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Red Deer’s Kaylee Domoney “digs” up a huge win for RDC in battle of top volleyball teams

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From Red Deer College 

Red Deer College Athletics is proud to announce the Bedford Food Company Athletes of the Week

  1. Kaylee Domoney – Queens Volleyball

Hometown – Red Deer, AB

Kinesiology General (4th year)

Kaylee Domoney had another magnificent weekend on the court for the Red Deer College Queens Volleyball team (19-3). Despite having the difficult task of facing the previously undefeated Briercrest College Clippers, the fourth-year libero was a difference maker. On Friday, the Queens did what no other team in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) had done before – defeat the Clippers. In the four set home victory (23-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-22), Domoney was a steady influence on defence, contributing 11 digs and four assists, and earning the Collegiate Sports Medicine Queens Player-of-the-Game. Even though Briercrest College captured Saturday’s rematch in four sets (16-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-15), the Kinesiology General student had another strong game, totaling 12 digs and two assists. Domoney ranks seventh in the league with 3.48 digs per set. The second place RDC Queens have already sealed a spot in the ACAC Championship Feb. 27-29 at Medicine Hat College.

  1. Dylan Thudium – Kings Hockey

Hometown – Sylvan Lake, AB

Bachelor of Business Administration General Management (5th year)

Centre Dylan Thudium made RDC Kings Hockey history this past weekend in a pair of victories against the Portage College Voyageurs. With his four points, the fifth-year student-athlete surpassed former all-star captain Tanner Butler, becoming the Kings all-time points leader with 113. In nearly five years with RDC, Thudium has scored 39 goals and 74 assists, with four regular season games remaining.

In Friday’s 5-3 win, the Kings trailed heading into the third period and the Sylvan Lake product sniped the tying goal. He also assisted on RDC’s first tally. Then in Saturday’s thrilling 7-6 overtime victory, Thudium recorded a pair of assists. The Bachelor of Business Administration General Management student provides leadership and is an offensive threat when he steps on the ice. Thudium and the Kings have already earned a trip to the postseason.

This Week in RDC Athletics is sponsored by Cam Clark Ford

It’s another exciting week ahead in RDC Athletics as teams jockey for positions in the standings. The Red Deer College student-athletes appreciate the community’s support, and the energy provided by the crowd gives them an extra boost.

Both basketball teams will play the Ambrose University Lions two times, as they look to finish their final four games strong in their chase for the playoffs. The Kings & Queens Volleyball squads will entertain the Medicine Hat College Rattlers twice. The Hockey Queens will round out the regular season against the NAIT Ooks, which will be a preview of the semi-finals. The Red Deer College Kings Hockey team will face-off against the Briercrest College Clippers in a pair of road games.

For convenience, tickets can be purchased online.

RDC learners can attend the games for free with valid student ID.

Here is a summary of what is happening this week:

Queens Basketball | Friday, Feb. 21 | 6:00 pm | Ambrose University

The fifth place RDC Queens (8-9) will face the Ambrose University Lions (3-14) in Calgary. All four remaining games have significant meaning with eight points up for grabs in the standings. The Red Deer College Queens have won four of their past six contests.

Harneet Sidhu has been effective from beyond the arc. The second-year guard from Surrey has connected on 43.2 per cent of her three-point attempts, which ranks third in the league.

The Rattlers (9-10) sit fourth in the south, but have locked a position in the postseason as hosts of the championship from March 5-7. The Queens are chasing the Lethbridge College Kodiaks (10-9), who sit in third with 20 points. RDC also has two games in hand.

Queens Basketball | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 6:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDC Queens will compete against the Lions at RDC.

Kings Basketball | Friday, Feb. 21 | 8:00 pm | Ambrose University

The fifth seed Red Deer College Kings (8-9) will challenge the third place Ambrose University Lions (10-7) on the road.

The Kings have averaged 86.1 points with Spencer Klassen (22.3) leading the team and sitting third in the league. Guard Linden Jackson (17.2) provides an offensive touch for the Lions (88.6).

It will come down to the final game to determine the final two playoff spots. First place Lethbridge College (18-1) and second seed SAIT (13-4) have already qualified from the south. Briercrest College (9-8) currently has the fourth spot with 18 points. St. Mary’s University (8-10) is even with the Kings with 16 points, but has also played one more game.

Kings Basketball | Friday, Feb. 22 | 8:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Kings and Lions will meet in Red Deer.

Queens Volleyball | Friday, Feb. 21 | 6:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The second place Red Deer College Queens (19-3) will host the fourth seed Medicine Hat College Rattlers (8-14) in the final regular season series. The Queens have been playing well, winning 19 of their past 20 matches. Emma Holmes and Tess Pearman have both averaged 3.11 kills per set, which ranks the two talented RDC outside hitters fourth in the league. McKenna Olson provides an offensive option from the middle and she has been effective at the net, sitting fourth in Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Volleyball with 0.64 blocks per set.

Rattlers middle Megan Hoeber ranks first with 0.69 blocks per set. Outside hitter Amber Stigter is one of Medicine Hat’s offensive leaders, averaging 2.52 kills per set.

The Rattlers will host the ACAC Women’s Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27-29.

Queens Volleyball | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 1:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDC Queens will entertain the Rattlers in the last match before the playoffs.

Kings Volleyball | Friday, Feb. 21 | 8:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The first place RDC Kings (18-4) will play the fifth seed Medicine Hat College Rattlers (6-16). The Kings have been on a roll, winning eight consecutive matches and 14 of their past 15. RDC has averaged 11.66 kills per set, with Legal, Alberta’s Carter Hills (3.01) leading the charge. Setter Thomas Wass continues to rank first in ACAC Men’s Volleyball with 9.25 assists per set.

The Rattlers have knocked down 9.70 kills per set and right side hitter KeAndre Evans (3.29) is their go-to offensive weapon.

The Lethbridge College Kodiaks (18-4) will host the ACAC Men’s Volleyball Championship from Feb. 27-29.

Kings Volleyball | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 3:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The Kings will wrap up the regular season against the Rattlers in an afternoon match.

Queens Hockey | Friday, Feb. 21 | 7:00 pm | NAIT

The second seed Red Deer College Queens (14-5-3-0) and third place NAIT Ooks (12-9-1-0) will meet in Edmonton. In four head-to-head games this season, the Queens have not lost in regulation to the Ooks and have earned six-of-eight points in the standings. RDC won 4-2 and 3-2 and dropped a pair of games in the shootout (4-3 and 5-4), still earning a point in each contest. Goaltender Karlee Fetch has played extremely well lately and sports a 2.20 goals against average and 0.921 save percentage. The two teams will also face each other in the semi-finals.

Queens Hockey | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 7:00 pm | Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre

The RDC Queens and NAIT Ooks will clash in Red Deer.

Kings Hockey | Friday, Feb. 21 | 7:00 pm | Briercrest College

The second place Red Deer College Kings (17-5-2-0) will take their top ranked power play (25%) into Saskatchewan and battle the sixth seed Briercrest College Clippers (7-14-2-1). Over 24 games, the Kings have scored 4.25 goals per game and allowed 2.88. The Clippers have lit the lamp 2.79 times and let in 5.67.

Kings Hockey | Saturday, Feb. 22 | 2:00 pm | Briercrest College

The Kings will face-off against the Clippers in an afternoon rematch. Then two games remain in the regular season against the SAIT Trojans.

For more information on RDC Athletics, the student-athletes and teams, please visit: rdcathletics.ca

After 15 years as a TV reporter with Global and CBC and as news director of RDTV in Red Deer, Duane set out on his own 2008 as a visual storyteller. During this period, he became fascinated with a burgeoning online world and how it could better serve local communities. This fascination led to Todayville, launched in 2016.

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Red Deer

St. Joseph High School Celebrates Brody Andrie’s National Boxing Championship Victory

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News release from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools 

St. Joseph High School (SJHS) is thrilled to announce that Grade 12 student Brody Andrie has been crowned the National Champion in the 57 KG youth division at the prestigious Canada Cup & Junior Youth Canadian Championships. The championships were held at the Genesis Centre in Calgary from March 20 to March 24, 2024.

Brody, a dedicated member of Team Alberta and a fierce competitor from the Shadow Box Boxing Club in Lacombe, has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning gold in his division. This victory not only highlights his outstanding skills and dedication to the sport of boxing but also marks him as the first central Alberta boxer to be crowned a national champion in decades.

Reflecting on his victory, Brody shared, “This win is not just for me but for everyone who has supported me along the way. I’m proud to bring this championship back to Lacombe and hope to inspire other young athletes in our community.”

SJHS Principal, Gary Gylander, expressed his admiration for Brody’s achievement, stating, “Brody’s success is a testament to his hard work, perseverance, and the support of his coaches and community. We are incredibly proud of him and look forward to seeing what the future holds for this outstanding young athlete.”

This is a historic moment for both Brody and central Alberta, shining a spotlight on the talent and potential within our community.

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Bruce Dowbiggin

From Hall of Fame To Hall of Shame? Shohei Faces Banishment

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Holy Backtrack, Batman. With MLB Opening Day— the North American, not Korean version— days away, the sport’s biggest star is up to the bill of his new L.A. Dodgers cap in gambling controversy. Turns out that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s closest companion since coming to North America in 2018, has committed “massive theft” and stolen a reported sum of at least $4.5 million to pay off debts to an alleged illegal bookmaker.

At least that is one story. There are others. After the Dodgers’ first of two games in Seoul last week, Mizuhara admitted that his buddy Ohtani had “loaned” him $4.5 million to pay off a gambling debt which has a paper trail to California and possibly Japan. Sooner than you can say Cy Young, Ohtani’s lawyers said, nay, nay… he didn’t lend anything to Ippei, and Ohtani is severing his relationship with him.

(Which is just as well, because the Dodgers were firing Mizuhara already.) Then Mizuhara did a complete reversal, telling ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts, and that Ohtani had not transferred money to a bookmaking operation in California, where there is no legal gambling. About this time someone got to Mizuhara and told him it might be a good idea if he 黙って (Japanese for damare or STFU).

Friday, reports emerged showing large amounts being bet in Japan on games played by Ohtani and his lousy performance in those games. While no one has been able to say the bets were placed by the pitcher or those around him, there are a few games that look highly suspicious. Monday, Ohtani sought to distance himself from his former buddy.

What is undeniable is that payoff money came from Ohtani’s account. And that for almost five years, a gambling addict had complete access to the inner workings of the California Angels dressing room. What injury insights and insider knowledge might Ippei Mizuhara have traded for gambling debts or favours? MLB and the police say they are investigating, but if it can be shown the Ohtani had any betting interest in his own team or other MLB games he will— based on the Joe Jackson and Pete Rose examples— be banned for life from MLB.

Also, are these stories exposing Ohtani about something else? Some believe the allegations may be revenge for Ohtani signing a friendly contract that backloads most of his compensation till after he retires— thereby depriving tax-hungry California of hundreds of millions in taxes.  Finally, why was MLB, which purports to have a security department, caught flat-footed here, and why are they only “gathering information”? Not a good look on any of these fronts for a business already struggling to re-capture lost audience share.

For those who like comedy we can only hope this mess has the entertainment value of the NHL when its greatest star ever was caught gambling with a shady character outside Philly. Okay, Wayne Gretzky never bet on sports , which was then illegal everywhere in North America outside Las Vegas. Never. Perish the thought.

When the Gretzky story broke in 2006 we were informed by people throughout hockey—including many sniffers in the sports media who still have jobs— that it was Wayne’s wife Janet and his pal Rich Tocchet who had the gambling problem. The walls around No. 99 went up quickly to protect him. There was concern about Gretzky’s eligibility to manage the 2006 Olympic mens hockey team.

VANCOUVER, BC – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Wayne Gretzky and assistant coach Rick Tocchet (R) of the Phoenix Coyotes discuss a play during their game against the Vancouver Canucks at General Motors Place on October 20, 2005 in Vancouver, Canada. The Canucks defeated the Coyotes 3-2. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

For weeks the police and the NHL did a dance around the Gretzkys, placing most of the blame on Tocchet as the point man who financed and placed bets. Much was made of No. 99’s simon-pure record, even though wiretaps later showed his knowledge of the scheme and of Janet’s “involvement”.

Janet, who was taking the heat for hubby, later whined to Chatelaine Magazine. “It’s unfair that Wayne and I have had a great marriage for 20 years and a nice family, and the people in the media could care less if they are trying to cause friction in your marriage, trouble in your family, and make your kids feel a certain way. That was a little hurtful, because it was like, ‘Why? What have we ever done to you?’”

Um, as the wife of a hockey legend, you were, at the very least, dealing with illegal gambling when any such activity at the time was strictly verboten in the NHL and with the cops. That’s what you did. Your marriage had nothing to do with it.

Just to prove that Gretzky is not the type to get involved with the sleaze of gambling he immediately signed up to advertise sports betting as soon as it became legal in 2022. He’s done commercials with Connor McDavid yukking it up over parlays and teasers. He’s the hockey face of legal gambling. But he’s not a gambler.

This story was never going to be told straight in 2006 with Gretzky’s name involved. He’s just too big in Canada to be taken down for a silly betting scheme with a few goombahs in Tony Soprano’s old Jersey neighbourhood. You could tell by the indignation of Team Gretzky in the day that they were calling in their markers… er, discussing the issue with friendly media on burying the story.

MLB can just hope that it has enough lackeys of its own in the press and friends in the DOJ to keep the Japanese Babe Ruth out of trouble. But the bases are full and the runners will be in motion with the next pitch

Bruce Dowbiggin @dowbboy is the editor of Not The Public Broadcaster  A two-time winner of the Gemini Award as Canada’s top television sports broadcaster, he’s a regular contributor to Sirius XM Canada Talks Ch. 167. Inexact Science: The Six Most Compelling Draft Years In NHL History, his new book with his son Evan, was voted the seventh-best professional hockey book of all time by bookauthority.org . His 2004 book Money Players was voted sixth best on the same list, and is available via brucedowbigginbooks.ca.

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