Cuddy Shark: Canes’ ‘Leaky’ tribute fitting

It is testament to the impact one person’s life can have on others when the hometown junior hockey team dedicates a game night to that individual’s memory.
It certainly is a rare occasion when this happens, unprecedented, in fact, for the Hurricanes in their existence going on two decades. Although it is possible shady memory at this keyboard may prevent recollection of other teams locally doing so over the years.
Such significance is to be recognized this evening when the Newmarket Hurricanes and Seguin Bruins clash at the Ray Twinney Complex in a Provincial Jr. A Hockey League contest.
Aside from putting finishing touches on yet another a second-place finish in the North Conference standings, it would simply be one more night — the final home game for the Hurricanes, in fact — to check off the regular season schedule.
The contest takes on added importance, however, for the recognition it will bring to the Sylvia Claydon Memorial Fund, a foundation set up in memory of the Newmarket resident who died suddenly Dec. 21. She was 44.
Among the beneficiaries of the fund is the Central York Girls Hockey Association, where Ms Claydon served for five seasons as coach and trainer.
Her daughters, Kristin and Kelsey, play in the organization, which figures to be well-represented in the stands this evening by the membership of 640 and their families.
Those who knew Ms Claydon, a coach for the Aurora Panthers peewee A team at the time of her death, value the impact she had on others.
“She was the most positive and influential person I have ever met,” said close friend Kate Lewis, a teammate in a women’s three-on-three hockey league, who initially encountered her as an opponent on the softball field years ago. “There are so many people left behind who are better people as a result of meeting Sylvia Claydon.
“Sylvia touched so many people and always made you feel good. She made you feel important, special. She always had a smile. She always had time for everybody else.”
The league in which Ms Claydon played in Newmarket for 11 seasons is introducing an award for its most influential player, a fitting salute to her character.
‘Leaky’, as she was known to friends making a play on her maiden name, Lycklama, would be smiling knowing the proceeds are going to the girls’ hockey program to assist in helping players experience and expand their roles in the sport. In addition to tickets sales, there will be a silent auction and wrist band sales sporting her catch-phrase, “Life Is Good”.
“Sylvia always wanted to see more girls involved in coaching, refereeing and even to get the opportunity to play hockey, whether they could afford it or not,” said Rick Smith, vice-president of the Panthers, the girls’ rep program. “You can be sure there will be a sea of blue sweaters in our section.”
In addition to a golf tournament in June, National Training Rinks in Newmarket will operate a girls hockey camp in her memory this summer.
Ruling the roost
Something has to give — on both sides, in the event of a tie — when the Aurora Tigers host the Hurricanes tomorrow night on the final weekend of the regular season.
Both teams will be shooting for the final notch on their shooting irons in terms of claiming series wins against all opponents in the North Conference. In the case of each team, series wins over the conference’s other five teams are already assured.
At the moment, the arch-rivals are square at two wins each in the five-game regular season.
Game time at the Aurora Community Centre is 7:30 p.m.
Reaching 30, again
Not to be overlooked is the remarkable achievement of the Hurricanes franchise for reaching 30 wins in a regular season for the eight consecutive season and the 11th time in 12 winters.
Try to name another franchise with such consistency that comes with 14 straight winning seasons.
“We went through a total rebuilding this season,” said head coach Jim Wells, whose team posted an 11-2 run in January, and has posted six straight wins. “Thirty wins was our goal and where we said we wanted to be. We set that target at the start of the season.”
The Tigers, who clinched their fourth consecutive regular season title last weekend by running their win streak to eight games, are playing for pride and preparedness for the playoffs, which they will open Feb. 10 against the highest finisher from among a group of teams including the Bancroft Hawks, Bramalea Blues or Oshawa Legionaires.
“It’s an accomplishment, but nothing to write home about,” said head coach Jerome Dupont of the first-place finish by his team, which reached the league semifinal last spring before falling in seven games to the Georgetown Raiders.
The Hurricanes, who complete the regular season Feb. 8, will open the following night, also at home.

Just Jawin’ ... The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team has lost four straight games and slipped from first to fourth in the NCAA rankings since netminder Brian Elliott suffered an injury during practice two weeks ago. The Newmarket resident is an early Hobey Baker candidate as the top player in U.S. college hockey.