Being married to a PBR loving canuk, I can relate to everything Ty Murray says about the Canadians in this year’s PBR World cup. They may look grungy, but that’s just a disguise! The event starts this Friday in Las Vegas and we will be there to cover it.
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LAS VEGAS (April 14, 2010) – Statistically, there’s little about Team Canada to encourage a betting man, even in a city like Las Vegas.
“They may not be the strongest on paper,” said Ty Murray, “but if they come together right and match up with the right bull they can be very dangerous.”
But the World Cup isn’t played out on paper. Instead, it will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
As they have in the past, the Canadians – whose roster this year includes Aaron Roy, Scott Schiffner, Vince Northrop, Tyler Thomson and Devon Mezei – will compete for the good of the team, as opposed to individual acclaim.
A big reason for that is Cody Sndyer, who is serving as team captain for the fourth year.
“When you look at a lot of great coaches, that’s what they’re good at—making them come together,” said Murray.
“I love how serious Canada takes the World Cup.”
Canada’s past success in the World Cup parallels the achievements of the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers a few years back, when both of those franchises managed to win Super Bowl titles without a Hall-of-Fame-caliber quarterback.
“There are just so many things that factor into this, but coming together is big, because this is a team competition,” Murray said.
Tanner Girletz will travel with the team and be ready to step in as the alternate.
Murray went on to explain that Snyder has done a great job in past Cup events by matching up riders with the right bulls, as well as choosing which three scores to keep in each round.
It remains to be seen whether this year’s Canadians are like the team that nearly won the first two World Cup events, or more like the team that finished third a year ago in Brazil – a bitter disappointment to Snyder.
Murray said that last year’s experience will make them “that much more hungry.”
Snyder has been mentoring his team from the day after last year’s third-place finish. They traveled home as a team and began talking about what they needed to win the 2010 event.
“I think they’re going to be in the mix,” said Murray, who sees Roy as their anchor. “I still think the U.S. and Brazil are the favorites, but I think Canada can be right in the mix. I definitely don’t count Canada out.”
Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil and the United States will have an opportunity to prove themselves beginning Friday night. The competition will include two rounds in each of three nights.
“It’s going to be interesting,” added Murray.
Editors Note:
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