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StFX Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Konchalski Will Coach In His 1000th Game - Dec. 28, 2005 - by Fatih Akser Antigonish,
NS-StFX men's basketball head coach Steve Konchalski will coach in his
1000th career university basketball game on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 29
when the X-Men face the Brandon Bobcats in exhibition play at the Rod
Shoveller Memorial tournament taking place at Dalhousie University in
Halifax. "It is an indication of my longevity in the coaching
profession and my commitment to StFX University and the game of
basketball," comments Konchalski. "I am very proud of these things and
I hope to coach for many more years to come."
Coach
Konchalski, or 'Coach K' as he is more affectionately known around the
men's basketball scene, has currently coached a total of 999 university
men's basketball games to date, including exhibition, regular season
and playoff games, compiling a record of 636 wins and 363 losses. He is
currently in his 31st season at StFX as the head basketball coach, and
during that time has won three national championships (1993, 2000,
2001) and was named CIS Coach of the Year in 2001. The X-Men's upcoming
exhibition game on Thursday at 3:00 pm versus the Brandon Bobcats will
mark his 1000th career game coached in university men's basketball,
quite an accomplishment. Coach K has also coached at the international
level, serving 16 years as assistant coach of Canada's national team
(including three Olympic Games) and was head coach of the Canadian
national team for four years. As a player he led Acadia University to a
national title in 1965 and was named tournament MVP. A native of
Elmhurst, NY, Coach K has been named to the Acadia Sports Hall of Fame,
StFX Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. In
1999 he was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Frank Baldwin
Memorial Award for dedication to basketball in Nova Scotia.
Most
recently, Coach K has built the X-Men basketball program to one of the
top programs in the country, finishing first overall in the AUS
conference for the past seven consecutive years and winning the AUS
championship in five of those years. The X-Men are the current two-time
defending AUS champions and were national semi-finalists in March,
2005. StFX Athletics plans on recognizing Coach K's accomplishment at
the X-Men's January 7th home game versus Memorial at 8:00 pm at the
Oland Centre when they will give away a commemorative souvenir to the
first 1000 fans in attendance at the game.
I-Slam: Toronto's Muslim Basketball League: March 17-19 -- Fifth Annual Tournament - Dec. 27, 2005 - by Garo Salibian
The fifth season of the I-Slam Basketball League is well under way and the Ontario
based I-Slam (Muslim) league is preparing for the playoffs. In addition
the I-Slam league has expanded and this is the second I-Slam
Scarborough season as well, and I-Slam Toronto is providing an open gym
for pick-up basketball. Currently, the bi-annual basketball leagues are
held in both ends of the city of Toronto, the West League in Mississauga and the East League in Scarborough.
I-Slam began organizing the basketball leagues in 2003; currently the
leagues draw up to 10 teams in each session and are held in the summer
and winter each year to ensure continuity. In the plans as well is the
2006 Summer Youth Development Camp for the younger players. I-Slam
Community Outreach Program participated in the 5th Annual Toronto
Police South Asian Youth Tournament on June 11, 2005 at HumberCollege.
5th Annual Tournament:
Also
in high gear is the 5th Annual I-Slam Basketball Tournament arguably
the most-awaited event in this magnitude and the largest Muslim
basketball tournament in North America attended by teams from many cities in Canada and USA. This year’s three-day extravaganza and the highly-competitive tournament is scheduled for March 17-19, 2006 at the CrescentSchool in Toronto.
It will include a dunking and 3-point competitions, guest speakers, in
addition to an All Star game and a possible charity friendly game that
Metro Police Basketball Team might take part in.
48 Muslim basketball teams in total will take part. The
tournament format includes 5 on 5 basketball tournament in round robin
and playoffs, with two sections: the Advanced Division (with possible
30 teams) and the Competitive Division (with 18 more teams). There will
be 5 basketball courts in use. There will be representative teams from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Windsor as well as teams from Brooklyn, Detroit, Rochester and from Connecticut, New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee and Delaware. It is promised to be a showcase of Canadian and American Muslim basketball talent and a majour event to look for.
The
track record of the I-Slam tournament is impressive already and the
participation and sponsorship has increased consistently. Earlier
events attracted huge interest and coverage from the various Toronto
media outlets, including the press, CBC and City TV. A highlight was
the attendance of basketball players Hakeem Olajuwon and Mamdou N'Diaye
at earlier events. The registration has already started in December and
will go on until Feb. 18, with reduced prices for those who register
early.
Earlier I-Slam Basketball Tournaments:
Teams
taking part in the first I-Slam tournament in 2002 were 26 in number
with 16 in the competitive 18+ years with the rest the recreational
under 18 years age division. Participants in 2002 were Indian,
Pakistani, Arab, and Somali and other African youth from Scarborough, Mississauga,
and the GTA. In 2003, the number of teams grew to 40 with 10 more
on the waiting list. Of the 40 teams, 18 were enrolled in the
recreational division, geared towards less skilled players and those
aged 18 years of age and under. Overall 350 basketballers took part.In
2004, the third annual event, I-Slam Basketball Tournament grew even
more to 48 teams, with 5 on a waiting list. In total, over 450 Muslim
youths and young adults, ranging in ages from 15 years to 30 years,
participated as players or volunteers. Of the 40 teams, 18 were
enrolled in the recreational division, geared towards less skilled
players and those aged 18 years of age and under. The third annual was
in co-operation with United Muslims. Players from Boston, New Jersey, Rochester came as well as teams from Ottawa and Montreal.
Champions in earlier tourneys:
Advanced Division champions: 2005: Medina I 2004: Team Buckets 2003: Team Scarborough 2002: Team Safe Competitive champions: Medina II 2004: Taric Mosque 2003: Shabab Al-Nasr 2002: MAC Youth Slam Dunk champion: 2005: Marco 3-point champion: 2005: Fuad Hurre
History:
The
I-Slam league was founded by Kashif Taqiuddin and Teepu Khawja. The
name of the league can be read as I Slam as well as Islam, a great name
come to think of it representing the two aspects (the religion and the
game), coupled with an attractive and very distinctive league logo.
Comprised of an annual tourney at the start, now it has developed into
a great basketball league that has an East league and a West league.Certain
ethical / religious codes are respected both on court and off court,
with the observant Muslim players expected to keep their prayer
obligations as well. However, the league has kept an all-inclusive
policy of admitting practicing Muslim players, non-practicing Muslims
as well as non-Muslim Canadians of various ethnicities to the league. It
shows how all of them can relate on a simple level like basketball. A
basketball setting makes wonders to bring people together.
In the first few years, the regular league played through a gym near the ISNA Mosque in Mississauga. With expansion, the regular games are now played at University of Toronto Erindale
campus. The league leads by example and is well-organized, competitive
and consistent. It’s success in basketball events has led many other
Muslim sports leagues to develop such as the Muslim baseball league and
Muslim ball hockey tournament.
A majour full-page article was published in the Toronto
weekend Sun in late July 2005 to highlight the league. An impressed
sports feature writer Mark Keast noted: “It is a haven for hoop buffs,
and its all about bringing communities together”. He added: “It is
quintessential Toronto, and so wonderfully Canadian”.
Goals / Objectives:
The
goals of I-Slam Basketball League include providing an affordable venue
that promotes interaction between youths and young adults of various
Muslim communities, especially those considered at risk (defined as
minorities / low income). It promotes a sense of community and good
relations amongst youth and young adults of both Muslim and non-Muslim
backgrounds and is a vehicle to achieve social interaction, cultural
integration, teamwork, co-operation, communication, and a sense of
accomplishment amongst the participants.
It
is also to provide a forum in which youths can be mentored in terms of
spiritual and physical knowledge by respected individuals within
various communities in the context of a common interest through various
guest speakers and workshops. The league tries to offer a positive
environment and respite for youths from negative peer pressures,
criminal propensities, dysfunctional families, and other environmental
or socio-economic factors and promotes physical health, welfare, and
maintenance as important components to an overall healthy lifestyle and
getting the players and the various staff involved in activities
and volunteering work and developing skills that they can use to
achieve success and confidence in future endeavours.
Official I-Slam website:
The
league also has its official website that has been on for a couple of
years now with constant updates. The website has now been completely
restructured with great design touches by Thomas Abraham. There are
huge new materials and contributions now, multimedia, videos, and very
notably a vast pictures gallery extending to the very beginnings of the
league. News, rosters and results and stats of players are to be added
progressively. Kashif Taqiuddin, a co-founder of the
league is responsible for the creation and updating of the I-Slam
site. Check the site at: http://www.i-slam.ca
Laurentian Women's Basketball Team Lands Provincial Team Forward Furchner - Dec. 24, 2005 - by Fatih Akser
Laurentian Lady Vees Head Coach Mike Clarke received an early
Christmas gift Wednesday, when Sudbury native Lisa Furchner committed
to the Lady Vees basketball program. Furchner is a member of the very
successful Lasalle High School basketball program in Sudbury and a four
year veteran of Team Ontario. She is also a two year participant at the
Centre of Performance and one year participant at the All Canada Nike
Camp.
At Lasalle Lisa played under the tutelage of former Lady
Vee Jen Bourget and was part of four SDSSA and NOSSA gold medal winning
teams and has made three trips to OFSAA. She is also a four time
Lasalle Female Athlete of the year and three time basketball MVP. She
has also been a part of the Team Ontario program for four years now,
two as a midget team player and two as juvenile team player. Her medal
haul continued at the provincial team level where she was part of one
National bronze medal, two National gold medal winning teams and most
recently was an integral part of Team Ontario taking home the Gold
Medal at the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina.
Lisa, a six foot one forward will bring another big talented body to
the new look Lady Vees squad. She will join a crew of forwards that
includes All-Canadian Cassandra Carpenter (5'11), rookie of the year
candidate Darrah Bumstead (6'0), 2005 All-rookie team member Amanda
McConnell (6'0) and veterans Christi Bauck (6'3) and Shannon Chellew
(6'0).
Brock Men's Basketball Team Added Two Players - Dec. 23, 2005 - by Fatih Akser Brock
University men's basketball head coach Ken Murray is pleased to
announce the addition of forwards Chris Keith (Burlington, ON) and
Jonathan Rass (Toronto ON) to the lineup for the second half of the
2005-06 season.
Keith (6-6, 235) enters his first season with
the Badgers adding both experience and size to the lineup. He returns
to University basketball after spending last season with the Niagara
Knights of the OCAA where he was fourth in the conference in scoring
averaging 19.1 points per game. He spent two seasons with the Laurier
Golden Hawks from 2001-2003. As a freshman at WLU he was named the OUA
and CIS Rookie of the Year averaging 13.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21
games. He recorded a career high 31 points versus Windsor (11/22/01).
As a sophomore he was named a second team OUA All-Star averaged 15.1
points and 5.0 rebounds in 22 games. Prior to University, Keith
attended Nelson High School in Burlington winning an OFSAA Championship
as a senior in 2000-01. He also played two seasons with the Ontario
Provincial Team.
Rass (6-10, 260) enters his first season with
the Badgers after transferring from Laurentian University. At 6-10 he
adds size up front for the Badgers. In 2004-05 at Laurentian he played
in 11 games averaging 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds per game in limited
action. Prior to University, he attended Aurora High School where he
was basketball Most Valuable Player in 2003 and 2004. He was named to
both the Star Wars All-Star Team in 2004 and York Region All-Star Team
39th Annual MTS Mobility Wesmen Classic Set To Begin - Dec. 23, 2005 - by Fatih Akser The
University of Winnipeg Wesmen will look to defend their Classic
championship at the 39th Annual MTS Mobility Wesmen Classic which gets
underway with the university draw on Wednesday, December 28th. The
Wesmen will be battling the RMC Paladins in their opening round game at
6:00 p.m. at the Duckworth Centre. The Classic will also feature
university teams from Manitoba, Waterloo, Brock, Regina, Laval and
Memorial. The semi finals will take place on December 29th, with the
Championship final taking place on December30th.
Ryerson to host Ed DeArmon Memorial Tournament - Dec. 23, 2005 - by Fatih Akser
Ryerson
University will be hosting the men's basketball Ed DeArmon Memorial
Tournament at Kerr Hall Gymnasium Wednesday, December 28 to Friday,
December 30th.
Ed DeARmon was an oustanding all-around athlete, coach and
administrator. Ryerson welcomed Ed to its athletic staff in 1970, until
his death in the autumn of 1979. Ed was the head coach of the Rams
basketball team and also coached the wrestling team.
Competing teams include the Humber Hawks, currently ranked
number one in the CCAA, the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles out of
Brockport, NY and local teams University of Toronto Varsity Blues and
the host Ryerson Rams.
Wednesday - 6pm Toronto vs Brockport Wednesday - 8pm Ryerson vs Humber
Thursday - 6pm Brockport vs Humber Thursday - 8pm Ryerson vs Toronto
Friday - 2pm Ryerson vs Brockport Friday - 4pm Humber vs Toronto
Canada Basketball Announces National Elite Development Academy - Dec. 23, 2005 - by Fatih Akser Canada
Basketball, McMaster University, and local area high schools have
partnered to create a residential elite athlete training centre in
Hamilton. The National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) will bring
together 12 of the top 15-to-17 year-olds from across the country to
train under the guidance of Canada Basketball coaches. The program
will launch in September 2006 with the women’s section of the academy,
followed by the men’s side in 2007. The academy will run for the
academic year, September to June.
Athletes will be selected
from Canada Basketball’s national age group depth chart which is
continually updated and managed by the Women’s National Development
Coach. NEDA candidates will be chosen by the Women’s National
Development Coach in consultation with NEDA Head Coach, the Women’s
Senior National Team Head Coach and the Manager of Women’s Elite
Performance. Players will be evaluated not just on basketball skills,
but also on physical and psychological attributes.
The men’s
academy selection process will mirror that of the women’s.“Canada
Basketball is excited about this new endeavour which will form a
critical part of our “Pathways to Excellence” program and help raise
the level of basketball in this country,” said Fred Nykamp, Executive
Director and CEO of Canada Basketball. “The National Development
Academy provides world-class Canadian choice for our country’s elite
young athletes.”
NEDA student-athletes will have a choice to
attend one of three schools in the Hamilton area and will have an
option between public, separate and French-language education. They
will be billeted with local area families and will have access to
McMaster’s state-of-the-art athletic, health and student services.
"McMaster
welcomes Canada Basketball,” commented Therese Quigly, Director of
Athletics and Recreation at McMaster University. “Next year, McMaster
will open a new $30 Million Dollar Athletics and Recreation Complex.
The Facility will provide Canada Basketball with access to the best
Facilities, Medical and support services in the country".
Student-athletes
at NEDA will participate in an international tour each year and will
compete against university and college teams, international junior
age-group national teams, junior high school boys’ teams and elite
senior women’s teams.
Game Report: Raptors Road Success Continues In H-town - Dec. 22, 2005 - by Oly Sandor
Game Report: Raptors Road Success Continues In Houston
By Oly Sandor
21-12-05-The
Toronto Raptors controlled both ends of the floor against an
injury-depleted Houston squad, routing the Rockets 91-84 on Wednesday
evening at the Toyota Center.
Morris
Peterson was a perfect example of Toronto’s fine all-round play. He hit
for 18 points, collected five rebounds, and dished-out seven assists,
but the wing-player did his best work defending Rockets’ star Tracy
McGrady. Peterson held the talented McGrady to just 7 points on 2-11
shooting.
Mike
James, a former Rocket, led Toronto with 18 points on 8-16 shooting and
dropped five assists, while Chris Bosh had 17 points to go with 8
rebounds. Matt Bonner contributed 12 points off the bench and Joey
Graham had 10 points.
Graham’s
twin brother, Stephen, scored a bucket for Houston. The Rockets, who
were without center Yao Ming, fell to 10-14 on the season. They were
led by Juwan Howard’s 21 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Luther Head hit
for 20 and veteran David Wesley chipped in with 13 points.
The
Raptors led 70-58 after three quarters and put the game away with a
15-9 run to start the fourth. The Rockets, who looked uninterested and
disorganized throughout the contest, were unable to get back into the
game.
Five
of Toronto’s six wins have come on the road this year. The Raptors will
have to be at their best on Friday when they take on the world champion
Spurs.
15th Annual Rod Shoveller Men's Basketball Tourney Set - Dec. 19, 2005 - by Fatih Akser
The
Dalhousie Tigers men's basketball team will take to the floor during
the holiday break as they host the fifteenth annual Rod Shoveller
Memorial tournament December 29-31. Half of the eight-team event
features Atlantic University Sport powerhouses Saint Mary's, UNB, the
host Dalhousie and the number-three-ranked StFX. Outside teams include
Brandon, Concordia, Lakehead and McGill.
Game times are as follows:
Dec. 29-31/05 Shoveller Tournament @ DAL (EXH.)
Thu., Dec. 29 Game 1 UNB vs Concordia, 1:00pm Thu., Dec. 29 Game 2 StFX vs. Brandon, 3:00pm Thu., Dec. 29 Game 3 SMU vs Lakehead, 6:00pm Thu., Dec. 29 Game 4 DAL vs McGill, 8:00pm Fri., Dec. 30 Game 5 Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1:00pm Fri., Dec. 30 Game 6 Loser Game 3 vs Loser Game 4, 3:00pm Fri., Dec. 30 Game 7 Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2, 6:00pm Fri., Dec. 30 Game 8 Winner Game 3 vs Winner Game 4, 8:00pm Sat., Dec. 31 Game 9 Loser Game 5 vs Loser Game 6, 9:00am Sat., Dec. 31 Game 10 Winner Game 5 vs Winner Game 6, 11:00am Sat., Dec. 31 Game 11 Loser Game 7 vs Loser Game 8, 1:00pm Sat., Dec. 31 Game 12 Winner Game 7 vs Winner Game 8, 3:00pm
The
Rod Shoveller Memorial is a premiere national regular season CIS men's
basketball tournament honouring a legendary contributor to the sport of
basketball in Nova Scotia.
Rod Shoveller, a former special
events coordinator at Dalhousie University, was well-known for his
30-plus years of service to basketball officiating. A member of the
Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, Shoveller died of cancer after an
upbeat and ultimately inspiring battle against the disease.