Some of the 73 members of the CFB Shilo Team deployed to compete in Ex. STRONG CONTENDER in Edmonton from Jan 15 to 19. (Photo: Supplied)

K-J Millar
Shilo Stag News

Seventy-three “strong contenders” deployed from CFB Shilo arrived at the 3rd Canadian Division Support Base, Edmonton, on Jan. 14 for the 2024 Exercise competition of the same name.

The CFB Shilo team, made up of members from 2PPCLI and 1RCHA, is set to compete for the titles in Jiu Jitsu/grappling, weight lifting, tactical athlete, indoor soccer, hockey and volleyball, in the annual challenge, which this year runs from Jan. 15 to 19.

“We have a good opportunity this year to continue a stretch of top-three finishes and break into the overall top-three. The team captains have put in a lot of work,” said Capt. Nick Giles, 3 Platoon Commander, A Coy, 2PPCLI.

The exercise brings together all the units within 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) and 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron to compete against each other in various sports.

“A large component of Ex STRONG CONTENDER is building camaraderie amongst the troops. It’s a sentiment emphasized by the participation of the two Shilo-based units —2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery — that do not visit Edmonton on a regular basis,” explained a 2023 article by the Shilo Stag’s sister paper, The Western Sentinel.

“From a brigade perspective, it’s a big exercise in cohesion,” the Sentinel read.

“Teams have been training for the previous three months and although it’s been a busy time for the Battalion, we’ve pulled together some good teams and are looking to build on our progress from the previous year,” Capt. Giles said.

Team coaches are Master-Corporal Kevin Camara with a Jiu-Jitsu team of nine; Master-Corporal Alexander Stewart with a powerlifting team of three; Corporal Elly Redden coaching eight tactical athletes; Sergeant Graham Frampton mentoring the 16-member soccer team, Master-Warrant Officer Sash Levasseur alongside Corporal Alexander Moodie, coaching a 24-member hockey team; Master-Corporal Dusty Bercier guiding 13 members on the volleyball team.

Last year’s Stonr Contender results are:

Powerlifting
1 Service Battalion
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron

Tactical Athlete
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Volleyball
Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
1 Service Battalion
1 Combat Engineer Regiment

Indoor Soccer
Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Ice Hockey
1 Service Battalion
Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Grappling
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
1 Service Battalion

Aggregate champion
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
1 Service Battalion
Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)