DHANANI LEARNING THE ROPES OF BEING A PRO July 30, 2009
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Kyle Dhanani with Helena Brewers
This has been a summer to remember for Kyle Dhanani. The 21 year old native of White Rock, BC has started on the road to living his dream: being a Professional Baseball Player.
After three solid seasons with the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack, Dhanani was chosen in this spring’s Major League Baseball College Draft ( selected in the 43 rd round (1,306th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers ) and assigned to Rookie Ball in Helena, Montana since mid June.
“Life has been good so far as a professional,” Dhanani explains. “ Lots of hard work involved pretty much daily. We have had only 4 days off so far and 33 games. We only have three more days off for the next half of the season. So it’s a grind. But it has been fun.”
And when he gets to the ball park: It’s truly ‘all business’. “Average day for a game at home is early work at 130, for me at least, there are scheduled times, then position player stretch at 3, hitting at 4, then relaxing in the clubhouse from around 5 to 630 before pregame stretch.”
Dhanani was a standout shortstop when he played for Ray Chadwick’s WolfPack. Now, he is earning his trade at 3rd base and at Designated Hitter. He is hitting .250 with five stolen bases and 10 RBI in his first 10 professional games. “. I had to adjust my swing after a few weeks to get used to the pitching,” he states. “ I was out on my front foot a lot, so we changed up my swing and I’ve been hitting well of late. I expected the speed to be faster, its the off speed that is the biggest adjustment. Pitchers can be really dirty at times.”
Dhanani might be hardest on himself. Helena Manager Rene Gonzales says the 6’2” WolfPack Alum has made an impact. “He is a great person and guy to have on a team. He is a great athlete and very valuable because he can play many positions,” states Gonzales. “I’m very glad to have him here.”
Coming from a Canadian based program could bring with it: a stigmatism. Gonzales doesn’t see any major deficiencies: “he has as good a pair of hands as anyone in the league. He does need to work on his plate discipline but that will come with time and play more. Kyle also has a very strong arm. I can see him getting some spot-starts and getting key hits for us ”
While with TRU, Kyle was a consummate veteran: leading by example off and on the field. “. My team is pretty chill, coaches are laid back yet hard on us when they need to be but everyone has a good time. I feel like a rookie for sure, because a lot of the guys came from spring training and knew each other already. But I’m like every new draft pick who didn’t know anyone, only difference is I’m playing with my ex-high school teammate from Blaine Washington(First Baseman Joey Paciorek), so that made that transition a lot easier.”
Dhanani moved to Blaine in high school to pursue baseball
Dhanani was a winner with the WolfPack and he wants to experience the same feeling in the pros. “. We’re only 1 game above 500, but we’re playing well, just not executing like we can and closing out games like we should.”
Gonzales believes that any success his club has for the rest of the year will be tied directly to Kyle Dhanani. “Kyle is a very intelligent player in that he’s aware and anticipates things on the field. I could see him being a leader on this team before we are done.”
FOUL BALLS: Dhanani says he still keeps in contact with former WolfPack teammates Jordan Broatch (Pitcher, White Rock, BC), Ben Bradford (Outfield, Kamloops, BC), Lee Ingram (Pitcher, Penticton, BC) and Anthony Cros (outfielder, Montpellier, France). All of whom are playing this summer in the Western Major Baseball League. “We talk on the internet all the time.” He says.
For clarification: Dhanani moved to Blaine in high school to pursue baseball where he played with Paciorek (his roommate on the road with the Brewers) for two years.
REEVES PREPARES FOR U-15 NATIONALS July 30, 2009
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Scott Reeves coaching with TRU WolfPack
If there is anyone who might have a home court advantage at the 2009 Canadian U-15 Basketball Championship, it would be Scott Reeves.
Reeves is the head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack women’s basketball program. The championship is being played on the court he knows best: the Tournament Capital Center.
“It might be a bit of an advantage at the start for me,” he laughs “But I won’t be the one out there on the court.”
Reeves, who is also the founder of the Kamloops Basketball Academy, is the coach of one of the two BC girls entries: Team Blue. This is his second year coaching the U-15 program. Last August, he directed Team BC to a silver medal finish: losing out to Ontario in the final.
He is confident of his team’s growth over the past few months of training. “We have been building towards Nationals and we are peaking at the right time,” he explains. “We need to cover some defensive adjustments and fine tune some offensive sets but other than that, we are playing well right now.”
How would he compare Team BC 2009 to the one last year?. “ We are going to have to rely much more on the team than any one individual player.” Reeves says. “Lat year, we had two of the better players in the country that were chosen to play on our cadet National team. We could rely on those kids to make plays. This year, we have a more balanced attack.”
Reeves has been involved in the Team BC program for the last 12 years: from team selection to running Regional Training Centers and Camps. Being dedicated to the development of the sport is something he takes pride in. “Having an impression on young kids that can shape the type of player and person they become is definitely the highlight for me.” He states.
Team BC Blue opens the Nationals Tuesday August 4 th against Nova Scotia. For the second year in a row, the team features a Kamoops player. Last season it was Taiysa Worsfold of Sa-hali. This time around, it’s Emma Wolfram who transferred from Sa-hali to South Kamloops. Reeves believes she will have a few butterflies for that 9 am game. But what about himself? “I always have a little nerves eventough I have been in these situations a number of times. The competitor in me wants to perform and when you are on a National stage, there’s no bigger place to perform.”
Win or lose at the 2009 Nationals, Reeves believes his experience this summer with the U15 Team BC program will be beneficial for his development as a coach. “Working with these girls always brings me back to how to communicate with young people and put things in terms they can understand.”
What the Coach believes they’ll learn most is the pride of working hard while representing their city and province.
DOUBLE DRIBBLES: The tournament runs until August 8 th. There are 16 teams (boys and girls) from as far away as Newfoundland taking part. Team BC has two teams in both the boys and the girls divisions. One other Kamloops player, Abby Grinberg (guard, Kamloops Christian School) is on Team BC Red.
Tickets are available at the Tournament Capital Center during the event (Aug4-8). Day passes are $8.00 for adults, $ 5.00 for students and seniors. Elementary students get in for $ 2.00 with those under six getting in free. Tournament Passes are $ 30.00 for adults, $20.00 for seniors and students. Elementary Students have a $5.00 day pass.
HEAT LOSE TO PENTICTION IN PCSL CHALLANGE CUP SEMI FINAL July 27, 2009
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WolfPack players Shannen Meyer (left) and Blair MacKay (right) accept PCSL Regular Season title trophy for the Kamloops Heat
The Penticton Pinnacles picked the right time to end a losing streak. The Pinnacles, winners of one of their last five Pacific Coast Soccer League Women’s Reserve Division matches, beat the number one ranked Kamloops Heat 6-5 in penalty kicks to win their PCSL semi final at the Challange Cup.
The Pinnacles led 3-1 at the half. “This was a very hard fought game played under very challanging conditions (very heavy thunderstorm), said Heat manager David Lloyd. “Penticton was a very well prepared and motivated team and dominated most of that half.” The lone Kamloops goal was scored by Alanna Bekkering (UVic, Kamloops, BC). Bronwyn Crawford (TRU, Kamloops, BC) got the assist.
The Heat controlled most of the 2nd half. “We led 4-3 going into the last mintue of regular time. Penticton scored a very late goal forcing the extra time,” Lloyd added.
“We had a number of good chances in extra time,” explained Lloyd.” The tying Penticton goal was scored in difficult wet conditions, which forced the penalty kick situation.”
Bekkering had a hat trick including a goal in overtime. PCSL leading scorer Kelli Chamberlain (Queen’s University) added two second half goals. Crawford had the lone Heat marker in the penalty shot portion. Kamloops Youth Soccer Association goalie Christine Tallon, who will be attending the University of Alberta in the fall was in the nets for the Heat.
“It was a very unfortunate finish to a very good season,” Lloyd assessed ” We won the League Championships and had Kelli Chamberlain winning the top goal scorer in the league.Many of the Heat players now look to trying for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack team in August. Others will return to their University clubs.”
WOLFPACK MENS VOLLEYBALL ANNOUNCE PRE-SEASON July 24, 2009
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WolfPack CIS Finals Squad 2009
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team will see a lot of Alberta in the Canada West Pre-season. Head Coach Pat Hennelly has announced his schedule for September and October.
The two time Canada West Bronze Medal winners will take a trip to Grande Prairie October 2-4 th to play three matches against the University of Calgary Dinos.
They then will return to the “Wild Rose” province on October 16 th and 17 th to play in the prestigious Can-Am tournament at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. That tourney has four American based University teams playing four from Canada.
The WolfPack will play three other pre-season matches: two of which will be at the Tournament Capital Center in Kamloops.
The first is Friday, September 25 th against UBC. The other is Friday October 23 rd against the BC All-stars.
Hennelly has also announced that the 2010 McDonald’s International Volleyball Tournament will be an eight team affair: featuring Pepperdine University of California, McMaster University and the University of Toronto of the OUA, Dalhousie of the AUS, University of Calgary and UBC from Canada West and the UBC Okanagan Heat of the BC College Athletic Association. That tournament will be held January2-4 th at the Tournament Capital Center and the TRU Gym.
WOLFPACK HOCKEY SIGN TWO MORE KAMLOOPS PLAYERS July 24, 2009
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Joel Leonard
Two more local products have committed to the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Men’s Hockey program. 23 year old defenceman Korey Gannon and forward Joel Leonard have become the second and third players to join the team. They follow in the footsteps of forward David Gore (Kamloops, BC).
“This just seems like a natural progression,” stated Gannon, who has been a business student at TRU the past two years. “ We have both known Chris (Hans-head coach of the WolfPack) for a number of years . This program seems tailor made for us.”
Leonard, a 6’1” left wing and the 6’2” Gannon played “AAA” midget hockey under Hans with the Norkam Lions in 2002-03. “It was a really fun experience working with Chris,” he says. “ We have all the ingredients to have a very successful team right from the get go.”
Leonard points to the establishment of the BC InterCollegiate Hockey League as an indication that competition will be good.
Both players are returning to the game they love after a hiatus. Gannon last played in 2005-06 for the BC Hockey League Vernon Vipers. Leonard spent last season coaching the Kamloops Jardines “AAA” Bantam Blazers. He last played in 2006-07 for the Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
Leonard and Gannon say balancing school and hockey is something they have experience with. “Playing Junior hockey, you get used to doing that.” Gannon explains “ Before though, there was more of an emphasis on playing. Now, it’ll be the books first and hockey second.”
Leonard plans to take four business courses in the Fall. “It’s set up pretty good,” he says looking at the practice and game schedule. “ We play on the weekends and practice only three times a week. That should give me enough time to get my assignments in.”
Both players are very excited about the start of the WolfPack’s inaugural training camp on September 8 th. “We have been looking at this for month’s now,” says Leonard. “It’ll be nice to play in Kamloops again after being removed from it for so long,” adds Gannon. “ We have heard rumblings for years about getting a university team for Kamloops. I’m so glad that the society put this together. Knowing the people involved in it, I know we’ll be a success.”
Says head coach Chris Hans about his two newest players: ““Joel Leonard is an talented forward with tremendous skating ability who is effective in both ends of the rink. He thinks the game well and brings a considerable amount of leadership characteristics to the WolfPack. Korey Gannon is a solid defensive minded defenceman that will anchor the WolfPack defence. He is a ferocious competitor with good size and a good skill set. He also brings great leadership abilities. Joel and Korey are welcome additions to the WolfPack Hockey club!”
Korey Gannon