It was another great sports year in Thunder Bay. The highlight had to be the World Junior Baseball Championship, which straddled the end of July and beginning of August.
Fantastic crowds packed the Port Arthur Stadium and fans were treated to some outstanding baseball. Hats off to the organizers who had the vision to put on this event, starting with Warren Philp.
Another fabulous event was the national university hockey championship, better known as the Cavendish University Cup.
Although host Lakehead had a much better showing than the previous year, and also earned its spot in the six-team tournament as the OUA West champions, the Thunderwolves came up a bit short in a quest to make it to the final.
The Thunder Bay Chill enjoyed another great year on the pitch, winning their division. After a few consecutive years of success, it's now become what fans expect to see when they come out to Chapples Field to watch the Chill.
Congrats as well to the Thunder Bay Midget Queens, winning the Esso Cup and bringing home a national championship.
There's also the LU men's basketball team, who made the Final 8, much to everyone's surprise.
In the global spotlight, hockey players Eric Staal and Haley Irwin won gold medals at the Olympics, and of course Patrick Sharp hoisted the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks.
In all, it was a really good year for sports in Thunder Bay, and I'm looking forward to 2011.
