RASMUSSEN BECOMES FIRST WOLFPACK HOCKEY SIGNEE FOR 2010-11 May 10, 2010
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Zac Rasmussen
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s hockey team has its first recruit for 2010-11. And they didn’t have to go far to get him. 21 year old Zac Rasmussen of Kamloops has committed to playing for the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League team this coming season.
Rasmussen has spent the last three seasons in the BC Hockey League playing for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and most recently, the Prince George Spruce Kings.
“Zac is a character kid who brings a nice combination of skill, toughness and leadership to our team,” said WolfPack head coach Chris Hans. “ I know what Zac brings to the rink everyday. I coached him with the Major Midget Thompson Blazers in 2006-07 where he was our leading scorer and team captain. Its nice adding someone with Zac’s Junior “A” experience and character to our club.”
“This is a great opportunity for myself,” said Rasmussen, who had 25 goals and 27 assists in 56 games last season. “ I had the chance to play away from home the past three years. Anytime you get a chance to come home and play in a great hockey town like Kamloops, it’s a good thing.”
Rasmussen, who is 5’9”, 180 pounds, says returning to play for the WolfPack will also give him an opportunity to join up with no less than 12 of his former minor hockey friends and coach Hans.
‘Chris and I have a great relationship so it should be pretty easy to adjust to the systems he wants to play,” says Rasmussen, who has yet to pick which degree or trade program to enter. “If you work hard, Chris is easy to get a long with.”
He believes his ability to be an agitator who can score will be his main contributions to the WolfPack, who finished second in the BCIHL this past season.
Hockey Holds Fundraising Awards Banquet April 12, 2010
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The WolfPack men’s hockey team held a fundraising dance and awards banquet on Friday April 9, 2010 at the Ukranian Hall on the Kamloops North Shore.
Here are some photos from the event:
Blake Tancock named top goaltender
Team captain and Player Assistant Coach David Boychuk was top defenceman
David Gore was the Top Scholar Athlete
Jassi Sangha was selected top forward
Joel Leonard was not only a top scholar but named team MVP
Here's a look at all the winners along with head coach Chris Hans, Assisitant Andre Larouche and other team officials
HOCKEY WOLFPACK: YEAR ONE-THUMBS UP! March 30, 2010
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David Boychuk was the first captain of the WolfPack and an All-Star (A. Snucins)
The most talked about team among those making up the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack family in 2009-10 had to have been men’s hockey. The return of the sport to the school for the first time in over 10 years can only be described as a huge success.
Following their silver medal finish in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League playoff tournament, coach Chris Hans had time to reflect on their inaugural campaign. “ It was an incredible journey in many ways,” he said. “ We sort of felt our way through the first half of the season as we didn’t know what to expect and needed to learn as a group where we stood in comparison to other teams in the league. We were more focused in the second half and were prepared when we entered playoffs. “
Hans thought the biggest challenges surrounded the adjustment to the level of officiating in the league along with the players balancing their courses and hockey.
Although some people were surprised with the teams second place finish in the BCIHL (16 and 8 record), Hans was not. “I knew at training camp that we had assembled a pretty good hockey team and set as our goal winning the Championship. The fact we came within a goal of accomplishing our ultimate objective is a testament to our players! They worked hard throughout the season and motivation and desire were areas I had no concerns with!”
TRU also had two players in the top five in league scoring. Jassi Sangha (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was third with 46 points (20 goals and 26 assists). Joel Leonard (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) was fifth with 38 points (13 goals and 25 assists).
Hans looks back on the season and points to a number of highlights. “ I think reaching the Championship final in our first season in the league is an accomplishment everyone on our team is proud of! Other highlights include the electricity of opening night at Memorial Arena against OC and all of the incredible fan support we received this season! Our fans made Memorial Arena the hardest rink in the league for our opponents and our 11-0 record at Memorial is in great part because of our fans!”
Ah, yes the fans. The community—both on campus and the city of Kamloops took a shine to the new hockey team. On many Saturday nights during the regular season, there were over a thousand people at Memorial Arena to cheer the ‘Pack on.
Hans adds that working with the Kamloops Collegiate Hockey Society anchored by Mitchell Zullinick, Troy Clifford and Andre Larouche was a pleasure as he returned to coaching competitive hockey after some time away. Hans plans to work more on the business and Hockey Operations role as he returns to the program in 2010-11
But what about the future on the ice? Says Hans: “Recruiting the missing pieces to replace graduating players such as David Boychuk (4th year, defence, Edmonton, Alta) is the biggest challenge. We will miss having David anchoring our defense but we have a strong player and leader in Korey Gannon (3rd year, defence, Kamloops, BC) returning and Cody Lockwood (3rd year, Kamloops, BC) and Cody Rose (2nd year, Midway, BC) poised to take on bigger leadership roles on the team. Our success sure doesn’t hurt with recruiting. But, feedback I have received from potential recruits indicate the programs offered at TRU is a major determining factor as is the fact we have arguably to best college hockey atmosphere in Canada at Memorial Arena. “
After the success they enjoyed in year one, will the WolfPack hockey program suffer a sophomore jinx?. There are already plans underway to more aggressively market the product to the consumer. As well, TRU would like a chance at hosting the BCIHL league tourney in 2010-11.
How sweet would that be as a carrot? –to win the league title on home ice.
ICE CHIPS: The WolfPack will celebrate their first year at a fundraising year end banquet, dinner, and dance April 9 th at the Ukrainian Hall. Tickets for the whole evening are available for $ 27.50 a piece. Dance tickets are $5.00 in advance and $10.00 at the door. They are available by calling (250) 574-1140 or emailing: tinabuser@hotmail.com.
HOCKEY FINISHES SECOND IN BCIHL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL March 22, 2010
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Blake Tancock played goal again for TRU (Snucins)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack hockey team made quite an impression in it’s first year of operation. After finishing a more than respectable second in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League during the regular season, the ‘Pack wound up going into the BCIHL Championship Final Sunday (Mar 21) in Langley.
The WolfPack tangled with Simon Fraser University, who finished on top of the standings in the regular season.
Twenty four hours after beating SFU 10-7, the ‘Pack fell to the team from Burnaby Mountain 2-1 in the championship final.
“It was a much different game today,” said TRU head coach Chris Hans “ SFU had a very strong defensive game and capitalized on the few chances we gave them.”
Blake Tancock (1st year, Chilliwack, BC) made his third straight start in goal and handled 38 shots. TRU fired 28 pucks at Jason Mulholland (1st year, Coquitlam, BC) in the SFU nets.
Casey Patterson (1st year, forward, Chase, BC) had the lone goal for TRU.
“It was a tough loss,” Hans sighed ‘But this group has set a high standard on and off the ice and the future looks incredibly bright for WolfPack hockey.”
In its first season, TRU lost only one game on home ice and had a few crowds of over 1000 people.
HOCKEY TO PLAY IN BCIHL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL March 22, 2010
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Jassi Sangha had a hat trick (A. Snucins)
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack’s story book season is about to add another chapter. The first year franchise in the BC Intercollegiate Hockey League will play for the championship on Sunday (Mar 21)
TRU downed the top team in the regular season, Simon Fraser University 10-7 in the BCIHL Championship semi final Saturday (Mar 20) at the Langley Events Center. The WolfPack will play SFU in the final Sunday afternoon at 2pm PST. SFU eliminated Okanagan College Crusaders 3-2 in a shootout in the consolation side semi final.
In Saturday’s championship semi final, TRU was down 3-2 after the first period, but scored three straight goals in the second to jump ahead 6-3. SFU responded with two goals of their own to cut the ‘Pack lead to 6-5 before Jose Reyes (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) scored with 4:07 left in the period to restore TRU’s two goal lead.
The third period was a wild one where three goals were scored in a minute and 38 second span. TRU’s Jassi Sangha 1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) scored his hat trick goal with 5:42 left to make the score 8-5. David Gore (2nd year, Kamloops, BC) tallied short handed to give the ‘Pack a 9-5 lead.
But SFU scored two late goals before Mick Ludvig (1st year, forward, Kamloops, BC) put the puck into the empty net with 45 seconds left to give TRU the victory
The ‘Pack outshot SFU 36-20 in the hockey game.
WolfPack head coach Chris Hans gave credit to Sangha and his linemates. “Sangha has been a horse for us at this championships,” he said. “ His line mates Joel Leonard (3rd year forward, Kamloops, BC) and Andrew Fisher (3rd year, forward, Kamloops, BC) have also been awesome.”
Hans added: “Everyone is making a contribution. And while today’s game was a high scoring affair, I thought our defensive coverage played hard and the score is reflective of a highly skilled SFU club.”
Sunday’s Championship final pits the two top teams in the BCIHL in the regular season. It’ll also be the teams sixth meeting of the season. Saturday’s victory gives TRU a 3-2 lead.