Amateur Sports

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

CANADA GAMES REVIEW (AUG. 15-29 / P.E.I) Dark horse 'Toba gunning for top-3 finish

By: Ashley Prest

Posted: 08/15/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

When the 2009 Canada Games open today in Summerside, P.E.I., Team Manitoba will be the best-prepared dark horse."We are not the favoured horse in any sports except triathlon and volleyball, and I think that we're the dark horse overall, but we like that," said Ted Bigelow, the team's chef de mission. It's his fifth straight time leading Manitoba's youth athletes in the multi-sport games.

"It was Jack Donohue (Canada's former national men's basketball coach) who said 'Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.' I think we've done the work, and if we get a little bit of opportunity, we'll be going for it."

In 2005 in Regina, Manitoba won the Centennial Cup, the award for the most improved province from one summer games to the next. Manitoba would like to become the first province to win the that trophy back to back but knows it would be a tough task.

The Centennial Cup is awarded on points garnered from athletes' and teams' performances, not the overall placing of the province or number of medals, but Bigelow said Manitoba is shooting high.

"I asked the athletes and they're going in with the focus of coming in third (overall), so we're going to support them to that end. This group is one of the most hard-working, organized groups of coaches and athletes that we've ever had."

Manitoba's entire team of 403 athletes, coaches, managers, artists, mission personnel and support staff are outfitted in uniforms from Mondetta, a Manitoba company, displaying the team's pride in its home province. Affectionately dubbing itself "Team 'Toba," the Manitoba team is comprised of athletes 13 to 22 years old from across the province.

The Canada Games includes 18 sports and about 4,400 participants from Canada's 10 provinces, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

"This is a chance for our athletes to measure up with other Canadian athletes on a very level playing field. The priority of this event is to ensure that each province will send their best, so it's a realistic test of how our athletes are doing," Bigelow said.

"This is a totally Canadian experience. There is no other event like it where the whole country comes together on such a large scope. It's truly a national initiative."

ashley.prest@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition August 15, 2009 D9

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

WFP Hockey

Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
Editor's Bulletin

Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
Winnipeg Jets

All things NHL on our Jets landing page
Twitter

Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
News Cafe

Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
Facebook Fanpage

Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events