For the third consecutive year over 70 Bison student-athletes have been named CIS Academic All-Canadians for the 2009-10 season. Students who qualify for this yearly honour must have maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in their field of study at the U of M.
Of note, this is the fifth time soccer and track & field athlete Jennifer Campbell has earned the distinction. Bison athletes Chelsea Braun, Erica Holmes, Kathryn Ateah, Lianna Bestvater, Barret Hildebrandt and Meaghan Woo have now been named Academic All-Canadians for the fourth straight year.
“It is exciting to see so many of our student-athletes achieve this honor on more than one occasion throughout their career at the University of Manitoba,” said Bison Sports Athletic Director Coleen Dufresne. “Even more impressive is that 40 per cent of our CIS Academic All- Canadians earned a 4.0 or higher.”
Basketball
The men’s basketball team has recruited Keith Omoerah, Josh Ogden and Xavier Smith for the upcoming 2010-11 season. All three players are guards, Omoerah and Smith both coming from Manitoba schools while Ogden last played for the Lake Region State College Royals in North Dakota.
Hockey
The men’s hockey team had received commitments from MJHL veteran Zach Tully and former Bison Myles Rumsey for the 2010-11 season. Rumsey formerly played with the Bisons in the 2007-08, 2008-09 seasons while Tully last played for the Portage Terriers.
Football
The football team recently announced a total of seven local players that have committed to the Bisons for the 2010-11 season.
Sisler Spartans linebacker Ryan Ditchfield and defensive back Mitchell Harrison, St. John’s offensive lineman Bradley Schwean, Dickinson State University defensive end Christien Walby, Churchill Bulldogs offensive lineman Kris Stevens, receiver Anthony Malott and offensive lineman Ben Downs have all transferred/committed to the University of Manitoba for the upcoming CIS football season.
“In this group, Winnipeggers Ben Downs and Anthony Malott were a couple of the best players in the province when they left,” stated Bison football head coach Brian Dobie. “It is a huge bonus to welcome them back to the Bison program this season.”
Broadcast
The Canada West Universities Athletic Association announced last month that they have officially signed a new two-year deal with Shaw Communications that will ensure Canada West football games will be broadcast live on Shaw stations across Western Canada.
Shaw’s “Game of the Week” schedule follows the University of Manitoba on Saturday, Sept. 11 when the Bisons host the University of Alberta and on Saturday Oct. 23 when the Bisons travel to Alberta for their final away game of the season.
Shaw stations will also air the Canada West semi-final on Nov. 6 and the 74th Hardy Cup on Nov. 13.
