Times Contributor

 

After a successful trial run in 2011, the Strathmore Tri-Smore is coming back again this summer, June 23, and is expected to become an annual event. 

The Tri-Smore is an athletic event that is by the community, for the community. The race celebrates healthy living and promotes active lifestyles within the Strathmore community. Accommodating all age groups and fitness levels, there are four categories that participants can choose from: Full Smore (17 years plus), Half Smore (13-17 years), Quarter Smore (Under 13 years), and the Two Bit Smore(Under 8 years). Team options are available for participants as well.

All categories begin with a swim, and are followed by a bike and a run. All categories vary in distance.  

 The cost is $60 for adults, $20 for youth and $15 for the ‘two bit smores’. Adult teams are $150 and youth teams are $60. The price includes a swim cap, a t-shirt, and post race nourishment. If the Tri-Smore makes a profit, proceeds will be given back to the community to support healthy living. The Tri-Smore broke even the preceding year, due to the initial cost of signage and equipment.

 “In the younger kid’s categories, the costs are barely covered due to the price of shirts, timings and medals, so we depend on sponsorships to help out. We want to keep the race very reasonably priced so that families and individuals can afford to do it,” said race director, Niki Johnson. 

Johnson saw a great need for the Tri-Smore when she began taking her children to races in surrounding communities. The question that fuelled the fire was, “How come we aren’t doing this in Strathmore?” 

The Tri-Smore had a successful turnout of 300 participants in its first year, and Johnson is anticipating 350-400 in the second. She can see it growing considerably larger in the future, due to Strathmore’s close location to Calgary and, the fact that the race accommodates all age groups and fitness levels. 

 “I’m excited, I’d love to see it grow bigger than that, but I’m also happy to take growth in stride. I don’t want it to get too big too fast, so we can’t handle it,” said Johnson. 

For anyone who is new to the Tri-Smore and is debating whether or not to try it, Johnson plainly stated, “just do it.”

 “When I did my first triathlon, five or six years ago, I just decided that it was my year. I set the goal, I worked towards it and I trained. The Olympic distance but was what I decided to do and I did it. I felt like I conquered the world at the end, just because it was a life goal that I had. It’s empowering, it’s something that challenges you but, when you are done, you think, ‘wow, I did it!’” said Johnson. 

The Tri-Smore celebrates participation in a fun and friendly environment, and can be as competitive as each individual wants it to be. 

“Everyone is doing the best they can. You’re not going to be pulled off the course if you don’t meet a certain time. We just want people to be active, set a goal, work towards it and, complete it,” encouraged Johnson.

On the day of the Tri-Smore, you can find the race director “running the race but not running the race,” laughed Johnson. 

“I’ll be there and I’ll be around, but I won’t be competing. I’m not quite to that point yet,” said Johnson. 

Participants can apply online at www.tri-smore.com with a preferred deadline of May 27. Applications may be received after the deadline, but will be not guaranteed a t-shirt. 

 

Times Contributor

 

It will be exciting and competitive softball in Strathmore from Aug. 9 to 12 when the Western Canadian Fastpitch Softball Championships will be hosted.

The girls Bantam ‘A’ Boston Pizza (BP) Thunder team is the host for the event.

“Being the host just adds excitement to the team and they realize that all year. Every time they go on the field it has a meaning. All season playing primarily higher age teams (Midget, Jr and Intermediate Women’s) will always keep them ready,” said Lanky Johnson, coach and manager for the team, in an e-mail interview.

The team began play in the Calgary Women’s Fastball league on May 2, and has been practicing indoors throughout the winter and attending indoor clinics since February.

The BP Thunder won the Alberta U16 ‘B’ provincials last year, and hosting the western championship sets the stage for a higher level of play for all the girls in the league to aspire to, said Johnson, who is also girls director for the league.

The championship will feature 16 teams, with two boys and two girls teams coming from each western province.

Admission to the tournament will be free for anyone under 18 years old.

Johnson said he is hopeful the community will get involved with the event.

“Help is always wanted and needed, you can never have enough.”

Boston Pizza is the main sponsor for the team and the event.

This is not the first time Strathmore has hosted softball championships. The Western Canadian Pee Wee Championships were hosted by Calgary Minor Softball two years ago and Strathmore assisted. The Jr. ‘B’ Women’s Championship was also hosted in the past, according to Johnson.

For more information about the event, or to get involved, visit the league website at strathmorefastpitch.com.

Times Reporter

 

Strathmore High School (SHS) badminton players have once again done their school proud by bringing home another zones banner. This is the third banner the school has earned in the last five years. 

“It’s a bit of a surprise because we only had 21 kids go to zones and sometimes I’ve gone with as many as 30, and so the kids who were there did very well,” said coach Kenton Zandee. 

Zandee feels if there had been a banner to win for the last 20 years, SHS would have easily brought home 10 of them. Though he credits the players who went to zones with helping bring the banner home, Zandee also feels those who didn’t attend played a crucial role. 

“In order to win zones everyone’s got to get a few wins. You can’t just have one or two people winning a lot because that doesn’t get you the number of points you need. So it’s definitely a team effort,” said Zandee.

“I would also give credit to the players who did not make it to zones because they were at the practices working hard, challenging the guys who actually did manage to make it to zones. 

“If you don’t have that sort of nucleus it’s very difficult for kids to develop and so that’s one of the advantages of Strathmore High School compared to a lot of our competitors. We had about 30 really good kids (and) only 21 made it to zones, but a lot of times they were beating each other out for those positions.”

Many of this year’s players are in Grade 12, but Zandee could see from the junior high zones held on May 4 that there is a lot of talent coming his way from the Grade 9 students. 

Times Reporter

 

A new hockey program is coming to Strathmore, this one put on by Golden Hills School Division and Westmount Elementary School. 

The program will be open to any Grade 5 or 6 students who either have curious interest in the sport, or who may just want to get in some extra time on the ice. 

“It’s not an elite academy, they don’t have to have top end kids. We want to look for kids who are looking for something else in their school day and hockey might be something that fits them,” said Westmount Principal Wayne Funk. 

“It’s going to be a skill-based program, we’re going to work on skating skills, individual hockey skills, teamwork skills. We are looking for kids who really want to get more ice time and who want to learn from somebody different from their regular hockey coach, just to have some better, different, opportunities.”

Andrew Buchanan has an extensive sports background, playing AAA hockey up to the junior level and competitive lacrosse up to the junior A level. Buchanan was even drafted for semi-professional lacrosse. 

“Then my passion for sports led me to the University of Alberta where I received my bachelor of physical education and bachelor of education,” said Buchanan.  

“After graduating from there my passion for sports led me to coaching at many different sports academyies and now I’m in Strathmore today and ready to use my knowledge and expertise to help develop a hockey program.”

The goal is to get 75 hours of ice time between early September and mid-March. The cost per student is $400, which includes ice time, transportation and Buchanan’s coaching. 

The program will take place during the regular school hours, which may have some people worried it is taking away from other areas. 

“The amount of time that we’re taking out of the school day for this program is the amount of time that Alberta Education call optional time. So they give us, at Grade 5 and 6, they give us 15 per cent of the school year can be used towards optional pursuits,” said Funk. 

Usually what happens is the 15 per cent is dispersed between the other classes, and still will be for the students who aren’t taking the hockey program. 

High school students will also have a chance to get in on the action. There will be a mentorship program where some Grade 11 and 12 students will be able to attend the ice sessions and help the younger students out, while gaining credits for themselves.  

Final details are being worked out, and the program will be available to any Grade 5 or 6 Westmount student this coming September. 

 

Shannon LeClair  

Times Reporter

 

Pro wrestling came to Strathmore on May 2 thanks to the Strathmore Elks Club. The Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (CWNA) is currently on a spring tour and was invited to make the stop for a show in town. The five-match event featured a tag team match, and ladies wrestling and of course good old one-on-one wrestling. 

“It was just like the old Stampede Wrestling and how they used to come out into the communities. The curling rink worked great for that because it wasn’t being used at the time and so we were able to get in there and use the kitchen,” said Don Perepelkin, secretary with the Strathmore Elks. 

Tickets sold for $10, and Perepelkin said 130 to 150 people attended the family friendly event. Proceeds raised from the event will be given back to the community for various projects. The Westmount Elementary School playground project is one that will be benefiting from the Elks. 

“Anything we make off of that goes back into our main fund, which is the same as when we do catering or bartending at weddings it goes back into our account,” said Perepelkin.

“Then if a group needs help or something like that then depending on how much we’ve put in the bank and how much we’ve raised we can help out with those projects.”

CNWA wrestler Massive Damage speaks to students at local schools about addiction through the CNWA Fight for Life program. Unfortunately things didn’t work out for the wrestler to visit a Strathmore school this time, but there could be a chance in the future. 

Perepelkin does think it’s possible the Elks will bring wrestling back to Strathmore at some point. 

Times Contributor

 

All it took was two games. A star player in volleyball, basketball and boys’ lacrosse,  sixteen-year-old Jade Ballance is now also a rugby star.

After playing  just two  games for the Strathmore High School (SHS) Spartans, the Grade 10 student  qualified for the Alberta summer regional rugby team during  trials in Calgary on April 29, and will soon compete for a place on the provincial squad.

“I played boys’ lacrosse for four years (with the Strathmore Venom) until the boys got too big,” said Ballance.

“I’m glad I’m playing rugby now because I missed contact sports.”

SHS coach Jerry Flaws describes Ballance as “fast and aggressive,” both good qualities for a rugby player at the fly-half position.

It was Flaws who recruited Ballance to the school’s rugby team.

“She was our best volleyball and basketball player at SHS. She could easily make a university rugby team right now,” said Flaws.

Ballance was introduced to rugby during a family reunion when her uncle  and her father showed her how to play. It was the first time she had ever laid  eyes or hands on a rugby ball. 

Ballance has no sports idols but calls her father Scott  her “biggest inspiration.” She plays better when she knows he is in the stands, watching her every move. Yet, knowing he is there also makes Jade a bit nervous, said Scott Ballance.

Scott had some concerns when his daughter began to play rugby.

“I was worried about the basics of the game. But after watching her play the first time, I knew she was okay. She excels and catches on quick,” said Scott. 

Jade’s father played soccer, football and rugby while in high school in Okotoks. In 1988 he set four world junior records in power lifting at the World Championships, then held in Victoria, B.C.  He  also competed in the 1992 World Championships in Stone, England, but retired from the sport when things got “too political.”

Although rugby is a tough contact sport, rugby players don’t wear protective equipment except for headgear for the ears and mouth guards. Jade isn’t sure mouth guards count as “equipment.”

“I am not too familiar with rugby,” said Jade’s mother Janine. “But I figure it out  a bit more with each game I attend.”

Janine was a competitive gymnast in elementary school and a track athlete and badminton player in high school.

Jade’s “extremely proud” brother Seth, 18, is  also an athlete  but  has been out of action for a year with a broken foot. Seth hopes to get back to lacrosse soon. In the fall he is headed for Mount Royal University and  the broadcasting program.

“It would be really cool to get a sports scholarship to university,” said Jade.

Any one of basketball, volleyball or rugby could get Jade a scholarship, said Scott.

“We have no preference. We stand behind her. We’re  so proud,” said  Janine. 

The University of Calgary, the University of Lethbridge and the University of Alberta all have women’s rugby teams.

There are two types of rugby: seven and 15 to a side. Sevens rugby will be included in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

 

Times Contributor

 

The Akokiniskway Golf Course is proudly sporting a new bridge across the Rosebud River on their course.

Last year’s winter run-off was so violent in Rosebud that the Akokiniskway wooden bridge was completely wiped out under its pilings. 

Owner Albert Clark bought and moved on the pretty piece of the Rosebud river property in 1962 where he and his wife raised their family of three girls.

After grooming the land, Clark opened the golf course of nine holes in 1991. The Akokiniskway (“by the river of many roses”) course has been gaining popularity over the years and is often associated with the School of the Arts located in town. The valley itself used to be a meeting place for the different First Nations tribes to come together in a peaceful location. The name became well known in the 70’s and is the official name of the Rosebud history book.

Clark, along with his daughter Lois Klassen (operator of the course), knew the bridge needed to be reconstructed, as the ninth hole plays on both sides of the river.

Construction started on August 15 of last year because they could not start until after July due to sustainable resource mandate of fish and fowl in the area. 

The old bridge was wooden and narrow while the new bridge is concrete and “flood proof.” 

Clark said that there is “nothing as pretty or as ugly as a river,” as he recalled the flooding of last year. The new bridge is wide enough to allow for two-way traffic of the golf carts to pass each other on the course.

Clark and Klassen are pleased to be up and running again for the season with all nine holes which they officially opened on April 21. They are hoping to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony in the near future and plan to make a party out of the day.

The club offers many amenities for those travelling from far and wide to play the course. They have a pro-shop run by local Gary Storrs. They have a licensed cafeteria-style restaurant, a concession, 30 power carts and 12 pull carts, rental clubs and tournament facilities.

Once again they will be holding a flexible junior program in the summer and lessons for all ages will be available through their pro, Phil McCluskey.

For more information about their camping facilities, programming or booking events please refer to their website http://www.rosebudgolf.caor check out their Facebook page.

Times Contributor

 

Now in its third year running, the Wheatland Wildfire Basketball Community Club is rapidly growing in numbers due to the popularity of the sport and integrity of the program.

Coach Kyle Larson and his wife Leslie initiated the program three years ago out of a desire to improve the “love of the game” in Strathmore and the area of East Wheatland. 

Pat Fule had already introduced many younger students to basketball through the STARS/JETS program for Grades 1 to 9. Wildfire isn’t a continuation of STARS or JETS, but is instead an entity unto itself in that students at Wildfire are driven to hone their skills and play games against one another on a regular basis on full court. 

“The goal of this program is to continue to develop skills in a competitive environment through games and fundamental skill development. The focus of the program in year three is still on the sport of basketball, and improving fundamental skills and application of these skills in game situations,” said Larson.

“They will run a development night once a week and will have a travelling team for boys and girls in their appropriate age groups.”

Three years ago the Wildfire program consisted of one night of a co-ed group of young people and has rapidly increased to not only a two-night program but also two sessions each on Monday nights for boys, and two sessions each on Tuesday night for girls. The younger participants from both nights play from 5:30 to 7 p.m. while the high school students from both nights play from 7 to 8:30 p.m. 

In total 100 students, both boys and girls, have registered for the popular program this year that plays out of the Strathmore High School gymnasium. Mar-Nai YellowHorn and her husband Shay coach the 43 boys on Monday nights. 

“The program turnout has been better than expected. We have a great group of kids that show a lot of potential. It’s exciting to be part of a program that will go a long way to putting Strathmore on the basketball map and hopefully generate successful teams and players in the near future,” said YellowHorn.

She continued to say that, “basketball is a growing sport with more and more of our Canadian athletes moving on past high school to play at the college/university level as well as receiving scholarships to play in the United States. It is never too late to take up the sport. I have seen kids who have started playing in Grade 11 move on to receive full scholarships to play at the college/university level.” 

For the YellowHorn family, basketball has been a very big part of their lives and they are very happy to have the opportunity to pass on what they have learned through the Wildfire program.  

“Even if basketball is not your end goal, it is a great sport which develops a well-rounded athlete. You develop speed, strength, jumping ability, coordination/ hand eye coordination,” said YellowHorn.

Their hope is to develop the boys into quality players on the basketball court, but more importantly to provide a positive environment that shows the right attitude and work ethic needed to succeed both on and off the court. 

“There are so many life lessons that can be taught through the game that we love so much. We are happy to pay it forward and hope that we can be a great influence,” said YellowHorn.

The kids that have signed up for Wildfire have an opportunity to work with amazing coaches and leaders who love the game. For more information about the program please go to their website (www.wildfireathletics.ca).

 

Times Reporter

 

Despite a bit of a rocky start last season, inline hockey proved to be successful enough to come back for another year. Last year Lynne Kozma decided to introduce an inline hockey program to Strathmore and Wheatland County. 

“What’s different this year is I have enough that I can run the age groups more separate, so the bigger kids are going to be more challenged because they can play just against each other not just one line here, one line there, their whole game is going to be a constant challenge,” said Kozma. 

One of the biggest problems was finding somewhere to accommodate inline hockey last year. After thinking she had found a solution in Gleichen there was a mix up that had her once again looking for a venue. Eventually everything was solved and the program was granted time from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Family Centre. 

Inline hockey is an affordable option for parents whose children want to play hockey, but may not have the time or money for the ice hockey season. 

The inline program runs for eight weeks, from the beginning of May until the end of June, and is held on Monday and Wednesday nights.

No matter the weather, the games will always take place because they are all indoors. All of the kids will be guaranteed their eight weeks, and all of the games. 

Anyone looking for more information can contact Lynne Kozma at 403-619-7967.

Times Contributor

 

STARS Volleyball is the third session (the other two being Basketball and Badminton) offered each year in March, April and May (in addition to Summer Camps in August) run by Coach Pat Fule. 

Fule, who has dedicated himself to teaching not only skills to young people – in particularly these three sports – but more importantly “the love of the game.” He has the philosophy to instill the love of the game, fine-tune the sport and also a dedication to teach “superb sportsmanship” to each of the young participants.

Fule offers the programming to children from Grades 1 through 9. Special modifications are employed to help younger players to learn and display actual volleyball skills. 

In fact, one of the very first session deals with footwork and arm swing, so players can learn to hit the volleyball. Some of the other modifications include using badminton nets and courts, as well as softer and lighter volleyballs.

Each of the one-hour sessions is divided into a half hour of skills and fun drills, followed by half an hour of 3-on-3, or 4-on-4 games. This allows the players to touch the volleyball more often in order to develop their skills.

High school students (some varsity players) are often on the teams to help with game play, and to ensure all players get to have the volleyball set or played to them. The first two sessions (Grades 1-3 and Grades 4-5) stay on the badminton courts with the lighter and softer volleyballs. These do not hurt as much as regulation volleyballs and allow players to learn and play with little fear of the actual ball.

The last session (Grades 6-9) still use badminton courts and small teams, but use different nets and poles, so that the players are playing closer to regulation height. This allows for players to be challenged, yet still be able to have success at playing the ball at this higher net setting. 

The badminton court and smaller teams allow for more ball touches by the players, and more opportunities to improve their skills. Again, like JETS Basketball and JETS Badminton, less emphasis is placed on winning and stats, and more is placed on learning the technical skills in an enjoyable setting.

For more Information about the sports and when they are offered or about the summer camps, e-mail Fule at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 403-934-4599.

 

Times Editor

 

Typically, when the ice is out of the arena at the Strathmore Family Centre, lacrosse begins its fast-paced, hard-hitting season.

However, for the first time, organizers of the sport chose a non-traditional approach to prepare for the 2012 season.

“We’re having a very exciting pre-season,” said Strathmore Lacrosse Club President Todd Betterton. “We were able to get some floor time in a local gym to get the kids ball-handling and running some drills about a month earlier than we can traditionally get in, so that’s great. 

“The other highlight, now that the ice is out of the arena last week, is that we are full-on practicing on the full courts … and the teams are essentially picked, so (it’s) exciting.”

According to Betterton, there are 10 teams in lacrosse, ranging from mini-tyke all the way to junior, including a couple of all-female teams in the bantam and midget levels.

There are approximately 145 kids registered in lacrosse, a handful more than last year. However, there is a nice growth in the younger levels.

“We just want lacrosse to last – we think it’s the greatest sport on two feet,” said Betterton. “We definitely like to see the young kids playing. 

“Although there are only five or six kids in the mini-tyke, it’s the first time we’ve had enough kids to consider a team (at that level). So that it a milestone for Strathmore lacrosse.

“So they’ll play that program a lot like timbits hockey, where they show them some skills and a little bit of scrimmage.”

Another highlight for the club is the Tier 2 junior program, which is going strong.

According to Betterton, the team has attracted a coach with very high credentials to lead the squad.

“There is a n outstanding young man who is going to coach that team – his name is Andrew Buchanan. “Andrew replied to an ad on our website (and he) grew up playing lacrosse at a very high level on the west coast. He’s played Junior-A ball and Senior-A ball, he’s got some fantastic coaching and leadership experience out of Edmonton and Calgary. He is actually running that Junior Tier 2 program – from coaching perspective and a board perspective, we are delighted to have his calibre of skill involved with Strathmore Lacrosse.”

For more information on lacrosse, or to see the upcoming schedule for all the teams, visit the website (www.strathmorelacrosse.com). 

 

Times Reporter

 

Running has become a passion of Jaime Fairbairn’s ever since she first began to run in 2006. At the time Fairbairn had heard someone talking about how they were going to run a half-marathon, and all she could think was ‘well I can do it.’

Once she got it into her head, she started running by the boundary roads, she would run from one light post to the next and then walk one and so on. Eventually she got a watch that tracked intervals and she would run for five minutes and walk for a minute. Now she usually runs 10 minutes and then walks a minute when in the big races. 

Rather than running a half-marathon for her first race, Fairbairn completed a full marathon, 26.2 miles, instead. 

She has previously run with Team Diabetes, raising funds for diabetes research, while getting to participate in either half or full marathons of her choice. 

This year she is running to raise money for Leukemia and blood cancers. 

“It’s a little boy in kindergarten that was diagnosed recently with the lymphoma, so that’s when I decided I would do Team in Training,” said Fairbairn. 

She chose to run a half marathon in San Diego, which had a minimum fundraising goal of $4,000 to participate. The Toy Swap held on April 14 helped Fairbairn break her minimum expectations, and she is now contemplating raising $7,000 and running in Montreal as well this year.

“I just finished my fundraising this week, I’m at about $4,500, but I’m still fundraising because it all goes for good,” said Fairbairn.

She has completed four full marathons and this will be her fifth half marathon. Most of her marathons have been to raise money for charity.

Two of her bigger fundraising marathons with Team Diabetes were going to run in Dublin, Ireland and Reykjavik, Iceland.

“If I’m going to run, I’m going to run somewhere else, I can run in Calgary any day,” said Fairbairn.

“My ultimate dream, and I am hoping it will happen in 2014, is to run the Goofy challenge with Team Diabetes. On Saturday you run a half (marathon) and on Sunday you run the full. That’s my running dream, to accomplish that.”

“I like putting on events, and I like to pick a charity that means something. I don’t have cancer but this little boy Owen was in our kindergarten class that I work in and when you get that kind of news for a child, it makes me thankful that my kids are healthy.

Times Contributor

 

The goal of 4-H Clubs in Alberta is to help youth develop leadership, communication, technical and life skills.  They offer various means to achieve those goals. Part of their program is to complete and get credit for their year by taking part in a communications activity.

Jillayne Swalwell, a 17-year-old Strathmore 4-H Multi-Club member, embraced the task and excelled by placing first in Provincial competitions held at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton on April 14. This is the second year Swalwell has competed in Edmonton. Last year she won third place.

“I really enjoy the speech writing, although I always have too much material. I really get into it,” said Swalwell.

For the Edmonton competition, the panel gave contestants their topic and allowed 10 days for preparation before delivery of the speech. They assigned Swalwell the topic of My Alberta and she chose to focus on Educational Diversity in the province. The speech was 4-6 minutes in length.

Swalwell has participated in public speaking for six years. She said 4-H has four levels of public speaking competitions to work through. Participants choose a topic and write one speech for each level. 

There are often prizes awarded for winners. Swalwell has won about two hundred dollars and received a sponsorship to the Young Speakers of Canada competition in Toronto, held in November. She said being involved in public speaking has given her personal rewards as well.

“It is a great asset. The public speaking has boosted my confidence immensely,” said Swalwell.

She graduates soon and is planning to go to SAIT to take photography. 

For those youth who feel they have nothing to do, they can check out the  4-H website at www.4h.ab.ca. It outlines all the interesting activities available for youth. For prospective speakers just starting, Swalwell recommends jumping right in.

“Don’t be scared. Go for it. Take a shot,” said Swalwell.

 

Times Editor

 

The UFA Bisons officially capped off the 2011-2012 season when they hosted their annual awards banquet on April 10 at the Strathmore Civic Centre.

In a season of ups and downs, highlighted by a trip to the Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament Championship game, the Bisons looked back on the campaign as a success.

“It’s nice to bring everyone back and celebrate the year – it’s great to celebrate a successful season,” said head coach Jeremy Friesen. “We had a tale of two seasons; we did a lot of preparation to gear up for the Mac’s as one of critical points in the season. We did a great job there and had a successful run and learned a lot about our hockey club.

“After that, we never really got back on track or back to the level we were capable of playing … it was no fault of the players, I don’t think you can ever question their work ethic or (will to win).

“It was a (good) learning season.” 

Langdon native Devon Westby was the big winner of the evening, capturing the Most Improved and the Dedication, Perseverance & Sportsmanship awards. The hard-working forward also took home the Ron Ebbesson Memorial Scholarship.

“It caught me off guard to be totally honest,” said Westby of the awards. “I didn’t expect any and I came (here) to cheer on everybody else, but to clean up is not a bad deal for me.

“It was really special playing for the Bisons.”

According to Friesen, Westby made tremendous strides during the season.

“He was a guy who was on the bubble at camp, but we took a leap of faith on him because he brought those intangibles,” said the coach. “His skill set started a little below and we kind of forecasted him to catch right back up because he works so hard and that’s exactly what he did. By the end of the year, he was playing in every situation, whether it be on the power play or penalty kill.

“It was a great success story.”

Meanwhile, goaltender and local product Wilson Sproule took home the prestigious Most Valuable Player award for his efforts this past season. 

“It was an honour,” said Sproule of his MVP selection. “It was a great experience playing for the UFA Bisons. It was a great group of guys, we had fun and it was a great year.”

According to Sproule, who also took home the MVP of the Mac’s Midget Hockey Tournament, the season was a success.

“He was our dominant, most consistent player game in game out all year,” said Friesen of his goaltender. “At the end of the day, he is a special kid who has a very bright future ahead of him, whether it’s school or hockey, he is going to be very successful.”

Mitch McAllister was also honoured as the Leading Scorer and the Hardest Working Bison, while Tyler Wong was named the Rookie of the Year. Lenny Hackman was named the Top Defenceman and Dale Nerland won the Albert Midget Hockey League Scholarship.

 

Times Reporter

 

Rugby season is once again upon us, and Strathmore High School’s (SHS) teams have been busy preparing for their upcoming games. The girls finished in seventh place at provincials last year, and are trying to qualify again this year, said coach Jerry Flaws. 

Last year at the start of the year there was only one player who had 15s experience. A 15s team means they play with 15 players per team on the field (pitch). The girls needed to borrow players from two other schools. This year Flaws would like to field a team exclusively with SHS students.

“With six returning players and crop of good athletes out of Grade 10 the future looks good,” said Flaws.

“There are only a few Grade 12s this year so we basically have two years to develop these athletes into rugby players.  I’ve recruited good athletes, now I just have to teach them the sport of rugby.  With rookies in key positions Tuesday’s game looks to be an eye opener for the players.”

Flaws said the game is hard to understand until you have played a game. After the first game he feels the girls will have a better idea of what they are trying to accomplish in practice.   

“With the athletic talent we have we will be competitive in league and our zone this year,” said Flaws. 

The boys team has more returning players this year than the girls, so they are starting the year with a little more rugby knowledge. The boys also plan to be competitive again in both league and game play. 

A tough schedule laid out for the boys this year should help prepare them for zones. They will play against the top three teams in the province during league play. Coaches Steele and Popel will be looking at the returning players to help lead the squad on and off the field. 

Both teams play their first games at home, before going on the road for the next three. The first game is April 24 with the boys playing at 5 p.m. followed by the girls at 6:30 p.m. On April 26 the teams will play again, with the girls playing the first game at 5 p.m. and the boys team playing after them.