Trail Daily Times Tuesday, April 3, 2012
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Karate kids compete BY TIMES STAFF
STEVE SCAIA PHOTO
The Beaver Valley Nitehawks took care of business on Sunday, routing Kelowna Chiefs four games to none in the finals of the KIJHL Championship. After making a stunning comeback in Game 3 on Saturday to win 5-4, the Nitehawks finished off the Chiefs 4-2 to capture their sixth title. The Hawks next play in the Cyclone Taylor Cup for the B.C. Championship beginning Apr. 12 in Abbotsford.
WESTERN CANADA CUP
Nanaimo hosts first event
NANAIMOThe Canadian Junior Hockey League and Nanaimo Clippers held a Press Conference to introduce the community, media and fans to the newly formed Western Canada Cup and welcome the executives from the four western leagues to the host city. “We are incredibly excited to be awarded the opportunity to bring the inaugural Western Canada Cup to the city of Nanaimo, our loyal fans, and corporate sponsors”, stated Nanaimo Clippers owner Ken Wagner. “The Western Canada Cup will be a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful city and province. It creates an equally exciting opportunity to showcase Western Canada’s top hockey talent to our deserving fans. We are confident our tournament committee will set exceptional standards with the inaugural Western Canada Cup.” The 2013 Western Canada Cup Host Committee is already in full motion preparing for the event in Nanaimo. “The key positions
on the host organizing committee are now in place and we are extremely eager to begin the detailed planning associated with an event of this prestige and magnitude,” stated Host Committee Chair Graham Calder.
The CJHL, in conjunction with the host committee, unveiled the official logo for the Western Canada Cup. The logo is based on the classic shield and banner motif, and reflects the four leagues through the use of the four stars in the banner. The bold graphic outline and overall balanced composition provide a solid, confident icon to represent the ideals of sportsmanship and excellence in hockey. CJHL Chairman Kirk Lamb believes the new regional playoff format will increase exposure for the athletes and further highlight Junior A hockey across Canada.
SMOKE EATER ALUMNI
Success follows former Smokies DeKeyser chooses education over NHL BY TIMES STAFF Former Trail Smoke Eater and current Western Michigan Broncos defenceman Dan DeKeyser, one of the most sought-after free agents in NCAA hockey, has decided to return to college for another year. DeKeyser tweeted his decision last week, following much speculation on the highly touted player. According to the Windsor Star, the Detroit Red Wings were believed to be the favourite to land the Michigan native. “He’s only played two years of college,” Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “I know education is important to him. Probably every team is talking to him, asking him to turn pro.” The 21-year-old DeKeyser played last year for Detroit assistant coach Jeff Blashill at WMU. He also knows the Nill family from his playing days with Nill’s son. However, Nill said just because of those ties he didn’t think the Wings necessarily had any inside edge. “He loves the Detroit Red Wings,
but he might like another team too.” Nill said. Nill describes the six-footthree, 186-pound DeKeyser as a stay-athome defenceman who moves the puck well. “He’s got great potential,” Nill said. “He’s got great size, but has to get stronger.” DeKeyser had five goals, 16 points and was a plus-15 in 40 games this season. He was selected to the CCHA’s second All-Star Team. He played the 2008-09 season with the Smoke Eaters, in which he played in 58 games, scoring eight goals and 17 assists on his way to being named Trail’s defenceman of the year. He played the 2009-10 season with the Sioux City Muskateers of the United States Hockey League. Another Smokie and Dekeyser teammate was also recognized this week for his great play in the NCAA. Ex-Smoke Eater and current Iowa State University junior, Brandon Clark, was honoured with best defenseman and MVP awards. He was also named as next year’s Captain of the Cyclones, at the end-of-season announcement last week.
See SMILEY Page 12
A pair of cool katas from Beaver Valley Recreation Karate Dojo joined 150 other participants from across B.C. and Alberta in the 2010 Chito-Ryu Friendship Tournament in Penticton on the weekend. It was the first competition for Meagan Campsall and Macy Verigin, but the two young apprentices had an excellent showing, placing fourth and sixth place respectively. “Macy and Meagan showed an enormous amount of courage to participate in their first ever karate tournament,” said Sensei Scott Hutcheson of the B. V. dojo. “They performed their best Kata for a judging panel . . . and while the girls never captured a medal they accomplished their goals they set for themselves and that is incredibly hard to do especially in their first competition.” Chito-Ryu karate goes back to the eighth and ninth century to the Tang Dynasty in China and was first developed by Tsuyoshi Chitose and introduced to Canada in 1958 by Sensei Tsuruoka. A kata is a series of approximately 20-70 karate movements, a sequence of motions steeped in a thousand-year tradition of self-defense, artistry, ethics and precision, that the practitioner attempts to execute with perfect form. Judging is based on the ability of a karate practitioner to perform these intricate movements with grace and fluidity. The dynamic duo also had an opportunity to meet up with Sensei Chris Taneda and current ladies national Kumite champion, Clair Booth. Taneda is a seventh-degree black belt, six-time Canadian Kumite champion and four-time World Chito-Ryu champion. Sensei Taneda is head of Chito-Ryu in Canada and a descendant of the Satsuma Samurai Clan depicted in the film “The Last Samurai.” KarateBC and Karate Canada organize competitions throughout the year ranging from semicontact to full-contact karate and has been named a trial sport in the upcoming Olympics.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Meagan Campsall (left) and Macy Verigin kick back with four-time world Chito-Ryu karate champion Sensei Chris Taneda at the Chito-Ryu Friendship Tournament in Penticton.