~ UNBC Athletics to

By CAROLYNNE BURKHOLDER EDITOR IN. CHIEF

As UNBC continues to grow, it is natural that the options for athlctic pursuits increase as well: In 2008, UNBC is planning to join the Canadian Intervarsity Sport (CIS) leaguc, which will significantly change the nature of athletics at UNBC.

“UNBC's Strategic Plan identifies a strategy to improve the quality of stu- dent life, which includes as a high pri- ority the building of an athletic facili- ty,” said Len McNamara, Athletics and Recreation Coordinator for

“UNBC, “UNBC's Five Year Capital Plan (2003-2008) also identifics the construction of an athletic centre as a high priority for student recruitment to UNBC, particularly for northern students,”

In order to fulfill the mandate cre- ated by the UNBC plans, UNBC has committed to work towards the con- tinued development of sport in Northern British Columbia. A part- nership between UNBC .and PacificSport, a provincial government agency dedicated to the development

of sport in British Columbia, will lead to many new developments here at UNBC.

Although the plans for the Northern Sports Centre are already under construction, there are other ways in which UNBC can develop as a sports center in the north. One such way is to join CIS in order to pursue initer-varsity sports at a university level.

"The highest level of amateur sports participation in post-secondary education in our nation is university athletics, or CIS,” said McNamara. "As a membcr of CIS, our student athletes would pursuc the same exccl- lence that is promoted in academic work, as well as in the culture of the Northern Sports Centre.”

In entering into CIS, UNBC would become one of fifty current member schools, who compete in ninctcen dif- ferent sports for men and women. UNBC would be onc of fifteen schools within the Canada West regional district. "UNBC's entry into CIS will increase the University's competitiveness in attracting top ath- Ictes,” said McNamara.

McNamara believed that this new development at UNBC will greatly enrich the university community. "Sport provides leadership devclop-

ment opportunitics for students,” he |

said. "As well, positive public relations and goodwill will contribute to the positive public image of the university, and significantly clevate its status, exposure, and recognition.”

McNamara and the UNBC Athletics Administration have proposed entering CIS in both men's and women's basket- ball. UNBC would also continuc to sup- port the Nordic Ski team, as CIS now recognizes the Cross Country Skiing National Championships, but has not yet endorsed this sport as a core sport for entry.

Compete at University Level

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JANUARY 19, 2005

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY ROB VAN ADRICHEM

In the future, the UNBC Timberwolves Basketball teams many compete at a university level by joining the Canadian Intervarsity Sport league.

UNBC would require another sport for men and women in order to meet the entry requirements for the Canada West Regional District.

The carlicst UNBC can apply for membership in CIS would be February 2007, to start competing in 2008,

_ "The benefits of CIS to both stu- dents and UNBC do come with a cost,” said McNamara, "entcring CIS with men's and women's basketball would cost approximately $417,000 and CIS tcams will cost approximate-

Bolt Keeps a Watchful Eye on

Br CraiG HAMILTON MELIORIST (UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE) LETHBRIDGE, Atta. (CUP)

For some, having the chance to one day hoist the Stanley Cup is a lifelong dream that takes equal parts skill, ded- ication and luck. For Mike Bolt, it’s just: another day at the office.

When the most sought-after trophy in sports swung through Lethbridge in December during the opening days of the Word Under-17 Hockey Tournament, Bolt was never far from his keep, carefully watching over the proceedings. As men, women.and chil- dren lined up to have their moment with the coveted chalice, the man responsible for its safe keeping made sure everything ran smoothly,

Appointed over five years ago by the head curator of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bolt is one of three men who spend, by his estimation, over 300 days per year travelling with the cup. “We've been all over the world with this thing,” Bolt says. “People love it

everywhere we go. At an international tournament like this, it gives a lot of people a chance to sce something that otherwise, thcy would only ever sce when it’s awarded on the ice. I’ve heard of some Russians driving 2,000

“ miles to sce it at an event like this.”

From a small town in Canada to the Russian capital of Moscow, people arc in awe of Lord Stanley’s most well known hockey contribution. “I get asked all the time, ‘Wherc is the best place to take the cup?” says Bolt. “But in truth, no one placc is better than another. All over Canada and the U.S., all over Europe, people love to get close to it. It’s got a legend all its own.”

So after all this time, docs Bolt still hold the cup in such high regard? “I love being with this thing. The way people respond to it is unbclicvable. For the first three or four days of being with the cup, you think that it’s the grcatest gig on earth, but after a while, you realize that it’s a job that demands certain things, just like any other.”

However, unlike any other job, this

onc also comes with a lot of bencfits.

“The best part of being with the cup is sccing how the fans react to it,” says Bolt. “I’ve also been with players when they take it home to mom and dad after they win it. The pure enjoy- ment that they get out of taking it home is something that I love to sce.”

Originally, the Stanley Cup would only leave the Hall of Fame during presentations to finals’ winners, but for almost a decade, players, coaches and traincrs have been allowed to take the cup home with them..“A lot of people do a lot of wonderful things with it when it comes to their community.” According to some accounts, appear- ances by the Stanley Cup have raised over $4 million for charitable causes over the past three years alone.

Of course, there are also the moments that have guys like Bolt wor- ried about job security. When playcrs take,the cup home after a win, there is no limit to the creative things they manage te. do-with it. From serving as a baptismal font to winding up at the

ly $900,000 on an annual basis.”

Although this may seem a high cost initially, the UNBC-athlctics depart- ment has several plans in place for dealing with this cost,. including look- ing into government funding, operat- ing revenue sources, such as athletics merchandise, and finding viable com- munity ownership. It is not known at this time how much student fees would increase as a result of this development.

"Our vision is to be a leader on campus and in the community that

promotes a healthy lifestyle though active participation,” said McNamara. Uhrough initiatives, such as joining the CIS, the UNBC Athletics Department continues to ful- fill its vision at the university.

"Our success towards CIS is depen- dent upon a number of factors, onc being support from our student body,” said McNamara. Students are encour- aged to express their support or con- cerns about this project to the staff at the UNBC Fitness Centre.

Hockey's Holy Grail

bottom of a pool, the cup has run the gamut of experiences. After their win last season, members of the Tampa

ve also been with

¢ ‘ S WERCU? EERO Y

Bay Lightning put the keepers of the cup on their toes. Brad Richards strapped a life;jackct on the cup, threw it on his Sca-Doo and took it op a tip around Prince Edward Island’s Cahoon Cove while Vincent

Lecavalier’s appearance in a Montréal nightclub with the cup sparked a brawl.

However, for every shaky moment, there are countless others that make travelling with the cup a pleasure. According to Bolt, his favourite time spent with the cup was when New Jersey Devils net-minder Martin Brodcur used it as the reward for a hard-faaght game of strct hockey between childhood friends. “Brodeur really captured the dream of every kid growing up in Canada when it was his turn with the cup.”

Bolt even has his own scction on the Hall of Fame website, where he sums up his role as the custodian who accompanics the Stanley Cup: “Every day is a special day when you’re with the guys who have won the Stanley Cup. It’s been every kid’s dream, and the players arc no different than any of us; they aré living that dream. Watching them with the Stanley Cup is amazing. That part of the job never gcts old!”