Bula Joins Wright at TRU

Bula celebrates his SJHL goal

Make it four Ice Wolves who have their hockey and schooling futures sorted out.  Ben Bula joins fellow Ice Wolf grad Brennan Wright at Thompson Rivers University next season playing for the WolfPack in his home town of Kamloops.


According to the TRU release, Bula will be taking some upgrading courses with the eventual goal of physiotherapy.


Bula garnered pretty solid fan support for his physical play, skill without the mitts and seemingly endless quest for his first SJHL goal which finally came to an end November 25th, 2011 against the Flin Flon Bombers.  He finished his SJHL career with 1 goal 14 assists to go with 175 penalty minutes.

Congratulations Ben and good luck next season!

-D

For your viewing pleasure, Bula up against Brett Adnum in the 2011 Anavet Cup:

2012-13 Ice Wolves Commitments:
Brennan Wright - Thompson Rivers University (BCIHL)
Ben Bula - Thompson Rivers University (BCIHL)
Pat Tran - SAIT (ACAC)
Matt Weisensel - SAIT (ACAC)

Junior A Supplement Extended Two Years

Hockey Canada held its AGM this past week/weekend.  The big news items coming from the meetings are the extension of the Junior-A Supplement and the Vernon Vipers will host the 2014 RBC Cup.

Here's the summary of the weekend in release form (the important stuff is in the second half):

Ice Wolves Jail and Bail

The Ice Wolves hold their "Jail and Bail" today to get the weekend started.  While I seem to have avoided incarceration for the time being... MBC announcer, Dale Roth, wasn't so lucky and he'll be occupying the cell at the Mel Heglund Uniplex until noon.  Though he could always buy his way out and exact revenge, who knows?

Here's the video of Dale's "arrest":

You can lock your friends/family/coworkers up for the rest of the day which will conclude with a TGIF barbeque.  Ten dollars gets you a burger plus salads, desserts and all that fun stuff.  Important detail, the bar will be open.

To get someone arrested, call the Ice Wolves office at 425-4141.

-D

Two Wolves Head to SAIT

It's always a pleasure to talk about graduating players moving on in their hockey careers, even better when they're headed to my former school, SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology).

Weisensel accepts award

Matt Weisensel and Pat Tran are off to Calgary to join former Ice Wolves Adam Bartko (G) and Nolan Souchotte (F) with the once four-time defending champion Trojans.

Weisensel becomes the second Wolves' Captain in as many years to suit up for SAIT in the ACAC (Souchotte being last year's addition).  Weisensel was the Ice Wolves award winner for Top Defenceman as well as co-winner of the Most Dedicated Award.  Weisensel had 26 points (4G, 22A) in 56 games for La Ronge last season and added four points in seven playoff games.

Tran accepts award

Tran joined the Wolves ahead of the 2011-12 season in a deal with the Humboldt Broncos.  He added a strong veteran presence to the Wolves and was one of the team's top two-way forwards and penalty killers.  He suited up in every game during the Ice Wolves' season notching 13 goals and 15 assists during the regular season and chipping in with a pair of assists in the playoffs.  Tran was the Wolves' winner of the Award for Sportsmanship and Dedicated play.

Congratulations to both of you on joining the Trojans, and good luck in the coming season!

In some other Ice Wolves news, the team is holding a "Jail and Bail" on Friday.  Pay some money and you can lock someone up for a while.  Or get yourself arrested and skip out on some work, whatever works.

Here's the poster:

Northern Touchdown Football Camp

The Cameco Northern Touchdown Football Camp and Clinic is coming up next weekend (May 25th-27th) in La Ronge.

Kids going into grades 9-12 can take part for no charge and equipment is provided, though organizers say to bring cleats if available.

Alongside the Camp, there's a coaching clinic for adults interested in getting their NCCP Level 1 Football Coaching Certification.  That clinic runs at $150.

Both the Camp and clinic will be held at Senator Myles Venne school with the days getting going in the gym.

To register, youth can pick up forms from Gabe Andrews at Chruchill Community High School.  For more information or to put your name in for the coaching clinic, contact Gabe at gabeandrews@nlsd113.net or give him a call at 425-2255.

Here's what the weekend's schedule looks like.

Friday 5:00 - La Ronge Football Combine

7:00pm-10:00pm Coaching Clinic

Saturday 10:00am - Equipment Fitting. Coaches attend.

12:00pm - Practice #1

4:00pm - Practice #2

6:00pm-9:00pm Coaching Clinic

Sunday 10:00am - Practice #3

2:00pm - Practice #4 and Scrimmage

National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Medal Matchups

With the Semi-Finals concluding Friday night, Saskatchewan has a pair of teams looking to repeat their Gold Medal's at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Saskatoon.

The Men's team advanced to the final with a 5-3 victory over Manitoba and goes head to head with Alberta who moved on by virtue of an 8-7 win against Eastern Door and North.  Puck drops on that game at 8:00 p.m. at the Jemini Arenas.  Saskatchewan's looking a fifth straight National Championship victory.

The Women's team continues to roll as they took out Ontario 6-2 in the Semi Finals.  Now Saskatchewan faces off with Eastern Door and North who upset Alberta 5-2 to go up against the reigning champs.  That contest goes at 5:00 p.m. at the Jemini Arenas.

The Women's Bronze Medal Game (Ontario vs. Alberta) is at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow while the Men's matchup (Manitoba vs Eastern Door and North) is at 2:00 p.m.

Check back here for the results as they come in tomorrow, and make sure to get out and cheer for your teams at the Jemini Arenas.

Gold Medal Game Results

• Tough one for the Saskatchewan Women's team as they fall 4-3 to Eastern Door and North in the Gold Medal game.  Congratulations to Team Eastern Door and North on the National Championship victory!

• The Drive for Five is accomplished!  Team Saskatchewan wins its fifth straight National Championship, downing Alberta 5-1.

Photo Source: Facebook

Bronze Medal Game Results

• In the Men's Bronze Medal Game, Manitoba took third place with a 10-4 win against Eastern Door and North.

• On the Women's side, Ontario slipped out with a 4-3 victory over Alberta.

Congratulations to all of the athletes on a great week of hockey and to the Saskatoon Tribal Council on another successful hosting of the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.

Thanks to Mark Arcand for providing me with the results so I could pass them along to you!

Also thanks to you for coming to the blog to get your results for the tournament, making this one of the busiest weeks on the blog since it went live.

-D

La Ronge Minor Hockey Golf Tournament

La Ronge Minor Hockey hosts its 1st Annual Golf Tournament tomorrow (May 12th) at Eagle Point Golf Resort in La Ronge.

Entry fees are $65 for adults and $50 for youth 16 and under.  Registration goes from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with a shot gun start at 11.

18 holes, Men's and Ladies' with prizes for Longest Drive and closest to the Pin.  You can grab burgers on the deck for just $5.  All proceeds go towards La Ronge Minor Hockey.

For more info, contact Brandi Bell @ 425-9203

National Aboriginal HockeyChampionships Relegation and Semi Finals

This is the schedule for the Relegation Round (Thursday) and Semi Finals (Friday) at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Saskatoon.

Make sure to get out and cheer on the teams at the Jemini Arenas as we close in on the Championship!

Today's action also features the Skills Competition which goes at 2:00 Thursday afternoon as well as the tournament banquet Thursday evening.

Remember, send me (daniel@mbcradio.com) your pictures of the tournament and I can post them on the blog.

Check back through the day for updates on the Relegation Round and Semi Finals.

National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Quarter-Finals

This is the schedule for today's Quarter-Final matchups at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships in Saskatoon.  The games will be played at the Jemini Arenas and the arena number is listed along with the scheduled puck drop.  This isn't the official schedule and is based off the information I've received through the first couple days.  There is the possibility of adjustments to this schedule, but it should be correct.  I'll be sure to let you know of any changes to what's displayed below.

I'm short scores from the Alberta/Atlantic matchups at this time, however, based on who I've been told Saskatchewan is playing; I believe Alberta won in both games.  That's not official, nor 100% positive.  I'll update when I can.

If you're at the tournament today, be sure to send in some pictures to daniel@mbcradio.com and I can post them on the blog (with credit of course).

National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Day 2

Saskatchewan continues to roll at the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships.  Tuesday it was the Women's team taking two wins to move to 3-0 on the tournament.  Meanwhile the Men's squad reached a similar 3-0 mark with a win Tuesday evening.

Complete Results
Women's Draw
Eastern Door and North 9 Northwest Territories 0
Ontario 4 Alberta 3
Manitoba 2 B.C. 1
Saskatchewan 8 Atlantic 0
Eastern Door and North 7 Ontario 2
Alberta 10 Northwest Territories 3
Saskatchewan 6 Manitoba 1
B.C. 4 Atlantic 2

*Tiebreak formula: GF/(GF+GA)

Men's Draw
Ontario 4 Northwest Territories 2
Manitoba 11 Atlantic 6
Alberta 7 Eastern Door and North 5
Saskatchewan 4 B.C. 2

National Aboriginal Hockey Championships Day 1

The National Aboriginal Hockey Championships got going in Saskatoon yesterday.  It was a good start for both the Saskatchewan Men's and Women's teams as they went undefeated on the day.

Beginning their quest for a fifth straight title, the Men's team rolled out an 11-2 win over Team Atlantic to go with a 7-5 victory against Manitoba in one of the late games.

The Women's team only had one contest on the day, defeating B.C. 4-2.

In today's action, the Women's team plays twice, facing off with Team Atlantic at 11:30 a.m. and Manitoba at 6:15 p.m.

The Men's team has one game today, taking on B.C. at 6:30 p.m.  You can catch all of the games at the Jemini Arenas.

Ice Wolves AGM Approaching

I'm sure you missed me dearly while I was enjoying my two week sojourn from La Ronge.  I had a great time being back in Calgary and benefited greatly from some serious sleeping in.  First order of business on the Ice Wolves front is the AGM coming up Wednesday night.

The meeting goes at seven o'clock at the Wolves den.  Last year, attendance was pretty abysmal, so it would be great to see more people at the meeting.  This year it won't be at the same time as Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, so it should be a little easier to pull away from the playoffs on TV.

The AGM is a great way to keep tabs on the team and see where things stand financially.  There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with the organization as well.

In addition to the AGM, the Ice Wolves Booster Club has a meeting coming up Tuesday, May 15th at Mistasinhk Place (Boardroom 1 - 7 p.m.).  If you're holding on to that amazing fundraising idea, that's the place you want to be.

In other sports news, Minor Baseball gets going this week in La Ronge.  I make my coaching (assistant coaching) debut working with the PeeWee Miners... I pity them already.

Did anyone see Penticton starting off 0-2 at the RBC Cup?  I definitely didn't.  Should be interesting to see if they can turn it around.

-D