FIVE OUA MEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-STARS HEADED TO UNIVERSIADE
Hosted by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), this year marks the 25th edition of the Summer Universiade, the second largest multi-sport games in the world after the Olympic Games.
"We are thrilled to be fielding two talented Canadian teams at the Summer Universiade," said Wayne Parrish, Canada Basketball's executive director and CEO. "Not only is this great for our players' development, but it's exciting for our country. Team Canada a long tradition with this event, and we are looking forward to continuing success on the courts in 2009. We encourage basketball fans across the country to get behind these players and support our teams throughout the next few weeks."
Canada's development teams are comprised of young athletes currently attending university, either in the CIS or NCAA. The DMNT features three players with international experience including 6-foot-4 guard Josh Gibson-Bascombe from Toronto and 6-foot-9 forward Ross Bekkering from Taber, Alta. Both players participated in the 2007 FISU Games in Thailand, helping lead Team Canada to a bronze medal by defeating Japan. Toronto's Boris Bakovic joins the DMNT after playing with the 2007 junior men's national team that competed in the FIBA under-19 world championship in Novi Sad, Serbia.
"I am very pleased with our team this year," said DMNT head coach Chris O'Rourke. "We have quite a deep roster from one through 12, with a lot of interchangeable parts that will hopefully pay off for us over the course of the tournament."
The DMNT has been training in Hamilton, Ont. since mid-June and will travel to Belgrade in advance of the tournament to play a series of exhibition games against U.S.A., Russia and Serbia.
O'Rourke is looking forward to seeing his team perform in international game situations. "These are three high calibre countries that we are playing, and a great indicator of where we stand and where we need to get to for the actual tournament. I am very confident that Canada will do well in the preliminaries and our goal is to medal like we did two years ago."
The DWNT features an impressive mix of young talent, 11 of whom competed for either CIS or NCAA Division 1 programs this past season. Included on the squad are National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) alumni Kalisha Keane, a 6-foot-1 guard/forward from Ajax, Ont. and Vanessa Kabongo, a 5-foot-9 guard from Toronto. Returning to the 2009 DWNT is 6-foot-2 forward Marie-Michelle Genois from Laval University.
Keane, a sophomore forward at Michigan State University, set the record for most points scored as a freshman with 460 and was named MSU's co-player of the year in 2008. A national team alum, Keane has played for Canada on the junior and U21 teams. As she develops along the national elite pathway, she is sure to play an integral role on the team this summer.
The Canadian team also features six 2008-09 CIS all-Canadians and will look to improve on a seventh-place finish at the 2007 University Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
"We have a nice mix of talented CIS players in addition to some very good players from the NCAA," said DWNT co-head coach Deb Huband from the University of British Columbia, who will split the head coaching duties with Laval University's Linda Marquis. "For some this will be their first time representing Canada, while others have come up through the age group development programs to get to this point."
Below are the full rosters and preliminary FISU games schedules for both the 2009 Canadian DMNT and DWNT. To follow the event and Team Canada, visit www.universiade-belgrade2009.org or www.basketball.ca.
2009 DEVELOPMENT MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM OFFICIAL ROSTER
# | Name | Position | Height | Hometown | School/Club (2008/09) |
4 | Chris Dyck | Guard | 6'4" | Winnipeg, Man. | British Columbia (CIS) |
5 | Boris Bakovic | Forward | 6'7" | Toronto, Ont. | Ryerson (CIS) |
6 | Ross Bekkering | Forward | 6'9" | Taber, Alta. | Calgary (CIS) |
7 | David Collins | Centre | 6'11" | Toronto, Ont. | Bradley (NCAA) |
8 | Josh Gibson-Bascombe | Guard | 6'4" | Toronto, Ont. | Ottawa (CIS) |
9 | Keenan Jeppesen | Forward | 6'6" | Hamilton, Ont. | Western Ontario (CIS) |
10 | Phillip Nkrumah | Forward | 6'5" | Brampton, Ont. | Cape Breton(CIS) |
11 | Josh Whyte | Guard | 6'3" | Calgary, Alta. | British Columbia (CIS) |
12 | Dax Dessureault | Centre | 6'9" | Ottawa, Ont. | Ottawa (CIS) |
13 | Christian Upshaw | Guard | 5'10" | Halifax, N.S. | St. Francis Xavier(CIS) |
14 | Jacob Doerksen | Forward | 6'6" | Vancouver, B.C. | Trinity Western (CIS) |
15 | Greg Surmacz | Forward | 6'8" | Peterborough, Ont. | Windsor (CIS) |
Development Men's Team Head Coach: Chris O'Rourke
Assistant Coach: Darrell Glenn
Athletic Therapist: Geoff Mabey
Team Manager: Mat Yorke
2009 DEVELOPMENT MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PRELIMINARY COMPETITION SCHEDULE
July 2: 11:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Italy @ Belgrade Arena
July 4: 11:30 a.m. (ET) vs. China @ Belgrade Arena
2009 DEVELOPMENT WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM OFFICIAL ROSTER
# | Name | Position | Height | Hometown | School/Club (2008/09) |
4 | Carolann Cloutier | Point Guard | 5'9" | St. Mathieude Beloeil, Que. | Dawson College |
5 | Chanelle St. Amour | Point Guard | 5'6" | Sillery, Que. | Laval (CIS) |
6 | Vanessa Kabongo | Guard | 5'9" | Toronto, Ont. | Delaware (NCAA) |
7 | Kelsey Hodgson | Guard | 5'10" | Fredericton, N.B. | Cape Breton (CIS) |
8 | Zara Huntley | Forward | 6'2" | Halifax, N.S. | British Columbia (CIS) |
9 | Courtnay Pilypaitis | Guard | 6'1" | Ottawa, Ont. | Vermont (NCAA) |
10 | Robyn Buna | Forward | 5'11" | Kelowna, B.C. | Simon Fraser (CIS) |
11 | Laurelle Weigl | Centre | 6'3" | Stony Plain, Alta. | Simon Fraser (CIS) |
12 | Marie-Michelle Genois | Forward | 6'2" | Cap Sante, Que. | Laval (CIS) |
13 | Emilie Cloutier | Forward | 6'1" | Ancienne Lorette, Que. | CEGEP St. Foy |
14 | Kalisha Keane | Guard/Forward | 6'1" | Ajax, Ont. | Michigan State (NCAA) |
15 | Kayla Dykstra | Forward | 6'2" | Calgary, Alta. | Victoria (CIS) |
Development Women's Team Co-Head Coaches: Deb Huband and Linda Marquis
Assistant Coach: Fabian McKenzie
Team Manager: Moriah Trowell
Physiotherapist: Nathan King
Therapist: Nathan King
2009 DEVELOPMENT WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM PRELIMINARY COMPETITION SCHEDULE
July 1: 6:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Slovakia @ Zeleznik
July 2: 6:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Japan @ Sports Hall
July 3: 6:30 a.m. (ET) vs. Australia @ Millennium Center
Source: Canada Basketball