IT has to be an obvious disappointment for Daniel Salokari of Thunder Bay and the rest of his teammates that were gearing up for the 2011 Deafalympic Winter Games that were to be staged Feb. 18-26 in Slovakia.
However the event, which was to feature athletes from around the world taking part, was suddenly cancelled for a yet to be explained reason just days before the start of competition was set to begin.
Most of the Canadian contingent was already in nearby Austria making final preparations before heading to Slovakia.
Salokari, a 17-year-old rookie defenceman with the Thunder Bay North Stars of the SIJHL, was one of the youngest players to earn a spot on the Canadian men’s hockey roster.
The squad was to be guided by former Lakehead Thunderwolves bench boss Don McKee while another local product in Colin Zulianello was the team’s goaltender coach.
To be deemed eligible to play one must be deemed hard of hearing or deaf, defined as a hearing loss of at least 55 dB in the better ear and to have been a participant in regular hockey leagues such as Junior B to the university level.
SCHOLARSHIP: Thunder Bay’s Graeme McCormack is the latest area athlete to earn a scholarship to play collegiate hockey in the U.S.
The 19-year-old defenceman has committed to attend Bemidji State University of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the start of the 2012-13 season.
McCormack is in his first season with the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Jr. Hockey League. This is also his second campaign in the BCHL.
Despite a recent upper body injury, which has slowed him down somewhat over the past few weeks, McCormack tops all D-men on the Clippers in offensive production with 40 points, including 10 goals. His numbers also have him sixth overall among all BCHL blueliners.
Another player who previously committed to attend Bemidji St., is Mitch Cain of Fort Frances. Ted Belisle of Nipigon is an assistant coach at BSU and serves as the school’s chief recruiter.
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: It didn’t take long for Ian Swalucynski to land back on his feet.
Mere days after getting let go as coach and general manager of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League’s North Bay Trappers, the Thunder Bay native has headed south to Georgia to ply his trade.
He has been hired by the Atlanta Knights organization that runs hockey programs from bantam right through to the Jr. A ranks.
He will serve as assistant program director while also providing coaching services to their Jr. A and Jr. B squads.
The entire Knights program is currently run by North Bay native Kevin Kerr, who himself is no stranger to the Lakehead having played here on numerous occasions back in the day with the Flint Generals of the Colonial Hockey League.
AROUND THE OHL: Thunder Bay’s Michael MacDonald will not be seeing any Ontario Hockey League action for the next month or so.
The Sudbury Wolves forward is on the shelf after suffering a shoulder injury during a Feb. 1 game at Sault Ste. Marie.
MacDonald, 19, was on pace to set OHL personal bests in points prior to landing on the shelf.
He has returned home for a couple weeks to allow for the healing process before heading back to Sudbury for physiotherapy as he hopes to return to the Wolves line-up late in the regular season and into the playoffs.