Phillip Labongo, from Winnipeg, and Matt Letkeman, Abbotsford, B.C., are 2 of the prize recruits signed by the Dinos for next Fall.  The outstanding recruiting class is highlighted by these 2 former members of the manitoba and B.C. U17 teams.

Faced with the graduation of 4 seniors, including 3 starters, 2 of whom are Canada West and/or CIS All-stars, Calgary Dinos Coach Dan Vanhooren had one of his more crucial recruiting tasks this past winter and early spring.  Life without Ross Bekkering, Robbie Sihota, Jamie McLeod, and Lindsay Thouret will definitely give the Dinos a new look.

After the late March I.D. Camp, Vanhooren was impressed with the talent available, but then had to sign his key additions, and sign he has done.  Phillip Labongo, a 6’3” shooting guard from Dakota Collegiate, who is the 2010 Manitoba H.S. Player of the Year, joins his pal Jarred Ogunbemi-Jackson, a previous winner of that award, and a standout freshman for the Dinos this past season. Vanhooren calls Labongo “the real deal”.  “He is quick, tough, can score in many ways, and is strong at the defensive end as well.”

Labongo’s earlier signing was complimented late this week by the addition of Matt Letkeman, a 6’7”, strong forward, from Yale H.S. in Abbotsford, B.C., considered one of the top 10 graduating players in Canada at his position. “ “Matt is a big signing for us”, says Van Hooren, “ He will be strong for us up front, and will help right away.”  Letkeman is ranked #7 among graduating power forwards in Canada this year.  His team won the B.C. HS Championship this season, and Matt was a 1st team tournament all-star.

A couple of Calgary high school stars will also join the squad.  Brad Clark, a 6’8” post man from Sir Winston Churchill HS “looked good at I.D. Camp”, according to Coach Vanhooren. “He competes well, and is eager to learn ... we think we have a good one here.”  Nebojsa Kuljic, a 6’5” wing man with the Provincial Champions, Western Canada Redmen, joins the team with praise from the Coach as well.  “Nebojsa is playing with our guys, and he is holding his own ... with a little more work, we think he will be a fine player.”

Other significant additions include Youri Annisovets, a 6’7” Russian, who was red-shirting this past semester, and who has looked very tough in practice. “Guys don’t like to play against Youri ... he has a bit of an edge”, says Vanhooren.  Andy Rochon, the 5’10” point man from Chicago, returns next fall for a 2nd season after sitting out this past year.  His experience and skills give the staff some real depth at the 1 spot, and Rochon is a very tough defender as well.  Another solid guard recruit is Keenan Milburn, from Royston, B.C., who played 3 years at SAIT, and will be  expected to compete for minutes right away with his shooting and ball-handling skills.

Coach Vanhooren, who is already thrilled with his recruiting class, is also waiting to hear from South Kamloops star, Josh Wolfram, a 6’9”, multi-talented scorer, who is one of B.C.’s best prospects. His teammate Tyler Jaroszuk, another 6’9” forward has already signed with the Dinos, and the staff is hoping Wolfram will join him.

All in all, this is a banner year for recruiting, and Dinos fans should be excited about the prospects for next season and years to come.  Top players who have been heavily recruited nationally have chosen the Calgary program, and there are several big difference-makers in this group.

Notes ...

1. • The academic status of Dom Coward, who was such an impressive rookie in 2008-09, will be another key to the Dinos fortunes for next season.  Coward, the 6’6” post man, has been outstanding in practice, and Vanhooren hopes his course work will be completed satisfactorily so he can re-join the active roster in the fall.
   

1. • Some bad fortune for freshman post man Patrick Walker

   

   ... he has had a lot of back trouble this season, and his doctors recently discovered a growth near his upper spine, which was causing the pain.  They are hopeful they can correct his problem with surgery, but it remains to be seen if Walker can return this coming September.
   

<<<<

1. • Julian Spearchief-Morris, a stand-out at LCI in Lethbridge 3 years ago, left UVic last season, and has red-shirted for U of L this year, looking to return to play in the fall.  The ‘Horns are high on Julian, and think he can be an effective Canada West player for them. Lethbridge will not hold their ID Camp until  the 1st week in May, so signees will not be announced until then.
   

1. • Coaching changes are happening this spring, as they have been doing more often around the CIS these past couple of seasons. Dave D’Aveiro, who had some strong teams at Ottawa U. is moving to McGill.  One reason to leave a program he built as a Gee-Gees grad might be that he is tired of playing 2nd fiddle to their very successful cross-town rivals the Carleton Ravens, 5 time CIS champions under Coach Dave Smart.
   

1. • Brandon University has parted ways with 2 year coach Keith Vassell, who was a former CIS all-star, but had little success on the bench for the ‘Cats in 2008-2010.  The Bobcats are searching for a replacement.  In related news, Brandon native, Mike Raimbault, who was 20-2 as the interim coach at Brandon in 2007-08, has signed on as the new Head Coach at Winnipeg.  He spent the last 2 years at UNBC in Prince George, B.C. after having been rejected in his bid for the full-time job in Brandon.  Of course, he recently won the CCAA Nationals at SAIT in March with the Timberwolves, and Brandon has to wonder how they could have let him go to the Wesmen.
   

1. • Henry Bekkering seems to have made a full recovery from his earlier leg injury ... averaging 18 minutes a game, he is scoring 10.2 ppg on 52% shooting. (Thanks to Richard Taylor for the stats)
   

Lots more news in Henry’s blog ... http://nijmegeneuroblog.tk/

next >

< previous

Keenan Milburn, SAIT guard joins Dinos

Patrick Walker, freshman post faces long recovery period

Bekkering scores in Euro-League action >>>