In 2015 there were many great stories and accomplishments in Burnaby sports, so to pick a top-four list was exceedingly tough. Try we did, acknowledging a handful of amazing athletes. But we concur that when it comes to excellence in our community, the spotlight would be wide and it could showcase dozens of others. For readers of the NOW, the past 20-plus years the stories and games were chronicled with skill by Tom Berridge. An eager observer of the intricacies of 'the game,' Burnaby's longtime sports editor faithfully shone a light on the variety of sports and the athletes and people who make the games so much fun. While he will be missed in retirement, Tom's efforts continue to be cherished clippings and regalled tales from the pages of the Burnaby NOW. Here are just some of what Tom and the rest of the sports staff saw during a whirlwind year of change and champions:
There were a lot of lists Joey LaLeggia made this year as a senior with the University of Denver. But the Burnaby-raised defenceman didn’t rest on those laurels – instead using the accomplishments and accolades to shift to a bigger dream.
LaLeggia wrapped up his NCAA hockey career helping push his Pioneers to the Div. I East Region final in March, only to lose 4-1 to Providence College. Two days later, he inked a two-year entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2012.
“I have no regrets. We played hard and the guys deserved better,” LaLeggia told the NOW of the playoff loss. “But I’ve had four years filled with memories. I was lucky to come in with a great class and I’m going to remember my four years with them.”
The blueliner became the first defenceman to be named both the player and defenceman of the year in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, and would be a top-10 finalist in the voting for the esteemed Hobey Baker Award. As Denver University’s male athlete of the year award, he finished ranked third all-time in UD defenceman with 132 points, including a career-best 40 points in his senior season.
“I was 16 when the (Western Hockey League) came knocking – I was 160 pounds – it didn’t seem smart to me. Now I’m 22 years old and signing my first pro contract. I got two extra years playing in college hockey” he said. “Right now, it’s looking like I made the right decision.”
Currently, LaLeggia is gaining valuable experience as a rookie in the American Hockey League with the Oilers top farm team in Bakersfield. The 23 year old has three goals and eight assists over 27 games.
Tsang dazzles in debut
As a first go around, Briannah Tsang’s debut on the NCAA Div. 1 gymnastics circuit was an unqualified success.
The Burnaby teen played an instrumental role in Penn State’s best-ever Big 10 team result, while securing the conference’s Freshman of the Year award.
The Burnaby Central grad tied for 10th place in the all-around with a combined score of 39.350 points at the conference championships, and earned a second-team All-Big 10 spot for finishing among the top 20 on all four apparatus.
Tsang ended up ninth overall with a regional qualifying score of 39.380. Along the way, Tsang set a new school record by topping four Big-10 freshmen of the week honours, while establishing a college record on three occasions. During the season she won 11 individual event titles and four all-around crowns.
“It feels amazing and it’s just great to see my hard work pay off,” Tsang told the Weekly Collegian after posting her floor exercise high score last February.
In a recent Big-10 women’s gymnastics pre-season coaches poll, Tsang was one of two Penn State athletes selected as “Gymnasts to Watch” for the upcoming season.
Haley heads to Aggies
He’s been called ‘The Next One,’ but Burnaby’s Jermaine Haley prefers to let his game do the talking.
From outside the three-point line, to jamming it with windmill one-handed slam, Haley worked the ball like a magician on the Burnaby South Rebels’ basketball court. Fans, opposing players and college scouts could only watch in amazement.
What they didn’t see was all the work that got him where he is today, said the teen.
“Some of it may be God-given, but I work really hard at what I do,” Haley told the NOW. “When I’m on the court with my teammates, it’s just about getting better.”
The Burnaby star guard was a big reason why the team spent much of the year charted in the Top-5 of the B.C. High School AAA rankings, finishing fifth place their
final placing. The lanky 6-foot-7 phenom fielded scholarship interest from nearly 30 schools before selecting New Mexico State.
He’s red-shirting as a freshman with the Aggies, but Drive Basketball coach Pasha Bains – no stranger to the demands of U.S. college basketball – said Haley is well-suited for the next step.
“He sees plays I don’t even see. It’s just amazing,” said Bains. “He’s one of the best high school players I’ve ever seen, for sure.”
STM girls mat champs
For a third straight year, the St. Thomas More girls wrestling team floored its competition to claim the B.C. High School title. Racking up gold decisions were Caileen Corbett, Nicole Depa and Livleen Sidhu. Corbett topped the 40-kilogram division, Depa at 57kg and Sidhu in 69kg.
“It’s a great feeling and a great feeling for (the team),” said STM wrestling coach Doug Corbett. “I told them, ‘Don’t let anyone take (the banner) away from you. All the girls wanted to do better than they did last year, and they did.”
