Thanksgiving a bounty of athletic delights
Football Alberta guru Tim Enger pre-profiled the LCI at Raymond Southern Alberta High School Football League showdown last Friday as the “Game of the Week” in the province. Well, that certainly turned out to be prophetic!
This week soothsayer Enger has deemed the Claresholm Willow Creek at Taber W.R. Myers tilt as the “Game of the Week” in Wild Rose Counry. Let’s hope he’s on a roll.
Football Alberta has Myers ranked No. 1 among Tier IV Alberta Schools Athletic Association schools, with defending provincial champs Willow Creek at No. 3. Both teams are undefeated in SAHSFL Division B. In fact, a win by Myers would wrest the Jerry Dawson Trophy from Willow Creek’s grasp. As well, Thursday’s prevailing force will host the Tier IV playoff game come late October, most likely on Friday, Oct. 26.
Kickoff this Thursday is 7 p.m. Sounds like fun indeed.
At the University of Lethbridge Community Stadium this Thursday, Cardston visits Winston Churchill. Winner picks the site for a Tier III playoff game on Oct. 26.
Catholic Central tangles with LCI Friday evening at U of L. On Saturday, Strathmore is in Pincher Creek for an exhibition tilt.
LCI earned hosting rights for their Tier I playoff with the instant classic win over Raymond. When you ask? Thursday, Nov. 1 at U of L.
As for Tier II playoffs it’s ChinookCatholic Central Round 2, Oct. 26 at U of L. No venue decision needed there.
I see Canada Football Chat.com has LCI ranked No. 28 nationally this week, with Raymond at No. 36.
••• A week from today, next Wednesday Oct. 10, likely the the biggest participatory annual school sporting event in Southern Alberta invades Cardston’s Lee Creek Valley Golf Course. How many participants you ask? Well, counting high school and junior high entries, the field day has been known to attract 1,100 runners. Wow.
Sweet that the Temple City is putting the work into hosting such a substantial undertaking. Cody Toone is the new athletic director at Cardston High this year, with Ken McMurray, a basketball luminary as a player and coach, moving into the principal’s chair.
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The Southern Alberta High School Volleyball League season reaches approximately the mid-season juncture this week. The new girls Power Pool scheduling system seems to be very well regarded indeed.
WELLSIE’S WORLD - I was truly “highly-delighted” (thanks for the term Mona) to witness the christening of the Catholic Central Campus East Vasey Hall Gym playing surface as “Cal’s Court” last week in honour of CCH fixture Cal
O’Brien. The oh-so well-deserved standing ovation provided by perhaps 900 total students and staff on hand made me more than just a touch verklempt. Athlete, student, teacher, coach, administrator ... Cal has made an indelible positive mark on his beloved institution.
Behind his copious contributions to Catholic Central overall and high school sports in general, I truly believe Cal was the biggest consistent factor in the University of Lethbridge women’s basketball run as a nationally-ranked program in the mid 1980s-to-mid 1990s, serving as a influential assistant coach for many campaigns, plus one season as interim head coach. Cal also directed the U of L men’s hoop program as an interim head coach in 1988-89. I’m happy to see Raymond product
Brad Baker completing his postsecondary football eligibility at the University of Alberta. It’s indeed a tale of perseverance.
Last week the starting quarterback led U of A to a big home win over UBC. I looked it up, Baker, a two-time Southern Alberta High School Football League Division A most outstanding quarterback, graduated from Raymond in 2012. Frankly, at that juncture it would not have surprised me if Baker never played any post-secondary sports, since he’d already faced significant knee woes. Those troubles continued in university costing him a season. Along with time served on a church mission, Baker is now in his seventh year out of high school. Actually, he’s only played four seasons at U of A, but U Sports football put in an age-limit en route, so this is it for his university gridiron career.
The University of Lethbridge men’s hockey program, under the guidance of new head coach Murray Nystrom, has a wonderful opportunity to grow their brand this season hosting the national championship come March at the Enmax Centre. It will be the highest calibre of competitive men’s hockey this city has perhaps ever hosted — certainly at least since the 1950s. That’s not hyperbole. The physical maturity of the players as a whole is something major junior, as great as it is for many other reasons, just can’t match.
I took in a Horns regular season home game at Nicholas Sheran over the weekend. The level of play is undeniably high. The level of spectator attendance and engagement does not match the level of talent on display. Not even close. It’s well worth taking in. Investing emotionally when you do would be an atmospheric plus for all, too.