SportsLife issue 3, 2016 | Page 7

Onyemata Selected in both NFL and CFL DrafT
National Bank Challenger Tennis Tournament Headed to Winnipeg
Winnipeg ’ s Hunt to Coach Five Teams at World Roller Hockey
Onyemata Selected in both NFL and CFL DrafT
David Onyemata by Jason Halstead
University of Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie ’ s greatest project , a young man from Lagos , Nigeria , who had never played a down of American football before he showed up at Dobie ’ s office door five years ago , was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round ( 120th overall ) of the 2016 NFL Draft . David Onyemata , featured in our cover story in the April issue of SportslIfe Magazine , is a 6-foot-4 , 310-pound DL , who held his own “ pro day ” at the University of Manitoba for more than 20 NFL scouts . After working out , some scouts believed he could be taken as high as the late second round . As it turned out , he became the first Bisons player ever selected in the NFL Draft , late in the fourth round . Interestingly , the Saints traded the 152nd pick and a 2017 fifth-round selection to move up to take Onyemata at 120th-overall . A week later , Onyemata was selected by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the fourth round ( 35th overall ). It was a good choice by the Riders who , like most experts , believe Onyemata will eventually return to the CFL at some point in his career .

National Bank Challenger Tennis Tournament Headed to Winnipeg

National Bank Challenger
Canada ’ s second largest professional tennis tournament , the National Bank Challenger will be held from July 9-18 at the Winnipeg Lawn Tennis Club on 761 North Drive . It ’ s a Women ’ s and Men ’ s combined tour event that includes the Women ’ s $ 25,000 Challenger Tour level 2 event ( players ranked 80 – 700 in the world will compete ) and the Men ’ s $ 75,000 Challenger Tour level 2 event ( players ranked 60 – 500 in the world will compete ). The Men ’ s event has been upgraded from a level 3 Futures $ 15,000 category . The International Tennis Federation ( ITF ), Tennis Canada , Women ’ s Tennis Association ( WTA ) and Associated Tennis Professionals ( ATP ) have all sanctioned event . Countries represented include : Canada , England , Scotland , Germany , Poland , Croatia , Italy , Belgium , France , Spain , China , Japan , New Zealand , Australia , Republic of South Africa , Brazil , Mexico , USA and Ecuador . There will be at least 110 competitors and 10-20 Canadians . Should be a great week .

Winnipeg ’ s Hunt to Coach Five Teams at World Roller Hockey

The hardest working man in Roller Hockey has even more responsibility . Michael Hunt , the man who is bringing Roller Hockey back to Winnipeg with his brother , Frank Hunt , will coach five teams at the upcoming World Roller Hockey Championships in Hawaii in June . He ’ ll be the head coach of the U-19 Team Italy boys and the U-18 Team Hawaii . He will be the assistant coach of Team Italy ’ s Senior Women ’ s club , Team Hawaii ’ s Senior men ’ s team and Team Hawaii ’ s U-16 boys squad . Meanwhile , five players from the Winnipeg Roller Hockey League have been named to Team Canada in three divisions – Darin Gentes , Kerry Ross and Hunt himself will play on Team Canada ’ s Masters team ; Alec Masse will play Jr . Boys and Emily Masse will play Jr . Girls . “ Yes , they are brother and sister ,” said Hunt . In the meantime , there are 12 more players on the short list for six teams – Senior Men : Reggie Goodfellow , Mitch Law and Stephane Catellier . U-23 Men : Brandon Craig , Jason Dubnya and Cam Hunt . Senior Men : Tyler Pchajeck . U-23 : Mathew Gunhouse and Dustin Ziemanski . U-18 : Cody Dinardo . U-16 : Jayce Peters and U-14 Bryce Allary .
Michael Hunt with Team Rink Ratz
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