Today many young boys in Augustine Cove are members of 1hl| Crapaud Minor Hockey Association. The minor hockey owes a great deb I of gratitude to the late Claud Mac Williams who really organized the firsl ( minor hockey team in this area. This was a group of boys (Bantams) a I this, and surrounding districts who in that year, 1954, won the Islam c championship in their division. The boys from this area who were mem a bers of that team were: Dale Mac Williams , Alger Cutcliffe, Wayne Howftt t c Today there are sports the year round in which to take part em Augustine Cove has many participants in such sports as hockey, curling K figure skating, skiing, ski-dooing, golfing, horse racing, fishing, swimming I and hunting. Indeed, it can truly be said that Augustine Cove is a vtrj I sports-minded community. "OLDTIME ICEBOAT CROSSINGS" With the efficient winter service now provided by the M.V. Abeg I weit and the M.V. John Hamilton Grey , it is difficult to realize the hard ships involved in the iceboat crossings of Northumberland Strait in earlier days. (A re-enactment of these crossings was carried out in the j winter of 1973, by three crews of men—one crew being from Prii ce i County, one from Queens and one from Kings. Many people were en¬ lightened as to what the courageous men went through many years a.?o. ( when these crossings by iceboat were carried out many days in winter.) Up to the commencement of the car ferry service in 1917, the communication between Prince Edward Island and the mainland v.*a; often interrupted by heavy ice blocking the winter steamers and the only j communication between Cape Traverse and The first ] record of an iceboat crossing was in 1825 when one or two trips were made from Wood Islands to Pictou, a distance of twenty miles. In 1828 private parties tried crossing from Cape Traverse to the New Brunswick shore, a distance of some nine or ten miles. Trips wore sometimes made once a month, later as often as weekly. This was con¬ tinued until 1861 when one or more boats endeavoured to cross at leas! twice weekly — later extended to three trips a week — until shortly after the Island entered Confederation when the Federal Government tool over the service and plans were made for daily crossings. The boats used for this work were about 18 feet long, strongly constructed of oak and had two runners, covered with iron on the bottom to be used as sleds where solid ice was to be found. They were equipped with oars, and a sail could be set up and used if required. They hat straps on each side by which the crew and passengers hauled the boat: when open water, or lolly, was encountered, the oars were used. When the government took over the operation each boat had a crew of a captain and four men. Mails and small baggage were carried, also any passenger who wished to take the risk. The fare for passengers was $2.00 if the! helped to haul the boat, or $4.00 or $5.00 to sit in the boat and not wort When conditions were good the average time for a crossing wa' from three to four hours, but often times a whole day would be require' depending on the condition of the ice in the Strait, and the weather. 40