Island contingent returns from 55-Plus Games in Saint John, N.B., with medals and memories

P.E.I. went 3-1 to capture the bronze medal in men’s hockey at the Canada 55-Plus Games in Saint John, N.B. P.E.I. defeated South Shore from Nova Scotia 5-4 in a shootout in the bronze-medal game. P.E.I. also posted a 5-4 shootout win over the Saint John Vitos and an 11-0 decision over the Truro Bearcats while losing 4-2 to the eventual silver-medallists Cornwall Classics from Ontario. Brampton, Ont., won the gold medal in the eight-team division. P.E.I. team members are, front row, from left, are George Roberts, Kris Mayne, Boyd Woodard, Gordie Montgomery, Charlie Cameron and Doug Carmody. Second row, David Groom, Don Clow, Ron Carragher, Mike McIver, Gerard Dillon, Paul Dawson, Brian Cameron, Rick Morrison and Rick Cameron. - Contributed

SAINT JOHN, N.B. – The P.E.I. 55+ Games Society recently sent a contingent of 90 participants to the 2018 Canada 55+ Games in Saint John, N.B.

The Games are a biennial event encompassing more that 20 events ranging from very active sports like hockey and tennis to sedentary competitions like Scrabble and bridge. P.E.I. was represented in hockey, curling, swimming, track and field, cycling, bowling, golf, bocce, and Scrabble.

Marjorie Matthews earned two gold medals and a silver in track and field while cyclist Paul Wright brought home a gold and a silver.

Swimmers Letty Abbott (two gold and a bronze) and Ann Andrews (four bronze) had strong showings.

The curling rink of Gloria Clarke, Ruth Stavert, Elaine Hughes, Janette Fraser won the 65-plus division while the 55-plus men’s rink of Philip McInnis, Pius McInnis, David Murphy, Alan Long were defeated in the medal qualifying game.

In the 75-plus bowling competition the team of Hector MacDonald, Margaret Wigginton, Norma Morrissey, Vera MacLeod and Foch McNally won gold. In singles, MacDonald won silver and Wigginton bronze.

Phyllis McCabe won silver in the Scrabble competition.

In the hockey competition, P.E.I.’s 55-plus men won bronze, the 65-plus men lost in the bronze medal game, the 70-plus men did not qualify for the medal round and the women missed the medal round on a tie-breaking formula.

In bocce, Adrian Clarke and Ernie Stavert were in a four-way tie for first but lost on tie-breaking rules.

The 2020 Canada 55+ Games will be held in Kamloops, B.C., from Aug. 25-28.

The P.E.I. 55+ 2019 Summer Games will be held Sept. 10-15 in the Stanhope area. Registrations close on Aug. 30. Forms are available online, at Vogue Optical outlets, or at the 55+ Games office at Sport P.E.I. (Royalty Centre).