Reuben Villagracia

Thunder Bay

Sports Editor at The Chronicle-Journal

Born and raised in Thunder Bay. Views are my own. Sports editor at The Chronicle-Journal newspaper. Follow @cjsports_tb for scores, story links.

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Articles

Fighting Walleye make impact on city, district at grassroots level

1 week ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

As the Kam River Fighting Walleye prepare for the Superior International Junior Hockey League Bill Salonen Cup final, there will be plenty of fans, namely elementary school students, who are aware of their exploits. That’s what making appearances across the community can do for a profile of a hockey team.
Thunderwolves face busy offseason

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

Even after enduring two gruelling playoff rounds, the Lakehead Thunderwolves’ tougher challenge is happening now as the off-season recruiting period is proving to be a competitive one. The Thunderwolves, who were knocked out in the OUA men’s hockey West division semifinals last weekend, are turning their full attention to filling in the roster holes left by four of five key seniors.
Clouthier chooses Lakehead

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

Sara Clouthier ultimately saw too many family ties to Lakehead University. Thunder Bay’s top high school girls basketball prospect made her choice of where she will spend her varsity career official on Monday, signing with the hometown Thunderwolves. “The roots run deep at Lakehead,” Clouthier said after a photo op and media conference on Monday at Hammarskjold High School, where she has led the Vikings’ powerhouse girls hoops program for the past five years.
Lakehead's hockey season ends in Toronto

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

Kai Edmonds made 28 saves as the Toronto Metropolitan (TMU) Bold ended the Lakehead Thunderwolves’ season Saturday with a 3-0 win at Mattamy Athletic Centre. TMU wins the best-of-three OUA West division men’s hockey semifinal in two games and will next face crosstown rival Toronto Varsity Blues. Ian Martin, Liam Ross and Joseph Ianniello scored for the Bold. Lakehead goaltender Christian Cicigoi finished with 27 stops.
Kelly leaves Team McCarville

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

Krista McCarville is once again in search of a shooting partner at third for her women’s curling team. The current Northern Ontario women’s champions from Thunder Bay announced on their social media page Friday that Andrea Kelly would be leaving the team after playing at the vice position the past two seasons. “After two seasons with Team McCarville, Andrea has decided to step away from the team, returning to play at home and spend more time with family,” McCarville and her rink wrote on Friday.
LU loses on disputed OT goal

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

Win or lose, the Lakehead Thunderwolves seem to find themselves in tight playoff situations with plenty of drama. Spencer Shugrue scored at 12:59 of overtime as the Toronto Metropolitan (TMU) Bold pulled out a 3-2 win over the Thunderwolves in Game 1 of their best-of-three OUA West division men's hockey playoff series at Fort William Gardens on Wednesday night.
Thunderwolves return to Gardens tonight

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

The structure of the OUA men’s hockey playoffs leaves little breathing room between facing new opponents. Fortunately, the Lakehead Thunderwolves have been doing a stellar job as of late of focusing on the moment — and delivering in the clutch. Lakehead, just three days removed from a thrilling first-round comeback, host the TMU Bold tonight in Game 1 of the best-of-three West division semifinal. Puck drop is 7 p.m. at Fort William Gardens.
Northern Ontario's homegrown stars shine at Scotties

1 month ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

The call of the ‘Moose’ is never far from Tracy Fleury and Karlee Everist. Sure, these former Northern Ontario women’s curling stars no longer live in our only-in-curling dubbed “province” anymore, but this past week at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay was still special to both of them.
Homan rink remains Scotties champions

2 months ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

BY REUBEN VILLAGRACIATHE CHRONICLE-JOURNALA battle of the top two Canadian women’s skips in the 2020s came down to who would blink first. Rachel Homan made the key shots. Kerri Einarson would love to have a couple back. Homan successfully defended her Scotties Tournament of Hearts women’s curling championship on Sunday night at Thunder Bay’s Fort William Gardens, winning a classic cat-and-mouse game with Einarson in a 6-1, nine-end win.
McCarville ponders future

2 months ago | chroniclejournal.com | Reuben Villagracia

The Krista McCarville rink is at the crossroads. Even though the ice had hardly settled after their final game at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Thursday, the longtime skip addressed the potential future of her team of which the majority of the core have been together for nearly 10 years. Basically, it’s a wait, count and see approach. “We need a little time, a little break right now and then we’ll see what happens,” McCarville said.