KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers WolfPack men’s volleyball team will celebrate a pair of student-athletes that have dedicated countless hours to the program both on and off the court when Sam Flowerday and Matthew Hamilton play the final home games of their career this weekend.
Coming from near and far, both Flowerday and Hamilton have helped set the standard for the program. They have undergone different paths throughout their time at TRU and will have different journeys ahead of them once leaving, but there can be no doubt that their impact on the program, the athletic department and city of Kamloops will be felt for years to come.
Help us send off the graduating duo this Friday, Feb. 14, inside the TCC in a game that starts at 5:30 p.m.
SAM FLOWERDAY
Leaving TRU with his name plastered throughout the program record book, Flowerday will go down as one of the most electric attackers in WolfPack history. He is currently second in program history in kills (1103) and points (1284.5) and third in aces (106). A Canada West First Team All-Star last season after leading the entire nation in kills, Flowerday has suited up in 80 regular season games with TRU.
What’s next for you?
I’m trying to go play professionally and just keep getting better at volleyball. I’ve been talking to a few agents about the possibility of playing overseas in Europe somewhere so I’m pretty excited for it.
Do you have a preferred spot to play professionally?
Germany, France somewhere around there. They are lots of good, exciting leagues but we’ll just have to wait and see.
How do you think you have grown during your time at TRU?
I’ve definitely matured a lot. I lived away from home before I came to Kamloops but being out of the country was a pretty big step. As a player I think I’ve levelled up my game a lot, I’ve gotten a lot better. On and off the court I think I’ve made some big steps.
What is your favourite WolfPack memory?
My first win with the WolfPack. It came against UBCO and we were trailing 2-0, I got subbed in we brought it back for the victory. It was 24-22 in the fifth set for the win so that was pretty special. Just getting that first win with the team was awesome.
What sort of legacy do you think you’ll leave behind?
As someone who is always up for a joke and good time but also someone that always wants to win on the court and strives to be the best.
What does it mean to you to have your name so high in so many different categories in the program record book?
I haven’t even really looked at it too much before this year as I’m kind of getting up there. It’s crazy thinking about the names that have come before me like Brad Gunter, Kevin Tillie and Gord Perrin – to think that I’m on par with them is really cool. It’s cool to think that I’m at the level that they were when they were here and hopefully I get to be as good as they are in the future.
Do you have anything else to add?
It’s been an awesome opportunity. I’m just grateful that Pat picked me up from Australia and I wouldn’t do anything different if I had the chance again. I’ve made so many good memories here and so many good friends so I’m just excited to take that and treasure it for the last weekend before moving on and making new memories.
MATTHEW HAMILTON
Joining the WolfPack in 2020, Matthew Hamilton has been a rock both on and off the court. The product of Lethbridge is a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian and leader for the squad. With 444 kills in his 72 games with the ‘Pack, Hamilton has made a positive impact on his team, the department and the city of Kamloops.
Graduating with …
I am graduating with bachelor’s of business administration with an accounting major and a finance minor.
What’s next for you?
I have signed a contract for a job out in Toronto to pursue a CPA designation. In September next year I’ll be moving out to Toronto.
How hard have you worked and how much pride do you take in being a five-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian?
School has always been something that has come easier to me than most others, but I’m not going to discredit my hard work. I think anyone that is an Academic All-Canadian has to work hard to achieve that. I think once you get it the first time you get the ball rolling and then when you get four you know that you have to get to five. Even with me already having a job locked in I knew that I had to go for it.
A big thing that I really pride myself on is that how you carry yourself in one aspect of life typically bleeds into the other aspects of your life. So if you work hard in school chances are you’re going to work hard in volleyball and the gym.
How do you think you have grown during your time at TRU?
When you come here you are put into an environment where you are forced to grow, some of that comes from the expectations that Pat puts on you but also from your teammates holding everyone accountable.
It’s a bit like watching grass grow, there are little increments every day but over the past five years there has been lots of growth. I came in as a pretty thin kid from Lethbridge. Alberta and I feel like I’ve changed a lot since then. Every year you see tremendous growth with lessons learned.
Pat is always big on – you might not be an 80’s guy, you might be a 70’s guys in school – but the expectation is that the next year you’re at 75. Regardless of where you are, you have to improve day after day.
From the start of these five years to now, any player that makes it through is going to see tremendous growth
What is your favourite WolfPack memory?
I think it has to be that win against Winnipeg last season. It’s not because that was probably one of the best games of my career but it was the significance of the game. It was right after the accident and the guys came in with no expectations but we rallied together, played free and the result took care of itself.
It was a testament to how we responded in what was an emotional time for everyone. There were so many people impacted but Pat held the team close together. The team also did a great job support each other to put together one of the best performances I’ve ever been a part of. It’s something that every guy can take pride in and I’ll never forget it.
What sort of legacy do you think you’ll leave behind?
The legacy that I want to leave behind is to raise the standard and raise the discomfort. I want to be remembered as a guy that led by example through hard work in the classroom, on the court and in the gym.
Do you have anything else to add?
My family is number one. Mom and Dad, you guys have put so much time and money into me growing up and I’m really grateful for the sacrifices they made. My brother and sister have always held me accountable especially in the Summer time when I’m back home.
I’d also like to thank Pat, he took a chance on me coming out of high school and I like to think that I held up to my end of the deal and made it through the five years.