Skip to content
Worth Repeating: Every now and then, a multi-sport athlete comes along
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
BROOKFIELD, N.S. — During the 1950s – young people very likely read newspapers and scanned sports pages more than young people do today.
As a young kid, I remember reading about Les Topshee, a Sydney native who became a Truro resident. Topshee, a former Sydney Junior Millionaires hockey player, eventually joined Truro Bearcats of the APC Hockey League. Topshee would later become a well-known Truro hockey coach.
But standing out to me ‘most,’ and staying in my memory bank, had been reading that Topshee was a ‘4-Letter Athlete’ while attending Saint Francis Xavier University. He participated in four sports; hockey, basketball, rugby, and track and field. The exceptional multi-sport athlete was later inducted into both the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame and the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame.
On occasion over the years, athletes who fit the ‘multi-sport’ portfolio have come into focus. This week, we’ll meet one such athlete.
“I really enjoy playing hockey and ball, but I have a big passion for golf,” Rylan Sutherland, 15, of Brookfield, said. “I was eight or nine when I started going to the Brookfield golf course with my dad (Brad Sutherland); I go down every night and hit balls off the tee, I love it. I probably make 70 drives a night, then I go and play a hole. I find that it’s important in golf to work on the parts of your game which need help.”
Golf highlights began early for Sutherland, as an 11-year-old he won an important qualifying tournament at Chester Golf Club. This earned him the right to travel stateside and play in an elite tournament at the Talamore Golf Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
“Yes, I got to go to the United States and play in the three-day World Kids Golf Championship,” Sutherland told me. “I remember playing there and shooting an 82. I thought I could have played better, but when I look back now, I’m pleased with how I did. The atmosphere was incredible, I’d rate it one of my best experiences ever in golf.”
The closing parade is still a strong memory for Sutherland.
“We paraded for a long distance – the Nova Scotia golfers as well as dozens of other golfers from all over the world.”
Sutherland was the Junior Club Champion at the Brookfield Golf & Country Club in both 2018 and 2020, however, he seemed more interested in talking about other things.
“Nick Penny, Gavin Harrison and I got to play in the men’s championship last year at Brookfield,” Sutherland said. “You learn a lot from more mature and experienced golfers in the game like Mike Henderson, Corey and Ryan Sutherland and Robert Putnam, who is very consistent.
“Sports keep showing me things in life like everything is not all about yourself. Sport teaches you respect, leadership and helps you mature. I’d like to see what I can accomplish in golf, but regarding a career, I was also thinking I would like to be an RCMP officer. Police forces do a lot of good things, it’s important work … I think I’d enjoy a career in the RCMP.”
Brookfield’s Mike Henderson, an outstanding veteran multi-sport athlete, was asked to comment on Sutherland.
“While Rylan demonstrated considerable skill on the ball field, on basketball and volleyball courts, as well as the rink, his most impressive showings have been in golf,” Henderson said. “His high skill level is very evident; he manages his way around a course with a maturity level typically only seen in much older players.
“Rylan has been tournament tested from a young age and is in the distinct minority of golfers who play better golf away from their home course – something most aspire to, but don’t reach.”
Henderson’s comment came to mind when Colchester County golfers stepped up during the recent Oakfield Junior Invitational. Brookfield’s Nick Penny shot an outstanding 73 to win the event, Truro’s Zach Gaudet was second with a 78, and Sutherland shot an 80 for third.
On the ball field, Sutherland and his Brookfield Elks teammates won the Eastern Canadian Softball Championship in 2022. Fast forward to the recent regional high school slow-pitch championship – Sutherland played some terrific ball from his second-base position, as a member of South Colchester Academy. Finishing with a record of 4-1, SCA lost in their final game to Hants North (Kennetcook) Both teams advanced to provincials.
Regarding the upcoming fastpitch ball, Sutherland commented.
“Our championship Brookfield team from last year is excited about stepping up to play in the Shooters Bar & Grill Fastpitch League. To play against the big boys, we’ve added a few older players to our roster.”
In hockey, Sutherland has come off two exceptional seasons. During 2021-22, he played some of the best hockey of his career with Truro Bearcats in the U-15 Major provincial league. In 2022-23, the hustling rightwinger recorded 25 points in helping the Truro-based ‘Ryan Porter coached’ Fundy Thunder U-16 AA team claim league championship honours.
My last question for the ‘impressive’ multi-sport athlete was regarding his long-term hockey outlook.
“Someday, it would be nice to play junior A hockey like Ryan Porter did,” Sutherland said. “Then, I’d like to work with younger athletes and help them like Ryan does.”
As I left the recent interview, recorded in an Elk Park dugout, I couldn’t help but think to myself – “Wow…”
_________________________________________________________
Worth Repeating is a weekly column touching on stories from the past, life experiences and events from the present day. If you have a column idea, contact Lyle at 902 673-2857.
