Local sports roundup | Brantford Expositor

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Sharp makes Olympic team

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Brantford Golf and Country Club member Alena Sharp has been named to Canada’s Olympic team.

Sharp, a 43-year-old Hamilton native, and Brooke Henderson, from Smiths Falls, were announced on Monday as Canada’s female golf representatives at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris by Golf Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.

This will be Sharp’s third trip to the Olympics. The longtime LPGA Tour member has 16 career top-10 finishes and won the ORORO PGA of Canada Women’s Championship in 2023.

“Reaching the Olympics for a third time was a huge goal of mine coming into this year and I am extremely proud to have achieved it,” Sharp said in a Golf Canada release. “Representing Canada is the highest honour I’ve had in my career.”

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The two golfers were selected based on their results during the Olympic qualification period. They played together in 2016 (Rio) and 2020 (Tokyo).

Nick Taylor and Corey Conners were announced as the men’s representatives last week.

McMillan wins championship, signs pro contract

Brantford’s Alaina McMillan helped lead the Halifax Thunder to a Maritime Women’s Basketball Association championship on the weekend.

Facing Lake City 56ers, Halifax scored a 90-57 win. It was the Thunder’s second straight championship, going undefeated both seasons.

McMillan, who recently completed her career at Saint Mary’s University, captured the tournament most valuable player award. The former St. John’s College student scored 13 points in the final.

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Also, McMillan has signed with French club Arras Pays D’Artois in the NF3 League.

Szoke third in CSBK standings

Brantford’s Jordan Szoke is third in the Canadian Superbike Championship Series standings midway through the season.

Following a pair of weekend races in Edmonton, Szoke has 88 points. That puts him 51 points behind leader Ben Young and 17 points behind Sam Guerin, who sits in second place.

Szoke, 45, had a pair of fourth-place finishes in Edmonton.

The 12-race series resumes with a pair of races on the weekend of July 12-14 at Atlantic Motorsport Park.

Woods signs with Toronto

Burford’s Emma Woods is heading home.

After playing with New York for the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League season, Woods signed with Toronto as a free agent.

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A second-line centre with New York, Woods scored two goals and added three assists last season. She was selected by New York in the 14th round (81st overall) in the 2023 draft.

Woods, 28, spent three seasons with Toronto in the Premier Hockey Federation. An assistant captain, Woods helped Toronto win the Isobel Cup championship in 2023.

“I am incredibly excited to sign with Toronto and return home to continue my professional career,” the Paris District High School graduate said in a release.

“It is clear that I’m joining a very talented group and an organization that demonstrates strong values and a commitment to winning. I am eager to bring my best to the ice and contribute to this team’s success next season!

“There aren’t many hockey markets that compare to Toronto, and I can’t wait to play in front of my family, friends, the best fans, and to compete for The Walter Cup!”

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GOJHL realigns

The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is dropping a conference.

In a Tuesday announcement, the league explained that it has realigned its conferences and instead of three, there will now be two.

The Brantford Titans will join the Ayr Centennials, Caledon Bombers, Caledonia Corvairs, Cambridge Redhawks, Fort Erie Meteors, Hamilton Kilty B’s, Pelham Panthers, Port Colborne Sailors, St. Catharines Falcons and Welland Canadians.

The other conference will feature the Chatham Maroons, Elmira Sugar Kings, K-W Siskins, Komoka Kings, LaSalle Vipers, Listowel Cyclones, London Nationals, Sarnia Legionnaires, St. Marys Lincolns, St. Thomas Stars, Stratford Warriors and Strathroy Rockets.

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The top-eight teams in each conference will make the playoffs. The regular season will still consist of 50 games. Names of the conferences will be released in the coming weeks.

The realignment will eliminate the three-team Sutherland Cup round robin.

Lawn bowling tourney

The St. George Lawn Bowling Club recently held an open triples with two novices per team tournament.

The Simcoe team of Kevin Barber, Rob Eakins and Yvette Vanderpost finished first with three wins and 37 points. Woodstock’s Bob Buck, Ann Brohman and Sandy Brohman were second with two wins and 40 points plus two while Ancaster’s Brad Fleming, Bill McMahon and Mary Pankiw were third with two wins and 33 points.

The Burlington team of Mary Wesko, John Smyth and Dave Dowell scored the one-game high of 27 points plus three.

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