Summer 2019 Recap

Provincial Team

17UM

The 2019 17UM Provincial Team featured 9 Junior Bison Basketball players: Aaron Thomas, Christian Aye, Dorien Peiluck, Jesse Fedak, Kyshawn Ramnauth, Mason Kraus, Mawa Ottogo, Sam Jensen, and Simon Hildebrandt. The team was lead this summer by Junior Bison 2002/JRB Elite Head Coach Marlin Kraus.

After strong showings down South at Summerslam at the Pentagon (Sioux Falls, SD) and the D1 Summer Classic (Minneapolis, MN) Team Manitoba was off to the Canada Basketball National Championships in Fredericton, NB. They finished with a 5-1 record (5th place). Mason Kraus earned All Canadian honours posting averages of 13PPG, 4AST, 3STL, and 2REB over the course of 6 games.

16UM

The 2019 16UM Provincial Team was also well represented with 7 Junior Bison Basketball players suiting up for their province: Alex Ang, Charles Goossen, D'Ontea Cameron, Elijah Grant, Logan Kraus, Tendo Kasule, and Ty Bryant. Junior Bison 2009 Head Coach Robert Tibbs served as an Assistant Coach for this summer's 16UM squad.

Team Manitoba was challenged in both US tournaments at Summerslam at the Pentagon (Sioux Falls, SD) and the D1 Summer Classic (Minneapolis, MN) to prepare them for the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games in Swift Current, SK. Their 3-2 finish at the games earned them 3rd place and a bronze medal.

15UM

The 2019 15UM Provincial Team saw 2 Junior Bison Basketball players represent their province: Anthony Okindo and Ryan Luke.

Ryan started 5 of 6 games for Manitoba posting averages of 7PTS and 9REB per game.

Congratulations to all on a great summer!

What's Next?

Some exciting news for several Junior Bison alumni as they take the next step in their careers as student athletes.

Kyler Filewich (Junior Bison 2001)

Kyler will be attending Orangeville Prep in Ontario competing in the OSBA for the 2019-20 season.

Mason Kraus (Junior Bison 2002)

Mason will be attending TRC Academy in Ontario competing in the OSBA for the 2019-20 season.

Donald Stewart (Junior Bison 2001)

Donald will be attending the University of Winnipeg to continue his education and playing career as a member of the Wesmen.

Jackson Tachinski (Junior Bison 2001)

Jackson will be attending the University of Manitoba to continue his education and playing career as a member of the Bison. He will be a multisport athlete at the USports level suiting up for both football and basketball.

We are very proud of these young men and their development as people, students, and athletes. Wishing them all the best on their upcoming seasons!

JRB Elite Youth Development Program (2019-2020)

The Junior Bison Boys Basketball Club is pleased to announce our first annual JRB Elite Youth Development Program. Open to boys born in 2010 & 2011. The program is centred around developing fundamental skills, sportsmanship, and a love of the game of basketball!

All sessions held on Sundays at Greendell Community Centre (75 Woodlawn Ave) from 9AM-10AM.

Head Coach: Marlin Kraus - Head Coach & Program Coordinator Jr Bison Boys Basketball,  Head Coach JRB Elite, Head Coach 17U Team Manitoba, Coach Sturgeon Heights Boys Varsity Basketball, Former CIS player

Assistant Coach: Robert Tibbs - Jr Bison Coach, Head Coach Transcona Collegiate Boys Varsity Basketball, Assistant Coach 16U Team Manitoba

2019:
September - 8/15/22/29
October - 6/13/20
November - 3/10

2020:
January - 5/12/19/26
February - 9/23
March - 1/8/15/22/29

Registration: $200 - Only $10 per session!
Includes Reversible Jersey, Basketball, and Insurance.

Space is limited to 24 players. Sign up now:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1OcA3ga9l0ZO8thRu4ShDuJhtW7guCLUxtHEWxurtc60

JRB Elite Back to School Skills Camp - Registration Open

Sign Up Now: https://forms.gle/AhgzUAZ1Ew9NGaqd7 


The Jr Bison Boys Basketball program will be offering our JRB Elite - Back to School Skills Camp Monday August 26th - Friday August 30th at St Johns Ravencourt School (Reimer Gym). A great way to prepare for the upcoming school and club season!

The program will be led by Coach Marlin Kraus (Program Coordinator Jr Bison Boys Basketball,  Jr Bison 2002 Head Coach,  JRB Elite Head Coach, Team Manitoba 17UM Head Coach, Sturgeon Heights Boys Varsity Basketball Coach, Former CIS Player) and Coach Robert Tibbs (Jr Bison 2009 Head Coach, Team Manitoba 16UM Assistant Coach, Transcona Collegiate Varsity Boys Head Coach).

We will run 2 sessions daily, as follows:

- 5-7pm – Boys born 2008/2007/2006
- 7-9pm – Boys born 2005/2004/2003

(Space is limited to 25 players per session)

Cost $115 -- Includes Insurance & T-shirt

Please contact jrb.elite.winnipeg@gmail.com with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you out!

Jr Bison Boys Tryouts -- August 19th-23rd U of M IGAC - REVISED

Please note the tryout dates have been revised as a result of the NFL game scheduled on August 22nd at the stadium. 


The Jr Bison Boys will be hosting tryouts 
August 19th-23rd at the 

U of M Investors Group Athletic Centre (IGAC).

$25.00 fee 

Players are to bring a basketball and water.

Link to registration form is below.  

Contact us at the following email if you have any questions:

juniorbisonboysbasketball@gmail.com

Please download registration form (click registration form link below) & bring completed form, basketball, water and $25 fee to the 1st Tryout.

Registration Form Download

JRB Elite Springbreak Camp - Registration Open....

Sign up now at: https://goo.gl/forms/y6rWehVEpK0NVu5i2


The Jr. Bison Boys basketball program will be offering our JRB Elite - Springbreak Skills Camp Monday March 25-Friday March 29 at St Johns Ravencourt School (Reimer Gym).

The program will be led by Coach Marlin Kraus (Head Coach and program coordinator Jr Bison Boys Basketball,  Head Coach JRB Elite, Coach Sturgeon Heights Boys Varsity Basketball, former CIS player) and will feature guest coaches throughout the week including Kirby Schepp (Head Coach U of M Men's basketball and National Team Coach)

We will run 2 sessions daily, as follows:

- 5-7pm – Boys born 2008/2007/2006
- 7-9pm – Boys born 2005/2004/2003

(Space is limited to 25 players per session)

Cost $110 -- includes insurance and T-shirt

15th Annual Jr Bison Boys Basketball Tournament -- Registration open....

Registration is now open for our 

15th Annual Jr Bison Boys 

Basketball Tournament

April 19-21, 2019

Great Facilities:

U of M - IGAC

St. Boniface College
Lindenwoods Community Centre
St. John's-Ravenscourt School

MABO Referees

$390/Team

Visit our

"Tournament Page" 

for more details

Player Feature: Kyler Filewich

Player Feature: Kyler Filewich

Jr Bison Boys Basketball Club

Kyler Filewich (2001 Jr Bison Boys) has dedicated years driving his way to the top ranks of the province’s basketball elite. The sought-after Canadian prospect — who began playing community club basketball in Grade 3 — is now heading into his final year of high school, and his senior season with the Jr Bison Boys Basketball Club. Keeping his eyes on the ball — and on his future — he is excited for what comes next.

“It feels (really) good to have come this far,” says the 6’8” forward. “I am super excited about the future.”

A powerhouse player with serious interest from both Canadian and American universities and colleges, Filewich says a lot of different factors have contributed to his success: the coaches he has had, the teams he has played on, and his steadfast dedication to keep getting better.

Filewich — who has played with the Jr Bison Boys Basketball Club since Grade 7 — says his Jr Bison team “is like family.”  “My team has been together for years and we know each other really well,” he says. “The Junior Bison program attracts a lot of the best players — it is an elite club.”

He also credits both his school and club coaches for the impact they have made: Vincent Massey Collegiate’s Nick Lother, A.A. Leach’s Adrian Jordan, and his mom — Arlyn Filewich, a former University of Manitoba Bisons women’s team player and captain and two-time provincial team MVP — who has been the coach of his 2001 Jr Bison Boys Basketball team for the past five years.

"It is nice to have her as a coach because we get to enjoy the game together,” Filewich says. “She has taught me a lot and she has the same tenacity that I have.” 

And, he adds, “She hates to lose, too.”

The 245 lb player is known for his physical dominance on the court. 

"Kyler adds size and a physical presence that requires everyone around him to be on their toes. He has an extremely high compete level which raises the intensity of games and practices,” says his mom/coach.   “In games he demands attention from the other team’s defence,” she says, “so it has become important for our team to put the ball in to him and then be ready for the open shot when he kicks it back out.”

Growing up, Filewich was a multi-sport player who liked hockey, soccer, swimming and basketball. Now his primarily focuses are basketball and football.  “I like basketball because it is challenging and requires a lot of different skills,” he says. “The fast pace makes it really fun to play.”

Despite his size and skill, he had challenges to overcome, including getting cut from the Centre for Performance in Grade 7. He says that experience pushed him even harder to put in the long hours that have helped with his success.  “(Being cut) motivated me to work extra hard to achieve my goals,” he says.

Not only has Filewich put in countless hours on the court, he also credits the hours off the court with helping him hone a deeper understanding of the game.  “I have learned a lot from watching the game, reading about it and listening to others,” he says, “(from) parents, coaches and commentators.”

Basketball has taken Filewich to high-level tournaments throughout Canada and the U.S.; he played on the Manitoba provincial basketball team for four years in a row, and spent two years in Toronto with Under Armour’s Canada Elite prep team. 

Filewich’s personal highlights so far include winning the Junior High Provincials in Grade 8 for A.A. Leach; playing in the National Championships and Canada Summer Games and being picked to play in the Bio Steel Future All-Canadians All-Star Game in 2017.  He was also recognized as the top high school athlete in Winnipeg in a poll of local coaches — when he was in Grade 11. Despite already having so much success, he keeps pushing himself to get even better.

“I probably played one of my best games in Kelowna,” he says of the recent Western Canadian Basketball Tournament where he scored 36 points, had 25 rebounds, and 8 assists in one game.

Even though he had chances to go out-of-province for Grade 12, he felt it was more important to stay in Manitoba and concentrate on both sport and academic achievements at the same time.  “I would like to win two provincial championships; one in basketball and one in football,” says the student-athlete, who also has an 88% academic average. “Academics is extremely important this year as I am looking to receive academic scholarships to go along with an athletic scholarship.”

The student-athlete already has offers for both basketball and football from North Dakota and the University of Manitoba under his belt. More offers are expected from universities in both Canada and the United States that will make the 17 year olds’ decision a tough — but exciting — one.  “It is great to potentially play two sports at the college level.”

He sees himself playing professionally, whether it be basketball or football.

“I would love to be able to play basketball or football at the pro level,” he says, “And I would love to be able to play for Canada someday.” And his game-plan doesn’t end there: “I plan to take business and then law in university and would love to be a player agent.”

The veteran Jr Bisons player knows that with skill and unlimited dedication, the sky is the limit.

To the younger basketball players coming through the ranks, he offers this advice: “You are only going to be better if you put in the time; always give a full effort in practice, play outside on the street, go the gym and put up shots,” he says.  “People think I am good because of my size, but what they don’t see or realize is all of the extra hours outside of team practices that I have committed to my game.”