It takes a team, and there are some great people working hard as members of the Dinos for 2009-10, and their combined efforts have the team back at CIS Nationals for the 2nd year running.

For the 2nd year in a row, and the 3rd time in 7 seasons, the Calgary Dinos are headed for the CIS Nationals.  While they were bested by the Saskatchewan Huskies 96-83 in the Canada West Championship Final, the Dinos had already punched their ticket for Nationals with a Semi-final win over Simon Fraser 82-69 on Friday night in Vancouver.


In a 14 team league, that puts the Dinos in the upper echelon, and among the most consistent contenders in recent years.  Coaches Dan Vanhooren,  and Craig Anderson along with all team members are to be congratulated for reaching the goal of all CIS teams. Next week’s Final 8 in Ottawa is another chance for the Dinos to capture the elusive National Championship, which has eluded all Calgary teams until now.  If they can keep banging on the door, eventually, they will be able to break it down and get their hands on the Cup.


This has been an exceptional group of student athletes for Dinos Basketball, led by our 2 Canada West All-stars, Ross Bekkering and Robbie Sihota, both of whom will be playing their last games in a Dinos jersey at Nationals.  Jamie McLeod, another 5th year player, started his career with 3 years at SAIT, then the Dinos were fortunate to obtain his services in the Fall of 2008, when there was a desperate need of a point guard.  Jamie has been a great addition, and, this season, he has really stepped up as a leader on the court, and on the stats sheet.


The 4th graduating player, Lindsay Thouret is the only current Dino to be a part of all 3 of this decade’s appearances at Nationals.  ‘LT’  has not had the minutes on the floor, but has responded several times in clutch situations over his career, and his experience could be very helpful in the upcoming tournament.


The key addition to the U. Calgary roster this season has, undoubtedly, been Jarred Ogunbemi-Jackson, the multi-talented point guard out of Garden City Collegiate in Winnipeg.  With his 2 way play, and his exceptional composure as a freshman, he has quickly become a favourite of Dinos fans, and a necessary ingredient in the mix in his starting role.


Although he will, himself, acknowledge the inconsistency of his play this season, the Dinos are still very fortunate to have Tyler Fidler in the lineup.  At his best,  with all the tools he possesses, Tyler is a very tough match-up for any CIS opponent, and we still believe, this player could put Calgary on the threshold of a National title.  Beyond the starting 5, Calgary has not had the strength off the bench that Coach Vanhooren was hoping for earlier in the season.


In Vancouver, it was apparent that Dustin Reding, so vital to last year’s Canada West crown, was still favouring a chronic ankle problem, but he may benefit from another week and a half of healing.  Terrence Blake, who has been deep in the background for much of the past month or so, showed in the Saskatchewan game that he can make a contribution, if called upon in Ottawa. Blake has the quickness to defensively match an opponent’s point or shooting guards, and he can score off the break or a turnover.  Neither Andrew McGuinness nor Dan Tilleman, both 1st year guards, has played the minutes or made the impact some may have anticipated.  Both seem to have the potential to do just that, but the Final 8 may be a bit early to ask for that big a step forward.


Trevor Debolt, Jordan Flagel, and Patrick Walker have not played significant minutes, with Walker being recently affected by a back injury.  Debolt had a strong game in Brandon towards the end of the regular season, and Flagel, who  chose basketball after having played a couple of years with the Dinos Football team, has the athleticism, and awaits his opportunity to contribute.


All these guys have made a tremendous commitment to the basketball program, and each one is partly responsible for the success the team has enjoyed. Along with the players on the court, you also have to look at the support staff, and Calgary has some exceptional people.


Ken Wong, the strength and conditioning coach, has made a major impact in his 2 seasons with the squad, with players raving about his programs and his attention to their physical preparedness.  Dave Love, the shooting coach, has worked with individuals, and made a difference in their performances. He is working with NBA players now, so you can see the quality of his work as he develops his clientele. 


Dean McCord is simply the best Manager a team could hope for ... he relates so well to the players, despite his inability to make even a layup !  Canada’s National program has had the benefit of his expertise for several summers now,  and the Dinos of the future can only hope he is still with the team for years to come.  Christine Atkin, the very capable student therapist (can’t call them trainers now) has a good rapport, and is a welcome addition in making sure players get attention to injuries and taping needs.  Again, congratulations to everyone on the Dinos team, and good luck in your preparations for the Nationals.




Quebec Champion Decided Thursday


It all comes down to 1 game for the right to play in Nationals as Laval visits Montreal Thursday night to challenge UQAM, the # 1 seed in the Quebec League.  Flying under the radar for the most part, the QSSF has not had a ranked team in the Coaches Top 10 Poll, and either the Rouge et Or or the Citadins would be a long shot at the Final 8 next week.


UQAM, at 11-5 in the QSSF and 17-12 overall against CIS teams, has not beaten a ranked team this year, with a 90-82 loss to Ottawa in the McGill Tournament being their closest. The Citadins boast Adil el Makssoud, who scores 13 ppg and grabs 6 rebounds.  The big fellow is aided by  Jules Diagne, who scores 11 ppg and averages 6 rebs. UQAM gives up only 67 ppg while scoring 73 themselves.


Laval, finishing 10-6 in their league play, has a 15-14 overall record, again, with no significant wins against teams outside Quebec.  They were close (80-78) at UBC back in October exhibition play, but, this is not one of Laval’s stronger squads. They are a fairly well-balanced team led by Etienne Labgrecque, who averages 15 ppg from his forward spot, along with J-F Beaulieu- Maheux, a guard who, when healthy, can shoot from outside, and averages 14 ppg.


Laval could pull an upset, as UQAM is 9-0 at home this season, if their superior 3 pt. shooting kicks in ... they are ranked 3rd in the CIS in 3 pt. attempts per game ... 27.  They make an average of 9 of those, which is 4th in Canada.




Huskies Climb to 7th in This Week’s Poll


1. Carleton (20-2 / 2-0 playoffs) / 480 (40) / (2)

2. UBC (17-1 / 3-1 playoffs) / 417 points (37) / (1)

3. Cape Breton (18-2) / 414 / (4)

4. StFX (18-2) / 329 / (3)

5. Windsor (17-5 / 2-0 playoffs) / 297 / (7)

6. Ottawa (18-4 / 1-1 playoffs) / 277 / (5)

7. Saskatchewan (14-6 / 4-0 playoffs) / 271 / (10)

8. Calgary (15-5 / 3-1 playoffs) / 223 / (6)

9. Lakehead (17-5 / 1-1 playoffs) / 143 / (8)

  1. 10.Saint Mary's (14-6) / 102 / (NR)


The Saskatchewan Huskies, by winning the Canada West Final 4, have moved from 10th to 7th in this week’s CIS rankings.  Saskatchewan, who have lost just 1 game since Christmas, beat UBC, previously the top team, and Calgary, who were # 6, as they appear to have peaked for playoff time. The Dinos loss in the Canada West Final kicks them back 2 spots to # 8.


UBC drops to # 2, and is replaced by the defending National Champions, Carleton Ravens, who play Windsor for the OUA title this Saturday.  Cape Breton climbs to # 3 after St. FX lost to St. Mary’s in their final league game. Windsor is up 2 spots to # 5 with their 2-0 playoff record, and Ottawa drops to # 6 with the loss to Carleton. Lakehead is now # 9 after a loss to Windsor in the OUA semi-final, while St. Mary’s enters as # 10 with a win over X.







Notes ...


  1. •A great article By Andrew Bucholtz (CIS Blog.ca)  ... How scholarships and national recruiting have changed the CIS  ... good or bad ?  The CIS is changing, and the author sheds some light on the new rules for teams wanting to build or maintain competitiveness. 


  1. • Al Hurkett and Archie MacLellan are not just your average hoops fans.  These 2 Senior Men’s players from Okotoks showed up in the front row of the ‘beer section’ at the Final 4 in Vancouver last weekend, after driving from Alberta to follow the Dinos.  A quick 18 holes of golf in Abbotsford on the way, and there they were, right into the action, led by Archie’s good natured encouragement of the officials !  Don’t know if they’ll be in Ottawa for Nationals, but we’ll look forward to seeing them at ‘The Jack’ next season.


  1. • Janelle Bekkering, 2nd year guard, and her Gonzaga Bulldogs teammates won the West Coast Conference title with a 76-48 win over Pepperdine Univ. in Las Vegas on Monday.  This was the 18th straight win for the 24-7 Bulldogs, who are ranked # 15 as they wait their seeding for the upcoming NCAA Women’s Championship Tournament. janelle, the youngest in this incredible basketball family, also plays for the National Women’s team.


  1. • Calgary HS playoffs ... Thursday semi-finals are set in   Division 1 ... games are at 7 pm ... Churchill (3North) is at Western (1N), and Notre Dame (2N) visits Bishop Grandin (1South).  The winners of these 2 games will play at Crescent Heights on Saturday in the City Final.  Junior semi-final games go tonight around the city with 5 pm start times for the boys games.


  1. • Great raucous crowd last night at Notre Dame as the Pride edged St. Mary’s 77-71.  Lots of students having a good time and a back and forth game, which wasn’t decided until the final minute.


Ken Wong, Dinos outstanding strength and fitness coach

  1. •Janelle Bekkering, in NCAA Tournament with Gonzaga

Craig Anderson, Dinos hard -working assistant coach