The Edmonton Energy look to get their season off on the right note against the Tacoma Tide. The Energy finished first overall in the regular season, but were ousted in the first round of the playoffs last year and are looking to build on that success. 5 IBL all stars from last season return the Energy line up in Steve Sir, Skouson Harker, Will Funn, Lee Scruggs and JR Patrick, with a 6th from two seasons ago in Rashaun Broadus. Some new additions to the line up hope to help the team take the next step of an IBL championship. Benson Callier, the PBL MVP and Dave Patten, former Big Sky Conference player of the year add scoring, rebounding and defence to an all ready stout Energy roster. The team upgraded its Canadian content as well with the addition of two National Champion University of Saskatchewan Huskies Michael Linklater and Troy Gottselig. The always exciting Andrew Parker will again be with the Energy and has made a splash already shattering a backboard at practice. Look for the Energy to be solid at both ends of the court, push the tempo and be exciting to watch all season long.
The Tacoma Tide already has a few games under their belt this season sporting a 2-4 record. Despite some early season injuries, the Tide has been in every game and will be ready to bring their best against the Energy. The Tide features some of the best talent the IBL has to offer. Six year veteran, Dontay Harris is the IBL's all time leading scorer and following last years’ visit to Edmonton, point guard Antwan Williams has become the Tide's leading scorer and is off to a great start to this season averaging over 18 a game. Along with Harris and Williams, the Tide has two other IBL all-stars Justin Murray and Lorenzo Rollins. 6'10" Center Jajuan Winesberry has been a force for the Tide as well and performed well against the Energy last season and will be looking to duplicate his efforts coming back to Edmonton.
This will be a great match up of two highly skilled, well coached squads looking to set the tone for their seasons.
Players to watch -
Edmonton Energy - Benson Callier – 6’6” Forward, incredible competititor, solid defender and a great scoring touch.
Tacoma Tide – Antwan Williams – 6’3” Guard, Tide’s leading scorer, great quickness has been the Tide’s most consistent player over the last season and a half.
New to the Energy this season is Benson Callier and he is worth coming to see. Benson has been around the block with the game of basketball and knows what it takes play at the highest level. From playing against and beating Lebron James in high school, to playing at 2 division 1 programs, to dominating the PBL, Benson has seen the ups and downs of what it takes to become a professional basketball player. Every kid who wants to make basketball a big part of their life should read Benson's blog.Take the time, its worth it!
The Tacoma Tide, will now be the Energy's first opponent for the upcoming season with the LA series being rescheduled to the end of the season.
The Tide feature some of the best talent the IBL has to offer. Six year veteran, Dontay Harris is the IBL's all time leading scorer and following last years visit to Edmonton, point guard Antwan Williams has become the Tide's leading scorer and is off to a great start to this season averaging over 20 a game.
Along with Harris and Williams, the Tide have two other IBL all-stars Justin Murray and Lorenzo Rollins.
6'10" Center Jajuan Winesberry has been a force for the Tide as well and performed well against the Energy last season and will be looking to duplicate his efforts coming back to Edmonton.
The Tide will be ready to bring their best against the Energy.
Opening night tip is at 7pm on May 14th at the University of Alberta Main Gym!
For as long as we have had the IBL in Edmonton, we've had JR Patrick. An IBL all-star several times over, JR is Edmonton's own. After attending Eastglen high school, JR attended Santa Clara University and has had the opportunity to play professionally ever since.
There is a tremendous sense of pride for JR in being able to play at home and represent his community, family and city.
"Being able to play in front of my son and my girlfriend and all my family and friends is a dream come true. Edmonton is my home and being able to represent the city of Champions and play the game I love, there is no greater feeling for a professional athlete." Said JR. "I am very excited to get all our core group of guys back, it’s the foundation of our team, having that good solid base of guys that we are all familiar with, know each others tendencies, and have great chemistry."
JR's keen scoring touch has been essential to the Energy's success in the past and with the new additions joining the team this year, JR should continue to get great opportunities to not only score but to contribute to his teammates success.
"The addition of the new guys on our team and guys coming back for the first time so to speak, it's going to be refreshing and exciting. We are adding some great complimentary players so that will help us down the stretch especially with our schedule this year, we are going to need everyone to have fresh legs. So I am excited to see what everyone including myself is going to bring this year."
With the new additions, the returning core and after being upset in last years playoffs, JR and the Energy have only one thing in mind -
"I see us getting to the championship game this year and winning it all. We had the best record in the league last year going into the playoffs and then didn’t bring our A game into the Semi Finals. It definitely left a sour taste in our mouths losing that game against Snohomish considering we beat them twice at home last year, so now we are out to get back to our winning ways. Anything less than a championship is an unsuccessful season for us!"
JR and the rest of the Energy begin their quest for an IBL title Friday May 7th against the defending champion LA Lightning!
As the Energy were putting together the roster this year there was going to be one notable absence that was bound to disappoint Edmonton basketball fans. Andrew Parker had signed with a team just outside of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and would be gone through the summer missing the 2010 season for the Edmonton Energy.
AGP, as he is known, won over fans with his electrifying dunks and relentless effort. Andrew was always the first to get the fans on their feet at every Energy game. His absence was bound to be noticed.
This past week, after suffering a minor injury in Brazil, AGP announced that he would be coming home and be able to play for the Energy this season.
"Brazil was absoluetly amazing, the fans welcomed me and made me feel at home instantly" said Andrew of his time in Brazil, "my first point was a monster put back dunk on a guy and in my first game I played ten minutes and had 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists." Andrew had the opportunity to play with and against the best Brazil had to offer including Joe Addai, whose brother Joseph plays for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL.
But when it comes to playing at home in Edmonton for Andrew Parker there is nothing that compares.
"My mom (Claudia Parker) is here and she´s my best friend and greatest supporter, so I love playing in front of her and her seeing play ball professionally live and in the flesh. My family is here, my best friends are here, my community is here, and I love that people here know me and see me as Andrew that kid from M.E lazerte high school, North Edmonton, that was just like them and grinded with them until he got to the pro level and made it."
"One thing Edmonton truly appreciates is a real underdog story, and I really respect and love my city, Every time I am in the north side or any side of the city for that matter the love is incredible, and it's mutual, I love playing in front of my friends and family and playing professional at the same time, its truly a blessing."
Andrew is a great teammate and hopes to contribute to all aspects of the game for the Energy this season.
"I am a team player I will make sacrifices to help our team win, I can score, rebound, play defense, hussle, whatever coach needs me to do I will do. Last year JR (Patrick) and I told each other that we would do everything to help this team get back to championship level and thats what we intend on doing."
Along with Andrew, the Energy will feature 2 other successful Edmontonians; JR Patrick and Steve Sir.
"I Cant say enough about JR Patrick" said Andrew "He's my best friend on the team. JR is a born leader"
"Steve Sir is the greatest shooter I have ever seen, I think he is the best shooter in Canada, period, he's that good."
As close knit as the homegrown players are on the team, Andrew recognizes the outstanding contributions that the guys who come from afar make to the goals that the Energy have.
"Lee Scruggs is the best post player I have ever played with, just talented beyond belief, there's a reason he played for Georgetown. Will Funn is the most impressive point guard I have played with at the Pro level. Everyone on the team contributes and everyone on the team pulls for one another, its truly a joy to play with all of these guys again."
The Energy have experienced tremendous success for an expansion franchise, winning their division in their first season and if not for a hot shooting night by one player in their playoff match up they could be holding a championship trophy. As great as the on court accomplishments are, the Energy look to contribute to the community in other ways as well.
Andrew recalls a visit to his old stomping grounds -
"JR and I went to the M.E Lazerte Pep Rally and the kids started chanting AGP, all of them, they were wilding out, it was amazing, the whole gym was rocking, I thought I was in high school again!"
The Energy hope to be out to many schools this year to promote the game of basketball, getting a solid education and working hard at all you do!
Get ready to see Andrew Parker and the rest of the Energy May 7th, 8th and 9th as they take on the LA Lightning and their 6 former NBA'ers!
