Introduction of Guests (2 April 2025)

From Hansard (2 April 2025)

 

Briercrest Clippers Basketball Team

Blaine McLeod: — Pleasure to be on my feet today, Mr. Speaker, to introduce a group that is seated in your gallery. The men’s basketball team, the Briercrest Clippers from the Briercrest College and Seminary.

And, Mr. Speaker, I am going to name them by name. And some of them are a little tough, but I’ve worked on it and so here we go. And I’m going to ask them to just raise their hand as I introduce you: Markus Glaspell; Kaden Clifton; Hunter Barnstable; Will Stianson; Riley Seaborn; Corbin Gengenbach; Zach Martens; Kaedyn Banilevic; Oroma Bongomin; Carson Irwin; Cooper Benjamin; Jude Shepherd-Hills and Owen Shepherd-Hills; Francis Dogani; Brandon Houndonougbo — I think I got it right; Trey Mckenzie-Hunte; Carter Waind; Joshua Fox; and Aden Fawcett; along with Head Coach Shane Sowden and Damon Berggren, assistant coach as well. And not with us today is Ryame Soanes and Andrew Quiring who both were manager and assistant.

Mr. Speaker, I want to say that all the Briercrest teams this year, both men and women, advanced to the playoffs in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference, and men’s basketball and hockey hosted the finals in both of their respective sports. Two teams played in the finals, and gold medals were won by this team represented here today.

Now I asked Coach Sowden who the team captain was, and I loved his response. He says, they’re all leaders. And so it was captain by committee on that team, and I think that shows in the success that they had in the playoffs this year.

And on top of the success in the playoffs, two coaches won Coach of the Year awards: Mr. Sowden, who’s seated with us here today, and also Natalie Mullan, who coached the women’s volleyball team. So tremendous year for them, and I look forward to a member’s statement outlining a little more of their success this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.