Nearly 1,900 participants signed up to race in one of the events, which included a five-kilometre run/walk, 10-km run/walk, duathlon, half-marathon and kids triathlon, held over two days of June 12-13. Some competitors travelled in from as far away as England and Germany.

“I think it’s great,” commented Denis Boyer, who journeyed to Footstock from Drummondville, Quebec, moments after completing his first-ever half-marathon.

“It’s really interesting to see so many people getting involved and getting fit.”

Boyer was talked into taking part by some of his Calgary colleagues.

He said he was happy with his time of roughly two hours, 30 minutes, especially given the difficulty of the countryside course.

“If it had been a bit more flat it would have been easier,” he said.

“Those hills were tough, really tough.”

And while Boyer and others travelled in from afar, Footstock director Ann Locke-Pope said the race weekend is a community event at its core.

Runners get started on the 10km race June 12 at Footstock. Photo by Jeremy Broadfield

“The board members are all from Cochrane, 70 per cent of the participants are local, most of the volunteers are from Cochrane,” said Locke-Pope, who served in her third year as director.

One of the local standouts over the course of the weekend was St. Timothy School student Thomas DeBiasio, 17, who placed third overall out of more than 140 male competitors in the 10-kilometre run/walk.

“It felt really good,” said DeBiasio, who officially posted a time 38:56, roughly three minutes off the winner.

“I just started running in Grade 8 and I really enjoyed it.”

DeBiasio also thanked his coach, Frank Emshey, and family members for their support during the race.

The St. Timothy student was one of 420 competitors overall to take part in the sold-out 10-kilometre run/walk, as organizers were forced to cap the number of participants in each event this year due to ever-increasing demand.

The Kids Triathlon also sold out in just 28 hours.

“I think the reputation has grown for a well-organized event,” Locke-Pope said.

“I think for people who run road races all the time it’s something different . . . for whatever reason, the sun always shines on Footstock.”

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2. Thunder roll to first-ever championship
3. From dreams to destiny

Members of the Canadian Pacific Police Service, assisted by Cochrane RCMP and the Calgary Police Service, executed a search warrant June 11 on the residence of Chris Ball, 19.

A computer, camera and electronic storage devices were seized and Ball was summoned to appear in Cochrane Provincial Court July 8 on a mischief charge.

“When they came in, I was still in bed, still in my boxers,” recalls Ball, a few days after the search. “You can imagine how awkward that is. My mom was in tears as six officers barge into our house . . . I was shocked.”
Canadian Pacific officials allege Ball jumped from the Highway 22 overpass onto a moving freight train May 17.

At the time, the train stopped and Cochrane RCMP apprehended Ball and fined him $300 for petty trespassing.

“They chose not to charge me,” Ball said of the local law enforcement. “Then, three weeks later, after I have gotten all this news coverage, (Canadian Pacific) comes back and says we have got to charge him now.

“They’re saying he was on the news and we have got to make an example of him. To me that’s unfair.”

Mike LoVecchio. spokesperson for Canadian Pacific, said a subsequent investigation uncovered a YouTube video of the incident, which led to the charges.

“Trespassing is a problem across our network,” LoVecchio said. “It is simply risky behaviour for which there is no need.”

LoVecchio also stressed Canadian Pacific is solely focused on the train jumping incident.

Ball, meanwhile, dreams of working in the entertainment industry and plans to attend the motion picture arts program at Red Deer College in the fall.

He said he appreciates both the positive and negative feedback his risky actions have received.

“For all the negative, I have also had a great deal of support” Ball said.

“For all the negative, I have also had a great deal of support,” Ball said, adding that an anonymous fan started a Facebook group in his honour.

Ball is scheduled to make his first court appearance July 8.

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1. Local teen’s stunts draw national media attention
2. Local hoops star nets CIS medal for Saskatchewan

Because of this, Hockey Canada will likely be sent a series of recommendations by the study’s authors to ban physical contact in peewee. Author of the study, Dr. Carolyn Emery, a sport epidemiologist and athletic therapist as well as a hockey coach and parent, said more than 1,000 game-related injuries and 400 concussions could be prevented each year in Alberta alone.

Cochrane Minor Hockey President Blake Fleming said the study’s findings are valid and should be taken seriously by all those involved with the game.

“I think hockey’s going to have to pay attention to what (Emery) has to say,” Fleming said. “And what she’s saying is hit hockey is substantially riskier than non-hit hockey.”

While Fleming said Cochrane Minor plans to wait and see how Hockey Canada and Hockey Alberta react to the proposed ban, at least two local coaches who teach the game at senior levels believe removing bodychecking from the peewee ranks would be a mistake.

Bodychecks in peewee hockey, like this one laid on Bow Valley Timberwolves winger Andrew Forster, right, last October could soon be outlawed if Hockey Canada accepts the recommendations of a recent University of Calgary study. Photo by Jeremy Nolais

Dana Boothby coaches young adults on the Junior B Cochrane Generals and has also had three sons come up through the Cochrane Minor Hockey system. He said the longer kids wait to begin bodychecking the more likely they are to hurt themselves or others.

“The way I see it is you need a certain amount of time to learn a skill,” he said.

Boothby said he feels studies like the one led by Emery tend to focus on a few “remote examples.”

Boothby added that his sons progressed through the bodychecking training just fine.

Kevin Willison, head coach of the Edge School Prep team in Springbank, echoed Boothby’s comments.

“It certainly is tougher at our level to teach them how to bodycheck than when they’re younger,” Willison said.

Willison said even at the atom and tyke age levels kids are constantly running into each other.

“It’s really about teaching kids how to protect themselves,” he said. “Also, when you talk to scouts a lot of them fault kids who are unwilling to play in the high-traffic areas.”

To gain their results, U of C researchers compared the frequency of injuries in Alberta peewee hockey to Quebec peewee hockey, where bodychecking is not allowed. Fleming pointed out that elite players in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League don’t seem to be at a disadvantage despite learning to bodycheck at a later age.

“That would suggest that certainly for the elite player it doesn’t make a difference,” he added.

Despite this, Fleming said he is not advocating for a ban on peewee checking, he is simply suggesting the U of C study be taken seriously.

All coaches with Cochrane Minor Hockey have to gain Hockey Alberta accreditation and all peewee players must participate in a hitting clinic before being allowed to compete.

Both Fleming and Boothby said there is a very natural progression through the various age levels in the current system.

“Still, the evidence suggests that kids are getting hurt more than they should be,” Fleming noted.

Boothby said as long as precautions are being taken, he sees no problem with continuing to allow bodychecking in the peewee game.

“Bodychecking is a part of hockey and it’s not going anywhere.”

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Surfing on the roof of a speeding car, jumping off a bridge onto a moving train and scaling the sides of buildings with ease — Cochrane teenager Chris Ball has been filmed doing all this and much more.

Recently, Ball’s on-screen antics have gained national media attention; however, not everyone is impressed with the 19-year-old who is aiming for a career in the entertainment industry.
“It’s fulfilling to me to complete these stunts,”explained Ball the day after a video of him car-surfing appeared on a national news broadcast.

“Having said that, I don’t want to be a stunt guy because I love being on camera, I just love movies in general to be honest.”

Ball added that he has been taken aback by the amount of attention — both positive and negative — surrounding his car-surfing stunt, which has been viewed roughly 10,000 times on YouTube since being posted earlier this year.

Cochrane teen Chris Ball, seen hanging upside down from a bridge, has received national media attention after a video of him surfing on the roof of a moving car appeared on video sharing website YouTube. Photo courtesy of Chris Ball

The former Cochrane High graduate stated that the video “was for fun,” and was shot roughly two years ago.

“I thought about taking it down but I don’t think I’m going to because what kind of person would I be if I only put up videos for a positive response?” said Ball, who performs his acts under the on-screen moniker Chris Bawl.

Now it seems Ball’s car-surfing video and a number of others available online have caught the attention of local law enforcement.

Cochrane RCMP is currently looking into the possibility of laying charges, said Const. Sean Lentowicz.

“We have got to figure out where the videos are coming from and how they were made and so on,” he said. “I believe a lot of people, including the media and the general public, believe it’s very irresponsible. It not only gets himself in trouble but it also has younger kids wanting to be like Chris Ball. It’s setting a bad example all-around.”

Lentowicz added that Ball could face charges ranging from Traffic Safety Act violations to trespassing to civil suits.

The Calgary Police Service has also launched an investigation of their own.

Ball, meanwhile, refused to give exact locations for where his stunts are filmed, noting that they have taken place “all over the area.”

The daredevil also said he isn’t fazed by talk of criminal charges.

“The way I see it is that if you put videos on YouTube for everyone to see, you have to be held accountable for that,” Ball said. “What I want people to realize is that you can’t say ‘What if this, what if that?’ because nothing’s happened. I’m still here and nobody’s been injured.”

Ball said he has received formal stunt  training in the past and that he is the only one in danger in the majority of his videos.

“The way I see it is this is just my start,” said Ball, who plans to attend the motion picture arts program at Red Deer College in the fall.

John Scott, a stunt co-ordinator with 40 years of experience, said Ball’s daredevil acts may be doing more harm than good to his career aspirations.

“A lot of stunt co-ordinators probably wouldn’t touch him because they would figure he’s unsafe and doesn’t take direction properly,” said Scott, who has worked on numerous feature films, including X-Men 2 and Van Helsing, and currently works as a wrangler on the Alberta-based television show Heartland.

“On a set, you spend a lot of time making a stunt safe and the law of averages says this kid is going to get hurt.”

Ball said he incorporates a great deal of camera trickery into his videos to make stunts appear more dangerous than they really are.

He added that he is fully aware of the risks and that his mother, whom he lives with, and close friends are very supportive of his actions.

“I know my limits,” he said. “I am pretty intuitive when it comes to knowing what I am capable of . . . if there’s doubt I will not attempt it.”

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1. Stuntman charged for train jumping
2. Local hoops star nets CIS medal for Saskatchewan

Looking at this year’s college draft, most Canadian Football League analysts expected Cochrane offensive lineman John Bender to be selected in the first round.

After all, the former Cochrane High Cobras standout was ranked No. 2 overall last month among all prospects by the CFL’s Amateur Scouting Bureau.

However, in the weeks leading up to the draft , Bender made it very clear that he will be returning to the University of Nevada Wolf Pack for his senior year in the fall and after that plans on taking a run at the National Football League.

Draft day came May 2, and Bender’s name was absent from the first round selections. Then, the second round passed and still no word.

Former Cochrane Cobras offensive lineman John Bender grew up idolizing the Calgary Stampeders and could now play for them one day after being drafted by the team May 2. Photo courtesy University of Nevada

Naturally, the hulking 6’8, 147-kilogram gridiron star became a little impatient while watching the online draft tracker and went for breakfast. It was while dining that Bender received a text message from a friend saying the long wait had paid off — the Calgary Stampeders had drafted him in the third round.

“I didn’t think I would fall all the way to the third round but that’s fine, it all worked out for the best,” said Bender, who was officially selected 17th overall, during a phone interview.

“I’m with the Stampeders and could maybe play in front of my family and friends someday.”

Bender grew up rooting for the Stampeders and said it was an honour to be selected by the organization.

The 23-year-old noted that his unwillingness to commit to the CFL was likely what sent him down the draft board and funny enough cost him a national television interview with TSN.

“They were going to talk to me over the phone when I got drafted but they only covered the first two rounds live,” Bender said laughing.

Nevertheless, Bender had no hard feelings about his draft day slide.

“I see it more as a sign of respect,” he said.

“(Teams) are not sure if they are going to see me next year. I am going to keep working hard in the off-season and hopefully have a good year with the Wolf Pack and then hopefully the NFL comes calling.”

Bender has been rumoured to be a late-round pick in next year’s NFL Draft by numerous scouting websites. This past season at Nevada, Bender and his fellow offensive linemen helped pave the road for the No. 1 rushing attack in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

After selecting Bender, the Stampeders also chose two other offensive lineman in hopes of filling a void left by the recent retirement of veteran tackle Jeff Pilon. Calgary Stamps head coach John Hufnagel hinted that Bender could one day find himself in Pilon’s spot on the depth chart.

“John Bender’s a very athletic offensive lineman,” Hufnagel said in an audio interview released by the team. “He played guard. I look to see him come in and compete at an offensive tackle position.”

If Bender does join the Stamps, he would be reunited with fellow Cochranites Rob Cote, who plays at fullback, and receiver Blaine Kruger. Bender played with Cote in high school and the two later joined Kruger on the Victoria Rebels of the British Columbia Football Conference.

“Obviously they’re great players and it would be good to play with them again,” Bender said of his fellow Cochrane products.

And although his senior season is still months away, Bender is already looking forward to rejoining the Wolf Pack, who officially kick off their 2010 NCAA campaign Sept. 2 against Eastern Washington.

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2. Cochrane skaters prove to be stars on ice at provincial event
3. Raymond’s star shines bright with homecoming hat trick

Coming into this season, Vancouver Canucks forward Mason Raymond set some lofty goals for himself.

Twenty-five goals, 28 assists and 82 games later it’s safe to say those goals and more were reached in what quickly became a breakthrough year for the young Cochrane winger.
“I always feel like you’re learning something and moving forward,” Raymond said during a recent phone interview.

“Every day I am learning what it takes to be a professional hockey player and to continue to be an effective player for years to come.

Effective would be a good word to summarize Raymond’s 2009-10 campaign to date, as the 24-year-old set career highs in every noteworthy statistical category this season and became a staple in the Canucks’ lineup, appearing in every one of the team’s regular-season games.

Mason Raymond will look to be an impact player for the Vancouver Canucks as they open the NHL playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings. Photo by Jeremy Nolais

Of course, none of Raymond’s accomplishments are the topic of discussion now, as the National Hockey League quickly shifts focus to the post-season, and the top 16 teams begin the marathon chase for the Stanley Cup.

The Canucks locked up third in the Western Conference by winning the Northwest Division and now have a date with the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round. Raymond believes the key for his team is to take things one game at a time.

“There’s never an easy game, it’s a tough league and any given night these teams come to play,” he said. “I think, at the end of the day, if we are focused on what we can control and doing our thing we are a tough team to beat.”

Up front, Raymond won’t be the only one looked upon to ignite Vancouver’s offence, as the Canucks also boast the NHL’s top regular-season scorer Henrik Sedin and his playmaking twin brother Daniel. On the back end, Olympic gold medal winning netminder Roberto Luongo will look to find his top form after struggling somewhat down the stretch.

“(Luongo’s) only human. Everybody goes through ups and downs,” Raymond said. “He’s finding his consistency and is a huge part of our club. We will rely on him a great deal down the stretch.”

If the Canucks are able to get past the Kings, tough challenges could come from the Western Conference’s top two teams, the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.

Raymond made his post-season debut during a second round series with the ’Hawks last season, potting two goals and adding an assist as the Canucks fell in six games. Raymond said he learned a great deal from that series and is ready for any challenge awaiting him during this year’s playoff run.

“At the end of the day, you are going to have to play the toughest teams if you hope to go all the way,” he said.

And when the heated NHL playoff action finally comes to a cool, Raymond will find himself in unfamiliar territory as a restricted free agent — meaning he can entertain new contracts from other teams but the Canucks are given the opportunity to match any offer and will be awarded compensatory draft picks if he leaves.

When asked about his possible endeavours in the off-season, Raymond said he plans to let his play do the talking.

“The only thing I can control is what I do on the ice,” he said.

The Canucks open the playoffs against the Kings on April 15 in Vancouver.

Medicine Hat Tigers captain Wacey Hamilton of Cochrane hopes to be drafted by an NHL club this summer. Photo by Jeremy Nolais

Tigers’ Hamilton clawing at the pros

And while Raymond may have multiple contract offers to weigh this summer, fellow Cochranite Wacey Hamilton is looking for just one chance to prove himself in the pros.

The young captain’s season in the Western Hockey League officially came to a close April 11, as his Medicine Hat Tigers fell 3-2 in overtime to the Calgary Hitmen to drop their Eastern Conference semifinal series four games to two.

Much like Raymond, Hamilton set numerous career markers this season, finishing the regular-season campaign with 24 goals and 41 assists in 67 games.

“As captain you can’t expect to be a leader for your teammates if you’re not doing your part,” Hamilton explained.

Hamilton also proved to be a consistent force in the playoffs for Medicine Hat, notching eight points in 12 games, as the Tigers topped the Kootenay Ice and pushed the No. 1-seeded Hitmen to six games.

If he had it his way, Hamilton would already be the property of an NHL team; however, injuries last season cost him any chance of being drafted. Now, the 19-year-old heads into the off-season looking for a shot at the big time.

“I am just going to stay optimistic and see what happens,” he said.

Springbank’s Joe Colborne signed a three-year deal with the Boston Bruins March 31 after two seasons with the Denver Pioneers of the NCAA. Photo courtesy University of Denver

Springbank scorer inks deal with Bruins

Hamilton and Raymond aren’t the only local skaters looking for a steady job in the NHL, as Springbank’s Joe Colborne officially signed a three-year contract with the Boston Bruins on March 31.

Colborne, the 16th-overall pick in 2008 NHL Draft, had his time in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) cut short this past season, as his Denver Pioneers were upset by the Rochester Institute of Technology in the opening round of the Division 1 Men’s Hockey Championships.

After signing with Boston, Colborne reported to the organization’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins, and played in the team’s six remaining regular-season games, picking up two assists in the process.

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“I don’t really cry normally but I just started right there on the court with about a minute left,” recalled the 22-year-old hoops star, who was playing for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. “It was the best result I have had in my five years.”
Wilson’s personal achievement aside, the Huskies’ bronze was the first-ever medal in women’s basketball for the school.

“We were ranked high all year,” Wilson explained. “We were a quick team and were very deep and able to play a variety of players. When someone didn’t step up someone else would.”

Originally a volleyball player, Wilson became attracted to basketball because of its physical nature. She finally decided to give the sport a shot in high school, joining the Cochrane High Cobras.

Wilson’s leadership and poise on the court would quickly draw the attention of coaching staff at Calgary’s Mount Royal College (now University) and she was recruited to play Alberta Colleges Athletic Association ball after graduation.

After two years with the Mount Royal Cougars, Wilson got a shot at Canada’s top post-secondary league with the Huskies.

“All of the girls were bigger, it’s crazy,” Wilson said of the transition to the university ranks. “They’re bigger, better and stronger.”

Wilson hit the gym constantly and built up 20 pounds of muscle over her three seasons with the Huskies.

“I had to learn to shoot a lot better and just be a bigger and better player.”

All of the Cochranite’s hard work would pay off, as Wilson developed into a consistent weapon for the Huskies, averaging nearly six points and four rebounds per game in her final season.

Now, the young Cochrane athlete has sights on earning a professional contract with a European league. If that doesn’t work out, she plans to fall back on her sociology degree and hopefully work as a police officer in Calgary or Saskatoon.

“I have played on a team for four years that I travel to Europe with,” Wilson said. “We are planning to go again (to) compete against club teams and national teams. From there, I will probably e-mail coaches, hire an agent and try to get my name out there.”

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The nail-biting second half as shot after shot failed to find the bottom of the basket.

The celebratory dogpile at centre-court after the final buzzer rang.

Yes, March 12 was a day the St. Timothy Thunder won’t soon forget, as the little school of 320 students — only 150 of which are in senior high school — captured its first-ever high school championship in any sport with a 44-34 victory in the Calgary junior varsity girls basketball Division 3 city final.

Behind the historic St. Timothy victory is a group of 12 girls that head coach Brent Breit describes as “very special.”

“They all work so hard,” said Breit, who led the same crew to St. Timothy’s first-ever junior high championship a few years prior. “I told them it doesn’t matter what the other team’s doing as long as we are giving our best, and they did that all season long.”

Proof of the Thunder’s effort throughout the season isn’t hard to find, as the team went a perfect 9-0 in the regular season and outscored the opposition 518-228. In fact, the Thunder were so good that they even began scheduling games against senior varsity opponents.

St. Timothy point guard Leah Loeppky believes the key to her team’s success lies in player chemistry.

“Everyone is really close, we all get along and play as a team. This is a great group of girls,” Loeppky said.
Heading into the post-season as the top-ranked squad, the Thunder didn’t really miss a beat. St. Timothy opened with a 51-13 thumping of No. 8 seed James Fowler in the quarterfinals and followed that up with a 66-39 win over the No. 4-seeded Timberwolves from Bishop McNally.

In the championship game, St. Timothy faced off against Crescent Heights, a school with more than four times the student population. Unfortunately for the Thunder, Crescent Heights had already been pre-determined as the host school for the city championship games, meaning the Thunder would be forced to play on their opponent’s court despite being the higher seed.

St. Timothy post player Carissa Alexander said she was ready for a battle coming into the final.
“Crescent is definitely the toughest team in the league,” Alexander said. “We knew they would come out and play hard. They are really strong defensively.”

And that Crescent Heights defence seemed to stymie the Thunder in the second half, as their halftime cushion of 15 points was cut to just eight after three quarters of play.

“We were getting a little more tired and our nerves got the better of us a bit,” Loeppky recalled.
During the second-half break, Breit attempted to relax his young group and remind them of the things they had done well all season long.

“We made a few mistakes down the stretch,” Breit said. “I had a feeling coming in that it was going to be one of those situations where we just have to keep everyone calm.”

In the fourth quarter, the Thunder continued to struggle in the offensive end but relied on steady defence to hold the Crescent Heights girls, who led the league in scoring during the regular season, to just nine points to secure the victory.

As the final buzzer rang, screams from the Thunder players filled the air as they stampeded to centre court and piled on top of each other. The dozens of St. Timothy fans that had made the trip into Calgary to erase any notion of home-court advantage for Crescent Heights exploded in applause. Numerous players and parents alike could be seen wiping away tears of joy.

“We were all just so happy,” Loeppky exclaimed. “It was an amazing feeling.”

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The smile smeared across Dione Wearmouth’s face gave it all away.

With two podium finishes at Skate Canada’s Alberta-NWT/Nunavut STARSkate Championships — Wearmouth’s biggest competition of the year — the 10-year-old Cochranite could barely contain her excitement.“It was really good for me,” exclaimed the young skater, who officially took silver in the pre-introductory interpretive category and bronze in the preliminary 10-and-under free skate competition. “It was a pretty big competition and I was skating against a lot of other girls so I am really happy with my result.”

Wearmouth admitted that her performance in the preliminary free skate final didn’t go quite as well as the day before when she participated in the runoff qualification round.

“I fell during a big jump and I didn’t think my spins were quite as good today,” she said.
“I just had to keep going because I realize I have to make up for that element if I fall.”

Wearmouth’s poise on the ice is what left her mother, Jana, beaming with pride.

“I just tell her to relax and pretend everybody’s in their underwear,” Jana said, “and she does that, she stays calm and does it like she has hundreds of times.”

In the free skate runoff, fellow Cochrane Skating Club member Sydney Perron bested Wearmouth and went on to finish fifth in the finals. Wearmouth said there is a fair amount of friendly competition between the two training partners and it helps make them better skaters.

“We kind of have that tension between us,” Wearmouth said. “She skates pretty good and she tried really hard.”
Besides Wearmouth and Perron, Cochrane Skating Club had a number of other top-10 showings at the STARSkate championships, held March 4-7 in Airdrie.

Beth Alison captured gold in the adult gold free skate competition, Alyssa Soloski placed fourth in the junior bronze free skate and ninth in the introductory interpretive group. Jase Ritter — the lone male Cochrane skater at the competition — was also fourth in the pre-preliminary free skate, Molly Tingler placed sixth in the silver interpretive competition and Siera Dube was seventh in the preliminary 11 and over free skate.

Cochrane Skating Club coach Kathy Sutherland said she was impressed with the determination shown by all of her young skaters.

“It’s really good to see them doing really well,” Sutherland said. “They’re going out there and really fighting for their skate.”

The Cochrane Skating Club will now shift focus to get ready for its annual carnival March 20 at the Cochrane Arena. This year’s theme will be High School Musical with shows at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.

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Local hard courts will be busy in the weeks ahead as high school basketball teams battle it out for a coveted spot in the provincial finals.

And for the Cochrane High Cobras senior boys team to be successful they will need serious input from two team members living under the same roof.

Head coach Jamie McLellan and his son Jared, a senior guard on the team, will be looked upon to lead a spirited Cobras team that has eyes on making a run all the way to the big prize.

“The goal is to win provincials,” Jamie said bluntly. “I think when we started the season off and I told the parents that they said ‘Yeah sure, whatever,’ but the kids have really started to believe in themselves.”

Cochrane High Cobras head coach Jamie McLellan, left, and his son Jared believe the Cobras have what it takes to contend for senior boys 3A provincial title. Photo by Patrick Price.

Basketball, and winning for that matter, have been in the McLellan blood for a long time. Jamie led Winston Churchill High School to the 4A provincial title in Grade 12 and starred as a shooting guard at the University of Lethbridge for five years. He also coached Jared’s team in Grade 9 at Calgary’s Montgomery Junior High School as the team ran all the way to the city championship.

Jared, meanwhile, is no slouch in his own right. He played on the Cobras football team, first as a receiver and then as a quarterback this season before being sidelined by multiple injuries. As well, during this year’s basketball campaign, Jared has consistently found himself atop the Cobras scoresheet.

“He’s a really good shooter,” Jamie said of his son. “Football has been good for a lot of these kids because it’s taught them to be tough and aggressive. Jared certainly has benefited from that, he’s become more aggressive. It’s a more physical game than it was 10 years ago. The refs let the kids play now.”

Jared said that if he had to choose between football and basketball he has always felt more at home on the court.

“I’ve grown up with it, played it (basketball) my whole life,” Jared said. “I am better at it too.”

Jared noted that he likes having his father as his coach because, “He pushes me more than other kids because he expects more and that helps me to become a better player.”

Having said that, Jared said he and Jamie make sure to keep their work on the court separate from their family life.

“He makes sure that everyone knows I am just another player on the team and we make sure that he is my coach on the basketball court, but when we leave there he becomes my dad again,” said Jared, who hopes to follow in Jamie’s footsteps by earning a spot on the U of L basketball roster next season.

But before any post-secondary aspirations can be realized, the father-son duo will first face a tough road to the 3A Provincial Championships in Medicine Hat March 18-20.

Jamie said that while the Rocky View basketball division is not as strong as last year — when Springbank and Chestermere finished one-two in the province — the south-central zone could be very tough, with the Cobras, Canmore and Springbank all contending. The south-central zone will be only granted two automatic berths to provincials, but teams can also qualify through one of two wild card spots.

Jamie, who is currently in his second season at the helm of the Cobras, said his team’s best asset lies in their depth.
“You look at the games we have won and invariably at least eight, nine kids are on the scoresheet and most games it’s more like 10 or 11,” he said.

The McLellan duo and the rest of the Cobras senior boys team, ranked third in Rocky View behind Springbank and the 4A squad from Airdrie’s Bert Church High School, kick off post-season play against the Bow Valley Bobcats March 3 at 7:45 p.m. at Cochrane High.

The Cochrane High senior girls team will also face Bow Valley in the opening round, with that game going at Cochrane High at 6 p.m. on March 3.

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2. Thunder roll to first-ever championship
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