September 19, 2023
Shirley, Hobson selected during inaugural PWHL draft
Saskatoon’s Sophie Shirley and Prince Albert’s Brooke Hobson were among the players selected Monday during the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League draft. Hobson was selected 45th overall by the upstart league’s New York franchise and Shirley was picked 63rd by Boston.
Olympic gold medallist Emily Clark, who also hails from Saskatoon was picked up earlier in the month by Ottawa during the PWHL free agency period.
Leugner, Thibeault to represent Canada at Pan Am Games
Fort Qu’Appelle’s Ashley Leugner has been named to Canada’s wakeboard team for the upcoming Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Leugner is one of two Canadians who will compete in wakeboarding at the Games, which begin Oct. 20.
Tammara Thibeault, formerly of Regina, will also be representing Canada in Santiago, as one of 13 athletes who have been named to the national boxing contingent. The Canadian boxing team was chosen based on performances at the 2023 Domestic Qualifiers held in Montreal in June 2023 and at the American Boxing Continental Championships (AMBC) held in Cali, Colombia earlier this month.
Sask. swimmers headed to Santiago
Canada’s Pan American Games delegation grew further Tuesday with the announcement of the country’s artistic swimming team roster, which includes Kenzie Priddell of Regina and Sydney Carroll of Saskatoon.
Crozon nets game winner
Humboldt’s Paige Crozon scored the game-winning basket for Canada as the national 3×3 basketball team won its second straight title at the FIBA Women’s Series Final on Sunday, topping France 16-15 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Regina athletes help Canada to top 12 water polo finish
Mikayla Hack and Simone Lapierre, both of Regina, were part of the Canadian team that placed 12th out of 20 teams at the 2023 World Aquatics Women’s Under-20 Championships which wrapped up Friday. Canada placed 10th in its last appearance at worlds in 2019.
Just what the doctor ordered
Cole Beavis and Michelle Keene, both of Saskatoon, will be accompanying Canadian athletes as part of their respective teams’ medical staff at upcoming international competitions. Beavis will be part of the medical team for 10 Canadian athletes at the upcoming International Skating Union Junior Grand Prix event which begins Wednesday in Budapest, Hungary. Keene, a physiotherapist, will be on staff for Canada’s under-17 men’s soccer team which will play Brazil in a pair of matches Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 in Sao Paolo as a tune-up for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Sask. athletes receive grants
Regina biathlete Janice Grundahl and diver Lila Stewart, also originally from Regina, are among the recipients of this year’s Petro-Canada Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence grants. This year’s program saw 56 Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls awarded $10,000 each to support their training.