7 .& Sots Royals update: Men’s basketball and volleyball By Josh Martin, Sports Editor he Douglas College men’s basketball team recently added a mix of young players to their line- up with Gagan Sahota, Keith Nath, Karan Bains and Navjot Bains committing to Douglas for the 2011-2012 season. Sahota, Karan Bains and Navjot Bains are all coming from the Tamanawis Wildcats while Nath joins the Royals after playing a year with rival school Capilano College. Sahota was starting wing for the Wildcats during the 09-10 and 10-11 seasons, averaging 25 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in his grade 12 year while leading his team as captain to ’ its first two berths in the AAA Provincials. Sahota’s resume is quite impressive as he was a member of the U-15 Provincial team, the Surrey all-star team, a two-time Tamanawis athlete of the year, a two-time first team all-star at the Surrey RCMP tournament, Rick Hanson first team all-star, Joker Classic first team all star, and a two-time Unity all-star. Karan Bains was the starting point guard for the Wildcats during the 09-10 season where he averaged 12 points, five assists, and four rebounds per game while appearing in the elite eight of the Fraser Valley Championships. His accomplishments include player of the game, multiple tournament MVP’s, and being named to the second all-star team during the Surrey RCMP Classic tournament. Along with Sahota, Karan Bains was also selected from his high school basketball team to appear in the Surrey all-star game in the 2010 season. Navjot Bains was a starting forward for the Wildcats during the 10-11 season where he averaged 18 points and eight rebounds per game while also playing a major role on the defensive end having to always shutdown the opposition’s top guys. Navjot was a first team all-star at Burnaby South’s Rod Thomson Memorial Rebel Classic. : These four players will be contributing and playing a vital role on this year’s Douglas College men’s basketball team. If anyone is interested in trying out for the 2011-2012 men’s volleyball team then be sure to make it out to the following open gym dates: Tues. Aug. 23 400-600pm Thurs. Aug.25 400-600pm Tues. Aug.30 400-600pm Thurs. Sept.01 400-600pm The Official Selection Camp will be held on the following dates: Tues. Sept.06 430-600pm ***there will be a brief meeting at 400pm Wed. Sept.07 400-530pm Thurs. Sept.08 430-600pm Top five free-agent signings By Josh Martin, Sports Editor ver the course of the NHL Ose there has been a significant amount of free-agent signings dating back to July 1. Here is a list of the top five signings that will contribute on a different team this year. #5 — Simon Gagne with the Los Angeles Kings, signed on July 2, 2011 A two year contract worth $7-million is good enough for Gagne and the Kings as the winger is coming off a 40 point season with the Tampa Bay Lightning last year in just 63 games. Prior to last season the Quebecois native spent ten years with the Philadelphia Flyers where he had seven 20+ goal campaigns, including a career high of 47 goals and 79 points in the 2005-2006 season. Gagne will be joining former Flyer teammate and .Captain Mike Richards, who was traded , to LA on June 23. Look for the duo to make a major impact on the team giving the Kings a powerful offensive 1-2 punch. #4 — Christian Ehrhoff with the Buffalo Sabres, June 30, 2011 After two unforgettable seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, a Stanley cup run, and coming off a career-high of 50 points this year, Christian Ehrhoff is noticeably at the peak of his prime. He was quickly labelled as the top offensive defensemen on the market prior to his signing on June 30 and is now a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization. Ehrhoff signed a ten year deal that is 18 worth $40-million. He will be joining Robyn Regehr and Jordan Leopold to bolster the blue line. #3 — Tomas Vokoun with the Washington Capitals, July 2, 2011 This deal is most likely one of the most under-rated signings in the off-season with Vokoun signing for a one year contract worth only $1.5- million. Not only do the Washington Capitals get a solid number one veteran goaltender between the pipes, but Vokoun has a legitimate NHL team in front of him for the first time in his 13 year career. This could be a deal that works out for both sides tremendously well. Vokoun is coming off a 22-28-5 season with the Florida Panthers while posting a .922 SV% and a 2.55 GAA despite being the last placed team in the Eastern Conference. He is going to be a tremendous addition to the Washington ‘Capitals organization, giving some much needed confidence in net which has been a major concern for the team in the past several years. The Capitals now look like a serious cup contending team. #2 — Brad Richards with the New York Rangers, July 2, 2011 The number one player on the market signed on day two with the New York Rangers to a nine year deal worth a reported $60-million. Richards won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning back in 2004 with coach John Tortorella, which seemed to be the contributing factor on signing with the Rangers since Tortorella is now the coach in the Big Apple. Richards has spent the past-four seasons playing for the Dallas Stars and in the 2009-2010 season matched his career high of 91 points. He will be centering the top line alongside offensive threat Marian Gaborik who will most likely be on his right wing. #1 — Jaromir Jagr with the Philadelphia Flyers, July 1, 2011 Yes, the 39-year-old former MVP is back in the big leagues and bigger than ever, returning with a one-year contract worth $3.3 million with the Philadelphia Jaromir Jagr Flyers. Number 68 is returning after a three-year absence from the NHL where he partook in the KHL and Czech Republic. In Jagr’s last NHL season back in 2007-08, he scored 25 goals and 71 points in the full 82 games. That’s a pretty good season for only being thfee years ago. Jagr currently has 1,599 points in 1,273 games and holds a career high of 62 goals, 87 assists and 149 points back in the 1995-96 season. This is a big deal and a huge return for one of the NHL’s best player’s of all time.