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Windspeaker sports briefs - July

Author

Compiled by Sam Laskaris

Volume

28

Issue

4

Year

2010


Inaugural bull riding event

At least 3,000 people are expected to come out and see some of the world’s top bull riders in an inaugural event at Alberta’s Tsuu T’ina Nation. The Professional Bull Riding event, part of the Canada Touring Pro series, is scheduled for June 21 near Calgary.
The event will feature 30 bull riders who will be vying for a share of the $30,000 in prize money that is up for grabs. This is believed to be the largest one-day payout in Canadian bull riding history. The top six riders will compete in the finals. The event also coincides with the annual National Aboriginal Day. As a result there will also be plenty of Aboriginal activities staged at Tsuu T’ina Nation, prior to the bull riding event.
Besides the showcasing of tipis, scheduled activities include Aboriginal dancing and drumming, as well as traditional hand games. National Aboriginal Day activities will run from 1 to 5 p.m. The bull riding event will start at 7 p.m. Ticket prices for the bull riding event range from $20 to $40. Proceeds from the event will go towards Tsuu T’ina Nation youth recreational programs.

Another successful run
More than 1,300 youngsters participated in a running race in Edmonton honoring a former Aboriginal athlete. The ninth annual Alex Decoteau Run was staged on June 3 at Edmonton’s Rundle Park.
Decoteau, who was Cree, became Canada’s first Aboriginal police officer in 1909. He also represented Canada in the men’s 5,000-metre race at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. Decoteau joined the Canadian army in 1916 and was killed the following year at the Battle of Passchendaele.
This year’s race held in his honor featured youngsters from Kindergarten through to Grade 9. Besides a fitness circuit for the youngest students, there was also a three-kilometre recreational run.
There were also a pair of competitive races for those in Grades 4 to 6 and Grades 7 to 9.
Runners from Spruce Avenue School swept all the podium positions in the boys’ five-kilometre run for those in Grades 7 to 9.
Justis Balazs won the event. And Anwar Abdi placed second while Jesse Balazs finished third. Meanwhile, a pair of students from McCauley School captured two of the podium spots in the girls’ 7 to 9 race. Dunia Abdi took top honours in the race while Christina Teheran was third. Veon McCalla, a student at Parkdale School, placed second.
Omar Medina and Genny Finlan won their races at the Grades 4 to 6 level. Medina attends John A. McDougall while Finlan is a student at Norwood School.

Sherbrooke hosts games
About 300 participants competed at the third annual Inter-School Games which were staged at the Universite de Sherbrooke. The games, which ran from June 3 to 6, were organized by the First Nations Education Council.
The games are staged primarily because students at various First Nations schools in Quebec do not have funds available to organize their own school teams or leisure activities. Participants in this year’s games took part in basketball, floor hockey, volleyball and track and field competitions.

Cup quest comes up short
A pair of Aboriginals were hoping to get their names engraved on the Stanley Cup this year, but Aaron Asham and Craig Berube came up just a bit short in their quest. Asham, a 32-year-old forward, was a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. And Berube was an assistant coach for the Philadelphia squad.† The Flyers had their Stanley Cup dreams quashed on June 9 when they were defeated 4-3 in overtime by the Chicago Blackhawks. With that victory, Chicago captured the best-of-seven Stanley Cup final series in six games.
Asham, a Metis who was born in Portage La Prairie, Man., appeared in all 23 of the Flyers’ post-season games this year. He collected seven points, including four goals, in those outings. Asham, who was in his second season with the Philadelphia squad, also earned 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 72 regular season games.
During his pro career Asham has also played for the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils.
As for Berube, he’s no stranger to the Philadelphia organization. The 45-year-old native of Calahoo, Alta., spent portions of seven seasons with the Flyers, during his pro playing days, which lasted from 1986 through 2004. Berube also played in the NHL for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, Calgary Flames and New York Islanders.
Since 2004, Berube has been a coach with the Philadelphia organization, either in the NHL or with its American Hockey League affiliate.