Edmonton Sports Fan

** originally posted on Win Column Sports** Some may remember when the NLL season started back in January I created the “ Not-So Technical Guide For Any New NLL Fans, ” as I welcomed myself back into lacrosse fandom. While the Calgary Roughnecks provide a great experience for lacrosse fans in Alberta,  game recaps  proved impossible with Calgary being the now-former Edmonton Rush’s major rival. Enter the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League ( RMLL )! In 2007, I was hired as the “Marketing Director” for the Sherwood Park Jr. B Titans. Following the early model of Bruce Urban promoting his Edmonton Rush, we tried zany stunts to attract crowds. Some worked (dunk tank), some didn’t (who would have thought a fake cow wouldn’t work!). In 2008, I began my sales career with the Rush. I would still attend the odd Titans game and Spruce Grove Slash Sr. B game, but admittedly, the games became further and further apart. All lacrosse watching stopped when the Rush left Edmonton. So how...

*as seen on the Edmonton Prospects website* * Prospects' Trivia by Len Nunes We are in the last month of this decade. That statement makes me feel reminiscent. The baseball fan in me wondered out loud who the Edmonton Prospects leaders have been throughout the past 10 years. Let’s travel down memory lane as we categorize some of the individual bests by players who have worn the Prospects uniform. The numbers reflected are single season totals with the year the feat was accomplished in brackets. The  Western Canadian Baseball League  website only provides stats back until 2010, therefore unofficially these stats represent single season benchmarks for the Prospects.  Do you recall some of the names on the lists? Do you have memories you would like to share with us? Let us know on our  Facebook  or  Twitter . DOUBLES LEADERS: Jake Gehri (2019) 17 Travis Hunt (2019) 15 Cory Scammell (2015) 15 (2011 Seattle Mariners draft pick) Cory Scammell (201...

**as seen on the Edmonton Prospects website ** Edmonton’s 2020 Sports Scene Officially Includes Your Prospects By Len Nunes “..the 5th year option that was part of our original agreement, at the end of the day, was decided that at this point in time that it was the best route to go.” Those are the words of the Edmonton Prospects Managing Partner Patrick Cassidy speaking to Dean Millard on the  “Prospects Baseball Show ”. In early November your Prospects were told by the City to begin ramping up for their 2020 season. On November 27th, all the I’s were dotted and T’s were crossed to officially declare the Prospects 10th season at RE/MAX Field. The team played at then-named TELUS Field in their inaugural year 2005 before taking up residency in the downtown diamond again in 2012. To see the full history of the Prospects, click  HERE. When asked on that episode of the “Prospects Baseball Show’ about the future of RE/MAX Field, Cassidy replied, “The City has already pu...

** originally posted on Win Column Sports ** Ladies and gentleman, I’ve watched my first Roller Derby game in over a decade, and only have one question. How the heck does it not get more fans in attendance?! My wife and I attended the  Oil City Roller Derby Lotus Invitational  this past Saturday. Admittedly, there were three games that night and we only caught one; however, we will definitely be back on June 15th for their next event. We were armed with just the basic premise of the game which is the “Jammer” – the player with a star cap pulled onto their helmet – scoring points for their respective team for breaking through the pack and doing a lap(s) around the circuit. After catching the game, I wish to expand on what you are going to see so that you are not left asking the same questions I was asking as I worked through the first half. No fancy words or terms, just a fan explaining what he saw knowing that he still has a lot to learn. Just arrived at the Sportsdo...

** originally posted on Win Column Sports ** I am just a fan! Not a former player at any level, never even picked up a stick until I was helping Ryan McNish in an Edmonton Rush “lacrosse 101” session at CFB Edmonton. Only there because as an employee of the Club at the time I had a hand in setting up the class. Long before being an employee or even a fan, I ordered season tickets for the inaugural season not knowing a single rule about the game of lacrosse. The learning curve of grasping the game that honestly is “the fastest game on two feet” was steep. Being Canadian, lacrosse is obviously compared to hockey but I find it much closer to basketball so I’ll break down the game using comparisons to both sports then go over some of the more unique to the sport of lacrosse elements. The breakdown will not be done in “lawyer speak”, it will be done in the same conversational tone that many a time during a Rush game was used to explain to the people around me that were visibly confuse...

**originally posted on Win Column Sports ** This was shortly after FC Edmonton and the CPL announced their union. It interesting to re-watch that video 16 months later. I asked Nathan and Adam the questions below which all target the issue of drawing more fans into Clarke Stadium and put the video on YouTube. You know why? Because the excitement of soccer needs to be seen and heard! 1) Edmonton is not known as a soccer town. The premature announcement of the death of FC Edmonton brought out the cynics. The rise of the YEG4CPL movement silenced (for now) a few cynics as it led to the return of the Eddies. Please explain your role in the movement. 2) By my use of the word soccer and not football you can tell I’m not really a soccer guy. Yet I became a  Rally Rabbit  and put down a season deposit based on my few experiences catching a game. If you worked for the Eddies, how would you promote the team? 3) I would promote the atmosphere but again, I’m not really there fo...

**article originally posted on Win Column Sports and ECBC website** Ladies and gentleman, baseball fans of all ages, please allow me to introduce you to the Edmonton Collegiate Baseball Club (ECBC). For clarity sake, for those who know the Edmonton Prospects as a college baseball team, the ECBC play in a different league and have a different focus. The timing of the ECBC league, the Canadian College Baseball Conference (CCBC), works perfectly with the schedule of the Prospects league of the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL), allowing them to play out of RE/MAX Field. Before answering any questions about the new baseball team in town let’s first share the lowdown on the league they play: “ The CCBC, a division of the Premier Baseball Association, is an independent college baseball league that is affiliated with institutions from The BC College Athletic Association and educational institutions from Alberta. The Board of Directors of the CCBC recognizes that academic achie...

** originally posted on Win Column Sports** The  Edmonton Collegiate Baseball Club  season starts today (Saturday March 23rd). The team plays on the road against the defending  Canadian College Baseball Conference  Champion  Okanagan College Coyotes . One ECBC player who will not be in the lineup is Matt Andreassen. To explain to you who Matt is and why he will not be in the lineup I have enlisted the help of the most qualified reporter I could find – his Mom Cathy. ECBC Website Meet #9 Matt Andreassen from Camrose, an outfielder for the Edmonton Collegiate Baseball team; third year Commerce student at University of Alberta, entering the Honours Accounting Program in the fall – and my oldest son. As a proud baseball Mom, I’m so thrilled that Matt has the opportunity to play a high level of baseball in Edmonton, while still attending the post-secondary institution of his choice. To quote Matt, “ he is a student who just happens to be an athlete .” Matt ha...