When the Carillon is away, athletes still play

Hirings and firings were just a few of the December sports headlines

Autumn McDowell
Sports Editor

While some athletes will look at December as a month to remember, others would prefer to never speak of it again.

Chris Bondar signs on the dotted line

Dec. 21 will be a day to remember for Bodnar, as the Regina product signed a deal with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Bodnar was a bright spot in what was a troubling season for the Rams this year. His CIS-leading 44.6-yard average on 66 punts made Bodnar an easy choice for the Roughriders. The first-team all-Canadian had previously signed a deal with the Edmonton Eskimos, but was released by the team last June.

Crosby down for the count

Hockey fans around the world rejoiced on Nov. 21 as Sidney Crosby finally returned to game action since suffering back-to-back concussions that had kept him out of competition since Jan. 5. Although ‘The Kid’ was able to rack up 12 points in eight games, the superstar is once again out of the line-up. On Dec. 7, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Crosby was to miss the next two games as a precaution, and just five days later it was announced Crosby was indeed back on the shelf after dealing with concussion symptoms once again; he has yet to return.

Packers’ streak ends at 13

The Green Bay Packers suffered their first loss at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 18, thus ending any hopes NFL fans had of witnessing a perfect season. The Packers offensive line had numerous injuries to contend with, which lead to quarterback Aaron Rogers throwing under pressure the entire night. That pressure resulted in Rogers completing just 17-of-35 passes for 235 yards.

UBC gets fined

The UBC Thunderbirds football team forfeited their 6-2 season after it was discovered they were using an ineligible player. The ineligible player in question was defensive lineman Conner Flynn, as he had already completed his CIS eligibility at the beginning of the season. As a result, the Rams picked up another two wins, good enough for a third-place finish in Canada West. Due to this infraction, UBC has been suspended until 2013 and will be fined $1,250.

Firing squad

Terry Murry, Bruce Boudreau, Paul Maurice, Randy Carlyle, and Jaques Martin all fell victim to the NHL coaches axe in the span of a few weeks. As coaches of struggling teams in the NHL, it was only a matter of time before their bench-leading days were over. Players were shocked as news broke of their coaches firings, but fans were not so surprised. Many fans were shocked that Boudreau managed to escape the Capitals nine-game losing streak in 2010-11, but this year his luck – like many others – ran out.

Former Cougar passes away

The Cougars family received some devastating news on Dec. 28 when they learned that Tyson Sievert, a former member of the Cougar men’s hockey team, was tragically killed in a single-vehicle accident just outside of Fort Qu’Appelle. Sievert was a member of the Cougars from 2007-08, and also spent time with the Moose Jaw Warriors, Saskatoon Blades, and Regina Pats of the WHL before joining the AJHL’s Bonnyville Pontiac’s. Although Sievert’s time spent with the Cougars program was limited, the Earl Gray product will always be remembered for his positive attitude and smile around the rink.