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Summer clinics co-ordinator hired

Written by Communications Coordinator
Summer clinics co-ordinator Annika Bieger poses with a frisbee.
Summer clinics co-ordinator Annika Bieger

Ultimate NL is pleased to introduce Annika Bieger, who will run ultimate clinics this summer for kids and community groups.

Annika began playing ultimate at St. Paul’s Junior High and Holy Heart of Mary, and says she has “loved and continued to play ever since!” She’s played on a variety of school teams and participated in after-school ultimate programs and adult scrimmages and continues to play recreationally.

“I often helped coached my high school team and now I look forward to sharing my skills and experience!” she says.

Last summer, Ultimate NL led 38 clinics involving over 600 kids of all ages in communities around St. John’s.

Community groups and sports organizations interested in offering clinics to youth participants may contact Annika at annika@ultimatenl.ca.

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Free MZU pickup games

Written by Communications Coordinator

Mile Zero Ultimate (MZU)’s free Wednesday pickup games are back this summer!

This is a great opportunity to get out for an extra game of ultimate in a zero-pressure environment! Wanna work on that backhand? Wanna get a friend out to try the sport that’s never played before? Come one, come all to this totally FREE and totally AWESOME MZU offering!

Taking place on Wednesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. at Bowring Park. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for weekly event details as some weeks may be cancelled if the field is required for a rescheduled game.

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Dyer wins Premier’s Athletic Award

Written by Communications Coordinator
Luke Dyer with Premier Dwight Ball

Congratulations to Luke Dyer for being named one of the province’s top athletes at the 15th annual Premier’s Athletic Awards ceremony on June 26.

The awards program recognizes athletic excellence and provides financial support to offset the costs of training and competition. Dyer was among the 125 athletes recognized at the ceremony.

“I’m thankful to have received this award, and that the province recognizes the talents of all our athletes and is willing to support us so we can keep following our dreams,” said Dyer.

Dyer is a member of the Canadian U24 open team that will compete in Germany this summer. He’s also responsible for Ultimate NL’s junior Storm competition program as our youth performance and development co-ordinator.

Shae LeDevehat with Premier Dwight Ball

Ultimate NL also extends congratulations to Shae LeDevehat who received the Premier’s Award for athletics. LeDevehat regularly plays in several high school and adult ultimate leagues.

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Tempest earns best finish in Boston

Written by Communications Coordinator

After finishing 13th overall last year, Tempest jumped six spots to break seed and finish seventh overall at the 2019 Boston Invite.

Seeded 11th in the elite division of the tournament, the competitive club team for female-matching players won two games and lost three after round robin play to stay in the fifth-to-eighth-place bracket to determine final seeding.

Round robin results:

  • Tempest vs Venus (Montreal): 13-9
  • Tempest vs VICE (Boston): 7-11
  • Tempest vs Iris (Quebec): 4-13
  • Tempest vs BENT (New York): 3-13
  • Tempest vs Hot Metal (Pittsburgh): 14-8

Day 2 saw Tempest face Halifax-based rival, Salty, in the playoff bracket, losing the contest 14-9. The team then faced VICE in a rematch for seventh place, taking the contest by a score of 12-10.

Four rookies took the field for Tempest in Boston: Victoria Mackay, Tori Kearney, Whitney Mullett and Allie Guerra.

Tempest will next play at No Borders in Ottawa on July 20-21.

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Last chance: summer youth leagues

Written by Communications Coordinator

There are just a few more days left to register for Ultimate NL’s junior high and elementary summer leagues!

These six-week leagues will run from July 7-Aug. 11 and focus on developing player skills in a fun and supportive environment.

Junior High Summer League

  • Sundays from July 7-Aug. 11
  • 1:30-2:30 p.m.
  • Kitty Gaul Park
  • Ages: 12-14
  • Cost: $30

Register here

Elementary Summer League

  • Sundays from July 7-Aug. 11
  • 2:30-3:30 p.m.
  • Kitty Gaul Park
  • Ages: 8-11
  • Cost: $30

Register here

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Board updates

Written by Communications Coordinator
Head shots of Yolanda Kuai and Kurtis Thornhill.
Yolanda Kuai, left, and Kurtis Thornhill.

There have been some recent changes to the Ultimate NL board of directors.

Member-at-large Yolanda Kuai has taken over the position of tournaments and events director. She can be reached at tournaments@ultimatenl.ca.

Also, Kurtis Thornhill has returned to the board, this time in the role of community outreach director. Kurtis previously served on the board as our youth co-ordinator. He can be reached at volunteer@ultimatenl.ca.

Special thanks to outgoing board members Erin Daly and Mark Kavanagh for their time and dedication!

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Flood Watch wins first Elimin8s

Written by Communications Coordinator
A team picture of Flood Watch at Ultimate Newfoundland and Labrador's first Elimin8s tournament.
Flood Watch

Team Flood Watch was undefeated in Ultimate NL’s first Elimin8s tournament.

With six teams and over 60 players participating, Flood Watch proved to be tough opponents in the tournament but emerged the victor when Erin Daly caught a pass from Mike Pineau to score the winning point against Gyr8tors.

Both teams were down to two players each on the field, making it a battle of both smarts and skill.

In Elimin8s style ultimate, teams start with eight players but lose a position on the field with each point scored. This makes for highly competitive games and most matches were separated by less than three points.

In a post-tournament survey, 92 per cent of respondents said their experience at the tournament was excellent or that they were very satisfied with it. Ninety-two per cent also said they’d like it to be an annual event.

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make it a success! Special thanks to tournament director Kathleen Sullivan, and to Tempest for providing field snacks.

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Funds raised for national campaign

Written by Communications Coordinator

It was a friendly battle of red versus white as around 25 people took part in the 2019 Art Hawkins Great Canadian Ultimate Game on June 8.

Held during a break in Ultimate NL’s first Elimin8s tournament, the game saw Team White beat Team Red by a score of 11-9.

The game is an annual nation-wide fundraiser for the Art Hawkins Development Fund, which supports the accessibility and development of ultimate and Spirit of the Game to children, youth and those with disabilities, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities.

Scores from each location are added together to determine an overall winner. Nationally, Team Red defeated Team White 203-186.

Ultimate NL has received two grants from the fund. In 2017, a grant helped start a pilot wheelchair ultimate program, and in 2014, the funds went towards a fall youth ultimate league.

This year, Ultimate NL is contributing the proceeds from its Elimin8s tournament to the fund for a total donation of $290.

Thank you to everyone who participated and played with great spirit and a positive attitude!

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Francophone school named provincial champs

Written by Communications Coordinator
The elementary school team from École des Grands-Vents poses with the provincial banner from Ultimate Newfoundland and Labrador.
2018-2019 provincial champions, École des Grands-Vents

Congratulations to École des Grands-Vents on winning Ultimate NL’s first standalone elementary school provincial tournament!

The Francophone school from St. John’s defeated Villanova Junior High from Conception Bay South by a score of 8-4 in the final. They were undefeated in the tournament.

In the semi-finals, École des Grands-Vents defeated Vanier White 4-2 and Villanova beat Cowan Heights Elementary 7-5.

“The tournament really showed how much ultimate has grown over the years and how successful it can be with a young age group,” says Hilary Walsh, Ultimate NL’s youth grade school co-ordinator. “The level of Spirit of the Game was fantastic, and you could feel the energy in the building when the games were being played, from not only the kids but the spectators as well.” 

Eight teams from six schools took part in the tournament, held at the PowerPlex in St. John’s on June 2.

The final standings were:

  • 1. École des Grands-Vents, St. John’s
  • 2. Villanova, CBS
  • 3. Cowan Heights Elementary, St. John’s
  • 4. Vanier Elementary White, St. John’s
  • 5. Vanier Red, St. John’s
  • 6. Vanier Blue, St. John’s
  • 7. Riverside Elementary, Clarenville
  • 8. St. Matthew’s School, St. John’s

A special congratulations goes to Vanier Red, which was named the Most Spirited Team!

Our provincial tournaments are sponsored by Veterinary Specialty Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Check out photos from the tournament here.

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League updates

Written by Communications Coordinator

St. John’s Women’s Ultimate Recreation League (SWURL)

Summer league will run on Monday nights from June 17-Aug. 12 with games happening at 5:30 and 7 p.m. at Kitty Gaul field. Sign up in pairs or solo. A 30-minute skills and drills session will take place from 6:30-7 p.m. for the first four weeks.

Cost: $35

Register here

Men’s Avalon Ultimate League (MAUL)

Summer league will run on Mondays from June 17-Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Bowring Park field. Open to male-matching players ages 16-and-over of all skill levels.

Cost: $40

Register here

Mile Zero Ultimate (MZU)

Summer league is underway with 23 teams taking part.

New this season is an update to the subbing policy, which allows both registered and unregistered players to sub for a maximum of four games throughout the season. Registered players may only sub in the regular season. Unregistered players may sub in a maximum of one playoff game. Further details are available here.

If you’re interested in subbing, join MZU’s Facebook group here. Unregistered players must complete this waiver form before subbing.

The summer league schedule is available here.

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