Seventy-four players, coaches, support staff, referees and supporters from Canada, Colombia, New Zealand and Holland were part of the Dog River Howlers fourth tour to Medellin, Colombia, from Oct.31- Nov. 7. In the tradition of Howlers tours there was rugby, exploring/sight seeing and the all important social components.
The Howlers touring party arrived with some 70 bags of various gear and support material for the local rugby community and the Life by Life Foundation that we can proudly say Howlers’ Damon Weigl is the executive director of.
It was also a home coming for Carlos Pestana who is from one of Medellin’s under privileged barrios (Moravia) who is currently attending Shawinigan Lake School on the ‘Howlers Scholarship’ which is funded by the combined support of Andrew Purdey (who’s son Seth has played with the Howlers), Shawnigan Lake School and the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club.
The 3 Howlers teams went undefeated in their 5 exhibition games and 18 “Colombo-Canadian Rugby 7’s Tournament ” games in the U17 men, U18 men, U18 women divisions with all 3 final age category games played against the powerful Gatos Ruby Club from Medellin.
This tour again reinforces what the Howlers believe that “it’s more than a game, it’s a way of life.
U-18 WOMEN
Angie Asprilla – Medellin Colombia.
Lyric Atchison – North Vancouver BC
* Maggie Banks – Burnaby BC
Hazel Bice – North Vancouver BC
Luisa Estrads – Medellin Colombia
Linnea Hokanson – Beaumont Alberta
Samantha Johnston – New Zealand
* Alexie Pusch – Edmonton Alberta
Josie Pusch – Edmonton Alberta
* Mackenzie Pusch – Edmonton Alberta
Beau Schellekens – Gemonde Netherlands
Alaya Scramstad – Lashburn Saskatchewan
* – CAPPED HOWLERS
Coaches – Elissa Alaire, Mimi Appleby
Manager – David Pusch
U-18 MEN
Jhojan Oritz Aranga – Medellin Colombia
Henry Davitt – North Vancouver BC
* Mostyn Findlay – Regina Saskatchewan
* Tristan Franc – Prince Albert Saskatchewan
* Elliot Johnson – Edmonton Alberta
Curtis Marvin – calgary Alberta
Ben Newhook – St Johns Newfoundland
Jim Newman – Victoria BC
Evan Norris – Montreal Quebec
* Carlos Pestana – Medellin Colombia
* Nick Taylor – Calgary Alberta
* Steve Wihak – Calgary Alberta
* – CAPPED HOWLERS
Coaches – Peni Lutu – Regina Saskatchewan, Dick Cornish – Wilcos Saskatchewan
Manager – Leo Lane – Regina Saskatchewan ( also tour manager)
U-17 MEN
Connor Byron – Abbotsford BC
Owen Cumming – Victoria BC
Oluf Erasmus – Provost Alberta
Julian Foggitt – Victoria BC
Quinn Hayhurst – Victoria BC
Sam Ibbotson – Canmore Alberta
James MacDonald – White Rock BC
* Dean Mason – Regina Saskatchewan
Carter Miller – Abbotsford BC
Santiago Rivera – Medellin Colombia
* Camilo Uribe – Medellin Colombia
Mees Van Oord – Netherlands
* – CAPPED HOWLERS
Coaches – Ryan Banks, Jack Taylor
Manager – Nolan Young
Tour Doctor – Deon Erasmus
Tour Physio / Trainer – Robin Ferguson
Tour Consultant – Damon Weigl
Tour Photographer – Rene Tobon
Tour Video Crew – Don List, Denn Brooks
Tour Transport Manager – Lalo Granados
SUPPORTERS
Norm Beug – Regina Saskatchewan – supporter
Antione Erasmus – Provost Alberta – player’s parent
Gord Gustafson – Victoria BC – grandfather of player
Karl Fix – Regina Saskatchewan – club president
Ryan Fix – Swift Current Saskatchewan – supporter
Neru Franco – Prince Albert Saskatchewan – player’s parent
Ian Godfrey – Calgary Alberta – supporter and referee
Steve Ibbotson – Canmore Alberta – supporter and player’s parent
Dave Jukes – Moose Jaw Saskatchewan – supporter
Chris Lasher – Vancouver BC – supporter
Dale Matthews- Saskatoon Saskatchewan – supporter
Ralph Miller – Abbotsford BC – supporter and player’s parent
Paul Newhook – St. John’s Newfoundland – player’s parent
Peter Norris – Montreal Quebec- supporter and player’s parent
Caroline Newman – Victoria BC – player’s parent
Lisa Peters – Regina Saskatchewan – supporter and TV host ( doing feature and the tour)
David Pusch – Edmonton Alberta – player’s parent
Richard Rodgers – St. John’s Newfoundland – supporter
Tim Schaefer – Regina Saskatchewan – supporter
Chris Scramstad – Lashburn Saskatchewan – supporter and player’s parent
Garry Tetlock – Regina Saskatchewan – supporter and referee
