The Junior Dinos U 17 team will be hosting a club tournament the week of July 9 - 11. All games will take place at the University of Calgary in the Jack Simpson Gymnasium. This will be an 8 team tournament with all teams guaranteed 4 games throughout the weekend. We have 4 teams confirmed for this event already. If you would like more information please contact Junior Dinos GM Craig Anderson at dinos4life@hotmail.com or phone (403) 220 - 3453.

Go Dinos Go

The Junior Dinos Basketball Club program is running a very competitive spring basketball league for any U 17 boy’s basketball teams and men’s league squads. The league will run in late April, May and June in the evenings at the University of Calgary. We have 3 teams already confirmed. All teams will play between a 10 - 14 game schedule with a guarantee of 1 playoff game. The cost of the league will be $1000.00 per team and cheques can be made payable to the Junior Dinos Basketball Club. If you are interested and need more information please contact Junior Dinos GM Craig Anderson @ dinos4life@hotmail.com or phone (403) 220 - 3453.

Go Dinos Go

2010 Junior Dinos Tryout Information:

The following are the try-out times for the Jr. Dinos for the 2010 Season. The Jr. Dinos are running only the U-17 team this summer.
The try-out cost for each player will be $50(once a player makes the team that cost will be subtracted from there total cost of the program), and each player MUST bring money to the first try-out in either Cash or Cheque (Cheques can be made out to Junior Dinos Basketball Club).

U-17 Try-outs:
Monday March 22, 5:00 - 6:30 pm, JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Tuesday March 23, 5:00 - 6:30 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Wednesday March 24, 5:00 - 6:30 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Saturday March 27, 12:00 - 2:00 pm and 4:00 - 6:00 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
(Final Selection)

TO REGISTER for the try-outs, please Contact Jr. Dinos GM Craig Anderson at dinos4life@hotmail.com or at 403 220 3453 (email preferred). Please forward your sons name, age, high school, height and contact information.
All practices for the Jr. Dinos will take place at the University of Calgary. A full schedule of practices and games will be handed out once the teams have been finalized on MARCH 27, 2010. A Parent Meeting for all involved in the Club will take place on MARCH 31, at 5:30pm (JACK SIMPSON GYM) to discuss all team issues, code of conduct for players and coaches, and responsibilities for team members, team mates and parents.
The cost of the Jr. Dinos for the 2010 Season is $1500. The cost can be made in two installments with the first installment of $700.00 being owed by the end of practice on March 31, 2009. The remaining installment of $750.00 will be due on May 01, 2010. Cost includes all team practices and tournament registration fees, hotel costs for road trips, team gear and practice gear, strength program, and individual shooting instruction.
If there are any questions, please Contact Jr. Dinos GM Craig Anderson at dinos4life@hotmail.com or at 403 220 3453.

Head Coaches:
Sheldon Brady - Athletic Director Western Canada High School, 2009 Junior Dinos Head Coach, 2010 Basketball Alberta U 17 Assistant Coach

Erhayat Ozcan - Former Head Coach Grant Macewan College Griffins, (ACAC Coach of the Year) (2007 ACAC Champions) 2010 Junior High Head Coach Chestermere High School, Former Assistant Coach Sait Trojans

Go Dinos Go!

The following are the try-out times for the Jr. Dinos for the 2009 Season. The Jr. Dinos are running a U-15, and U-17 team this summer.
The Try-out cost for each team will be $50, and each player MUST bring money to the first try-out in either Cash or Cheque (Cheques can be made out to Junior Dinos Basketball Club).

U-15 Try-outs:
Saturday March 28, 10:30am -1:30pm, JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Monday March 30, 4:30-6:30 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Thursday April 02, 6:00-8:00 pm SAIT GYM, SAIT
Tuesday April 07, 5:00-6:30 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary

U-17 Try-outs:
Friday March 27, 6:00-9:00pm, JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Tuesday March 31, 4:30-6:30 pm JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Wednesday April 1, 8:00 - 10:00 pm SAIT GYM, SAIT

TO REGISTER for the try-outs, please Contact Jr. Dinos GM Craig Anderson at dinos4life@hotmail.com or at 403 220 3453 (email preferred). Please forward your sons name, age, team trying out for, high school, height and contact information.
All practices for the Jr. Dinos will take place at the University of Calgary. A full schedule of practices and games will be handed out once the teams have been finalized on APRIL 06, 2009. A Parent Meeting for all involved in the Club will take place on APRIL 21 at 5:30pm to discuss all team issues, code of conduct for players and coaches, and responsibilities for team members, team mates and parents.
The cost of the Jr. Dinos for the 2009 Season is $1000. The cost can be made in two installments with the first installment of $500 being owed by the end of practice on MAY 1, 2009. Cost includes all team practices and tournament registration fees, hotel costs for road trips, team gear and practice gear, STRIVE FITNESS Consultation and strength program, and DAVE LOVE Shooting Instruction.
If there are any questions, please Contact Jr. Dinos GM Craig Anderson at dinos4life@hotmail.com or at 403 220 3453.

Go Dinos Go!

4 - Jordan Prince - 5′8″ PG, Bert Church, Airdrie
5 - Brett Palmer - 5′7″ PG, Sir Winston Churchill, Calgary
6 - Kevin Davies - 5′9″ PG, EP Scarlett, Calgary
7 - Jordan Stevens - 6′0″ G, Centennial, Calgary
8 - Kyle Wilson - 6′6″ G, Chestermere High School, Chestermere
9 - Brett Pekar - 6′5″ G, St. Mary’s, Calgary
10 - Johnny Wenzel - 6′5″ F, Bert Church, Airdrie
11 - Eric Bakker - 6′4″ G/F, Centennial, Calgary
12 - Sean McCormick - 6′5″ F, Chestermere High School, Chestermere
13 - Trevor Debolt - 6′3″ G, Sir Winston Churchill, Calgary
14 - Ryan Baker - 6′5″ F, Sir Winston Churchill, Calgary
15 - Dallin Bachynski - 6′9″ F, Sir Winston Churchill, Calgary

Coach - Matt Skinn (4th year), U of C Dinos
Coach - Craig Anderson (1st year), U of C Dinos

The following are the try-out times for the Jr. Dinos for the 2008 Season. The Jr. Dinos are running a U-13, U-15, and U-17 team this summer.

The Try-out cost for each team will be $60, and each player MUST bring money to the first try-out in either Cash or Cheque (Cheques can be made out to Junior Dinos Basketball Club).

U-13 and U-15 Try-outs:

Tuesday April 1, 5-6:30pm, RED GYM, University of Calgary
Monday April 7, 5-6:30pm, WEST JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Friday April 11, 5-7pm, EAST & WEST JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary

U-17 Try-outs:

Wednesday April 2, 4-6:30pm, WEST JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Monday April 7, 3:30-5pm, WEST JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary
Friday April 11, 5-7pm, CENTER JACK SIMPSON GYM, University of Calgary

TO REGISTER for the try-outs, please Contact Jr. Dinos GM Matt Skinn at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca or at 403 220 3453 (email preferred). Please forward your sons name, age, team trying out for, high school, height and contact information.

The Spring/Summer Club Basketball Season is about to get started!

Following the High School Basketball Season, the Jr. Dinos Boys Basketball Club will once again run this summer based out of the U of C. This year we are changing up the program in a few ways to once again offer the best club basketball experience in Alberta!

This year, the Club will be featuring 3 teams: an Under-13 team, an Under-15 team, and an Under-17 team to compete from April-July in spring leagues and tournaments within Western Canada. Each of the three teams will boast competition within a Spring League in Calgary or the surrounding areas (the U-17 team will once again compete in the Airdrie Elite East Spring League featuring competition against University and College Competition), as well as several tournaments in Alberta, Saskatchewan, as well as as possibilities in the U.S. and Full Organized practices at the University of Calgary.

The Junior Dinos program has been featured in the Calgary Herald as well on Global News Locally for its success in recent years. The Under 17 Jr. Dinos boasts a 82-2 record over the past 3 seasons against Under 17 competition including wins over the Alberta and Saskatchewan Juvenile Provincial teams.

A new feature to the program this year is an agreement with Strive Fitness in Calgary. Strive is the city leader in Fitness and Personal training and has trained numerous professional and amateur athletes, as well as the University of Calgary Dinos Men’s Basketball Team which is currently ranked in the top 5 in the Country, and boast one of if not the most powerful, strong and athletic line-ups in Canada due in large part to off-season conditioning with Strive. Not only will Strive provide guidance with training, the staff will also attend some practices, take each athlete through a basketball specific training program, as well as help each athlete with logging their workouts, guidance with nutrition while providing current and leading edge techniques to get the most out of each athlete. This is an exciting new development that has had enormous success with the U of C team, and should carry on with the Jr. Dinos Club!

Along with membership to the Jr. Dinos Basketball Club, each athlete will get official Jr. Dinos Gear, and be subject to the best coaching in the city, as well as discount opportunities to specific Dinos Camps and Clinics. The Jr. Dinos club features coaching assistance from the University of Calgary Men’s Basketball Staff, as well as former Dinos players.

Tentatively, the Jr. Dinos will begin Tryouts on the March 28th Weekend through the first week of April at the U of C with Official Try-out times to be announced ASAP.

To register for the Jr. Dinos Tryouts, send your son’s name, age, grade, date of birth, high school/junior high school name, height, email and telephone number to U of C Dinos Head Assistant Coach and Jr. Dinos GM and Head Coach Matt Skinn at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca, or phone the University of Calgary Men’s Basketball Office at 403 220 3453 with any questions or registration information.

Good Luck to everyone during the rest of your high school seasons, and see you on the court!

Try-out Dates and Times:

U-14/U-15:
1. Monday April 2, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 4:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C: FINAL SELECTIONS

U-16:
1. Tuesday April 3, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
3. Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C, FINAL SELECTIONS

U-17:
1. Monday April 2, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Tuesday April 3, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
3. Thursday April 5, 2007 at 4:30-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C, FINAL SELECTIONS

All players who register for try-outs will be there for the duration of ALL try-out times. The U-14/U-15 Try-out fee is $35 and the U-16 and U-17 team try-out fee is $50. The Jr. Dinos takes cash or cheques, and all payments will be recieved prior to the first day of practice. Registration will take place 30 minutes prior to the first try-out. All cheques can be made payable to “Jr. Dinos Basketball Club”.

One More thing, BRING YOUR OWN BASKETBALL! See everyone this week!

By Jeff MacKinnon (as seen in the Calgary Herald)

Basketball never used to be that all consuming a passion for its most serious followers in this country.

As soon as the snow disappeared for the spring, kids who played in high school took their game outside to play informally, enjoying the absence of adults telling them not to take 20-foot fadeaway jumpers.

That’s all changed.

Now there’s programs like the Junior Dinos, where top young players can go to pursue the sport seriously in the summer months, all the while working with potential future employers, the coaching staff at the University of Calgary.

Tryouts for the Junior Dinos’ under 14/15, 16 and 17 teams are this weekend. They’re open to anyone who thinks they’ve got the game.

“We changed the focus to wanting to be the No. 1 Club Program in the province. And we feel we definitely achieved that goal,” says the programs General Manager and under-17 boys head coach Matt Skinn, who’s also the assistant for the university men’s team.

“We’re undefeated against under-17 competition the past two seasons and have beathen the Saskatchewan and Alberta provincial teams.”

It helps when you have the likes of junior national team member Tyler Fidler, a six-foot-nine center and Brennan Fule, a six-foot-two guard from Strathmore, on your team, as Skinn did last season as the Junior Dinos stretched a winning streak against under-17 opponents to its current 57-0 mark.

Both Fidler and Fule were recently paraded in front of the Calgary media as prized Dino recruits for next fall.

Skinn’s assistant coach Kol Armstrong says their program isn’t all about wins and losses.

“(The Program) gauges its success on how much our players improve. We treat games like a reward for the hard work and effort that they put forth in practices,” he says.

“Games are easy compared to practice. If people really want to understand what the Junior Dinos is about, don’t watch us play a game…come watch us practice.”

The Junior Dinos program was formed six years ago by current Dinos men’s coach Dan Vanhooren and Rob Cadden.

Armstrong’s been involved since the beginning and Skinn is in his third year. He moved to the city to work on a masters science degree after playing five years at Cape Breton University.

The under 14/15 teams will be coached by former Dino player Ian Ferguson and former Dino player and current U of C men’s apprentice coach Brendan Groat. Western Canada High School coach Randy Peron has the under 16s.

While the Junior Dinos don’t pursue players with vigour at the younger levels, some of the under 17s are courted.

“This is a feeder system of sorts for the university. We look for players both locally and provincially,” says Skinn.

“Last year, for example, we had kids from Youngstown and Grande Prairie play for us.

At the older agel level, there definitely is more recruiting taking place.”

Initial tryouts are Monday, April 2 from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the East Jack Simpson Gymnasium for the under 14/15 and Center Jack Simpson Gymnasium for under 17s. The under 16s tryout April 3 at the East Gym at the same time. To register you can email Skinn at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca with name, age, date of birth, high school, email and phone number. Or you can leave a message at 220-3453.

***The Jr. Dinos would like to congradulate the Varsity Midget Girls for winning the Basketball Alberta Youth Provincial Championship on march 23 and 24. Varsity Swept the round robin en route to the finals and capped of their rags to riches season with a win over South four 57-49. The Game was close until the second half, when varsity went on a 17 - 2 run which all but sealed the deal for Varsity. Varsity was lead by cagey point Gaurds Jessica Comfort and Kaitlyn Mcharg who keep the tempo up on the break and controled the half court. Scoring was dominated by the tri towers Jordhynn Guy, Veronica Headley, and Carly Hamilton who scored 12, 10, and 10 respectfully. And not to be forgotten Janae Ferguson, Lauren Duford, Jasmine Down, and Megan Dubar were instermental in Varsitys stifilling Defense, and much inproved press break. The Varisty Midget girls were coached by Jr. Dinos U -17 Assistant coach Köl Armstrong, and assisted by long time Varisty Coach Craig Dunbar.

The time is finally here for Jr. Dinos try-outs. Sorry for any delays in planning, but the U of C has been incredibly busy with their facility bookings this year due to the recent CIS Volleyball Nationals and World Cup Speed Skating.

The Jr. Dinos Basketball Program has established itself as the top Club Basketball Program in Alberta. We look forward to continuing this excellence this spring and summer season! This year we are going to be fielding a U-14/U-15 Team, a U-16, and a U-17 Team. The U-14/U-15 team will be coached by former Dino Player Ian Ferguson and former Dino Player and current U of C Dino Apprentice Coach Brendan Groat. The U-16 Team will once again be lead by Coach Randy Peron from Western Canada High School. The U-17 Team will be lead by Coach Matt Skinn, Assistant Coach with the U of C Dinos and GM of the Jr. Dinos Club Basketball Program.

Tryout Dates:

U-14/U-15:
1. Monday April 2, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 4:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C: FINAL SELECTIONS

U-16:
1. Tuesday April 3, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
3. Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, East Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C, FINAL SELECTIONS

U-17:
1. Monday April 2, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
2. Tuesday April 3, 2007 at 4:30pm-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C
3. Thursday April 5, 2007 at 4:30-6:30pm, Centre Jack Simpson Gymnasium, U of C, FINAL SELECTIONS

All players who register for try-outs will be there for the duration of ALL try-out times. The U-14/U-15 Try-out fee is $35 and the U-16 and U-17 team try-out fee is $50. The Jr. Dinos takes cash or cheques, and all payments will be recieved prior to the first day of practice. All cheques can be made payable to “Jr. Dinos Basketball Club”.

To register for the try-outs, please email Jr. Dino GM Matt Skinn, at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca with the following information:

Name:
Age:
DOB:
High School:
Email:
Phone Number:

If you do not have email access, you can register by phone at 403 220 3453 and leave a voice mail with all of the player’s registration information. Also, if you have any questions or comments regarding the try-outs, please contact Jr. Dino GM Matt Skinn at mjskinn@ucalgary.ca or at 403 220 3453.

See you all there!