Game Notes – Red Deer

BACK TO BUCKING – This weekend, for the second time in history, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, will buck into Red Deer, Alberta. The PBR Cross Country Canada Classic will be held at Peavey Mart Centrium on February 4. Adding to the significance of the event, the tour stop is the season-launch event for the premier Cup Series. The Red Deer event will begin Saturday, February 4 at 7 p.m. MST with Round 1 and the championship round.

RELATED: Click here for the complete Red Deer Game Notes. 

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Cross Country Canada Classic will feature two rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 2 Velocity Global event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Saturday. The 10 bull riders with the best scores will then advance to the championship round on Saturday where they will attempt one final bull in an effort to be crowned the event champion. This weekend, one rider will have the chance to earn 46 national points, in addition to ride score points.

RELATED: Click here for the 2022 statistics bulletin. 

POINTS SYSTEM UPDATE – During the 2023 season, the PBR is debuting a new points system making the premier series even more important for determining the next World Champion, while simplifying the points structure across all PBR tours. The biggest change is a move away from the World Standings. The 2023 World Champion will now be the rider who earns the most points only at Unleash The Beast (UTB) events, including at the 2023 PBR World Finals on May 12-21 in Fort Worth, Texas. There will be three PBR tours in the U.S. in action for the first half of 2023: PBR Unleash The Beast (November 26 – May 21); Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (Nov. 19 – May 6) and PBR Touring Pro Division (Nov. 4 - May 6). Points accumulated in non-UTB events domestically, as well as PBR’s international tours, will be tallied as Velocity Global points. Velocity Global points, which will also be used to crown the 2023 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion, will be the essential currency for determining the athletes who can earn a future draw spot on the elite Unleash The Beast following the tour’s first four events.

Those with the most Velocity Global points during their four most recent Velocity Global events will join the UTB, replacing riders who had fallen to the bottom of the pack during select cuts throughout the season. The first rider cut took place after the fourth UTB event in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Dec. 17-18. Riders ranked in the No. 36-40 range in the UTB Standings will be subject to being cut. During each cut, the open positions will first be filled with those riders having injury exemptions, followed by the Premier Series Qualifier List, based on Velocity Global points. Following the first cut, these riders assumed the place of the demoted riders in the sport’s top series to make up the 40-rider field heading into Albany, New York on Dec. 29-30. Riders ranked No. 1-35 on the UTB will remain on the PBR’s elite tour. Following the initial cut, subsequent cuts will be held every two weeks. The second cut will drop the bottom six riders from UTB, the third cut will drop the bottom seven riders, and the fourth and remaining cuts will remove the bottom eight riders from UTB.

The only non-Unleash The Beast event that will not award Velocity Global points are National Finals held abroad, which will only award national points, not Velocity Global points. In 2023, national points at international events will be awarded on the same scale as the Velocity Global points. The point system at each event is tiered based on added money in USD, and other factors determined by the PBR. Each event, depending on the tier, will get points in accordance with the tables below.

• Tier 1 Events – $20,000 or more USD in added money.
• Tier 2 Events – $10,000 - $19,999 USD in added money.
• Tier 3 Events – $9,999 USD or less in added money.

Additionally, riders at all events will now receive bonus points via their ride score. A rider who scores 70-79.75 points will earn 7 bonus points, 80-89.75 8 bonus points and 90-99.75 9 bonus points.

	Tier 1 Events			TIER 2 EVENTS		TIER 3 EVENTS
Place	Round	1- and 2-Day AVG	3-Day AVG	Round	AVG	Round	AVG
1	20	80	100	8	30	4	15
2	10	50	63	5	20	3	8
3	9	36	45	4	10	2	7
4	8	21	27	3	7	1	4
5	7	17	23	2	5	1	3
6	6	12	18	1	4	1	2
7	5	6	12	1	3	1	1
8	4	5	8	1	2	1	1
9	3	4	5	1	1	1	1
10	2	2	3	1	1	1	1
11	1	1	2	1	1	1	1
12
13
14
15

 

TETZ TAKES 2022 CHAMPIONSHIP – In 2022, fans watched on as one of the fiercest title races in PBR Canada history wound to a close. Delivering a come-from-behind surge, Nick Tetz was crowned the 2022 PBR Canada Champion and earned the accompanying $50,000 bonus. Tetz began the fourth PBR Canada National Finals of his career ranked No. 2 in the nation, 21 points behind then No. 1 Dakota Buttar. While Tetz bucked off in Round 1, he was quick to rebound, covering Langham Kid for a commanding 88 points in Round 2. When the dust settled following the first two rounds, Tetz netted 20 national points to hone within 13.5 points of No. 1 Buttar. However, it wasn’t only a two-man race. Then No. 4 Brock Radford and No. 9 Coy Robbins were flawless through the opening rounds, intensifying the race. Radford concluded Rounds 1-2 as the event leader at the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals, climbing within 45 points of the No. 1 rank, while Robbins delivered two 8-second efforts of his own to garner 15 national points and close within 115.5 national points of the No. 1 rank. As the competition continued with Round 3 on Championship Saturday, six men remained in contention for the 2022 PBR Canada Championship, including dark horses Blake Smith and Cody Coverchuk, ranked No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. As No. 1 Buttar, No. 2 Tetz and No. 4 Radford all bucked off in Round 3, the pressure at the top grew as Smith, Coverchuk and Robbins all posted scores.

It all then came down to the championship round. Smith was eliminated from the race when he bucked off Diamond Show in 5.61 seconds. Buttar then had his chance at a second national championship dissipate when he was sent airborne by Langham Kid in a swift 2.65 seconds. Tetz then found himself in a must-ride position atop Brand New Guitar. Staying in perfect time with the animal athlete, Tetz reached the whistle for a crucial 88 points. While Coverchuk was awarded a re-ride atop his initial draw Happy Camper, he inevitably came down early aboard his new opponent Unkle Kranky in 2.8 seconds to conclude his season. With just six outs remaining in the season, it was down to Tetz and the yet-to-ride Radford and Robbins. Rebounding from a heart-breaking 6.02-second buckoff in Round 3, Radford covered Vertigo Spy for 83.5 points to conclude his season with a qualified ride. Robbins then dominated Finning Lil Shorty for 88 points to complete his perfect 4-for-4 sweep of the year-end event. After the last bull bucked, Tetz’ 3-for-4 outing left him fifth overall on the event leaderboard, earning him 71 national points, enough to hold off his fellow competitors and leap-frog regular-season No. 1 Buttar for the title of 2022 PBR Canada Champion. In addition to earning the year-end title, he was awarded a check for $60,875. Tetz finished 26.5 points ahead of No. 2 Radford. Tetz will begin his quest to become the first back-to-back PBR Canada Champion in history this weekend in Red Deer. He has drawn Tractorlands Freakshow as his Round 1 opponent.

LET’S RECAP THE 2023 TPD ACTION – While the first bull has yet to buck for the elite Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, the developmental Touring Pro Division has held two events, travelling to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Here is a recap of those events:

Dawson Creek: The 2023 PBR Canada season got underway with Touring Pro Division action in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, in late November. In Dawson Creek, no rider was more dominant than Griffin Smeltzer. Going a perfect 2-for-2, Smeltzer won the PBR Dawson Creek, surging to an early lead in the race to be crowned the 2023 PBR Canada Champion. In Round 1, the reigning Glen Keeley Award winner and Austin Gamblers rider first went head-to-head with Disco Daze. Proving the perfect pair, Smeltzer reached the requisite 8 for a round-winning 86 points. Keen to defend his position atop the event leaderboard, Smeltzer next readied to take on Positively Bangin. As the last man to erupt from the chutes, Smeltzer delivered his second score, awarded 87.5 points to clinch the event win. For his efforts, Smeltzer earned 38 Canadian points to slingshot to the No. 1 ranking in the nation. Two other riders also went a flawless 2-for-2 – Weston Davidson and Carter Sahli. Davidson was second, netting 28 national points. After riding Wutang for 83 points in Round 1, Davidson conquered Flick The Switch for 86 points in the final round. Davidson surged to No. 2 in the national standings, 10 points back of No. 1 Smeltzer. For Sahli, his 80-point ride atop Out Work’m in Round 1 and 78-point score aboard Socks in the championship round earned him both the podium finish and 24 national points. While Smeltzer and Sahli will not be in action in Red Deer, Davidson is anticipated to compete, drawing Wild Time in Round 1.

Lloydminster: Montana’s Cole Wagner reached a crucial career milestone at the Touring Pro Division event in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. Going a perfect 2-for-2 at the Lloydminster Exhibition Grounds, Wagner won his career-first PBR event, victorious at the Border City PBR, presented by Scorpion Oilfield. Marking his second event of the 2023 season, Wagner first squared off with Five Three Oh Nine in Round 1. Matching the bull jump-for-jump, Wagner reached the whistle for a crucial 83 points. The surging American then logged his second score in as many attempts, clinching the event win when he covered Without Warning for a matching 83 points in the final round. Complements of the golden finish, Wagner rose to No. 3 in the national standings, inching within 11.5 points of the No. 1 rank. Wagner will look to climb the standings this weekend in Red Deer when he attempts Feeling Spicy in Round 1. Griffin Smeltzer remained No. 1 in the early race to be crowned the 2023 PBR Canada Champion courtesy of his seventh-place finish at the Border City PBR. However, Davidson halved Smeltzer’s lead to 4.5 points after tying for fourth and earning 15.5 national points. Davidson was unmatched in Round 1 delivering the top score when he outlasted Smart Doney for 84 points. The Saskatchewan man, however, was unable to remain atop the leaderboard when he was tossed by Electric Guitar in a quick 3.27 seconds.

PAST RED DEER EVENT WINNERS – When the elite Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, debuted in Red Deer in June 2022, Jake Gardner went a perfect 2-for-2 to win the event, surging from unranked to then No. 2 in the race for the 2022 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $50,000 bonus. In Round 1, Gardner first went head-to-head against Tickety Boo, reaching the requisite 8 for 83.5 points, and punching his ticket to the championship round. As the penultimate man to leave the chutes, the “Prince of the Peace Country” was poised atop Alberta Springs. In true cowboy fashion, Gardner gritted his way to the 8-second whistle, despite almost being upended seconds into the ride, earning an 86.5-point score to clinch the victory. As the only other rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Lonnie West was second, collecting 55 national points to overtake the No. 1 rank in the Canadian standings. West was electric in Round 1 when he converted aboard Warning Shot for 81.5 points. West then remained flawless in the championship round when he covered Hanna Motors Winston Bruce for 86 points. Prior to the Cup Series’ debut in Red Deer in 2022, the city twice welcomed the organization’s developmental Touring Pro Division. Travelling to the city in both 2015 and 2016, both events were won by Garrett Green. Both Gardner and Green are anticipated to compete this weekend inside Peavey Mart Centrium. Gardner is ranked No. 9 in the standings ahead of Red Deer and has drawn Look At This Dude, while Green has yet to earn points and will take on Bra.

2022     Jake Gardner

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Cross Country Canada Classic will feature four rematches. Those riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Coy Robbins will attempt Wolf Bait for the second time in his career. The two first danced during the 2021 Touring Pro Division event in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, when Robbins was upended in 4.41 seconds.
• Keaton Martz will look to reverse his fortunes atop Big Easy. A rivalry first seen at the 2022 Touring Pro Division event in Kinsella, Alberta, Martz was bucked off in a quick 2.9 seconds.
• Michael Ostashek will hope the third time is a charm against Sure Shot. The powerful animal athlete bested the Albertan twice in 2022. Sure Shot first bucked off Ostashek in 3.59 seconds during the Touring Pro Division stop in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, and later bested him in a quicker 2.39 seconds during the Cup Series event in Red Deer, Alberta.
• Stefan Tonita has drawn the final rematch of Round 1 in Party Shocker. The bovine was no match for Tonita during the 2022 Touring Pro Division event in Longview, Alberta, sending him airborne in 2.4 seconds.

BULL PEN – This weekend’s bull pen for the season-launch PBR Canada Cup Series, presented by Wrangler, event in Red Deer, Alberta, will be headlined by three of the bulls who finished Top 4 in the race for the 2022 PBR Canada Bull of the Year honor. The PBR Canada Bull of the Year is the animal athlete with the top average score when combining his Top 5 outs from the regular season across all levels of competition and his top out at the PBR Canada National Finals, presented by Command Tubular Products.

While title holder Phantom Fury is not anticipated to buck, Langham Kid, Happy Camper and Al Capone will all take to the arena inside Peavey Mart Centrium this weekend. Langham Kid finished second during the 2022 season with a 44.25-point average, 0.25 points behind No. 1 Langham Kid. After concluding the regular season No. 3 in the standings, Langham Kid impressed at the 2022 PBR Canada National Finals, delivering a 44.5-point out in the championship round when he dispatched Dakota Buttar in a quick 2.65 seconds. The Two Bit Bucking Bulls’ animal athlete will make his 2023 season debut during the championship round in Red Deer as he chases his first year-end title. Also hailing from the Two Bit Nation is two-time PBR Canada Bull of the Year Happy Camper who tied for third-place in last season’s race alongside the Wild Hoggs’ Al Capone. Happy Camper concluded the 2022 season atop the standings earning a 44.5-point average via his Top 5 trips, twice marked 45 points or more. However, at the Canadian National Finals, Happy Camper did not have his day. Bucking just once, Happy Camper was marked 41.5 points when he fouled himself during his championship round out with Cody Coverchuk. Much like his pen mate, Happy Camper will also make his season debut in the championship round of the PBR Cross Country Canada Classic.

Rounding out the list of the top performing bulls from 2022 is Al Capone. While he finished the regular season tied for fourth in the nation, his 43.5-point out inside Rogers Place when he was ridden by National Finals event winner Jared Parsonage for 89 points, allowed him to improve to a 44-point season-end average and tie for third alongside Happy Camper. Al Capone is one of 12 bulls that will buck in Red Deer under the Wild Hoggs banner, and will be joined by Eski Time in the championship round.

NEXT UP – The 2023 PBR Canada Sup Series, presented by Wrangler, will next travel to Lethbridge, Alberta, and ENMAX Centre for the PBR South Country Co-op Showdown, presented by VisitLethbridge.com on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4. Action will get underway nightly at 7 p.m. CST.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Red Deer, Alberta, are Tanner Byrne, Ty Prescott and Brett Monea.

 

RED DEER COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Australia (2) – Cody Fraser, Jake Maher

Canada (21) – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Tyler Craig, Weston Davidson, Jake Gardner, Wyatt Gleeson, Nick Goncalves, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Chad Hartman, Jett Lambert, Keaton Martz, Micheal Ostashek, Jared Parsonage, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Aaron Roy, Landon Schmidt, Nick Tetz, Stefan Tonita, Cole Young.

United States (2) – Cole Wagner, Kobe Whitford

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Tyler Craig, Wyatt Gleeson, Garrett Green, Jordan Hansen, Jett Lambert, Keaton Martz, Micheal Ostashek, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Landon Schmidt, Nick Tetz, Cole Young; British Columbia – Jake Gardner; Ontario – Nick Goncalves; Saskatchewan – Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Chad Hartman, Jared Parsonage, Aaron Roy, Stefan Tonita.