Just For The Fun Of It

Over the next few weeks we will share some of the posters that were on display at our year end banquet on our Facebook page and Twitter account. We hope these will give you some insight into our program. Our league motto is “Basketball Just For The Fun of it”, and the smiles on these faces certainly convey that, but first and foremost we are a basketball league. We don’t keep standings or have playoffs, we do keep score, we do teach fundamentals, and our focus is on teaching players how much fun the game can be. Registration is September 10- 25 days from now! See you there!

The St. Lawrence College men’s basketball team will be playing an exhibition game on Tuesday August 23 against the Division II Northwood University Timberwolves. The T-Wolves have a lineup featuring 7’2″ Enrico di Coste from Vicenza Italy, along with seven other players over 6’5″. This should be an exciting contest, and a real challenge for the Vikings. Game time is 7pm and the game is FREE. See you there!

We have been asked to announce the winner of the Pete Petersen Spirit Award by the family. This year the award goes to Elinam Afidenyo. Here is what was posted on the Spirit Award Facebook Page:
“Congratulations to this year’s award winner Elinam Afidenyo !
Eli is heading to Lakehead University for Nursing where she will represent the schools wrestling team.
This young lady has a been involved in the” Pete” Petersen Basketball League formally known as the Knights of Columbus Basketball League since the age of 10, as a player, and most recently as a coach and scorekeeper.
Her outside community envolment’s include the Boys and Girls Club,
Upward Sports through the church, the Tag group through Kingston Frontenac Public Libraries while still maintaining a good academic standing. With Eli’s faith in God, dedication to sports and love of kids she was the perfect choice this year for the Don “Pete” Petersen Memorial award. Congratulations and Good Luck with your future endeavours Eli, Pete would be proud !”
Let me add my personal congratulations to Eli. She was an enthusiastic player and coach throughout her time with the league and I wish her well at Lakehead. She will be great addition to the University. WELL DONE!!

Follow league news as it happens in 140 characters or less by following us on our twitter account Pete Petersen Ball, @ppbballleague. Detailed postings will continue to be posted here and at our Facebook page , but this will allow another method for letting our followers and those interested in the league to hear what is going on.

We join the rest of the Kingston Community in mourning the passing of Dan Wannemacher last week. Dan was a great supporter of our programme, and he believed in what we are doing in the league. He and Ruth were very generous with both their time, and their donations to help us be successful for the children in the community. Here are the details of the visitation and funeral arrangements.

Daniel Jacob Wannemacher
WANNEMACHER, Daniel Jacob – Owner of Kingston Family Fun World & Putt n’ Blast Passed away on Friday, July 22nd, 2016. Beloved husband of Ruth. Proud and loving Dad of Patricia, Evelyn and Hilary. Dear son of Shirley Wannemacher (the late Hilary) of Ohio, USA. Brother of Meg Garnett (Rod), Lisa Myers, Jeff Wannemacher and Sarah Tiefenthaler (Dave). Brother-in-law of Tim Kirkby (Susan), Julie Kirkby (Don), Ted Kirkby (Dawn) and Bob Kirkby. Son-in-law of Donald Spence. Dan will be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, extended family, many friends and truly amazing team, past and present, at Kingston Family Fun World and Putt n’ Blast. Relatives and friends are invited to visit at ROBERT J. REID & SONS – THE CHAPEL ON THE CORNER , 309 Johnson Street (at Barrie St.) on Wednesday, July 27th from 1 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, July 28th in ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL , 279 Johnson Street, at 10 o’clock in the morning. Reception to follow. As expressions of sympathy, donations in memory of Dan to Special Olympics – Kingston Community would be greatly appreciated by the family. Online guestbook available at www.reidfuneralhome.com

Wow! It is hard to believe that a mere eight weeks from today is registration day for the 2016 -17 season of the Pete Petersen Basketball League! Mark Saturday September 10 in your calendars, on your refrigerators, on your phone, ipad and any other device that reminds you of places that you need to be.

Date: Saturday September 10, 2016
Place: St. Patrick School, 158 Patrick Street
Time: 9-10:30am (don’t forget that space is limited)
Cost: $10 for the season
All ages are the age that the player will be on April 1, 2017
Little Guys – Boys 8-10 (Tuesday nights)
Biddy – Boys 11-12 (Monday nights)
Graduate – Boys 13-15 (Monday nights at Ecole Cathedrale)
Little Gals – girls 8-10 (Thursday nights)
Girls – girls 11-14 (Wednesday nights)
All games at St. Pat’s with the exception of the Graduate Division.

Proof of age for the player required to register.

THERE IS NO ONLINE OR PRE REGISTRATION. FIRST COME FIRST SERVED. If you cannot be there, someone else can register your child for you, and you will then need to sign the permission form prior to the player participating in any activities.

SEE YOU THEN!

I just got back from the St. Lawrence Basketball camp after watching the Week Two participants, many of whom, are from our program.They were going through three on three rotations and finished the morning with a spirited game of bump with campers and instructors sharing in the fun.
I was glad to see a good mix of instruction, and also an activity before lunch that was a great reminder of how much fun the game we love can be. I was also reminded that we are so very fortunate in this area to have the opportunity that we do, to allow children to get to camps. The commitment of the coaches, administrators and instructors at St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, Holy Cross Secondary School and Regiopolis Notre Dame is to be commended. They are not only providing an opportunity to learn, they are putting their instructors in positions of leadership in the sports community. Each camp offers something for players to work on, and as a wise man who founded a basketball league in town once told me, there is no substitute for what you learn about the game and yourself every time you step on the court! Thank you to all of you who make this happen every summer! RB

On July 7, we had the Annual “Pete” Petersen Golf Tournament at the Colonnade Golf and Country Club with 50 golfers taking part in a day of sometimes good golf, friendship, fun and great food, to raise money for the basketball league. Our thanks to Rick Hollywood, Heather Hollywood and Lindsey Hawkins for their organization of the day, to our hole sponsors Money Mart and VanHeddegem Plumbing, and to the staff at the Colonnade for their hospitality, flexibility and support in hosting us. In total $1642 was raised for the league operation this season.

Today, July 3rd, is a significant day for our league. Today marks the second anniversary of the passing of the league founder Don “Pete” Petersen, and it was one year ago today that we announced that the name of his league was being changed to the “Pete” Petersen Basketball League.
For the last few weeks I have been wondering what to say in this post to help those that both knew Don well, and those that may never have met him undrestand his impact on the community, and on the lives of those he touched. When Muhammed Ali died I read a quote from Kareem Abdul Jabbar about the champ. I would like to “borrow” his sentiment about the Ali and apply it to Pete. Here is my Don Petersen version: Today we bow our heads at the loss of a man that did so much for his community. Tomorrow we will raise out heads again remembering his smile, his laugh, his kindness and all that he did for the sake of the children and others around him. What he did lives on in the best part of each of us who knew him.
If you are lucky you meet two or three people like Don Petersen in yoiur life. Cherish them and share their life lessons. Thanks for all you did for all of us Pete.

On Wednesday June 22 the Ontario Government held an event at the Ambassador Hotel to recognize volunteers from the Kingston area from many organizations. Amoung those recognized were seven volunteers from our league. They were Lindsey Hawkins (15 years), Ryan Wood (15 years), Sarah McDonnell (10 years), Sherrilynn Platt (5 years), Zoe McAuley, Amber Allport, Miles Brackenbury and Colin Bowman (all recognized as youth volunteers). In total, the province recognized volunteers at the event that have contributed 2275 YEARS of volunteer time to organizations in this area. Congratulations to all of the volunteers that were recognized, and a heartfelt THANK YOU to our seven volunteers, and to the MANY others that so selflessly give their time to make our league possible each year. Well done!!