PARRSBORO - Same award, same girls, different sport.
The Parrsboro Midget "A" Predators were presented with the Barry Wood Memorial Award at the May 22 session of town council, in honour of the provincial hockey championship they won in Kingston on April 1.
The team had its name engraved on the plaque and the players accepted certificates from Mayor Lois Smith, only a month after the same group of athletes received the same award in honour of a second place provincial finish in high school soccer last fall.
"We are so proud of you and what you've done," said the mayor, who congratulated the team on behalf of herself, council and all town citizens. "Keep up the good work, and I know you'll be bringing home more trophies and certificates for us."
Also on hand for the presentation was Owen Wood, father of Barry Wood, a promising young Parrsboro boxer who died as the result of a car accident in 1989. The award is presented to any Parrsboro team or individual athlete that places first or second in national or provincial competition. Until last month, the award had not been handed out in a decade.
The team went 4-1 at the provincial tournament, defeating Glace Bay 1-0 in the finals to capture the banner in the first-ever appearance for a Parrsboro female minor hockey team at provincial competition.
Players on hand for the award presentation were Shelby Leopold, Maddie Currie, Ava Winters, Kirsten Willigar, Megan Johnson, Khristine Bowden, Brianna Smith, Alysha Canning, Erin Quinn, Victoria McCrindle and Brooke Walton. Absent were Jessica Johnson and Kylee Smith.
Almost all of the girls played on the award-winning soccer team, and are also playing on the school softball team, now in the midst of its season with high hopes of a strong finish.
"It's great to be back again," said assistant coach Charlene Smith. "Second place in soccer, first place in hockey... I don't know where to go with softball but hopefully we bring home another first."