Author Archives: Jamie Shiho

Coquitlam’s Holland Looks to Anchor Dolphins Defence

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The Miami Dolphins fell just shy of a playoff spot in 2020 after a promising start to their campaign. Sadly rookie quarterback woes and poor defensive play in the secondary lead the Dolphins not to the playoffs, but back to the drawing board this offseason. 

In the first round of the 2021 NFL draft the Dolphins selected Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver, and college go-to target of Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle will enrich the offensive attack of Miami which saw its fair share of growing pains last season. But it’s their second pick of the draft that might prove to be not only a massive steal, but the most productive rookie of their entire class. 

Jevon Holland is no stranger to football, his dad not only played but coached in the CFL for years. Holland had higher aspirations. Born in Coquitlam, BC Holland excelled on the gridiron, prompting the family to move down south to give him a greater chance at success. Holland would attend Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland California where he dominated on both sides of the ball. He earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon where he made an immediate impact, leading the team in interceptions his freshman season. Holland would go on to earn the starting role full time in his sophomore season again leading the team in interceptions. 

Autzen Stadium, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

(Ken Lund / Flickr)

Covid would strike, and Holland would opt out of the 2020 NCAA season and declare for the NFL draft a full year in advance. While already a top safety prospect, a full year of non-contact training did very little to halt his draft stock from rising. 

Many believed the standout to be a first round caliber pick leading to the shock of many when all 32 teams passed on him in the first round. It didn’t take long in the second round for him to go off the board as the Dolphins selected him with just the fourth pick on day two. 

It was widely believed the Dolphins were all in on running back Javonte Williams heading into day two before the Denver Broncos traded up to snag Williams away from Miami. 

This might prove to be one of the best things to happen to Miami. Their passing defense ranked in the low bottom third of the league come the end of the season, and the Dolphins have since released long-time starting safety Reshad Jones.

The Dolphins have not made the playoffs since 2016, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2000. The 2020 campaign proved they are right there in contention. They have the right head coach and general manager combination, but still need additional help on the back end. Should Holland prove to be the ball hawk he was at Oregon, Miami could be looking at ending their twenty year long playoff drought, creating an absolute star in the process.  

Victoria Native Hopes to Capture Elusive NBA Championship

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Steve Nash never won an NBA championship over his illustrious career. Nash played for eighteen pro seasons including two stints with the Phoenix Suns, and runs with the Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Lakers. 

While with the Suns, Nash was crowned MVP twice, and led his squad to the conference championship in back to back seasons in 2006 and 2007. Nash would be traded to the Lakers in the offseason of 2012 with the hopes of winning a championship ring that eluded him his entire career. Alas age would catch up to Nash, and the next three years would see him playing as a shell of his former self. Nash would retire in 2015, ending his hall of fame worthy career without a championship to his name.

Nash would revive his NBA career in 2020, this time as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, despite having never been a coach in any facet of the game. 

2013 Brooklyn Nets 1

(Michael Tipton / Flickr)

In his first season at the helm in Brooklyn Nash finished second in the Eastern conference with a record of 48-24.

His tenure with the Nets, although only one season long, might prove to be his best shot at winning NBA gold throughout his entire career. The Nets boast one of the better scoring attacks in the NBA, highlighted by perennial all-star selections Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and former game changing talents in Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. 

While the talent is certainly not lacking on the Brooklyn squad, health and unity have no doubt been holding back the team from achieving its full potential. Aside from being one of the biggest divas in the entire league, Kevin Durant was limited to playing only thirty-five games in 2021. Kyrie Irving, no stranger to drama himself, only suited up for 54 games, and James Harden, who never leaves the media without a talking point in his own right, played only thirty-six games. 

 

With the NBA playoffs beginning Saturday, Nash will no doubt want all his players healthy and on the same page. There’s no question everyone on his team wants to win a title, but will they put their ego’s aside to do so, or will Nash need another season under his belt to figure out how to feed all the mouths on his team and capture that ever elusive NBA title. 

Green and Benning Returning to Canucks

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Vancouver Canucks head coach Travis Green has received a two-year contract extension from the team. Green took over the team in April of 2017 taking over from Willie Desjardins. During that span the Canucks have held a record of 125-132-32 making the playoffs during the 2019-2020 season.

The move comes with a generally positive consensus among Canuck fans. Many believe Green is not the problem with the team’s recent woes highlighted by a 2020-2021 campaign maimed by Covid-19 outbreaks throughout the team, on top of an absolutely grueling schedule.

So who can be blamed for the struggles on the ice? The immediate attention goes to general manager Jim Benning, who’s job the Canuck faithful have been calling for for many seasons now. Many believed that this year would be the year we would see a change in the front office, leaving the job security of Green in question for much longer than it should have been.

Vancouver Canucks

(Luke Lawreszuk / Flickr)

When commenting on the extension of Green, Benning said “ we have some of the best young talent in the NHL and I believe Travis is the right coach to help us achieve team success and return to the playoffs”. 

To the dismay of many the organization announced that Benning will return for next season at the very least. Benning’s contract runs through the end of the 2022-2023 season but it’s doubtful he sees his contract to the end barring an incredible turnaround.  The Canucks have missed the playoffs in five out of the seven seasons with Benning in the front office.

Both Benning and Green have expressed their intentions to be active in free agency this offseason, and hope to address some of the many needs of the team, including speed in their forward attack and some consistency to their struggling back end.

The Canucks have had one of the most loyal fanbases in all the National Hockey League for years now, with Benning on the hot seat and Green’s extending his contract, the duo will need to lead Vancouver back to the playoffs in a hurry to avoid another changing of the guard in the front office

 

Steerlers’ Claypool Primed for Breakout Sophomore Season

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Abbotsford, BC native Chase Claypool was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Claypool immediately became an impact player on what was already a dynamic, but aging offence. The wide-receiver only needed a game and a half to make his impact, scoring an 80 yard touchdown, the first of his career in week two against the Denver Broncos.

The 6’4 pass catcher finished his rookie year with 62 receptions for 873 yards and 9 touchdowns through the air, to go along with another two touchdowns on the ground. Claypool will look to add to those numbers in year two and it might be easier than most people expect. 

Heinz Field

(James Watt / Flickr)

Although the Steelers’ wide-receiver room is heavily occupied, a good thing when you have no running-game (which last year the Steelers did not) Claypool seemed poised to take over the top spot as the offense’s deep threat. A great position considering the addition of rookie power running back Najjee Harris. Harris will no doubt be getting a truck load of carries this coming season bringing opposing defenses’ attention to the backfield. In steps the former Notre Dame product. 

The more attention the backfield gets in the NFL the less attention goes to the deep ball. Fellow wide-outs Juju Smith-Schuster and Diante Johnson are more of “inside the numbers” route runners and pass catchers, but Claypool has the speed, size and instinct to take any play deep down the field and to the house. The question remains, who see’s the drop in targets out of the big three receivers in Pittsburgh? Smith-Schuster, while productive, has seen his share of immaturity and off the field issues on top of concerns with his ball security on the field, and Johnson at times has shown he can’t catch a ball unless you walk it over and hand it to him personally. My money for next season’s breakout player for the Steelers, goes to the promising, mind you yet to be proven, threat in Claypool. 

 

The Pittsburgh Steelers will open their 2021 campaign against last year’s AFC championship game contender Buffalo Bills. 

Edler’s Time as a Canuck Might be Over

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Long-time Vancouver Canuck Alex Edler’s contract has come to an end. Despite the thirty-five year old being vocal about his desire to return to the team. 

“I still love the game. I still feel like I can play” says Edler. “I’ve been fortunate to play here my whole career. [It’s a] great place to live and play. Great fans”

The hometown favourite has been with the Canucks since the 2006/2007 season, totalling 925 regular season games. Elders best campaign came during the 2011/2012 season, showing a career high in goals (11) assists (38) points (49) and games played (82). The Canucks would go on to win the Presidents trophy for the second straight year that season, before falling to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings.

 

The 6’3, 212 pound defenceman ranked third on the team amongst his position group in minutes played behind Tyler Myers and Quinn Hughes after leading the team in time spent on the ice in 2019.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/governmentofalberta/23577005941/in/photolist-BVqjsr-ZGcQn7-Zr42XR-Zr435z-ZGcQjb-DDGyhL-Zr432i-2jcTDDc-216YQPG-nQ4K14-2kUREHJ-2k7BNKV-2kT3MRJ-hTZ81m-Fryqu5-2jHcsgK-wqt8wk-2jeP1sj-7E5RNy-27fSJBZ-YJTTiz-GNnPMN-sGrFEZ-8kjK5K-6EqSWr-2kRuBZs-NLvrSP-iteQMi-2kSQGVk-2jFwy4U-2kTnUef-2kYmF9K-zG5NAx-2kxtAgC-2kH42so-WhrC7U-77bKNk-2kEzAUg-2kf1AHk-2kyHaTi-2kyVTbF-2jLr2g7-Mp16Ah-Qv29nm-2kKezJ4-2imsXEh-2kKefTD-2kH3rpH-2jx6H8e-2k8DteR

( Government of Alberta / Flickr )

Edler has been a fan favourite for years now in Vancouver earned by his loyalty to the team, having never worn another sweater in the National Hockey League. With the uncertainty surrounding the contracts of general manager Jim Benning and head coach Travis Greene, the likelihood of Edler returning to the team remains a mystery. The Canucks have yet to approach Edler in regards to new contract negotiations and it seems unlikely for that to happen until the contracts in the front office and behind the bench are addressed first. Should the Canucks part ways with Benning or Greene (or both), it would put Edler’s position on the team in increased jeopardy. With the young star Hughes poised to enter his prime sooner rather than later, it appears the odds seem to be stacked against Edler and he could be looking for a new team to call home sooner rather than later.

The Canucks finished last in the North Division in their most recent campaign, after a season-long struggle with Covid-19 and hold the ninth best odds in the league to win the draft lottery.

BC Premiere Would Welcome MLB to Vancouver

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Major League Baseball’s Oakland Athletics have been in search of a new waterfront stadium in Oakland for years now, a project valued at $12 billion. With no likely suitors on the verge of a potential deal, the MLB has instructed the A’s to start the process of relocation. 

Many cities have been thrown into the mix as to where the new home of the A’s should be. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred even confirmed five potential cities currently being explored, including Portland, Nashville, Las Vegas, and of course Montreal. Las Vegas would seem the most likely, given the close ties and warm welcome the NFL’s Raiders received after their recent move from Oakland to Las Vegas. Not to mention the abundance of potential buyers currently positioned in Sin City. 

Depth of (Ball) Field

( Stephen Rahn / Flickr)

The fifth city on the commissioners list was our very own Vancouver, BC and Premiere John Horgan said during a press conference via the Vancouver Sun he would be more than welcome having Major League Baseball in VanCity.

“I was excited to work with the [Vancouver] Canadians when they were potentially moving out of Vancouver” says Horgan when asked about the reality of the move to Vancouver actually being possible. “Of course we need to address a whole bunch of issues before we see a ball thrown and a bat swung but if there was a prospect of bringing the MLB to Vancouver I would be right behind that”

Vancouver

(Werner Bayer / Flickr)

To say there are a whole bunch of issues to be addressed first is a major understatement. First of all, who is going to step up to purchase the team. The Kansas City Royals were sold for $1 Billion back in 2019, and the New York Mets sold for just under $2.5 billion in November 2020. While not impossible it seems improbable with a market like Vegas in the mix as well. Also to be considered, where would they play? BC place is incredibly versatile and has an retractable roof, but it’s no long term solution. Scheduling conflicts no doubt would become an issue with the stadium playing host to the BC Lions, Vancouver White Caps, and a potential new national sports team. Not to mention, someone has to pay for the new stadium as well!

The success and warm welcoming of the Raiders, combined with the financial stability that Las Vegas possesses makes the desert the most likely candidate, but nonetheless all cards are on the table for a potential move to Vancouver for the A’s…..eh?

One Shot to See Fans During the Habs vs Leafs Series

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Playoff hockey is back in Canada and as per usual, games will see no fans in attendance come the first puck drop of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But that doesn’t mean we might not see them at all. There still remains one shot at seeing fans in the arena and it might not take any miracles to see it happen. 

 

Quebec announced their plans to allow an indoor venue attendance of 2500 people, or in this case fans. Quebec announced their intention to lift all public curfews as well. Both moves are set to become official starting May 28th just one day prior to the Game 6 matchup being the Montreal Canadiens, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

 

Canadiens Brendan Gallagher

(statschew / Flickr)

The top-seeded Leafs will visit the Habs on back-to-back nights for games 3 and 4, before returning home to Toronto for game 5. With Ontario still struggling to get their Covid-19 spread under control it doesn’t look as though the same attendance permits will be implemented, meaning the Habs will have one shot to see their home-ice fans for the first time in over a year, that being Game 6.

 

While not impossible it might prove to be a true grind for the Habs to make it to Game 6, as their opponent Leafs boast one of the top offensive attacks in the National Hockey League. The Leafs finished first in the North division with a record of 35-14-7 while the Canadiens finished fourth going 24-21-11.

 

Canadiens’ executive vice-president and chief commercial officer France Margaret Belanger said in a statement “although the number of spectators remains limited, we applaud this decision which allows us to foresee an eventual return to normality”. Belanger would later add “we really missed our fans and spectators and we cannot wait to host them again”.

 

The Leafs and Habs series will start Thursday May 20th at 4:30pm on CBC.

BC Quarterback Signs with Home-Province Lions

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Victoria, BC native Nathan Rourke has signed a three year contract with his home-province BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. After being eligible for the National Football League draft in 2020 and going undrafted he was selected in the second round of the CFL draft with the fifteenth overall selection. He spent the entire year off the field however as the 2020 CFL season was canceled due to Covid-19

His three year deal includes two years guaranteed with the third being a player option. Rourke’s contract also includes an opt-out clause permitting him to pursue a career in the NFL at any time should the opportunity present itself. 

 

The 6’2 quarterback began his playing career at Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary in Ontario, playing three seasons before transferring to Edgewood Academy in Alabama for his senior season. Upon finishing his high school career, Rourke played one season at Fort Scott Community College, later transferring to Ohio University to round out his college career.

Peden Stadium

(Dan Keck / Flickr)

While playing at Ohio, Rourke led the Bobcats to a 25-14 record, including three consecutive NCAA Bowl victories. After going undrafted in the NFL draft, and sitting out the entirety of 2020, the BC product was invited to the 2021 rookie training camp of the NFL’s New York Giants. While in New York the dual-threat athlete played mostly at receiver and caught some eyes  during his time at the position. Potentially leading to further NFL opportunities down the road, and justifying the NFL opt-out clause in his contract.

 

Rourke will join a number of fellow BC products on his hometown team, including wide receiver Lemar Durant, linebacker Boseko Lokombo, running-back Jamel Lyles, and rookie linebacker Ben Hladik. 

 

With star quarterback Mike Reilly still a mainstay at the top of the Lions’ depth chart, it will be interesting to see if Rourke will continue his career playing the signal caller, or if he will transition to a position where his natural talent can be showcased at a greater level. 

 

The CFL is set to start their revised fourteen game schedule on August 5th, with the Grey Cup championship game being held in Hamilton, Ontario in December. 

 

Mann Cup Canceled For Second Straight Year

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Covid-19 has struck the Canadian sports world again. This time taking away for the second straight year, the national senior men’s box lacrosse championship, the Mann Cup. The champions are decided by a best-of-seven series pitting the league champions of Major Series Lacrosse, representing the East, and league champions of the Western Lacrosse Association, representing the West.

 

The decision to cancel the championship tournament for the second year in a row was decided by representatives from both MSL and the WLA. Both sides cited non- essential travel restrictions preventing players from being able to be with their respected organizations, and also preventing teams from travelling to and from their respective games. 

 

The WLA and MSL also stated government restrictions on large gatherings would play a huge role in the decision to not only cancel the Mann Cup, but the entire lacrosse season entirely. The season would have seen its start at the beginning of July, with the culmination of the season coming in September with the Mann Cup championship. Commissioners of both the WLA and MSL made clear their desire to, at the very least, start their season late. The two sides would later come to agree that to attempt to hold a season at all would not be “possible nor responsible”.

Postcard: Queens Park Arena, New Westminster, BC, c.1940s

( Rob / Flickr) Historic Queens Park Arena, home to many Mann Cup Championships.

The biggest question remains however, is how will the lack of financial income impact both leagues moving forward. Two full seasons of no ticket sales, not to mention the economic setbacks sponsors will have faced due to Covid-19 closures and restrictions will unquestionably take its toll on both the WLA and MSL.

 

2020, and 2021 will mark the only two years since the modern era of lacrosse began in 1926, that the Mann Cup will not be awarded. 

 

The last team to win the Man Cup were the Peterborough Lakers of Ontario, who have taken home the last three Mann Cup championship trophies.

Five Former BCHSF League players selected in the 2021 CFL Draft

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A total of five players from the British Columbia High School Football Association were selected in May 2021’s CFL Draft.

Nelson Lokombo, a defensive back formerly of WJ Mouat Senior Secondary in Abbotsford, and later of the University of Saskatchewan, will stay in green and white after being drafted to the Saskatchewan RoughRiders with the second overall pick of the first round. Lokombo was a ball hawk during his time with Saskatchewan, totalling ten interceptions, and fifteen pass break-ups during his time with the Huskies. 

Former South Delta Secondary School standout Grant McDonald selected in the second round, 

Fourteenth overall by the Edmonton Football Team. McDonald originally accepted a scholarship offer to the University of Maine, before transferring to the University of Calgary, joining his older brother Jack in the process. McDonald will play linebacker for Edmonton.

Image from page 303 of "The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association football guide. The official rules book and record book of college football" (1907)

(Internet Archive Book Images / Flickr)

Only three picks later, former STM product Terrell Jana who later played four seasons at the University of Virginia was selected by the RoughRiders. Jana played Quarterback while at STM before transitioning to Wide Receiver while at Virginia, where he will stay for the start of his career with the ‘Riders.

In round three of the draft the BC Lions selected hometown linebacker Ben Hladik. Hladik who stands 6’4, 235 pounds, played his high school ball for the Vernon Panthers before continuing his defensive playmaking in his home province for the UBC Thunderbirds. Hladik is slated to play linebacker for his hometown Lions but shows enough versatility to be moved around at different positions on the defensive side of the ball.

Rounding out the ‘BC Boys’ was former teammate of Grant McDonald at South Delta Secondary and the University of Calgary, Charlie Moore. The 6’3, 215 pound linebacker will stay in Calgary after being drafted by the Stampeders in the third round with the twenty-sixth overall pick. Moore looks to continue disrupting offences and will continue to play linebacker for the Stamps.

As a former player in the BCHSFL myself I can attest all five players drafted from BC High School Football will shine and provide great depth and on-field production for each of their new football teams.