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LETTER: The Wild were once the Wildcats

From reader Bill McDonnell…
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Photo: Jim Bailey

Re: “Low numbers ice Kootenay Wild’s season

Although I don’t contest Ms. Waterstreet’s claim that the 2016-17 “Wild enjoyed a breakout season, winning the most games in its history and finishing fourth place in the six-team league,” I do question her “history” reference. What she overlooked was that the Wild was formerly known as the Wildcats. The Kootenay female midget program began in 2000, in Nelson, under the leadership of coach Ted Hargreaves and manager Sue Chanasyk. In its second season, the Wildcats were defeated by Fernie in the provincial gold medal game. The subsequent season saw the host Wildcats capture its first of two B.C. Female Midget Championships, the second one in 2007.

To honour highly respected coach Hargreaves’ death in 2005, the Ted Hargreaves Fund was established to provide post-secondary scholarships to graduating Wildcats and Wild players. Since 2006, the THF has granted scholarships to 31 graduating Wildcats, from throughout the Kootenays in the amount of $23,250.

It is with sadness that Ms. Waterstreet, and by extension B.C. Hockey’s president, overlooked such a legacy.

Bill McDonnell

Nelson