Give me the football

It was during the summer of 1988 that I first recall athlete Troy Lauther. Playing baseball that season with the Mr. Kool Radiator Juniors, and the likes of Winston Brown, Jeff Fielding, Jason Willis, Kevin Matheson, Allan Mingo, Gerry Hale Junior and Fabian Shipley, the local club captured the Atlantic junior baseball championship by upsetting the heavy favourites - Newcastle.
Glenn Matheson, assisted by Gerry Hale and Earl McKenna, were the coaches and young Sarah McKenna was the batgirl.
Lauther went on to star in football at CEC and 1989 was probably his biggest year in sports. The outstanding running back and line back was named the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation's 'Most Valuable Player.'
When asked recently what he recalled about the 1989 football season, Lauther responded, "we had a dominating team, we went undefeated and won the championship game over Prince Andrew 50-0. Steve Sarty was our big wide receiver, Steve Frizzle and I were the two running backs. Rick Kaupp and Scotty Cameron were our coaches."
During recent years we also followed Troy's brother Russ Lauther as he provided the long ball and some timely base hits in both provincial and national senior fastball play.
So, when the name Brett Lauther surfaced especially the past couple of years - we took notice.
Breaking in with the Cobequid Cougars in 2006, it was actually 2007 that Lauther more or less announced, 'give me the football."
The slot back and kicker was determined to take advantage of a large turn over in team personnel and although only playing his second season of football, what a year he would have.
With CEC winning the championship game 50-2 over Citadel High, he kicked both a 40-yard and a 25-yard field goal, while also recording 135 receiving yards on five catches. Voted the 2007 Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation All-Star receiver 18 years after his father, Troy, was named the federation's 'Most Valuable Player,' the 17-year-old, Grade 11 student commented with a smile.
"I began playing soccer at five years of age and that sport has helped me with my kicking. Deciding to try football by chance two years ago after having never been in the game, it has all been gratifying. Getting to play a lot more this season, with us losing several of our star players, that made a big difference. I was also happy to get to play under Scotty Cameron who coached my father."
Interestingly, football scouts from schools as far away as Waterloo, Ont., have been showing considerable interest in Brett Lauther but it's a hands-off policy until he reaches his Grade 12 year.
Speaking about the future, he shared with sincerity.
"I want badly to play college football. I'm looking forward to next season with CEC, hopefully, some schools will be interested. I appreciate that Terry Baker, Scotty Annand and others have really been helping me so we'll see what happens."
While Troy Lauther, Brett and I were enjoying talking about football and sports recently, we all marvelled at how similar the margin of victory was as CEC won the 1989 championship game 50-0 with Troy playing compared to the 50-2 win this season with Brett carrying the Lauther name. Perhaps it's just another hint that in sports, who really knows - one Lauther, then another Lauther, a 50-0 score and then a 50-2 score, I've never be able to figure it out.
In hockey, Brett plays right wing on a dangerous scoring line with Nick Carroll on left wing and Mike Townsend at centre with the strong minor midget Truro ScotiaMcLeod Bearcats.
Thirteen-year-old goaltender Dennis Nolan of Upper Stewiacke recently enjoyed spending some time with the National Hockey League's winningest goaltender of all time- Patrick Roy.
Roy, who won Stanley Cups with both the Montreal Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche, was in Halifax for a game between the Mooseheads and the Quebec Remparts, who he owns and coaches.
Nolan, a promising netminder with the Brookfield AA Bantam Elks, shared.
"I remember Patrick Roy playing late in his career with Colorado. I remember him winning a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. I liked how aggressive he was when facing shooters. When his team needed a big game he came through.
"It was exciting for me to meet Roy and to talk with him in person. He was interested in where I played position-wise, where at and as to how I was getting along. He told me to always go out and have fun which I agree is very important."

Lyle Carter is a Brookfield resident and former NHL?hockey player