WOLFPACK HOCKEY SWEEPS SELKIRK IN FINAL WEEKEND SERIES BEFORE XMAS November 30, 2009
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Mick Ludvig had one of the goals for TRU (A. Snucins photo)
If there is one team which could be dreading the Christmas break, it could be the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team. Chris Hans has his team playing some of their best of the season. Such was the case this weekend against the bottom feeders of the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League, the Selkirk College Saints.
After hammering them 14-0 on Saturday night (Nov 28), the WolfPack came away with a 10-4 victory at Memorial Arena on Sunday (Nov 29). TRU enters the break with a solid 8 and 4 record, good enough for second place.
The score is deceiving though. For it was the 1-12-1 Saints who led a lead after the opening 20 minutes.
“I told the players before the game to remember back to last week (Nov 21-22),” said Hans. “We were beaten badly by SFU and sure enough, we came back the following night against UFV. Same thing here, sure enough, we were down after the first period. It took our boys a period to understand that everything has to be based on the moment and not the past. You have to work hard and be willing to pay the price. You can be the most skilled team, but if you aren’t willing to do the dirty, ugly things, it won’t effect on the scoreboard.”
Hans added that once that sank in, the ‘Pack are an explosive enough team to take charge and respond.
He switched goalies after the first. Thomas Gobeil (1st year, Armstrong, BC) was removed in favor of Blake Tancock (1st year, Chilliwack, BC). Gobeil surrendered goals to Devon Nazaroff and Colton Norquist before being pulled.
Matt Duchene in the second period and Brendan Blackmore in the third accounted for the rest of the Saints scoring.
Jose Reyes (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) had another strong outing. He had three goals and one assist..giving him nine points in the two game weekend.
Hans had some praise for Reyes. “He loves playing at home,” he laughed, pointing to the fact the last four home outings have seen Reyes get multiple goals. ” I think he just loves the game. He is a very gifted hockey player and has some finish.”
“I like this rink,” laughed Reyes afterwards. “I’ve played here for a few years. We took advantage of a weaker team this weekend for sure.”
Hans said the line of Reyes-David Gore (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) and Mick Ludvig (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) gives the opposition fits. ” They are so fast and so strong. They are clicking. I didn’t tinker with that line.”
Casey Patterson (1st year, forward, Chase, BC) had a pair of goals and two assists for TRU. Dyne Parker (1st year, forward, Rossland, BC) had two goals as well for TRU.
Singles went to Andrew Fisher (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC), Jassi Sangha (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) and Ludvig.
The WolfPack outshot Selkirk 50-16 on the night. Cody Deadmarsh (1st year, Fruitvale, BC) went the distance for
Hans said with such a big lead, he got to utilize people in different situations. “We tried to stay focussed on little system things and get people into ice time that they traditionally didn’t see like the power play and penalty kill. Fortunately, we came out of the weekend with no injuries and no suspensions.”
The WolfPack are off until January 8 th when they visit UVIC.
ICE CHIPS: Hans rested a few players including 3rd year defenceman Korey Gannon (Kamloops, BC). Tancock returned to the TRU nets after missing the last few weeks with a shoulder problem. “He is still a little rusty,” says Hans. “It is a little tender. He could use a few more days rest. Blake battles. It is hard in a lopsided game to stay focussed. With the kind of team we have, our goalies need to stay focussed because the puck might not be in our end very often.
WOLFPACK HOCKEY HAMMERS SELKIRK November 30, 2009
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Jose Reyes had three goals for TRU (A. Snucins photo)
It was one of those nights for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team. Playing before nearly a thousand people at Memorial Arena, The WolfPack hammered the Selkirk College Saints 14-0 in BC Intercollegiate Hockey League Play. The victory moves the WolfPack to 7-4 on the season. The Saints fall to 1-11-1.
Forward Mick Ludwig (1st year, Kamloops, BC) had three goals and three assists to pace the ‘Pack. TRU led 3-0 after the first period and were up 9-0 after 40 minutes. Ironically, only one of their goals was scored on the power play.
“We skated hard for three periods and took advantage of a travel weary Selkirk team,” said TRU head coach Chris Hans.
Brock Fraser handled only 9 shots in the nets for TRU to record the shutout. TRU fired 59 pucks at Selkirk goalie Cody Deadmarsh (1st year, Fruitvale, BC).
Andrew Fisher (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) and Jose Reyes (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) each had hat tricks for TRU. Reyes added two assists. David Gore (2nd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) had five assists. Other goals for TRU came off the sticks of Casey Patterson (1st year, forward, Chase, BC), Dyne Parker (1st year, forward, Rossland, BC), Daniel Robinson (2nd year, forward, 100 Mile House, BC), Michael Boisvert (1st year, defence, Trail BC) and Joel Leonard (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC).
The same two teams clash Sunday (Nov 29) at noon at Memorial Arena. It’s the last game for the ‘Pack before the Christmas break.
BADMINTON 2ND AT OWN BCCAA TOURNAMENT November 30, 2009
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Noah Woods prepares to hit (A. Snucins photo)
The host Thompson Rivers University WolfPack finished 2nd at the BC College Athletic Association badminton tournament this weekend at TRU (Nov 28-29).
The WolfPack, who were fifth in the first tournament of the season, wound up second in the team category garnering 161 total points, winning four of their five team events. TRU beat Capilano, Kwantlen, Langara and VIU. Their only loss came 3-2 to Douglas, who wound up first in the competition.
Douglas had 193 total team points. Capilano had 129 points to finish third.
“The league is very close this year,” says head coach Brad Pape. “Actually, the second through fifth teams this time around (TRU, Capilano, VIU and Kwantlen) were completely flipped from the season’s opening tournament.”
“This finish will go a long way to getting out team into the medals at the end of the season.”
Individually, the WolfPack had mixed results. In “A” men’s singles, Garrett Babichuk (3rd year, Kelowna, BC) finished fourth losing all three of his matches. Joey Chu (1st year, Kamloops, BC) was third in “B” singles with a record of 1 and 2. In “A” womens singles, Marlee Martens (3rd year, Salmon Arm, BC) was third with a record of 1 and 2. Kia Lidster (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) wound up second in the “B” singles with two wins and a loss.
The duo of Babichuk and Noah Woods (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) finished fourth in the “A” flight men’s doubles. They were winless in three starts. Alex Perkin (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) and his partner Brennan Arduini (4th year, Kamloops, BC) finished second in the “B” flight doubles with 2 wins and a loss.
Women’s doubles saw Lidster and Martens going 0 for 3 in the “A” flight to finish fourth. Ming Wong (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) and Anica Arduini (1st year, Kamloops, BC) captured the “B” flight with two wins and a loss.
Mixed Doubles results had Perkin and Wong and Woods with Whitney MaKenny (4th year, Port Alberni, BC) finishing second respectively in the “”B” and “C” flights. Both pairs had records of 2 and 1.
“There were some players that I thought would do well didn’t,” said Pape. “There were others who stood out. “He singled out the play of Martens, the duo of Perkin and Arduini along with the pair of Wong and Arnica Arduini. They will all stay in their respective in their bracket for the next BCCAA tournament, which will be held in January at Douglas College.
“We have to maintain our position in that tournament” says Pape, who believed that home gym was a factor in his teams finish. “ Just being able to sleep in their own beds and get good rest was a benefit,” he said.
WOLFPACK DROP DECISION TO BOBCATS November 29, 2009
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WolfPack head coach Thom Gillespie (A. Snucins Photo)
“You are in trouble when you allow the opponent the chance to score on their first six possessions.” The words of Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s basketball coach Thom Gillespie. The WolfPack are still searching for their first victory of the 2009-10 Canada West season. They dropped their seventh straight game. This time, it was to the host Bobcats 93-97. Brandon raises its record to 4 and 5.
“We had no defensive focus or intensity,” explained Gillespie.” And we were playing a team which gained confidence every time they scored.”
On a positive note, Gillespie felt that the team did shoot the ball well at times and had some decent rebounding. The ‘Pack played better in the second half of the game and at one point, led by three points in the fourth quarter.
“But again, we couldn’t close it out,” said Gillespie.
Greg Stewart (4th year, forward, Kamloops, BC) had a double-double with 29 points and 10 rebounds. Connor Agnew (4th year, forward, Prince Rupert, BC) had 21 points coming off the bench.
The WolfPack have never beaten Brandon in their five years in the CIS.
The WolfPack play their final game before the Christmas break Saturday night (Nov 28) in Regina against the Cougars. Next home game for TRU is January 8 th at the Tournament Capital Center when Manitoba comes to town.
The TRU Men will play over the holiday season. They will return to Manitoba to play in the University of Winnipeg Wesmen Classic. Gillespie’s gang will face the University of Laval in their first game December 28 th.
BOBCATS BEAT WOLFPACK IN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL FOR FIRST TIME November 29, 2009
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WolfPack head coach Scott Reeves
It was bound to happen sooner or later. For the first time in their brief five year history in the Canada West, the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack have lost to the Brandon Bobcats in women’s basketball. The Bobcats won their first game of the season tonite (Nov 27) at home, downing the WolfPack 84-75. Brandon moves to 1 and 8 on the year. TRU falls to 2 and 5 on the season and have lost five in a row.
“We were outscored 31-18 in the third quarter alone,” said TRU head coach Scott Reeves. “We couldn’t find our shots and didn’t block out.” The Bobcats were up 16-13 after the first quarter. TRU outscored Brandon 16-14 in the second quarter but found themselves down 30-25.
“We shot 32 per cent in that first half,” Reeves lamented. “They shot 40 per cent and we still couldn’t beat them.”
TRU was led by 2nd year point guard Jen Ju (Vancouver, BC). She had 22 points and two rebounds. Diane Schuetze (2nd year, post, Vernon,BC) had 14 points and a team high nine rebounds.
The Bobcats actually turned over the ball more times than TRU (30-29).
Brandon was led by Amanda Fortin (3rd year, guard, Saskatoon, Sask) who had 19 points. Nicisha Johnson (2nd year, post, Scarborough,Ont) had 18 points and 9 rebounds while Chantel Gaslard (1st year, post, Thompson Man) contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The WolfPack play their final game before the Christmas break tomorrow (Saturday) in Regina against the top team in the Canada West Prairie Division: the Cougars.
GAME NOTES: Tracy Kocs (2nd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was a perfect 2 for 2 from the foul line again for TRU. She hasn’t missed a free throw all season (now good 14 times in as many tries).