The Spring/Summer Club Basketball Season is about to get started!

Following the High School Basketball Season, the Jr. Dinos Boys Basketball Club will once again run this summer based out of the U of C. This year we are changing up the program in a few ways to once again offer the best club basketball experience in Alberta!

This year, the Club will be featuring 3 teams: an Under-13 team, an Under-15 team, and an Under-17 team to compete from April-July in spring leagues and tournaments within Western Canada. Each of the three teams will boast competition within a Spring League in Calgary or the surrounding areas (the U-17 team will once again compete in the Airdrie Elite East Spring League featuring competition against University and College Competition), as well as several tournaments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, as well as as possibilities in the U.S. and Full Organized practices at the University of Calgary.

The Junior Dinos program has been featured in the Calgary Herald as well on Global News Locally for its success in recent years. The Under 17 Jr. Dinos boasts a 82-2 record over the past 3 seasons against Under 17 competition including wins over the Alberta and Saskatchewan Juvenile Provincial teams.

A new feature to the program this year is an agreement with Strive Fitness in Calgary. Strive is the city leader in Fitness and Personal training and has trained numerous professional and amateur athletes, as well as the University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Basketball Team which is currently ranked in the top 5 in the Country, and boast one of if not the most powerful, strong and athletic line-ups in Canada due in large part to off-season conditioning with Strive. Not only will Strive provide guidance with training, the staff will also attend some practices, take each athlete through a basketball specific training program, as well as help each athlete with logging their workouts, guidance with nutrition while providing current and leading edge techniques to get the most out of each athlete. This is an exciting new development that has had enormous success with the U of C team, and should carry on with the Jr. Dinos Club!

Along with membership to the Jr. Dinos Basketball Club, each athlete will get official Jr. Dinos Gear, and be subject to the best coaching in the city, as well as discount opportunities to specific Dinos Camps and Clinics. The Jr. Dinos club features coaching assistance from the University of Calgary Men’s Basketball Staff, as well as former Dinos players.

Tentatively, the Jr. Dinos will begin Tryouts on the March 28th Weekend through the first week of April at the U of C with Official Try-out times to be announced ASAP.

To register for the Jr. Dinos Tryouts, send your son’s name, age, grade, date of birth, high school/junior high school name, height, email and telephone number to U of C Dinos Head Assistant Coach and Jr. Dinos GM and Head Coach Matt Skinn at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca, or phone the University of Calgary Men’s Basketball Office at 403 220 3453 with any questions or registration information.

Good Luck to everyone during the rest of your high school seasons, and see you on the court!

Feb. 9
By Wayne Thomas

Huskies Rebound As Spagrud Breaks Record

The Saskatchewan Huskies roared back on Senior Night in Saskatoon behind behind 28 points and 11 rebounds from their 5th year forward Andrew Spagrud, who became the CIS’ all-time leading scorer, as the hosts prevailed 86-73. The Huskies lit it up from the floor with 59% shooting, and fellow 5th year star Kyle Grant also turned things around from Friday as he registered 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

Saskatchewan started their 5 graduating seniors, and they all responded with fine games; Rob Lovelace with 12 and Mark Lynch, Sir Winston Churchill, Calgary with 10, joined Grant and Spagrud in double figures, while Jordan Harbidge scored 9. Calgary got 20 points from Henry Bekkering, 17 from Jeff Price, and 12 from Robbie Sihota, but the Dinos could never catch fire to threaten the red-hot Huskies. Calgary shot 43% from the floor, and 18/21 (86%) from the line, but turnovers and a 33-28 Saskatchewan edge on the boards also contributed to the 4th loss of the season for Calgary.

The Dinos finish at 18-4, in first in the Central Division, with Alberta 2nd at 16-6, and Saskatchewan 3rd at 12-10. Lethbridge could manage only 3-19 and their season is now over. The Huskies will travel to Edmonton next weekend to play a best of three series against the Golden Bears for the right to challenge the Dinos in the best of three Central Division Final to be played at the Jack Simpson Gym in Calgary
Feb. 22-24.

Feb. 8
By Wayne Thomas

Dinos Leash Lead ‘Dogs

Henry Bekkering and Tyler Fidler combined to shut down the two top offensive threats for the Saskatchewan Huskies for a total of 9 points in propelling the visiting Calgary Dinos to a 72 - 67 win in Saskatoon Friday night. Andrew Spagrud, averaging 22 on the season, and primed to set a CIS scoring record, was stifled by Bekkering and held to only 7 points, while Kyle Grant, another 5th year star for U of S, who had been scoring over 15 a game, could manage a paltry 2 pts. against the rookie Fidler.

In contrast, Fidler had one of his best games of the season, with 14 pts. on 6/7 shooting, 5 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists, while Henry led all scorers with 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jeff Price had 15 pts. including 10 from the foul line, and Robbie Sihota had 13 pts. and 8 boards for the Dinos, who moved to 18-3 on the season, while Saskatchewan dropped to 11-10 going into Saturday’s final league game.

The Huskies took a 10 pt. lead at the half as Troy Gottselig and Rob Lovelace led their scoring, finishing the night with 18 and 17 respectively. Price had to sit early in the half with a pair of fouls, and 1st year point Brennen Fule, Strathmore, AB. came in to play a solid 6 minutes to limit the damage. Calgary outshot Saskatchewan 20/26 to 16/23 at the foul line and 44 % to 42% from the floor.