Running Around
with Allan Beaver
Allan Beaver is a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation in Desmarais, AB. A former athlete, Allan has competed in volleyball, basketball, fastball, and long-distance running before starting his writing career fifteen years ago.
The 2006-07 Stanley Cup Play-offs are dominating the sports headlines for the past two weeks and that will continue until a champion is determined in late May or early June.
Who will it be? We’ll let you know next month but our Running Around’s prediction will see the Detroit Red Wings winning it all.
SPRING THAW BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS
Edmonton, AB – The first-ever Edmonton Native Basketball Association (ENBA) held it’s first-ever Spring Thaw Tournament on March 30 and April 1, 2007. A total of 32 teams teams in various divisions competed in the highly anticipated event held at the Amiskwaciy Academy.
Great action was provided by all teams who have traveled hundreds of miles to participate in the inaugural tournament. Chairperson Allan Ross was very impressed with the talent that was displayed and the great sportsmanship shown by all the teams. “The Spring Thaw Basketball Tournament was incredible. Everyone is tired. We all need a rest. It was a long season with many accomplishments.”
Allan Ross and his crew will take some much deserved rest and will soon provide an update on their next Spring Thaw and the plans for summer programming.
“Thank you to all the volunteers because their generosity created a stronger sense of belonging for all our Spring Thaw participants. Your valuable trailblazing contribution has propelled ENBA to experience greater autonomy and independence. We have all experienced mastery organizing a successful major sporting event,” added Ross.
ENBA was backed with some great sponsors which included Canadian Heritage, Urban Aboriginal Initiative and the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund.
“You should all be proud of yourselves. Our testimonials we extracted will attest to the enormous success this tournament was and the potential for years to come. To all our 32 teams of athletes and coaches thank You all once again for your participation. I hope we were a good host and we hope to see you again next year,” stated Ross in his closing remarks.
SID SMITH HONOURED AS THE TOM LONGBOAT AWARD WINNER
Brantford, ON - Sid Smith has won the prestigious Tom Longboat national award as the most outstanding male Aboriginal amateur athlete in Canada.
Smith, a co-captain of the Six Nations Arrows Express the past two seasons, won the Ontario award in early April 2007.
After helping to lead Six Nations to its third straight Ontario Lacrosse Association Junior A championship in 2006, Smith was named the Ontario Lacrosse Associations's (OLA) defensive player of the year.
With the OLA title this past season, the Arrows earned a berth in the Minto Cup national championship tournament in Six Nations. The team reached the final before falling to the Peterborough Lakers.
Smith was also a co-captain of the Onondaga Community College Lazers, who won the National Junior College Athletic Association lacrosse championship in 2006. During that season he was named All-American defenceman of the year and to the Final Four all-tournament team.
The Tom Longboat Award is based on an athlete's performance in 2006.
LLOYDMINSTER BORDER KINGS WIN THE ALLAN CUP
Stony Plain, AB – The Stony Plain Eagles were the proud hosts of the 2007 Allan Cup Senior Mens' AAA National Hockey Championship.
In partnership with the Town of Stony Plain, the Allan Cup Organizing Committee has made a commitment to staging the best Allan Cup tournament in the history of the competition.
The 2007 event would not be possible without many proud supporters including lead sponsor TerraCore Specialty Drilling Ltd./ TerraEnergy Rentals Ltd.
The Lloydminster Border Kings cruised to win the 2007 Allan Cup by a score of 4-3 over the Whitby Ontario Dunlops. It’s the second championship for the Border Kings and the second year in a row the Whitby Dunlops have lost in the championship game.
Goaltender of the Border Kings, Cory McEachran won the Most Valuable Player award and was also the Top Goalie of the tournament.
BROTHERS MEET THEIR HOCKEY HERO
Calgary, AB - It is always a dream come true for many young hockey fans to meet their favorite hockey player and it was no different when brothers, Lakota and Jordan Tootoosis met Jarome Iginla on April 19th at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
Brothers Jordan and Lakota Tootoosis meet their
hockey hero from the Calgary Flames, Jarome Iginla (centre).
Lakota and Jordan traveled from Edmonton to Calgary with a 5:00 am start to watch both the Calgary Flames and Detroit Red Wings practice at the Saddledome. After practice, the brothers met some of their favorite players which included Alex Tanguay and Daymond Langkow.
But the one player they really wanted to meet was none other than Jarome Iginla, captain of the Calgary Flames. Iginla was so hospitable and signed a few things for the brothers and even had a picture with them.
Iginla asked them who they’re cheering for and both said, “Calgary Flames.”
The Flames lost their first round series to the much tougher Red Wings.
“This has been a good day as I got to meet my hero Jarome Iginla and to shake his hand, I felt so honoured. This is a day me and my brother will never forget,” says Lakota.