Blog Archives - THE DOG RIVER HOWLERS RUGBY CLUB

Three Howlers Named to Rugby Canada's Men's U 20 Squad

2/23/2015

Howlers Owen Brombal, Tim Hart and Mitch Santilli will suit up for the Canada U-20 squad that is playing a series of games against USA and Romania U-20's in March.- i preperation for the Junior World Rugby Trophy 2015 in Portugal. Oh Canada and Howuuuuuuu !!

Canada’s Under-20 Men’s Fifteens Roster:

Justin Aylward – (Dogs RFC) St. John’s, NL
Brandon Blaikie – (Queen’s University) Markham, ON
Luke Bradley – (UVIC Vikes) Port Alberni, BC
HOWLER Owen Brombel – (James Bay AA/Guelph Redcoats) Guelph, ON
Paul Ciulini – (Aurara Barbarians) Vaughan, ON
Andrew Coe – (UBC Thunderbirds) Markham, ON
Alex Colborne – (Queen’s) Bristol, England
Giuseppe Du Toit – (UVIC Vikes) Maple Ridge, BC
Paddy Finlay – (Trinity University) Dublin, Ireland
Harjun Gill – (UBC Thunderbirds) Richmond, BC
Dillon Goos – (London St. George’s) London, ON
HOWLER- Tim Hart – (Brock University) Fall River, NS
Dylan Horgan – (UCC Rugby Club) Cork, Ireland
Dan Joyce – (Trinity University) Dublin, Ireland
Karsten Leitner – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Calixto Martinez – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
Matt Murphy – (Dogs RFC) St. John’s, NL
Ollie Nott – (UVIC Vikes) Qualicum, BC
Tony Pomroy – (Baymen) Conception Bay South, NL
Lucas Rumball – (James Bay AA/Balmy Beach) Scarborough, ON
Mitch Rothman – (Vancouver Rowing Club) Vancouver, BC
HOWLER - Mitch Santilli – (James Bay AA/Harlequins) Brantford, ON
Emil Sehic – (Fredericton Loyalists) Fredericton, NB
John Shaw – (Bytown Blues) Ottawa, ON
Nate Thomas – (Castaway Wanderers RFC) Red Deer, AB
Matt Tierney – (James Bay AA/Mississauga Blues) Oakville, ON
Adrian Wadden – (Oakville Crusaders) Mississauga, ON
Brandon Waeyen – (Calgary Hornets RFC) Calgary, AB
Bryce Worden – (Burnaby Lake RFC) Sussex, NB
Conor Young – (Southern Districts RC) Sydney, Australia

Unavailable for Selection:

Philip Berna – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC
HOWLER - Ben LeSage – (Calgary Canucks) Calgary, AB
HOWLER - Theo Sauder – (UBC Thunderbirds) Vancouver, BC

Canada’s Under-20 Men’s Fifteens Coaching Staff:

Jeff Williams – Head Coach
Ken Goodland – Assistant Coach
Todd Silverthorn – Manager

Four Howlers Selected to Play for Rugby Canada Men's Sevens Squad in the Las Vegas Leg of the World Rugby Sevens Circuit.

2/13/2015

Howlers Mike Fualiefau, Lucas Hammond, Pat Kay and Pat Parfrey are part of Canada's National 7's Team starting play in the World Series Las Vegas 7's being played in Sam Boyd Stadium. Oh Canada and Howuuuuuuuu !!

Las Vegas Sevens Schedule - February 13-15
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Day One

Canada vs. Kenya at 5:50pm local (5:50pm PT/8:50pm ET)
Canada vs. England at 8:24pm local (8:24pm PT/11:24pm ET)

Day Two

Canada vs. Argentina at 11:52am local (11:52am PT/2:52pm ET)

Canada's Roster for Las Vegas - (Club, CRC Team) Hometown, Province
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Admir Cejvanovic - (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Mike Scholz - (Castaway Wanderers/Ontario Blues) Oakville, ON

H -Mike Fuailefau - (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC

H - Lucas Hammond - (Toronto Nomads/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON

Harry Jones - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) North Vancouver, BC

H - Pat Kay - (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Duncan,BC

John Moonlight - Captain (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON

H - Pat Parfrey - (James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL

Conor Trainor - (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Liam Underwood - (Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON

Sean White - (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC

Adam Zaruba - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Sixty Howlers Will be in the Lineups of Twenty-Nine Teams Competing in the Las Vegas Invitational Sevens Tournament.

2/12/2015

60 HOWLERS ON 29 DIFFERENT TEAMS COMPETING IN THE LAS VEGAS INVITATIONAL 7'S THIS WEEKEND- HOWUUUUUUU !!

Rugby Canada Maple Leafs men (Men's Elite Division)
Rugby Canada Maple Leafs women(2 teams)(Women's Elite Division)
Lionheart (Men's Elite Division)
Aptoella Angels (Women's Elite Division)
Stars Rugby ( Men's Elite Division)
Stars Rugby (Women's Open Division)
Serevi Selects (Women's Elite Division)
Mexico (Men's Elite Division)
Upright Rugby Rogues ( U-19 Elite International Boys Division)
Upright Rugby Rogues (High School Boys Open Division)
Upright Rugby Rogues (Men's Aces Division)
University Of Regina (Women's College Division)
University Of Regina (Men's College Divission)
BCRU (U-19 Elite International Boys Division)
BCRU (U-19 Elite International Girls Division)
BCRU (High School Open Girls Division)
BCRU (Women's Open Division )
Celtic Barbarians ( High School Open Boys)
BCRU U-23 Men ( Men's Open Division)
Notre Dame Hounds (U-19 IElite International Girls Division)
Edmonton Gold (U-19 International Girls Division)
Ontario Junior Storm (High School Open Girls Division)
Shawnigan Lake School (High School Girls 15's Division) * note 15's division
Shawnigan Lake School (High School Open Girls Division)
Team Quebec (Men's Aces Division)
University of Victoria (Women's College Division)
Westmen Rush ( (High School Open Girls Division)
Valkyries (Women's Open Division)

Four Howlers Named to the Maple Leafs Men's Teaming Competing in Las Vegas Invitational Sevens.

2/11/2015

4 Howlers ( Jorden Sandover-Best, Matt Mullins, Mitch Santilli and Theo Sauder ) on Rugby Canada's men Maple Leaf team playing in Las Vegas this week. Good luck and Howuuuuuuu !!!

Four Howlers named to Womens Maple Leafs Attending Las Vegas Invitational Sevens

2/11/2015

Elissa Alaire, Kayla Mack, Emily Belchos and Natasha Smith named to Rugby Canada's women's Maple leaf teams playing in Las Vegas this week. Good luck ladies and Howuuuuuuu !!!

Recognition of Concussions

2/2/2015

This is a guest post provided by Complete Concussion Management.

Concussions have become a huge concern over the past few years within the sport of rugby. Following the unfortunate passing of a young high school rugby player in Ottawa, amateur rugby associations have begun to take this issue seriously, and with great reason. With the institution of new rules to allow for proper assessment off-field for head injuries, it’s important that both players and coaches understand what a concussion is and why it should be taken seriously.

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused when the brain accelerates or decelerates within the skull to a significant degree. This acceleration/deceleration impulse causes the brain tissue to stretch and deform briefly before being brought back to it’s original shape. This process happens very quickly and studies have found that the peak acceleration happens within the first 6 to 20 milliseconds following impact. Because concussion is an acceleration injury, players and coaches should be aware that this injury can happen even WITHOUT direct impact to the head! Hits to the body, or even falls, can cause the head to whip back and forth, and if the head accelerates/decelerates to a significant degree, the player can suffer a concussion.

As the brain tissue deforms, chemical signals are released within the brain that cause brain cells to discharge uncontrollably. This creates a kind of electrical storm within the brain, which can then display itself in a number of signs (can be seen by outside observers – Loss of consciousness, balance impairments, etc.) or symptoms (felt by the injured person – headache, dizziness, confusion, etc.). In fact, there are over 20 different signs and symptoms, which can indicate that a concussion may have taken place. Current recommendations suggest that there should be a high degree of suspicion for concussion and the player should be IMMEDIATELY removed from play for the duration of the game if they display even ONE of the following signs or symptoms following a significant blow to the head, neck, or elsewhere on the body:

·         Headache or Pressure in the Head

·         Neck Pain

·         Nausea or Vomiting

·         Dizziness, Balance Problems, Coordination Problems

·         Blurred Vision or Ringing in the Ears

·         Sensitivity to Light or Noise

·         Feeling slowed down

·         Feelings of being “in a fog”

·         Not feeling right

·         Confusion or difficulty concentrating on questions being asked

·         Difficulty remembering

·         Fatigue, Low Energy, Drowsiness

·         Emotional (Tearful or Crying) or Sadness

·         Irritable (Getting bothered by questioning)

·         Nervous or Anxious

·         Lightheadedness

·         Loss of Consciousness – It should be noted that more than 90% of concussions DO NOT result in a loss of consciousness!

Players suspected of suffering a concussion should be removed from play and not allowed to return prior to being cleared by a healthcare practitioner with advanced training and knowledge of concussion injuries and their management. In many cases, players may feel better in as little as 10 to 15 minutes following the initial injury. Coaches and athletic trainers should not be fooled by this sudden turn of events as there are actually TWO PHASES to a concussion injury, and the second phase is actually the most dangerous.

Following the initial electrical storm in the brain, the brain begins to burn energy at a rate faster than it can be produced. This causes energy stores within the brain to plummet, which is often why concussed players will begin to feel extremely tired within a couple hours of their injury and is also why the initial treatment for concussion is REST. These energy stores continue to fall for the next 3 to 5 days until they start to be gradually restored over the next few weeks and an initial period of rest allows the brain to conserve energy with the hope of speeding the recovery process. It is during this time of low energy that the brain is extremely vulnerable, where even smaller impacts can cause another concussion. These second concussions, which happen before full recovery from the first can lead to permanent brain damage, and in some cases, death. Please click here to watch a quick explanation of concussion (http://completeconcussions.com/for-parents-athletes/what-is-a-concussion/).

The biggest problem with these injuries is that symptoms (how someone feels) does not coincide with brain recovery. An injured person may feel 100% better, but in reality may be still within this dangerous period. This is where a properly conducted baseline test is extremely valuable.

There are no X-rays, MRI’s, or CAT scans which can tell you whether you’ve suffered from a concussion or whether or not your brain has fully recovered to the point where it is safe for you to return to your sport. Baseline tests are a battery of tests that examine every area of brain function, which could become affected during a concussion. These tests should be done by everyone involved in contact sport PRIOR to starting the season EVERY YEAR, because in order for clinicians to know when you have fully recovered from your concussion, we have to know how well you functioned prior to your injury. Without this information, it is impossible for doctors to know when the brain has fully recovered. Consider this as an insurance policy for your brain. You may never need it, but when you do, you are extremely thankful that you have it!

A good baseline assessment involves more than just computerized testing. Many clinics are coming out claiming that they offer concussion programs however they are simply conducting computerized tests, which have shown numerous problems on their own. If you are looking for a good concussion program, ensure that the practitioners involved have advanced training in this area and are testing numerous areas of brain function such as balance, reaction time, vision, memory, concentration, motor strength, physical capacity, as well as neurocognitive function.

Have fun and stay safe this rugby season! And remember, if you think you may have suffered a concussion, don’t hide it…REPORT IT! This could mean the difference between missing a few games and missing the rest of your season, or even worse.

About the Author

Dr. Cameron Marshall is a concussion researcher and the president of Complete Concussion Management Inc., a network of clinics across Canada with advanced training in the diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of concussion injuries. These specialized clinics provide comprehensive, research-based baseline testing programs, concussion policy formation, coach & trainer education programs, as well as monitored return-to-learn and return-to-play programs for amateur sport programs and schools within their communities.

www.completeconcussions.com

Five Howlers Selected to RC Men's Sevens Squad to Play in World Rugby Sevens in Wellington and LAs Vegas

2/1/2015

ongratulations to Howlers Mike Fualiefau, Lucas Hammond, Pat Kay, Pat Parfrey and JordanWilson- Ross who will represent Canada in the Wellington (February 6 and 7) and Las Vegas (Feb. 13 to 15) 7's. Howuuuuuu !!

Canada's Roster for Wellington and Las Vegas - (Club, CRC Team) Hometown, Province
Admir Cejvanovic - (Burnaby Lake RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
*Sean Duke - (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
(Will miss Las Vegas due to medical school interviews)
Mike Fuailefau - (Castaway Wanderers/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Lucas Hammond - (Toronto Nomads/Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Harry Jones - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) North Vancouver, BC
Pat Kay - (UVIC Vikes/BC Bears) Duncan,BC
John Moonlight - Captain (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Pickering, ON
Pat Parfrey - (James Bay AA/Atlantic Rock) St. John’s, NL
Conor Trainor - (UBCOB Ravens/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC
Liam Underwood - (Ontario Blues) Toronto, ON
Sean White - (James Bay AA/BC Bears) Victoria, BC
Jordan Wilson-Ross - (James Bay AA/Ontario Blues) Alliston, ON
Adam Zaruba - (Capilano RFC/BC Bears) Vancouver, BC

Howlers' McKinley Hunt Awarded the Queens University Chancellor's Scholarship

2/1/2015

Congratulations to Howlers McKinnley Hunt for being awarded the prestigious Queens University $36,000 Chancellor's Scholarship. Howuuuuuuuu !!

The criteria for selection is based on :

Superior academic ability

Creative and original thinking
Proven leadership qualities
High school nomination required*