Thank you to coach Wendy Bailey who organized clinics for "Action Week" for the City of Burlington and "All Star Sports Camp" at Corpus Christi High School.

 

July 20, 2009.

 

Dear Burlington Blaze:

On behalf of the Directors of All Stars Sports Camp, I would like to thank you for coordinating the awsome volleyball instruction for the Campers.

Many of our campers and counsellors noted that the volleyball sessions were the highlight of the camp.  Ainsley M of the Shooting Stars #3 said she had a blast participating in the volleyball sessions.  Such positive comments are confirmation that we were fortunate to have your group as a guest.  Further to this, several parents advised us that their children went home that evening and expressed an interest in joining the Burlington Blaze in the Fall.

The Burlington Blaze instructors that visited our camp were extremely courteous and went out of their way to explain the volleyball moves.  The Blaze has some of the best volleyball coaches in the province and we would like to extend a special thank you to your coaches who joined us at the All Star Sports Camp.

The camp newsletter went home to over 170 families on Wednesday July 15th, and it detailed the Blaze contact information for those interested in learning more about your programmes.

Thanks once again, and we look forward to working with you again during the All Stars Sports Camp summer 2010 session.

Regards,

Dino Borchetta,
Director, All Stars Sports Camp

 

 

 

 

 

At the Burlington Sports Alliance Gala on June 16th, Blaze Co-Founder Irene Prime was honoured with the Sports Builder of the Year Award.  This is the second year that Blaze has been recognized for their contribution to the Burlington Sports Community, as Sarah Lowicki was the 2008 Junior Athlete of the Year.

Fifteen Years ago when the Blaze team first stepped on the courts of the Ontario Volleyball Association, the Club consisted of one coach, Andy Nicholson, one team of 8 players and Irene as the OVA contact.  In 2008 - 2009 season,  the organization had grown to be a Club that supported the OVA by hosting 6 tournments, teams that represented Ontario at the National Championships in Ottawa, a gold and a bronze medal at the Ontario Chamionships, and a coaching and managerial staff of 18, with coaches who not only coach for Blaze, but also coach in the Universities and Colleges of Ontario. Former Blaze players have played for their University and College teams in Ontario and in the United States.  And true to the Burlington community, Blaze is an active member of the Burlington Sports Alliance, the Burlington Sports Exchange with twin cities, Tourism Burlington and supports several charities and community events in the area.

As a Physical Education Head for the District School Board of Niagara, Irene was not only active in coaching and organizing the sports in her school, but was a member of the SOSSA Executive for many years, was a representative to OFSAA both as a Sports Advisory Member in Volleyball, as a member of the Transfer Committee and OFSAA seated assembly. Included in her responsibilities was the hosting of SOSSA and OFSAA Championships, the creation of a Sports Policy for the District School Board of Niagara and an 8 year term as President of SOSSA.

Within the Burlington Community, Irene has been a coach/convenor for BASA,  manager for the Burlington Angels Softball Team, and a parent rep for BLOMHA.  She coached boys volleyball at M. M. Robinson for several years, including a Senior Boys Halton Championship Team. A Girl Guide Leader and current Trefoil member, Irene is a CPR instructor and a volunteer for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Irene's current position is the Administrative Director at Blaze.  This includes liasion with the City of Burlington,being the OVA Club contact,  management of the Blaze website, co-ordinator of the Elementary School LIasion programme which includes the Elementary All Star Game now in its 5th year, overseeing the Blaze Summer Camps and working with the managers in the areas of community involvement, sponsorship and media coverage. A newly created Blaze Skills Clinics for young players was initiated this year. With grant money from the Communities in Action Fund, Blaze held 2 successful coaching certification clinics last year, and plan to hold another in the Fall of 2009.

One of Irene's proudest achievements was founding the Burlington Blaze Volleyball Club along with Andy Nicholson.  In her speech, Irene remakred: "To do something that you love to do, and get rewarded for it, is truly wonderful".

 

 

 

 

 

Now that our tournament hosting responsibilities are complete for the season, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank a whole lot of people for all their hard work and dedication during our hosted tournaments.

 THANK YOU TO: 

THE PARENTS – for all the perishable and non-perishable foods and for spending time working the concession stand and for getting the players there when I needed them most! For all your help setting up and tearing down the gyms and helping unload and reload all the concession stuff and the equipment!

THE PLAYERS – for spending your allotted time scorekeeping, selling tickets, helping at the concession and even sometimes doing double duty at extra tournaments!

THE MANAGERS – for organizing, collecting, loading and unloading and for all your help in general!

THE SPECIAL GUYS – who always came to make sure the nets were setup to the right height, whether their team was playing or not!

THE EXTRA HELPERS – Taylor, Autumn, Kate, Amanda, Paula & Magee (and there was a little boy whose name I didn’t get) – for all your help in general, whether it was selling tickets, helping at the concession, scoring, making signs – just doing whatever you were asked to do!

 THE DRIVERS – for getting my children home when there was no room in my truck!

 IRENE – for her invaluable time and assistance with my questions and also carting stuff to tournaments and helping with teaching the girls how to score properly.

 ANDY – for arranging the permits, getting the OVA equipment and providing equipment to me (nice new scoreboards and flags!)

 RON VANDEN BRINK – for, once again, letting us store all the concession inventory and equipment at his workplace.

And lastly….to

ANDREA MOORE – whose teacher hat came on at every tournament as she galvanized people into getting things done and who worked endlessly at every tournament.

 A special thank you to the Aquilina Family who came out to help at a tournament on February 7^th and Cindy was going to Convene on February 14^th, however, the plans had to be changed.

 An all around team effort – WELL DONE BLAZE FAMILIES!!!!!

 

Wendy Bailey

Tournament Convenor

 

Reprinted from "Burlington Post" - March 13, 2009

 

Kate Flanagan of Burlington was named to the Ontario University Athletics 2009 - 2009 women's volleyball all star team.

Flanagan a third year middle on the Univeristy of Waterloo Warriors was named as a First Team West Division All Star.

The former Burlington Blaze rep volleyball star is currently  recreation and leisure at the Univeristy of Waterloo

 

 

 

Tuesday December 9th, 2008, Technical Director and Club Founder, Andy Nicholson appeared on Burlington Cablenet  "Sportsweek", discussing the topic of "Volleyball in Halton".  This interview allowed girls volleyball to come to the forefront of the Burlington weekly sports programme, and was an informative and pleasant discussion of not only Burlington Blaze, and its development over the past 14 years, but of other clubs in the area.

Burlington Cable will also be attending several of the Blaze hosted OVA tournaments in the new year, where players and clubs will get added recognition.

As a former moderator of "Neighbour to Neighbour", Andy was right at home before the television cameras. 

Congratulations, Andy, on a job well done.

 

 

Sarah Lowicki was named Burlington Junior Athlete of the Year at the Sports Alliance Banquet in May.

                          

 

 

 

We asked McMaster Libero and Former Blaze Player

                 Elise Michalowski

                                                                    

"What is it like to play in the CIS Nationals?"

Here is Elise's Letter to Blaze