SportsXpress Lloydminster July/Aug 2014

July/August 2014 Volume 4 Issue 9

GET UNPLUGGED: ENJOY NATURE

DISC GOLF IS MAKING A COMEBACK

LASHBURN LUCKY ROCK THE FIELD

CONTEST! Are you the SportsXpress Biggest Bobcats Fan? Check out page 10 for details

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF AMATEUR SPORTS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES IN LLOYDMINSTER

executivepm@shaw.ca

thelineup

JULY/AUGUST 2014 Lloydminster Edition

26

13

editor’snote Welcome to SportsXpress, a magazine all about local sports — the players, teams, families, volunteers and fans. We publish real life stories on the full range of community sports and include all ages and skill levels. Every fan, parent, and sports enthusiast can participate by sharing their experiences with other fans.

We want you to make SportsXpress your magazine and www.LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca your website, by sending in your comments, story ideas, opinions, articles and photos. Get in the game with us and be connected with your local community sports!

Give us a call at (780) 871-0002 or email us at erins@lloydminstersportsxpress.ca.

– from the SportsXpress team

teamprofiles

sportsfiles

05 | 11 | 24 |

26 |

30 |

12 |

13 | 14 | 22 |

Profiling community sports in words and photographs.

The Lloydminster Rebels hit it off again Lloydminster to host 2016 RBC Cup Local youth soccer players taking the next provincial step Lashburn Lucky Men – a tale of two teams Borderstars’ break-out season

health&fitness

Informative articles on sports and fitness.

06 | 08 | 18 |

19 | 25 | 28 |

The benefits of Fascial stretch therapy Pilates – are you man enough?

Something for everyone at Midwest Foods Fun in the sun – stay protected!

Family Yoga has come to Lloydminster Four great places to play in Lloydminster

Entertaining, informative and engaging articles on local athletes, sports and teams.

14

Lloydminster baseball at the Alberta Summer Games Disc golf is making a comeback Get unplugged and fly fish!

Off Road Riders’ motocross series

fromthesidelines

Fans, parents and sports groups share their opinions and experience.

16

| Start your putting season the right way

behindthebench

Tips, tactics and ideas are shared by athletes, coaches and fans.

20 | Buying a hockey stick – a step by step approach

20

Lloydminster

Get in the Game!

Lloydminster and Surrounding Area

JULY/AUGUST 2014 Check out our website at www.LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca PUBLISHER

EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

SportsXpress is a grassroots media provider dedicated to the community sports lifestyle. We’re all about the athletes, coaches, their families and fans.

We publish real life stories and include all ages and skills.

We’re Growing!

Since 2008, we’ve grown to over 20 community publications across Canada. We are looking for sports-minded entrepreneurs to build new publications throughout the country.

Are you: • Passionate about sports?

• Interested in running your own community business?

• Experienced in Sales?

Join our Growing Team!

Contact SportsXpress at: 1.877.588.8856 or email Sales@SportsXpress.ca Or visit www.sportsxpress.ca for more information

Renee Papineau Amy Ruston

CONTRIBUTORS

Lloydminster Competitive Softball Association, Kari Watchel, Donna Schellenberg, Malcom Radke, Brad Zerr, Ruan Guerra, Gord Nuttall, Marty Wheaton, Midway Food Resources, Jessica and Jung, HockeyStickMan, Jackie Schroeder, Danny Schneider, Lashburn Lucky, Pamela Sexsmith, Lloyminster in Motion, and 07’s Borderstars

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Megan Miller Photography, Lloydminster Minor Ball Association, Ruan Guerra, Gord Nuttall, Spencer Bannon, and Lloydminster Off-Road Riders

PARTNERSHIP EDITIONS

Peterborough Oshawa-Whitby Ajax/Pickering Waterloo Region Halton Region Sarnia-Lambton Belleville/Quinte

PARTNERSHIP INQUIRY

Contact SportsXpress at: 1.877.588.8856 or email sales@sportsxpress.ca

Call your own shots!

Be a part of the SportsXpress Team!

Erin & Sheldon Stark erins@lloydminstersportsxpress.ca 780.871.0002

Ottawa Hamilton Mississauga Lloydminster Swift Current Brant County Chatham/Kent

NATIONAL & REGIONAL SALES

Amy Knowles amyk@sportsxpress.ca

PRESIDENT/CEO

Walter Browning walter@sportsxpress.ca

VP OPERATIONS

Clint Szakacs clint@sportsxpress.ca

CORPORATE MANAGER OF MARKETING & PRODUCTION

Kelly Martin kellym@sportsxpress.ca

Guelph Brampton Windsor Niagara Winnipeg Kingston London

Mailing Address 50 Ottawa St. South, Unit 110, Kitchener, ON N2G 3S7 519.208.9302 or 1.877.588.8856 Editorial Contributions: Submissions are welcome from writers, photographers, athletes, coaches and individuals. Please contact the publisher. We assume no responsibility for unsolicitedmaterial. Contributors are responsible for obtaining all approvals for publication of photos and content prior to submission. All submissions may not be used. We may edit, publish, reproduce, distribute and archive submissions in any form or medium without any compensation. We are not responsible for lost or damaged submissions. Contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. Reproduction or transmission of any article, photograph or artwork in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher is prohibited. SportsXpress is published 6 times per year.

Sports ExpressMedia Inc. is committed to protecting your privacy as our customer. We may collect personal information only if it is required for the proper functioning of our business and only share this information with our business partners. The editors and contributors who write for Sports Express Media Inc. attempt to provide accurate and useful information and commentary. However the editors, contributors and Sports Express Media Inc. cannot and do not guarantee the accuracy of this information. We assume no responsibility for any actions or decisions taken by any readers based on the information provided.

view & upload Photos • Video • Articles TM

box

Your Community Sports Report

teamprofiles

The Lloydminster Rebels hit it off again Artice by Lloydminster Competitive Softball Association - Rebels Softball The Lloydminster Competitive Softball Association “Rebels” have donned their orange, black and white uniforms and have hit the fields running. For another exciting season the girls will be representing the City of Lloydminster at the U10 to newly formed Senior age division. The teams will again be vying for Provincial titles to move on to either Western Canadians or National finals by working hard, playing numerous league, exhibition and tournament games, while practicing on their off nights.

The Rebels were very fortunate to win a bid to host the Girls Prairie League Softball on May 30th – June 1st. This was an action packed weekend, featuring league play of all the GPLS teams, and an open event for the U18 and Senior Rebels. Highlights of the weekend included the “Pink Socks Campaign” where socks were sold to raise money for colon cancer. Every team wore the pink socks along with fans alike to show their support. Monies received will be donated to the Cancer Society.

Again, we are proud to announce that another Rebel athlete has accepted a scholarship from Iowa. Hannah Sobus will be keeping her game sharp with the U18 Rebels this season and is looking forward to graduating from school this year. We wish you the best Hannah in all your softball endeavors. The scholastic path you’ve chosen will be exciting and very rewarding.

The Lloydminster Ladies League has continued to grow in teams and in number of nights per week to play.

Marcel is busy announcing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and getting scores in to the local media. A great job is done by Marcel and local umpire Howard Allchurch to supervise the night events. For local scores you may visit - www.rebelsoftball.ca

Giving back to the game and the community, the LCSA has opened up practise time on diamond #5 for their newly formed Special Olympics team.

This vision became a reality after speaking with Pam at the Bea Fisher Center. Her goals to provide outdoor physical activity to her son and other members is taking shape nicely. If you’d like to volunteer to help her with transportation to the Legion Ball Park, coaching or any other aspect, please contact her at 780-9270.

The LCSA Rebels would also like to thank our sponsors for again contributing to make our season a huge success. Your support is very important to us and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge your kindness: Servus Credit Union, Newalta Corp, Nalco/Champion, Bi Systems Electric & Controls, Top Gun Energy Ltd., Shield Wireline Ltd, Baker Hughes Upstream Chemicals, Guest Controls, Resource Management International Inc. Sellers RV, plus many more that have helped with tournament donations.

The GPLS also brought in Mark Smith - Head Coach of the Canadian National team. He was scheduled for numerous clinic times to provide coaches the opportunity to learn more about coaching the technical skills and mental aspects of our game. Coaches were thrilled to partake in the clinics and enjoyed meeting a coach of his expertise.

The LCSA will again host the Tournament of Champions at the Legion Ball Park June 20th – 22nd, featuring teams from both Alberta and Saskatchewan for U10 to Ladies Open events. To keep informed of Rebel games and tournaments, please visit our website at www.rebelsoftball.ca, or you can also see our U12 and U16 league standings at www.gpls.ca.

Visit us online at www.rebelsoftball.ca

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

5

health&fitness

The benefits of Fascial Stretch Therapy Article by Kari Watchel, Photos by Megan Miller Photography

Fascial Stretch Therapy (FST) is an assisted stretching technique that is performed by a Certified Fascia Stretch Therapist with the client on a treatment table, floor or field.

When assisted stretching takes place on a treatment table, comfortable straps are used to stabilize the limb or part of the body that is not being worked on, thus facilitating complete relaxation of the person being stretched and enhancing the effectiveness of the actions of the therapist. This technique uses a modified proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) technique.

“ I have Stretched Hockey Players from Atom - Midget AAA, Competitive Track Runners, Marathon Runners, Competitive Volleyball Players, and many Athletes that cross-train.”

Fascia is the soft tissue component of the connective tissue system.

It interpenetrates and surrounds muscles, bones, organs, nerves, blood vessels and other structures.

Nearly 50 % of a healthy person’s lack of range of motion at the joint can be due to the tightness of the joint capsule. When muscles get injuries and form scar tissue, it then causes the joint capsule to respond by tightening and restricting range of motion.

An athlete should have a balanced training program to condition his or her body for sport performance.

Testimonial: David is increasing his flexibility for running, and belongs to the Split City Sonics track and field club.

‘Kari is very knowledgable and helpful. She helped me to greatly increase my flexibility. Kari is also very kind and easy going, she always accommodates my crazy schedule. I would recommend her services to anyone, and she is a great asset to Provost.’

- David Erasmus

6

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

Optimal functional performance in sports depends on optimal training in strength, power, speed, agility, quickness, balance,and endurance. All of these parameters can be negatively affected if you do not also have optimal flexibility in your fascial system. Fascia intertwines with and covers your muscles, nerves, and bones. Any changes in the state of any of these systems affects all the other systems.

Combining my knowledge as an ISSA Elite Personal Trainer and Level 2 Fascial Stretch Therapist, the clients that I specialize in are Athletes that use their body in a specific movement pattern for their sport. I test and assess Sportspecific movement and help get the best results from your body in order to meet your athletic goals. Fascial Stretch Therapy for Sports Specific goals can:

• • • • • •

Increase running speed Increase vertical jump Increase strength Improve balance Improve coordination Improve flexibility

Fascial Stretch Therapy sessions can be booked as a sports team or individually. The table is mobile and sessions can be done on site. Call for more information or check out our website at www.edgyfit.ca.

Testimonial from a 2nd year Pee Wee Hockey Player: Garrett is a defense player and has hip pain, so he started seeing me for stretches. During his Provincial Tournment weekend he booked me to stretch him 2 hours before game time as he noticed that he felt awesome on the ice after a warm up stretch.

That same weekend I was also stretching my son Keagan prior to game time, which was the first time I had done so for him as a pre-game warm up. Their Coach noticed that their performance was greater after the 1st game and made sure that I did every game for them.

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

7

health&fitness

Pilates - are you man enough?

Article by Donna Schellenberg, Owner of tothecore Pilates Studio Although most Pilates classes tend to be dominated by women, there are many health benefits for men who rise to the challenge - yes, it’s hard!

Initially created by a man for men, you’d assume that more men would jump at the chance to participate. But for some reason, with the rise of organized Pilates based fitness classes, there has been an increase in women taking part and a decrease in men. This is unfortunate as men reap the same benefits from regular practice as women.

They also gain a new respect for this “women’s class” that isn’t nearly as easy as men assume.

those muscles that don’t get used as much and are often overlooked. The results are a more balanced body that moves more freely and without pain.

Here are some examples of benefits for all:

2 - Increase flexibility. Men tend to be approximately 7% less flexible then women. Generally, the higher your muscle mass the less flexibility you have, although this is not always the case.

Adding Pilates to your workouts adds range of motion, flexibility and helps prevent muscle strains and injuries that frequently occur from other exercise methods or overtraining.

1 - Work muscles you’re not used to using! Everyone has certain muscles that are stronger than others.

Sometimes this is just simply from day to day movement, but it can also be from overtraining larger muscle groups and neglecting some of the smaller stabilizing muscles. Pilates focuses on

Challenge yourself with Pilates and start your path toward a stronger and healthier body. To The Core Pilates Studio provides highly personalized, expertly specialized Pilates instruction for all of your fitness needs. Contact Donna, a Personal Trainer and Certified Pilates Instructor with over 25 years of fitness experience to care for your fitness needs. Classes are starting soon.

Call 780-808-4144 to register or visit us online at tothecore.ca.

8

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

ge

See Your Body Chan

l

Feel Your Body Hea 3 - Build core strength. Pilates movements focus on core strength first, and powering the movement in the limbs second. This means that each exercise is controlled from the core to provide precision of movement, coordination and balance. All layers of the abdominals are targeted including the transverse abdominals, which sit deep below your six pack abs and are critical for a strong and symmetrical six pack.

4 - Improve sport performance.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a serious athlete, Pilates can help improve your performance. Repetitive movement from sport can create a muscle imbalance. For example, hockey players tend to have very strong outer thighs and hamstrings, but lack the same strength through the inner thighs and quadriceps.

This imbalance encourages instability,

form

er Watch Your Body P

which can result in knee and groin injuries. Strong obliques and flexibility in the lower back and hips can increase drive length and accuracy in your golf game.

5 - Be more body aware.

5115 55 Ave 780-808-4144 tothecore.ca

Proper form and breath are essential for optimum exercise results, and Pilates focuses on both. You’ll be more aware of what your body can do and the amazing possibilities to improve movement both in daily life and specific sport situations.

6 - Improve your sex life.

Use of the pelvic floor muscles allows for greater control in this area of the body. Pilates focuses on this muscle as part of the core and center. Men and women can both enjoy greater strength and control of this

region with regular Pilates practice. Who needs a better reason than that!

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

9

Lloydminster

Lloydminster and Surrounding Area

35 years 1978 - 2013

BIGGEST BOBCAT FAN 35 years 1978 - 2013

GARRISON OILWELL SERVICING LTD. is a COR company believing Safety is #1 at work and in sport. We proudly sponsor the SportsXpress Biggest Bobcat Fan Contest!

5 Free Standing Rigs Available • 1 Mobile Double Double • 4 Mobile Single Doubles • Pumping units • TMX Units

Specializing in …

• Horizontal Wells • Completions • Workovers • Abandonments

IS THIS YOU?

CONTEST Are you Lloydminster’s Biggest Bobcat Fan? Submit your picture! It’s EASY! 1. Go to www.lLoydminstersportsxpress.ca or www.lloydminsterbobcats.ca 2. Click On the Xpressbox Box Icon 3. Sign Up & Upload your

TM

Your Community Sports Report

pictures for your chance to win!

Contest Deadline is August 10th, 2014.

box

Contact the Lloydminster Bobcats office to claim your Signed Team Jersey & 32G iPOD Touch supplied by Garrison Oilwell Servicing Ltd. Fan photo appears courtesy of Fivepenny Photos/Danielle Nichol

24 HOUR SERVICE GARRISON OILWELL SERVICING LTD. Lloydminster (306) 825-7914

teamprofiles

Lloydminster to host 2016 RBC Cup Article by Malcom Radke The Jr. A Bobcats are very excited to announce that Hockey Canada has chosen the community of Lloydminster to host the 2016 RBC Cup, Canada’s National Junior A Championship!

Hockey Canada’s announcement comes on the heels of official approval at the national governing body’s 2014 Annual General Meeting, which took place May 28-31 in Calgary.

The national championship, which will feature five teams, including the host Lloydminster Bobcats, will take place at the Centennial Civic Centre in Lloydminster over the course of eight days, from May 14-21.

The participating teams are the three regional champions (West, Central, East), the West Region runner-up, and the host team. The championship game will be broadcast live on TSN, once again putting Lloydminster

on the national stage.

The Jr. A Bobcats would like to thank the Centennial Civic Centre, City of Lloydminster, Lloydminster Economic Development Corporation, local RBC branch, Alberta Junior Hockey League, Hockey Alberta and Canadian Junior Hockey League for their help and support throughout the bidding process.

The work immediately starts for Lloydminster’s host organizing committee, which will be co-chaired by Bobcats business manager Malcolm Radke and president Bryan Morrison.

The committee will work with Hockey Canada to release further details in the

near future. Anyone interested in volunteering for the tournament can contact the Bobcats head office at 780.871.0900.

The host organizing committee will be hosting a public press conference at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 2 at the local RBC branch (4716 50th Avenue).

Representatives from Hockey Canada, the Jr. A Bobcats, City of Lloydminster and RBC will all be available for interviews. All hockey fans in Lloydminster are invited to this event to kick off the exciting next chapter of hockey in Canada’s Border City!

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

11

sportsfiles Lloydminster baseball at the Alberta Summer Games Article by Brad Zerr, Photos by Lloydminster Minor Ball Association fields for the first of two tryouts. The team was finalized after a second session in May.

The softball diamonds in Airdrie will be loaded with the Lloydminster Minor Ball Association’s top U16 players as they form the bulk of the team representing Zone 7 at the Alberta Summer Games July 24th to 27th. Provost will also have heavy representation on the team, as well as one player from Irma.

The process to secure a spot on the team started last fall as over forty Lakeland area players hit the Legion

Independent evaluators were brought in to help the coaches make the selections. Head coach Vaughn Davidson was pleased that his staff’s assessment was much in line with that of the evaluators, underlining consistency in the observations. LMBA will be represented by Courtney Fairweather, Delaney and Taryn Davidson, Megan Voellmecke, Sadie Rusteika, Emily Zerr and 2013 Girls Prairie League all star second base player Bailey Kohlman.

The experience of playing on a zone team will be new for most of the players.

However, a similar experience was had

by Emily Zerr when she was part of the 2013 Sask. Zone 7 team that brought home the silver medal from the U16

Sask. Fall Ball tournament, which is a similar format to that of the AB Summer Games. She will also be able to share what it’s like in a Summer Games setting, having participated in the Sask. Summer Games in volleyball.

The ability to gel quickly with new teammates is essential to the success of a crew such as this. They have limited opportunity together before the games, as only a handful of practice and game situations are allowed. Therefore, not just skill is important, but also flexibility to adjust to the style of other players on the field whom they have barely come to know.

The girls, however, will know each others faces fairly well by the time the games come around as Provost, Irma and the LMBA Blues U16 teams have already met in competition and are sure to factor into the mix at the Alberta provincial club championships in Leduc the weekend prior to the games.

It’s going to be a full summer for these players and coaches, and their love of the game is evident in their commitment to the Summer Games taking place after their club season is complete. Being part of a larger Games experience will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for some of the players and that’s what’s bound to make the experience a great one, not to mention being able to compete with other top players from around the province.

You can follow the team in July, and all of the Zone 7 athletes can be found on the AB Summer Games website.

Follow the LMBA Blues at the Alberta Summer games website:

http://www.2014airdriegames.ca 12

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

Disc golf is making a comeback Article and Photos by Ryan Guerra With its roots reaching back to the early 1900s, disc golf is a wide-spread sport that is played in over 40 countries around the world. Although the sport has been around for a long time, it is just recently that it has begun to really grow in popularity and gain some real traction in the sports community. The number of existing courses doubled between the years of 2000 and 2008. Given its recent resurgence, the sport continues to grow and become a more recognized sport.

Disc golf first made its appearance in the Lloydminster area in 2010, when Pleasantview Bible Camp built a beautiful nine hole course on its property. Before this, the sport was virtually unknown to most people in and around Lloydminster. Although the camp is located 15 minutes outside of town,

it still draws over 550 kids every summer who are primarily from the Lloydminster area. Due to the fact that the camp offers this sport as an activity all summer long, disc golf began to make its mark in the city of Lloydminster.

Once a disc golfer has bought some discs, they can play for years without spending any more money. These factors give disc golf a massive advantage over many of the other sports that require intensive scheduling and large expense.

As a result, the city soon followed suit and within a couple years had constructed its own disc golf course at the Bud Miller All Seasons Park. The course began with only three holes, but quickly grew to nine as the city saw how popular the sport was becoming.

Although disc golf continues to grow as a sport, it is still fairly unknown around the Lloydminster area.

This is why we have started a league/ community called Lloydminster Disc Golf.

Our aim is to promote the sport so that it can grow in popularity and be enjoyed by more people in and around Lloydminster.

The beauty of disc golf lies not only in the fun and challenge of the sport, but also in the vast accessibility of the sport.

The Bud Miller disc golf course is open to anyone, free to use, and does not require a booking. Disc golfers can literally just show up and play anytime that they would like. Beyond this, very little equipment is required to play the sport.

We have begun hosting league nights and occasional tournaments to give more people the opportunity to play. We have also begun selling discs and other equipment right here in Lloydminster so that people no longer need to travel to Edmonton or Saskatoon in order to be able to get the proper equipment.

For anyone in or around Lloydminster who is interested in trying the sport or getting more information, please feel free to contact Lloydminster Disc Golf: www.facebook.com/lloyddiscgolf | lloyddiscgolf@gmail.com | 780-522-9760 (call or text)

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

13

sportsfiles

Get unplugged and fly fish!

Article by Gord Nuttall, Photos by Gord Nuttall and Spencer Bannon When most people think of fly-fishing, they picture a lone angler flinging his arm back and forth in a perfectly synced rhythmic motion, working a candy cane shaped line above the water until dropping it on the water’s surface for a fish to eat. The visual aspect of watching and waiting for a fish to strike your fly is

14

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

what makes fly-fishing so appealing and exciting.

But, “flies” can be both dry and wet, meaning some flies are fished on the surface (dry) and others are worked beneath the surface (wet). Fishing wet flies, such as nymphs, streamers and

leeches in small lakes requires very little casting (the toughest part of fly-fishing) and some basic knowledge of where to find fish that are feeding. Trolling a wet fly with a fly rod/reel setup is a great technique to start fly-fishing, and familiarize yourself with the equipment.

The gear required to begin fly-fishing includes a rod, reel, fly line, leader and a half-dozen flies. Outdoor retail store Cabela’s sells inexpensive fly-fishing starter kits than contain everything listed above to try for yourself. Anyone can start fly-fishing, young or old, fishermen or not, experienced or not. Even small children aged four or five can handle a fly rod and reel. Every year, Alberta and Saskachewan have free fishing weekends in which you don’t require a $25 license to fish, so keep an eye for those. However, young children don’t require licenses anyway.

This past summer I introduced my 5 year old daughter to fly-fishing by rigging up a seven foot, four weight rod with matching floating line and a nine foot leader with an egg-sucking leech tied on the end. She didn’t have to cast at all – I simply placed her in the canoe near the back with her seat turned ninety degrees. She sat holding the rod straight in front of her and I taught her how to strip line and hold the rod out to the side a foot off the water. The paddling motion of the canoe forced the weighted line out behind us and the fly imitated a realistic leech swimming – she simply held the fly rod, trolling.

she finally saw her rainbow trout. In the end, it wasn’t all that different from trolling a rapala or spinning lure, but she had more hits than her brother, who was trolling just that. Truthfully, you could troll a streamer pattern off monofilament line from a spinning rod with some split shot (sinkers) clamped on the leader as a technique to start fly-fishing.

In the end, fishing is fishing - a way to connect with nature, unplugged from our busy lives. Fishing offers the opportunity to enjoy and learn about nature, relax and unwind, spend time with friends and family, even if only for a few hours, with nothing but the splashing of fish to disturb your thoughts.

One weekend this summer, give fly-fishing a try.

Within no time, she had several hits and she held the line against the rod as she set the hook. Once she hooked a fish, she reeled the line bit by bit until

Gord Nuttall is an enthusiastic outdoorsmen and award-winning freelance writer that spends countless hours enjoying and promoting recreational activities outdoors. You can follow his adventures by liking his Facebook page, Cabela’s Pro Staff – Gord Nuttall.

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

15

fromthesidelines

Start your putting season the right way Article by Marty Wheaton, Head Golf Professional at Rolling Greens Fairway obtaining your goal this year no matter how small or ambitious.

The 2014 golf season is now picking up for us here in Lloydminster. Many of us have set goals to golf more often, improve our games and even shoot for personal bests. To reach these goals it is important to have a plan in place on which areas of our games we need to improve. With a plan in place detailing what we need to improve on with times set aside to practice, you will be closer to

16

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

My personal recommendation for starting off the new golf season is to begin at the green and work your way back to the tee box. Finding our touch around the greens and putting stroke will give us the greatest rewards when it comes to lowering our average scores.

Taking a little more time to practice the short game before we bang basket after basket on the driving range will bring much more enjoyment and satisfaction to your overall game.

Whether you golf a couple times a year or golf is a passion you want to improve, shoot better scores and enjoy the game to its fullest. Apart from having a plan in place for what you need to improve on and focusing on your short game this year, it is also imperative to practice the

right way. Having a lesson with a CPGA professional who is committed and trained to improve your game is a great way to jump start the season. The old saying goes: keep doing what you’re doing and you will keep getting what you’re getting. It is never beneficial to practice for the sake of practicing and ingrain bad habits. Start your season off with professional golf instruction to ensure your practice and hard work will pay off this year.

I always tailor my instruction to the individual. No one person swings the club the same, and we all have different ways we learn and process information.

Some of us learn by feel, some are visual learners, and others learn easier through technical information. To get the most out of your game this year make sure you have a plan, put more importance on your short game and make sure you are practicing the right way.

GOLF COURSE 18 holes / Par 71 / Grass Greens / Driving Range / Great for all skill levels

PROSHOP High End Gear from Callaway, Nike and Titleist / Latest & Greatest Equipment Professional Lessons to Improve your Game / Regripping and Custom Fitting Head Golf Professional Marty Wheaton is a Class A CPGA member and has 8 years experience as a golf professional.

BANQUET FACILITIES

Groups from 10-300 people / Tournaments up to 256 / Corporate functions Anniversaries / Retirement Parties / Birthdays / Wedding Ceremonies Wedding Receptions / Individualized services to best suit your functions On Site Party Planner / Wedding Coordinator

CLUBHOUSE Daily lunch & dinner specials / Wrap around deck overlooking the golf course Steak Fry Friday - $16.00 – served from 11:00 to 1:00

RV PARK 80 sites / Internet / Pull through sites / Fire pits / Playground / Laundry Washroom and shower facilities / Picnic tables / Dump station / 30 amp to full service sites

Located on 1⁄2 Mile West of Lloydminster on Hwy 16 and 1⁄2 Mile North on Range Road 13.

Head Golf Professional: Marty Wheaton (780) 875-4653 Club Manager: Heather Walker (780) 872-1660

www.rollinggreen.ca

health&fitness

Something for everyone at Midwest Foods Article by Midway Food Resources

Midwest Food Resources offers multiple programs and resources for the whole family. Kids in Kitchen is a program where once a week for 4 weeks the kids prepare a meal for your family at $4/family member. Collective Kitchens twice a month plan then prepare 4-6 meals for your family at $4/family member.

Fresh Food Box takes orders on or before the 3rd Thursday of each month, with pick up on the 4th Thursday of each month, to receive a combination of fruits, vegetables, grains and a newsletter

about how to use the box contents, with $10 or $15 boxes available. Homemade Baby Food Workshop in June costs $5 for new or expecting parents, and babies are welcome.

We are also currently looking for local food growers to sell us their produce.

In the summer it is great to have quick meals available so you can spend more time outside. Here is a recipe that can be served for supper or lunch. Several of the tasks can be completed ahead of time or with your children.

If you are interested in more information, stop by our office Tuesday to Friday morning at 201-5001-50th Ave., or call 306-825-2606, email lloyd.mwfp@sasktel.net black bean salad

(Serves 4)

Ingredients • 1 can or about 2 cups (500 mls) of cooked and drained black beans • 3 cups shredded mixed greens • 2 green onions, sliced • 4 ounces or 113g shredded cheese • 1 cup kernel corn, cooked • 1/4 pound of either cooked ground beef, diced chicken, or salmon ( you may also use leftover meat) • 1 tomato, cut in wedges • 1/4 bell pepper, cut in strips

18

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

RECIPE COURTESY OF Midwest Food Resources

make it This is a great recipe. Your children can help by washing and or cutting vegetables or preparing the beans, meat, corn and cheese. Serve cold.

Garnish with guacamole, salsa, or salad dressing. To refrigerate for later, try storing the raw vegetables separate from the meat and cheese.

Fun in the sun- stay protected!

Article by Jessica and Jung - 2nd year pharmacy student (University of Saskatchewan), Co-op Marketplace Pharmacy With summer coming, sunscreen and insect repellents become frequent purchases for many households. When considering sunscreens it is important to choose a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB which can be harmful to exposed skin.

2 hours while outside, especially after sweating, swimming, and drying off.

Don’t forget your lips, ears, and tops of feet!

SPF (sun protection factor) is not the “strength” of a sunscreen, but a ratio between how long it takes for your skin to become red without sunscreen and the amount of time it takes to turn red with sunscreen.

The most effective insect repellents available contain DEET. Babies under 6 months should avoid DEET, and instead use physical barriers like clothing or screens. For children 6 months to 2 years old, one application of insect repellent with <10% DEET can be used once a day.

Children 2-12 years old can use <10% DEET up to three times a day.

Sunscreen should not be used on children less than six months old, but rather keep infants out of sunlight as much as possible. For all other ages, apply sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside to ensure protection.

Sunscreen should be reapplied every

Insect repellent should also be washed off as soon as possible once children are indoors. Children and adults over 12 may use an insect repellent with up to 30% DEET as often as needed.

It is also important to note that insect repellent can reduce the efficacy of

sunscreen if used together, so if possible apply the sunscreen first and wait 20 minutes before applying insect repellent.

Summertime means many activities, family get-togethers, and outdoor fun.

Don’t forget to protect yourself by choosing a broad spectrum sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15, as well as DEET containing insect repellent to protect from mosquito bites and the risk of West Nile Virus.

Fresh. Friendly. Family. Renovations are nearly done!

3606-50 Avenue

Lloydminster, AB

Marketplace and Pharmacy

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

19

behindthebench

Buying a hockey stick – a step by step approach Article by Joey Walsh - hockeystickman.com

Over the last decade, the hockey stick has undergone a dramatic change.

We have gone from the traditional wood to the technologically advanced world of composite. There are some people (like myself ) who anticipate the release of every new stick and enjoy learning about the technology behind it, while others admit they just want a stick that feels good, performs well, and doesn’t cost them too much.

Either way, here is a step by

of slapshots or wristshots? Do you skate standing up tall or crouched down? Are you a stick handler? These questions will help determine the type of stick that you will want to buy.

step process I suggest you follow when buying a stick:

Furthermore, you need to know the type of stick you like, and if you see a deal on it buy it! If you’re playing with a top end stick now, you’re not going to want to go back. People that begrudge spending the money on them and wait till they absolutely need it probably end up spending more in the long run.

Step 1 – Know your ‘Player Type’ The first thing that you should do is an assessment of the type of player that you are. This will help you make an informed decision. For instance; how many times a week do you play? How hard you are on sticks? Do you take lot

Step 2 – Be Prepared Every hockey player should have two sticks. Besides not wanting to be that guy saying ‘hey can I borrow your stick’, having only one stick may put you in a position where you are desperate to purchase and invariably you will not find a good deal or get the stick that you want.

Step 3 – Determine Height & Flex These considerations are made together as the playing height of your hockey stick will affect the flex. The general rule of thumb is that stick height should be between your chin and nose, and that your stick flex should be roughly half your body weight (flex is measured by the amount of weight in pounds it takes to bend the stick one inch = loading the stick).

For instance; a player who cuts a few inches off their stick may choose a lower flex, and one that uses an extension may need a higher flex. A defensive player may choose to have more length, whereas a dangling forward may want it shorter. Of course this is just speaking in generalities. You must consider your ‘Player Type’ to make an accurate choice, and then slightly adjust until you feel that you have the right combination of stick length and flex.

When going to purchase I suggest that you bring your old stick to compare.

Typical stick flex ranges – Junior 40-50, Intermediate 60-77, Senior 75+

For more information visit www.hockeystickman.com 20

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

Step 4 – Know your pattern It’s tough to keep up with pattern numbers and a seemingly rotating door of new players associated with different curves. Most people like to stick (pun intended) with what they like, which therefore makes it tough to switch brands. I suggest knowing the similar patterns in other brands before going out to buy a stick (if your flexible with brands, you’ll find more deals).

Patterns are differentiated by curve depth, curve origin (heel, mid, toe), blade lie, an open vs. closed face and a round vs. square toe. Retail patterns come with a designated lie, where the lower a lie the flatter the stick sits on the ice. The lie is defined by the angle between shaft and blade (4 = 137°, 5 = 135°, 5.5 = 134°, 6 = 133°, 7 = 131°). Below is a grouping of most popular patterns on the retail market today;

Other patterns of interest – The old Lidstrom (now Getzlaf/P02 Kesler) is seemingly not as popular as it once was and can be difficult to find. Gaining some serious attention is the new (E28) Open Toe curve pattern or the (P46) Landeskog, Bergeron, and (P14) Toews.

Step 5 – Find your stick Right now Bauer is the most popular brand and is carrying three lines of sticks (Nexus, Vapour, Supreme), followed by Easton (Velocity Series, Synergy), CCM (RBZ, Tack), RBK (Sickick, Ribcore), and Warrior (Dynasty, Covert). Beyond this there are a lot of lesser known stick brands that produce excellent quality sticks, and typically sell for cheaper.

Stores will carry a line of the brand name sticks at various price points. Their

top end sticks are designed to perform and you will find a significant difference in weight, POP, and overall feel between them and sticks at the lower end of the line.

However, the top end sticks are not necessarily more durable. Consider browsing online to compare different prices. You may find a top end stick that had been released a few years earlier at a significantly reduced rate. If a 30 day warranty is not that valuable to you (if you’re not playing a couple times a week) you may consider trying to find a deal on a Pro Stock stick.

We wish you the best in your hunt for the most interesting and fascinating piece of sports equipment on the planet, the composite hockey stick!

• Big mid curve – (Lie 5.5 - 6) Far and away the most popular on the market today this stick is designed for control, toe drags and loading the blade, Ex. (E3) Hall/Sakic, (P92) Backstrom, (H87A) Crosby, (H11), Kopitar.

• Small mid curve – (Lie 5 - 6) Designed for puck handling and wrist shots these sticks make it easy to release a shot from anywhere on the blade, Ex. (E7) Iginla, (P88) Kane/Lindros, (P40) Perron/Hossa, Kovalchuk.

• Small mid-heel curve – (Lie 4 - 5) Designed for stick handling and shooting forehand and back, Ex. (E4) Cammalleri, (PM9) Stamkos/ Malkin, Burrows/Savard, (H42) Duchene/Couturier • Big heel open curve – (5.5 - 6) Built for hard shots loaded from the heel and great for deflections and going top shelf, Ex. (E5) Parise/Drury, (P91A) Stall, (P36A) Phaneuf, Kovalev.

WELL SERVICING LTD. • 5 Mobile Free Standing Single / Double Service Rigs • 1 Straight / Slant Mobile Rig • Mobile Pump & Tanks Available • Workovers • Completions • Abandonments • Oil & Gas Well Servicing

Phone: 306.821.7292 Fax: 780.871.2388

Email: wrangler@shaw.ca

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

21

sportsfiles

Off Road Ridersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; motocross series Article by Jackie Schroeder, Photos submitted by Lloydminster Off-Road Riders On June 8, 2014 the Lloyd Off Road Riders hosted the 6th round of the Saskatchewan Provincial Motocross Series. The day started off a bit rough with some rain and mud, but by noon the sun was shining and the track was in prime condition.

Riders from all over Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C. and even Manitoba showed up to race the Lucas Bachman Memorial Raceway. There were a total of 249 riders in all ranging from 4-6 year olds racing 50cc bikes, juniors, intermediates, even +40 and +50 riders. There was a good turnout of proâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as well.

The club had a great showing of 30 local riders, with many taking home some hardware! The ladies class had 12 in the gate with five of the girls being from the local club, even though we had one of our ladies away at Nationals in Kamloops. Just shows how the sport is growing, and its fantastic to see. It was so nice to see all of the community support, as the stands were full of spectators.

22

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

The club also has a dedicated 50 track for the little bikes, which is one of the best in all of the Saskatchewan circuit.

There were some great battles, and its always fun to see the parents around the track cheering the little ones on.

A lot of work goes into putting on a provincial race, and the club would like to say a huge thank you to all the volunteers because without them the race would not be possible. Luke Gilchrist spent many hours the week

before the big day grooming the track and fixing jumps to make sure it was in perfect condition.

A big thank you also goes out to the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sponsors: Lloydminster Honda, White Knuckle Motorsports, United Rentals, HESS Fishing, Carsons, LloydMall, Baker Hughes, Bry-Tan Trucking, Dow Trucking, Hurricane, SD Contracting, Newalta, Royal Well Servicing, Classic Oilfield, Canwest Propane, Nick Garnier, and PWM Steel.

There will be one more race held this year, the Lucas Bachman Memorial Race on September 20, 2014. This is a just for fun non-points race.

Hope to see you there!

Club memberships can be purchased at Lloydminster Honda or White Knuckle Motorsports. Single membership is $220 while a family membership (3 bikes) is $300. LBMR is located out by the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s landfill site.

We now have picker trucks

780-205-5333

24hr reliable hotshot service, serving the Lloydminster area for 10 years!

Proud supporters of Amateur Sports! www.tomtruckhotshots.com

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

23

teamprofiles

Local youth soccer players taking the next provincial step Article by Danny Schneider The Lloydminster Drillers Soccer Club has been represented well with seven players taking their game to the next level this past year. Seven local players from the GMAC Drillers Soccer Club were involved this past year with Provincial Soccer Association Programming; six with Saskatchewan Soccer Association and one with Alberta Soccer Association.

Drillers Soccer Club, while trying to grow the number of players playing the sport (almost 950 youth players this past outdoor season), are also showing promise with steps of developing High Performance Athletes here locally within the game of soccer.

Saskatchewan Soccer Association developed the Provincials Selects Program with players from across Saskatchewan this past indoor season in October, and will conclude July 27th in Vancouver, BC with both Male and Female programming following LTPC of CSA. Players born from 1998-2002 were in programs of Learning to Train 1, Learning to Train 2, and High Performance Development Center Saskatchewan.

Riley Schneider (‘99) a female GK with the Drillers performed and developed well and will travel to Vancouver BC in

24

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

the T2T2 group. She will have training in Saskatoon in July and fly to Vancouver July 21-27 in the Pacific Challenge Competition. Training for Riley began in October 2013.

Madison Keen (‘98) a female central defender with Drillers was invited and competed well with the High Performance Development CenterSaskatchewan. Madison remains with the program with training and competition within the SSA as part of the High Performance League. She is also involved with the LRUSP local program.

Logan Friemark (‘02) a male central defender or central midfielder with Drillers trained well and developed with the T2T1 Group from October 2013-April 2014. Logan travelled throughout Saskatchewan with the PSP group training weekends.

Carter Wall (‘01) a central midfielder with the Drillers performed and developed well and will travel to Vancouver BC in the T2T1 travelling group. He will have training in Saskatoon in July and fly to Vancouver July 21-27 in the Pacific Challenge Competition.

Training for Carter began in October 2013.

Mitchell Wagner (‘01) a male central defender or central midfielder with Drillers trained well and developed with the T2T1 Group from October 2013-April 2014. Mitchell travelled throughout Saskatchewan with the PSP group training weekends.

Alberta Soccer Association has developed its Mini Stars Program for ASA’s 2002-2004 players from all across Alberta in the Learning to Train Stage of CSA’s LTPD. The program is viewed as an “Introduction to Excellence” of ASA player pathway.

Hailey Blain (‘02) a female midfielder and striker with Drillers Soccer Club represented the lone female Drillers player in the T2T1 Group. Hailey, one of the younger players in the group, performed well and will train to July 13 as an injured reserve player within the T2T1 group travelling to Vancouver in July.

Tyson Wagner (‘03) a male winger and attacking player with Drillers Soccer showed creative play with ASA. Tyson went from the U10 FC Edmonton Academy after a season in 2013 to the ASA Mini Stars Program 2014. Training for Tyson ran October 2013 – May 2014 concluding with a residential camp in Red Deer.

health&fitness

Family Yoga has come to Lloydminster Artice by Pamela Sexsmith The popularity of Yoga is at an all time high. With many parents involved in their own personal Yoga practice, it is only natural that kids want to join in on the fun!

A really great Family Yoga Class is all about bonding – sharing the gift of exercise in a fun filled class – a precious gift of time, well shared, between parents and kids.

Family Yoga offers a very healthy way to develop important skills in a relaxing, non-competitive environment. Because it’s non-competitive, everyone wins in yoga!

Kids can gain tremendous benefits from the group dynamic in Family Yoga.

Everyone learns to stretch and focus, breath and relax. Yoga develops correct posture, body awareness and selfconfidence.

Developing imagination is a key goal of Family Yoga. Creating a colorful story with group yoga poses – a forest out of individual trees, or a beautiful Mandela pattern – are just a few of the possibilities.

Yoga helps to develop trust, compassion and teamwork in kids big and small. Children learn, sometimes to their surprise, that they can help Mom or Grandma find better balance in a pose; stretching a little higher or grounding a little deeper.

There are many styles of yoga. In Family Yoga Classes, we mix up Gentle Hatha and Vinyasa Flow. We also explore poses individually to understand alignment.

To help develop better

balance, we learn to use props (blocks, straps, bolsters and balls). Props are used to deepen a pose and make it safer and more relaxing.

Kids love high energy workouts that include Sun Salutations, handstands and dancing scorpions. They also enjoy getting into the spirit of animal poses like camel, fish, crow and the mighty Lion’s Breath. We also do fun restorative poses like sleepy frog and dancing poses like ‘eagle in a nest’.

Yoga classes start with a short warm-up followed by partner stretching.

Kids can challenge a mix of well supported standing balances, inversions and back bends with a little help from Mom and Dad. Sharing partner poses like cat leg stretch, flying half moon and the Dancing Ganesha is lots of fun for parents and kids.

Yoga classes end with a relaxing Savasana that could include tucking in with a cozy blanket and a favorite stuffy.

As a shared class experience, Family Yoga is an awesome way to encourage bonding, team building and make new friends.

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

25

teamprofiles

Lashburn Lucky Men – a tale of two teams Article submitted by Lashburn Lucky Canadian hockey is admired the world over. The simple reason this sport does so well here is our abundance of time to practice. Snow and ice cover this great land for what feels like 13 months a year, and if we didn’t have hockey to kill time in the winter our population would grow at an alarming rate. Canadian high school rugby doesn’t have the same luxury.

The high school rugby season is from the time the snow melts off the field until a week before final exams start. This year it just didn’t seem to give the Sr. Men of Lashburn Lucky enough time. Rugby is a sport that requires each player to know where their teammates are and to be where your teammates expect you to be.

This is a difficult thing to accomplish in a very short amount of time, and the Lucky men needed just a little more time together to operate as a well-oiled machine.

Late in the season we were blessed to have a large number of new players join the team. These players were obvious

26

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

athletes and had certain aggressions that seem to fit in perfectly with the sport of rugby. The addition of these players was very welcome, and they showed immediately the tremendous asset they were going to be to our team.

Our experienced players showed their leadership and did all they could to help the new players understand a game that is simple in game play but complex in strategy. As we played games, you could see the team starting to gel and much of our second half play was better than our first half play. We played very competitively at the Provincial tournament and it felt like if we had had a little more time to practice together we could have changed the outcome.

Even though we fell short on some of the

scores, we never left a pitch with our heads hanging. The team played with tremendous grit and desire, and some of the hits could be heard province wide!

There are many rewards to being a coach, and watching teams like this one play is definitely one of them. The team bonded very well and the pride they took in the jersey they wore was infectious.

Our junior squad this year is something that we are all very excited about. We had a good number of kids come and play, and they worked hard in games and in practices. The improvement that they showed over the year was amazing, and they played some very good games against ES Laird. It is always exciting to know that we have a very strong crew of men coming through the system, and they will be a very powerful squad in a couple of years.

We have kids in grade 6 that are playing on this team! Starting that young will mean they will be very experienced by the time they enter their final year and will undoubtedly have the opportunity to play rugby at a high level. I should make a correction – when you pull the jersey on and march onto that field, you earn your man card. Whether you are 12 years old or 20, you are no longer a “kid”, you are now a “man”.

Special heartfelt thanks to Byren Sanderson, Travis Hall, Scott Jakabowski, Kelly Tucker, Tyler Shoaf and Leesa Hall. Having this many people willing to dedicate their time was superb, and these kids are able to get the attention they deserve.

“We didn’t lose the game, we just ran out of time” – Vince Lombardi

*VUNYH[\SH[PVUZ [V [OL 3HZOI\YU 3\JR` VU H ]LY` Z\JJLZZM\S ZLHZVU

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

27

health&fitness

Four great places to play in Lloyminster Article by Lloyminster in Motion

take a break from swimming, there is a nice green area that offers both sunny and shady places to relax. Within the same park there is also a splash pool available to use at no cost.

We are excited to spotlight some great places to play in Lloydminster. We encourage all residents to explore as many green spaces as they can this summer and all year long.

Colonial Park Location:

Lloydminster, Father Gorman School Parent Group and Lloydminster Catholic School Division each contributing to the project.

Boundless Fun Playground Location: Lakeland College

15th Street and 52 B Avenue, Lloydminster or the west side of Father Gorman School

The Outdoor Pool Location: 4713 57th Avenue, Lloydminster or west of the Archie Miller Arena

Best known for: Best known for: Best known for: Being Lloydminster’s only outdoor pool and best provider of the hottest scent this season, CoCo Chlorine.

Why you should check it out: Swimming in an outdoor pool is a great summer time memory every child should have. The Outdoor Pool adds to the experience with great music, a hopscotch painted within the pool’s green space, a small canteen and a variety of pool toys. Should you need to

A lot of places to play! This park has a new play structure, lots of swings, a bonus second play structure in Father Gorman’s school yard, a hill to climb in the summer and slide down in the winter, and trees for shade. It is also connected to trails to help you get there using active transportation.

Why you should check it out: Colonial Park boasts 1.62 hectares of green space with a new play structure installed in 2012. The play structure was built in partnership with the City of

Being Lloydminster’s only barrier free playground.

Why you should check it out: The barrier-free playground features ramp access for wheelchairs and children with restricted mobility, interactive play panels, swing sets and other interactive components. This park is the first of its kind in Lloydminster offering one area for children ages one to five years, and another for children age’s 5 to 12. The play area is fenced and there are trees for shade. This playground offers a really good play opportunity for families with busy young children!

Follow us on twitter: @lloydinmotion 28

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

Lake V Park

Did you know:

Location: 51st Avenue and 62nd Street in the Glenn E. Nelson Industrial Park

•

Lloydminster has over 343 hectares of green space within the City.

•

Lloydminster has more than 20 playgrounds available throughout the city for residents

Lloydminster KidSport TM

No kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports. KidSportTM provides support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sports

Best known for: Being Lloydminster’s only off leash park.

Why you should check it out: The off leash park can bring new excitement to your dog walking routine.

It opens up the possibility of playing a faster and more challenging game of fetch and can help you meet like-minded pet owners in the City. A few things to keep in mind when using the off leash park:

If you, or someone you know needs help, we can assist with any organized sport recognized by Saskatchewan Sports Council

• Your dog’s vaccinations should be current if they are using the park • Clean up any messes your dog may have made and don’t litter • Your dog should come to the park and go home again on a leash

www.lloydminsterkidsport.ca

• Your dog should respond well to voice commands and not engage in aggressive behavior or excessive barking.

306.825.0141 KidsportTM

• This park is not fenced

PO Box 2396 Lloydminster, SK S9V 1W5

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

29

teamprofiles

Borderstars’ break-out season Article by 07’s Borderstars This spring the Northern Borderstars welcomed a new age category to their association. As winter hockey came to a close in February, we realized that there was a need for a AAA spring Hockey team for the 2007 year group. We would have been forced to drive to Edmonton or Saskatoon once or twice a week for hockey, so we sent out an email to see if there was interest in creating a team for the Lloydminster Area. The response was overwhelming and had more than enough players show interest.

07’s Borderstars’ roster consisted of the top players from their minor hockey teams; Hillmond, Onion Lake, Lloydminster, Turtleford, Wainwright Kitscoty and Eston were all represented.

Considering that these boys had not played together all season, but in fact had played against each other, they meshed very well together and learnt to play as a team. All of our coaches were volunteers; Shannon Eaton was head

30

LloydminsterSportsXpress.ca

coach with the help from Brad Cruickshank, Murray Noyce and Paul Kelly.

We got together once a week to have 2 practices. The boys quickly learned their team dynamic as the coaches tried to allow the boys to play their natural positions. There was a steep learning curve for the boys, but they all seemed to step up and bring their game. As the boys were all Initiation players, they had to learn off sides, icings, and where to take the face-offs. The boys were very excited to finally be able to play against a full time dressed goalie.

The Boys had one amazing first year.

We played a home and home series against Bonnyville and won both games.

Then we went to the Alberta Championship Cup in Calgary April 25-27 going undefeated 6-0, and thus won Gold in the Silver division. The Borderstars played in a thrilling Character building semi-finals game where it went to sudden death overtime,

then through two rounds of shoot outs to win the game.

Afterwards, we headed to Saskatoon to the City of Bridges Tournament and competed in a gold Division tournament. The boys played very well and received 4th place. We truly tried to teach the boys it’s not all about winning, but developing into quality young men as well as hockey players.

We were very fortunate to have some amazing community support. Thanks goes out to Wise Guys Oilfield Services, Sabre Machining, Intricate well servicing, and Straightline Manufacturing. Thank you so much for helping us out with our costs and allowing these boys to have a season that they will never forget! For anyone interested please email us at lloydhockey07@yahoo.ca

Centurion was building and testing surf boats in 1995. They are the pioneers of the boat surfing sport and their boats show that thru design and the cleanest, best shaped wake on the market. No gimmicks like plates, or moving arms, or wake triplicating flux capacitors. Proper hull design and displacement is all that is required for killer wake, and having the heaviest boat and ballast combined weight doesn’t hurt either.

There’s a reason there has only been one boat that has ever been used at the World Surfing Championship... Centurion... because it’s the best. Come in and check out our couple remaining 2013’s and the new 2014’s today, and see our large selection of watersport towables too.

It’s suMMer tIMe!

Come find the perfect Centurion boat for you in the Midwest’s largest indoor showroom.

Work happy

NOW HIRING:

• OVERNIGHT ASSOCIATES • CASHIERS • CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSOCIATES

WE OFFER:

• COMPETITIVE WAGES • 10% DISCOUNT • COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING • GREAT TEAM • GROWTH • STAKE HOLDERS PROGRAM • MEDICAL & DENTAL BENEFITS AND SO MUCH MORE!

Your Lloydminster Walmart is hiring!

Part-Time Positions, Includes Days, Evenings and Weekends APPLY ON-LINE AT WWW.YOURWALMARTCAREER.CA (4210 70th Avenue, Lloydminster, AB)

780.875.4777

www.walmart.ca - Shop online today www.yourwalmartcareer.ca - Start your Career with Walmart today