Lions quartet cracks Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Oskar Stack-Michasiw, left, and Luca Veeman are Olympian prospects.

The Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club had a highlight start to 2022.

On January 4, the Lions had two present and two past members named to the Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list including Bon Lowe, Oskar Stack-Michasiw, Daniel Pauli and Luca Veeman. Stack-Michasiw and Veeman are the two current Lions who made the list.

Lowe and Pauli are the two former Lions who made the list. They graduated from high school in Saskatoon last June and relocated to Calgary for the start of the 2021-22 season.

All four skaters are members of Saskatchewan’s provincial long track team for the 2021-22 campaign, while Veeman is also a member of the provincial short track team.

The four athletes are set to receive funding for training and earn a potential spot with Canada’s speed skating national team program. Each athlete in the top 30 receives $7,500 in funding from the RBC Future Olympic Program.

The top 30 list was made through the RBC Training Ground program partnership between RBC, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Bell Media to find and support Canada’s future Olympians between the ages of 14 and 25. Athletes were evaluated on their speed, strength, power and endurance to gauge their potential in high-performance sport.

The final top 30 list was featured on a special TSN program that aired on the night of January 7.

Veteran speed skating coach Tim Comfort, who is the Saskatchewan Speed Skating Association provincial coach and technical director, said the four Lions skaters were deserving of being on the top 30, because they went out and earned it.

“Speed skating is a work-oriented sport,” said Comfort. “If you don’t like hard work, it is not for you.

“If you like going fast, that is fine. You are going to go fast, and it is very, very fun, but it is a lot of work. These guys part of the reason they did so well in the RBC is how hard they work at speed skating.

Oskar Stack-Michasiw made the Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list.

“It is always a pleasure and privilege to stand there and to tell them to go faster or longer or harder, and they just do it. It is quite a privilege actually.”

Stack-Michasiw, who is 16-years-old, has been in the sport of speed skating as a member of the Lions for about nine years. He entered the competition to make the top 30 list with an open mind but was uncertain what the end result would be.

It was highlight to find out he had made the list.

“It was really, really exciting,” said Stack-Michasiw, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 150 pounds. “I didn’t think I would have gotten it, and then I got the phone call, and it was really exciting.

“It made me think that I have maybe even bigger plans in speed skating and more potential.”

Veeman, who is 16-years-old, has also been speed skating for about nine years. When he entered the competition to make the top 30, he wasn’t sure how he would compare to athletes from across Canada that competed in various different sports.

He said he was pretty pumped to discover he made the top 30 list.

“When I got the phone call, it was a pretty crazy moment,” said Veeman. “At first, I was surprised I made top 100.

“That was a shock. Finding out that I actually made top 30 was another crazy moment. Going into it, I wasn’t too sure what to expect and how realistic it was.

“When I got the phone call, it was a pretty big moment.”

Stack-Michasiw said the funding grant helps reduce the financial stress that comes with participating in speed skating at a high level.

“It helps quite a lot, because you don’t have to think about purchasing equipment,” said Stack-Michasiw. “You can say, ‘Oh, I am going to go to that meet,’ because I have the funding to do it.

Luca Veeman cracked the Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list.

“It just allows for a lot more opportunity.”

Veeman said being named to the top 30 list was a special reward due to the fact the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world has thrown a major wrench into the speed skating schedule over the past two seasons. 

Instead of traveling to meets, the Lions have spent the majority of their time training at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds or the Lions Arena in Saskatoon.

“It is super nice considering there hasn’t been a whole lot of racing the past few years,” said Veeman. “The opportunities in terms of competition like that have been limited.

“Getting that achievement is definitely a confidence booster. It is nice to have a token for the hard work I’ve been putting in over the past couple of years, especially the COVID years. I think it will be one of the things that can help me take me to the next level just with opening up training opportunities like spending some time in Calgary more than just a couple of weeks.”

Comfort said it hasn’t been an easy past two seasons for the Lions as most of the competitions they would have normally attended have been cancelled. The veteran coach said the skaters have lost out on opportunities to bring home medals from those various meets including nationals.

Even with those setbacks, Comfort has been impressed with the effort the Lions have put into their training and the inner-club meets the Lions hold.

With all that has happened, Comfort said it was uplifting to see Lowe, Stack-Michasiw, Pauli and Veeman make the top 30 list.

“Competitions were just cancelled, and they all are good with it,” said Comfort. “They don’t miss a beat, but it is a nice reward that they’re recognized by RBC.

“It is really nice the exposure and sort of a little nudge to keep going in the same direction.”

Stack-Michasiw and Veeman both added it was special that four skaters with links to the Lions made the top 30 list.

Oskar Stack-Michasiw, left, and Luca Veeman have bright futures.

“It was cool, because just everyone who trains together we all got it,” said Stack-Michasiw. “Top 30 in Canada and four people from the same place got it is pretty cool.”

“With the four of us making Top 30, it is pretty crazy,” said Veeman. “It was like 13.3 per cent of the finalists were from Saskatoon and were speed skaters.

“It is pretty astounding. I guess it shows we are doing something right here in Saskatoon. I think it is definitely something the club can be proud of.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club, feel free to check out their website at www.slspeedskating.com.

Sweet happenings in photos as winter hits home stretch

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Logan Hofmann fires a throw at the Indoor Training Centre.

These days at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex it feels like winter is in the home stretch and spring is just around the corner.

At the moment, the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval is still a hub of activity. During evenings, the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club is often practicing, and the Lions have been holding club skating meets usually on Saturday mornings.

When the Lions aren’t on the track, the Oval is busy with public skating sessions, which continue to be popular. Skaters of all skill levels love coming down to soak in the day.

As spring nears, business is picking up at the Indoor Training Centre. Since the start of January, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies football team has been stopping in for conditioning training sessions to prepare for their season ahead.

They are one of a few football groups who stop in to train.

On the baseball side, we’ve had some professionals stop in to sharpen their skills. Pitcher Logan Hofmann, who is playing in the minor league system of the MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates, has been fine tuning his pitches during throwing sessions and has been helping coach some of the younger players.

Hofmann is pictured in our lead photo firing a throw from the mound inside the Indoor Training Centre.

As January closed and the calendar turned to February, Saskatoon’s softball zone programs became more frequent visitors in preparation for the spring season.

These photos capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of nine shots we hope you enjoy.

A great day to be on the ski trails

A gentleman enjoys a pleasant afternoon doing some classic skiing on January 31. The ski trails on our grounds and on the neighbouring Holiday Park Golf Course typically fill up on the weekends.

That one is out of here

A Saskatoon Hustlers hitter takes this ball for a ride during a session at the Indoor Training Centre on January 27.

Huskies build power and strength

The University of Saskatchewan Huskies Football team has taken part in inventive workouts at our Indoor Training Centre courtesy of Ignite Athletics. During this conditioning session on January 13, a Huskies player strides over some low hurdles while carrying a water bag.

All in technique

A member of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club works on technique before taking part in timed races on January 15. The Lions fastest skaters have mastered striding in this low position.

Reminder winter is still here

While a lot of winter time fun can be had on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds, the winter season still flexes its muscles from time to time as a reminder it is here. One of those reminders came on January 31 with the blowing snow seen here in front of the K+S Potash Canada Multi-sport Centre and over top the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval.

Bringing the heat

A pitcher from the Going Yard Training Centre unloads a wicked throw during a training session on February 2 at the Indoor Training Centre.

All smiles at the Oval

A couple of skaters enjoy the outdoors on a beautiful Sunday afternoon during a public skating session at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on January 30. The trees located in the opposite corners of the Oval offer scenic pictures.

I want to drive the Zamboni

Greg Brotzel makes rounds on the Zamboni flooding the ice surface at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval on January 25.

Finding power in new ways

The Saskatoon Phantoms found an inventive way to improve power at the plate during a session at the Indoor Training Centre on February 3. The Phantoms had their hitters drive a soccer ball into a net in this particular drill.

Lions just want to have fun

During a practice session on February 8, these two members of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club share in a fun and good-natured moment. The Lions work hard at their craft, but they like to have fun too. They make the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval a great place to be.

Hawkins takes big first step in chasing big league dreams

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Garrett Hawkins throws a pitch at the Indoor Training Centre.

Garrett Hawkins was ready to jump into the next level of work when he was drafted into the MLB.

On the second day the 2021 MLB Draft this past July 12, the hard-throwing right-handed pitcher from Biggar, Sask., was selected in the ninth round and 280^th overall by the San Diego Padres. The draft selection was a huge highlight for the 21-year-old, but he knew the long journey to try and become an everyday MLB player continued.

“It was pretty exciting just knowing that all the hard work had paid off,” said Hawkins, who towers on the mound at 6-foot-5 and weighs 230 pounds. “You kind of got to a point that you’re just proud of yourself and proud of everyone that kind of contributed to it.

“Not to say that the work isn’t done. There is still a lot more to do, but it is a good first step for sure.”

Hawkins, who trains in the off-season at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, had been playing for the New Jersey state capital-based Trenton Thunder of the MLB Draft league at the time he was selected by the Padres. 

With the Thunder, Hawkins started six games posting a 1-0 record, a 2.63 ERA, 32 strikeouts while giving up two walks in 24 innings of work.

Shortly after being drafted, Hawkins traveled to Peoria, Arizona, to join the Padres rookie team that plays in the 18-club Arizona Complex League.

With the ACL Padres, Hawkins put up solid numbers. The graduate of the Saskatoon Giants under-18 AAA program appeared in seven games with the ACL Padres posting a 3-1 record, a 2.35 ERA, 27 strikeouts while giving up two walks in 15.1 innings.

“I enjoyed it,” said Hawkins, whose main pitches are the fastball, slider and change up. “I just kind of got my toes wet in how it all works going forward.

Garrett Hawkins was picked in the MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres.

“I got to meet a lot of people, see lots of like different cultures like lots of Latin players that I haven’t had a chance to be around a tonne and kind of just meeting all the new draftees that got picked in my year also. It was pretty good, and I am excited to kind of get going again and move my way up.”

Hawkins said he benefitted from the fact he got some real good coaching with the ACL Padres, which he thought helped his performance on the field.

“I think I just kind of maybe took another step once I got there,” said Hawkins, who can throw his fastball at 93 to 95 miles per hour. “Eventually, something stuck, and I kind of just used it to my advantage.

“I think just the increased input from the coaching staff and all that helped a lot.”

Throughout his life, Hawkins said baseball was the sport he was always the most passionate about. That passion took root from simple beginnings.

“I kind of just started playing baseball at a young age playing catch with my dad (Ian Hawkins) at home,” said Hawkins. “Eventually, I was just playing minor baseball.

“All my friends were kind of doing it at the time.”

When he started playing minor baseball, Hawkins said he started to experience success on the mound early on.

“I’d say it happened right away,” said Hawkins. “Obviously, I hit and pitched at a younger age, but I kind of had a knack for pitching when I was younger.”

Hawkins ultimately caught the eyes of the high-performance coaches with Baseball Sask. He helped Saskatchewan win gold at the 2016 Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray, Alta., and at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg.

Garrett Hawkins had a good season with the Padres rookie team.

The standout hurler credited Greg Brons, who is the High Performance Director for Baseball Sask, with getting a core group of players playing together or against each other on younger teams and training together in the years heading into those gold medal wins.

Hawkins said the players became good friends and a realization grew that they might be able to accomplish big goals together.

“We had a core group of guys that (Greg) Brons kind of brought up together and kind of knew we had the potential to do something like that,” said Hawkins. “That group had been together for maybe three years before that, so when it came time to put it all together, I just kind of remember all the guys that we had and just how good we were and how ready we were to kind of be on that stage.

“It was exciting.”

Besides those gold medal wins on a national stage, Hawkins enjoyed playing against and with a number of his provincial team teammates in the provincial under-18 AAA league. He has lots of good memories throwing for the Saskatoon Giants at Cairns Field and Leakos Field.

“I enjoyed it just because most of the time it is like Saskatoon team versus a Saskatoon team, so you kind of want to beat the other one,” said Hawkins. “I enjoyed my time playing here for sure.”

After his season wrapped up with the ACL Padres, Hawkins elected to live in Saskatoon during the off-season in order to train at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex. On top of doing his own training, Hawkins will help out the crew at the Going Yard Training Centre coach young pitchers.

Jordan Draeger, who is one of Going Yard’s top instructors, was one of Hawkins past coaches.

“It is pretty cool just seeing (the young pitchers), because I was in those guys shoes kind of when I was in high school,” said Hawkins. “It is kind of cool seeing those guys build up and be around them as much as I can trying to help out, if they need it.

Garrett Hawkins aims to keep moving up the professional ranks.

“I like going in there and doing my work and getting to watch some other guys do theirs, so it is pretty cool.”

Hawkins, who will turn 22-years-old in February, said all the coaches he had through the years have had a big impact in allowing him to have the success he has had.

Going into his second season as a professional, Hawkins said his main focus is improving his consistency.

“I kind of like where my pitches are at now,” said Hawkins. “I think just continuing to learn about hitters and stuff like that and just trust myself.

“I just have to continue to get better each day and try and move up.”

Sweet happenings in photos of winter season

By Gordie Howe Sports Complex staff
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Two Lions speed skaters share a laugh at a public skating session.

There are times the chill of winter is a challenge, but great moments are still had at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex in the winter months.

Of course, the Complex is best known for action that happens in spring, summer and fall with baseball, football and softball. Our grounds can be a hub of fun during the winter months too.

In winter, the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval becomes a spot of frequent activity. Users of the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval this season have full use of the recently finished K+S Potash Canada Multi-sport Centre.

Visitors enjoy the fact they can enter the K+S Potash Canada Multi-sport Centre to change into their skates and to warm up between sessions on the Oval.

Members of the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club continue to hone their skills at the Oval, while the public skating sessions are popular at the Oval too.

On the odd occasion, members of the Lions will pop in to have some fun during a public skating session. Our lead photo sees two Lions skaters sharing a laugh during a great skating day during public skating session on January 2.

For the third straight winter, the Indoor Training Centre has become another centre of activity. Athletes from various sports stop in to improve their skills and the indoor field is often used by various baseball and softball groups.

These photos capture some of the memories that are made on our grounds. In this photo roundup, all of these pictures were taken by our Communications Coordinator in Darren Steinke.

Without further ado, here is a selection of nine shots plus a bonus older photo with some sweet news we hope you enjoy.

Feeling the need for speed

Skaters from the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club hit their top stride at this practice session on December 13, 2021. The symmetry that can be photographed during their drills and races can be quite amazing.

Set to fire off a throw to second

Catcher Masen Andersen sets to make a throw to second base in this drill during a Going Yard Training Centre session on November 24, 2021. In this drill, catchers were working on the mechanics to help them pick off runners that try to steal second base.

Let it snow, let it snow

This public skating session on December 22, 2021 shows there are times a snowfall makes things enjoyable. This trio of skaters enjoyed the elements as the snow fell on what was a very pleasant day to be outside.

Testing day focus

The 222’s Fastpitch program held testing for their player at the Indoor Training Centre on December 16, 2021. A 222’s hitter drives the ball into a net in this drill, where the metrics of her swing were being evaluated.

All smiles on the ski trails

A skier enjoys time on the trails that are on the Complex grounds on January 2. Users enjoy classic skiing and skate skiing on a recreational level, while other users perfect skills on the competitive front.

Beauty on a frigid day

The K+S Potash Canada Multi-sport Centre makes for a picturesque sight on an extremely cold day. Our newest building is shown here on December 29, 2021 when the temperatures were below -30 C, and the scene looks really good.

Base path tips for Christmas

An instructor from the Going Yard Training Centre gives pointers to some youngsters about running the base paths during a Going Yard Christmas Break Camp session on December 22, 2021. It has become a tradition for Going Yard to hold a Christmas Break Camp to give young players of all skill levels a good experience with the game.

Swinging away

A youngster takes a measured swing at a ball during a Timbits Saturday’s program session on November 27, 2021 at the Indoor Training Centre. The Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy runs the Timbits Saturday’s program to give players aged 5 to 10 a good experience with the sport of softball and help them improve at playing the game along the way.

Postcard type of night

This photo of our Donor Wall was taken on January 5, when it was -34 C outside and night was starting to fall. The elements helped create a postcard type of scene.

Lions make Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list

Tuesday, January 4, was a big night for the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club. The Lions had two present and two past members named to the Top 30 RBC Future Olympians list including Bon Lowe, Oskar Stack-Michasiw, Daniel Pauli and Luca Veeman. They are set to receive funding for training and earn a potential spot with Canada’s speed skating national team program. The list was made through the RBC Training Ground program partnership between RBC, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Bell Media to find and support Canada’s future Olympians. In this Lions practice photo from January 9, 2021, Veeman is wearing a jacket and is second from the right, while Lowe is on the right of the photo.

SNCSA’s Timbits Saturdays aims to create love for softball

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

A youngster works on her swing at a Timbits Saturdays session.

The reward of watching youngsters improve keeps pulling Danielle Bertoncini back into coaching with the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy’s Timbits Saturdays program.

Bertoncini is an outfielder with the University of Saskatchewan Softball team and was contacted about a year ago about helping coach with Timbits Saturdays. The Timbits Saturdays program offers softball instruction to children aged five to 10 in one-hour long sessions that are held Saturday mornings at the Indoor Training Centre at the Gordie Howe Sports Complex from October to February.

Players that sign up for the program will take part in a total of six one-hour sessions.

They participate in activities and games that are patterned after informal playground games that promise fun and action. The activities are set up in a way to allow players with high and low skill levels to be involved.

“When they get better, it is very exciting to see,” said Bertoncini. “I’m very proud in all the kids that we see throughout the years.

“It is awesome to see them get better. It is just an unbelievable feeling. That is why I love coming back every time.

“I’m just like, ‘Yep. Sign me up,’ because I want to comeback. Seeing the kids get better is awesome. You really get to know the kids too and how they play and that kind of thing.”

The Timbits Saturday’s program is in its third season of operation. It was developed after the Indoor Training Centre opened on March 1, 2019 and first hit the field from October 2019 to February 2020.

Noreen Murphy, who is the Timbits Coordinator, said the SNCSA was looking to offer this fun instructional program in the off-season during a time that wouldn’t conflict with other activities youngsters might be involved in. The Saturday Morning time slot was a perfect fit.

Danielle Bertoncini teach pitching to a youngster.

“With the facility being available early in the morning, we just wanted to build off of that, so parents would know that this is always when it is going to be so they could schedule around the family events and activities for the kids,” said Murphy. “It has been pretty consistent.

“We sellout every time we put it out there. We’re excited about that. Lots of kids are learning more skills.”

During the Timbits Saturdays sessions, players participate in basic drills that teach the proper forms for throwing, catching and pitching. On the hitting side, players take part in drills that work on proper stance and swinging before proceeding to hit balls off a tee into a net.

Some of those drills are used with older age groups to help reinforce the basics.

On top of those drills, the players will do some activities that are basically playground games along with some short simulated mini games at the end of the session.

Murphy said the program tries to help young players develop physical literary, but the main focus is trying to ensure they are having fun.

“I’ve always said any time you are instructing whatever you are instructing it doesn’t matter the kids need to have fun at the end of the day,” said Murphy. “If they are not having fun, they won’t comeback.

“That is a huge part of it. You will see when we instruct or teach different skill sets in the sport of softball that we include different activities that don’t look like softball, but they are building the foundation of the ABCs I call them agility, balance and coordination. Those are the pieces that you need to be a strong player and athlete eventually.

“We work on those things. They’ve had a lot of fun here, so that is what it is at the end of the day.”

Kelsey Rokosh has a young daughter in the Timbits Saturdays program, who is always pumped up at the end of the sessions about what took place and immediately looks forward to coming back.

Youngsters practise pitching at a Timbits Saturdays session.

Rokosh said her daughter plays softball in the spring and her family was looking for a way to get in some extra skill development in the off-season. She said the Timbits Saturdays program fit her family’s schedule perfectly.

Rokosh watches the Timbits Saturdays sessions from the spectator loop on the second floor of the Indoor Training Centre and enjoys watching her daughter part in the action on the field below.

“They look really organized,” said Rokosh. “The kids look like they are having fun.

“We can see that they have learned some new skills.”

She was also impressed with how well the coaches interact with the young players.

“The coaches seem really great,” said Rokosh. “They are really involved, and they seem really supportive of the kids.”

Bertoncini said it has made her feel good to be able to come out and coach at the Timbits Saturdays sessions and give back to the game.

She has enjoyed teaching the basic skills of the game to young players. She said it has helped her game, because at the elite adult levels there is a lot of focus on the intricacies and strategies of the game.

“It is honestly good for me, because it is good to go back to the basics,” said Bertoncini. “At the end of the day, ball is very simple.

“Ball is about catching the ball, throwing the ball and receiving the ball, and then hitting the ball as well. It is really good to comeback to square one. Playing for the U of S, it happens really quick, and you have to be on your toes at all times.

“At the end of the day, we want kids to come out and play and that is how the sport continues to grow in Saskatoon here. It is good to comeback to square one and kind of slow it down again and get the little kids to really enjoy their time.”

A youngster throws the ball at a Timbits Saturdays session.

During the sessions, Bertoncini hopes she can help instill a love for the sport of softball like she has for the game. She wants them to have a great experience with the game, so they will keep coming back to it.

“We are just making sure we have them have fun in it, so they continue to play as they get older,” said Bertoncini. “That is often where people drop off.

“If they are not having fun in the sport or certain things are not going well, they tend to drop out. As long as we can make sure they are having fun and pushing themselves to be better, I think that is all we can really ask for.”

For more information about programs offered by the Saskatchewan North Central Softball Academy, feel free to check out sncsacademy.com.

Speed skating a tradition for Veeman family

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Luca Veeman leads a pack, and Chris Veeman follow at the rear.

Luca Veeman never thought he would lead his family back into the sport of speed skating.

About nine years ago, Luca was convinced by a friend to give the sport a try. At the time, it wasn’t on the forefront of Luca’s mind that his father, Chris, had skated with the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club for a lengthy stretch while growing up.

Luca knew that his father was a speed skater in his youth, but that actually didn’t have any bearing on why Luca got interested in the sport. He thought it would be fun thing to try with his friend.

“I joined kind of along with him,” said Luca, who is one of the top skaters with the Lions at age 16. “I probably would have gotten involved regardless, but I guess that started a bit sooner than I would’ve without my friend joining.

“I think it has always just been fun from the beginning. As of like now, I can say I really like how the sport works in trying to get better times and the passing and skating fast. When I started, it was mostly just a fun weekday activity with my friends.”

Chris said the reason speed skating hadn’t been a big topic of discussion for his family was due to the fact he had forgotten about the sport for a long time. He first started in the sport when he was really young, because his parents were worried he was too skinny to play hockey and would get physically beat up in that sport.

As an alternative to registering for hockey, it was decided that Chris would sign up for speed skating. Growing up, he skated and trained with future Canadian Olympic superstar Catriona Le May Doan at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval.

Around the time Chris was in Grade 11, he got into cycling at first as a way to cross train to help out with speed skating. Chris ended up liking cycling so much he quickly decided to focus on it as his main sport and stepped away from speed skating.

The idea of getting back into speed skating never crossed Chris’s mind until Luca decided to join the sport and sign up with the Lions Speed Skating Club.

“I think because I had a skating background the club kind of roped me in pretty quickly to coaching and getting involved with administering the club and stuff like that,” said Chris. “Since I am on the ice, I decided I might as well skate.”

Luca Veeman is one of the Lions top speed skaters.

In 2017, Chris decided in masters aged skating competitions. The masters age class is for skaters aged 30 or older, and skaters can keep taking part in those competitions as long as they feel they are able to.

These days, Chris, who is 48-years-old, is a masters class long track speed skater, a Lions coach and the president of the Lions Speed Skating Club. He has enjoyed getting the chance to take part in the sport as a skater once again at the masters level.

“It is a good group of people,” said Chris. “It is mostly older people, obviously.

“There aren’t that many people in their 30s and 40s in Canada that do it. It kind of seems to be more of thing you do maybe when you retire, especially the ones I met in Holland (Netherlands) and the northern European countries. They are all kind of retired professionals it seems like.

“No one takes it too seriously at that age. There are still some pretty competitive people. You get to pretend like you are an athlete again.”

As the years have gone on, the Veeman family presence in the sport and at the Clarence Downey Speed Skating Oval continued to grow. Currently, Luca’s younger 13-year-old brother, Mikko, and younger 11-year-old sister, Lena, are also members of the Lions program.

Luca is happy so many of his family members have gravitated to the sport. He said one of his best memories looking back now was getting paired against his father in a race.

Luca admitted that at the time he wasn’t thrilled about the end result of that race.

“I can remember one race in Calgary, where we were paired together in a long track race, and he came out on top,” said Luca, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 140 pounds. “I wasn’t so happy.

“Thankfully, now I think I’m a bit ahead now, which is nice. It is super fun to be able to like go out and skate with my dad and not just have him cheering from the sidelines.”

Chris Veeman skates, coaches and is president of the Lions.

Chris immediately chuckles when the subject of that race was brought up.

“I mostly remember the look on his (Luca’s) face afterwards,” said Chris, who stands 6-feet and weighs 190 pounds. “I think he really thought he was going to get me that time.

“We haven’t raced each other since then, but it wouldn’t even be close now. Back then, I would beat him by two-tenths of a second maybe. Now, he is about three seconds faster or maybe four seconds faster.”

In long track, both Chris and Luca skate in the 500-metre, 1,000-metre and 1,500-meter distances. Luca also takes part in five-kilometre races in long track and competes in short track. Chris coaches in the short track discipline.

At the Canadian Youth Long Track Championship held in early February of 2020 in Red Deer, Alta., Luca finished third in the 500-metre and second in the 1,500-metre distances in the division for all 14-year-old male skaters.

Luca felt like he making a name for himself nationally on a competitive level before the 2020-21 season was wiped out due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that has gripped the world. This season is Luca’s first at the junior level, and he said he is adjusting to going against a large pool of fast skaters.

“I’ve been making steady steps,” said Luca, who is a Grade 11 student in the French immersion program at Walter Murray Collegiate. “The year before COVID it was a bit of a breakout year.

“I had some good results at bigger competitions. I think this year coming back I kind of skipped the last year of an age group. Now in a sense, I’ve been dropped off in the deep end of a larger age group being junior.

“I like to think I am still skating well and doing well. There are a lot less podiums and standing on top. That is just how it works.”

Luca said veteran Lions coach Tim Comfort and his father have been his biggest influences in helping him out in the sport. As for the future in the sport, Luca expects to pursue speed skating for as long as he can and plans to go to university in Calgary and skate there.

Chris, left, and Luca Veeman enjoy being in speed skating.

Chris said he will support Luca and all his kids in anything they choose to do. Chris added that Luca is an accomplished cyclist who finished sixth at junior men’s road nationals this past September in Saint-Georges, Quebec.

Chris said that Lena is really interested in soccer along with the sport of speed skating.

“For now, for all of us, we just really like speed skating, so we are going to stick with it,” said Chris. “It will be fun to watch what Luca gets up to in the next few years.

“The others are coming up behind him too.”

For more information about the Saskatoon Lions Speed Skating Club, feel free to check out their website at www.slspeedskating.com. The photo of Chris and Luca Veeman together is courtesy the Veeman family.

Albers thankful for return to AAA ball and “the Show”

By Darren Steinke
Gordie Howe Sports Complex

Andrew Albers sets to throw a pitch in January 2020.

For Andrew Albers, it was a blessing to get another season under the sun playing AAA and Major League Baseball when you are an older pitcher.

When you are a veteran left-handed hurler that hasn’t played at those levels for three seasons, it is even more of a blessing.

After finishing the 2017 season with the MLB’s Seattle Mariners, Albers, who is from North Battleford, Sask., played three seasons in Japan’s top professional league for the Orix Buffaloes from 2018 to 2020.

This past February at age 35, Albers signed a minor league contract with the MLB’s Minnesota Twins that included an invitation to Spring Training. Things took off from there resulting in a spot with the AAA St. Paul Saints and a return to playing games in the MLB this past August.

“They offered me a position out of spring kind of as a depth guy in AAA,” said Albers, who spends his off-seasons back in Saskatchewan. “Obviously, they had a lot of injuries to their pitching staff this year, and I was able to put together a good couple of months.

“I was thankful for the opportunity they gave me. I was able to go out and have a couple of good outings (with the Twins). I probably had possibly the worst start of my career in Tampa. Unfortunately, that is just kind of how things go.

“After that, I was a little bit rough just kind of going up and down and pitching on short notice and some things like that. Again, when you are in my situation, it was all I could ask for. They gave me an opportunity, and I was really thankful for that.”

At the AAA level, Albers was a starter and saw action in 18 total games posting an 8-4 record, a 3.88 earned-run average, 88 strikeouts and 11 walks.

On Aug. 19, Albers, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200 pounds, made his first appearance of the season at the big league level at Yankee Stadium. He threw four innings of relief for the Twins in their 7-5 loss striking out four batters giving up two hits including a solo home run and one walk.

Andrew Albers unloads a pitch in January of 2020.

Albers got his first start of the season for the Twins at home on Aug. 27. He threw five-and-a-third innings striking out two, while giving up three hits and one walk picking up the pitching win in a 2-0 victory.

In total this past season, Albers made five appearances for the Twins posting a 1-2 record, a 7.58 ERA, 12 strikeouts and nine walks.

He said the biggest adjustment playing at the AAA and MLB levels in 2021 compared to 2017 was seeing how much analytics have changed the game. He noted starters rarely get to throw over 100 pitches in a game, see a batting order for a third time or go six or seven innings deep into a contest.

He had some discussions with pitching coaches and managers about getting an early hook at times this season. Albers added the middle relievers are better than at any other time he can remember in the game, so he understood the strategies there.

“It was really interesting,” said Albers. “For me in my entire career, I’ve been brought up and it was all throw the ball down at the knees with your fastball and work in and out.

“Coming to the analytics this year, it has gone a lot more to throwing the ball at the top of the zone and just working your breaking ball underneath the zone. For me, it was finding a way to incorporate some of those analytics, but then also go back to what I have been successful with. As long as you command the baseball and you throw the pitch where you want to and you have a plan of what you want to do with guys, you can still be successful.”

During the off-season, Albers returns home to Saskatchewan and gets out fairly frequently to help players coming up in the province’s minor baseball system in various training sessions. He has made regular appearances at the Indoor Training Centre on the Gordie Howe Sports Complex grounds the past two off-seasons.

Being based in Saskatoon for this off-season, Albers plans to made a few more appearances to help out.

“I enjoy doing it first of all,” said Albers. “I think second of all I really enjoyed growing up in Saskatchewan.

Andrew Albers demonstrates a pitching technique in Jan. 2020.

“I had a lot of people obviously put in a whole bunch of time and hours into my career and my development. I feel like for me going back and getting to work with some of the younger players I can maybe provide a little bit different perspective than what some other guys can.

“It is always nice to have somebody who has kind of gone through the process whether it is going through college or going through the professional game and things like that just to be able to bounce ideas off of or ask questions to or things like that.”

Albers, who is a graduate of North Battleford’s John Paul II Collegiate, remembers the work the various coaches in the province did with him and likes trying to help out those coaches.

“I had a lot of mentors who did that for me in the province guys like Greg Brons and Rob Cherepuschak who are still there,” said Albers, who played for the defunct Saskatoon Yellow Jackets of the Western Canadian Baseball League in 2004. “They are still doing a great job.

“To be able to give back a little bit in that way especially again in Saskatchewan when you don’t necessarily have everybody come back, for me that is important.”

At the Gordie Howe Sports Complex, Albers like working with Jordan Draeger and the rest of staff at the Going Yard Training Centre in developing young players.

Albers hopes that his presence does put the idea in the minds of young players that you can come from Saskatchewan and eventually play the game at a level as high as the MLB.

“The more of those guys you can see around and the more that you realize that it might be possible, maybe that motivates them a little bit,” said Albers. “They realize that even though it can be a tough and a long road it is possible, and that is what you hope just being able to see those pro guys come in.”

As for next season, Albers is currently a free agent and said at this point there isn’t much clarity as to where he will be. The collective bargaining agreement between the MLB and the MLB Players Association is set to expire on Dec. 1.

Albers, who turned 36-years-old on Oct. 6, believes there is a good chance there will be a little bit of a work stoppage. For someone his age, he would appreciate the chance to experience one more season under the sun.

Andrew Albers chats with some young players in Jan. 2020.

“I’m hoping to hopefully go back and play in AAA again next year in kind of a similar situation to this year,” said Albers. “We’ll see if I can find an opportunity to do that.

“Obviously you know, you start getting a little bit older, and you are not quite sure how many more opportunities you are going to have. I looked at the playoff rosters this year. If I were on them, I would have been the oldest on five out of the 10 (teams).

“I just think, ‘Holy smokes, that is kind of crazy.’ For me, I look at it as a guy like me to still be playing when the game has gotten very young very quick, I’ve just been very fortunate and blessed to play as long as I have. Hopefully, I can trick somebody into giving me one more shot next year, and then we’ll go from there.”