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Kings Volleyball Payers Named To All-Star Team!

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Red Deer College is set to host the 2016-17 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship starting tomorrow and, leading up to the event, four Kings Volleyball players have been recognized for their outstanding play this season.

Luke Brisbane, Regan Fathers, Ty Moorman and Michael Sumner were all named to the ACAC South All-Conference Team, awards they received at this morning’s 2016-17 ACAC Men’s Volleyball Award Presentations. The awards are determined by voting from the opposing coaches in the ACAC. “It’s always nice to see our student-athletes progress and continue to be well-respected by their peers and coaches within our conference,” says Aaron Schulha, Kings Volleyball Head Coach.

Luke Brisbane, who is in the Bachelor of Commerce program, “has been one of the best setters in the country since coming to us three years ago,” says Schulha. “He had to battle through an injury this year that saw him miss a great deal of time, but he came back midway through the second half and his been playing well since his return. The combination of his size and athleticism, ability to the run the offence, effective serve and defensive presence are all attributes that make him a great college setter.”

Kinesiology & Sport Studies student, Regan Fathers, moved from the left side to the right side this year and has thrived in his new position. “He leads the ACAC South in kills and has been relied upon heavily all year long. Simply put, he is a game-changer,” Schulha says.

Third year Open Studies student, Ty Moorman, has excelled this year in both offense and defense. “He is an imposing young man who is extremely athletic,” explains Schulha, “and he can change what opponents are doing offensively and defensively to have to account for him.”

Michael Sumner, a second-year student in the Bachelor of Commerce program, has started every match during his two years with the Kings. “Mike has been outstanding for us since he got here in fall 2015,” says Schulha. “He has been our most consistent performer this season and has solidified himself as the best liberal in our conference.”

While Schulha and his team are celebrating the accomplishments of these players, they are also looking ahead and striving for team success at the upcoming championship. “It has been an odd year with some significant injuries and inconsistencies, but we’re playing some pretty high-level volleyball right now, so I’m excited going into Conference Championships.”

Hosting the event is a privilege for Kings Volleyball and RDC. “We’re always honoured to host championship events,” says Diane St-Denis. “It’s very positive for students, young athletes and the community to support our teams and be part of such high-level competition.” St-Denis adds that RDC has a strong history of hosting ACAC Championships and, looking to the future, the facilities will be in place to host national-level events “We’ll begin using the Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre in the fall of 2018, and our Kings and Queens teams will begin training and competing in this state-of-the-art facility,” she says. “We’re excited for the opportunities this will bring, and we’re currently putting the final touches on a bid proposal to host the 2019 CCAA Championships.”

While pursuing these exciting possibilities for the future, St-Denis, Schulha and the Kings Volleyball players will focus on a closer goal this weekend, as they head into the ACAC Championship. “We’re very much looking forward to competing in our own gym this weekend against some very tough competition,” Schulha says. “Hopefully we can pack the place for our matches and receive significant support from the central Alberta community as we try to defend our ACAC and CCAA crowns.”

(Photo courtesy of Tony Hansen)

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Alberta

“A Really Special Place” – Why the Wild Rose Motocross Track is One of a Kind

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This summer, as you wander between the breweries and activity centers located in southeast Calgary, pause for a moment – if you listen closely, you may hear the distant rumble of motocross engines as bikes of all sizes careen over jumps and around corners at the Wild Rose Motocross Track.

Located just off Blackfoot Trail in Southeast Calgary, the 88-acre park is backed by the Calgary skyline, a prime piece of land located just minutes from downtown. Founded in the 1960’s as the Blackfoot Motorcycle Park, the track has deep roots in the city of Calgary, and according to WRMA board member David Pinkman, “Few sagas can compete with the wild west history of Calgary’s Wild Rose Motocross Association and its hard-core motocross lovers.” 


Photo Credit Eden Schell 

In 1984, The Wild Rose Motocross Association (WRMA) was officially formed, and the Blackfoot Motorcycle Park became the Wild Rose. Acting as a major host for a number of national motocross events since the 70’s and nurturing some of Canada’s best professional riders to date, Pinkman argues the “course of Canadian motocross history may not have been the same but for this unique piece of dirt and hills.”

With 7 tracks available including the full-sized Main, East and Hill Tracks, as well as the Extreme Beginner, Mini, Pee Wee, and Enduro Tracks, Wild Rose welcomes riders of all ages and skill levels. “This is the only track of its kind in Canada,” says Michelle McCarthy, newest member of the WRMA board, “It’s right in the centre of the city; it’s got 3 big bike tracks, the smaller tracks and the enduro park. This is a really special place.”
Whether it be your first time on a bike or the day you’re finally going to clear that 15-foot tabletop, the track encourages everyone to come out and ride. “People want to see new riders,” says McCarthy, “they want to see the community flourish. Plus, dirt biking is really, really fun,” she laughs.  


Photo Credit Eden Schell 

Like countless other Canadian businesses, the Wild Rose Track has taken a hit due to COVID-19, with day pass riders and memberships being significantly down. Open year round – weather permitting – the track normally sees up to 30,000 visits per year. However, due to the pandemic, numbers are currently far lower as the park operates within capacity limits. 

As a recreational park on city property, track management wanted to set an example for taking action to reduce the spread of COVID-19, responding rapidly to Alberta Government guidelines by implementing a number of new precautions and preventative measures. This includes constructing wash stations at every track, implementing paperless transactions and COVID-19 symptom screening upon entry to the park, as well as establishing an online scheduling system to limit the number of riders at the track at one time.  

In the midst of the new normal, the park remains committed to growing and supporting the motocross community in Calgary and beyond, staying on top of updates that will allow them to return to racing and regular operation as soon as possible. While all spring and summer race series have been cancelled by COVID-19, the WRMA is actively monitoring pandemic updates with the goal of hosting a successful race series this coming fall. 

To learn more about the Wild Rose Motocross Association, visit https://www.wildrosemx.com.

 

For more stories, visit Todayville Calgary.

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Alberta

Alberta Juniors Choose Positive Path

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Alberta Juniors Choose Positive Path

Everywhere there is gloom. Well, almost everywhere.

A welcome exception is the 15-team Alberta Junior Hockey League, which lost much of its gate revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic arrival at playoff time, and now waits for permission from Hockey Canada and Alberta Health Services to go ahead with its 2000-2001 season.

President Ryan Bartoshyk confirmed on Monday that his league is “in the process of drawing up our schedule right now. We’re aiming (to have teams on the ice) by Sept. 1 and we hope to get the season started by Sept. 18.” Any and all final decisions must meet with at least two levels of official approval, of course, but operators have expressed their confidence by agreeing to put in the work, recognizing that later starts (or no start) are still possibilities.

To an outsider, the clearest declaration of league independence is this: the schedule, with various possible opening dates pencilled in, is being drawn up for all 15 teams. This is most impressive when it is known that several franchises – no names provided by president Bartoshyk or any team spokesman – have expressed serious concern about the cost of business in the coming season.

We have lost at least one league camp for tryouts,” said a spokesman. “We know we’re going to lose more.”

Not included are the Blackfalds Bulldogs, who will replace the former Calgary Mustangs at the start of the 2021/2002 season. Bartoshyk was pleased to say “work on the new arena for Blackfalds is due to start this month.”

Among the established teams reported to have mentioned their problems outside of league meetings are the Canmore Eagles, but the team’s two captains and a pair of assistants have already been named for the coming season. At least a couple of promising signings have also been announced. As a result, pessimism has shrunk a great deal.

Also optimistic about the coming season are the Olds Grizzlys, whose attendance averaged well over 1,500 a game when they dominated Junior A ranks several years ago but dropped to about 600 a game last year. “This is a great sports community, a great place to be,” said club governor and vice-president executive Trent Wilhauk. “We know the fans will come back; they love their Grizzlys.”

Population of the community is slightly more than 10,000. “It’s a happening place when the team is going good.”

After wiping out last year’s playoffs and destroying some of the regular post-season increases at the gate, COVID-19 has continued to harm the AJHL, just as it has damaged so many other areas of the economy. “We have lost at least one league camp for tryouts,” said a spokesman. “We know we’re going to lose more.”

Those financial setbacks may have been dwarfed by the loss of some appealing playoff matchups. “Some of the teams that drew above-average numbers for us (Okotoks Oilers, Brooks Bandits, Sherwood Park Crusaders) didn’t have a playoff game before we had to stop,” Bartoshyk said. “They all had byes in the first round.”

Other teams with relative season-long success at the gate also missed money-raising opportunities. “It’s obvious that our league relies on corporate sponsorship and support at the gate,” Bartoshyk added, mentioning a handful of promising pending post-season clashes — Drayton Valley and Sherwood Park, the Whitehorse Wolverines and the Spruce Grove Saints, Camrose Kodiaks and Drumheller Dragons – that could not take place.

At this point, the day’s general feeling that the AJHL future remains bright surfaced again.

Said Bartoshyk: “We’re ready. We’ll do what is necessary.”

https://www.todayville.com/edmonton/hundreds-of-young-athletes-grow-more-anxious-by-the-day-acac-season-a-series-of-options/

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