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Welcome to Saranac Lake A Message From the Mayor
The Village of Saranac Lake heartily welcomes participants and spectators to this year’s Can-Am Rugby Tournament. We are pleased to co-host this terrific event and are excited to offer our “Capital of the Adirondacks” hospitality to one and all. Saranac Lake is an All-American City and cited as one of the Best Adventure Towns and one of the Best Small Towns by national magazines. We invite you to tour our mountain village and enjoy our very unique Downtown Business District where you won’t find chain stores, but you will find dozens of family-owned restaurants, cafes, shops and art boutiques offering those “rare finds” and Saranac Lake friendliness You will also find—right on Main Street—our Community Store, a department store developed, financed and operated by hundreds of local stockholders and next door is Berkeley Green and the Saranac Lake 6er Bell where hikers begin and end their quest to scale the 6 peaks surrounding our village. Just north of our Downtown is the Adirondack Carousel which offers lots of family fun and next door to Clyde Rabideau, it is our Depot, where you can embark on an Adirondack Mayor of Saranac Lake Train odyssey to neighboring Lake Placid and back. Saranac Lake is a community with open arms and if you think you might want to make a home—or a second home—here in the Capital, just give our Village Hall a call and we’ll put you in contact with some Saranac Lakers that will help you make that happen.
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017 Can-Am Rugby Staff List President Can Am committee
Social Media/web site
Jan Annis
Sandy Caligorie
Nichole Meyette
Tournament Director Can Am Committee President Saranac Lake Mountaineers Rugby Club
Cam Moody
Tournament Financial
Dave Staszak
Wheelchair coordinator
Terry Tubridy Logistics
Jeff Letson Communications
Erika Heath
Marketing Sponsorship Coordinator
Kari Hoffman PR
Tournament On Field PA and chief of scoring
Eric Wilson
John Burns, Fred Roedel & Stacey Annis 111-Tournament Pairings and Scheduling Head Referee
Neal Dill
Head of Security
Keegan Muldowney
John F. Morgan
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Adirondack Rugby Corp Inc is a not for profit 501c3 P.O. Box 774, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
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SLMountaineerRugbyClubannounces017HallofFameinductees “Beef”Bevilacqua, Leo Demong, Jay Annis newest members to receive a BlackJacket
SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. – Three longtime members of the Saranac Lake Mountaineers Rugby Football Club will receive Black Jacket awards, symbolic of induction into the club’s Hall of Fame. On the night of July 28, in conjunction with the opening of the 44th Annual Saranac Lake Can-Am Rugby Tournament, Mike “Beef” Bevilacqua, Leo Demong and Jay Annis will don their Black Jackets in a ceremony slated for 7 PM at The Waterhole on Main Street in Saranac Lake. The evening will start with a 6 PM Black Jacket Happy Hour at the Downhill Grill, also on Main Street. MIKE “BEEF” BEVILACQUA Mike Bevilacqua played prop and solidified Saranac Lake’s front row for over a decade, and covered the position for more consecutive matches than anyone in club history. Beef’s dedication to the club also transferred into a tireless attitude working for the Can-Am tournament. He could be seen mowing the pitches and lining them, installing the goal posts and removing trash. It was not unusual to see Mike cooking beef for the patrons, and moments later, taking his prop position on the field. And then, when darkness descended on the action, Bevilacqua was the social chairman.
LEO DEMONG A long-time early scrum half for the Mountaineers and tireless worker on early Can-Am tournaments, Leo Demong’s son, Bill, won Olympic gold and silver medals in Nordic combined skiing (cross country and ski jumping) at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, marking the first medals for the U.S. in this discipline. Leo came to the Tri-Lakes region from Cornell University, where he took a position with the Department of Environmental Conservation. He has arguably played more games at scrum half than anyone in the history of the Mountaineers. Demong, physically smaller in stature than many opponents, developed a reputation of perhaps being the toughest athlete, pound for pound, to ever put on a Saranac Lake uniform.
Jay Annis with his daughter Baylee and wife Stacey who is also a Black Jacket. Baylee is also a national Team Player for the USA Womens Team.
Leo Demong playing, above, and his son Billy, below, who won the Olympic Gold Medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver in Nordic Combined. First time ever that an American had ever medaled in that discipline.
Photo by Lou Reuter, Courtesy of the Adirondack Daily Enterprise
l-r Mike Bevilaqua-2017 Black Jacket Award winner with Saranac Lake Rugby Founder Jan Plumadore and Jerry Gillmett who are also both Black Jacket Inductees. These 3 spent many games as the Mountaineer front row in the early years that took place in the last century. Page 4
He was instrumental in securing nonprofit status for the Can-Am tournament, which has grown to over 100 teams each summer, and provides significant stimulus to Saranac Lake’s economy.
JAY ANNIS Annis has been the director of the annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament since 2003. He’s a past coach and player, whose athletic participation ended with a neck injury in 2012. However, the family connection to the game continues as his daughter, Baylee, is a capped member of the US Eagles, and is currently in the national team’s player pool. The devotion of Annis to the club and the game is emphasized in the donation of his field and clubhouse for use by the Mountaineers, as well as high school and college players.
PAST BLACK JACKET HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 1. Jan Plumadore 2. Kerry Kelly 3. Gerry Gillmett 4. John F. Morgan 5. Tom Sciacca 6. John Muldowney 7. Bill Doolittle 8. Sean Morgan 9. Bob Brehl 10. Ian Orme 11. Peter Frenette 12. Stacey Annis 13. Tammy Morgan 14. Kyle Munn 15. Dean Naegele Induction into the Black Jacket Hall of Fame, which started in the mid-1990s, is predicated on at least 10 years of service to the club; longevity of participation as a Mountaineer that earns respect on the basis of being a positive influence on and off the field; demonstrate a clearly unselfish dedication to the sport and specifically, the Mountaineer program by enhancing its development; has served as both a player and volunteer.
About the Saranac Lake Rugby Club and the Can-Am Rugby Tournament The Saranac Lake Mountaineer Rugby Club was founded in 1972 by a small group of local rugby enthusiasts who introduced a fledgling sport to the community. Later, the organization created the CanAm Rugby Tournament in 1974 with a modest eight teams. The tournament’s mission has been to promote the sport of rugby across all platforms, from youth to old boys, in a beautiful Adirondack setting with a clear focus on the responsible and sustainable growth of the game. The initial goal in the early years of the tournament was to grow by eight teams annually. Since 1990, a total of 100 sides has participated across all age divisions, men and women, with the 2017 event boasting 120 teams. As the Can-Am Rugby Tournament has grown, international competition has been added. The Saranac Lake Rugby Club and the Can-Am tournament have hosted five international test matches with men in 1980 and 1988, before adding women in 1999, 2000 and 2001. In addition, the tournament provides substantial funding annually in support of local youth and charitable organizations, including scholarships for area athletes.
About the Black Jacket Hall of Fame The mission of the Black Jacket Hall of Fame is to celebrate and honor the individuals who have had a distinctive, positive influence on the Mountaineer Rugby Football program. Members are selected on their level of performance, sportsmanship and dedication to the Mountaineers. They have inspired and helped develop the game into the character-building sport that it is today.
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Greetings- All Ruggers
I would like to welcome everyone to the 44th Annual Can Am Rugby Tournament. I am very excited for another great tournament. Since my involvement with the Mountaineers Rugby Club and the Can Am Rugby Tournament, we have worked very hard to provide a high caliber event for players and spectators, while supporting our local communities. I would like to thank the hard work and dedication of
the board members whom volunteer their time year round to ensure we offer an incredible event. It is because of your support of the tournament as well as the support of our sponsors we are able to give back to our communities each year. Our focus of donations is to area youth sports; as well we have established scholarships at our 3 local high schools, and our 2 local colleges. I have also been fortu-
nate to be part of our boys and girls high school rugby club, a club that will keep the tradition of rugby alive. Many of our high school athletes have continued onto very successful rugby careers with the Top teams as well with the National USA Rugby Eagles team. I hope that everyone has a great weekend playing and watching rugby and experiencing our communities.
Nichole Meyette President, Can Am Rugby Club
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Can-Am RugbyTournament Rules and Regulations
1. All Old Boy Divisions (Over-50, Over-45 and Over-35) will play 22-minute halves for all games in the tournament including the finals. Men’s Premier, Men’s Club, Men’s Social and the Women’s Division shall play 22minute halves in all matches leading to the finals. The Finals will consist of 25-minute halves. 2. Lateness will not be tolerated, due to tight scheduling. Any team failing to take the field within five minutes of the scheduled kickoff will forfeit the contest by a 7-0 score (converted try). 3. Sin Bin” (Yellow Card) lengths will be 5 minutes for games with 22-minute halves and 7 minutes for games with 25 min halves. Any player sent off for misconduct (Red Card) may be disqualified from further competition in the tournament. The game referee and the tournament committee have the final decision on a player’s ability to further compete in the tournament. 4. The Old Boy Divisions will have unlimited substitutions. In all other Divisions seven substitutes per game per team will be allowed in accordance with the laws of the game. Any player removed and substituted may take no further part in that game, but may play in subsequent matches. Any player who retires from a match due to a head injury must be examined by the medical staff before playing in subsequent matches. Per USARFU directive instruction from IFRB, a player who is suffering from a definite concussion may not participate in any match or training session for a period of at least three weeks from the time of injury, and then only subject to being cleared by a proper neurological examination. 5. No player may represent more than one team in the tour-
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nament. If a player has represented one team in the competition, he, thereafter, will not be allowed to represent another team in competition. Violation of this rule shall be grounds for disqualification of the offending team from further competition, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. At all finals, each team shall submit a roster that shows all players including substitutions. This roster shall be provided to the Tournament Committee BEFORE KICKOFF. 6. Breaking Ties: A coin toss will precede a 10-minute sudden death overtime period. If neither team scores, the winner will be determined by successive field goal tries starting at the 10-yard line and increasing distances of five yards for each additional kick required. Each team may nominate one player, that had participated in the game, to do the placekicking. Tie Breakers to determine advancement in pool play: 1. Final standings will be determined within a Pool of play before standings are finalized within a Division. 2. Final standings are based on a team’s record within a pool and division. If this results in a tie between teams, go to rule #3. 3. The process of breaking ties in both Pool standings and Division standings between Clubs will go through the following calculations in the following order until final standings are determined: a Point differential in all matches played b Total Tries Scored in all matches c Total Tries Converted in all matches d Head to head scores between common opponents e Coin Toss
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7. For Sunday’s final games in each division, the same tiebreaker system (Rule #6) will be employed except that teams will play two 10-minute sudden death overtime periods before moving to the place kicking option to decide the outcome. Prior to the second 10-minute overtime period, the teams will switch ends of the field. 8. GAME PROTESTS regarding rosters must be made and presented to referee before KO so that the offending team has a chance to rectify any roster issue. Other Protests must be made to the referee before he/she leaves the field of play. The referee will consult with the Tournament Committee (that includes the Referee Coordinator and Tournament Director) and a decision will be made. All decisions made by the Tournament Committee are final and binding. Teams failing to heed these decisions face automatic disqualification and possible suspension from future Can Am Tournament play.
Other Rules: • Scrum Engagement Sequence: Crouch, Bind, Set. No verbal “yes nine” except for youth. Signal ball ready to go in by tap on shoulder or eye contact opposite put in. • Line Out If taken quick in front of proper mark turnover. Lineout given to opposite team. • Youth No squeeze ball. Penalty. High tackle is defined as above the arm pits.
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Fields 1-3: Petrova Field — 120 Petrova Ave., Saranac Lake, NY
Fields 4-8: Saranac Lake High School, Ampersand, and Schroeders Field, 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY
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Fields 9-1: Lake Placid Athletic Field, 74 Recycle Circle Lane, Lake Placid, NY
Championship Field 1: North Country Community College, Payeville Lane, Saranac Lake, NY
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Welcome from the Mountaineers’RFC
Welcome to the 44th annual Can-Am Rugby tournament, hosted by the Mountaineers RFC. Over the years many faces have come and gone thru the teams, club board and the Can-Am tournament board. However our love of rugby and dedication to host ruggers from all over the world each summer at the largest rugby tournament in North America has remained constant. As a native of Saranac Lake I have been attending Can-Am Rugby games for as long as I can remember. I have been playing for nine years, and am in my fifth year as president. During my time as a Mountaineer I have seen ups and downs, good times and bad just as any club. Our club, like all others celebrates its successes and faces its struggles- problems with recruiting, funding, fields, etc. We also have dreams like other clubs. Dreams such as, our own clubhouse, pitches, international tours and of course championship wins on Sunday. With the help of the Can-Am tournament, a loyal community and generations of dedicated ruggers some of these dreams have come true and some we will continue to strive toward. With our high school rugby program in its 11th year I can see we have a strong future. From players, alumni, rugby fans and families the Mountaineers have been blessed with unequaled dedication. The Mountaineers board spends many hours behind the scenes making sure our club thrives and the Can-Am board works year round to make hosting over 2,000 rugby players,
friends and families look effortless. I would like to take a second and express my admiration and deepest thanks to these extremely hardworking people who do all of this for their simple love of the game; they never ask for anything and don’t bat an eye at the many requests they receive. They just take pride in helping ruggers and our community. As players and fans travel from all over to a little town in the heart of the Adirondacks for one action packed weekend, keep in mind the history of this tournament, the legacy we have built and the future we aspire towards. Enjoy your weekend with friends (new and old) and family. Work hard on the field and enjoy your time off of it. Be safe and considerate of your teammates, opponents and surroundings and you can be a positive part of this year’s tournament that will no doubt be remembered. In closing, the Mountaineers RFC will be out and about all weekend sporting Mountaineers apparel. As the host team from the Men, Women and Old boys if we can be of any help feel free to approach us. We hope to make this weekend one you will cherish forever. Have a great weekend playing and watching the best game in the world. Also make sure to take a second and enjoy these great communities nestled in the Adirondacks. And when you get back to work on Monday or Tuesday if that extra day of recovery is needed try not to be frustrated when others just don’t get what you experienced and understand: your love of rugby; rough, tough, humbling RUGBY!
W Welcome e l c o m e lax lax p players! layers!
Slainte, Cameron Moody, President, Mountaineers RFC
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Hazardous Weather/ Evacuation Policy & Procedures
In the interest of ensuring participant safety and the appropriate use of the fields and facilities, the Can-Am Rugby Committee reserves the right to postpone, cancel, or shorten games due to inclement weather, especially lightning. If lighting or other hazardous weather is detected, the following mandatory procedures will be implemented: • A horn will sound three short blasts to indicate the need for all participants to evacuate the playing fields and return to their vehicles for approximately 30 minutes from when the last lightning or other hazardous condition is detected; • Tents and equipment can be left at the fields until the storm delay is completed; • Once the storm clears, five short horn blasts will denote 15 minutes until resumption of play; • If the evacuation occurs during the first half of a game, the teams will return to play the second half of the game and the entire schedule will be delayed by the duration of the delay; • If the evacuation occurs during the second half of a game, that game may be terminated and the score at the time that play was suspended will be the final score; the next round of games will be played when play resumes and the remaining schedule will be played on a
delayed basis in its entirety. • Please be advised that for all issues effecting game play (e.g.- field/goal conditions, schedules, seeding/reseeding, playoffs, weather-related play halts/restarts, etc.), official information and decisions can only be obtained from the tournament Directors, who are located at the tournament headquarters. Please do not request or expect formal information from score keepers, referees, grounds keepers, or security personnel. • In addition to being available at the tournament headquarters, tournament Directors will first and foremost utilize the tournament website, using email/mobile phones in an emergency, to communicate information pertinent to game play. • It is ultimately the team’s on-site representative’s responsibility to seek out and obtain correct and timely information that affects their team's play from the tournament Directors. This above signifies the need for teams to COMPLETELY fill out the registration forms, including contact information for on-site team representatives. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SAFETY POLICY AND PROCEDURES!
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Sl i pp er y Ro ck
Slippery Rock Alumni at the 2016 Can-Am Rugby Tournament
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North Country Community College has hosted 2 USA v Canada Mens Games in 1980 and 1988 and 3 USA v Canada Women’s matches in 1999-2000-2001
Welcome Ruggers! Largest collection of quality home furnishings in the Adirondacks
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43 Main St., Saranac Lake, NY 891-4170 ~ www.ricefurnitureinc.com 44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
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Referees of the Can-Am The referees of The Saranac Lake/Can Am tournament are a diverse group. Primarily consisting of the New England, New York State, Met New York, Quebec, Niagra/Ontario, East Pennsylvania and Potomac referee societies. Many of these societies utilize their slots for foreign exchange bringing officials from as far away as Japan, The Netherlands, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa. This year we will be highlighting a top French referee from Toulouse. Candidates are expected to be a solid C1 level with some rising C2s. It is a privilege to be selected to officiate to this event and the staff take their duties very seriously.
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B ro c k p o r t D o g g i e s
Brockport’s first appearance in the Can-Am was 1977. They started with 15 players if they were lucky, but have been coming to the Can-Am every year since. For the second year in a row, they have 4 teams entered. This year they are hoping for a real “Quadri” with our Over-45’s fourth victory in a row. Regardless they’ll be bringing well over 200 Brockport Doggie Ruggers and alumni with their family and friends.
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Birth of the SL Mountaineer Rugby Football Club
By Sandy Caligiore While the annual Saranac Lake Can-Am Rugby Tournament dates back to 1974, it was preceded by the creation of the Mountaineers three years earlier. The fledgling squad was made up of parts rugby players and former football athletes. It’s first match occurred at Van Cortlandt Park in Manhattan on March 17, 1971. It was all new to the team and its home community. Back in the day, recruitment was not the fine art that it is today. There were no rugby combines as you see today in the NFL. The formation of the team officially occurred at Mark’s Bar and Grill prior to the inaugural match with Old Blue, and it was done very
democratically. One of the future team members started and ended the recruiting almost immediately. “Who wants to drink beer and kick arse,” he bellowed to the throng. “We do,” replied the assembled patrons. “‘Ere’s your team,” he replied. Always a big football town, Saranac Lake now got accustomed to some new positions with some different, even suggestive names. Recently retired businessman Wayne Newman played loose head; Roger Kirkman was tight head; John Hamburger was the hooker. Draw your own conclusions. On that March day, these newbees took on the iconic side from New York City, losing a close contest with their iconic hosts, 10-6. Little did Old Blue know that they would have a noteworthy presence in Saranac Lake’s early years, winning in 1974 and 1975, and taking runner-up honors from 1976-78.
THE GENESIS OF THE CANAM RUGBY TOURNAMENT So with the above as the backdrop, it all started, once again, at
Mark’s Bar and Grill on Broadway, introducing the three amigos. Kerry “Combat” Kelly, Jan Plumadore and John Morgan, members of the Saranac Lake Mountaineers, sat at a table, tired of making these weekly trips to New York City to pursue their game of rugby. With members of the team imbibing nearby, they wondered if it was possible to get some teams to come to the village over the summer for a tournament. That was the spring of 1974. In the summer, calls were made and eight teams took them up on the offer. The sides came to Saranac Lake for the inaugural Can-Am Rugby Tournament. And come to Saranac Lake they did. Mark’s and The Store, on Bloomingdale Avenue near the current Stewart’s Shop but long gone, were de facto social headquarters. To say the event was greeted with open arms in the community would be an out and out lie. To say those first teams were - how should we say this - unruly, would be the out and out truth. In fact, Morgan, always a lightning rod, was nearly run out of
town for bringing this crowd here. Understand this was no small feat in a village where his parents owned the popular Dew Drop Inn at the time. Yet somehow, not only did the tournament survive, but it developed the additional goal of increasing participation by eight teams every year. Aa the tourney evolved, the norules, nature of the event was replaced by a zero-tolerance code of conduct. This edict, more than anything, turned a spring break-like weekend that you might see in South Padre Island, into a family affair. It’s actually become downright polite. The continuing transformation has seen the village become a site for five international matches for men and women. In the spirit of giving back, the tournament has contributed a substantial sum to local causes and organizations. Now, 44 years later, the tourney is up to more
than 120 teams, and has gone from three days when locals took two of everything, locked their doors and got out of Dodge, to one that’s become a family event, a reunion, a village boost and the premier rugby competition in North America. Oh, and let’s mention Banking Day in Saranac Lake. That’s the Monday after, when everyone departs, and all that’s left are the deposits. They’ve become so hefty that Can-Am Rugby has become Saranac Lake’s top business weekend on the calendar. Back in the day, Mark’s Bar and Grill and The Store not only provided the genesis of the local team and its tournament, but was the beneficiary of those Monday deposits. The two social spots left the local business scene some years ago, but we can say with confidence, that when those three amigos drive by the locations during the tournament, they’ll be chuckling. Maybe not all the way to the bank. Others will do that, but they’ll be chuckling.
Kelley’s Kampers — Kingston, Ontario 1976 Page
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The Saranac Lake Mountaineers pictured at the 1985 Can Am when they won the consolation division. It was the only time that the team had ever advanced to the consolation final and it was coming off a season where they had recorded a 21-1 record. In the early years of the tournament when there was only 1 division the host Mountaineers decided it was appropriate to play the winners from the previous year in the first round. We are still trying to figure out who made that decision and when the tournament expanded to multiple divisions that problem went away.
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No More Elephant Walks: Our Sport is Now in the Olympics By John F. Morgan (One of the 3 tournament founders) Our sport has come a long way since the passionate players is taking hold in the USA won the Olympic Gold Medal in schools. We can feel our sport is coming out rugby at the 1924 Paris Olympics. It was of the dark and growing in such a way that amazing to see our sport return to the maybe we are a generation away from it Olympics in Rio last summer. The accom- being mainstream in the USA much like panying photo and team line-up sheet from Soccer is today. 1924 make me proud to be part of such a We are on a positive roll BUT we still are long-standing tradition. That said, some of reading about teams who are getting thrown us remember Rugby in the 1970’s when the off campus for lewd behavior. If our game is off the field behavior was as important as to continue to develop we need all of us to on the field of play. We all participated in police our own teams and individuals. If some kind of act that we might not be proud you see a fellow player doing something of today and it is that message I want to lewd or destructive this weekend step in convey. yourself and advise him that this is not in It is time for us to take our sport to the the best interests of the sport and he or she next level and we need to clean up the off are damaging the image of our sport. the field behavior instinct that taking your As you enjoy the beautiful setting of the clothes off in public is cool or thrashing a Adirondacks this weekend in Saranac Lake hotel room is worth something. and Lake Placid please respect the area. Rugby is now an Olympic Sport. We see Take it on yourself to be a Rugby Ambascrowds of 65,000 people going to Soldier sador and be nice to the locals who have put Field to watch games between the Eagles up with us for the last 44 years. The reputaand All Blacks and games are being tele- tion of the Can AM Rugby Tournament in vised LIVE on NBC!!! Most importantly, town over the last few years has improved the game through the efforts of 1000’s of but we still could do better. The USA rugby team took the Gold Medal at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
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Tha n k you forvotin g u s #1 forTow in g #1 forAu to Repa ir MADDEN’S GARAGE TOWING & RECOVERY
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For the th year in a row Can AM to host Wheelchair Rugby Wheelchair rugby (originally called murderball, and known as quad rugby in the United States) is a team sport for athletes with a disability. It is practiced in over twenty-five countries around the world and is a summer Paralympic sport. The US name is based on the requirement that all wheelchair rugby players need to have disabilities that include at least some loss of function in at least three limbs. Although most have spinal cord injuries, players may also qualify through multiple amputations, neurological disorders or other medical conditions. Players are assigned a functional level in points, and each team is limited to fielding a team with a total of eight points. Wheelchair rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court, and physical contact between wheelchairs is an integral part of the game. The rules include elements from wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, handball and rugby union. The sport is governed worldwide by the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) and within the US by the US Quad Rugby Association. The Can-Am Rugby Tournament added a wheelchair rugby division in 2013. The division is made up of Canadian and US players from Montreal (CA), New England, Ottawa (CA), and Western NY. Games were originally played at North Country Community College. But after one year at the Saranac Lake Civic Center, games are currently played at the Lake Placid Training Center.
SCHEDULES
ROSTERS
Ottawa Stingers
Reid Mulligan................3.5 Briana Hennessy............3.0 Montreal Maniacs
Steve Menard ................1.0 Alexi Macias ................2.5
Yanick Racicot ..............1.5 Anthony Létourneau......2.0 NEP Wildcats
Billy Bouffard................0.5 Robbie Dudzisz ............1.0 Keenan Weischedel ......1.5 Mike Wright ..................2.0 Graeme Crowther ..........2.5 Ryan Coy ......................3.0 Connecticut
Friday 4:00pm ......TEAM 4 vs. TEAM 1 5:30pm ......TEAM 2 vs. TEAM 3 7:00pm ......TEAM 4 vs. TEAM 2
Saturday 9:00am ......TEAM 1 vs. TEAM 3 10:30am ....TEAM 2 vs. TEAM 1 12:00pm ....TEAM 4 vs. TEAM 3 1:30 ............1st vs. 4th (Game #1) 3:00 ............2nd vs. 3rd (Game #2) 4:30pm ......Bronze Medal Game (Loser G1 vs. Loser G2) 6:00pm ......Gold Medal Game (Winner G1 vs. Winner G2)
Brett Smith ....................2.0 WNY Wreckers
Chris Hilderbrant ..........1.0 Dave Sprout ..................1.5 Nick Newman................2.0
Jeremy Lorch ................3.0 Jenn Mason....................2.5
Leo Bascaia ..................1.5 Luther Vucic ................0.5 AJ Leitch ......................0.5
Daniel Flores ................3.5
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44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
July 8-30, 017
Ask for Ruggers’ Golf Special!
July 8-30, 017
44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
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High School Rugby Teams face off in a 7’s match between finals games In the tradition of the Can Am, the committee has decided to promote a 7’s exhibition between 2 high school teams. 7’s has always been featured on the fields during the finals. We want to tease you that next year if we get it our way we will have a Under 20’s match featuring the Olympic Stars of tomorrow from the USA and Canada. Here are the 2 teams that will be facing off. Both of these teams have been playing against each other every year - this year the Saratoga Mustangs went to the NYS Division II Championships in 15’s and the Foothills Rangers just bested the Mustangs in 7’s this past weekend at the Saratoga 7’s Invitational - very competitive against each other and fun to watch - both teams have very athletic kids that have cutting and breakaway speed…high scoring 7’s action - good for TV.
Saratoga Mustangs
Foothills Rangers
Johnny’s
P izza Rest Pizza R esta u ra nt nte Mountain Views
Now Serving Beer & Wine!
Fast Delivery! Easy, Free Parking
8 M o rningside D riv e, L a ke Pla cid, NY 12946 (Co rner o fRo ute 86 & Ro ute 73)
518-523-2323 o r 518-523-2337 D ine in • Ta ke o u t • Free D eliv ery Open 11am – 10 pm • Clo sed Tuesday
Union County, NJ Mudturtles RFC
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44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
July 8-30, 017
For the first time, the Can-Am Rugby Tournament will LIVE stream matches The Rugby Channel to air championship matches on July 30 SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. - Organizers of the 44th Can-Am Rugby Tournament have announced that the Rugby Channel will televise championship matches on Sunday, July 30, from North Country Community College (NCCC) in Saranac Lake, NY. This marks the tournament’s debut on a live broadcast platform over the internet.
July 8-30, 017
Play-by-play, real-time statistics and Twitter feed aggregation will be included in the live streams. Action will take place at the Sparks Athletic Complex on the college campus, which has a history of hosting major international rugby competitions since 1980. Tournament schedule can be found at
CanAmRugby.com NCCC has hosted five USA-Canada international matches, men and women, at the site dubbed “The Bowl” by rugby fans. The championship matches have been staged there for all but 10 years of the previous 43 tournaments. The Rugby Channel (TheRugbyChannel.tv), affiliated with USA Rugby, came to life 15 months ago. It offers free and on-demand coverage from the United States, Great Britain and the Southern Hemisphere.
44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
In addition to rugby matches, The Rugby Channel’s menu includes the weekly news magazine World Rugby TV. The largest rugby event in North America takes place July 28-30 with action on 16 pitches in Saranac Lake and Lake Placid. The 44th renewal of the Saranac Lake event will feature 120 sides with men, women, young and old boys. The tournament creates significant economic impact for Saranac Lake’s business community.
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Can-Am salutes Old Blue The most successful team in the tournament’s history
The Old Blue is infinitely more than simply a rugby club. It is a hypothetical construct. It is an idea and an ideal, just as America is an idea and far more than merely a nation state. Our Old Blue is aspiration. It is commitment. It is character - an essence of quality and moral strength, all in the context of competition. Always in the pursuit of perfection. It is expressed by each Old Blue alongside with, and on behalf of, his Old Blue teammates on the pitch. It is ever forward-looking, beyond the horizon and beyond any limits that may be imposed upon us. It is selflessness; it is subservience to that which is larger than self. It is sacrifice and self-sacrifice. It is consummately other-oriented. It is as much perhaps defined by what it is not, as by that which it is. It is not individual opportunism. It brooks neither egoism nor narcissism on the field of play. It is not complacency. It is not resignation, ever. It is perseverance, defiance and an unshakable resolve to prevail. Dare to imagine all this, and it becomes possible. The Old Blue has but one goal, one objective, one mission. Victory. Nothing less is ever acceptable. Page 38
OB and the Saranac Lake Tournament (aka The Can-Am):
This includes some very interesting Facts and statistics on OB performance and contribution to the Event. This includes total events won, total Finals appearances, total event anniversaries won, strings of consecutive Finals appearances and finally, that string of consecutive Can-Am wins, after which OB sent a few pick up sides before ultimately ceasing to enter.
• FACT: OB has won the event 14 times, as per below:1974 * 1975 * 1983 * 1985 * 1991 *1993 * 1998 * 2001 * 2002 * 2003 *2004 * 2005 * 2006 * 2008 (Bolded are consecutive Won) • FACT: The last time OB won it was, as per above, in 2008, on the occasion of the Can-Am 35th Anniversary. • FACT: OB appeared in the Can-Am Finals 26 of those 35 events from 1974 through 2008 inclusive. (In the 9 that OB did not reach the finals in its first 35 years, OB either did not send a team or sent a pick up side. Since 2008, OB sent pick up sides 2009-2012 inclusive, 2012 being the last year that OB appeared at the Can-Am) • Aside: OB has not been to the event since 2012. • FACT: OB won the first two Saranac Lake Tournaments (1974 & 1975). • FACT: Can-Am Anniversaries: OB won 6 of the 8 event Anniversary years: the 1st, 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th & 35th anniversary Can-Ams before OB ceased to enter! • FACT: OB reached consecutive Can-Am Finals as follows: 1990s: 4 in a row (1990-1993) & 5 in a row (1995-1999); • FACT: 2000s: WON an unprecedented 7 consecutive that OB entered (2001-2008 - did not enter 2007). 44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
July 8-30, 017
Welcome Rugby Players!
Bitters & Bones Welcome Ruggers! Offering eclectic local cuisine, and craft cocktails in a warm, welcoming environment. Come by for Drinks Specials, Live Music and our Special Fundraiser Event!
LIVE MUSIC: Friday/Saturday Night with Sean McNally, From 9pm-12am
Downtown Pub with the BEST Draft Beer Selection and Full A/C. Always Open Until 3AM
BEER & DEADLIFTS:
SATURDAY: DJ from 9PM-Close
Fundraiser to Benefit The Fenton and Marlow Families in Their Battle Against Cancer $25 Entry Fee Earns Contestants an Event T’shirt, an Engraved Pint Glass, A Free Beer from Great Adirondack Steak & Seafood, a The Chance to Display their Strength and A Shot at Glory!
59 Main Street ~ Saranac Lake ~ 518-891-6393
65 Broadway, Saranac Lake • 518-354-8270
THIRSTY THURSDAY: 2 for 1 on Dale’s, Switchback, Sierra Torpedo and Anchorstream all day. FRIDAY: Saranac Lake Downtown Happy Hour 6-9PM
A Legendary Can-Am Watering Hole! Best Margaritas in town!
513 Lake Flower Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY 12983 518-891-2272 www.casadelsolsaranac.com
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Casa-Del-Sol July 8-30, 017
44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
Look for our Food Truck at the Can-Am Finals! Page 39
Friday, July 8, 017
Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Check CanAmRugby.com for official, up-to-date information
Welcome to Can-Am 017
As your tournament director, I want everybody to understand and see all the hard work put out by the CanAm Tournament board, various committees, local staff and volunteers. We hope to provide some great games and some very scenic venues. One of the hardest of my jobs is scheduling and brackets with the All-Star and Alumni teams always entering the tournament under various names makes for a tough placement but as you can see we try our very best. I look forward to seeing and meeting everybody at Sundays Game Finals (The Bowl) at NCCC. Please take some time out of your busy weekend to look around at our beautiful park and towns. Enjoy yourselves! Leave no trace Thanks for coming, Jay Annis Can-Am Tournament Director
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44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
July 8-30, 017
Saturday, July 9, 017 - Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Check CanAmRugby.com for official, up-to-date information
Sunday, July 30, 017 - Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Check CanAmRugby.com for official, up-to-date information
July 8-30, 017
44th Annual Can-Am Rugby Tournament 017
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