The first of September will bring with it the official start of training camps for all Thompson Rivers University WolfPack teams.

This follows the Canada West releasing a revised sport format plan for 2020-21 in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The new formats will result in fewer games, less travel, and in the case of soccer – a shorter training camp.

WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer teams will only have 10 regular season matches. The women’s league has been broken into three divisions (BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan/Manitoba).  The men’s league will have two divisions: the BC division has seven teams with the Prairie having six. Both the men’s and women’s programs will play 10 regular season matches.   All of the matches/games in all TRU sports will be played provincially utilizing buses rather than planes.

Traditionally, the WolfPack soccer squads would begin their training camps in early August.

Women’s head coach Mark Pennington, heading into his second campaign at the helm says,  “Firstly, we are just happy if we can get back together as a team and get back on the field. Obviously, the later start time isn’t ideal but it’s the same for everyone so we are in the same boat. It will definitely be a strange preseason and we will have to get a lot done in a short space of time, while at the same time being conscious of the amount we can load on the players.  The players have been working hard through the off season on their fitness so hopefully, they can all come into camp fit and we can spend less time in that department.  The coaching staff has already been working on creating different training session plans for small groups, building into whole team training sessions and this preparation will be important to allow us to hit the ground running and utilize the shortened preseason.”

Pennington is looking at hopefully holding a multi team festival type exhibition tournament at Hillside Stadium if possible.

The WolfPack men’s soccer team has a lot of returning veterans.  Head coach John Antulov agrees with Pennington that every squad in Canada West is in the same situation with shortened training camps and exhibition schedules.

“ It is really important that we work with the group and stay on top of them through the summer to ensure that they are really following their strength and conditioning programs diligently from Koz and Kevin.  If everyone really prepares properly we can really focus on tactics when the players get into camp. If everyone comes in prepared, we will spend the main focus on tactical work, set pieces and working together as a group.  As we are in condensed window it is really important to work out details that could make a difference in a tight game.”

Pennington is excited to work with his players in small groups in August when they arrive in Kamloops.  “We will be following the issued guidelines, but my initial thoughts are to utilize the small group training opportunities to sharpen up the players’ techniques and skills whilst gradually increasing the load on players. We will also utilize this time to have team meetings, video sessions and team building. It’ll mean long hours for the coaching staff but we are looking forward to the challenge.

The TRU women have 10 new recruits coming into the program this year.  The TRU men are in a different situation. “Very fortunate this year as we had the majority of our group returning (last year was a big recruiting year),” says Antulov. “We had confirmed 4 or 5 players before we were hit with COVID so it did not affect us a great deal.  We were already focusing on the 2021 recruiting class and a lot of that is being done by video and chat.”

Summing up the shortened training period and regular season, Pennington adds, “The safety of everyone is paramount and I have all my fingers and toes crossed that everyone stays safe and that we can get back to playing again as soon as possible. I think from a mental health perspective, it is important we do everything we can to give these players a great university sports experience. I know Curtis (Atkinson, TRU Athletics and Recreation Director) and all the department staff have been working hard to get some version of a season up and going-so a huge thanks to everyone.”

 

Barring another outbreak of COVID 19, the Canada West basketball season will feature 16 games with three divisions (seven teams in the BC division, 5 in the Alberta division and five squads in the Saskatchewan/Manitoba division).   Volleyball will see a 16-match season with three divisions (five schools in the BC division, four in the Alberta Division.  The Saskatchewan/Manitoba division would have five women’s squads and four men’s teams).

Playoff formats in all three sports have yet to be announced.

WolfPack Teams to start training camp September 1st as Canada West unveils schedule formats

For Release: NOON  Monday, May 11, 2020

KAMLOOPS, BC—The first of September will bring with it the official start of training camps for all Thompson Rivers University WolfPack teams.

This follows the Canada West releasing a revised sport format plan for 2020-21 in the wake of the COVID 19 pandemic.

The new formats will result in fewer games, less travel, and in the case of soccer – a shorter training camp.

WolfPack men’s and women’s soccer teams will only have 10 regular season matches. The women’s league has been broken into three divisions (BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan/Manitoba).  The men’s league will have two divisions: the BC division has seven teams with the Prairie having six. Both the men’s and women’s programs will play 10 regular season matches.   All of the matches/games in all TRU sports will be played provincially utilizing buses rather than planes.

Traditionally, the WolfPack soccer squads would begin their training camps in early August.

Women’s head coach Mark Pennington, heading into his second campaign at the helm says,  “Firstly, we are just happy if we can get back together as a team and get back on the field. Obviously, the later start time isn’t ideal but it’s the same for everyone so we are in the same boat. It will definitely be a strange preseason and we will have to get a lot done in a short space of time, while at the same time being conscious of the amount we can load on the players.  The players have been working hard through the off season on their fitness so hopefully, they can all come into camp fit and we can spend less time in that department.  The coaching staff has already been working on creating different training session plans for small groups, building into whole team training sessions and this preparation will be important to allow us to hit the ground running and utilize the shortened preseason.”

Pennington is looking at hopefully holding a multi team festival type exhibition tournament at Hillside Stadium if possible.

The WolfPack men’s soccer team has a lot of returning veterans.  Head coach John Antulov agrees with Pennington that every squad in Canada West is in the same situation with shortened training camps and exhibition schedules.

“ It is really important that we work with the group and stay on top of them through the summer to ensure that they are really following their strength and conditioning programs diligently from Koz and Kevin.  If everyone really prepares properly we can really focus on tactics when the players get into camp. If everyone comes in prepared, we will spend the main focus on tactical work, set pieces and working together as a group.  As we are in condensed window it is really important to work out details that could make a difference in a tight game.”

Pennington is excited to work with his players in small groups in August when they arrive in Kamloops.  “We will be following the issued guidelines, but my initial thoughts are to utilize the small group training opportunities to sharpen up the players’ techniques and skills whilst gradually increasing the load on players. We will also utilize this time to have team meetings, video sessions and team building. It’ll mean long hours for the coaching staff but we are looking forward to the challenge.

The TRU women have 10 new recruits coming into the program this year.  The TRU men are in a different situation. “Very fortunate this year as we had the majority of our group returning (last year was a big recruiting year),” says Antulov. “We had confirmed 4 or 5 players before we were hit with COVID so it did not affect us a great deal.  We were already focusing on the 2021 recruiting class and a lot of that is being done by video and chat.”

Summing up the shortened training period and regular season, Pennington adds, “The safety of everyone is paramount and I have all my fingers and toes crossed that everyone stays safe and that we can get back to playing again as soon as possible. I think from a mental health perspective, it is important we do everything we can to give these players a great university sports experience. I know Curtis (Atkinson, TRU Athletics and Recreation Director) and all the department staff have been working hard to get some version of a season up and going-so a huge thanks to everyone.”

 

Barring another outbreak of COVID 19, the Canada West basketball season will feature 16 games with three divisions (seven teams in the BC division, 5 in the Alberta division and five squads in the Saskatchewan/Manitoba division).   Volleyball will see a 16-match season with three divisions (five schools in the BC division, four in the Alberta Division.  The Saskatchewan/Manitoba division would have five women’s squads and four men’s teams).

Playoff formats in all three sports have yet to be announced.

Ultimately a determination on Canada West’s 2020-21 season will be contingent on clearance from health authorities in all four Western provinces, member universities permitting sport competition, and the availability of venues suitable for Canada West competition.