We’re getting ready to launch into the busiest time of the year coming up after the long weekend with a jam-packed GBHA E-News edition today.
We’ve got a list of nine really cool items in our Short Shifts section, with highlights about new hires, new awards, an appeal from Coach Herbers that might get you off your butt and down to South Campus, a timely contribution on the impact we can all make at GBHA Alumni, and an answer to that question that I know all of you are wondering about now – “Do Bears sit in the woods?”
And Caprice St. Pierre wraps this up with a wonderful profile of All West Demolition, who came on board as a $10K Partners Circle sponsor this year that features a GBHA Alumni father-son connection.
But first of all, an amazing story of a Bear D-Man who was scheduled to arrive this morning on a flight from Newfoundland after an outstanding accomplishment this past weekend.
A D-Man who can really throw a stick:
Bears’ third-year defenceman Blake Gustafson has taken “spearing” to a whole new level – 58.66 metres, or a little more than 192 feet, to be exact. That’s nearly the full length of the 200-foot sheet of ice at The Clare Drake Arena.
The 6’4” Kinesiology, Sport & Recreation student placed an amazing 4th out of 17 competitors over the weekend as a Team Alberta javelin thrower at the 2025 Canada Games in Newfoundland & Labrador. Below is Blake’s Golden Bear profile pic, a pic taken on Saturday during the competition, and a screen shot of the top 5 finishers.
“Oh, man – it was frustrating to be so close to being on the podium” he said on Sunday morning as we recapped the competition in a call from St. John’s.
Check out the results above and you can see that another 40 centimetres, or 15 ¾ inches and he’d have been a medalist.
“My Personal Best is 60.4 metres, but that was a different meet under different conditions. What I really learned from this week is the preparation that all of these athletes did to get ready to be at their maximum on the weekend. Meal prep is big – every one of them knew exactly what to eat, when to eat and how to maximize their power output.
“I’m really happy to have been here – it was a great experience. I’m flying home Monday and arrive at 9:30 am. We have a Bears practice in the afternoon, and I’m going to be there for the boys.“
Here’s the link to a story on Blake posted last week in the Sherwood Park News telling more about how he discovered the sport and got involved. In this story, you’ll see that he has been mentored by Nik Tchesnokov, who is also a javelin thrower for the U of A and a fellow classmate in the Faculty of Kinesiology.
“I really want to give a shout-out to Nik, another U of A track athlete, who’s really done so very much for me. I wouldn’t be here if not for him.”
Blake also gave us some insight into how Brent Sutter helped his javelin ambitions when Blake was a junior with the Red Deer Rebels.
“It was really my conditioning over the summers with the Red Deer Rebels in junior that I think really helped me. I remember being scared going up to Brent Sutter in training camp and asking him if I could miss a Pilates class to go to a meet and compete in javelin. Brent was super adamant that I go and compete and do whatever it took to be the best. He is a big believer in multi-sports athletes, and that was a huge influence on me. “
Huge congrats to Blake from every single GBHA member. We know it’s only a matter of time before we’ll see you on a javelin medal podium.
Short Shifts:
1. GBHA Communications Manager – we’re thrilled to welcome Delaney Miles on board our team as our GBHA Communications Manager! Delaney’s main focus will be to reach out to our Alumni members and all our Partners’ Circle and Green and Gold corporate supporters to tell their stories, highlight their activities and help all of us share the many wonderful things that are happening in our GBHA circle. She’ll be working with Bears’ Assistant Coach Luke Tollenaar as they revamp and relaunch our website in September with a clear focus on video and digital story telling across the website and many more social media platforms – stay tuned!
(L-R: Delaney second from the left with The 2025 Brick Invitational social media team; producing social media content for the Punjabi Elite League she works with; working as replay coordinator for the Riverhawks baseball team.)
Delaney is a recent Bachelor of Fine Arts and Communications graduate of MacEwan University. She has helped MacEwan’s Athletics department on their live-game Canada West broadcasts and was referred to us by GBHA member Craig Styles, who has seen the wonderful social media work Delaney has done over the past seven years at The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament. She also worked with the Riverhawks baseball club this summer and has a CV filled with hands-on work experience in all aspects of social media content creation and production, including X, Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, Threads, Twitch and Bluesky. (Never heard of many of those? You’re not alone….)
Delaney will be at our September 4th golf tournament at Blackhawk and would like to meet as many of you as possible. Please reach out and say hello. And if you’ve got an idea for a story, interview or any questions, you can reach her directly at delaney@goldenbearshockeyalumni.ca
2. Golf Tourney Sold Out! Speaking of the golf tourney, our 24th Annual Golden Bears Hockey Alumni Golf Classic – gbhky is completely sold out! As well, organizers Graeme Craig and Stan Marple have attracted a full slate of sponsors, and have a few new tricks up their sleeves. Huge, huge kudos to Graeme and Stan and thanks to Al Prokop and his team at Blackhawk for their hospitality. Not only is this event a great way to reconnect with a number of fellow Alumni, it nets us around $15-$20K that goes directly to the team.
3. Are you a brutal golfer? Not heading to Blackhawk on the 4th for the tourney. Don’t have time to practice before the event? Out of town? Otherwise tied up?
No worries – you can still support the tourney and the Bears. Here’s a link to the Golf Tournament50-50 draw, which also take place on Thursday September 4th.https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/gbht-sept42025. So, no need to spend time in the rough looking for lost balls or trying to correct your nasty hook. Just click and donate and help the team. Thank you in advance.
4. Harlan Anderson induction to Wall of Fame – Huge congrats to GBHA member Harlan Anderson for being inducted into the 2025 Class of the U of A Sports Wall of Fame!
Harlan Anderson
Required reading for you today is to click on this link and see the tremendous contribution that Harlan has made to our program, and his successful professional career after leaving the U of A campus. This powerful and inspiring example of leadership and contribution is what embodies the U of A Golden Bears hockey program.
Harlan is the 35th Golden Bears Hockey inductee into the U of A Sports Wall of Fame. You can see pics and tremendously interesting and inspiring bios here of all 34 individuals and one team. It’s really worthwhile grabbing a coffee and taking the time to read them all. This is what we’re all about. These men set standard that everyone who pulls a Bears jersey over their shoulders strives for, both on and off the ice.
In alphabetical order, they are Harlan Anderson, J. Lorne Braithwite, Gerry Braunberger, David Breakwell, Clarence Campbell, Dennis Cranston, Sid Cranston, Rob Daum, John Devaney, Clare Drake, Jim Fleming, Golden Bears 1978-80 teams, Randy Gregg, W. George Hardy, Dale Henwood, Harry Hobbs, George Hughes, Harry Irving, George Kingston, Serege Lajoie, J. Wilton Littlechild, David MacKay, Roland Michener, Billy Moores, David Otto, Vern Pachal, Ted Poplawski, A.P Power, Kevin Primeau, Donald R. Stanley, W.A. Shandro, Don Spring, Stacey Wakabayashi, Dick Wintermute and Jeff Zorn.
5. GBH Prospects Hockey School – Huge kudos especially to Ian Herbers and Stan Marple for wrapping up another three-week session of the Summer Hockey School | GBH Prospects at River Cree Resort and Casino.
This hockey school is a significant source of funding for the team, with a net of $45K-$50K after three weeks of hard work on the ice by a strong contingent of Bears and Bear Alumni. Huge kudos to Stan for leading the effort in making this work every year. And, to say nothing of the fact that all of these sessions for U-11, U-13 and U-15 players are led by . Having an ex-NHL player and coach leading these sessions as Head Coach of the Bears makes a huge impact on kids at the school and plants the seeds that may see blossom into future Golden Bears. Thank you, Ian!
Huge Bear hug as well to this crew for working three sessions a day for five days a week for three weeks from August 3 – 22: Bears Assistant Coach Luke Tollenaar; GBHA member Kent Dohuck; and the following Bears players Ethan Lawczyski, Konrad Belcourt, Mason Ward, Owen Pederson, Blake Gustafson (while training for the Canada Games, no less) and Ethan Barwick.
6. Coach Herbers wants you: Yep – that’s right. Every Bears Alumni reading this. Time to get off your butts and make it down to South Campus and help Coach Herbers and the team this year. Ian let us know at the end of last season that he’s going to schedule Alumni visits with the team for this upcoming season. And, true to his word, he’s ready to go. Here’s a note that Coach Herbers sent us asking if we could pass it along to the GBHA E-News readers:
“I am set up for the first month on alumni coming out to speak to the team. Noah Philp is going to practice with us and talk with the guys in small groups. Bill Moores is coming out September 8th to talk to the guys. He has a small presentation.
“Can you please get it out to the Alumni that we are looking for more alumni to speak to the team from all years. Talk about their history playing hockey, what their route looked like post hockey etc. If there is a particular message they want to share with the guys I am open to discussion and see if we can make it work. If needed, we could probably do it online but it would be better in person.
“We would like one Alumni per month, maybe 2. It would be Mondays between 5- 6 pm at the University. Speak for 20-30 minutes and answer questions. Can stick around and see our video sessions and everything we are covering that day as well.
“Thanks again for all the great efforts!”
Let’s do it – you can reply to us and we’ll forward to , or you can reach him directly at iherbers@ualberta.ca . If Ian wants two Alumni per month from October through March, that’s 12 Alumni.
And although I’m sure that today’s Bears want to hear war stories and pearls of wisdom from those of us who played in the leather-skates-wooden-sticks era, I’d be guessing the most impactful Alumni for today’s teams would be those who left campus since 2000 or, even better, those of you who played until even 5-10 years ago.
Who wants to be part of this Group of 12 to step up? Let us know – we’ll highlight everyone who does in the next E-Newsletter.
7. Let’s Be Rivers, Not Reservoirs Here’s a timely piece sent to us by GBHA member and E-News contributor Dale Henwood – it’s very appropriate following up on Coach Herber’s appeal in #6 above:
Each of us runs with a “posse” — a circle of people with rich connections, relationships, and experiences. Tapping into that network, we have an incredible opportunity to support one another and invest in each other’s growth journey.
From legendary coaches like Clare Drake, George Kingston, and Dave King, I learned the value of sharing what you have — even with your competitors. These men were generous with their time, wisdom, and insights. They understood that leadership is about more than personal success; it’s about helping others learn, grow, and thrive. They were rivers, not reservoirs.
We all have more to give than we might think. Our education, careers, and lived experiences uniquely position us to uplift and encourage others — to make a real difference in their lives. And here’s the beautiful part: as we give, we grow too. It isn’t a one-way street — it’s a shared journey of transformation.
In a world that sometimes encourages us to hold back or keep our cards close, let’s do the opposite. Let’s be generous with what we know. Let’s be open with our stories. Let’s be rivers — letting knowledge, wisdom, and support flow through us for the benefit of others.
Our GBH alumni community is full of people with insight and heart. So, if you’ve ever thought about mentoring or reaching out to a fellow alum — now’s the time. Someone out there will be better because of what you choose to share.
Let’s not keep it to ourselves. Let’s all be rivers.
8. Bear cub on the soccer pitch: Congrats to Dylan Marple, son of Bears GM Stan Marple, on making the starting 11 on the Golden Bears Soccer team this year!
Congrats and good luck to you, Dylan! Here’s hoping you may soon add another Golden Bear national championship ring to the family collection, which already has Stan’s 5 Golden Bear national championship rings as a player (1992), assistant coach (2008) and GM (2014/15/18).
9. Do Bears sit in the woods? Absolutely – and that’s going to happen over the Labour Day weekend. Stan Marple and Ian Herbers will be taking the full Bears squad for the upcoming year out for a weekend camping trip in Kananaskis. They’ll be loading up the tents, camping gear and everything they need for some good outdoor fun, team-building and camaraderie, which will surely include sitting around the campfire at some point.
Great idea, and maybe we’ll have some pics for you next E-News edition.
Partners’ Circle Profile: All West Demolition
GBHA Feature writer Caprice St. Pierre is profiling members of our Partners’ Circle supporters for the 2025-2026 season.
Today’s profile highlights All West Demolition Ltd, a $10,000 sponsor of the Bears’ program this year.
By Caprice St. Pierre
Father-son duos are no strangers to the Golden Bears—that is, if they have both played for the Bears.
But Daniel Carr, former NCAA national champion, former NHLer and owner of All-West Demolition, has joined the Bears as a Partner’s Circle member heading into the 2025-26 season. His father, Jim Carr, who passed away in 2017, played for the Bears between 1975-78 while in law school, bringing home a national championship in 1977-78.
“He was part of the group that started the Golden Bears Hockey Alumni,” began Daniel, who won an NCAA title in 2014 with Union College and immediately after signed as an undrafted free agent with the Montreal Canadiens. From then, until he signed a contract with HC Lugano in the Swiss National League in 2020, Daniel played 117 games in the NHL with the Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals. This summer he signed a two year deal with Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL.
“And then after, because there were a lot more guys that went straight to the NHL from the U of A, they all hired my Dad to be their agent. Like Corey Cross, who my dad represented his whole career. But those guys who played in the late 70s, they were really good friends the whole time. There’s a big group of them that did a lot to help and support the team and make sure it was always going in the right direction.”
Daniel’s business partner, , played one year with the Bears in 1994-95, and remarked on the winning tradition, quality of people, and higher standards instilled within the Bears’ program.
Together, Ward and Daniel are working to make sure All-West Demolition strives to be community-minded business—and it starts with the Bears.
“Things like part-time employment for current players, or as they graduate, we have a big network of people that we know now, so we can help open doors,” remarked Ward. “Sometimes, for guys, when they’re finished their hockey career, there’s always that anxiety about, ‘Where do I go now?’ ”
Starting this summer, the pair has been working to set All-West Demolition apart from traditional demolition companies, focusing on their community involvement and competitive services, with a focus on safety concerns and contractor reliability.
“We’ve made a lot of really good changes, and we are trying to get the changes to where we need to go,” continued Daniel. “I know what we’re about here, and I think this thing with the Bears, it’s part of our goal here, as the owners.
“We’ve brought in so many good people, and getting that message out there that we’re a very easy and reasonable company to deal with. Demolition can be a difficult industry. And that’s not how we run. Everything’s above board. Everything is honest, and we value the integrity with our clients and making things work, where the relationships are win-win situations. And it’s an interesting industry where you see sometimes, that’s not always the case, and that’s our goal here is to make sure that is the relationships we’re having with our clients, and that’s where our business stems from.”
It’s the same standards that Ward previously commented on within the Bears that the two plan to instill within All-West Demolition—reliability and leadership.
(L-R: Ward Fleming, Matt Hemmings, Mike Cooney, Kaytlynn Denesik, Ash Fennell, Daniel Carr)
Bear Necessities Fund
A huge shout-out to everyone below who supported our ask a few months ago to support our efforts with donations to The Bear Necessities Fund.
Further up in this email today you saw that we just brought on board Delaney Miles as our GBHA Communications Manager. We are only able to do that given the funds we have in the BNF. Those funds also help pay Caprice St. Pierre for the excellent work she does profiling our Partners’ Circle member. And it compensate Angela Guignion, who works her butt off behind the scenes putting together this E-News and keeping our database and email list up to date.
They appreciate your support, and so does every single person who reads this newsletter. Thank you so much – we’re good for funds still for the next month or two. We’ll let everyone know when we need more help.
Thank you to the following:
Adam Morrison, Austin Smith, Billy Moores, Blair St. Martin, Bob Steadward, Brett Cox, Brian Middleton, Bruce Crawford, Bruce Millar, Bruce Holder, Bruce Rolin, Bryon Baltimore, Clark Jantzie, Colin Chisholm, Colin Zarowny, Craig Hordal, Craig Styles, Dale Henwood, Dan Bouwmeester, Daniel Zarowny, Dave Jenkins, David McDermid, David Otto, Dick Wintermute, Dixon Ward, Don Darling, Frederick Halterman, George Severin, Graeme Craig, Harvey Poon, Howard Crosley, Jack Cummings, Jay Reid, Jerry Legrandeur, Jesse Gimblett, Jim Lomas, Jim Ofrim, Jim Wishloff, John Krill, Justin Wallin, Kelly Brooks, Larry Wall, Lawrence Richer, Lucas Nickles, Mark Hurley, Mike Ballash, Milt Hohol, Murray Tait, Paris Proft, Reg (Bryan) Targett, Ric Bartlett, Rick Peterson, Rick Wyrozub, Roger Kramers, Ron Heck, Ron Reinhart, Ron Vertz, Scott Adair, Scott Lindsay, Scott McDonald, Shelby Karpman, Stacey Wakabayashi, Stan Marple, Stephen Lockwood, Steve Knowles, Steve Shrum, Sylvia Ciurysek, Wayne Page.
