Edmonton Sports Fans

Marlon Johnson to Finally Play with the Stingers in 2021 – What Happened Last Year?

Before the start of the 2021 CEBL Summer Series, the Stingers announced potentially their biggest signing of the year with the signing of former Saskatchewan Rattler Marlon Johnson. Johnson was coming off an incredible season where he was a CEBL All Star, Defensive Player of the Year runner-up, and of course, CEBL Champion. Many suspected Johnson would return to the Rattlers to be the face of the franchise. Johnson had other plans, and he shockingly announced he would sign with the Stingers. The excitement around Johnson joining CEBL All Stars Xavier Moon, Travis Daniels and Jordan Baker was abuzz. Johnson said he was most excited to play with reigning MVP Xavier Moon. But things didn’t exactly go as planned for the Stingers.

When the CEBL season was delayed due to COVID-19, players in the CEBL were dropping like flies. Marlon Johnson was one of those players. Just before the CEBL season started, Marlon Johnson decided to sign to play with a team in “The Big Tournament”, the first basketball league or tournament to resume play out of the pandemic. Johnson showed up with impressive might, and quickly became the talk of the basketball world due to his impressive dunking ability and versatility. The plan for Johnson was to wrap up the season in Columbus, and join the Stingers, potentially missing the first game due to quarantine laws. But Johnson’s plan never came to fruition.

Right before the season began, Stingers Coach/GM Jermaine Small and Marlon Johnson received the news that the league would not allow Johnson to play for the Stingers unless he was able to arrive in time for the training camp. Johnson’s team advanced too far in TBT to make it in time for the CEBL, so Johnson had to sit it out. Johnson reportedly was quite upset with this decision, and even contemplated not returning to the CEBL. Ultimately, Jermaine Small reached out to Johnson and eventually, they agreed to sign Johnson back to the Stingers.

After all this, we have Marlon Johnson on the Stingers roster. Over a full year after initially signing with the Stingers, we will finally get to see Johnson in a Stingers uniform. Johnson is a multi-level threat who will potentially be the most valuable player on the Stingers on the defensive end. He will be an incredible asset to this team. “I returned because I didn’t get a chance to come play last year with (the Stingers)” said Johnson. “My role is to play my role and adjust to everyone around me… focus and belief will make (me) very effective”.

Kareem South Returns to the North

The Edmonton Stingers announced this week that guard Kareem South would be returning to the team following a promising showing in the 2020 CEBL Summer Series. In 8 games in the Summer Series, South played an average of 11 minutes per game for the Stingers. In this time, South averaged 3.1 points per game, 1.6 rebounds per game and 1 assist per game. These stats don’t tell nearly the whole story on South, who earned praise from Head Coach Jermaine Small for his defensive awareness, and impact on the floor.

South comes to the Stingers with an impressive collegiate resume. South spent his first 4 years of college at Texas A&M-CC. In his second year he became a starter, and eventually left the school averaging 13.8 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game (impressive for a 6’3 guard in NCAA. South’s last collegiate season brought him to the. University of California Bears. This was a huge step for South, who would now be playing in the highly competitive Pac-12 conference. California regularly competes for March Madness berths, and is generally viewed as an extremely strong team in Division 1 NCAA Mens Basketball.

Following a strong season in California, South got the call from Stingers GM and Head Coach Jermaine Small to come play for the Stingers in the Summer Series.

This year the Stingers have once again brought South back, and according to Kareem himself, it wasn’t a difficult choice. “The Edmonton Stingers is a championship organization. We have a great group that’s fully bought in and fun to be around” South said. “I’m looking forward to continue building on the foundation that was laid last summer”.

South will be a part of the Stingers team that must protect their 2020 Championship. South and the Stingers will kick off the 2021 CEBL season on June 24, in a finals rematch against the Fraser Valley Bandits.

Allwest Powersports Update: Test and Tune Date, Castrol Raceway Safety Protocols, Volunteers Needed

Attention Dirt Oval Track Racers and crew – “Test and Tune” is scheduled for Saturday May 8th – Gates 2:30pm to 5pm. All participants must go to Castrol’s website to fill out the “Smart Waivers“.

The admission fee is $35 per person. Fees will be paid through e-transfer. The e-transfer account information will be shared on May 1st, exactly one week before the test and tune.

The following Covid safety protocol rules are taken directly from Castrol Raceway’s social media. Allwest Powersports will adhere to these rules as they are the keys to Alberta Health Services allowing the company to operate!

“Masks/Face Coverings are 𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 in all common areas throughout the property. YES, That means ALL Participants, Crew, & Cohort! NO, Masks do NOT have to be worn under your Helmet!

COMMON AREAS- Staging Lanes, Pit/Paddock- Concession, Tower, Restroom- ANYWHERE at the facility OUTSIDE of your “Personal” Pit Stall containing your RV or Motorhome (masks must be worn).

Persons in Pit Stall MUST be from the same household and/or deemed essential to the overall safety and operations of the performance vehicle).

Grandstands will be closed until further notice. Playground will be closed until further notice.

𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘥𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.””

I asked Ed Wiersma of Allwest Powersports about the scheduled opening weekend (May 29th and 30th) for the dirt oval:

“The race schedule is still intact but no one knows what the AHS rules surrounding the opening weekend will be yet. A press release closer to the date will cover the AHS rules that are in place at that time. We are hoping to be in a position to allow fans. We will be doing any AHS required Covid screening at the gate.”

Volunteers needed in two areas.

“Scoring Tower”

This is a two person job, Allwest Powersports already have our lead hand and they will be there to train the new volunteer.

The new volunteer in the tower must be comfortable working on a computer and with the “MyLaps” program. Being able to manage the information coming across the screen before, during and after the race. The ability to quickly input race car driver names and numbers in the moments leading up to the race. Communicating information sent to the computer from the race car transponders and quickly reacting to situations that may arise such as transponders failing to submit information.

General Track Repair

The guard rails on the race track safety fence need replacing and repairs. Looking for volunteers with handyman skills. Need someone with welding and cutting torch skills. Repair equipment supplied.

Interested in either the Tower or Repair positions, Text Ed Wiersma at 780-982-2766.