News Highlights

Ehrlo Basketball League Set to Kick-off Third Season

For Immediate Release

Thursday, May 4, 2006

On Saturday, May 6th, youth from North Central, Eastview, and Glencairn will converge on Scott Collegiate for the 3rd Annual Ehrlo Basketball League (EBL) Skills Camp and Registration Day.

Presented by Ehrlo Sport Venture Program, the Skills Camp will run from 10am – 2pm, instructing youth aged 8 -16 on the fundamentals of basketball. The camp is in preparation for the 8-week EBL season that begins on May 8th.

Regina-Elphinstone Centre MLA Warren McCall and Ranch Ehrlo President Geoff Pawson will tip-off to start the camp. Ward 6 Counsellor Wade Murray, Science Centre Executive Director Scott Langen, Regina Police Services Superintendent Troy Hagen and Ehrlo Chair Bob McEwen will also be in attendance.

Ehrlo Sport Venture programs rely heavily on the time and talents of many volunteers. For those who follow basketball in the city there will be familiar faces at the EBL Skills Camp including former University of Regina Cougar players Brenan Schwartz and Geoff Glasspell. This will be Glasspell’s first year volunteering for the camp, and as a teacher in the city and a basketball coach Glasspell has encouraged his players to help out as well, “[the students] have been given so much, and [volunteering for the EBL] is an opportunity to give something back to their community”.

The Ehrlo Basketball League season consists of weekly games played out of Scott Collegiate, the Eastview Neighbourhood Centre, and the Glencairn Neighbourhood Recreation Centre. Youth attend one night per week at the closest facility, and are separated into two age categories (junior 8-12, and senior 13-16) to play games that emphasize respect, safety and fairness. Eastview Neighbourhood Centre programmer Leslie Lajoure has been involved in the league all three years of operation and insists, “Whenever there is something going on [at the centre], the kids come out and take part…and the basketball program is very popular”. “Even once the older kids don’t play in the league anymore they come out to help the younger kids with scorekeeping, reffing, etc.” In fact, due to its popularity, Lajoure will continue the basketball program on past the June 24th season-ending tournament that will be held at the University of Regina.

Ehrlo Sport Venture Program Coordinator Kim Langston expressed her thanks to the Saskatchewan Science Centre and other numerous sponsors for their generous support, as well as to all of the volunteers that give of their time. Ehrlo Sport Venture is one program run by Ehrlo Community Services. The Ehrlo Sport Venture Program currently coordinates the Ehrlo Basketball League, the Monday Night Football League, and the Ehrlo Outdoor Hockey League, in addition to operating the Sport Venture Equipment Lending Library. This summer Sport Venture is proud to pilot the Ehrlo Soccer League, in partnership with the Regina Soccer Association.

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For more information contact:
Kim Langston, Sport Venture Coordinator
751-2411