Three locals snag sports headlines on Tuesday

North Bay natives Mike Yeo, Dominique Bouchard and Cameron Yeates are taking big steps in their respective careers and sports.

Yeo has been named as an Assistant Coach for Team Canada’s World Championship team for the tournament in Russia this May.

Bouchard begins her Olympic Swimming Qualifying races tomorrow (Wednesday).

And Yeates has signed with the Nipissing Lakers.

North Bay’s Mike Yeo is heading to Russia in May.

Hockey Canada has announced the coaching staff for the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Moscow and St Petersburgh and Yeo has been named an assistant coach.

Carolina’s Bill Peters returns as Head Coach while Senators bench boss Dave Cameron and Hockey Canada’s Misha Donskov are the other two assistants.

After most recently spending over four seasons at Head Coach of the Minnesota Wild, Hockey Canada says Yeo will be making his international coaching debut at the upcoming World Championship.

Olympic qualifying is taking place at the Pan Am pool in Toronto and North Bay’s Dominique Bouchard has a couple events this week.

The 100m backstroke goes tomorrow (Tues) with the 200m backstroke on Sunday.

In March, Bouchard won silver in the 100m and 200m backstoke events the Arena Pro Swim Series in Orlando, Florida.

In January, Swim Canada announced their 2015 stroke award winners with Bouchard winning female Backstroke Swimmer of the Year honours.

North Bay native Cameron Yeates has signed on with the Nipissing Lakers men’s volleyball team.

Yeates is graduating out of Widdifield Secondary School this year and will bring depth to the middle position for the Lakers.

In a released Head Coach Eric Yung says “Any time we are able to add a local product to our program is exciting. Our middle position was thin last year due to injuries leaving Warren Taylor and Jack Peckham with a heavy workload throughout the year. With the addition of Cameron and fellow recruit Randy Beauchamp, this will alleviate some of the impact stress for our senior middle blockers.”

Yeates said Nipissing is a perfect fit for him – both athletically and academically and he’s looking forward to contributing to the program in any way he can.

“I chose Nipissing for the small school environment and the small class sizes. I chose to play Nipissing volleyball because I love the sport and Nipissing has a very well-run program that really cares about the development of their athletes,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to representing North Bay, becoming part of the team and improving myself as an athlete and a person.”

Yeates made two OFSAA appearances in volleyball and won an NDA championship in 2012, 14 and 15 while winning NOSSA titles in 2013 and 14.

Photo from Rob Fenton