Bisons football players named to all-star team

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Jill Officer (REUTERS)

RUNNING back Anthony Coombs, kick returner Nic Demski and safety Teague Sherman of the University of Manitoba Bisons football team have been named to the 2012 Canada West Conference all-star team.

It was the second straight year for all three to be named conference all-stars. The Bisons (4-4) saw their season come to an end last Saturday in Calgary with a 57-18 semifinal loss to the Dinos.

Coombs, 20, played in six of eight conference regular-season games but was second in Canada West rushing average per game at 93.8 yards per game and fourth overall in rushing yards at 563. The Winnipeg native scored nine touchdowns which was tied for that first for most TDs in the conference.

Demski, 18, of Winnipeg, played in all eight conference games for Manitoba and led the conference in all-purpose yards at 1,310.

Sherman, 24, finished his five-year career at Manitoba first overall in conference tackles per game with 7.5 after playing in six of eight conference games

Enjoying rare homestand

AFTER playing six of its first eight games on the road, the University of Manitoba Bisons men's hockey team (4-3-1) is home this weekend for just the second time this season. The Bisons host the Lethbridge Pronghorns on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Max Bell Arena.

The Bisons are 4-1-1 in their last six games after opening the season Sept. 28-29 with a pair of losses in Edmonton to the Alberta Golden Bears.

"We've come a long way since that Alberta series and in a way, it was a good thing because it kind of woke us up to what we need to do to be competitive against the top teams," said goaltender Jesse Deckert. "We're really bringing it now and this was the perfect week (last week) for a bye to rest up and get ready for the next challenge."

Rifles' Carter honoured

WINNIPEG Rifles receiver Brett Carter has been named to the 2012 Offensive Jostens/CFL All-Canadians team by the Canadian Junior Football League.

Carter led the CJFL with 48 receptions, with 782 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

Berube fields running team

COACH Claude Berube is taking a 14-athlete Bisons team to the 2012 Canadian Interuniversity Sport cross country running championship on Saturday at Western University in London, Ont. The team will feature seven female athletes, including fifth-year runners Alice Sherwin, Nicole Dubois and Nicole Barrett, and seven male athletes including fifth-year Elliott Cooke.

Cockrell, Walton shine

RACHEL COCKRELL of the women's volleyball team and Stephan Walton of the men's basketball team have been named the Smitty's Bisons athletes of the week.

Cockrell, the Bisons women's co-captain and a second-year player, led the No. 5-ranked Bisons in kills with 36 and points with 39.5 points in nine sets in a two-match sweep last weekend of the No. 10-ranked Calgary Dinos.

Walton, a co-captain and fourth-year guard, scored 41 points in two games to help lead the Bisons to a road split in Calgary against the Dinos last weekend.

Officer presents donation

JILL OFFICER, the second on the Jennifer Jones women's curling team, presented a $5,000 donation from the RBC Olympian Grant Program to the CurlManitoba Performance Enhancement Program on Wednesday.

She was one of 37 athletes given the grant by the RBC Olympian Grant Program to give to an athletic association, community group or charity "that has fostered their love of sport, helped them realize their Olympic/Paralympic aspirations, or has touched their lives."

"This grant can help provide resources and skills to young curlers; more than what was available when I was their age," Officer, RBC Olympian and World Curling Champion, said in a media statement. The PEP program helps fund resources such as nutrition and sport psychology consultations, fitness sessions and on-ice skill development. Athletes are eligible for the program based on performance in the 16-and-under provincial championship.

Home hoop openers set

IT'S the home opener for basketball teams this week at both the Winnipeg and the Manitoba campuses.

The Bisons men's and women's teams will host the Brandon Bobcats at the U of M's Investors Group Athletic Centre Friday and Saturday with the women's games at 6 p.m. followed by the men's games at 8 p.m. At the U of W Duckworth Centre, the Wesmen will host the Regina Cougars today and Friday, with the women playing at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

-- Ashley Prest

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 8, 2012 D6