Riders Welcome Back Former Punter

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today national defensive back Dan West and national punter Josh Bartel have signed with the team. As per team policy, details of the contracts were not released.

West (6’2 – 205) will return to the Riders for his second season after originally joining the team in July, 2015. Last season, the 29-year-old Ontario native picked up six special teams tackles in 11 regular season games.

Prior to the Roughriders, West spent three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after signing with the team as a free agent out of Bishop’s University.

West was eligible to become a free agent on February 9^th.   

Bartel (6’3 – 200) will return to the Riders for his second stint after spending the 2014 season with the Green and White. The 29-year-old Australian born kicker was originally acquired by the team in a trade with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Through three CFL seasons, Bartel has totaled 335 punts for 14,520 yards (43.3 yard average) including an 83 yard long in 49 regular season games. He is a two-time East Division All-Star picking up nominations in 2012 and 2013.  

University of Regina Rams Name Interim Head Coach

The University of Regina Rams announced Thursday that Mark McConkey will serve as the program’s acting head coach until the process to find a permanent replacement for departing coach Mike Gibson is completed.

McConkey has been on the coaching staff since last April, when he was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and academic coach. He was a slotback for the Rams from 2007 to 2013, finishing with 180 receptions and 1991 receiving yards in his prolific career.

McConkey holds two degrees from the U of R, receiving a Bachelor of Kinesiology in 2012 with a major in human kinetics and a Bachelor of Education in 2014 with a major in physical education. He was a teacher, head basketball and track & field coach, and assistant football coach at Greenall High School in Balgonie before accepting his current role with the Rams.

(U of R Athletics)  

Robbie Alomar Headed to Regina For Red Sox Dinner

The Regina Red Sox are proud to announce that former Blue Jay and MLB Hall of Famer, Roberto Alomar will headline the 2016 Regina Red Sox Dinner and Auction presented by Water Warehouse. 

 Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres, Alomar was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991 and helped them win a pair of World Series Championships.

 During his 17-year career, Alomar, had 2,724 hits, 210 home runs and 1,134 RBI. He also made 12 consecutive all-star appearances and won 10 Gold Gloves.

 “We are pleased to announce that our 2016 speaker, sponsored by 9 agents from Century 21 Dome Realty Inc., is Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar,” said Gary Brotzel. “Alomar will be forever remembered for leading the Blue Jays to back-to-back World Series championships.”

 In addition to his time with the Padres and Jays, Alomar also played with the Orioles, Indians, White Sox and Diamondbacks.

 “Our Annual Dinner is one of the team’s most important fundraisers,” said Brotzel. “The money raised will help the Red Sox continue its proud tradition of on-field success.”

 The Regina Red Sox Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at the Turvey Centre.  For tickets go to www.reginaredsox.com, or call Gary Brotzel (306-536-8792) or Sharon Clarke (306-529-8509).

 (Courtesy Outlaw Communications) 

Eric Rogers Released by Calgary---signs with 49ers

The Calgary Stampeders have given receiver CFL receiving yards leader Eric Rogers his release in order to allow him to sign a contract with an NFL team.

Rogers, who was expected to sign with the San Francisco 49ers, was scheduled to become a free agent on Feb. 9.

``Eric has an agreement in place with an NFL club and we are granting him his release in order to allow him to sign a contract immediately rather than waiting until February,'' Stampeders general manager John Hufnagel said Wednesday in a release. ``We wish Eric the best of luck and thank him for his contributions to the Stampeders.''

Rogers led the league last year with 1,448 receiving yards and had 87 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He appeared in two regular-season games in 2014 and was the Stamps' leading receiver in Calgary's Grey Cup win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that year.

``I would like to thank everyone who works for the first-class organization that Calgary is,'' said Rogers. ``The whole coaching staff, especially coach Huff (former coach John Hufnagel), coach Dickie (Dave Dickenson) and (receivers) coach Pete (Costanza) was great as was (former assistant GM) John Murphy.

``I thank all of my teammates from the past two years and have nothing but great memories of my time with them. I also want to thank the fans for their support and the members of the media.''

Darian Durant Signs New Deal With Riders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced international quarterback Darian Durant has agreed to a new contract for the 2016 season. As per team policy, financial details of the contract were not released.

Durant is set to enter his 11^th season with the Green and White after originally signing with the team as a free agent in 2006. The 33-year-old University of North Carolina product will enter 2016 among the franchise leaders in all statistical passing categories. His 24,668 passing yards and 135 touchdowns each rank third among the Riders all-time leaders - also putting him inside the top 25 all-time CFL leaders in both categories.

Through 98 career starts, Durant has collected 54 wins, 42 losses and one tie while being named a West Division All-Star in 2009 and 2013.

He is a two-time Grey Cup champion having won with the Riders as the starting quarterback in 2013 and as a backup in 2007.

51 WHL Players Make NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings

The Western Hockey League announced today that 51 WHL players have been listed by NHL Central Scouting in their Midterm Rankings in advance of the 2016 NHL Draft.

Jake Bean (Calgary, AB / Calgary Hitmen) is currently ranked 13^th amongst North American skaters while Tyler Benson (#21 – Edmonton, AB / Vancouver Giants), Kale Clague (#22 –  Lloydminster, AB / Brandon Wheat Kings), Simon Stransky (#25 – Ostrava, CZE / Prince Albert Raiders), Libor Hajek (#26 –Smrcek, CZE / Saskatoon Blades), Brett Howden (#27 -  Oakbank, MB / Moose Jaw Warriors) and Sam Steel (#29 – Sherwood Park, AB / Regina Pats) were all ranked in the top 30.

Carter Hart (Sherwood Park, AB / Everett Silvertips) was ranked first amongst North American goaltenders while Zachary Sawchenko (Calgary, AB / Moose Jaw Warriors) sits third.

Last year, 35 WHL players were selected in the 2015 NHL Draft including five in the first round.WHL Skaters – NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings (North America):

Rank	Name	Team	Position	Height	Weight
13	BEAN, JAKE	CALGARY	D	5’11.75”	173
21	BENSON, TYLER	VANCOUVER	LW	5’11.75”	201
22	CLAGUE, KALE	BRANDON	D	5’11.75”	177
25	STRANSKY, SIMON	PRINCE ALBERT	LW	5’11.5”	171
26	HAJEK, LIBOR	SASKATOON	D	6’2.0”	185
27	HOWDEN, BRETT	MOOSE JAW	C	6’2.25”	193
29	STEEL, SAM	REGINA	C	5’11.0”	177
35	DUBE, DILLON	KELOWNA	C	5’10.25”	180
38	JOHANSEN, LUCAS	KELOWNA	D	6’1.25”	174
41	LAJOIE, MAXIME	SWIFT CURRENT	D	6’1.0”	183
61	BUDIK, VOJTECH	PRINCE ALBERT	D	6’1.0”	189
62	ANDERSON, JOSH	PRINCE GEORGE	D	6’2.25”	221
68	BURKE, BRAYDEN	LETHBRIDGE	LW	5’9.75”	160
70	VALA, ONDREJ	KAMLOOPS	D	6’4.5”	207
71	BAJKOV, PATRICK	EVERETT	LW	5’11.5”	175
75	GREGOR, NOAH	MOOSE JAW	C	5’11.25”	180
76	KASPICK, TANNER	BRANDON	C	6’0.25”	200
77	BABENKO, EGOR	LETHBRIDGE	RW	5’9.0”	160
78	GERLACH, MAX	MEDICINE HAT	C	5’8.5”	163
82	RONNING, TY	VANCOUVER	RW	5’8.75”	165
84	STALLARD, JORDAN	CALGARY	C	6’2.0”	188
94	O’BRIEN, BROGAN	PRINCE GEORGE	LW	6’2.25”	189
95	TWARYNSKI, CARSEN	CALGARY	LW	6’2.0”	198
98	DE WIT, JEFFREY	RED DEER	C	6’3.25”	189
107	BROOKS, ADAM	REGINA	C	5’10.25”	174
113	STUKEL, JAKOB	CALGARY	LW	5’11.5”	182
114	HAGEL, BRANDON	RED DEER	LW	5’11.75”	156
121	ABOLS, RODRIGO	PORTLAND	C	6’4.5”	188
122	ELYNUIK, HUDSON	SPOKANE	C	6’4.75”	201
124	MALENSTYN, BECK	CALGARY	LW	6’1.75”	191
140	HEBIG, CAMERON	SASKATOON	C	5’10.5”	191
150	COLEMAN, LUKE	PRINCE ALBERT	LW	6’1.5”	193
152	SOUSTAL, TOMAS	KELOWNA	C	6’3.0”	198
155	BERG, ADAM	REGINA	LW	6’0.5”	195
167	GARDINER, REID	PRINCE ALBERT	RW	5’10.5”	193
169	OTTENBREIT, TURNER	SEATTLE	D	6’3.25”	190
176	WESTGARD, TY	VICTORIA	C	5’11.25”	184
177	COGHLAN, DYLAN	TRI-CITY	D	6’1.75”	190
181	DE JONG, BRENDAN	PORTLAND	D	6’4.5”	189
187	PILON, GARRETT	KAMLOOPS	C	5’10.25”	175
197	DAVIDSON, DAWSON	KAMLOOPS	D	5’10.75”	177
201	QUENNEVILLE, DAVID	MEDICINE HAT	D	5’8.0”	182
206	VOLCAN, NOLAN	SEATTLE	LW	5’8.5”	194
LV	MAHURA, JOSHUA	RED DEER	D	6’0.25”	178

WHL Goaltenders – NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings (North America):

Rank	Name	Team	Hand	Height	Weight
1	HART, CARTER	EVERETT	L	6’0.5”	177
3	SAWCHENKO, ZACHARY	MOOSE JAW	L	6’0.0”	178
9	SARTHOU, EVAN	TRI-CITY	L	6’1.0”	186
11	WILLMS, BRODY	MOOSE JAW	L	6’1.0”	170
12	INGRAM, CONNOR	KAMLOOPS	L	6’0.5”	212
18	PORTER, CODY	CALGARY	L	6’1.0”	186
20	EDMONDS, TY	PRINCE GEORGE	L	6’11.75”	181
29	MCBRIDE, NICK	PRINCE GEORGE	L	6’3.0”	185

REDBLACKS Retain Chris Milo

The Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League announced Tuesday that the team has extended the contract of national kicker Chris Milo through 2017.

The 29-year old Milo was signed by the REDBLACKS on July 31 which proved to be a key signing for the Eastern Division Champions. The Montreal, QC native was 32/36 on field goals (88.9%) good for fourth in CFL with his longest kick coming from 48 yards.

Milo posted the league’s third-best extra point conversation rate going 34/39 (87.7%) and tallied 131 points – the fourth most in the CFL.

“Chris was a great asset for us in the second half last season,” REDBLACKS General Manager Marcel Desjardins. “He brought stability to the position and leadership to the team and we’re glad that he will continue to be a REDBLACK through 2017.”

Milo enters his sixth CFL season in 2016 and has made two trips to the Grey Cup in the past three seasons. On October 29, 2011, Milo tied the record for the longest punt ever kicked in professional football when he punted the football 108 yards. Prior to playing in the CFL, Milo captured a pair of Vanier Cup championships in four years with the Rouge et Or in Laval.

(Ottawa REDBLACKS)