February 23, 2012

Rugby Canada and The Dog River Howlers 
(www.dogriverhowlers.com   
and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dog-River-Howlers-Rugby-Club/171358302913109 ) worked together in 2011 to run a successful We Stand on Guard for Thee campaign in support the National Senior Men’s Team.  The program was based on the theory of the rugby team standing on guard for Canada as they prepared to compete for our country at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and the rugby community in turn standing on guard for the team.  The effort was a great success with over $54,000 raised to support the players. 

This tradition is being carried on in 2012 with another joint effort between Rugby Canada and The Dog River Howlers to support a member of the rugby community.  Kerry Singh, better known to friends and family as Huggy, was a member of the Balmy Beach RFC in Toronto in 1993 when he suffered a spinal cord injury while playing rugby.  The injury resulted in quadriplegia and in 1994 friends and family helped Huggy raise money to purchase a van that could be modified for him to drive.  This helped him improve his quality of life and allowed him to enjoy his independence of mobility, but the van is over 15 years old now and in need of being replaced.

Rugby Canada and The Dog River Howlers are teaming up to help Huggy raise funds for his new van. Graham Brown, CEO of Rugby Canada stated that, “Rugby Canada is happy to get behind Huggy and support his efforts to raise funds for a new van. The rugby community in Canada is a tight knit group and it’s encouraging to see that people from across the country are coming together to help a fellow rugby friend in need.”  According to Karl Fix, President of The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club, whose motto is “it’s more than a game, it’s a way of life,” this effort falls in line with the meaning behind why the We Stand on Guard for Thee program was originally started. “Huggy took the risk that all players do when stepping on to the field.  It’s unfortunate that he suffered such a severe life-changing injury and now it’s time for the rugby community to stand on guard for him in his time of need.”

Donations are now being accepted and all contributions are greatly appreciated. Ryan Smith, a Rugby Canada National Team member and Dog River Howlers player and coach adds “Everyone knows that the rugby community is inundated with requests for donations and support, so it doesn’t matter the amount you are able to give. It’s the act of giving which shows your solidarity and our ability to pull together towards common goals.”  To add some extra incentive, Rugby Canada and The Dog River Howlers have offered the signature We Stand on Guard for Thee prints (with all the Canadian RWC captains signed on the back - see attached).  Donations of $250 or more will receive one of the We Stand on Guard for Thee paper print and donations of $500 or more will receive a canvas print.  These prints were very popular with the fundraising effort last year and feature signatures of all Rugby World Cup Captains on the back.

The Dog River Howlers have already have $5,500 pledged for Huggy to use towards the purchase of the new van thanks to the following supporters:


Karl Fix - Howlers/Regina Rogues Rugby Club 
David Robertson - head master Shawnigan Lake School (Vancouver Island) 
Shawnigan Lake School
Tara Nameth - Kirin Rugby (Saskatoon) 

Gary Dukelow - Cowachin Rugby Club/ Shawnigan Lake School 
Robin Mc Dowell - Howlers/Regina Rogues Rugby Club
Val-Zehan family (Sam, Larry and Barb) - Howlers/Calgary Irish Rugby Club 
Mike Devlin - President of the Burnaby Buffalos Rugby Club 
Randy Ludwar - Howlers/Moose Jaw Nads Rugby Club 
Graham Brown - CEO of Rugby Canada 
Ryan Smith - Howlers/Calgary Irish Rugby Club/ former Canadian National Team Player
Troy Myers - Rugby Canada Atlantic Director/ Cole Harbour Rugby Club
Chris Suvan - Edmonton Leprechaun Tigers Rugby Club 
Buchanan family (Carol, Michael and James) - Howlers/Calgary Hornets Rugby Club 
James Acker - Howlers/Montreal Irish Rugby Club
Rick Bourne - Chairman of Rugby Canada Board of Directors/UBC Old Boys Rugby Club 
Paul Van Wyck - Howlers/Montreal Irish Rugby Club 
Chase Sereda - Howlers/ Bayside Sharks Rugby Club
Dan Jackart - former Canadian National Team player
Patricia Jaworski - Howlers/Calgary Hornets Rugby Club
Mike Holmes - Howlers/Velox-Vallahaillans Rugby Club/former Canadian National Team player 
Mark Wyatt - Howlers/Velox-Vallahaillans Rugby Club/former Canadian National Team player and captain 
Albert Albertino - Howlers/Calgary Saints Rugby Club 
Maria Jaworski and Mozak Samson - both Howlers/Calgary Hornets and Calgary Saints Rugby Clubs
Gillian Allen - Howlers/ Kirin Rugby Club (Saskatoon)
Jordan Astrope - Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Rugby Union/Regina Highlanders Rugby Club
Rodger Swany - Howlers/Rugby Canada manager/BC Rugby Director/Vancouver Meralomas Rugby Club
Dr. John M. Gillis - Halifax Tars/Nova Scotia Celtics 
Kevin Vandeven - Regina Rogues Rugby Club
Jo Reinbold - Edmonton Rockers Rugby Club/Edmonton Rugby Union 
Kevin Blanchette - Howlers/Prairie Wolfpack 
Tim Powers - Ottawa Irish Rugby Club 
Phil Mack - Canadian National 7's player and captain/University of Victoria Vikings Rugby Club/James Bay Athletic Association
Josh Campbell - Regina Rogues Rugby Club

So please join this group of Huggy supporters and send your contribution along with your club affiliation to Rugby Canada, 30 East Beaver Creek Road, Suite 110, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J2.  Please note the acronym for the program, WSOGFT in the memo field of your cheque.  Donations of $100 or more will receive tax receipts.  You can also donate online at http://donate.rugbycanada.ca/e/huggy . Please include your club/organization affiliation similar to the above donations.
For more information on this effort, please contact Karl Fix by email at karl_v_fix@hotmail.com .

Howlers to Feb. 9 - 12 2011 Las Vegas Invitational Tournament:
Many more pics from men, women and U-18 will be posted over the next number of days.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150542748961254.367351.514726253&&l=a4d61b152e

The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club with a total touring party of some 68 people entered 5 teams in the 2012 Las Vegas Invitational Tournament (February 9 to 11) which included 251 teams from around the world competing in 21 divisions.  Overall we had a record of 16 wins and 9 losses. We won the Women's Open 7's Division and came second in the Women's Elite 7's Division. Our other teams as you can see below also had a great results considering their level of competition along with the fact that many of their opponents practise and play together on a regular basis, whereas we got together one day prior to the event. This was for many of our players their first experience with higher level 7's which will in turn I'm sure will serve as a springboard for their future competitive 7's careers. The off field activities as for all Howlers tours were as always epic starting with the traditional court sessions. The rest of the activities course falls under the classic rugby saying - "what goes on tour, stays on tour". 

Who Went?
Club president --- Karl Fix - Regina,Saskatchewan 
Team management and logistics  co-ordinator --- Rodger Swany - Vancouver,
BC  Team photographer - Judy Teasdale - Cowachin,
BC  Howlers Board member - Randy Ludwar - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Long Time Howlers supporters and team vocalists - Gary"the Duck" Gould,
Dave Jukes -- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Team Physios: 1.Nicole Ainsworth - Calgary,Alberta
2.Karl Scog - Calgary,Alberta
3. Carla van der Merwe - Victoria BC(student)
4. Anna Weinberg - Calgary, Alberta (student) 

Howlers Men:
1. James Acker - Montreal, Quebec
2. Nick Bent - Ottawa, Ontario
3. Doug Breadon - Burnaby, BC
4. #@James Buchanan - Calgary, Alberta
5. Jered Douglas - Abbotsford, BC,
6. Justin Edrian - Regina, Saskatchewan.
7. Ellis Gray - Halifax, Nova Scotia
8. Matt Jarvis - Edmonton, Alberta
9. #Patrick Kay - Cowachin, BC
10. #Franco Lloyd - Victoria,BC
11. #Peni Lutu - Regina, Saskatchewan
12. Dan Mathie - Toronto, Ontario
13. Gordon Mcrorie - Calgary, Alberta
14. #@Robin Mc Dowell - Regina, Saskatchewan
15. #Dustin Mc Pherson - Calgary, Alberta
16. #Patrick Parfrey - St.John's, Newfoundland
17. # Mozac Samson - Calgary, Alberta
18. #Tryan Sapurgia-  Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
19. #Chase Sereda - BC (also Howlers board member)
20. #Paul van Wyck -  Montreal, Quebec
21. #Joe van Heerden - Regina,Saskatchewan
22. #Sean Young - Regina, Saskatchewan
# denotes Howlers Cap @ denotes Canada Senior Cap (15s or 7s)  

Men's teams coaches :
Ryan Smith - Calgary - (403-874-5382)
Graeme Moffatt - Alberta  - ( 403-862-7505) 
Men's team manger:  Leo Lane - Saskatchewan ( 306-5404069)
------------------

Howlers U-18 Men:
1.Keegan Fletcher - BC
2.Connor Gilles - Ontario
3.Evan Graves - Manitoba
4.Liam Grimes - Ontario
5.Marcas Hall - Saskatchewan
6.Tim Hart - Nova Scotia
7.Evan Johnson - Saskatchewan
8.Mike Kneedam - BC
9.Robin Lowenberger - BC
10.Trent Shelly - BC
11. Jenner Teufer - BC
12.Chris Woodhead - Ontario
They are all first time Howlers.  

U-18 Team coaches : 1
.Robin Mc Dowell - Regina,Saskatchewan (also men's player)
2. Ryan Quaiffe - Calgary, Alberta 
U-18 Team manager: Kevin Blanchette - Alberta (also Howlers board member) 
----------------------  

Howlers Women: Name, Club, Current City/Hometown
1. # Gill Allen, Kirin Womens RC, Saskatoon, SK/Saskatoon, SK
2. @ Jocelyn Barrieau, Town of Mount Royal RFC, Montreal, QC/Laval, QC
3. # Davine Burton, Toronto Scottish RFC, Toronto, ON/St. Thomas, Jamaica
4. Trish Bene , Edmonton Clansmen, Edmonton, AB
5. #@ Tara Eckert, Calgary Hornets RFC, Calgary, AB/Saskatoon, SK
6. Lisa Gauthier, Ottawa Irish RFC, Antagonish, NS/Ottawa, ON
7. Sarah Gordon, Bayside RFC, Lethbridge, AB/Surrey, BC
8. Katie Grudzi - Edmonton Clansmen, Edmonton AB
9. # Megan Hamm, UBC Thunderbirds RFC, Vancouver, BC/Aldergrove, BC
10 .#@ Maria Jaworski, Calgary Hornets RFC, Calgary, AB/Pine-Hill, QC
11. # Patricia Jaworski, Fort McMurray Knights RFC, Calgary, AB/Pine-Hill, QC
12. #@ Shannon Kane, Velox Valkyries Rugby Club, Victoria, BC/Victoria, BC
13. #@ Andrea Letal, Lethbridge RFC, Calgary, AB/Calgary, AB
14. Selina McGinnis, Velox Valkyries Rugby Club, Victoria, BC/Courtenay, BC
15. Charlene Mocon, Mississauga Blues RFC, Mississauga, ON/Streetsville, ON
16. # Crystal Nikolai, United Rugby Club, Vancouver, BC/Cocompton, BC
17.# Kolby Ritter, Calgary Hornets RFC, Calgary, AB/Okotoks, AB
18. Jaimie Robins, Toronto Nomads RFC, Toronto, ON/Aurora, ON
19.#@ Stevi Schnoor, United Rugby Club, Vancouver, BC/Calgary, AB  21.Charlotte
Vallières Villeneuve, Club de rugby du Québec, Québec City, QC/Québec City, QC 

# denotes Howlers Cap @ denotes Canada Cap (15s or 7s)  

Women's Coaches :
1. Albert Iamartino - Calgary, Alberta 
2. Maria Jaworrski - Calgary, Alberta (also women's player) 
Women's manager: Terry Sinnett - Regina, Saskatchewan.  

2012 LVI Elite High School International Score 
USA All Americans 29 - 10 Dog River Howlers British Columbia Two 27-0 Dog River Howlers 
Dog River Howlers 38 - 12 Utah
Dog River Howlers 22 - 17 Pacific Northwest  USA High School All Americans Two
5 - 0 Dog River howlers (plate final) 

2012 LVI Men's Elite 7s Scores
Dog River Howlers 17-12 Columbus
Dog River 22 - 21 Aspen
Dog River Howlers 19-10 Romania
Froggies 26-14 Dog River Howlers (Cup quarter final)
Spain 29 - 14 Dog River Howlers (Plate semi final) 

2012 LVI Men Aces 7s Scores
Dog River  Howlers 14-0 Colorado
School of Mines el azul 19-12 Dog River Howlers
North West Warriors 24-10 Dog River Howlers
Dog River Howlers 21- 10 UBC Okanagan
el azul 14 - 5 Dog River Howlers (Bowl final) 

2012 LVI Women's Elite 7s Scores
Boston Belles 25- 5 Dog River Howlers 
Dog River Howlers 15-5 Raleigh Venom
Dog River Howlers 17-0 Kalihi Raiders
Dog River Howlers 12 - 0 Beavers
Adler (German National Team Academy)  19 - 7 Dog River Howlers ( championship game)  

2012 LVI Women's Open 7s Scores 
Dog River  Howlers 19-7 Santa Clara
Dog River Howlers 45-0 Rochester
Dog River Howlers 21-21 Lost Lady Lions
Dog River Howlers 26-5 Poker Face
Dog River Howlers 17-5 Lions (championship game) 
By: Karl Fix

The Dog River Howlers(http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dog-River-Howlers-Rugby-Club/171358302913109) "Help Huggy Buy His Van" fund (see information below) has started off strong and is at $1,900. 

Please read the below article. The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club is asking everyone to help raise some much needed $ to help "Huggy" purchase his new van with wheelchair accessible modifications. Please let me know via email (karl_v_fix@hotmail.com) if you are able to make a contribution and if so state the amount. In turn then please send your cheque made payable to Rugby Canada(as you then will receive a tax receipt for any amount $100 and over) to Dog River Howlers, c/o Karl Fix, East End Dental, 2069 Park Street ,Regina, Sask. S4N6S2.

Take the time to listen to this song:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DUs-TVg40ExM&h=YAQAAKFpO

Contributors:
1. Karl Fix - Howlers/Regina Rogues Rugby Club
2. David Robertson - head master Shawnigan Lake School ( Vancouver Island)
3. Shawnigan Lake School
4. Tara Nameth - Kirin Rugby (Saskatoon)
5. Gary Dukelow - Cowichan Rugy Club
-------------------------------------------------
 HELPING HUGGY GET A NEW VAN

In 1993, while playing for the Balmy Beach Rugby Football Club out of Toronto, Kerry Singh, known as "Huggy" to his friends and teammates, had an experience that would change his life forever. Kerry suffered a spinal cord injury, occurring at the C5-C6 level of the vertebral column, which resulted in quadriplegia.

Although his rugby career would be cut short, Kerry never let that stop him from living life to the fullest. One of the main tools that Kerry uses to get around is his 1997 Ford E-150 van, which has been modified so that he can not only be a passenger but also the driver. The van has given him the freedom and mobility that he thought he might never regain, allowing him to visit family, spend time with friends, go to appointments as well as attend college classes.

As many vehicle owners know, wear and tear on a automobile means that it won't last forever. After 15 years, Kerry's van has reached the point where it needs to be replaced. A special vehicle with these modifications is an extremely
costly expenditure; with Kerry's very modest income he is appealing publicly to the community for your assistance.

"A new van would not simply be a mode of transportation for me," says Kerry. "It would greatly improve the quality of my life by increasing my independence of mobility."

The fundraising goal for Kerry's new van is $50,000, which would cover the cost of not only the van but also the wheelchair accessible modifications it would need. Without a vehicle with these modifications Kerry would not have been able to experience a lot of "life moments" we all have, this freedom is immensely invaluable to him.

The Dog River Howlers Rugby Club spearheaded the 2'nd annual Mosaic "Sweethearts and Bowties " Valentine's Gala raised some $100,000 in support of 4 women's shelters in Regina that provide shelter, services,and programs for women and children fleeing situations of domestic violence and abuse. 
 
See links below from an article in the LeaderPost & Facebook Picture Album
http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Gala+event+raises+almost+Regina+women+shelters/6142686/story.html

http:/.../www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chrisgrahamphoto.com%2Fbts2012&h=QAQHZTKFlAQG7yHx6lz5bB6VSXBt1Z_MdrLJI8S74AR37xQ
 

For some reason Facebook has changed the Dog River Howlers Rugby Club's format eliminating it's 1,100 members. Sources tell us this is in no way related to their upcoming IPO.  In turn we have decided to go on facebook's "fan" format. Please take the time to rejoin. Also please ask your personal rugby network to also join up. Thanks.
Karl 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dog-River-Howlers-Rugby-Club/171358302913109

Canadian National Team rugby player and Dog River Howlers Rugby Club's player/coach Ryan Smith and his wife Chantal Mc Kenzie won the Fulda Challenge. It was five days of subarctic cold and complete mental and physical exhaustion in 10 events in and around Whitehorse, Dawson City, Eagle Plains, the Arctic Circle and Inuvik.
Congratulations to Ryan & Chantal, you guys are an inspiration!  Rumour has it; Ryan may use some of his winnings (golden nuggets) to create his own golden tooth grill?  To see the complete report on Ryan and Chantal's adventure visit: http://kiafuldachallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/day-1-in-whitehorse-hello-yukon-and.html