Wreckhouse 2010
In 2009 Wreckhouse made history by being the first Ultimate team from Newfoundland and Labrador to compete in the Canadian Ultimate Championships. What the team learned at Nationals was that there are a lot of amazing ultimate teams in Canada and that home grown and trained players from this province have the capability to win and belong on the National stage. The Wreckhouse club intends to use the knowledge and experience it gained from 2009 to help grow the program. In 2010 the club will be focusing on:
- Representing NL Ultimate with pride
- Running a quality club
- Enjoying ourselves (we work hard, but we also like to have a good time)
- Being accessible to all interested players
- Being a resource for juniors, new and verteran players with the goal of raising the level of competitive Ultimate in NL
- Ensuring the Wreckhouse club trains and plays fundamentally sound ultimate
- Sending teams to multiple tournaments ensuring players gain more game experience
- Competing at Nationals in Sherbrooke and bettering on the teams 13th place finish in 2009
What's with Ultimate in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Ultimate has been around in Newfoundland and Labrador for many years with varying degrees of organization and interest. In 2003 a bunch of guys (Winston Legge, Brent Smith, Tom Smyth, Aiden Flynn and Michael Flaherty) got together and decided it was time to make it official. In 2004, Mile Zero Ultimate launched to first pre-season party and its first season of jersey play (10 mixed teams!). In 2009, St. John's now hosts three mixed leagues of Mile Zero Ultimate (Summer, Fall and Winter) and a women's league, SWURL, that is rockin' through the summer (and sometimes the spring...depending on which fields are flooded). The province has about 400 active players within its rec leagues.
In following with the natural order of the universe, some players found themselves craving more. They were looking for additional fun and competitive opportunities. While Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would never abandon their homeland, living on the island of Newfoundland does create some obstacles to attending weekend tournament play (i.e. While Labrador is attached to the mainland, Newfoundland is an island. It takes three days to drive to Ontario, including an overnight ferry ride. It costs at least $600-$800 to fly anywhere beyond Halifax (to which it costs $450 to fly)).
How did Wreckhouse get Started?
Well, people are determined. Over the years several groups of individuals have travelled to the mainland to participate in a few different tournaments, often picking up players and fans along the way. We've had a few Ultimate officianatos visit us and put on clinics (Derek Knockel, Gavin Thompson) and these experiences have proved very beneficial to our general ultimate populous.
Over a year ago, the murmurings started that some people wanted to put together a team to represent at Nationals. Why not aim high? Pretty soon, it had gone beyond talking...and had developed into full fledged PRACTICING!! Regionals approached and the team realized they might have to compete to get a bid ....but it turns out they didn't. (no suspense there).
That first team finished 13th at Nationals exceeding expectations and bettering their seed by 3 places. To summarize, Wreckhouse is a group of individuals who love Ultimate and who have set their sights on raising the level of play in Newfoundland and Labrador and running a solid Ultimate Club that is respected across the country.
Over a year ago, the murmurings started that some people wanted to put together a team to represent at Nationals. Why not aim high? Pretty soon, it had gone beyond talking...and had developed into full fledged PRACTICING!! Regionals approached and the team realized they might have to compete to get a bid ....but it turns out they didn't. (no suspense there).
That first team finished 13th at Nationals exceeding expectations and bettering their seed by 3 places. To summarize, Wreckhouse is a group of individuals who love Ultimate and who have set their sights on raising the level of play in Newfoundland and Labrador and running a solid Ultimate Club that is respected across the country.
Where did the Name Come From?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wreckhouse is an area in Newfoundland, Canada near the southern end of the Long Range Mountains which is well known for its extremely high winds. The name originated because high winds - often well in excess of hurricane force - would occasionally blow the train off the track in this area. The word "Wreckhouse" was actually added to the Canadian Oxford Dictonary in 2004. The winds are still a hazard to transport trucks that drive through the area.
Lochie MacDougal, a farmer and trapper, was born in 1896 and lived at Wreckhouse. He had a natural sixth sense to the changes in the weather and this ability allowed him to be employed by the Reid Company, which had built the railway, to inform them if it was safe for trains to pass. He performed this task for thirty years until his death in 1965. His wife continued on with the task until she moved away from the area in 1972. Their house stills stands, empty now but with an Environment Canada anemometer now providing remote wind data. Even still, some truckers still try their luck along this section of the Trans Canada Highway and have to be put back on their wheels after being blown over on their sides.
The Wreckhouse area of Newfoundland and Labrador also provides inspiration for Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues producers of the Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival
Wreckhouse is an area in Newfoundland, Canada near the southern end of the Long Range Mountains which is well known for its extremely high winds. The name originated because high winds - often well in excess of hurricane force - would occasionally blow the train off the track in this area. The word "Wreckhouse" was actually added to the Canadian Oxford Dictonary in 2004. The winds are still a hazard to transport trucks that drive through the area.
Lochie MacDougal, a farmer and trapper, was born in 1896 and lived at Wreckhouse. He had a natural sixth sense to the changes in the weather and this ability allowed him to be employed by the Reid Company, which had built the railway, to inform them if it was safe for trains to pass. He performed this task for thirty years until his death in 1965. His wife continued on with the task until she moved away from the area in 1972. Their house stills stands, empty now but with an Environment Canada anemometer now providing remote wind data. Even still, some truckers still try their luck along this section of the Trans Canada Highway and have to be put back on their wheels after being blown over on their sides.
The Wreckhouse area of Newfoundland and Labrador also provides inspiration for Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues producers of the Wreckhouse International Jazz & Blues Festival
