OTTAWA – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, in conjunction with Canada Basketball, announced the 12 student-athletes and the team personnel who will represent Canada in men’s basketball at the 26th Summer Universiade from August 12-23, 2011, inShenzhen,China.
Highlighting the all-CIS roster are two members of the reigning national champion Carleton University Ravens, forward Tyson Hinz of Ottawa and guard Cole Hobin of Ashton, Ont., as well as University of Calgaryforward Boris Bakovic ofToronto, the lone returnee from the last world university games in 2009 in Belgrade,Serbia.
“Canada Basketball should be commended for their great support of CIS basketball,” says Team Canada head coach Kevin Hanson, who was also at the helm of the red and white squad at the 2003 and 2005 Universiades. “The selected athletes had to be eligible for the 2011-12 CIS season, which means we are taking over a fairly young team but it is great to see the commitment that Canada Basketball has made to CIS and what a great opportunity this is for the athletes and the coaching staff.”
“The team has great representation from across the country as we have players and coaches from literally coast to coast,” adds the UBC bench boss, who guided Canada to a bronze medal in 2003 in Daegu,South Korea, and to an eighth-place finish in 2005 in Izmir,Turkey. “We are excited to begin the process of building our team and we look forward to representing Canada at the FISU Games.”
Joining Hinz, Hobin and Bakovic in Shenzhen will be Alberta guard Jordan Baker of Edmonton, Concordia guard Kyle Desmarais of Montreal, Ryerson guard Jahmal Jones of Mississauga, Ont., Ottawa guard Warren Ward of London, Ont., UBC guard Nathan Yu of Prince George, B.C., Wilfrid Laurier forward Kale Harrison of Stratford, Ont., Acadia forward Owen Klassen of Kingston, Ont., Saskatchewan forward Michael Lieffers of Saskatoon, and Windsor forward Lien Phillip of Toronto.
Hinz was dominant in 2010-11 in only his second CIS campaign. In addition to leading the Ravens to their seventh national title in the last nine seasons, the 6-foot-6 sophomore was named CIS player of the year and CIS championship MVP before receiving the BLG Award as the top male athlete in CIS – all sports included.
Bakovic, who will suit up for the Dinos next fall after playing his first four university seasons at Ryerson, was part of the Universiade team that finished ninth in Belgrade. The 6-foot-8 senior, who was born in Sarajevo, also wore the Maple Leaf at the 2007 FIBA U19 world championship in Novi Sad, Serbia, where Canada placed 10th.
Baker also has U19 world championship experience. The 6-foot-7 U of A sophomore helpedCanadato seventh place in 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand.
In Shenzhen, the Canadians will compete in the preliminary round in Pool B against defending Universiade champion Serbia, Turkey, Australia, South Africa and Hong Kong. A total of 24 countries are entered in the tournament.
Serbia defeated Russia on home soil in the 2009 final to reach the podium for the fifth straight world university games (under three different banners). The United States, last crowned in 2005, took bronze in Belgrade.
Canada has traditionally enjoyed success in men’s basketball at the FISU Games amassing eight medals including gold in 1983 in Edmonton – the only time the event was held in Canada, three silver (1997, 1993, 1991) and four bronze (2007, 2003, 1995, 1985).
“We find ourselves in a very strong pool that includes the FISU champion and always very tough Serbian team. Every game will be a tough test for our team but we are looking forward to the challenge,” says Hanson. “The crowds should be very big as Serbia always has a large following at these Games and with Hong Kong located right next door to Shenzhen, that game will be packed as well. It will make for some great atmosphere. Every team in our pool has a large talent base for this age group so we will get a true flavour of international basketball.”
Rounding out the team personnel are assistant coaches John Campbell from Dalhousie University and Barnaby Craddock from the University of theFraserValley, manager Sandy MacIntosh, as well as athletic therapist Geoff Mabey.
Team Canada will hold a training camp in Vancouver from Aug. 2-6 before travelling to Shenzhen to continue its preparation and play some exhibition matches from Aug. 7-12.
(Source: Michel Belanger, CIS Communciations Manager)
CANADA’S MEDALS IN MEN’S BASKETBALL AT THE UNIVERSIADE (8):
Gold (1)
1983 (Edmonton, Canada): 83-68 win over Yugoslaviain final
Silver (3)
1997 (Sicily, Italy)
1993 (Buffalo, USA)
1991 (Sheffield, UK)
Bronze (4)
2007 (Bangkok, Thailand)
2003 (Daegu, South Korea)
1995 (Fukuoka, Japan)
1985 (Kobe, Japan)
UNIVERSIADE POOLS:
The Universiade men’s basketball tournament will run from August 13-22.
Pool A: China, Germany, Romania, Brazil,C zech Republic, United Arab Emirates
Pool B: Serbia, Turkey, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong
Pool C: Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Japan, Philippines, New Zealand
Pool D: USA, Israel, Finland, South Korea, Hungary, Mexico
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