Grace Box Named CCAA Badminton All-Canadian
March 4 2010
The Canadian Colleges Athletics Association is pleased to announce the 2009-10 CCAA Badminton All Canadians, and Concordia Grace Box is among those elite athletes honored. Grace is one of four Thunder athletes representing Concordia University College of Alberta and the ACAC at the CCAA Badminton National Championships this weekend hosted by NAIT February 4th - 6th. For all the action from the national championships please visit the official CCAA Badminton National Championships Website. 
Grace Box-CCAA All Canadian
Badminton All-Conference Athletes Announced
February 16 2010
The Alberta Colleges Athletics Conference has announced the 2009-10 ACAC All-Conference Badminton Team and four Thunder athletes are among those honored. Grace Box and Samantha Wong were named to the Women's Team while Jake Perry and Jei-Yung Sim were named to the Men's Team. Please visit the ACAC website for the official press release to read more.
Grace Box Samantha Wong Jie-Yung Sim Jake Perry
Badminton Win's ACAC Team Silver
February 16 2010
The Concordia University College of Alberta Badminton team has won it's second consecutive ACAC Team silver medal this past weekend at the ACAC Championships hosted at NAIT February 13th and 14th. Concordia would win silver in Mixed Doubles as the Thunder's Grace Box and Jake Perry would loose to the NAIT mixed team in the finals. Tanner Grusie and Kevin Visser would also bring home ACAC Silver in the Men's Double event during the Championships. All four silver medalists from Concordia will advance with the CCAA Badminton Athlete of the Month, Concordia's Jie-Yung Sim to the CCAA National Championships hosted by NAIT March 4th to 6th. You can check out all the national championship action live on the NAIT CCAA Championship Website. 
Badminton Athletes Qualify for CCAA Nationals
February 8 2010
The Concordia University College of Alberta Badminton team was in Red Deer this past weekend for ACAC Singles Championships which serve as qualifying event for the CCAA Nationals to be held at NAIT in Edmonton March 4th - 6th. The Thunder had three athletes competing in the semi-finals for the right to represent the University and the Conference at the CCAA Nationals Jie Yung Sim, Jake Perry and Tanner Grusie. Jie-Yung Sim who was also named CCAA National Badminton Athlete of the Month would advance through a weekend of tough competition in the Singles event finish first over all to qualify for the CCAA National Championships. In team play the Thunder would defeat RDC 9-0 and Mount Royal University 6-3 but fall to NAIT 5-4 to finish second on the weekend tournament results. The Thunder are next headed to NAIT for the final ACAC event of the season which also serves as the Double play national qualifying event February 13th and 14th at the NAIT gymnasium.
Photo by Jason Bouwmeester
Badminton Dominant at Home
January 18 2010
The Thunder Badminton team entered this past weekend of tournament play as the number six ranked team in all of Canada. Concordia looked to build on that as they hosted the third ACAC Badminton Tournament of the 2009-10 season January 16th and 17th at the Ralph King Athletic Center.The Thunder would be in fine form as Jie Yung Sim returned to top form winning the Men's Singles event continuing to elevate his game since a disappointing showing in the first tournament of the season. "He still feels he can improve more and this is a good sign for Jie" says Head Coach Kevin MacAlpine of his athletes performance on the weekend. The Thunder would also win the Women's Singles event on the play of Grace Box. Grace would also bring home top honors in the Women's Doubles event with her partner Samantha Wong defeating NAIT in the final. "Overall we had very good results and are looking forward to the next ACAC tournament" says Coach MacAlpine of the weekend results. Thunder Badminton will take to the courts in ACAC tournament play in Red Deer hosted by RDC February 13th and 14th which will be the last team event as well as the Singles National Qualifying event for the 2009-10 CCAA National Championships hosted by NAIT.
Photo by Jason Bouwmeester
Badminton Shows Strong in Hawaii
January 6 2010
The Concordia University College of Alberta Badminton team took in some tropical weather over the New Year break taking part in an exhibition tournament in Hawaii. The Thunder where able to take in sun and sand while preparing themselves for the second half of the season. The Thunders new addition for the new year Jake Perry showed will in Men's Singles with a 3rd place finish as well as a Third place finish in Men's double and mixed double paired with Peter Dushenski and Grace Box respectively . Thunder Badminton Head Coach Kevin MacAlpine also came out of retirement to take part in the competition finish first on the consolation side of the draw. Concordia's own Grace Box finished second in Women's Singles and Women's Doubles alongside Samantha Wong. Head Coach Kevin MacAlpine had this to say of the team's experience in Hawaii "Overall I was really impressed with everyone's effort and the results were great. With the addition of Jake Perry and rest of the Thunder Squad, it should prove to be a great second semester" Thunder Badminton takes to the courts again January 16th and 17th when the host the first ACAC Tournament of 2010.
Badminton Finishes Top Two in Second Tournament of the Season
November 23 2009
The Concordia University College of Alberta Thunder Badminton team finished second overall in the ACAC regular season badminton tournament hosted at NAIT November 21 and 22nd. Over the course of the two days the Thunder team defeated RDC 8-1, and Mount Royal University 6-3 however would fall to the defending ACAC Champion NAIT Ooks 6-3. Concordia's Jie Yung Sim rebounded from a tough loss in the first tournament of the year and went undefeated in singles play in this over the weekend. While first year Thunder athlete Peter Dushenski and Jie Yung Sim were able to push the NAIT doubles team to 3 games before bowing out 22-20 in the 3rd game. "Overall it was a great weekend and keeps us solidly in second place with little doubt we can compete for the championship" said first year Head Coach Kevin MacAlpine about his teams performance. Thunder Badminton won't be in action again until the New Year when they host the third tournament of the ACAC season January 16 and 17th.
Badminton Begins ACAC Season
October 19 2009
Thunder Badminton opened the 2009-10 ACAC season this past weekend in tournament play in Calgary at Mount Royal University. The Concordia University College Badminton program accumulated 137 points over the course of the weekend to finish in second place in the standings behind NAIT. Tanner Grusie would finished 3rd in the men's singles event, while Grace Box would finish 2nd in the womens singles event. Jie Sim paired with Grace Box for a 3rd place finish in the mixed doubles event.
Kevin MacAlpine Named Badminton Head Coach
April 14 2009
The Concordia University College of Alberta Badminton team will have a new yet familiar face taking over Head Coaching duties next fall. Kevin MacAlpine, long time Assistant Coach will move into the Head Coaching position left vacant by the retirement of Naeem Haque. Coach MacAlpine has a long history with Thunder Badminton having first played with the national powerhouse program from 2001-2005 then serving as an Assistant coach from 2005 - 2009. With nearly a decade of Thunder Badminton experience the Athletic Department is confidant that Coach MacAlpine will continue the tradition of national excellence established by the Thunder Badminton team. In addition to his Badminton Coaching duties Coach MacAlpine will also continue to serve as the Thunder Golf Team Head Coach.
