GOLF SETS TRYOUT DATES June 30, 2009
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2008 National CCAA Champs
The defending Canadian College Athletic Association Champion Thompson Rivers University WolfPack golf team have set their tryout dates. Head coach Bill Bilton Junior will evaluate all his prospects—including his returning players September 8-11 th at the Dunes in Kamloops.
“The number of spots we have open have yet to be determined,” says Bilton, who is looking to repeat the success the squad had in its return to CCAA play after a ten year absence.
“We are looking for players with an established handicap of five or less,” he adds.
Bilton and new assistant Dale Beauchamp will supervise the workouts. Members of last years National Champions are already working hard on their game in practices at the Dunes.
The BC College Athletic Association Golf season begins September 19 th in Castlegar with an event hosted by Selkirk College.
To contact Bilton, you can reach him at billjr@golfthedunes.ca or by calling (250) 579-3300
WOLFPACK RELEASES 2009-10 SCHEDULE June 30, 2009
Posted by lread in Baseball, Golf, Men's Basketball, Men's Soccer, Men's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Volleyball.add a comment
Josh Boruck
A National Volleyball Championship, hosting a golf tournament, an earlier start to the soccer season and a new playoff format for basketball are some of the notable events as the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have announced the schedule for 2009-10 for their CIS and BCCAA squads.
For the first time in the school’s history, Thompson Rivers will host a CIS National Final. The Tournament Capital Center will be the venue for the 2010 CIS National men’s volleyball Championships (Mar 12-14, 2010). It is also the first time that the City of Kamloops has played host to a University Championship. Eight teams representing the four leagues (AUS, Quebec, Ontario and Canada West) will be involved. Pat Hennelly’s WolfPack, who’ve been to the last two championships have an automatic berth as host team.
Bill Bilton’s Canadian College Athletic Association Championship golf squad will host a tournament this year. The Dunes will provide the backdrop for the third stop on the BC College Athletic Association tour on October 3rd and 4 th.
The WolfPack soccer squads will begin play a week earlier this season. TRU will host defending CCAA and BCCAA Men’s Champion Capilano University at Hillside Stadium on Saturday September 5 th. The National and Provincial women’s champions from Langara College will be here the following afternoon (September 6) th. The Soccer teams will play 12 matches this season, six of which will be at home.
The home opener for the WolfPack basketball teams will also be at home. They will open up October 30th at the Tournament Capital Center as their closest geographical rival: the University of Fraser Valley pay a visit. That night will be the CIBC Run for the Cure awareness night where, in accordance with the CIS Women’s basketball coaches association, all proceeds from the gate and 50/50 will go towards the charity. The basketball squads have 10 home dates, that’s down from last season due to changes in the schedule. The CIS will take a two week bye on the weekend of February 12-13 and 19 to 21 st due to the Winter Olympics.
Volleyball’s home opener will be November 6 th and 7 th when they entertain the University of Regina Cougars. The ‘Pack open the Canada West season on the road October 31 st in Alberta.
Games/Matches this year feature a few afternoon affairs early in 2010 when basketball and volleyball both have home dates.
Plans are in the works to host both the BDO Dunwoody women’s basketball tournament in early October and the Men’s Volleyball Christmas time tournament, hosted last year by McDonalds January 1-3 rd.
SPORTS TASK FORCE GOLF TOURNAMENT DEEMED SUCCESS June 26, 2009
Posted by lread in Uncategorized, WolfPack.add a comment
Peter Milobar and foursome at Tournament
TRU Chancellor Nancy Green Raine at Tourney
Kelly Shantz and Harvey Comazzetto present cheque to Ken Olynyk
The 17 th annual Mike Bartram Memorial Golf Tournament is being called a success. The event, which is a major fundraiser for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletic program generated $ 32,000.
“It’s one of our best years ever,’ stated Sports Task Force President Kelly Shantz as he and BMO Nesbitt Burns partner Harvey Comazzetto presented a cheque to Athletics Director Ken Olynyk.
“When you consider the state of the economy,’ added Shantz . “It means even more that we were able to generate this much money. It’s nice to know that the business and corporate community thinks so highly of our program and our desire to keep top student athletes at TRU.”
The Golf Tournament was held June 12 th at Rivershore and attracted over 120 golfers.
“On behalf of the WolfPack players and coaches, I would like to thank those who participated in the tournament for believing in our program and product.” said Olynyk.
The money generated at the event will go towards the operations of TRU Athletics—most notably scholarships and bursaries for student athletes.
HEAT KICK OFF THREE GAME HOMESTAND WITH MATCH VS SEMIAHMOO June 26, 2009
Posted by lread in Women's Soccer.add a comment
Blair MacKay
It’s bottom vs top as the Kamloops Heat entertain the Semiahmoo FC in Pacific Coast Soccer League Women’s Reserve division action this weekend at Hillside Stadium. The first place team in the loop, Kamloops (9-1) entertain Semiahmoo (1-6) Sunday afternoon (June 28). Kick off is 12:30 pm.
“We’ve given the girls certain goals they have to achieve in the game,” says Heat head coach Tom McManus, who will get the luxury of coaching his side in person in game action. He has had to miss a number of games due to commitments with the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association, where he is head coach. “In any sport, you must stay focused because even the last place team can come up and knock you off because they have nothing to lose. Every Opponent will be tough and I don’t care where they are in the standings,” he added.
The Heat have been getting solid showings from almost their entire line up. Each weekend, the club—made up primarily of Thompson Rivers University WolfPack players and prospects, has had someone step up and take a lead role. Last weekend (June 20-21), it was forward Cassie Drummond and midfielders Bronwyn Crawford, Blair MacKay and Abbey McAuley: all members of the WolfPack.
“The biggest thing this says to me,” states McManus “is that we are a TEAM. It’s nice to see we don’t have to rely on one player to score our goals or dominate our midfield. We are a team and the players work hard for each other.”
The Heat have four matches left: three on their home pitch. Some might think the schedule maker has put things in their favour going into the post season. “ I believe we have to keep playing smart and disciplined,” McManus explains. “ There is no one player bigger than the team and I believe our players have proven that this year so far. I am sure they will continue to do it. We’ll be ready but not looking too far ahead.”
With the playoffs close at hand, some teams might consider ‘whittling down’ their players time on the field. Not for the Heat. “Because we are a team, everyone is important, “ he says. “ The chemistry of our team is excellent right now and I don’t want to change at all. Every player knows that she is fighting for her position at every training session and in every game. That is very healthy.”
Kamloops has had to go with rotating goal keepers this season. Shannen Meyer (TRU, Kamloops, BC), an All-Canadian at center defender, has had to do the job for most of the year. “Shannen has done a great job for us in goal and she has shown herself to be a true team player by stepping up and doing this for us,” he says. “We are looking at having a goal keeper play for us this weekend and then for the rest of the year. Having her in the field will give us even more strength on the backline.”
After Sunday’s game, the Heat entertain Penticton (July 4) and the North Shore Girls Soccer Club (July 11) before closing things out in Chilliwack (July 19). The PCSL post season will be held the July 25-26 th weekend in Kelowna.
WOLFPACK ASSISTANTS ENJOYING PLAYING June 25, 2009
Posted by lread in Baseball.add a comment
Duaine Bowles
- Pat Brown
Will Devick
The Kamloops Sun Devils are enjoying a fine season. The Okanagan Major Baseball League team has 22 wins in their first 27 games. The program is being used as a summer development program for players with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack.
For the WolfPack’s coaching staff, they are getting a chance to show the youngsters how it’s done. Pat Brown, Duaine Bowles and Will Devick are normally assistants with Ray Chadwicks TRU program. But this summer, they are finding themselves on the field with the players they teach during the season.
Bowles has found himself playing catcher with current WolfPack backstop Brian Burston. “You try to lead by example as much as possible,” he says. “But you also try to fit in, play your role and do as much as you can to make the team successful.
Devick is playing shortstop (which he did during his days with the ‘Pack and in Kentucky). But he has also seen time on the mound, something he hadn’t done since 2004. “It’s been fun playing alongside the kids you coached all year and its nice to finally be on the field instead of watching from the bench.” He laughs.
Brown has played four positions so far this spring: 2nd and 3rd base, shortstop and he’s taken a turn in the starting rotation. He says “You know whatever you do on the field, younger players will be watching every moment.”
Devick, Bowles and Brown are using their time with the Sun Devils to prepare for the Canadian Senior Men’s Baseball Championshps (Aug 20-23) in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. The three, along with WolfPack alum Jeff Paz will play for the BC Champion Trail Orioles.
Bowles says his experience as a coach has helped the tradition to player be fairly easy. “If anything, you go into the season knowing what the team and your players are capable of”. While Devick says its caused him to do some reminiscing. “It basically reinforces the fact that playing college ball is the bet time of your life and you shouldn’t waste your time by not giving it a hundred and ten percent. The time really flies by.”
The coaches turned players say that the highlight of the season thus far with the Sun Devils has been pretty obvious. It was a game against the Kelowna Jays in June where Kamloops came back from a 10 run deficit in the 8 th inning to win. They hope that the summer will be capped off with not only a Provincial Championship for Kamloops, but a National title with Trail as well.
Brown believes that the bond between himself and his WolfPack players turned Sun Devil teammates has intensified because of the summer program. “When the fall comes around, coaching seems a lot easier because I’ve gotten to the know the players on a different level.”
As for the future: the three hope to be back in the WolfPack dugout come the fall. Bowles says the experience as both a player and a coach has given him a new found respect for the community group which operates the Sun Devils and the TRU programs. “I’d like to thank the board (Kamloops Collegiate Baseball Society) for all the hard work they do behind the scenes. The players know how much Ray (Sun Devils and TRU Head Coach Chadwick) does, but without the board (the glue which holds the program together), I honestly don’t know where we’d be as a program.”