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Thursday, June 26, 2014 Capital NewsC
CAPITAL NEWS
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Kiwi national team to visit Kelowna Warren Henderson STAFF REPORTER
WORLDFASTPITCH.COM
THE New Zealand junior men’s national softball team will perform the traditional Haka dance prior to playing two games against the Kelowna men’s all-stars Wednesday, July 2 at King’s Stadium.
Ok Rockets’ coach steps aside The Okanagan Rockets are in the market for a new head coach. The B.C. Major Midget League champs are looking for a replacement Mack O’Rourke, who stepped down this week to pursue a job opportunity outside of the hockey business. In his first season behind the bench, O’Rourke helped lead the Rockets to a 32-5-3 regular season record, followed by a final series win over Vancouver Northwest Giants, as Okanagan won its second B.C. championship. The Rockets later won the Pacific regional final in Red Deer, before capturing a bronze medal at the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship in Moose Jaw.
O’Rourke, who has taken on a job in the drilling industry with Calgary-based Canadian Energy Services, regrets having to leave the hockey world but is excited about his new position. “As much as I love hockey and what we were doing here, I couldn’t pass on this opportunity,” said O’Rourke. “It was a no-brainer, a very good position for me so, for now, hockey is going on the back burner. It’s time for me to get on with life, so to speak.” While disappointed in losing O’Rourke, the Rockets general manager David Michaud was thrilled for his former coach. “It wasn’t a call I was hoping to get,” said Mi-
chaud. “Mack and I had every intention of continuing together to keep our success rolling, however when Mack was presented with this opportunity, it was a bit of a no-brainer for a young man who is getting his professional life going. “We wish Mack nothing but success and there is no doubt he will do a great job in his new position.” O’Rourke has made it clear he hasn’t closed the door on hockey and, at the very least, can see himself back in the game in the future to coach his own kids. All in all, O’Rourke is grateful for the experiences hockey has given him. “The people I’ve met and the opportunities I was given, I’ll always
CONTRIBUTED
MACK O’Rourke has stepped down as head coach of the B.C. Major Midget League’s Okanagan Rockets. be thankful for that,” he said. “To have the season (the Rockets) we had was amazing and I’ll never forget that. The rink is only three minutes from my house, so I’ll still stay in touch, I’ll always have my phone if they need anything. Once a Rocket,
always a Rocket.” A busy and eventful year for O’Rourke will continue in July when he gets married. He will continue to live in Kelowna, but will travel to Alberta for the majority of his employment.
International fastball and a traditional Maori dance will be front and centre next week at King’s Stadium when the New Zealand national junior men’s team makes a stop in Kelowna. The Kiwi juniors will take on the Kelowna Major Men’s Fastball Association all-star team in an exhibition doubleheader Wednesday, July 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Prior to the first pitch of the opening game, the New Zealanders will be performing their renowned Haka dance, a traditional ancestral war cry. Game organizer and local player Richard Haldane has seen the dance many times in the past and never grows tired of the spectacle. “It’s just a great show,” Haldane said of the Haka dance. “Bascially they’re warning their competitors that they’re coming for you. It’s almost bone-chilling, a really neat experience and will be great for the crowd.” As far as the fastball is concerned, Haldane said fans will see a young, high-end international team in action against an older and experienced group of local players. “New Zealand’s senior team is the world champs and this is the feeder team to that, so you’re going to see some world-class players in
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NEW ZEALAND’S SR. TEAM IS THE WORLD CHAMPS AND THIS IS THE FEEDER TEAM…SO YOU’RE GOING TO SEE SOME WORLDCLASS PLAYERS IN ACTION.
action,” said Haldane. “It’ll be a good test for us, but we have a lot of guys who have played high-end ball and we should give them some good competition. They (New Zealand) don’t want easy games because they’re preparing for junior worlds in Whitehorse.” The Kelowna all-stars are: • Centennials—Travis Kunz, Trent Kunz, Tyler Siegmann and Brandon West. • Six Mile Raiders— Chris Bonneau and Shane Miller. • Andre’s —Chad Blanleil, Travis Blanleil, Kevin Careless, Dean Hyde and Colin McKenzie. • Rangers—Aaron Bacon, Chad Bozak, Josh Chernoff, Nik Chernoff, George Currie, Rich Haldane and Scott Parsons. The coaches are Lea Kunz and Rene Blanleil. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. with kids under 17 receiving free admission. All minor ball players are urged to wear their team colours.