UNews - Pronghorns

Mazutinec commits early to Pronghorns program

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 21:46:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team received an early Christmas present Monday when southern Alberta product Scott Mazutinec verbally committed to play for the Horns for the 2016-17 season.

Mazutinec, from Stirling, AB, is a six-foot-four inch guard who starred for the U17 Alberta team this past summer, averaging 18.7 points and 5.8 rebounds at the U17 Nationals in Halifax.

"Scott is another terrific southern Alberta talent and we're ecstatic that he chose to stay home to play basketball,” says Pronghorns head coach Mike Hansen. “His size and athleticism are rare in high school and he will fit well into our style of play and positionless basketball.”

Hansen says that as much as Mazutinec is a talented athlete, his off-the-court attributes played a big role in his recruitment.

“What drew us to Scott more than his basketball skills was his outstanding character, his grit, and the way he fit with our team culture,” says Hansen. “He proved this past summer at U17 Nationals that he can compete with anyone in the country and I can't wait to start coaching him."

Mazutinec led the Stirling Lakers to 2A zone and provincial championships in grade 11 and averaged 25 points and eight rebounds per game last year, his Grade 12 season. He was also named a Deep South Basketball League first team all-star.

Mazutinec is a second generation Pronghorn, following in his father Darren’s footsteps, who played for the men’s hockey team from 1985 to 1989. Scott’s sister Kylie also suited up for the women’s basketball team last season.

The Horns are on semester break but will travel to Winnipeg to compete in the Wesmen Classic, December 28-30. The Horns first home game in 2016 will be January 22 when they host the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Manitoba Bisons.

Horns already add recruit to fold

trevor.kenney — Tue, 20 Jan 2015 17:22:07 +0000

Heading into the final stretch of the 2014-15 Canada West season, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s basketball program has taken a moment to look to the future, announcing the program's first commitment for the 2015-16 season - southern Alberta product Teesha Olson.

“Teesha is a key piece of the puzzle for our program as a long, athletic guard that can slash to the rim and shoot the three,” says McAleenan. “Her work ethic, determination, and commitment will be integral for our program as we strive for excellence both on and off the court.”

A Magrath native, Olson has been named a Southern Alberta High School Basketball League (SAHSBL) second team all-star in both her grade 10 and 11 seasons and was top five in league scoring during both seasons.

The five-foot-nine inch guard averaged 16 points per game in grade 10, 15.4 points per game in grade 11 and through four league games this season she is leading the SAHSBL in scoring, averaging 21 points per contest.

In addition to her prowess on the basketball court, Olson has also excelled on the track. Last year, she was the female track MVP for Magrath High School, qualifying for zones in long jump and triple jump, and qualifying for provincials in triple jump.

Demonstrating a balance of being an exceptional student-athlete in high school, Olson has achieved honour roll status in both grade 10 and 11 and received the top overall academic achievement at Magrath High School in her grade each year.

McAleenan had the opportunity to become familiar with Olson when she coached her last spring with the Jr. Horns U17 PEBL team.

“We had the opportunity to see Teesha’s coachability and work ethic on our U17 PEBL Jr Horns team last spring, and that sealed the deal that we needed to have her in our program,” says McAleenan. “I am thrilled to sign such an elite level and well-rounded student-athlete like Teesha.”

Former Horns coach Peters earns head job with Carolina Hurricanes

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 22:04:54 +0000

Former ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men's hockey coach Bill Peters achieved a career goal today after being named the new head coach of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes.

Peters joins Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock as former Horns coaches who have progressed to the NHL.

Peters's first head coaching experience came with the Pronghorns, when he led the program from 2002 through 2005. Over that time, his teams compiled a 17-59-8 record and one made post-season appearance.

Following his stint in Lethbridge, Peters moved on to the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League, where he spent three seasons. In 2008, Peters led the Chiefs to the 2008 Memorial Cup Championship. During his time in Spokane he fashioned a record of 111-82-23 and set franchise records for wins in a season, with 50, and points, with 107.

Peters acquired his first professional coaching position following his stint in Spokane, earning the head coaching job with the Chicago Blackhawks' top affiliate, Rockford Ice Hogs. He led the Ice Hogs to consecutive 40-win seasons and two playoff appearances.

Peters then reunited with Babcock (they previously coached together in Spokane when Peters served as Babcock's assistant) as an assistant coach with the Red Wings where he served in that role for the past three seasons.

Patterson, Campbell earn athlete of the week honours

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 21:20:22 +0000

A pair of hockey players get the nod as Subway Pronghorn Athletes of the Week following their performances in the first weekend of the second half of the Canada West season.

Former Canada West first team all-star goaltender Crystal Patterson made a combined 61 saves for the Pronghorns women's hockey program as it earned a split in Regina this past weekend.

Friday night, in the Horns' first game back after the semester break, Patterson turned aside 32 shots in regulation and overtime and then stopped all three Cougar shooters in the shootout to propel the Horns to a 3-2 win. She also recorded an assist on the Horns' second goal of the game, the first in her Canada West career.

The next night, Patterson stopped 29 of 31 shots and kept the Horns in the game as they were outshot 31-19 in a 2-1 loss.

Patterson has started eight straight games for the Horns and sports a 2.26 goals-against-average and a 0.927 save percentage.

On the men's side, second-year defenceman Tim Campbell continued his solid play for the Pronghorns and was a key contributor as the club earned a weekend split with the visiting Regina Cougars.

The Thornhill, ON product recorded two shots on goal and was a minus one in the Horns' 3-0 loss to the Regina Cougars but went head-to-head versus the Cougars top players and was key to the Horns killing off two of three Regina power plays.

The next night, the Horns put an end to their 10-game losing streak as Campbell assisted on the eventual game-winning goal in a 4-1 victory. He also recorded another three shots on net and was a plus one on the night.

Through 18 games this season, Campbell leads the ‘Horns in shots on goal with 44 and has recorded a goal and six assists from his blueline position.

Getting back in the win column

trevor.kenney — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:11:51 +0000

Kim Veldman only knew winning as a southern Alberta high school basketball player. Now, in her third year as a member of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's basketball team, she is getting reacquainted with that feeling.

Veldman and the Pronghorns have fashioned a 5-5 start to the 2012-13 Canada West season and are in the thick of the race for a playoff position. After seasons in which the Horns won just four and six games respectively, it's a welcome light at the end of a two-year tunnel.

Kim Veldman has taken on a leadership role with the Pronghorns.

"It feels good to put in the effort and to see some results, it's almost a weird feeling to be winning again," says Veldman, a product of Lethbridge's Immanuel Christian High School and a three-time provincial 2A champion. "It was different being on the losing end, but it teaches you some lessons you might otherwise not learn. When I played at Immanuel Christian, I went into a team that was consistently good and expected to win. When I came to this level, I had to learn to really push myself to try and be better than the rest and it was a big change."

Veldman has played a key role in the Horns' resurgence this season. As a returning starter, she is averaging more than 31 minutes per game and is the team's leading rebounder. Moved from a strictly post position to that of a swing forward, she has flourished with the added responsibility of playing both an inside and outside game.

"Being a starter now and having that responsibility of playing more minutes has meant a lot to me and changed the way I approach the game," says Veldman. "I have to be focused all the time because the team needs me now, especially given that I need to play a lot of minutes because we don't have the depth in numbers that other teams might have."

First-year head coach Erin McAleenan has leaned on Veldman as one of her key performers and has been impressed by her progression.

"Being able to use her as both an inside and outside threat has helped us," says McAleenan. "We don't have a lot of depth, so we've really tried to run some sets that highlight our best players and give them opportunities to succeed. I think Kim's improved a lot over the course of the season and responded well to that challenge."

A third-year nursing student, Veldman has always succeeded in the classroom, even when the Horns had trouble finding success on the court. She has been an Academic All-Canadian in her first two seasons and continues to strike the balance between student and athlete.

"I've always been blessed with the talent of time management," she says. "I'll admit I am a procrastinator but I think basketball really helps me with that because it forces me to get down and do my work."

As a nursing student, Veldman is taxed with completing practicum rotations amidst a busy practice schedule.

"It's tough some days to come to practice after working a shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., then you need to find the time to eat and get to practice by 4 p.m. and be focused and ready to go," she says. "But I love it. I just did my rural acute rotation out in Taber and it was great. I think I'll really love it as a career once I finish school."

While she admits she has room to grow as a team leader, her coach says the work she puts in leads by example and hints at things to come.

"I think she's done a really good job in terms of managing her time as both a strong student and good athlete, and she not only balances them well but excels in both, and that sets a great example for her teammates," says McAleenan. "She's a quiet personality and not a real vocal leader or take-charge player with her teammates but I don't know if she's been asked to do that before. I think developing more confidence in her own role will help with that, because you have to be able to lead yourself before you lead others."

As the second half of the season and Veldman's career tip off simultaneously, it is intriguing to think of the opportunities ahead.

"I'm excited to see what happens. There are some tough teams we're going to face but I think we're ready for the challenge," says Veldman. "I feel like we still need to get more comfortable with having success and learn more about how to finish off games but we've really come a long way."

GET THE FACTS

· Veldman takes to nursing naturally. Her mother Heidi is an intensive care unit nurse and her younger sister Jenae is training to become a Licensed Practical Nurse

· She has three older brothers, Ryan, Daniel and Douglas, who all played basketball and still work out with her to improve her post moves

· Veldman had a season-high 20-point effort in one of the Horns' key victories this season, a 72-66 win at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria

· Veldman enjoys working in rural hospitals, giving her the chance to work in surgery and medicine

This story first appeared in the January 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

UNews - Pronghorns

Mazutinec commits early to Pronghorns program

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Horns already add recruit to fold

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Former Horns coach Peters earns head job with Carolina Hurricanes

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Patterson, Campbell earn athlete of the week honours

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Getting back in the win column

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