Memories of Christmas past
by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips
Edmonton, AB - We asked a number of coaches and staff from the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference to recall some of their special Christmas memories...sports related that is.
"As a player, we would participate in the annual SAIT holiday tournament which was always fun. Athletes would stay at my parent's house and it was a great time to hang out and bond as a team," Neil Nystrom, Ambrose University Lions men's basketball coach.
"As an assistant coach with Lethbridge College (women's volleyball), the team traveled to Oklahoma City for the NCAA Final Four tournament for volleyball. The city was covered in lights and the team spent lots of time touring the city's restaurants and shops. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the girls marvel at the great caliber of volleyball taking place but the city itself was so "Christmas-y" and I'd love to return there some day,"Anna Schwark head coach Lethbridge Kodiaks women's volleyball.
"My fondest moment of Christmas sports is in the informal hockey games we use to play. We would have road hockey games with visiting family members, and all the people on our street would have family members come out and play. On Boxing Day, the rink attendant would open the arena for all my friends and guys that I played hockey with growing up. We would skate and play for a couple hours while reminiscing of the fun we had playing the game," Dr. Mark R Porter Medicine Hat College Rattlers men's volleyball head coach.
"I think mine is going to play in a hockey tournament in Denver, Colorado and coming out as the first place team and winning the championship," Terry Larson, SAIT Trojans women's hockey head coach.
"Watching our (Canadian) Juniors play at the World Championships. I'm a huge hockey fan, hopefully we can win again this year," Matthew Norminton, cross country head coach Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder.
"As a basketball player for Mal U (VIU); our team went to Arizona for Christmas. We stayed in the same hotel with the Florida Gators football team that played in the Fiesta Bowl and won the national championship that year. Also, in the basketball tournament I met Mike Bibby and our team played against three future NBA players," Dwayne Vigilance head coach Keyano Huskies women's basketball.
"As a high school player being able to compete in Raymond Sugar Bowl was a special time and as a teenage fan attending Doug Sports Christmas Tourney to watch the Basketball Legends of the 1970's compete at a high level," Ryan Heggie men's basketball coach Lethbridge Kodiaks.
"I received a table-top hockey game as a gift one Christmas as a young kid. It was a hit among my immediate and extended family and we played continuously. I was in heaven to receive this as a young kid," Colin Kubinec, Ambrose University Lions head coach women's volleyball.
"As a family I grew up watching the World Junior Hockey Championships over the Christmas break, That tradition has carried over to my wife and children and we continue hat tradition in our house," Trevor Moore, Medicine Hat College Rattlers head coach golf.
"Christmas time for me as a player were always special because of rivalry games. We would always play Louisville on CBS around Christmas time when I was at Kentucky and as a youth we played in the Sun Youth Christmas Tournament. The Sun Youth Christmas tournament allowed us at 15 -16 years old to compete against CCAA teams and prep school from the USA," Sheray Thomas, head coach Lakeland College Rustler's men's basketball team.
"Playing hockey on the outdoor rinks or lakes in Canada or Fort McMurray depending on where we were for Christmas," Keegan Kuhr, Keyano Huskies men's volleyball coach.
"Trip to Tuscon, Arizona in December 2012 with the SAIT women's basketball team. My first holiday trip across the border with a college group to sunny Arizona. Very good on-court showing for a talented group and getting away from the frozen homeland for a week is quite memorable," SAIT women's basketball coach Bir Parmar.
Adding to future Christmas memories, the ACAC has several teams partaking in sports competition during the break.
They include.
"Medicine Hat College Rattlers men's volleyball is competing in an exhibition tournament at Augustana in Camrose from Dec 29-31. The benefit of this tournament is that it allows bench players to get more playing time and become familiar with our style, and the pace/strength of the ACAC overall. It rewards bench players for their time, effort and commitment to MHC volleyball. It is also a development tool for the future of our program," Dr. Mark R Porter Medicine Hat College Rattlers men's volleyball head coach.
"We are competing in the 2017 Honolulu Badminton Open in Hawaii. We leave for Hawaii on Jan 1st and return on Jan 9th. This trip/competition is great for team bonding and they get to compete against many local Hawaiian players. We have done this trip many times over the years including 2001, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015," Kevin MacAlpine, head coach badminton Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder.
"North Idaho College tourney Dec 28-30. After a month of no games, (Nov 25) it's good to get back competing and team bonding with a good road trip! It's also good to compete out of conference," Ryan Heggie men's basketball coach Lethbridge Kodiaks.
"Keyano women's basketball will be playing in Vancouver, BC December 29 against Capilano University and December 30 against Douglas College," Dwayne Vigilance Keyano Huskies women's basketball head coach.