Cougars & Trojans team up for KidSport

On the court, these cross-town rivals are known to battle a time or two. Actually, all of the time.

But in the community, the Mount Royal Cougars and SAIT Trojans are teaming up to support KidSport Calgary during their upcoming court sports series.

This weekend, both SAIT and Mount Royal will be hosting each other in ACAC volleyball and basketball action. While the heated foes are sure to clash on the floor, they also hope to raise awareness and money for the local KidSport Calgary chapter along the way.

“Community citizenship is very important to SAIT’s student-athletes. By working together with Mount Royal, we can all give back even more,” explains Mark Pretzlaff, SAIT’s Athletics Manager.

Karla Karch, Mount Royal University’s Athletics Manager agrees, “To be able to work with another post-secondary institution for such a worthy cause is important to Cougar Athletics.”

The respective athletics departments wanted to work together for a charity and KidSport Calgary became the perfect fit.

“We (at KidSport Calgary) believe that no kid should be left on the sidelines and all should be given the opportunity to experience the positive benefits of organized sports,” explains Mark Kosak, Regional Manager of KidSport Calgary. KidSport Calgary’s mission is to provide support to children in order to remove financial barriers that prevent them from playing organized sport.

“These are student-athletes who value sport –it is dear to their heart,” adds Kosak, on the new relationship with Mount Royal and SAIT.

"SAIT and Mount Royal choose KidSports because of what they believe in, what their vision and goals are and because they are making a difference in the youth of our city and country," said Karch. "Helping them in this way is one small thing we can do to support their charity."

The Trojans and Cougars will be fundraising together through a raffle, 50/50 proceeds, t-shirt sales, and portion of gate receipts from the weekend. All of the money will be pooled together and presented to KidSport Calgary representatives on February 12, 2011 at the SAIT vs. MRU men’s hockey game at SAIT Arena.

The teams have also invited local KidSport Calgary families to attend this weekend’s games for free.

You can contribute to their fundraising efforts for KidSport Calgary while attending any of the following games this weekend at either SAIT or Mount Royal:

VOLLEYBALL

Friday, Jan. 28 MRU @ SAIT Campus Centre Women @ 6 p.m.; Men @ 8p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 29 SAIT @ MRU (MRU Gym) Women @ 6 p.m.; Men @ 8 p.m.

BASKETBALL

Friday, Jan. 28 SAIT @ MRU (MRU Gym) Women @ 6 p.m.; Men @ 8p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 29 MRU @ SAIT Campus Centre Women @ 6 p.m.; Men @ 8 p.m.