APRIL
A look at April of 2010, and the local sports happenings, as presented in the pages of The Citizen's sports section:
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Prince George minor hockey product and Cougars forward Brett Connolly is invited to the NHL's scouting combine, a big step that would lead to an historic day in Los Angeles.
UNBC veteran forward Kady Dandeneau undergoes knee surgery.
One employee is laid off by PacificSport's northern B.C. wing, leading to questions about the future of the government-funded operation.
The Prince George Spruce Kings start the process of gutting and retooling a team that missed the BCHL playoffs, holding a spring camp.
Dr. George Iwama, president of UNBC, vows to continue to battle for CIS sports status.
Local product Jordan Yu puts his resume in the ring to replace Mike Raimbault as head coach of the UNBC men's basketball team. Despite strong credentials, arguably better than the man who got the job, Yu would remain leading the Capilano Blues.
Prior to a spring evaluation camp, Loralyn Murdoch, the head coach of the women's UNBC basketball team, expects three spots to be up for grabs when the roster is set in the fall.
Trevor Sprague, coach of the major midget Cariboo Cougars, is the unanimous choice as top coach in the B.C. major midget league.
Brett Connolly of the Prince George Cougars is named to the national under-18 team for the world championship.
An under-13 girls soccer team from Prince George takes gold at a tournament in Kelowna. Petr Brbot is the head coach.
Bowler Kelsy Hogh wins provincials, advances to nationals.
Brandon Atherton is thrown into the fire of the National Lacrosse League as a goaltender for the Edmonton Rush.
Mixed martial-arts fighter Bill Mahood announces he plans one last bout, to be held during a planned card set for May.
The Mohawks ice a team of players familiar throughout levels of hockey in Prince George for a three-game series against Fort St. John.
Even with a struggle for numbers in the sport, the fastball T-wolves prepare for a busy summer of travel and competition.
The Mohawks lose the first of three games against the visiting Fort St. John Flyers, and end up dropping all the matchups.
Local content is high for the B.C. Cup hockey scouting extravaganza, with junior scouts from all over ready to converge on CN Centre.
The Prince George Sports Hall of Fame ceremony is held, with Kurt Ottesen, Scott Bellavance, Kim Chadwick, Wayne Sponagle, Tony Tomra and Hans Niedermayer joining the esteemed list.
Skier Alix Wells cracks the top-10 twice in alpine races in Whistler.
Local forward Chris Allbee, a graduate of the Cariboo Cougars, lights the lamp at the spring camp of the Prince George Spruce Kings, then is not offered a card. He signs with the Quesnel Millionaires and goes on to a successful rookie season.
The Prince George Senior Lacrosse League gets set for its 20th season.
The Prince George bid to bring the national midget championship, the TELUS Cup, picks up steam, led by Andy Beesley and Shawn Rice.
Brett Connolly and Team Canada open the under-18 world tournament with a 3-1 loss to Switzerland.
Mike Raimbault confirms he is taking the University of Winnipeg CIS job, leaving UNBC.
Connolly scores as Canada beats Belarus 11-3, but Canada still fails to advance to the semifinals at the world under-18 tournament.
Motocross season gets set to start at Blackwater track.
The Cougars have it confirmed, they will pick first overall in both the bantam draft and CHL import draft.
Recreational soccer is taking prominence over the competitive leagues, moving from the sport side of the game to the recreational angle.
Katie Mann's record-breaking swimming career is noted, including 10 records in her current age group alone.
The Prince George Selects lacrosse team gets set for a home series against the Okotoks Raiders, a team featuring a few local ties.
Local high school basketball star Natalie Chappell chooses Douglas College as her post-secondary home.
The Prince George Cycling Club gets an early start on the season, with races at Pineview.
Goaltender Megan Spooner is named to the provincial triple-A hockey team.
Four local powerlifters, Jay Cook, Gibby Chasse, Mike Webber and Tara Green, prepare for nationals.
Joe Bloski of Saskatoon wins the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance marketing award. Shawn Rice of Prince George, who is involved with minor hockey, Ducks Unlimited and the World Baseball Challenge, is a finalist.
Brandon Deschamps lands a college football gig at the University of British Columbia.
A major judo event takes over the Civic Centre, with 270 taking part.
Local player Tyler Brough is one of the players on the roster of the Allan Cup national senior hockey champion Fort St. John Flyers.
Inderbir Gill of the UNBC men's basketball team is named athlete of the year in the CCAA.
The Prince George Cougars select Alex Forsberg with the first pick in the WHL bantam draft. Forsberg's older brother Jesse is a defenceman with the team. The Cats also take local products Chase Witala, Raymond Grewal and Eli Jarvis.
