UNews - rugby

Local donors jump on board to assist women's rugby program

trevor.kenney — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 17:56:37 +0000

The Pronghorn women’s rugby team will see a significant increase in the program’s Athletic Financial Awards (AFA) thanks to the commitment and generosity of a local couple.

Lorne and Diane Patzer, CI Financial and Assante Financial have collaborated to create up to 10 new awards per year with a donation of $20, 000 over the next two years.

“"We are happy to support Pronghorns women's rugby,” says Lorne Patzer. “Few, if any, other sports embody all the skill sets, body types and camaraderie that we have found so evident in rugby.”

“We have watched and marvelled these embodiments while following our daughter, Ashley (Patzer) Steacy, from high school, to club, to age grade rep teams, to university and finally to the national team.”

Over the next two years, awards will be given to the Horns' top back, forward and rookie in addition to the CI Financial/Assante Financial women’s rugby awards, which will be awarded to two to seven players that meet specified criteria.

“We consider it to be an honour to help several members of the women's rugby team advance their education while at the same time they give their all to make the Horns the best they can be," says Patzer.

Pronghorn Athletics and the women’s rugby team are honoured and very grateful for this generous scholarship gift and support of Pronghorn athletes.

“We are privileged to be supported by the Patzer family, CI and Assante and this provides a big boost to the program,” says head coach Ric Suggitt. “The faith that they have demonstrated in our program will assist in attracting top level athletes.”

“This, in turn, will translate into excellence on and off the field as it will allow our players to focus on what is paramount for our student-athletes to be successful.”

The Patzers are no strangers to the Pronghorns women’s rugby program, as their daughter Ashley starred for the Horns from 2005 to 2009. During her famed Pronghorn career, Ashley was twice named the Canada West and CIS player of the year (2006, 2009), was the Canada West and CIS rookie of the year in 2005 and was a four-time CIS All-Canadian.

She was also part of four consecutive Canada West Championships (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and three straight CIS Championships (2007, 2008, 2009), including the 2008 CIS Championship hosted in Lethbridge, where she was named the CIS Tournament most valuable player.

Ashley has gone on to star with the Canadian Women’s Sevens team, winning bronze at the Rio Olympics, and was named to the 2015 IRB Women’s Sevens Series dream team, recognizing the top seven players of the season series.

Horns rugby program brings in national team recruit

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 May 2016 21:10:14 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby program received a boost today with the commitment of national and provincial team member Sydney De La Mare for the 2016 season.

“Sydney has high praise from all the coaches involved in her brief rugby experience,” says Horns head coach Ric Suggitt. “In speaking with a number of them, we find all the qualities that we are searching for in a student athlete; Sydney is intelligent and thoughtful and that does not surprise me. Her physical attributes are also second to none, she is big, strong and fast.”

De La Mare, a St. Albert, Alta. product, just returned from a tour in England with the Canadian U18 team. De La Mare started the first game at lock and was a reserve for game two.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was a perfect choice for me,” says De La Mare. “First, the school is ranked #3 by Macleans for undergraduate degrees, I was accepted into a combined degree program in kinesiology and education, and the rugby program has been growing tremendously. I am also very excited to be playing for Ric and I can’t wait to get to work.”

De La Mare has also suited up for the Alberta U18 team and is a member of the St. Albert Rugby Football Club. The 5’10” lock or number 8 also played at Paul Kane High School in St. Albert.

“Syd is a fantastic addition to our rugby program and we are expecting her to excel to the highest level of rugby in Canada,” says Suggitt.

The Horns will continue to add to this year’s recruiting class in the coming months and will host the Canada West Championships in the fall.

Outstanding season earns Ronsky a spot on Maple Leaf roster

trevor.kenney — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 17:53:33 +0000

Following a season in which she was named a second team All-Canadian, a Canada West All-Star and a CIS Championship tournament all-star, fourth-year wing Nicole Ronsky of the Pronghorns women's rugby team has been named to Canada's Maple Leaf roster for the opening round of the 2015-16 HSBC Women's Sevens Series to be held in Dubai Dec. 3-4.

The Maple Leafs, a developmental team, will play in the International Invitational portion of the Dubai tournament and will face South Africa, the Belgium Rugby 7s and Tabusoro Angels during day one of the tournament.

Nicole Ronsky, here in action against the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, will play with the national developmental team at the 2015-16 HSBC Women's Sevens Series to be held in Dubai, Dec. 3-4.

"It is an outstanding opportunity for Nicole and I think that it is great for Canada West and CIS to have our athletes make that next step and get an opportunity to represent Canada," says first-year Pronghorns head coach Ric Suggitt. "Our team getting into the playoffs was a bit of a surprise to most people, but what was no surprise was Nicole's ability to perform in high pressure situations."

Ronsky, who turned heads two weeks ago with her performance at the CIS Championships in Kingston, will make her first appearance with the national sevens program and will head to Victoria on November 24 to prepare with the team for the Dubai tournament.

"I am overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude for this amazing opportunity," says Ronsky. "It wouldn't have been possible without my amazing coaches, teammates and administrators and the continuous support from my incredible family. It's so good to be a U of L Pronghorn."

This season, Ronsky was named a Canada West All-Star for the third year in a row and finished tied for the team lead in tries.

At the Canada West final four, Ronsky scored twice in the Horns' semifinal win over the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Dinos, which secured a berth in the CIS Championships. She scored another try in the Horns' loss to the Victoria Vikes in the Canada West Championship game.

At the CIS Championships in Kingston, the Calgary, Alta. product led the Horns in tries, scoring three times in three games. She scored twice in the team's final game, a loss to the Vikes in the fifth-place consolation contest.

"Not only does Nicole have the ability to break it open and race to the goal line, she is also a fierce tackler," says Suggitt. "I think it was her tackling count that caught the eye of National Team Coach John Tait."

Former Pronghorns Ashley Steacy (nee Patzer) and Kayla Moleschi are also members of the Canadian National Sevens program, which has already qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Steacy will miss the Dubai tournament due to a knee injury.

Experienced international coach to take helm of women's rugby program

trevor.kenney — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 17:32:40 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns are excited to announce Richard Suggitt as the new head coach of the women’s rugby program. Suggitt becomes the third head coach in program history.

“Ric has been great to work with and we are very excited to have a coach of Ric’s calibre join the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ where he builds on the excellence of our existing coaching staff," says Ken McInnes, Interim Executive Director of Sport and Recreation Services. “Ric’s appointment will only build on the legacy of success of the women’s rugby program and I believe is very forward looking on the part of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and represents the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s commitment to the program. This appointment sets our program apart and gives our women’s rugby program a real advantage.”

Originally from Edmonton, AB, Suggitt joins the program with a wealth of international coaching experience and is the current head coach of the USA National Senior Women’s Sevens program. Sevens rugby will make its inaugural appearance in the Olympics next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He will remain with the USA Senior women’s sevens through to the Olympic Games while working with the U of L women’s team. Former head coach and three-time national champion Neil Langevin will serve as acting head coach while Suggitt is fulfilling his duties with the USA sevens team.

Earlier this month, Suggitt led the USA Women’s Sevens team to a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

“When looking at the opportunity to join the U of L Pronghorns program it was an easy decision to make,” says Suggitt. “The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has made it possible for me to join full time after the 2016 Olympics. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is looking to build a world class athletic and academic environment and that is something that excites me.”

“From my past experiences in Canada I was privileged to do some work with Neil Langevin. It is my pleasure to have Neil back at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ coaching and guiding the team in my absence,” adds Suggitt. “Along with Neil, we have Toby Boulet fulfilling the role as manager, and with his experience over the years we are in capable hands. We will also be retaining the services of Rob Kossuth, Shannon Court and Norm McDougal from the previous coaching staff as we sort out the transition over the next year.”

Suggitt has also spent time with the Canadian National program, coaching numerous Canadian teams of both genders. From 1999 to 2007, he spent time leading the Senior Women’s 15s, Senior Men’s Sevens, Women’s U23, U19 and the Senior Men’s 15s teams.

No stranger to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ scene, Suggitt served as an assistant and interim head coach with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Victoria men’s team. He was the interim head coach in 1998. His experience also includes provincial level teams in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Horns will open training camp in mid-August and host just one conference game this season, when defending Canada West Champion ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas visit Lethbridge on Oct. 4.

Pronghorns to be well represented at Pan Am Games

trevor.kenney — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 18:13:20 +0000

As Canada prepares to host the Pan American Games in Toronto, Pronghorn Athletics will be well represented with four former athletes and one current Pronghorn competing with the maple leaf on their chest.

The Pan Am Games will open July 10 with closing ceremonies wrapping the games up July 26. For full games information and results, visit the Toronto 2015 website.

Former Pronghorn track star Jim Steacy is a veteran of international competition.

Of the five people representing the Pronghorns at the Pan Am Games, three come from the Steacy family. Siblings Jim and Heather Steacy, as well as sister-in-law Ashley Steacy (nee: Patzer), will all compete under the family name, a true rarity in Canadian sport history. Aaron Hernandez and Kayla Moleschi round out the group of Pronghorns and former Pronghorns competing at the games.

For the first time, Rugby Sevens will make an appearance at the Pan Am Games and Ashley Steacy and Moleschi will play prominent roles for the Canadian side.

Steacy was one of the most decorated CIS women’s rugby players by the time she graduated from the U of L, winning three national championships and two CIS player of the year awards. This year, she was named the Canadian Sevens player of the year, and at the last stop of the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series, she was named to the overall series Dream Team.

“Pan Am’s will be my first multi-sport games and I'm very excited to get there and get a feeling for what the games are like,” says Steacy. “Women's 7s Rugby is new to the Pan Am Games so having the opportunity a year out from the Olympics to participate in a multi-sport games is going to be a big advantage to our team.”

Steacy says it's special to be competing in the same event with Jim and Heather.

“It’s pretty cool that my brother and sister-in-law will both be at the games, but unfortunately we will miss each other because of the timing of our sports," says Steacy. "I would love to stay and watch them throw but our team is travelling down to Rio to do a site visit leading into the Olympics next summer.”

While Moleschi only played one season for the Pronghorns, she had an immediate impact. Moleschi was named the Canada West Rookie of the Year and a CIS All-Canadian in her lone season and quickly earned the attention of the Canadian national program.

The Steacy siblings are no strangers to national team nominations, but say it is always an honour to represent their country.

“As an athlete, there is no greater feeling than being able to compete at a level where you can represent your country,” says two-time Olympian Jim Steacy. “I am so proud to have been selected to compete for Canada at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto this July; it will be particularly special to compete in the red & white in front of a home crowd.”

After starring at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, winning nine CIS gold medals and going undefeated throughout his university career in the weight throw, Jim has achieved national and international success. He represented Canada at the Beijing and London Olympics, is the Canadian record holder in the hammer throw and most recently won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sister Heather was also a star at the CIS level, winning four Canada West titles in the weight throw and four CIS medals (two gold, silver and bronze). She also is an Olympian, having joined her brother at the 2012 London Olympics.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be named to the Canadian team for the Pan American Games,” says the youngest Steacy. “The last time I competed for Team Canada was in 2013, and I was dealing with some injuries then. The past couple years have been challenging for a myriad of reasons, but this year has been filled with some changes that have been a big step in the right direction.”

Heather moved to Kamloops last fall and changed coaches – a move that has paid dividends with some great early season results.

“I was out in Victoria a couple weeks ago for a meet, and Ashley and I were able to meet up for dinner and chat about us all representing Canada at the same time and in the same event,” says Heather. “I think it’s a big deal that the rugby teams get to participate in Pan Am’s as a major multi-sport competition before their first go at the Olympics next year in Rio. It’s such a different atmosphere when you’re surrounded by not only athletes from other countries and cultures, but from completely different sports.”

Current Pronghorn Aaron Hernandez is enjoying his first senior team appointment through his participation at the Pan Am Games. Through two years of his university career, Hernandez has been nothing short of spectacular. He has won two national titles in the triple jump, been named the CIS Rookie of the Year, and this past year registered the second furthest jump in Canada West history.

“It's an unbelievable feeling to be nominated to compete for your country,” says Hernandez. “Ever since I started competing in track & field the goal has been to wear the Canada singlet. To be able to do it in front of a home crowd and at a huge event like this is just the cherry on top. Big thanks has to go out to my coach, Jaime Thomas, and coach Larry Steinke, my family and friends and all the support I have received lately. I wouldn't be here without everyone's dedication.”

“I am looking forward to competing against some of the best in the world, it will be a great learning opportunity and I'll be soaking up the atmosphere from the moment I get to athletes village to the day I compete, and through to the closing ceremonies. I can't wait!”

The city of Lethbridge as a whole will be represented well at the Pan Am Games with another eight athletes with Lethbridge connections participating in Toronto.

“I am so proud to represent Lethbridge and it is so awesome to have such a strong showing from our city!" concludes Ashley Steacy.

Horns dynasty team inducted into Alberta Sports Hall of Fame

trevor.kenney — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:40:56 +0000

They dominated women's rugby for three years, winning consecutive Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. On Wednesday, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women's rugby championship teams were inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

The Horns' title run was capped by a dominant performance at the CIS championship tournament in 2009.

The Horns will go into the hall as part of the 2015 inductee class that also includes: Carla MacLeod (Hockey); Kevin Martin (Curling); Bruce MacGregor (Hockey); Bill Warren (Builder); Hugh McPherson (Builder); James (Bearcat) Murray (Builder); David and Jean Folinsbee (Pioneer Award – Badminton); Peter Maher (Bell Memorial Award); Chris Koch (Achievement Award); and Joey Moss (Achievement Award).

Following the program’s first Canada West title and a CIS bronze medal victory in 2006, the Pronghorns returned to the CIS Championships in 2007 in London, Ont. The Horns defeated the host Western Mustangs 15-10 to win the program's first national title and kick off a run of dominance that not only boosted the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's national reputation but inspired a new generation of rugby players throughout southern Aberta.

Brittany Orr was named CIS tournament most valuable player and Canada West rookie of the year, while Ashley Steacy (nee: Patzer) garnered recognition as a CIS All-Canadian.

While the Horns knew they were guaranteed a berth in the 2008 CIS Championship as the host program, the team earned its third consecutive Canada West title to enter the tournament as the top seed. On their home field, the Pronghorns repeated as national champions with a 29-15 win over St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in front of more than a 1,000 hometown fans.

Steacy was named CIS Tournament MVP and the Pronghorns laid claim to six of the 15 tournament all-star spots. Brandi Van Eeuwen was named both the Canada West and CIS rookie of the year.

The 2009 season was truly a special one for the Pronghorns as they went undefeated in Canada West conference action, outscoring their opponents 217-7 in four conference games before winning the Canada West title with a 30-0 victory over the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta Pandas.

The Horns' dominance was cemented at the CIS Championship tournament in Vancouver. The U of L opened the tourney with a 51-3 thrashing of the Western Mustangs before dispatching Quebec champion Concordia 15-0. A 25-0 victory over Ontario champion Guelph Gryphons set up another championship matchup with St. FX. Once again, the Pronghorns prevailed, winning 20-3 for their third consecutive CIS Championship.

On their run to the title in 2009, the Horns outscored their opponents an unfathomable 444-13. Steacy was named CIS Player of the Year, while Andrea Letal was the tournament MVP and Neil Langevin was named Canada West and CIS Coach of the Year.

The 2015 Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held May 29, 2015.

Women's rugby 7s earn silver at Rugby Canada tourney

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:53:57 +0000

In their first appearance at the event, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby team earned a silver medal at the fourth annual university sevens tournament hosted by Rugby Canada in Victoria, BC.

The Horns women’s rugby team took 12 players to participate in the event, choosing from the 2013 Pronghorn team that finished third in Canada West and was led by head coach JJ Ondrus.

After losing their opening game 17-12 to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph, the Pronghorns beat McMaster 17-15 and the UBC Thunderbirds 7-5 in round robin play, earning a fourth seed heading into the medal round.

In the quarter-finals, led by two tries from Nicole Ronsky, the Horns defeated the Western Mustangs 17-5. They then faced a familiar foe, the Victoria Vikes in the semifinals, winning a close-fought game, 7-5, on a Tiffany Wideen try and Sarah Gordon conversion.

Running out of steam in the finals, the Horns were defeated 24-7 by McMaster.

“The girls are excited for fall after this success. We trained hard in the off season for this,” says head coach JJ Ondrus. “We're hoping to play more sevens in the future. After our first game (loss vs Guelph) we continued to build confidence, but ran out of steam in the final. I’m proud of the way the girls played, never giving up and scoring on the final play of the game.”

Ronsky led the Horns in scoring in the tournament, counting four tries, while Kara Loewen and Frederique Tremblay each scored two tries.

Langevin officially steps down as Horns women's rugby coach

trevor.kenney — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 23:32:33 +0000

After taking a one year leave as the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns women’s rugby head coach, Neil Langevin has officially resigned as the head coach of the program.

Neil Langevin took the Horns women's rugby program from its inception to the country's premier program over the course of his tenure as head coach.

JJ Ondrus, who served as the team’s interim coach last season, has been appointed as the head coach for the 2014-15 season.

“Neil obviously did a great job building a program from the ground up and winning three national championships,” says Sandy Slavin, the executive director of Sport and Recreation. “He also did an exceptional job developing the student-athletes and coaches. Pronghorn Athletics would like to thank Neil for his 13 years with the program and valuable contributions he made to the Pronghorn family."

Langevin, the architect of the Horns' most successful program, had been the head coach since its inception in 2000 and led the program to three consecutive national titles from 2007-2009, in addition to winning six consecutive conference titles starting in 2006. The Horns also medaled two other times at the CIS Championships, earning a silver medal in 2003 and a bronze medal in 2006.

“I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to work with so many great people here; athletes, coaches, support staff, the athletics department and administration,” says Langevin. “The Canada West rugby conference is full of great programs and people. I learned so much from all of these people and will miss the competitive environment of university athletics.

“Being able to start a program from scratch and grow it to be three-time national champions is an experience that I will cherish forever. I am proud to say that I am a Pronghorn from Lethbridge! But, the most lasting memories will be of all the friendships that I have been lucky enough to be part of.”

Twice named the Canada West Coach of the Year (2002 and 2009), Langevin was also named the CIS Coach of the Year in 2009.

Over his tenure, Langevin compiled a 40-20-0 conference record, including a 22-game conference winning streak that spanned more than three full seasons.

Internationally, Langevin coached Canada's National Team to a fourth place finish at the 2006 World Cup. He also spent time as the head coach with Rugby Canada’s National U20 Women’s team.

Last season, Ondrus went 1-2-1 in the regular season as the interim head coach, before losing to the Calgary Dinos in the Canada West semifinals.

Ondrus began her Pronghorn career as a women’s soccer player in 1997, playing three seasons, before moving to rugby and was part of the inaugural women’s rugby team in 2000. She finished her fifth year of eligibility in 2001 when the Horns captured their first win against UBC in the Canada West bronze medal game

“First of all, I would like to thank Neil for bringing me into this program and mentoring me all these years. His confidence in me to lead this team goes a long way toward letting me know that I am ready,” says Ondrus. “I am really excited to continue the position of head coach, officially, and am currently working hard at recruiting and preparing for the CIS Sevens Championship in March.”

“Our returning players will form a strong base and we are looking to add a few more pieces to the puzzle this spring,” continues Ondrus. “We are focused on improvement and the players have been committed to fitness and skills throughout the winter months."

Ondrus has been coaching with the program ever since her graduation. She’s coached for over 10 years in the Southern Alberta High School Rugby League, most recently at Winston Churchill High School, where she teaches physics.

She has also travelled as a coach with two international high school rugby tours, one to England/Scotland (2006) and one to Wales (2010), as well as being the assistant coach for Rugby Alberta Senior and U23 Women at Rugby Nationals.

The 2014 Canada West rugby schedule has yet to be released but the Horns will begin training camp in late August.

Gamble pays off for both Brine and Horns

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 23:25:30 +0000

There’s a fine line between want and need, and the closer you come to the second, the more willing you are to take a leap of faith.

For Brandon Brine and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorns men’s basketball team, each had reached a point where need was dominating their thinking. As a result, Horns head coach Mike Hansen trusted what he saw on YouTube videos about a 22-year-old Australian post player who had not yet played at a post-secondary level. Likewise, Brine trusted his gut, advice from friends and family and that Hansen’s portrayal of life at the U of L would match his vision. One semester into their relationship – so far, so good.

Australian rookie Brandon Brine (centre) has made an immediate impact for the Horns men's basketball program.

“I always wanted to play college basketball whether it be in the U.S. or here, but I didn’t really have the contacts to make it happen,” says Brine, a native of Adelaide, South Australia. “This just came at me out of nowhere and I jumped at it because it’s always what I wanted to do.”

Hansen adds that timing is everything.

“I got the Horns’ coaching job very late in the year and we knew we needed to replace Derek Waldner as well as add some depth in the post,” says Hansen. “Brandon’s video highlights immediately impressed me as his athleticism and great hands are two skills you can’t teach. We did our due diligence and when we found out that Brandon had been a part of the Australian National Team program, we knew we had a potential steal of a recruit.”

Brine’s assimilation to Canadian life, Pronghorn culture and Canada West basketball has been virtually seamless. Despite a pre-season shoulder injury, the 6-foot-6 forward has forced his way into the Horns’ starting five and helped stake the Pronghorns to a 7-3 record in the first half. He capped off his rookie semester by scoring a career-high 27 points and hauling down nine rebounds as the Horns beat the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina 91-89 on Nov. 30. His fadeaway jumper with 4.5 seconds to play was the game-winning shot and he was later named the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Male Athlete of the Week.

“Once I got the strap off my shoulder and started to get confidence, that’s when I started to play my game,” says Brine. “My theory is that I’m never good enough. I’m in here five/six days a week shooting and working on my game and just because I’m in the starting five now, it doesn’t mean I take my foot off the pedal. I’m always working to compete with myself.”

Brine was a multi-sport athlete as a youth but unlike many of his friends, who would be lured to pursue Aussie Rules Football, cricket or rugby, basketball was his sport of choice. He excelled in the Australian club system and participated in a host of international tours, playing in the U.S. four times, as well as in China and Japan.

With no post-secondary basketball options available in Australia, he was training with Adelaide’s professional team when the U of L beckoned.

“I really felt that it would take Brandon a year to get acclimated to southern Alberta and CIS basketball, but there are certain people who are open to new experiences and Brandon is one of them,” says Hansen. “He has made Lethbridge his home and has fit in and embraced the opportunity to experience a new culture and area of the world.”

Brine is studying kinesiology with the goal of becoming a physiotherapist, and is excited about being back in the classroom.

“Probably the biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is the school aspect, just getting back into doing homework,” he says. “I graduated from high school in 2008 and haven’t done any post-secondary schooling until now. It’s been a little bit of an adjustment but after the first month, it’s just become routine.”

It’s also becoming routine to see his name pop on the stat sheet. Brine says the run-and-gun style of play the Horns employ suits his game.

“The one thing I’ve had over most post players I’ve played against is my athleticism and being able to get up and down the floor,” he says. “I prefer to have a face-up game. I’m trying to work on my post game to become a little bit more lethal, but right now my strength is to face the basket and either shoot the open shot or take the guy off the dribble.”

He’s quickly adapted to the Canadian lifestyle. He spent the holiday season with his girlfriend and her family, says he loves the snow and is thrilled to be immersed in a basketball community.

“Back in Australia, the biggest crowd I would have played in front of was 150 to 200 people. So here, when you hit a three-pointer or get a dunk, the crowd goes nuts and it’s a great feeling. It gives you that extra shot of adrenaline and keeps the team rolling. I love that.”

The ability Hansen sees in Brine is unbridled.

“I believe he has the potential to be an All-Canadian, he is that gifted,” he says. “He needs to improve defensively and develop a more consistent back to the basket game, but in my opinion he is the most athletic player in the league.”

Maybe even more impressive is how Brine has fit into the Horns program, a testament not only to Brine and his upbringing but also to the culture of basketball in southern Alberta and of the U of L campus.

“The people, the town, everything just seems so homey. I feel so comfortable here,” says Brine. “Straight away, Mike’s been really good introducing me to everyone, my teammates are great – it just feels like a second home.”

Hansen knows full well the value the community brings to the program.

“I came here 23 years ago thinking I’d be here for four years, get my degree and head home,” he says. “Then you discover you’re not only welcomed to southern Alberta, we adopt you as one of our own. Brandon is a special kid, he comes from a great family and it’s reflected in his character. I think that’s what he’s enjoyed the most of being here, he has a home away from home.”

Wideen, Slomp earn Athlete of the Week honours

trevor.kenney — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 21:08:36 +0000

Tiffany Wideen and Scott Slomp were named Pronghorn Subway Athletes of the Week following weekend Canada West athletics action.

A fourth-year centre on the Pronghorns women's rugby team, Wideen led the Pronghorns to a third place finish at the Canada West Championship tournament, earning her recognition as the female Athlete of the Week.

Wideen scored a team high 21 points in the Horns two games. In addition to kicking the ball well all weekend, for both points and field position, Wideen also led the Horns' defensive effort.

In the club's heartbreaking 29-18 semifinal loss to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary Dinos, Wideen kicked two penalty goals and converted one of the Horns two tries on the day. On Sunday, in the third place game, Wideen scored one try and hit four converts to lead the Horns to a 33-22 victory over the UBC Thunderbirds.

On the men's side, Slomp, a fourth-year defender, provided fantastic defence and exceptional leadership for the Horns, who lost both games on the road this past weekend.

Slomp has played every minute of every game since transferring from Lethbridge College after one season and in 13 games this season he has recorded five shots on goal.

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