Sports | DrumhellerMail

Local bowler on a roll

    A local Drumheller resident has been knocking them down, one pin at a time.
   Placing first in provincials this year, Lance Tanke, will be advancing to play in the Master’s against some of Canada’s top bowlers this June.
   “I’m extremely nervous, this is probably the biggest bowling event of my bowling career thus far,” said Tanke.
   After missing provincials by a measly six points last year, Tanke was thrilled when he placed first in this year’s provincial tournament that took place at the Chinook Bowladrome in Calgary.
   “This year I made it quite handily,” said Tanke, who is the youngest bowler on his team of five.
   “At first it was a surprise,” he said.
   Now the 22-year-old has much bigger things on his plate as he must prepare for the upcoming Master’s, which will also be held in Calgary at the Chinook Bowladrome and Paradise Lanes.
   Tanke will be bowling 20 games against 36 other male contenders over a series of four days from the 30th of June until July 3.
   This has been a longtime goal of his, although Tanke was taken by surprise when he found out that he would, in fact, qualify for this year’s nationals.
   “I’ve never been to nationals at all,” said Tanke. “It’s daunting but very exciting.”
   Tanke has been bowling for roughly 17 years, six of which he’s spent working at the Sandstone Lanes bowling alley in Drumheller.
   “I’ve always enjoyed it, before it was strictly for fun, and now it’s fun and competitive,” he said.
   Tanke will have to up his game for the Master’s though, as he will be playing against some of the toughest contenders in the country.
   “I’m probably going to step it up a bit. Knowing that I’m going to nationals, I’ll have to iron some stuff out and make sure I’m comfortable,” said Tanke.
   “For the most part, at this point it’s just a mental game.”

Boogiemen season ends before it begins

    Junior lacrosse in Drumheller will have to wait one more year.
   The Boogiemen, the junior level lacrosse team representing Drumheller, will not be playing this summer, according to team organizer, Dave Powell.
   “There were not enough guys to play. A couple of the guys made Team Alberta for football and a couple junior hockey players were injured,” said Powell.
   The news is disappointing for Powell, who had to work hard to get the team into an official lacrosse league this year. As of early March, the team was gearing up for the season.

Dave Powell...
Organizer of the Boogiemen junior lacrosse team

   “I’m more than disappointed it didn’t happen,” said Powell.
   Now, many of the players will be heading to other communities to play.
   “A few of the guys are still going to play this year. A couple guys playing lacrosse in Okotoks, Olds, and Brooks asked if they could have some guys,” said Powell.
   The Boogiemen were formed last year, but had to wait a year before they were able to join a league. In that time, they played exhibition games. This year, they may do the same.
   “I’m not going to give up on it,” said Powell. “We’re going to try to get some exhibition games here and there.”
   Lacrosse fans hoping to see the Boogiemen in league action will have to wait another year. Powell is optimistic for next season.
   “There are a lot of Midgets moving up who will be able to play at the Junior level,” said Powell. “We have a strong Midget program this year, so we’ll have a good group come out of that, which will help us out quite a bit.”

Titans gear up for spring training

    Spring training is right around the corner which means the Drumheller Titans will soon be strapping on their helmets, cleats, pants and shoulder pads in preparation for the upcoming football season.
   “Theres a lot going on this year,” said Ken Fournier, head coach for the Drumheller Titans.
   “As far as spring training goes this year, it’s more or less just to bring the young guys up and get them introduced to our system.”
   Fournier has a lot in store for the team this year as they will have to spend some time going over the American rules before they embark on their trip to Honolulu in August.
   “We also need to get ready to go for fall because it’s going to be tight with only being allowed to practice so many days before we leave to Hawaii,” said Fournier.
   “Spring training could go until early June this year,” he added.
   So far the Titans have several tournaments planned for the spring, including a tournament in Okotoks on May 4.
   “During the first tournament we’ll be missing seven of our top players, so that’ll give the young guys a chance to step up,” said Fournier.
   The team this year looks promising as the roster has quickly began to fill up for spring training.
   “We only graduated seven from last year and we’re going to bring up more than that, so we expect around the 40 mark for the spring,” said Fournier.
   Equipment checkout will be on the 23rd and 24th of April with the first on-field practices taking place on the 25th and 26th.
   Two hour practices will resume over the next several weeks from Monday to Friday beginning at 4 p.m.

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