Provincial coach Beaton enters judo shrine

Ewan Beaton, the provincial coach for Judo Saskatchewan, is to be honoured today during the Saskatchewan open judo championships in Regina.

A presentation will be made at 3 p.m., to recognize Beaton’s recent induction into the Judo Canada Hall of Fame. During the presentation, he is to receive his Hall of Fame certificate.

The Edmonton-born Beaton, 44, has been involved in four Olympic Games. He competed in the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics and also represented Canada at the Olympics as a coach (2004) and a team leader (2008).

In 1995, he won a gold medal in the men’s bantamweight division at the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He had won a silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games, held in Havana, Cuba.

The Saskatoon-based Beaton has been the highperformance coach for Judo Saskatchewan since 2008. He also held that position from 1997 to 2000.

In addition, Beaton has served as Judo Canada’s junior national coach (1999 to 2001), Judo Manitoba’s highperformance coach (2001) and Judo Canada’s coach coordinator (2001 to 2008).

The provincial open championships are to run at the Fieldhouse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The event is expected to attract approximately 250 athletes from five provinces — Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, B.C. and Ontario.

■■■ Regina’s Nik Goncin has been named to the 2014 Canadian senior men’s wheelchair basketball team.

The squad is now preparing for the 2015 Parapan American Games and the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This is the second consecutive year Goncin has been named to the team.

■■■ William Peers paced the Laval Lions with 32 points in their 56-52 victory over the Martin Monarchs in Regina Intercollegiate Basketball League junior boys action Thursday.

Martin’s Curtis MosherSlinn scored 20 points.

More results appear in Local Scoreboard.

■■■ SGI Canada and the Insurance Brokers’ Association of Saskatchewan are to serve as the major sponsors for the 2014 Saskatchewan Hockey Association provincial playoffs, it was announced Friday.