MVB SIGN 8th RECRUIT FOR 2010-11 (LEBLANC) May 17, 2010
Posted by lread in Men's Volleyball.1 comment so far
Adam Leblanc
The Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team have signed their eighth recruit for the 2010-11 Canada West season. For the second time this recruiting season, head coach Pat Hennelly has gone to the Ontario College Athletic Association.
The WolfPack are pleased to announce the signing of 21 year old Adam Leblanc of Sudbury Ontario. Leblanc is a 6’8” middle who has played the last two seasons with the Nipissing University Lakers of the Ontario College Athletic Association.
“Our connection with Barrett Baird-Hamilton pays off,” said Hennelly, giving credit to the WolfPack Alumni for tapping into another Ontario College player. Earlier this summer, he helped Hennelly sign three time CCAA All-Canadian Ryan Talsma from Redeemer University College.
Adam and his twin brother Andre both played with Nipissing the last two seasons. He was a First Team OCAA All-Star this past season. In 51 games played, he had 113 kills averaging 2.22 per game. Adam added 17 service aces, 26 blocks, 31 digs and 156 points.
“ From what I have seen, he is a big guy with good mobility,” says Hennelly of Leblanc, who was Nipissing’s Athlete of the Year , MVP for volleyball and OCAA Second Team All-Star in his rookie year (2008-09). “ I think he is going to do a good job of playing at this level as a 6’8” player. Those are the types of guys we are looking for—big guys who can move. I think he’ll have a bit of an adjustment period, but it’ll be less than a player coming out of high school. He is what all the teams are looking for and will be a great addition to our team”
“The OCAA was a good starting point for me,” said Leblanc. “ I am excited to see what the CIS has to offer my game. “
Hennelly says Leblanc’s acquisition will add more experience and depth. “Finding those big guys is hard to do. There wasn’t a great middle blocker group coming out of high school in either BC or Alberta this year. Adam gives us four great middle blockers.”
He joins fellow Ontario native Mike Hammond (4th year, Barrie), Joel Caschetto (5th year, White Rock, BC) and Alex Davis (2nd year, White Rock, BC). “I’m pretty excited that we’ll have Adam for three years,” Hennelly adds. “That’ll give him enough time to develop into a premier middle in the CIS.”
He adds: “I can bring athleticism, height, solid foundation in the middle, charisma and enthusiasm on the court. Off the court, I like to stay true to my teammates as a close friend.”
Adam admits to being a bit nervous about not only moving to the CIS but to Western Canada. “ “ I am used to having my twin brother beside me on and off the court, but this year I am going to have to learn to excel on my own. It’s new but a scary thought. I’m excited to meet the team and bond with a new group of athletes.”
PERRIN MAKES SENIOR NATIONAL B TEAM May 17, 2010
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Gord Perrin (A. Snucins photo)
For the first time in their history, a member of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack volleyball program has made a Canadian National Senior team. Outside hitter Gord Perrin (Creston, BC) was named to the National “B” men’s squad after a week long training camp held in Gatineau.
(A. Snucins photo)
Perrin, a first team CIS All-Canadian in 2009-10 will be training with the National Team program until the month of June.
“Gord progressed well during the week,” said National Team Assistant Coach Vincent Pichette “After playing for the Junior National team program the past two years, we have decided to select Gord for the Senior ‘B” team. As well as training this summer, Gord has also been extended an invitation to become part of our full time training facility beginning in the fall.”
Pichette said that Perrin, who was second in the Canada West this past season in kills and points scored shows a lot of potential at the national level. “ He is certainly one of this country’s up and coming players,” he stated. “ He has international potential. All he needs to do is worth on his technique and his physical play.”
(A. Snucins photo)
Perrin and the National “B” team will train extensively this summer along with the Senior “A” squad, who are vying at qualifying for the 2012 Olympics in London, England. The next tournament of any consequence for the “B” team would be the FISU games in 2011.
“University volleyball is quite different than International play,” says Pichette. “ The work the “B” team does during the summer will prepare them for the future.”
(A. Snucins photo)
Perrin is excited at the prospect of training all summer with Canada’s best players. But he has yet to make his future plans known.
WolfPack head coach Pat Hennelly said. “ I think it’s a great honor for Gord (to be selected) and our program. It shows that Gord is a top 24 guy in the country and the National Team sees some potential in him. I respect Glenn Hoag (National Senior Team Head Coach) immensely and feel he will further help Gord as a volleyball player.”
Perrin’s training with the Senior National Team begins May 17 th.
PERRIN VYING FOR SPOT ON SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM May 10, 2010
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Gord Perrin (A. Snucins photo)
Gord Perrin is hoping that his storied volleyball career will move to the next level over the next week. The native of Creston, BC has been in the sports spotlight ever since he came to Thompson Rivers University three years ago.
A CIS First-Team All-Star in 2009-10, the 6’6 Perrin is one of 44 players vying for a spot on one of Canada’s Senior National Teams. This is the first time the former Junior National Team captain has been invited to the selection camp.
“I’ve been training very hard and hope that it pays off at the tryout,” Perrin says. “Im feeling anxious now that the tryouts are underway. I’ve been staying at the hotel with a few of the guys I played with on the Junior National Team. My body is feeling good.”
Perrin, who was second this past year in the Canada West in Kills and Points Scored admits to being nervous. “ This is the biggest tryout I have ever been to but I am trying to remain confident. This is a pivotal point in my career.”
Like any elite player, Perrin is looking at the possibility of a selection to one of the teams as a gateway to a professional career overseas. “ This is definitely the right place for me to be to achieve my goals.”
The head coach of the National Team is Glenn Hoag. “He is someone I deeply admire and respect,” Perrin stated. “He has coached some of the best professional teams in the world and worked with some of the best players. Whatever decisions he makes , I have to believe they are the right ones.”
Hoag has invited 16 left sides to camp including Perrin. There are five returning veterans from last year’s squad including University of Alberta grads Nicolas Cundy and Andre Gaumont, Manitoba alum Toon Van Lankvelt and Victoria,BC product Fred Winters who played in the NCAA with Pepperdine.
Perrin is taking a very mature outlook into the training camp. “ Many of the players at this tryout have played professionally and are very successful in the pro leagues. I feel playing with these guys will give me an idea of what the next level is like and what to expect before I take the next step into a professional career.”
The WolfPack co-captain from 2009-10 still hasn’t ruled out returning to TRU for his fourth year of academic eligibility. The Camp runs until May 14 th. Canada’s Senior National “A” team will be travelling to tournaments this summer while trying to qualify for the 2010 Summer Olympics in London England. The “B” team will essentially train against the “A” squad this summer as they gear up for their own tournament in 2011.
Canada is ranked 21 st in the world in men’s volleyball.
TRU WOLFPACK GIVEN FULL STATUS IN CANADA WEST May 6, 2010
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(A. Snucins photo)
Thursday, May 6, 2010 will go down as a historic day for the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Athletic Program. It was on this day that the WolfPack became official members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association.
The CWUAA voted to give Thompson Rivers ‘full membership status’ at their Annual General Meeting in Victoria, BC. This followed a presentation made by Athletic Director Ken Olynyk which highlighted the schools involvement in the Canada West over the past five seasons as a probationary member in the sports of basketball and volleyball. The presentation also focused on the University, the Tournament Capital Center and efforts by the WolfPack to continue to get their athletes more involved in the community.
“I’m glad the process is finished and we met the criteria Canada West set out for us,” he stated pointing out that the final year of TRU’s probationary period had nothing to do with TRU Athletics and Recreation Department or its operations, but more to do with the future of Canada West itself. ““ Over the last five years, we had conducted ourselves in accordance with the rules and regulations surrounding the league. This was in all areas from our involvement in governance, presenting of the athletic events, our follow up, the reporting of games , results and statistics and so forth.”
Lindsey Dekoff (A. Snucins)
“This day was a long time coming,” Olynyk added. “ It’s the culmination of a goal that the TRU Senior Administration had set back in December 2002, and this took on greater impetus as time passed .”
TRU will continue to have the men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball teams compete in the Canada West leagues. “Naturally, one of the first questions asked will be what teams will be next for the CIS and Canada West, there will need to be considerations prior to making any commitment for future teams in Canada West and this will only be considered following consultation with the Senior Administration,” stated Olynyk.
Amanda Frayne and Anna Dyakiewicz (A. Snucins photo)
Christopher Seguin, TRU’s Vice President of Advancement said. “ This announcement validates years of hard work by volunteers, staff, coaches and students athletes. It’ll bring an ongoing opportunity to put our university, our city and our student athletes on the national stage in sport.”
Gord Perrin at 2010 CIS Nationals (A. Snucins)
The most successful of the TRU Canada West programs has been Men’s Volleyball. Pat Hennelly’s teams have won a national bronze medal, two Canada west bronze medals and recently hosted the CIS Nationals. “ This means a lot to have earned our spot into the Canada West. We have proved that TRU men’s volleyball can compete and I think other programs will follow. I think Ken (Olynyk), Cliff (Neufeld, Vice President Administration and Finance) and Roger (Dr. Barnsley, Interim President and Vice Chancellor) should be commended for all their hard work and support. TRU has shown we are committed to excellence with the budgets, scholarships and willingness to host events. I look forward to coaching at TRU for a long time.”
The WolfPack began play in the Canada West as a probationary member in 2005-06, they start play as a full member of Canada West in the fall.
In other news, The University of the Fraser Valley was also given ‘full membership status” while UBC Okanagan was given probationary status starting in September and will start playing men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball in the fall of 2011. UNBC and Vancouver Island University had their membership applications turned down.
THREE TIME CCAA ALL-CANADIAN CHOOSES TRU TO FINISH MVB CAREER May 4, 2010
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Ryan Talsma
The success of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack men’s volleyball team in 2010-11 got a whole lot brighter. The WolfPack and head coach Pat Hennelly are pleased to announce the signing of 22 year old right side Ryan Talsma of Orono, Ontario. Talsma was a Canadian College Athletic Association All Canadian for three straight years (2007-10) with the Redeemer University College Royals.
Hennelly said due diligence in recruiting helped him land the 6’6” Talsma. “I contacted his coach at Redeemer and asked about whether Ryan would like to play CIS.,” he said. “ I knew he was an All Canadian and I was asking all the CCAA programs with quality players about transferring .”
Talsma helped lead Redeemer to a 13 and 3 record in 2009-10. He played in 16 Ontario College Athletic Association matches last season garnering 235 kills (average of 3.73 per game), 30 blocks, 35 service aces and had 79 digs. He averaged 4.76 points per game, those totals were third best in the OCAA. Hennelly sent alumni Brendan Barrett-Hamilton , who lives in Ontario to see him play. “He has put up some good numbers,” the WolfPack coach stated “ He also had 36 kills against Mike Hammond (current WolfPack middle) and his team in the playoffs.”
Talsma, who graduates from Redeemer with a Bachelor of Arts in Business and History plans to take a Post-Bach Diploma program specializing in New Venture Creation. “ TRU could offer me a one year program which would help me specialize my Business Degree,’ he said. “ Furthermore, Pat was willing to take me on even though I just have one year of eligibility left. After four years of playing in the CCAA, I want to experience the highest calibre of university volleyball that I could. I think I can learn a lot from playing in the CIS.”
He believes playing in the CIS and Canada West will be a step up. “I think it will be a fairly big change, however being a student-athlete requires a lot of commitment and discipline anywhere that you go, so in that sense I feel as though I am prepared for it,” Talsma, the OCAA men’s volleyball player of the year in 2009-10 stated. “ I believe that playing in the CIS will allow me to developmore as an athlete as well as an individual. “
Hennelly has big plans for his newest addition: “I think Ryan will be a quality guy on and off the court.. We are looking for Ryan to bring some offense and blocking from the right side of the court. “
That leadership is something Talsma believes he can help with. “In the past I have been a team member that is emotionally stable,” he explains. “ I am not the kind of player that gets overly emotionally charged, but I also do not get emotionally discouraged. In terms of a physical presence on the court, I hope that I can contribute some size and experience to the team, but we will have to wait and see to what extent. “
He joins the WolfPack program at a good time says coach Hennelly. “With Robin Schoebel (4th year, outside hitter, Monaco) not returning next year due to graduation and knee problems, I knew we had to get a quality experienced guy on the right side. We have arguably the best one two punch on left side with Gord (Perrin, 3rd year, Creston, BC) and Kevin (Tillie, 1st year, Cagnes Sur Mer, France) and I wanted to get an offensive threat on the right side.”
The newest member of the WolfPack can’t wait to get to Kamloops to get started. “ I have heard that TRU has a beautiful campus. I have heard that there is a phenomenal sense of community on the men’s volleyball team, which makes me excited become a part of it. “