By Joel van der Veen

FORT WORTH — They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that goes double when it comes to football.

Addison Ouellette of Davidson was part of the South Saskatchewan Selects U16 team that travelled to Fort Worth, Texas, last month for the Texas School of Football’s international tournament and showcase.

His father Trevor said the team played at a Catholic high school with a large field outfitted with grandstands, artificial turf and lights. The competition, he added, was just as impressive.

“There were no weak players out there on either side,” he said. “It was an elite league competition, and it showed.”

Addison and his team went undefeated in four games from Feb. 18 to 21, picking up the championship trophy at the end of the weekend.

In their opening game, the U16 team defeated the Euless Longhorns 33-0. The game was a highlight for Addison, who made an interception and scored a touchdown.

On Friday, they faced Georgia, winning 19-0, followed by a 27-12 win over the North Oak Cliff Eagles on Saturday. They faced the Eagles again on Sunday in the championship game, winning 19-0.

Trevor said the defence played exceptionally well over the weekend, only giving up two touchdowns. As the games were played according to U.S. rules, Addison served as the free safety.

Tryouts were held for the Saskatchewan team in November. One weekend practice was held before Christmas, with additional practices held every second weekend since then.

Addison was the sole six-man player on the team, as the other players came from larger centres and had played on nine-man and 12-man teams.

He said it was a great experience, from the weather to the competition, and added that he learned lots from watching the other players.

“You watch them do something better than you do, you just pick that up and learn from them,” he explained. “It was fun.”

Trevor observed that as it was the start of spring season for the U.S. teams, some of their competitors were less precise than he expected. He said they may have been sharper if the tournament had been closer to mid-season.

Though the Selects team only played in one tournament together, Trevor said it is considered a stepping stone towards the provincial U18 team.

Tryouts and camps will be held in coming months, beginning with a combine in April and the four-day camp in May. The 2016 Football Canada Cup will be held in Winnipeg in July.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — They left expecting to learn about basketball, and came back having learned about a whole lot more.

Seven players from Davidson’s senior boys basketball team spent their February break in Cuba, attending a week-long cultural exchange, training and competition camp at the country’s national sports training centre in Havana.

Back at school last week, they reported that the camp had been helpful in building up their skills, as they trained with and competed against Cuban players, going through drills and developing new offensive strategies.

“They were a lot bigger than us,” reported Huck Rettger, adding that the Cubans put up a tough challenge, but were also friendly hosts.

Along the way, the boys had the opportunity to learn about Cuban life and culture. Activities included salsa dancing lessons, a historical trip through Old Havana, and a visit to an inner city youth centre.

The Davidson players said they also came away with a greater appreciation of their own lives back home, particularly the material wealth they often take for granted.

“It was eye-opening how privileged we are here,” said Andrew Read, noting for example that the gym the boys trained in had toilets without proper seats.

Players taking part in the camp included Nick Chomyshen, Gabe Ebenal, James Morrison, Ben Nykiforuk, Andrew Read, and Huck and Mark Rettger.

The group, which also included 12 parents, flew out from Regina on Feb. 13 and returned eight days later.

The trip was organized through Canada-Cuba Sports and Cultural Festivals, and included airfare, accommodations, meals, transportation and most anticipated expenses.

Coach Kim Rettger, who had first proposed the trip to a young group of basketball players nearly a decade ago, was overwhelmingly positive about the program upon their return.

“This was the greatest experience I’ve ever had with a group of kids,” he said, adding that the trip combined sports, culture and humanitarian work, and calling it rewarding for both the players and himself.

DAVIDSON — They left expecting to learn about basketball, and came back having learned about a whole lot more.

Seven players from Davidson’s senior boys basketball team spent their February break in Cuba, attending a week-long cultural exchange, training and competition camp at the country’s national sports training centre in Havana.

Back at school last week, they reported that the camp had been helpful in building up their skills, as they trained with and competed against Cuban players, going through drills and developing new offensive strategies.

“They were a lot bigger than us,” reported Huck Rettger, adding that the Cubans put up a tough challenge, but were also friendly hosts.

Along the way, the boys had the opportunity to learn about Cuban life and culture. Activities included salsa dancing lessons, a historical trip through Old Havana, and a visit to an inner city youth centre.

The Davidson players said they also came away with a greater appreciation of their own lives back home, particularly the material wealth they often take for granted.

“It was eye-opening how privileged we are here,” said Andrew Read, noting for example that the gym the boys trained in had toilets without proper seats.

Players taking part in the camp included Nick Chomyshen, Gabe Ebenal, James Morrison, Ben Nykiforuk, Andrew Read, and Huck and Mark Rettger.

The group, which also included 12 parents, flew out from Regina on Feb. 13 and returned eight days later.

The trip was organized through Canada-Cuba Sports and Cultural Festivals, and included airfare, accommodations, meals, transportation and most anticipated expenses.

Coach Kim Rettger, who had first proposed the trip to a young group of basketball players nearly a decade ago, was overwhelmingly positive about the program upon their return.

“This was the greatest experience I’ve ever had with a group of kids,” he said, adding that the trip combined sports, culture and humanitarian work, and calling it rewarding for both the players and himself.

For the full story, please see the Feb. 29 edition of The Davidson Leader.

By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — For the Davidson Cyclones, the best revenge was playing well.

The team bounced back on Feb. 12, recording a 7-2 win over the Dinsmore/Lucky Lake Dynamos — the minimum margin of victory needed for the Cyclones to move on to the next round of provincial “C” playoffs.

Manager Kirk Johnson said the team had put its primary focus on taking care of the score and leaving other challenges aside for the time being.

“They didn’t worry about what happened before,” he said. “Everybody put their best effort forward and they got ‘er done.”

The win followed a 6-2 loss to the Dynamos on Feb. 5, which had left the Cyclones in a do-or-die scenario for the second game in the total-point series.

Davidson was also left without its captain and second-leading scorer, Derek Allan, who was sidelined with a possible concussion in the previous game, owing to a hit by the Dynamos’ Carter Thomson.

Friday’s game opened with a tight first period. Both teams were held scoreless until the last four minutes, when Charles Inglis scored the first of two goals for Davidson.

Chris Henry then scored for the Dynamos, followed by Inglis’s second goal, setting the score at 2-1 for the Cyclones heading into the second period.

Davidson went on to enjoy a scoring streak, opened by Rhyse Dieno two minutes into the period. Tory Allan extended the Cyclones’ lead four minutes later with the first of three goals.

Midway through the period, Allan was tripped by a competitor while on a breakaway. He was awarded a penalty shot, which he successfully completed, bringing the score to 5-2.

Allan went on to achieve a hat trick, scoring a third goal with eight minutes remaining in the period. He was appropriately honoured by several young spectators, tossing about half a dozen hats on the ice to be collected by officials.

Justin Williams followed that up with a goal for the Dynamos, setting the score at 6-2 at the start of the third period.

The increasingly aggressive game reached its boiling point towards the end, as both the Cyclones’ Tory Allan and the Dynamos’ Carter Thomson were assessed game misconduct penalties due to fighting.

Finally, with 7:41 remaining in the game, Jared Molnar scored for Davidson, assisted by Charles Inglis, bringing the score to 7-2 and giving the Cyclones the necessary five-point lead.

Johnson noted that scoring that goal with Thomson looking on from the penalty box was probably “the best revenge we could ask for.”

He also had high praise for goaltender Brady Willner, calling his performance “unbelievable.”

“He was stopping stuff that I thought was going in,” said Johnson. “He was probably the difference, I would say.”

In the next round, the Cyclones face the Delisle Bruins in a two-game, total-point series. The first game was scheduled for Feb. 19 in Davidson, while the second will follow on Feb. 24 in Delisle.

The winner of that series will face either the Macklin Mohawks or the Eston Ramblers.

By Joel van der Veen

REGINA — Jolene Campbell’s oldest daughter stepped onto a curling sheet for the first time this past season. To no one’s surprise, she can’t wait to try it again.

Four-and-a-half-year-old Stella accompanied her mother to a recent practice, and Jolene says she’s asked to come along virtually every time since.

Her nieces and nephews are also starting to pick up the sport, Campbell added, saying, “It’s pretty neat to see the family tradition carry on.”

In this case, the family tradition includes plenty of time at the curling rink, as well as some excellent results on the ice.

Campbell set the bar a little higher last weekend as she and her teammates from Regina’s Highland Curling Club captured their first Viterra Scotties Tournament of Hearts provincial championship in Prince Albert.

Jolene is the daughter of Perry and Ronna McIvor, formerly of Davidson. Her teammates are third Ashley Howard, second Callan Hamon and lead Ashley Williamson.

The team played three games in 11 hours on Jan. 31, defeating Regina’s Michelle Englot 7-5 and then winning 6-4 over North Battleford’s Robyn Silvernagle in the semi-final.

Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton — who had the last two provincial women’s championships to her credit — was their challenger in the final. The Campbell rink came out ahead with a 7-4 win.

The win may have struck some observers as an upset, but Campbell chalked it up to a combination of skill, dedication and hard work.

“This team just really clicked well together right off the start,” she said, adding that they were “at the rink all the time.”

She also gave a share of the credit to coach Russ Howard, who is Ashley’s father. A prior men’s world champion and Olympic gold medallist, he currently works for TSN as a curling analyst.

“We went into provincials believing that we could come through winning the championship, and it worked out for us,” said Campbell.

At 34, the wife and mother of two — with a third child on the way — is a decade older than most of her teammates, who range in age from 22 to 26.

“I always joke to them that they are my other three kids,” said Campbell with a laugh, adding that she has felt comfortable taking on a leadership role with the younger players.

Of her teammates, she said, “They’re all mature beyond their years when it comes to getting out and working hard.”

Campbell and her team will represent the province at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alta., from Feb. 20 to 28.

She began curling around the age of nine, taking part in the school program in Davidson. Campbell said that teacher Diane Taylor and her husband Gord were both sources of encouragement and support.

Previously, Campbell won the provincial junior title in 2002 and finished in third place at the Canadian Junior Curling Championships. She also won the Schmirler Curling Classic in 2007.

As the alternate for the Amber Holland rink, Campbell played in three past national Scotties tournaments, winning in 2011, and went on to take the silver medal at the Capital One World Women’s Curling Championship in Denmark that year.

Though she’s lived in Regina for the last decade, Campbell said she still feels the support of her hometown in spirit. Going a step further was the local Home Hardware shop, which helped by sponsoring her team this year.

Campbell can also rest assured that she’ll have her family watching and cheering her on at every step.

Her mother Ronna, speaking to the Leader from their home in Regina on Tuesday, said they watch the Scotties every year, but it will have an added appeal this time around.

“It’s going to be extra special to have our own daughter in it,” she said. “We’ll enjoy watching every minute of it.”