Sports
LangleyAdvance
| Thursday, December 6, 2012 |
High school
Langley Christian squad zaps Duchess
The Lightning faced off in the finals against a squad they had battled all season long.
Several students at Langley Christian School may be having trouble concentrating on their studies, still elated over boys volleyball team and its AA division win at the provincial championships Dec. 1 in Kelowna. The entire year the Lightning were leading up to this point, and for many of these athletes dreaming since they were Grade 7. Every game they played in taught them something key to the success of the final game, coach said. They worked their way through teams from Clarence Fulton, Cambie, Gulf Islands, Duchess Park, and Okanagan Mission before facing Duchess Park in the final. The team knew it had to come out strong to influence its draw but at this level, every game is a challenge. “In the quarter finals we came up against a team also unbeaten in the tournament in Gulf Islands. We learned how to overcome underdog energy from our opponents and playing focused and calm down a set losing the first set and then winning in four,” coach Aaron VandenBrink said. “We battled hard and learned that if we believe in ourself we can overcome any obstacles, showing great character and focus by forcing our way back from a seemingly insurmountable 13-9 deficit in the 5th and deciding set to win 15-13.” Ben Macadam provided a block late in the action on game point.
Charity
Soccer supporters People can bring donations for the Langley Christmas Bureau and Langley Food Bank.
The Langley Christian School Lightning achieved gold at the boys AA volleyball provincials. The finals, against Dutchess Park, was the continuation of a battle that went on between the two squads all year. Prior to this game every match played between the two teams had gone to a final deciding set (third set or fifth set). The provincials would be no different. “Much of the game we played from behind, losing the first and third sets, fighting to even it up in the second and fourth with key leadership by our captains, Mike Grypma, Eli Tolkamp,
Levi VandenBrink, and Braden Heppell,” VandenBrink said. In the fifth game, the boys found themselves down 7-8 but then the scoring started, first one, then another until they were up 14-8. “In poetic fashion we wrote our name into history with a solo roof block by Jeremy Hansma,” the coach said. The championship point was in their grasp and they achieved gold. The Lighting players are Mark Antoniuk, Joel Hansen,
Isaiah Dahl, Aiden Kits, Ben Macadam, Levi Vandenbrink, Mitchell Jarvie, Mike Grypma, Eli Tolkamp, Jeremy Hansma, Fran VanWyk and Braden Heppell. “That night we played for the love of competition and the game that we put thousands of hours into, for our teammates who we have been through blood, sweat and tears with, and for our Creator who has give us the gifts to play this sport. We were out there to honor and glorify Him,” assistant coach Jesse Zuidhof said.
Hockey
New signing exhibiting plenty of potential The Langley Rivermen have added a player who they feel has a boatload of potential. Late last week, the ’Men acquired 1994-born forward Nathan Craft from the Alberni Valley Bulldogs for future considerations. Craft, from Kitimat, has played in 24 games this season recording five goals and five assists. The previous year he played in the BC Major Midget League for the Cariboo Cougars and had a huge season offensively, registering 27 goals and 21 assists in 35 games. “Nathan is a guy that we noticed a lot when we saw Alberni earlier in the year. He has
himself and we expect good things from him.” Coach Henderson was quick to point out what he likes about the 18 year-old’s game, but the thing he was impressed with the most was his combination of grit and skill. “Players like him are hard to come by nowadays,” Henderson said. “He is a power forward who brings a lot to the table and when he finds his niche with us, he will be a hard player to stop.” Ironically, Craft’s first game was against his former club Saturday at the Weyerhaeuser Arena.
Nathan Craft will be given every opportunity to show his skills with the Rivermen.
2013
decent size, likes the physical play and has great touch around the net,” Rivermen head coach and general manager Bobby Henderson said. The Rivermen’s coaching staff believe that Craft, a 6’1” 191 pound winger, will be a great fit on their roster. “Alberni earlier in the year had him in a top six role and ever since he has been rotating throughout the line-up,” Henderson said. “We will give him plenty of opportunity to prove
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The Langley United Soccer Association is hosting its first food and toy drive Saturday, Dec. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Willoughby Community Park. Players, parents, and Langley residents are asked to bring non-perishable food items or a new unwapped toy which will be distributed to the less fortunate in this community. The Willoughby soccer fields are located next to the Langley Events Centre and behind R.E. Mountain Secondary. Langley United will be giving out hot chocolate and candy canes for the kids and coffee for the adults. Anyone who brings a donation will also be eligible to put their name in a draw for four Whitecaps tickets for the upcoming season. Langley United is donating four sets of these tickets to be won. The Langley Christmas Bureau is in great need of toys for children between the ages of nine and 15, and especially boys. The Langley Food Bank advises that no baby food, soup or clothing/bedding are needed. The wish list includes cash, gift cards for grocery stores, canned fruit and vegetables, sandwich spreads (jam, peanut butter), rice and pasta dinners (no macaroni and cheese needed), canned meats, diapers sizes 4, 5, 6 only, and personal care items. Case lots are welcome.
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