Golden Bears

It may only be July, but preparation for the upcoming hockey season rages on as the mercury rises. After a disappointing finish to the 2009/10 season with a heartbreaking overtime loss to Saint Mary’s in the national final, Golden Bears head coach Eric Thurston has wasted no time getting ready for the upcoming season with an impressive recruiting class.

The Golden Bears and Pandas golf teams are looking to grip it and rip it at the Canada Championship golf tournament this week in Fredericton.

THUNDER BAY — Overtime can provide the highest of highs, or the lowest of lows. For the Alberta Golden Bears, extra time provided the most crushing of defeats this past weekend at CIS men's hockey nationals in Thunder Bay, Ontario as they fell 3–2 to the Saint Mary's Huskies in the championship final.

THUNDER BAY — They’re ranked number-one and they only have one goal in mind — bring home the national championship.

That’s the mindset for the Golden Bears hockey squad as they open up the national tournament tonight against the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and begin the pursuit towards their 14th national title.

The Golden Bears have yet to take the ice at the CIS men’s hockey championship in Thunder Bay, but one of their team members already has some hardware to bring home. Fifth-year senior and team captain Tyler Metcalfe was honoured last night with the Dr. Randy Gregg Award as the player who best demonstrates excellence in hockey, academics, and community service.

Sean Ringrose may not be the hockey Bears' biggest player, but he's shown in his rookie season with the Green and Gold that he can come up big when called upon.

The 5-9 centre has made a major impact in his first season with the 13-time national champions, as the former Medicine Hat Tiger has stepped in and been one of the Bears' most consistent performers all season long.

If the Golden Bears hockey squad is going to return from the upcoming national tournament as University Cup Champions, they'll be relying heavily on rookie goaltender Travis Yonkman. The laid-back Saskatoon-native has made the most of his debut season, elevating himself to the role of number-one netminder.

Looking to lead his team to their third University Cup victory in five seasons, Bears captain Tyler Metcalfe has always had a strong passion for hockey.

Born and raised in Headingley, Manitoba, Metcalfe remembers growing up and playing hockey whenever and wherever possible.

Still golden after all these years. The Hockey Bears ran into a hot goalie in the form of Manitoba's Steve Christie this weekend in the Canada West conference final at Clare Drake Arena, but came out of the three-game series as conference champions for a record 48th time.

KAMLOOPS (CUP) — When the University of Alberta took the floor against the Laval Rouge et Or on the main court for the 2010 CIS men’s volleyball championship, one probably would've thought that the two teams would be playing for gold.