sCapital News Thursday, July 17, 2014
www.kelownacapnews.com A25
SPORTS
Kelowna area athletes key to zone 2’s summer games success When it comes to B.C. Games competitions, athletes from the Central Okanagan have always been essential to the success of zone 2 (Thompson Okanagan) team. It will be no different this week at the 2014 B.C. Summer Games in Nanaimo, which kicks off on Thursday and runs until Sunday. The following is a list of the more than 150 Central Okanagan athletes and coaches, along with their sport, who are competing this weekend on Vancouver Island. • Athletics Bria Gainey Stefanie Hatch (supervisor) Jean-Marc Hoffman
Maggie Minkus Cameron Noble Muriel Stroda Bryn Walsh Willow Benitz Jacob Bourcier Taryn O’Neill Rylee Paulson • Special Olympics Chris Lunt • Baseball James Fischer Joel Flood Wyatt Head Noah Ringness-Law Jamie Pavia Jonathan Przbyl (assistant coach) Jay Taylor Nick Cornell Kade Kozak Cole VanEvery Keyshon Jackson • Basketball Kieran Chalmers
Benjamin Hitchens Joelle da Silva Kassidy Day Kennedy Dickie Grace Kirby Kyara Klempner Bridget McCarthy Kenzie Perry Brianna Picklyk Bailey Radley Paige Watson Kim Whelpton (head coach) Deziree Day Grace DeMug Rachel Hare Reanne Mitchell Rob Mitchell (head coach) Jordan Robb Jenna Robinson Jill Robinson (asst. coach) Jacob Bos Noah Vieura-Shay Karleigh Podolsky
Jocelyn Podolsky Teaghan Wallace Mackenzie Horst • Golf Alex Couch (asst. coach) Nick Jones McKenna Lesiuk Tara Roden (head coach) Emma Sabbagh Tiegan Taylor Lauren Siemers Brandon Whistle • Lacrosse Matthew Blanchard Alex Blanchard (head coach) Brent Durec Kyle Durec Qunintin Fist Kevin Brownlee (asst. coach) Keaton Brownlee Josh Dubrett Ryan Hughes Jameson Murray
Ex-Rocket Ferguson to coach Okanagan Rockets this season
A former Kelowna Rockets player and Memorial Cup winner is the new head coach of the Okanagan Rockets. Simon Ferguson, 31, takes over the helm of the Kelowna-based B.C. Major Midget League club, replacing the recently departed Matt O’Rourke. Ferguson played in 134 games over two seasons with the WHL’s Rockets, helping them to a Memorial Cup championship in 2004. R The St. Albert, AB native went on to play 500 career games as a pro in the AHL, ECHL and
Simon Ferguson Europe, and won a Calder Cup championship with the Hershey Bears in 2010. For Ferguson, his first coaching stop is an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to get behind the bench, learning a new aspect of the game. I want to come in and continue the success of last season’s club and continue the pursuit of bringing a Telus Cup championship to the Okanagan.” Okanagan Rockets’ GM David Michaud said Ferguson’s track record as a player speaks for itself. “Simon Ferguson is a winner,” said Michaud. “When we began our search for a new head coach, we wanted someone who had the experience to lead our players
to the next steps in their hockey careers. We are a development league first and foremost, and who better to lead these young men than someone who went through a five-year junior career and ultimately a great pro career. I’m thrilled to have Simon lead our program.” Former coach O’Rourke stepped down this spring to pursue a business opportunity. The 2014-2015 season officially begins Aug. 7 to 10 at the Capital News Centre, as the club hosts its annual evaluation camp.
Canadian 15s rugby here in August Sevens from A24 “They’re as elite an athlete as you can get, particularly the sevens players…and even the 15s are progressing towards that. They’re fit, fast and strong. “Of course rugby is played at all levels, so there’s a place for every-
one to play.” Manning is hopeful Kelowna will be included next year on the B.C. Rugby Summer Sevens Series. The four eliteteam showcase currently has four stops in the province, but none as of yet in the Interior. CORE will also help host an instalment of the
Canadian 15s national championship next month. On Saturday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Apple Bowl, the B.C. Bears will take on the Prairie Wolfpack. The Rock, from Atlantic Canada, and the Ontario Blues are also involved in the championship tournament. In other news, Man-
ning has been appointed to the board of directors of B.C. Rugby and will serve as an advocate for Interior rugby. There are currently close to 1,000 rugby players in the Central Okanagan—with about half of those under the age of 13—playing touch, sevens, 15s and elite league.
Zane Torres Kristian Beech • Rugby Andrew Brown Nathan Cheng (asst. coach) Tanner Friesen Zachery Hemmett Ultan Peters (head coach) Bliss Ducharme Sierra Vallancourt Quinn Rasmussen Alex Ireland Beau Strain • Sailing Gage Flint Ian Johnston Mackenzie Littleton Alizon Littleton Katherine Littleton (supervisor) Karen Littleton Thishani Rajapakshe Devin Rubadeau (head coach) • Soccer Emilio Aguiar Brett Martin Daniel Messent Jad Von Unruh Laurie West (supervisor) Chris West Cam West (head coach) Joshua Clancy Attila Knaitner
Jordan Thorsen Selena Arima Brooke Barcelona Kate Cartier Melanie Corrado Nicole Foster (supervisor) Alysia Foster Sophie Gibson Avery Lawrence David Notte (head coach) Lindsay Notte Rylee Semeniuk Shawn Olfert • Softball Emma Gilbert Sara Miki Stephanie Russo Shayla Tyerman • Swimming Emily Epp Molly Hiull Axana Merckx • Synchro Swimming Hannah Ruste • Towed water sports Marcus Athans Gary Athans (head coach) Isaac Athans Kyle Blaser Justin Fowler Tera Gainey (supervisor) Halle Gainey Anthony Kurkjian Pat Mulligan (asst. coach) Nathan Tonogai
• Triathlon Kyra McNulty Scott Jacobsen (head coach) • Beach Volleyball Kyra Cabral Spender Doody Alexa Eger Kailin Jones (head coach) Tanner March (asst. coach) Ryan Samuelson Tanner Thiessen • Volleyball Kyle Butchart Grayson McMillan Nathan Smawley Kyle Solloway Carson Toews (asst. coach) Aidan Van Dam Nicola Lopes Fraser McIntosh (head coach) Jackie Toews (asst. coach) Sarah Watson Bobby Blaskovits Troy White (head coach) Connor White Avery Gammel Morgan Nichols • Wrestling Emily Castro Aaron Stapleton Michael Vallido
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