The Edmonton Inferno wheelchair basketball team is hosting a women’s tournament and skills clinic this weekend at Servus Credit Union Place.
Head coach Bill Johnson and assistant coach Michael Broughton from the Canadian women’s wheelchair team are in charge of Friday’s athlete camp from 6 to 8 p.m. on courts A and B. An additional clinic is scheduled for Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. on court A.
The clinics are open to all female athletes, regardless of classification, experience or ability level. If interested in participating, contact Danielle Peers at [email protected]
The tournament draw includes the Inferno, six-time reigning Canadian women’s league champions, Calgary, Saskatoon and a B team put together by the Inferno. Saturday’s tipoff times for the Inferno are 9 a.m. against Calgary on court A and 2:15 p.m. against Saskatoon on court B. At 8:30 a.m. Sunday the Inferno plays the B team on court A. The finals are 11 a.m. on both courts. The weekend’s wrap-up session starts at 1 p.m. on court B, followed with a practice by the Edmonton juniors at 3 p.m.
The Inferno roster includes Team Canada post Tara Feser of St. Albert. The 2008 Paralympic national team member is coming off her second NCAA championship in two years with the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. In the final she scored 10 points as the Crimson Tide defeated the University of Illinois 66-36 to finish 37-3 overall. It marked the second season in a row the Crimson Tide went undefeated against women’s teams while reeling off 57 straight wins. Their five losses the last two years were against men’s teams.
Long-time Inferno guard Jen Krempien is also expected to hoop it up this weekend. The 2009 Alberta Sports Hall of Fame inductee retired from the national team after the 2008 Paralympics. The three-time Paralympic gold medallist and four-time Gold Cup world champion was the 2007/08 Canadian Wheelchair Basketball Association female athlete of the year. She was presented with the key to the City of St. Albert in December of 2008.
The Alberta Triathlon season opener is Saturday in Morinville with the Pink Ribbon Duathlon & Kids Duathlon.
Morinville Community High School is the site for race-day registrations, the start/finish line and transition area. Start time is 9:30 a.m.
The race layout is highlighted by a very fast bike course and a friendly neighbourhood run with minimal traffic through many of Morinville’s showcase trails. Race distances are the 2.5-kilometre run, 21-km bike and a five-km run.
Registrations are capped at 200 for adults and 100 for youths 19 and under. Entry fees are $75 adults, $50 youths and $95 per team.
The event is also a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation.
The race organizer is the Phalanx Multisport Club. For more information, visit www.ironwarrior.ca
On tap Sunday at the St. Albert Bowling Centre is the second annual Strikes for Cancer Bowl-a-Thon.
The festivities include special games, activities and food and refreshments for people of all ages and bowling experience.
Last year’s event raised $7,721.14 for cancer research. The idea for the bowl-a-thon was inspired by six-year-old Jaden, who suggested raising money to “help people with cancer” through his favourite activity, bowling.
For more information, visit www.strikesforcancer.com or call the bowling centre at 780-459-3337.
Registrations are being accepted for the Phat Hawks Combo Camp for basketball players.
The May 30 camp at St. Albert Catholic High School is for boys and girls in three divisions: Grades 5 to 7, Grades 8 and 9 and high school. Sessions are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. The cost is $75. Visit [email protected] for more information.
Instructors are John Dedrick, head coach of the 2010 3A provincial women’s champions and the undefeated metro Edmonton premier conference winning St. Albert Skyhawks, and Jesse Lipscombe, former elite high jumper and owner of the fitness company, Phat Training Inc. College players and the lady Skyhawks will also assist.
Dedrick will spearhead the specific teachings of fundamental basketball and Lipscombe will lead the drills essential for athletic progress at all levels, both at a functional and core level. Camp highlights include proper shooting mechanics; two-ball dribbling drills; offensive and defensive footwork; how to create your own shot in one-versus-one situations (perimeter and post positions); rebounding skills and use of screens; two-versus-two, three-versus-three and four-versus-four situations; game play; and Olympic-calibre core strength and conditioning exercises.
Dedrick and Lipscombe are also the driving forces behind the Phat Hawks Academy, which is tentatively slated to start up in the fall.
