The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
With many of their players graduating in June, the Hapnot Kopper Kings are taking their chances at Provincials this year in Dauphin. Varsity basketball coach Tony Ticzon says while the team pulled through a win from the zones, held here on March 1, he says they are ready for the big game. The Kings accomplished something that hasnÕt been done before as they won back to back zones. ÒThis is our first,Ó says the coach. ÒLast year the boys basketball team hadnÕt won zones in 10 years, but this is another feat (being able to go to Provincials),Ó he says. Headed down to the provincials with the Kings will be their female counterparts, the Kopper Kweens. Although the thrill of going to Provincials is still very real, Ticzon says there are a couple of things to think about. ÒWeÕre ranked low in the ranking,Ó he says. The team sits in the 7-10 ranks, which puts them playing the two top ranked teams in the province. ÒYou have to play hard against those guys and you have to bring your A game,Ó says the coach. ÒIf you're not good enough in the first round, then thatÕs it,Ó he says. In last yearÕs Provincials, the Kings saw themselves get beat out by eight points in the first round, by the team who ended up being the champions. ÒYou know the top one and two teams have had a good season, so youÕve got to be ready for them,Ó he says. Chadd Ticzon, Peter Webber, Jed Reeves and Riley Bergen, according to coach Ticzon, are the four players who really carry the team. But next year Ticzon is going to have to look for another line as Chadd, Peter and Jed will be moving on in June. ÒWe will be losing the guys next year,Ó says the coach, Òso itÕs going to be a rebuilding year.Ó Ticzon says right now itÕs hard to say what next year will bring, but he has been bringing up future varsity players to help with team development. ÒDevelopment is critical to the program. We usually bring up some Grade 9 players and develop them for Regionals,Ó he says, adding that then they are ready for Varsity. But Ticzon isnÕt giving up on anything yet, as he says, lately there has been some real improvement. ÒThe past four years,Ó says Ticzon, Òwe have been lucky that weÕve been getting some good kids that want to play sports.Ó But as the coach points out, there are a few differences from junior varsity to varsity. ÒVarsity is a faster game and faster experiences,Ó he says. ÒBut we bring up some players and we get them ready for varsity.Ó The Kings and Kweens head out for Dauphin Wednesday afternoon. ÒWeÕre really excited to go down,Ó he says. Dauphin isnÕt a new gym for the team, as they played their first tournament of the season down there. ÒWe had some good competition with Dauphin, Swan River and Selkirk.Ó Ticzon says the team is excited, but he doesnÕt think they are nervous. ÒWinning zones was our priority, so this is just a bonus,Ó says the coach. ÒSome guys have been to Provincials before,Óhe says, Òand they want to try to move up into the ranks.Ó With some players already having some Provincial experience under their belt, Ticzon says, like any other sport, they know what to expect. As of press time Friday, the teams that were guaranteed to head to Dauphin were Flin Flon, Dauphin, Stanford and Neelin, along with some teams from Winnipeg.
