Football

Last week the Bisons announced two new additions to the football club as high school prospects Evan Gill and Thomas Miles have committed to play in the upcoming 2010 season. Both players were part of the 2008 ANAVETS Bowl Champion Churchill Bulldogs and were both highly scouted by competing CIS teams.

Gill, a defensive lineman/kicker, was team captain and MVP of the Bulldogs for both the 2007–08 seasons. Miles, a linebacker, was Churchill’s defensive MVP for the 2008 season and team captain from 2008–2009.

“Evan on the defensive line and Thomas as a linebacker will be a foundation for our defence to grow over the next five years at Manitoba,” said Bisons Head Coach Brian Dobie. “They both have the necessary tools to compete at a higher level. Both are outstanding athletes and proven successes plus highly academic with tremendous drive and work ethic.”

Hockey

Last week, Bisons netminder Steve Christie was named the Bison Sports Male Athlete of the Week for his effort in the final round of the Canada West playoffs. Christie started in three games for the Bisons and allowed only seven goals on 105 total shots.

Along with teammate Stephane Lenoski, Christie was also selected as one of the 2009–10 Canada West All-Stars when the league announced this year’s award winners earlier in the month.

Another big winner for the University of Manitoba was head coach of the men’s hockey team, Mike Sirant, who was named the recipient of the 2009–10 Canada West Coach of the Year award. In his 14th season with Manitoba Sirant led the Bisons to a 16-10-2 record, finishing third overall in the Canada West conference. This is the third time Sirant has won Coach of the Year honours as coach of the Bisons.

Track and field

The 2010 CIS Track and Field Championships took place this month from March 11–13. Manitoba’s Garth Suppes earned a silver medal in men’s weight throw on the second day of competition while Caley Miskimmin took fourth in women’s 60m.

On day three of the championships Josh Gundrum finished fourth in the men’s triple jump with a length of 14.46m. The men’s track and field team finished the event seated 11th overall in standings with 23 points while the women’s team finished 13th with 18.5.

Miskimmin was also named last week’s Bison Sports Female Athlete of the Week for completing her five year, multi-sport Bison career with a top five finish in the 60m dash. Miskimmin’s fourth place finish was Manitoba’s highest for a women’s track and field athlete during this year’s CIS Nationals.