments with sick animals.

While she can’t accept new cats, her phone is still ringing. “I still get phone calls whether it’s from other rescues or from people who’ve seen animals in the community or people who need to surrender their animals,” she said. “What we are doing still is networking because we spent a lot of time connecting with other rescues.”

Deveaux urged Highlanders to consider getting stray cats spayed or neutered, a service many veterinarians will conduct on stray cats for lower rates. She said Cats of Paint Lake was in the process of writing grants that might have funded low-cost spay and neuter pop-up services in the Highlands. “That’s one of the big reasons that people don’t spay and neuter is that it’s extremely expensive,” she said.

While feral cats are more likely to multiply on their own, they aren’t the only animals seeing an increased need for shelter.

Kristyn Elyse, who operates Snowflake Meadows, a dog boarding, rescue and re-homing centre, told The Highlander in the summer that the need for dog foster families and adoptees has remained high. While she isn’t accepting new dogs at the time, this summer and spring she said she was experiencing an unprecedented demand for her services.

“Kennels are full, shelters are full, we are experiencing a severe foster shortage because fosters are volunteers: people. The same people that also want to travel and see their friends and family now that restrictions are lifted,” she said in an email.

She said she noticed a halt to the number of folks willing to act as foster homes for dogs, meaning she was at her limit with dogs at Snowflake Meadows. “I don’t think any rescue was prepared for the abrupt halt that occurred in March and came to a complete standstill in April. Ask any rescue and they will tell you they have never seen it like this,” she said. Both Kerr and Deveaux said they have numerous stories of Highlanders finding close friends in their new adoptions. Deveaux added that while she currently isn’t accepting cats, the Highlands’ support “blew her away.”

Once, she found out a cat’s surgery was crowdfunded while the veterinarian was operating. “People care about these animals, and it’s not their fault that they’re out there,” Deveaux said. “It’s irresponsible pet owners or sometimes [the animals] escape. Of course, if they escaped before they’ve been fixed, that’s a problem.”

To donate to Minden Cat Angels or find out more about their cats, visit Minden Cat Angels on Facebook.

Population growth twice the projected rate

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 9, 2022

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LG-growth — The Judson family. Submitted

The Judson family had just finished a three-month trip across Canada, returning to city life in Windsor, when they realized they needed a change. Kathy Judson said the big smoke was no longer a good fit for their adventurous lifestyle.

They wanted access to the outdoors more often and to do the sports they loved in nature. “Haliburton is the perfect place for our family as it offers access to raw and beautiful nature. Yet, despite the guaranteed ruggedness that this land provides, the Haliburton area is also heavily woven with culture and a tightly-knit community. I couldn’t be happier with our choice. I feel like we have it all here,” Kathy says.

The Judsons are just some of the estimated 2,500 newcomers who have descended on the Highlands in recent years, blowing out projected population figures. Briefing the new County council at a Nov. 23 meeting, director of planning, Steve Stone, said the Highlands had exceeded its growth rate by 10 years. The province last approved an official plan for Haliburton County in 2015.

At that time, the finance ministry predicted the population would grow by more than 4,300 people between 2014 and 2036, bringing it to approximately 21,420 residents. But as of the 2021 Census, it’s estimated the Highlands population has ballooned by 2,500 people in five years, nearly a 14 per cent jump since the last Census, and bringing the overall number of inhabitants to 20,571. In other words, we need only an additional 849 newcomers to put us at 2036 projections.

“We are growing at probably twice the rate that we expected to grow,” Stone told The Highlander in a follow-up interview after the council meeting. He attributed that in part to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact on housing

That 2015 official plan also indicated the projected growth would require building 1,910 additional housing units, mostly medium and high density.

It also said it would necessitate creating 1,770 new jobs by 2036. Stone was asked if that meant the County needed 3,820 new units and 3,540 additional jobs, but he said it isn’t that simple. The firm they hired to do a development charges study – Watson and Associates – has identified that the County needs its population growth projections to be updated. Staff will be presenting early in the new year to the new council on the status of this project in order to get their direction on whether to proceed with the update.

So far, all the County has is the 2021 Census data. It does not yet know how that will translate into numbers of units and jobs that will be needed to meet the growth. If council so directs, Stone said the consultant will be asked to look at, “over the next 10 years, how many people are we expecting to come in … and how many units will that translate into based on the average family size?”

He said the risk of doubling projected population growth is running out of available land for development, particularly draft approved and shovel-ready land.

“For example, let’s say you’re anticipating needing 100 units over the next 10 years, and you plan accordingly … bring in an area of land that will help you get those 100 units, subdivide, draft approve, zone, service, and, voila, you have 100 units and they all go over that 10-year period. “But, if you’re growing at 1,000 units, you can see how you’re not going to have enough draft-approved, serviced, shovel-ready, land in the system. Now you’ve got 1,000 families who are wanting to come and invest in your community and you just can’t accommodate them.”

Bill 23 becomes law

Stone said the unprecedented growth and shortage of shovel-ready land is why a development charges study and a growth projection model are so important.

“(To) make sure our growth projections are accurate enough that we can actually bring land in, get it ready for development and, ultimately, have it so that those houses are built in a timely manner.” He said the challenge for planning departments is to make approvals as efficient as possible.

Asked about the More Homes Built Faster Act, which was passed Nov. 28, Stone said it is needed to meet some of the housing challenges in southern Ontario. “We should be looking at whether the intent of the Bill, which is more affordable housing built quicker, can be facilitated in this community? If so, let’s find a way of getting more housing opportunities approved now.”

Missing man found deceased

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 7, 2022

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The Haliburton Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said at 6:45 p.m. tonight (Dec. 7) that missing person, Joseph McGee, 89, of Minden Hills Township had been located deceased.

“Family members wish to express their heartfelt thanks to the community for their tireless efforts in the search for Joseph McGee,” OPP said.

“The OPP also wish to thank both the community and our media partners for their assistance in this matter.”

Please note: The paper edition of The Highlander, due out Dec. 8, has the man still listed as missing as the paper went to press at 3.30 p.m. Dec. 7. The OPP release was issued more than three hours later.

Search continuing for missing Minden Hills man

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 6, 2022

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By Lisa Gervais

On Tuesday morning (Dec. 6), citizens joined the OPP in searching for a missing Minden Hills man.

Joseph McGee, 89, was last seen driving a 2015 dark green Subaru Outback on Saturday, Dec. 3 in the Minden area.

John McNeil of Cottage County, All Ontario Road & Weather Watch on Facebook put out the call for volunteers.

They assembled at the Minden OPP detachment at 10 a.m. Dec. 6

“Just trying to locate him … making sure he’s safe,” McNeil said as helpers pulled into the parking lot.

McNeil said he thought about doing something Dec. 5 but on the morning of the 6^th, “when I saw that this was the third day, it’s getting vulnerable, right?”

None of the search party knows McGee but recall seeing him around town. McNeil said he was told McGee was last seen on Rice Road Sunday night. “He pulled into a driveway so they called their neighbour, by the time they got out, he had backed out and was gone so they did search the property around that area Monday and no sign of him.”

OPP acting detachment commander Rob Flindell thanked the searchers for coming out. He noted they were not acting under OPP jurisdiction and advised them to not overstep boundaries.

“This is solely on your own accord. If you’re wishing to go out and drive down area roads that would be great.”

Flindell said McGee was last seen heading south on Hwy. 121 from Rice Road.

“Right now, Mr. McGee is mobile. He has his car. He could literally be anywhere. Like at this stage of the game, he could be in Quebec for all we know.”

He is in the OPP system, so if police interact with him or his car, an alert will pop up. On Monday, they used an OPP helicopter for the majority of the day “checking some of the trails, checking some of the hydro lines … checking all of the area roads.”

Flindell said it is a vast area, from Haliburton County south to Kinmount, the City of Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough County. “There are a lot of offshoots, a lot of trails, a lot of roads and you could be turned around in any one of those and potentially stuck.”

He said OPP are concentrating their search by air and vehicle.

McGee is described as 5’10” tall, balding with short grey hair, grey beard and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing black boots with no laces, blue jeans, a white sweatshirt with the word “cutty” on the chest and a blue collared shirt underneath, a blue fleece jacket with a gold band across the chest, and an Ottawa Senators ball cap. The license plate of the car is BTSY 146.

“Hopefully, we can come to a positive resolution for the family on this,” Flindell said.

If you have had any contact with Joseph McGee, or have any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

Transition the theme of this year’s Shindig

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 1, 2022

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With Dame Beatrice retiring, this year’s Haliburton Highlands Christmas Shindig is transitioning. Victoria Bingham said she and Amy Brohm will be the “genial cohosts” on a night (Dec. 3) that sees a return to the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion after a two-year hiatus. The Shindig was shifted to the Haliburton Legion last year to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions and an online broadcast.

“It should be similar to what people remember,” Bingham said. “Obviously, Mike Jaycock is not involved (he is an advisor) so there’s no Dame Beatrice but it’s Amy and I and it will still be fun.” Bingham said an organizing committee has been assembled to take over the creation of the Shindig this year. “It’s been interesting,” she said.

“Obviously, there has been a changeover at Fuel for Warmth as well. Jennifer Hughey and Sue Waite are the new folks over there who’ve taken over from Joanne Barnes and Wendy Ogilvie so it’s been a transitional year.”

Bingham said the format will be similar to years past, with “great acts.” She added there are new characters. There will be snacks at intermission and raffle draws of donated prizes. “Everything we raise is for Fuel for Warmth, and supporting the clients that need emergency heating.” Meanwhile, Jaycock, who has played the character of the beloved Dame Beatrice in the Shindig, said his alter ego is “having a real heartache. She will miss, so very much, being a part of this lovely show. Working alongside so many talented volunteers and entertainers was so rewarding and such fun.

“There’s nothing better than the rush you get from the laughter and applause of a live audience. Seeing so many happy faces and raising money for an important cause is the ultimate payoff for the many hours put into preparing the show. “Dame Beatrice is so very delighted the show will go on and wishes the troupe every success, and sends her love to all her wonderful ‘chipmunks’ in Haliburton County.”

Bingham said this year’s team includes: Jack Brezina, Barb Murphy, Heather Smith, David Mills, Dan Smith, Tammy Rea, April Kovacs, Mark Tomlinson, Sean Pennylegion, Joanne Barnes, Beth Johns, Norris Turner, Betty Mills and Shawn Smandych. Tickets are $30 and available at UpRiver in Minden and Haliburton.

Huskies impressive through first half of season

By

Mike Baker

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December 1, 2022

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Cobourg Cougars vs Haliburton Huskies — MINDEN, ON - NOVEMBER 19: Ty Collins #77 of the Haliburton County Huskies shoots the puck during the third period at the S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena on November 19, 2022 in Ontario, Canada (Photo by Chris Harris / OJHL Images)

It’s been a half-season to remember for the Haliburton County Huskies who, at the midway point of the 2022/23 OJHL campaign, are sitting pretty in second place in the South/East Conference and remain in the top 12 ranked junior hockey teams in the country.

Through 27 games, the Huskies own a record of 19-5-2, plus one tied game. They have the best defensive record in the league, giving up 53 goals – five fewer than the top-ranked Toronto Jr. Canadiens – while maintaining a top-five offense.

Team captain Christian Stevens said he’s proud of the Huskies’ performance through the opening months of the season. “I think we can be pretty happy with where we’re at. We’ve got one of the deepest teams in the league and we’ve put ourselves in a great position… we have one goal this season, and we’re really fighting for each other out on the ice,” Stevens said. “It’s a good time to be a Haliburton County Husky.”

In the middle of a five-game road trip, the Huskies saw off the Toronto Patriots Nov. 26, recording a 4-2 win. They followed that with a narrow 2-1 defeat to the Cobourg Cougars Nov. 28.

Things started well in Toronto, with recently-acquired forward Luca Rea scoring his first goal as a Husky at 9:32 of the opening period, assisted by Sam Solarino and Declan Bowmaster. The Patriots tied the game with time ticking down in the first.

Defenseman Isaac Sooklal re-established the Dogs’ lead in the second after a neat play from Stevens and Patrick Saini. That trio combined again later in the period, with Saini tickling the twine for the 18th time this season.

The Patriots rallied in the third, making it a one goal game at 11:48 through Julian Bianconi. The fightback was short-lived, though, with Ty Collins adding a fourth for the Huskies at 13:00 of the final frame, set up by Saini and Sooklal. “It was a tough game – the first period was pretty close, but we started to take over in the second, got a few goals and put them back on their heels,” Stevens said.

“We got back to playing how we usually play, kept things simple and finished the job in the end.” Stevens reserved special praise for Sooklal, who is having a stellar final season in the OJHL having logged 31 points in 26 games from the blueline. “I’ve known Isaac forever, so I’ve seen the skill he’s got since we were young. Things are finally coming together for him this year and he’s stepped up in a big way. He’s one of the best defensemen in the league. Hopefully it keeps going [well] for him,” Stevens said.

The loss to Cobourg was a tough one, Stevens said. The Huskies outshot their opponents 42 to 23, but still found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-1 result.

Solarino scored the Dogs’ lone goal in the third period, assisted by Jack Staniland and Boyd Stahlbaum, after Tommy Karmiris and George Krotiris had given the Cougars an early 2-0 lead. The hometown team is preparing for a double-header this weekend, playing the Lindsay Muskies Dec. 2 and the Mississauga Chargers Dec. 3.

They will be back on home ice Dec. 11, when they host the Cougars.

Spooner an ‘old head’ between Huskies pipes

By

Mike Baker

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December 1, 2022

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Like most who play the position, Haliburton County Huskies netminder Aidan Spooner had to learn to love being a goalie.

The six-foot, seven-inch native of Maple, ON has been a huge hit with the Dogs since signing in October. Across 13 games, he has eight wins, three shutouts, a goals against average (GAA) of 2.12 and an impressive .930 save percentage.

He and rookie teammate, Tyler Hodges, have backstopped the stingy Huskies to second place in the South/East Conference, conceding just 53 goals – the fewest in the league. Reflecting on his junior hockey career in a recent interview with The Highlander, Spooner admitted all his accomplishments, including a season playing for the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs, could be traced back to a “spur of the moment” decision 13 years ago.

“I started playing organized hockey when I was seven years old. My dad was my first coach… our team didn’t have a goalie, so he threw me in net for our first game and I got a shutout. I kind of just rolled with being a goalie from that point forward,” Spooner said.

The 20-year-old featured for the Vaughan Kings during his formative years, going on to play AAA with the Toronto Marlboros, York Simcoe Express and Barrie Colts. He made a name for himself on the minor circuit and was expected to be a first-round pick in the 2019 OHL U18 priority selection. The Frontenacs drafted Spooner first overall. He attended camp that summer but didn’t crack the opening night roster.

He signed with the Caledon Golden Hawks of the Provincial Junior Hockey League on the understanding he’d be playing major junior the following season. Then COVID-19 hit, shuttering hockey for over a year. Spooner said he treated the layoff as if it were an extended off-season, working with Frontenacs coaches virtually to improve his game.

That paid off when, on Oct. 9, 2021, he made his OHL debut against the Mississauga Steelers.

The young goalie finished the season with 19 appearances, including 10 wins, a 3.59 GAA and .885 save percentage. He said Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish is the best player he’s faced, but reserved special praise for Frontenacs teammate Shane Wright, who was recently drafted fourth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL entry draft. “I had a lot of very skilled teammates in Kingston, but Shane definitely stood out… he was given exceptional status for a reason – he’s an unbelievable hockey player,” Spooner said. “I’m really proud of him and know he’s going to have an incredible career in the NHL.” Spooner landed in Haliburton early this season after an ill-fated spell south of the border with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Suffering from homesickness, he returned to Ontario after playing one game with the United States Hockey League outfit. It was Huskies’ winger Ty Collins, a former teammate, that helped bring the big-bodied goalie to the Highlands. “I feel very welcomed here. I get a peaceful vibe in Haliburton County. I’m excited to finish my junior hockey career here,” he said.

“We’re one of the top teams and we can see that in the way teams are always amped up to play us. We just need to make sure we’re taking things day by day, working hard and maintaining our focus. It’s all about putting ourselves in the best position possible to win.”