Curling’s Al Ledgerwood among Sport PEI awards coaching finalists

The award recognizes coaches who have made significant contributions not just in the 2010 calendar year, but who have enjoyed significant accomplishments over a period of time. The three finalists are John Diamond (soccer), Al Ledgerwood (curling), and Mike Redmond (soccer).

 

Ticket details for the banquet will be announced shortly.

 

The following are short bios on the finalists, as released by Sport P.E.I.

A major contributor to the Island’s soccer success over a number of years, the efforts of John Diamond of Nine Mile Creek have almost single-handedly ensured a competitive presence at the senior level, and in 2010 he earned the ultimate reward for his dedication when his team, the Churchill Arms from Charlottetown, became the first ever Island club to win a national gold medal.

 

A fierce competitor who relishes the opportunity to embarrass the big boys, Diamond assembled a team in 2010 that he knew would be strong, consisting of some of the finest Island talent produced in the past ten years, with the likes of Jon Vos, Paul Craig and Brett Norton to name but three the cornerstone of the squad.

 

With a partisan home crowd cheering the team on, the team started brightly with wins over Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia, before a hard-earned tie with Quebec all but guaranteed a place in the gold medal game where they came up against a very good BC team, Gorge FC.

 

All those in the two-thousand plus crowd witnessed an historic afternoon for PEI soccer, as goals from the home-grown Norton and Ryan Anstey, and some fine goal tending from New Brunswick native Matt Lally, secured a fine 2-0 win.

 

It was a fitting reward for a coach who had been the architect of PEI soccer’s finest afternoon, and who has given so much to the sport in the province.

Charlottetown’s Al Ledgerwood is one of the most in-demand coaches in Island curling, with his expertise and knowledge of the game an invaluable resource for a number of teams competing at the national level.

 

With over 40 years under his belt as a player and coach, there is nothing Ledgerwood does not know about the game, and 2010 was arguably his finest in the sport, when he helped the Kathy O’Rourke Rink from the Charlottetown Curling Club win a national silver medal.

 

The make-up of the O’Rourke Rink was diverse, with the experienced Kathy and Tricia Affleck joined by Erin Carmody and Geri-Lynn Ramsay, two young curlers straight from the junior ranks.

 

It was Al’s responsibility to mould the team into a cohesive unit, and what a job he did, beginning in the spring of 2009 and working with each player, correcting weaknesses and establishing clear goals.

 

His efforts paid off, first with a provincial title, and then at the Scotties in Ontario, where his presence at crucial times, both on and off the ice, pushed the team to a magnificent silver medal that had the whole province glued to their TV sets.

 

Al was the perfect complement to this talented team, and his strong work ethic, passion and enthusiasm played a vital role in one of PEI’s finest sporting accomplishments of 2010.

 

Charlottetown’s Mike Redmond made UPEI history in 2010 when he became the first coach from the school to win CIS Coach of the Year honours for a second time.

 

It was fitting reward as he guided his Panthers soccer team to an excellent first-place in AUS regular season play, remaining undefeated throughout the season and conceding an incredible one goal in thirteen games.

 

Always stressing the fundamentals of hard work and team commitment with a strong desire to win, Mike has made the Panthers one of the best in the conference for a number of years, whatever the turnaround in personnel, and it is a given that his teams will always be challenging for the AUS title and a place at the CIS nationals.

 

Although the team was narrowly beaten in the AUS final, and fell short against Montreal at the CIS played on home turf, Mike’s respect amongst his peers saw him named both conference and national coach of the year.

 

In addition, he led his summer women’s team, the Pilot House, to a convincing provincial title and a very good 4^th place at the national championships held in Charlottetown. 

 

As well as his success on the soccer field, Mike and the Panthers have also been lauded for their strong community work, something which, along with their academics, is a valuable part of the whole UPEI women’s soccer program.