Adrenaline Dec-Jan 2011/12

1AdrenalineReginaSports.com

Dec/Jan2011/12

Pats Road Trip

RyanMurray

JasonAckerman

YouthSport

Dec ’11 Jan ’122

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December 2011/January 2012

26 Chica’s OnlySnowboard ClinicsGirls learn tricks and meet new boarders in the Chica’s Only Snowboard Clinics, instructed by Regina’s Jen Dreger.

FEATURES

04 From the Editor

06Focus On

Cross Country Skiing

12Get to Know

Ryan Murray

14Judo

17Your Body, Your Mind

18Jared Martin

20Forever & Today

Cymone Bernauer

22Pats Road Trip Diary

28Weightlifting

30Y’er Welcome

10 Emma BandolA fiery determination and iron willpower have propelled this triathlete to a high level of competition.

08 Curling ChampionsJason and Colleen Ackerman, along with Dean Hicke and Chantelle Eberle, recently won the Canadian mixed curling championships.

Dec ’11 Jan ’124Column photo by Maurice Laprairie

We’re also happy to welcome experts to discuss the recreation side of sports in our city.

Girls in the Game allows us to discover the importance of recreation for youth.

Stapleford Physio is back with “Your Body, Your Mind.” This issue they discuss the hot topic of head injuries.

All of this and more awaits on our pages. We look forward to seeing you again in the new year as we welcome 2012.

Don’t forget we’re still active daily online at adrenalinereginasports.com, as Nick and Julie continue blogging and providing local sport updates.

Happy Holidays,

Julie, Allie, and the Adrenaline Team.

Contact:Adrenaline: Regina Sports(306) [email protected]

To advertise: [email protected]

We have a packed issue for you this month, perfect for the holidays.

Our December/January issue is always a fun one to produce, as we know it will be in your homes for an extra month.

So, we provide an ample dish of stories.

We were very excited to tag along, so to speak, with the Regina Pats on their 10-day western road trip. Guest writers Pat Conacher and Malcolm Cameron invite us onto the bus as we present their time away.

Happy Holidays

From The EditorAdrenaline: Regina Sports

Issue 24: Dec 11/Jan 12

Editor-in-Chief: Julie FolkAdmin Manager: Allie FolkCreative Director: Jay RoachSales Representative: Paul E. Huff

Contributors: Bob Hughes, CJ Katz, Maurice Laprairie, Nick Miliokas, Alexis SchmidtPrinting: PrintwestISSN: 1920-468XCover Photo: Maurice Laprairie

Copyright covers all contents of this magazine. No part of the publication may be re-used or copied without the expressed written consent of Adrenaline: Regina Sports.

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Dec ’11 Jan ’126

Instead of dreading the cold, maybe it’s time to start enjoying the season, as cross country, or Nordic, skiers do.

“It’s a winter fitness activity that changes your attitude to snow and winter,” said Judy Young, president of the Regina Ski Club. “It makes you excited.”

Cross country skiing encompasses all ages, abilities and body types. It can be recreational or competitive – whatever level the skier chooses.

Young began cross country skiing in the early 1980s when she was living in Weyburn. She had grown up with alpine skiing, and transitioned well to the Nordic version, enjoying the fun and fitness aspects.

Many people have experienced the sport at some point in their lives, but there is always the opportunity to return to it or start from the beginning.

“The wonderful thing about cross country skiing is that it traverses all the age ranges. Our oldest skiers are in their 80’s. It truly is a lifelong sport and an all-body workout,” said Young.

Skiers begin as young as four, in the Jackrabbit Program, which runs to the age of 13. Every Sunday afternoon, youth

Cross Country Skiing

are introduced to Nordic skiing through lessons and games. From there, cross country skiers can choose to become competitive through the Regina Ski Club High Performance Program, which attends Sask Cup race events throughout the province, or they may remain recreational.

“I like competitive racing,” said 11-year-old Janice Grundahl, who has competed in the Sask Cup and Alberta Cup. “And I also like going out in nature.”

People of any age have the opportunity

to start out or improve through lesson packages for beginners or intermediates.Janice has beeen skiing for many years, but continues to take lessons.

“The lessons are offered in both the classic and skate,” said Young, describing the two different types of cross country skiing. “I find we get a lot of inquiries about lessons and a lot of interest in it. Many people said they skied in school but haven’t been on their skis since, or have skis in the basement they would love to use again.”

Snow falls and the wind blows, reminding us that winter has arrived for another year.

By Julie Folk

FOCU

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All ages of skiers can compete throughout the season at loppets, which are events of a measured distance. They can be competitive or recreational. The Regina Ski Club attends three loppets – in Esterhazy, Prince Albert and Duck Mountain – in addition to seven other trips throughout the year.

“Our Nordic trips are extremely popular,” said Young. “We fill every single bus. Our club provides these getaways, these winter breaks, inexpensively.”

The Regina Ski Club also travels on a five-day trip to Canmore, Alberta, and there is a fly-and-ski trip offered to B.C. Some members have also participated in the Canadian Birkebeiner at Cooking Lake – Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area near Edmonton.

The Birkebeiner takes its inspiration from a Norwegian tradition which provides perspective on the long history of cross country skiing.

In the year 1206, a civil war in Norway caused two Birkebeiner warriors to rescue an infant prince and direct heir to the throne. They carried him to safety on skis, travelling 55 km over two mountain ranges in the dead of winter. The prince was later crowned the King of Norway and ended the civil war. The tradition, a 55 km race, continues in Norway, and a Canadian edition was introduced in 1985. Participants must carry 5.5 kilos in their packs as a symbol of the rescued prince.

The Regina Ski Club itself has a strong history. It goes back to 1934, and today includes alpine skiing, biathlon and snowboarding as well as Nordic skiing.

In addition to providing ski programs, the Regina Ski Club grooms many trails for cross country skiing in and around the city. They ask that walkers stay on the walking trails, as divots in cross country trails make skiing difficult for young skiers.

Additional information is available at reginaskiclub.com.

WhERE To SkI

White ButteDouglas ParkScience CentreFoothillsKinsmen ParkLes Sherman ParkAE Wilson Park

Site maps for all locations are available at reginaskiclub.com

Dec ’11 Jan ’128

The “V” in this case stands for “validation” as much as it does for “victory,” in

the sense that his accomplishment brings confirmation that he has chosen the right approach, not only to sports but indeed to life itself. Choose whatever label you like – mindset, temperament, attitude – the fact remains, psychology is every bit as crucial to success as the technical aspects. There’s more to this game than hits and draws, splits and freezes. It comes down to pressure and the way you handle the stress, and if Ackerman needed further evidence that “loosey goosey,” as he calls it, is the way to go, the proof was right there in the final few ends of the title match. Trailing Alberta’s Kurt Balderston 7-4 after eight, Ackerman responded with a deuce in the ninth followed by stolen singles in the 10th and the 11th to win 8-7. Ackerman and his teammates from the Tartan, third Chantelle Eberle, second Dean Hicke, and lead Colleen Ackerman, Jason’s wife, were national champions! “It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “It truly is.”

Mastering the mind games

For Jason, as much as the dire conditions in which it was won, what makes the championship all the more satisfying is that it is shared with two close friends, Chantelle and Dean, and, of course, with Colleen.

“We’re curling geeks,” he said, as if that would explain everything. “We’ve had a passion for this sport since we were kids.” Born and raised on a farm just north of Moose Jaw, Ackerman’s earliest influences were his three older brothers, and also the opportunity he had to learn the sport from the grassroots level. “I was a rink rat at the Hillcrest,” he said. “I was hooked at a very young age.”

Colleen, whose maiden name is Burke, is from Regina, and for her, the love of the game was handed down as a family inheritance from her grandfather and her father, and nurtured initially through competition at elementary school. The Ackermans are both 32, and they’ve been married for six years. They have known each other since 1998, and the circumstances surrounding their introduction will not surprise you.

“We met in Balgonie, at a curling rink,” Colleen said. “It was a fun ’spiel and we were on different teams. Curling is something we’ve been able to share ever since.”

Jason Ackerman returned to Regina from the Canadian mixed curling championship in Sudbury in late November with something more than just the gold medal.

By Nick Miliokas

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These days, Jason works as a computer programmer for Regina Public Schools, and Colleen is in human resources at iQmetrix, a software provider.

“There’s a lot of curling talk around the house,” Jason said. “It’s constant.” The talk is non-stop, and the operative phrase is: constructive criticism.

“At home, it goes back and forth, and it’s always positive,” Colleen said. “It’s the same when we’re curling. It’s about saying the right thing at the right time. It’s about knowing what to say and when to say it.” United at first by sheer love of the sport, the Ackermans have become even more tightly bonded by a common belief in the psychology that can bring not only success but, more importantly for them, enjoyment.

“The secret,” Jason said, “is believing in one more shot. It comes down to believing, and on top of that, confidence.”

“Confidence,” Colleen added, “and just staying relaxed.” Curling is a team sport. Success depends on strong and consistent play by the thirds and seconds and leads. But it generally boils down to the skip delivering with the outcome hanging in the balance.

“Human beings are their own worst enemies,” Jason said. “Pressure comes from within. Curling is a mind game.” With respect to mastering the mind games, the important thing, as Colleen pointed out, is to “stay within what you can control and not worry about the rest of it.

“To compete at a high level is special. To win at a high level is even more special, if that’s possible. It’s the cherry on top,” she added.

“Our approach was to go out there and enjoy the week. As it turned out, our week was an absolute joy. But it would have been, anyway, even if we hadn’t won. We had fun, and that’s the whole point.” The question now is: What comes next? Among other things, the team will have to determine who goes to Turkey in late April for the world mixed doubles championship.

Teammates are about to become rivals. Sometime in February or March, Jason and Colleen will curl against Chantelle and Dean, and the winners will be packing their bags for Erzurum. The competition will be supervised by the Canadian Curling Association, and in preparation for the games themselves, the CCA will offer instruction and advice. It’s safe to say the representatives of the national body will be free to concentrate strictly on the technical aspects. The psychological component seems well in hand.

Dec ’11 Jan ’1210

Emanuela Bandol, known to everyone as Emma, is a vivacious five-foot-

seven firecracker with, as she puts it, a “ridiculously competitive drive” to find out how far she can push her body.

The morning we met for coffee she had just returned from the ITU Long Course Triathlon World Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. She placed 14th and finished as the second-highest Canadian in the 30-34 women’s age group.

Five years ago, competing in one of the world’s toughest endurance sports was not even an idea. But after enduring a stress fracture following her first marathon in 2003, she spent a year healing her injury with two non-impact sports: swimming and biking. During the many hours spent at the YMCA, she met her life partner, triathlete Dalton Fayad.

Not long into their relationship she accompanied him to the 2005 Subaru Ironman Canada triathlon in Penticton, B.C.

“I remember watching Dalton in the

The woman with

swim and a competitor caught my eye, a man with no left arm and no left leg. Imagine, a double-amputee exiting the water in two hours! The absolute human determination was awe-inspiring to me.”

Instantly she knew she wanted to see how far she could push her own body.

“At 3 a.m. the next morning, I parked myself outside registration in Okanagan Park and waited until 9 a.m., when I paid my $500 US fee and signed up for next year’s Ironman.”

Understanding how to train was challenging.

“There was no triathlon scene at the time in Regina. No coaching, no training environment, no knowledge.”

Between the start of training and the race itself, she biked eight times, with each session lasting just four hours.

“I was crazy. An Ironman bike is seven and a half hours! I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Other than a few sprint and Olympic distance tri’s, she raced Ironman with virtually no experience.

“I went from zero to Ironman.”

That first race took 14 hours and 24 minutes to complete.

Spend time with a high-intensity athlete and you’ll discover a razor-sharp mind, a determination of fire, a single-minded drive for perfection, and a will of iron.

FEAT

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By CJ Katzan iron will


Her result did not deter her. Indeed, it fired her spirit.

“I’m very competitive. Every time I pack my suitcase, I time myself on how fast I can pack and how much I can stuff in!”

No wonder. The 32-year old grew up in a high-achieving family. Her parents each speak seven languages and are very accomplished in their fields. Emma herself speaks Romanian, Italian and English. Add a smattering of French and that’s nearly four languages.

In addition to training roughly 20 hours a week, for seven years running the Manulife Financial consultant has been the No. 1 volume producer in Canada. She and Dalton own and manage 40 rental properties, and recently purchased the 13th Avenue Food and Coffeehouse.

Read any book on high performance and the same mantra comes up again and again: Surround yourself with winners, with the kind of people you want to be.

“I surround myself with high-achieving individuals. In fact, I want to be the slowest and the dumbest of the group. I want to be the person among them with the most to improve.”

And improve she has. The following year, she peeled one hour off her time, and by 2009 she finished Ironman

Canada in 11 hours and 25 minutes.

Racing at the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii with its 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, and 42 km run is her ultimate goal.

“To get there I need to finish (Ironman Canada, a qualifying race) in 10 hours and 20 or 30 minutes. And I need to (make the) podium at Ironman in Penticton.”

That’s no small feat considering she’s often racing alongside women who are close to going pro.

Since September 2010, she’s been training with Luke Way, assistant head coach of Balance Point Racing in Vernon, B.C. As a coach who breeds ‘thinking’ athletes, he was a perfect fit for Bandol.

“He picks my brain when I can’t do something. He forces me to keep probing and analyzing until I find my mental block.”

She also works with swim coach Jason Cawkwell, and sports psychologist Brie Ellard-Jedlick, both of Regina.

She now enters every workout with a primary and secondary focus.

“I never sacrifice a primary focus for a

secondary focus,” she explained.

One of her early primary focuses was to keep her heart rate in run workouts below 145 beats per minute. Her secondary focus was to have a cadence of 90-95. The goal at first seemed insurmountable.

“It took me four to five months to achieve that result.”

But the work has paid off. At Subaru Ironman Canada this year, she placed sixth among 120 women in her age group with a time of 10 hours and 54 minutes. She missed qualifying for the Ironman World Championships by three spots. But for Bandol, that disappointment will only strengthen her determination.

“When I get a low rank result, the blow is immediate but the after-effect makes me work harder,” she said.

And with that kind of drive, Bandol will be fulfilling her dream very soon.

You can bet on it.

CJ Katz is the president of the Saskatchewan Triathlon Association Corporation and a local Regina author. Her book “Taste: Seasonal Dishes from a Prairie Table” will be launched in May 2012.

Photos courtesy of Emma Bandol

Dec ’11 Jan ’1212

GET

TO

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Ryan Murray

A nd then there is the 2012 NHL Draft in June. Murray is

expected to be an early selection as one of the top defencemen available. He took a quick break to talk to us about the current season and beyond.

Adrenaline Regina Sports: How has your ankle rehabilitation come along?

Ryan Murray: The ankle feels pretty good. I’ve been doing physiotherapy every day of the week, so I’ve been working hard. It’s getting a lot better.

ARS: You’ve played with Everett since you were 16. Have you enjoyed that consistency of playing with the same team throughout your WHL career?

RM: Yeah, it’s great to play here in Everett. I wouldn’t want to play anywhere else. The fans are unreal here, as are all the players and the staff. I feel very fortunate to play my WHL career in Everett.

ARS: In Everett, you were rookie of the year in 2009/2010, and last year you were the youngest captain in franchise history. Do you enjoy

the added responsibility or has it been a challenge?

RM: It’s definitely more responsibility, but I felt very honoured that my coaches picked me as captain. I just try to lead the guys as best that I can. I usually just try and lead by example, try and be vocal in the room, too, towards the younger players. I just try to work hard every day and hope everyone else follows.

ARS: Last year you were close to making it onto Canada’s national junior team. This year are you going to be ready for

the selection camp? And how much did last year’s tryout motivate you towards this year?

RM: My ankle’s feeling pretty good right now. I’m not going to rush back onto the ice. I’m going to wait until it’s 100 percent before I go back. It’s a pretty big goal of mine this year to be on that team, to go there and to win a gold medal. It was definitely disappointing last year not making that team and this year I want to go to camp and give it my best effort and hopefully I’ll fit into their plans.

The 2011-2012 hockey season holds considerable promise for Ryan Murray. The White City product is playing in his third season with the WhL’s Everett Silvertips, this year as a team captain. he is recovering from an ankle injury in the hopes of performing well at Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp, in order to play with the team in its quest for gold at the World Junior Championship.


ARS: This past offseason you had the opportunity to participate in the NHL’s Research, Development and Orientation Camp. What was that experience like and what did you think of some of the potential rule changes?

RM: It was great to go see who you’re up against in your draft class. It was great to go out there and try out some new rules. Some of the rules were kind of funny, but it was fun to play a different game at times. It reminded me a lot of shinny, with the new rules, just going out there and playing for fun. Three-on-three was a lot of fun. I haven’t done that in awhile. That’d be kind of cool if it was in the game. The touch icing, I thought that was pretty cool, it really lets you use a lot more stretch passes and changes the whole game.

ARS: Growing up in White City, were you like most kids, with the dream of playing in the NHL one day?

RM: When I was young I just played for fun and once I hit bantam I started taking it a lot more seriously and started thinking I might be able to make a career out of it. I got great help from my coaches along the way. Barry Nychuk coached me a lot in minor hockey and I have him to thank for a lot because he really got me prepared to play at this level.

ARS: You have said in the past you look up to Scott Niedermayer, and often you have been compared to him. What do you think of that?

RM: I always liked Scott Niedermayer. He was a great defenceman, extremely smart and (he) could skate like the wind. He was definitely a guy I tried to model my game after. I think it’s a bit of a stretch when people (compare me to) an NHL hall-of-famer. I’ve got a long way to go for that comparison to be made.

ARS: There has been a lot of talk about you and the upcoming 2012 draft. Does it weight on your mind?

RM: I really just try and not think about it much. Not let it get to my head, and just think about the task at hand, which is every game we play here in Everett, to help my team win rather than look at my name in the rankings or think of what’s going to happen in June.

ARS: You have three brothers and a sister. Do they play hockey?

RM: My little brothers play in the Balgonie Prairie Storm Minor Hockey League. I’ve watched my sister (Melissa Murray) play (with the Regina Rebels) and she has great speed and I think she’s a pretty good player.

ARS: Do you feel a lot of support from friends, family and fans at home?

RM: My parents (Brent and Sharon) are always watching on the internet and my dad always knows what’s going on every game I’m playing. He watches closely and supports me, same with my mom and brothers and sister, they watch sometimes. Even some of my friends are always looking at stats, so it’s nice to know those guys are watching out for me even though I’m 1,000 miles away.

ARS: Do you have any advice to other kids who want to follow in your footsteps?

RM: I would just say work as hard as you can. You can’t go back and start over so work hard every day and get better every single day.

Photos by Frank Deines III, courtesy of the Everett Silvertips

Dec ’11 Jan ’1214

They have each other’s backs as well. Though they fight

individually, they are each part of the greater team of the Regina Y Judo Club.

Judo is known as a martial art, but the actual discipline may not be well understood by most people.

“Austin Powers screwed us over with their judo chops,” said Sommerfeld with a laugh. “It’s unfortunate that it’s not such a well-known sport in Canada, because internationally it’s very popular... It’s pretty similar to wrestling or jiu jitsu, but it’s more standing. The goal of it is to try to throw your opponent onto their back or immobilize them on their back with a pin or choke. It’s very violent, full contact, but no kicking or punching.”

The 19-year-old Sommerfeld became involved in judo 10 years ago. She said she was an uncoordinated child, but stayed in the discipline because of the people. When Sommerfeld started, the club had four older female athletes who were quite strong and helped her develop.

“I went to nationals one year and (finished) third,” said Sommerfeld. “It made me realize even though I was

More than judo chops

getting my butt kicked by these older girls, that didn’t mean I was bad. So it was a turnaround.”

Sommerfeld continued to improve, competing at junior nationals from 2006 to 2009 and at senior nationals in 2009 and 2010.

“I’m the master of the bronze medal,” she Sommerfeld, who has won the third-place medal four times in the 78-kilo category. She also recently won gold at the US Open in Miami.

Sommerfeld balances judo training and her education as she works toward a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan. In Saskatoon, she trains with the provincial coach, Ewan Beaton, while returning to the Regina club when possible to train with coaches Chris Dornstauder and Toshi Shinmura.

When she is home in Regina she also has the opportunity to work with Thompson, who at the moment is the only other female in the Regina club. The two girls have become close

Bishop Sommerfield and kenadee Thompson are two girls you would certainly want on your side.

By Julie Folk

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friends over the years, and while they are both competitive in training, at tournaments they are in different age divisions and weight categories.

Thompson was nervous to begin training in a male-dominated class, but she said it has paid off and produced positive results.

“I think it has made me stronger as a fighter to train with boys, to try harder because of their strength,” said Thompson.

The 15-year-old Thompson began judo seven years ago when her mother wanted her to learn a martial art to protect herself. Judo became more than a means of empowerment, however, as she immediately loved the discipline and began training in earnest.

She proved herself last year at the 2010 Canada Games, where she won the bronze medal.

“No one expected me to medal,” said Thompson. “So I went in there and fought as hard as I could. I looked at the time (on the clock). Time was running out and I knew I had to do something. So I took a risk – a throw called a Sumi, when you roll with them and try to draw them over – and I won the match.”

Thompson, now in Grade 10 at LeBoldus High School, would like to continue to improve and someday represent Canada at the Olympics, as judo is the sole martial art among Olympic sports. Following high school she would like to train at a judo school in Japan.

Chris Dornstauder, head coach of the Regina Y Club, said in judo very often effort creates success.

“Some of the most talented people are the people who don’t make it,” he said. “The hard workers make it most of the time.... Kenadee trains more often than any other person in the club. She goes outside of the club to get more training and does her weight programs. She’s a coachable athlete. With Bishop, same thing. She did very well last year at senior nationals, placing just behind the two Canadian Olympians.”

How far Sommerfeld and Thompson take judo is really up to them, Dornstauder said. Whether or not they continue to high levels, judo is a discipline that builds quality people.

“Ultimately, it creates people who are hard workers,” he said.

“They’re ready to be contributing members to society. It’s the judo way of life to give back honour, respect, integrity... It’s about building strong people.”

Judo is often compared to a chess match, as it incorporates mental and tactical aspects in addition to the physical component.

“I love that it pushes you to the max,” said Sommerfeld. “It breaks you down and shows you what you’re made of. You’re never going to know everything so you have to keep working. Every day, you have to go in with an open mind because someone is going to teach you something new. I love that there’s always something new you can learn. I could be in the sport until I’m 95 and still not know half of it.”

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Dec ’11 Jan ’1216

To some, that noise would be cause for annoyance and lead to the shutting of the window. To me, that sound was cause for excitement.

That noise was essentially my dad calling me, letting me know that it was time to shoot some hoops. I’d run down the stairs, throw my shoes on and rush outside to see him all ready to play with me.

There are only a few things in a kid’s life that are as exciting as your parents playing sports with you.

Sports have always been a large part of my life. Those driveway basketball practices soon turned to RCBA practices, which led to elementary school basketball practices, high school practices and I was even fortunate enough to play some university basketball with our very own University of Regina Cougars.

Along the way, my involvement and enjoyment with basketball prompted me to try out some other sports as well. I was on a number of volleyball teams, track teams and liked to get involved in whatever sport was being played outside at recess.

In my post-university life, my love of being part of a team has encouraged me to pick up new sports such as touch football and soccer. Being part of a sports team is my normal.

To me, sports started out as a bonding activity with my parents, became an introduction to many

Sport memories

friends, acted as a confidence builder throughout my childhood and teenage years, gave me a taste of high-level competition, and in my adult life is a healthy method of socializing with my friends.

Sport has had many roles in my life and every type of role has shaped the woman I am today. I am forever thankful that to me, the sound of a basketball hitting the pavement is a welcoming, nostalgic noise rather than an example of undesirable neighbourhood racket.

This is why Girls in the Game is so near and dear to my heart. I want to help start a string of sports memories in a young girl’s life. I want to help to introduce the many roles sports can have.

Every week at Girls in the Game, our participants spend time learning to play a variety of sports or physical activities, led by trained female instructors in a welcoming and non-competitive environment.

It is our goal to use sport as a tool to teach young girls to be confident, competent and to develop healthy friendships – a tool that I have used my whole life.

For more information, please visit www.girlsinthegame.ca.

Strong girls – Strong Minds, Strong Bodies, Strong

Friendships!

I can still remember hearing the sound of a basketball bouncing against the pavement from my bedroom window.

By Alexis Schmidt


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This injury does not affect only professional athletes; sport participants of any level and age are at risk for head injury. It is important for administrators, coaches,

parents and athletes to know what a head injury (concussion) is and to identify and create working relationships with health care professionals within their communities to manage this injury.

A concussion is a complex injury affecting the brain. It can be caused by a direct blow to the head/face or by an impulsive force transmitted to the head from another area of the body. It results in a quick onset of neurological-based symptoms that typically represent a functional problem with the brain and not necessarily a structural injury. It may or may not involve a loss of consciousness and symptoms resolve sequentially but sometimes are prolonged.

Typical symptoms of a concussion include headache, dizziness, nausea, memory problems, poor balance, confusion, more emotions, etc. Proper assessment and management of this injury is essential for the health and safety of the athlete.

The Canadian Athletic Therapists Association (CATA) is a progressive not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and delivery of the highest quality care to active individuals through injury prevention, emergency services and rehabilitative techniques. Certified Athletic Therapists are committed to raising awareness of the importance of identifying head injury and implementing appropriate management and return to play protocols when they do occur so athletes can safely participate in sport.

Head injuries are one of the most difficult injuries to manage in sport today. It is strongly encouraged that all head injuries are managed under the supervision of a team of professional sport health practitioners including Certified Athletic Therapists, sport physicians and neuropsychologists.

Certified Athletic Therapists Managing head Injuries in Sport

The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 2 (SCAT2) is one of the tools Certified Athletic Therapists are using in the management of head injury. This can be administered prior to any injury and used as a baseline for assessment following a head injury.

The SCAT2 is also used on the sideline as an evaluation tool at the time of injury and in the office for providing follow up through recovery. It consists of a series of cognitive and physical tests which assess things like memory and balance/coordination. The tool also provides guidelines on return to play, a protocol which follows a series of steps that gradually increase the athlete’s activity starting from no symptoms at rest through to full return to competition. At no point should an athlete be allowed to return to competition on the same day of injury.

For more information regarding Athletic Therapy, head injury assessment and management please contact Stapleford Physiotherapy and Rehab Center (306) 543-0990 or at [email protected].

Within the past few weeks and months the prevention and management of head injuries (concussions) in sport, specifically in professional hockey and football, has been a hot topic of discussion.

By Lisa Swallow, MScPT, CAT(C), CSEP-CEP

YOU

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Photo courtesy of the Regina Thunder

Dec ’11 Jan ’1218

Martin is a left-winger with the midget AAA Regina Pat Canadians, and his

dream is to play in the National Hockey League. He is only 16 years old, but already he knows from experience there will be days when it feels like you’re making strides, and there will be days when it seems like you’re standing still, and there will be days when you would swear you are going backwards. The secret is to keep your legs moving, as they say, and that’s exactly what Martin has done since the dream took shape in his childhood in Fort Qu’Appelle, where he shared it with a cousin who has aspirations similar to his own.

“That’s been my dream for as long as I can remember,” the soft-spoken Martin said after practice one day at the Al Ritchie Arena. “My goal is to play in the NHL. I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work and I’m fine with that.” Hard work is the operative phrase here. It’s also the first thing that head coach Norm Johnston alluded to when asked about Martin. The second thing Johnston mentioned was that Martin is willing to listen and to learn.

“I like him,” Johnston said. “He’s a hard

A student of the game and an A Student

worker, and he’s coachable, which is every bit as important.” To illustrate his work ethic, Johnston cites the dramatic progress Martin has shown in the season and a half he has played with the Pat Canadians. The process got off to a slow start with spring camp in 2010 when Martin wasn’t nearly the hockey player he is today.

“At first,” Johnston said, “he was a typical grinder. Now he’s on the second line and on the power play. He also kills penalties.” After the disappointing spring camp,

Martin concluded that to earn a spot with the Pat Canadians in the fall he would have to be in better physical condition. He spent much of the summer of 2010 running cross-country along the lakeshore in the valley. This past fall, Martin attended training camp with the Regina Pats, who are dedicated to a rebuilding program under rookie head coach Pat Conacher. Martin failed to catch on with the Western Hockey League team, but not for lack of effort.

“It was my first taste of how fast hockey is at that level,” Martin said. “It made me realize I wasn’t ready for it yet.”

Jared Martin is chasing a dream, and like many Canadian boys in their teens and younger, he is doing it on a pair of skates.

By Nick Miliokas

Jared Martin:

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Martin returned to the Pat Canadians with a view to further hone his skills. The key in his case, Johnston said, is to acknowledge his weaknesses and focus on his strengths, which is to say, play within himself, as the expression goes. There is no argument here from Martin, who speaks highly of Johnston and gives him the credit for his improvement.

“He’s a great coach, and he tries to get the most out of every player. That’s the only way the team is going to improve,” Martin said. “He’s doing everything he can, and we know, as players, we have to work hard and do our part. His No. 1 priority is the team.” Martin would be complimented to hear that his coaches and teammates consider him a leader, but that sort of thing, he believes, is up to other people to decide. He isn’t quiet exactly, but he certainly isn’t what they call “a holler guy,” either. Martin helped Saskatchewan win the gold medal at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Ottawa in 2010. His heritage, Johnston said, makes him an ideal role model for First Nations athletes, a responsibility Martin does not take lightly.

“I didn’t grow up on a reserve, so I don’t have that experience, and I can’t speak from that perspective,” said Martin. “But I do picture myself as a

role model for kids who maybe aren’t as privileged as I am, for whatever reason.” Martin is hoping to be invited to a WHL training camp again next fall, ideally with the Pats, but he would accept one anywhere. Another option would be the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, with the Notre Dame Hounds, who own his Junior A rights. If it turns out that his future lies outside hockey altogether, Martin would happily apply as an undergraduate to the University of Saskatchewan, where he would like to study dentistry, following in the footsteps of his father. Ron Martin is a dentist in Fort Qu’Appelle where he is assisted by his wife, Juliette, a former teacher, who keeps the books. Now a senior student at Greenall School in Balgonie, Jared Martin had an overall average of 89 per cent last year in Grade 11.

“My mom and dad are really strict when it comes to my homework,” Martin said. “If it wasn’t for my grades, I wouldn’t be here.” As Johnston put it, “He’s a student of the game. Strong athletically. Strong academically. Good kid, on and off the ice.”

Dec ’11 Jan ’1220

Bernauer was a stand-out player with the University of Regina Cougar women’s

basketball team from 1999 to 2004 before playing a year of professional basketball in Denmark. She returned to coach with the Cougars for two years before becoming a high school basketball coach where she teaches, at Riffel High School, while still playing senior basketball.

This will be her first season away from the game as a coach and a player, as she takes on a new role of mother this year.

“I’m going to be lost,” Bernauer said with a laugh. “I’m going to go to games, for sure. It’s already different to watch my team play and not be on the basketball court.”

Bernauer was recruited to the Cougars after excelling on the basketball court at O’Neill High School. She also played in Moscow with Canada’s under-17 team. She hadn’t thought of playing basketball in university, but when Christine Stapleton, the Cougar head coach at the time, asked her to play with the team, basketball became Bernauer’s future.

Cymone (Bouchard)

“My rookie season, I didn’t get a lot of minutes until one of the starters got hurt,” said Bernauer.

“I got to be first, second guard off the bench, and to me those are good, quality minutes. That’s where it began. It felt like I was part of the team.”

Bernauer came to be more than just part of the team – by her second season in 2001, the Cougars won the CIAU Championship for the first time in their history, and Bernauer was named MVP of the championship. Over time, she said, she has come to realize the significance of both the championship and the award.

“We wore ‘MH’ on our shoes... It stands for ‘Make History,’” said Bernauer. “You don’t know how big it is until after the fact and you come back to your city and everybody’s so proud and supportive.”

Bernauer’s third season was slightly marred by an ankle injury that sidelined her from the beginning of January until mid-February. By her fourth season, Bernauer was a well-known name in the basketball

community and part of the core of the Cougars.

“I was counted on to get points, to get stops on defence, and I was and still am a very outgoing person and challenged my teammates and made them work hard,” said Bernauer, who was one of the leaders on the team in her final two seasons. “I like to think I worked hard myself. We had really good leaders in my first three years, and that’s probably where I got it from.”

For the first time in years, Cymone Bernauer is stepping away from the basketball court.

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Bernauer was named the CIS defensive player of the year in 2003, and in her fifth year she was named CIS player of the year.

While the 2001 national championship will always be the highlight of Bernauer’s basketball career, there were other memorable moments along the way.

“In our fifth year, on the road to the national championship, we played Winnipeg in the semi-final. They had always been a tough team for us throughout the season and we had the game of our lives. The way everybody got fired up for the game, the way everybody contributed... You got the sense on the court that it was a real team effort, and we played our hearts out. I’ll never forget that game.”

Bernauer left the Cougars as the all-time points leader with 1,439 points scored in 96 conference games. She retains the title, although she feels the current Cougars have many strong players who could break the record.

Her year playing professional basketball in Denmark was a learning experience for Bernauer. It wasn’t quite what she expected.

In Denmark, team handball is much more popular than basketball. The community support wasn’t nearly what it was for the Cougars in Regina. It did, however, help her become much more independent and appreciative of her basketball career.

Bernauer, who had received a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree at the U of R, returned to Regina, where she completed an Education degree while coaching with the Cougars as an assistant. It was an experience that helped her transition to basketball coach at Riffel, where she has taught Physical Education for three years.

“People always say if after you coach you play again, you’ll be a way better player,” said Bernauer. “You understand the game more, you’ve matured, you get the bigger concept. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been awesome! Coaching teaches you all the insides and out. And it’s fun because you’re motivating kids to do their best. It’s rewarding.”

Bernauer also coaches the senior girls volleyball team at Riffel with her husband, Brian, providing them time to spend together while also coaching in a sport they both love.

She’s looking forward to returning to the court next season as a coach and a player. In the meantime she may take in a few basketball games this winter with Brian and their new arrival.

And who knows? Perhaps sometime in the future she’ll be cheering in the stands as a parent.

Photos by Jamie Wilson. Above left: with her parents, Arnold and Denise; Right, (#13) with the 2003-04 team.

Dec ’11 Jan ’1222

Road Trip DiaryIn late November, the Regina Pats hit the highway for five games in the Pacific Northwest against WhL opponents in the U.S. Division.

Edited by Nick Miliokas

head coach Pat Conacher, with a guest appearance by assistant Malcolm Cameron, stayed in

touch with a series of emails posted on adrenalinereginasports.com as Road Trip Diary. We present it here now in its entirety. Thursday, Nov. 17PAT CONACHER We are about 40 kilometres outside Cranbrook at 9:30 on Thursday morning, B.C. time. It was a great night starting out from the Brandt Centre at 12 a.m. after the Subway Super Series game. The guys were excited because of the movie the coaching staff selected, “True Grit,” the original, with John Wayne, the greatest actor Hollywood has ever had. The boys loved it! It was lights off at around 1:30 a.m, and with Ted Simmons (the best bus driver I’ve had in my 30-plus years of hockey) behind the wheel, everyone settled in for the night. As the sun was coming up on Thursday, we awoke to about four inches of snow on the ground. The roads are good, so we’ll have no problem being in Cranbrook on time for a little skate and lunch. Then it’s on to Spokane.

Friday, Nov. 18 Friday was a good start for the guys. They got two extra hours of sleep because of the time change. Good energy at breakfast. You can tell by the conversation and the noise. Everyone is engaged in good banter among teammates. After breakfast, off to the rink for practice and to visit with the Bauer rep to make sure the players are happy with all equipment needs. Practice started at 12:30 sharp. After a hard hour of structure and battle drills, the guys were off to lunch and a little down time. Bus departs at 5:30 for supper, then we’re off to the game. Kamloops vs. Spokane. This will give the guys a good look at our opposition for Saturday night. It doesn’t happen often that you’re sitting

in the opponent’s rink watching them play. It’s great for preparation. Can’t wait till tomorrow. Saturday, Nov. 19 Up for breakfast at nine o’clock and then over to the rink for a team stretch skate and a meeting on how we are going to beat the Spokane Chiefs. Now it’s finally game night and everyone’s excited. With eight days off since our last game, and the hard practices the players have been through, it’s time to get at it. It paid off. We lost 6-5 to the Chiefs in a shootout, and we only got a point out of this game, but I’m so proud of the guys for the way they battled in a very hard building to play in, against a good team that plays very well at home.On to Portland.

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Sunday, Nov. 20 The day starts with breakfast at nine, then it’s on the bus to pick up our gear from the Spokane Arena. It’s not very often you stay in the town you just played in. It’s usually: finish the game, hurry out of the rink, hurry to the restaurant, hurry through the meal, and get on down the road as fast as you can to get as much rest as you can before you play the next one, usually the next night. It’s so much better when you can have your post-game meal and return to the hotel to have a good night’s rest and then travel next day. It was a great day, bright and sunny, and this is one of the most scenic rides in the WHL, going into Portland. The highway runs parallel to the Columbia River for about 100 miles, with lots of quaint little towns and beautiful scenery. Assistant coach Malcolm Cameron gets First Star today. He found a great local restaurant in The Dalles area. It’s called Lilo’s Hawaiian BBQ and it serves pulled pork, barbecued chicken and rice. The dish is basically chicken and pasta with marinara sauce. It’s such a treat when you get the unexpected. Everybody loved it! Assistant coach Josh Dixon and our athletic therapist, Greg Mayer, had three plates each. Arriving in Portland now. We’ll unpack the bus and then it’s supper at six. Monday, Nov. 21MALCOLM CAMERON Monday in Portland brings us typical dreary weather for the Pacific Northwest: rain, cold, and damp. After travelling from Spokane on Sunday, the players and coaches are anxious to get back on the ice to prepare for the Portland Winterhawks. The players arrive for breakfast at 9 a.m. and they’re all in great spirits after a fun night at the movies. We hop on the bus at 9:45 a.m. and head to Beaverton for practice. After the day off, everyone is energized, and the tempo, energy and enthusiasm are evident after only a few minutes.

We focus today on the details of our system and game plan, as we want the players to be able to execute the game plan almost subconsciously. We as a staff know the road wears on everyone and it is important to make sure we are prepared and all the details are looked after. Coach (Pat) Conacher, coach (Josh) Dixon and I are doing lots of teaching today and the players are sharp, picking up on every concept and suggestion we make. Practice is over in an hour and we head to the Rose Garden to unload the equipment. It was fun watching the expressions of all the young guys as they peered into the arena and saw how big the building is and how spectacular the facility is. For some, like Dryden Hunt, Kyle Burroughs and Morgan Klimchuk, it was very eye-opening, as they were all playing in small community rinks just a few short months ago. After unloading, we head back to the hotel for lunch, and in the words of assistant captain Brandon Underwood:

“Coach, this is the biggest half-a-whole chicken I have ever seen.” After the meal, guys scatter to play cards, shop at the mall for Christmas gifts, or take a well-deserved afternoon nap. At 6 p.m., we head to dinner. The team is a little tired of the regular regimen of chicken and pasta, so we decide to arrange a steak dinner for the group at a local restaurant, and believe you me, when hockey players see a steak arriving on their plate instead of pasta, they are as giddy as kids at Christmas time. After a big meal, we all head back for a good night’s rest and preparation for Portland on Tuesday. Tuesday, Nov. 22PAT CONACHER The day began, as they all do, with a team breakfast at nine. Then it’s over to the rink at 9:45. We had a speaker this morning following the team stretch. It was Tom McVie, who played over 1,000 pro games, coached over 2,000 pro games and has been a scout for the Boston Bruins for the past 12 years. I had the privilege to play for him for five years. He lives in Portland and happened not to be on the road, so I asked him if he would speak to guys about what teams look for in players and what an individual has to do if he wants to give himself a chance to play pro hockey. He also brought his Stanley Cup ring for the guys to pass around and look at. They couldn’t believe the size, weight and beauty of it. The message he delivered, basically, was skill and talent aren’t enough; there has to be an unbridled work ethic and a passion to be the very best you can be. It was great.

Dec ’11 Jan ’1224

Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win we wanted tonight. Our fault. Too many penalties (seven) in the third period sunk us. We were tied 2-2 with the Winterhawks with eight minutes to go, then we shot ourselves in foot and lost 5-2. It was a tough way to learn a valuable lesson. Wednesday, Nov. 23& Thursday, Nov. 24 On Wednesday morning we travelled from Portland to Everett, to be in a central location for our next two games, against the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Silvertips. This way we only had to travel 40 miles down road and back to play the Thunderbirds. The post-game meal in Seattle is catered right in the building. The players eat 30 minutes after the game, when it’s most important to get the body its proper nutrients to replenish the energy stores. Then it’s 20 minutes back, and we get to sleep and eat in the same hotel for three days. People who haven’t experienced having to play, travel and eat don’t know how important it is to take advantage of this.

The game in Seattle was another one we’ll say we gave away. It was well played by both teams, but one mistake, a give-away, allowed the Thunderbirds to take a 3-2 lead, and then we took a penalty and they capitalized to make it 4-2. Final score: 5-2. It’s a tough way to lose, but when you turn pucks over, they end up in the back of your net. Today (Thursday) is American Thanksgiving, so we’re going to have a turkey supper for the guys. Then we’ll play cards and Monopoly, and after that we’ll set up our screen and our video equipment and sit down to watch a John Wayne movie. Can’t wait! Friday, Nov. 25 We’re on the bus again. Big win for us tonight in Everett.

The day started with breakfast at Denny’s. This being the day after Thanksgiving, every restaurant was packed.

After breakfast, we walked over to the rink for a pre-game skate. We don’t do a whole lot of pre-game skates, but, not

having skated the day before, it was good to get out for a spin and work up a sweat. We finished up and went back to the hotel for a pre-game meal that begins at two o’clock in the afternoon, after a video presentation on our opponents’ schemes and structure. We came out and built a 3-0 lead through the first 20 minutes. The guys were skating, they had great puck management, and they stayed very disciplined with our game plan. In the second period, we started to take shortcuts and gave Everett momentum. They got one back to make it 3-1, and we were on our heels until the timeout. Then the guys regrouped and we got one back to get out of the period with a 4-1 lead. It’s all part of the learning process. Winning is very hard to do. There are no shortcuts. The third period was a better period for us. Everett was pushing, but we had better push-back in this period than we did in the second, and the game ended 5-2. It was nice to stop the bleeding, and it gives us a chance to finish at .500 for a road trip. We have a four-hour ride to get to Tri-Cities and then it’s back at it, less than 24 hours from now. Saturday, Nov. 26 We arrived in Kennewick, Washington, just past two in the morning, tired from a late bus trip yet still in good spirits after our 5-2 win in Everett a few short hours earlier. The morning brought the usual team breakfast at the hotel followed by a short walk to the Toyota Centre in the brisk Washington air. A brief discussion, as a group, about the positives from last night’s game and then the players were put through the paces of a dynamic stretch, designed to shake out the cobwebs and bus legs. As is the custom on game day, the players have a few hours to get some extra rest at the hotel before the coaching staff presents a video breakdown of the night’s opponent and their tendencies and tactics. In this case the presentation outlined our game plan against the Tri-City Americans. A pre-game meal follows the video presentation. Today it’s salad, pasta and chicken, the perfect combination of carbs, proteins and vegetables the players require to perform optimally. Game day is all about routine. A routine is required to ensure consistency in all aspects of preparation that can be controlled. We have “video” at 1:45, pre-game meal at two and then a couple of hours to rest, pack and get dressed up to head over to the rink. The team heads over to the rink at five and the next series of routines begin. After the game, a tough loss, 6-1, against the top team in the Western Conference, the players load the bus, have a meal at the arena, and then board the bus for the long trip back to Regina. Ten days on the road have come to an end.

Action photos by Kelsey Filipchuk; Lilo’s photo courtesy the Regina Pats.


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Dec ’11 Jan ’1226

Not that guys aren’t fun to snowboard

with, but as Neila Dennis pointed out, it’s nice to have the female support when trying a manoeuvre for the first time.

That encouragement, as well as the bonding experience, is what Jen Dreger is offering with her Chica’s Only Snowboard Clinics.

The clinics are held two to three times each season at nearby hills, and as a result, a community is growing among female snowboarders in the province.

Dennis, who has attended the camps in the past, appreciates what they are doing for her riding.

“I really enjoyed them, because it was all girls, and I usually just ride with guys,” said Dennis from her home in Wawota.

“Guys are more intimidating to ride with in the park. They want to go big. And when you

Chica’s onlyhave to learn the basics, girls are more supportive.”

Dennis began snowboarding when she took her first lesson at age 15. She caught on to the sport quickly, due to her background in downhill skiing, and also as a dancer, which provided her with the balance required.

Dennis picked up the basics, and was working at Asessippi, near Russell, Manitoba, teaching snowboarding when she attended the first Chica clinic. It introduced her to the snowboard park.

“The first camp, I rode my first rail that day and stuck the whole thing, so that was pretty cool,” said Dennis. “(Dreger) would show us a demonstration of what we were going to do – ollies or nollies or buttering – and we’d practice that. Once we got into the park, it was ‘Okay, what do you girls want to do?’”

Dennis has seen the number of females on the hill growing. Now it’s a matter of girls becoming more competitive and having the opportunity to ride together.

Dreger, who has snowboarded for about 10 years, with both girls and guys, sees the benefits of riding with both.

Riding the rails, landing an ollie, and even just entering the snowboard park is always a lot more fun with a group of girls.

By Julie Folk

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“I find whenever I ride with any of my girlfriends, you watch one of them do a trick you kind of wanted to but weren’t sure you could, and you think if she can do it, I totally can too,” said Dreger. “And sometimes riding with guys, it can help push you more.”

Dreger develops her programs in conjunction with the Women in Snowboard program and the Saskatchewan Snowboard Federation. Eventually her goal is to have a women-specific provincial snowboard team. In Saskatchewan, the dominant style of snowboarding is slopestyle, because of the terrain.

The camps run at Asessippi, Mission Ridge and Table Mountain – all parks that draw riders from various regions of Saskatchewan.


Most of the girls taking part in the clinics are at an intermediate level – they know how to carve, but they’re just entering the park and learning how to ride a box or a rail, or wishing to learn a trick.

At the same time, Dreger’s goal is to continue to develop snowboarding in other capacities, such as coaches and volunteers. Eventually she would like to plan her camps on the day before a competitive event, to help prepare girls to enter competition.

“In the camps I’ve put on, everyone has been really happy at the end of the day, and really stoked,” said Dreger. “If they’ve never ridden with a group of girls before, maybe they wouldn’t have tried that trick or wouldn’t have had a breakdown (of how to do it). So from what I’ve heard, they’ve been pretty happy.”

To learn more about the Saskatchewan Snowboard Association and provincial events, clubs, policies and latest news please visit their website and facebook page or contact Brent Larwood at [email protected]. or Dave Woods at [email protected]. Women interested in becoming involved in snowboarding in Saskatchewan can contact Jen Dreger at [email protected].

Camp dates for 2012 are:January 14th – AsessippiFebruary 4th – Table MountainMarch – TBA

December 16-18 – Asessippi - CSF Competition Introduction Course (for coaches)

Photos: Opposite page, by Erin HogueAbove, by Brian Schumacher

“The first camp, I rode my first rail that day and stuck the

whole thing.”- Neila Dennis

Dec ’11 Jan ’1228

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Competition is the easy partDave Samayoa came straight to the point.

By Nick Miliokas

“D esire, determination, dedication and discipline,” he said,

speaking slowly to emphasize each word. “That’s what it takes to succeed, the four D’s.” In the sport of weightlifting, or any other athletic endeavour, the four D’s alone aren’t enough to guarantee success, but they make a formidable foundation, and foundation is where it begins. Dave, 19, and his brother, Istvan, 21, gained this knowledge at an early age from their father, Jose Samayoa, who was a champion weightlifter in his native Guatemala.

“He has 30 years of experience,” Dave said of his father. “He’s given us a base to work from.” Today, Istvan and Dave have first-hand experience themselves, in the form of 10 and five years of intensive training, respectively.

“Like anything else,” Dave said, “it requires commitment. It’s all about training. Training is the tough part. The competition is easy.” Easy is probably a slight exaggeration, but in most sports, competing is preferable to training, and in weightlifting, competition is also much shorter in duration. It’s not even close.

“You find yourself training and training and training,” Istvan said, “and the actual lift in competition takes only a few seconds. It’s over, just like that.”

“It can be frustrating,” Dave said, continuing the train of thought. “But it’s also good in the end when you look back at the way you pushed yourself and you can see how your technique has improved.

“Competition is the reward. Everything you’ve done in training shows up there.” Participants compete in weight classes. The Samayoa’s are currently in the 85-kilogram division. There are two events, the snatch, in which the weight is lifted in one motion, from the floor to the overhead position, and the clean and jerk, which is done in two stages, a lift to the shoulders and then overhead.

“First you build your strength,” Istvan said, “and then you work on your speed.” Istvan has lifted 116 kilos in snatch, 145 in clean and jerk. Dave’s corresponding numbers are 127 and 150.

Lifters often achieve higher results in training than in competition, “but those don’t count,” Istvan said with a smile.

“In training,” he added, “the weight you’re lifting is not as important as developing your technique.” Istvan is preparing for the Western Canadian championships in Edmonton in March. For Dave, it’s the provincial championships in Moose Jaw in December, and then junior nationals in Toronto in January. For obvious reasons, Dave would be ecstatic if he qualified for the junior world championships in Guatemala in April. The ultimate goal is to one day compete at the Summer Olympics.

“That’s the dream,” he said. “I still have some stepping stones along the way.” Stepping stones is the operative phrase for Istvan as well. His sights are set on the Pan American Games and the Commonwealth Games.


In the meantime, preparation continues. The Samayoa’s train for two and a half hours a day, four to five days a week, at Crossfit Regina, following a program laid out by their brother-in-law, Dallas Follick. This is a case where weightlifting is a family affair. Istvan and Dave have two older sisters, Veronica and Claudia, who also compete. Indeed, blood ties and friendship bonds are the primary factors, perhaps even the only factors, that contribute to the growth of the sport in Saskatchewan.

“One of the challenges is to bring new people in,” said Istvan. “Most people join because they have some kind of connection.”

Weightlifting has a small public profile, and it lacks sufficient exposure. There is also the fact that misconceptions exist with respect to the risk of injury. The key is to train properly and with supervision. Ironically, the majority of injuries occur as the result of over-training.

“Many people think weightlifting is painful and even dangerous,” said Istvan.

“There are more injuries in football and soccer and hockey,” said Dave. Neither of the Samayoa’s has suffered a serious injury. The four D’s have prevailed without need of an S.O.S.

Jason Galon, CAIBGalon Insurance Brokers

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Photos: Opposite page: Dave, Dallas, Istvan.Above left: Istvan. Right: Dave.

Dec ’11 Jan ’1230

DoES BRENDAN REALLy

By Bob Hughes

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have been around for 101 years.

In that time span, they have won the grand total of three Grey Cup championships. That is not a record you can really boast a lot about, is it? Geez, the Edmonton Eskimos won five in a

row in the 1970s and ’80s. The Montreal Alouettes just won two in a row.

And, yet, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are referred to as “Canada’s Team” and they have this almost religious sect called the Rider Nation, which worships everything green and white and is always green with envy over other teams in the Canadian Football League.

So how is it that such a storied franchise that has had books written about it and television shows made can never seem to get it right for any sustained period of time?

Only once in their 101-year history have the Roughriders been able to claim they were indeed a dynasty of sorts. That was the period from 1962-1976 when they made the playoffs every year, won a Grey Cup once, and appeared in five Grey Cup games.

There are three underlining reasons why this became a dynasty. One was general manager Ken Preston. One was quarterback Ron Lancaster. One was fullback George Reed. Preston ran the Roughriders with the hand of an accountant, which he was. He amazed with his ability to recruit capable players and outstanding coaches, and keep them on the same page as he was. He plucked Lancaster and Reed from virtual football oblivion, and gave them the chance to become superstars, which they both did. And he kept the organization going in the same consistent direction even though he operated mostly from the shadows. Players and coaches came and went during that time period but the constants were always Preston, Lancaster and Reed.

The Roughriders have rarely had that sort of karma. There have been spurts. There have been burps. But, rarely has there been that consistency in the organization. They just seem to have trouble not only finding good people, but also keeping them around.

Y’E

R W

EL

CO

ME It did not do the Rider Nation any good to have

watched this year’s Grey Cup game between the Lions and the Bombers, or to have watched the playoffs, and seen what they have seen. All these ex-Riders. Edmonton was coached by Kavis Reed, a former Rider assistant. Winnipeg was coached by Paul LaPolice, a former Rider assistant.

There were players on both sides of the ball in all three of those teams with Roughrider DNA on them. But the Riders failed badly in not keeping them around. It has been the nature of the beast, its overwhelming personality, and it reared its head again in 2011, as it has so many times in the past.

After the 2009 Grey Cup loss to Montreal – the infamous 13th man debacle – the Riders were presented with a golden opportunity to seize the future. Ken Miller was the head coach, but his age was against him, and even he would admit later the fire was not burning as brightly. Miller should have been told to step aside, LaPolice should have been given the job, and a new era would have begun.

But Miller stayed on, and LaPolice left and he took Reed with him. Miller did get the Riders to the Grey Cup in 2010, but it was clear that there were deficiencies in coaching and players, and nothing was being done. The Riders were living in the recent past. And, for some reason, Miller was parachuted into an executive position and allowed to pick his own successor. He chose Greg Marshall, a well-travelled defensive coach.But things came apart.

When the Riders and Lions met in August in Vancouver, B.C. was 0-5, Saskatchewan was 1-5. When asked at the Grey Cup what was the most important thing the Lions did in turning around their season, Wally Buono said, “We didn’t panic.” Saskatchewan did. Miller fired Marshall and took over, and it failed miserably.

Into this has been sent Brendan Taman, who as general manager has finally been given full control of the football side of the team, from finding a new coach to finding players. His appointment was greeted with controversy, and before he had done a thing, people were criticizing him. And, you wondered, you really wondered, is Brendan Taman going to seriously be given the time he needs to pull off what is a major rebuilding job?

Past history suggests that the moment he took the job, time was not something he would have a lot of. Perhaps that is among the reasons the Riders have won only three Grey Cups in 101 years.

Column photo by Maurice Laprairie

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