October 30, 2008
OUA MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON BEGINS FRIDAY
HAMILTON, Ont. - The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's basketball season tips off on Friday as the Ryerson Rams host the Toronto Varsity Blues in a cross-town battle.
The Varsity Blues are looking to rebound from a loss in the OUA quarter-finals last February following a second place finish in the East Division. Toronto has a strong group of returning players, including forwards Nick Snow (London, Ont.), Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.), Ahmed Nazmi (Cairo, Egypt) and guard Rob Paris (Mississauga, Ont.). Paris (pictured) led all Blues with 322 points last season.
The Rams are looking to improve on their 7-15 regular season record of a year ago. Ryerson has lost the rebounding presence of graduated forward Igor Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.) who pulled down an OUA-leading 191 boards last season. Ryerson will depend on third-year guard Boris Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.) who scored an OUA-leading 526 points in 2007-08. Game time between these two rivals is 8 p.m. at Kerr Hall Gymnasium.
On Sunday, the York Lions play host to the Laurentian Voyageurs in another East Division contest. Both teams were in the bottom tier of the standings last season, and will want to get a leg up in 2008-09.
York has a strong nucleus returning, including leading scorer of a season ago Tut Ruach (Toronto, Ont.). The fifth-year guard earned 413 points in 2007-08. Third-year forward Stefan Haynes (Toronto, Ont.) and sophomore guard Dalton Olinoski (Georgetown, Ont.) are also back with the team. Laurentian's leading scorer Paul Kovacs (Barrie, Ont.) returns to the Voyageurs, but they will be forced to make up Omar Linder's (Saginaw, Mich.) production. Linder led the Vees last year with 134 rebounds and contributed 250 points. York and Laurentian tip off at 4 p.m. at Tait MacKenzie Centre.
The remainder of the teams make their season debuts the following weekend. The defending OUA champion Carleton Ravens are ranked No. 1 in the nation to begin the season. The team was perfect throughout the OUA schedule in 2007-08 with a 25-0 record. While they lose Ryan Bell (Orleans, Ont.) and J.E. Jean-Marie (Ottawa, Ont.) to graduation, forward Aaron Doornekamp (Odessa, Ont.) and his 328 points and 174 rebounds returns for his fifth and final season. Doornekamp is the defending East Division Most Valuable Player.
The 2007-08 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion Brock Badgers will take a significant hit to their personnel, losing guards Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Scott Murray (Welland, Ont.) and forward Mike Kemp (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Rootes was the West Division MVP in 2007-08. The three local products combined for over 1,000 points during the regular season. Fifth-year guard Owen White (Port Hope, Ont.) will continue to provide a veteran presence to the team.
The Windsor Lancers are ranked No. 4 in the nation entering the 2008-09 season. With the departure of Ryan Steer (Windsor, Ont.) and his 326 points and 109 rebounds, it is up to Greg Surmacz (Peterborough, Ont.) to carry the load. With his team-leading 428 points and 181 rebounds, he will be clearly up to the challenge.
The OUA's other nationally-ranked team are the Gee-Gees, making Ottawa the national capital of both politicians and hoops players. Key returning players for Ottawa include guards Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto, Ont.) and Donnie Gibson (Odessa, Ont.) and forwards Dax Dessureault (Ottawa, Ont.) and David Labentowicz (Toronto, Ont.).
The 2008-09 OUA Basketball Media Guide & Record Book is available online on OUA.ca at the following URL:
http://oua.ca.ismmedia.com/ISM2//Media/2008-09%20Basketball%20Media%20Guide.pdf
The 2008-09 regular season will run until Feb. 25, with the OUA Men's Basketball Championship scheduled for March 7. The OUA playoffs are presented by Investors Group. A complete schedule can be found on OUA.ca.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The Varsity Blues are looking to rebound from a loss in the OUA quarter-finals last February following a second place finish in the East Division. Toronto has a strong group of returning players, including forwards Nick Snow (London, Ont.), Nick Magalas (Burlington, Ont.), Ahmed Nazmi (Cairo, Egypt) and guard Rob Paris (Mississauga, Ont.). Paris (pictured) led all Blues with 322 points last season.
The Rams are looking to improve on their 7-15 regular season record of a year ago. Ryerson has lost the rebounding presence of graduated forward Igor Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.) who pulled down an OUA-leading 191 boards last season. Ryerson will depend on third-year guard Boris Bakovic (Toronto, Ont.) who scored an OUA-leading 526 points in 2007-08. Game time between these two rivals is 8 p.m. at Kerr Hall Gymnasium.
On Sunday, the York Lions play host to the Laurentian Voyageurs in another East Division contest. Both teams were in the bottom tier of the standings last season, and will want to get a leg up in 2008-09.
York has a strong nucleus returning, including leading scorer of a season ago Tut Ruach (Toronto, Ont.). The fifth-year guard earned 413 points in 2007-08. Third-year forward Stefan Haynes (Toronto, Ont.) and sophomore guard Dalton Olinoski (Georgetown, Ont.) are also back with the team. Laurentian's leading scorer Paul Kovacs (Barrie, Ont.) returns to the Voyageurs, but they will be forced to make up Omar Linder's (Saginaw, Mich.) production. Linder led the Vees last year with 134 rebounds and contributed 250 points. York and Laurentian tip off at 4 p.m. at Tait MacKenzie Centre.
The remainder of the teams make their season debuts the following weekend. The defending OUA champion Carleton Ravens are ranked No. 1 in the nation to begin the season. The team was perfect throughout the OUA schedule in 2007-08 with a 25-0 record. While they lose Ryan Bell (Orleans, Ont.) and J.E. Jean-Marie (Ottawa, Ont.) to graduation, forward Aaron Doornekamp (Odessa, Ont.) and his 328 points and 174 rebounds returns for his fifth and final season. Doornekamp is the defending East Division Most Valuable Player.
The 2007-08 Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion Brock Badgers will take a significant hit to their personnel, losing guards Brad Rootes (Niagara Falls, Ont.), Scott Murray (Welland, Ont.) and forward Mike Kemp (Niagara Falls, Ont.). Rootes was the West Division MVP in 2007-08. The three local products combined for over 1,000 points during the regular season. Fifth-year guard Owen White (Port Hope, Ont.) will continue to provide a veteran presence to the team.
The Windsor Lancers are ranked No. 4 in the nation entering the 2008-09 season. With the departure of Ryan Steer (Windsor, Ont.) and his 326 points and 109 rebounds, it is up to Greg Surmacz (Peterborough, Ont.) to carry the load. With his team-leading 428 points and 181 rebounds, he will be clearly up to the challenge.
The OUA's other nationally-ranked team are the Gee-Gees, making Ottawa the national capital of both politicians and hoops players. Key returning players for Ottawa include guards Josh Gibson-Bascombe (Toronto, Ont.) and Donnie Gibson (Odessa, Ont.) and forwards Dax Dessureault (Ottawa, Ont.) and David Labentowicz (Toronto, Ont.).
The 2008-09 OUA Basketball Media Guide & Record Book is available online on OUA.ca at the following URL:
http://oua.ca.ismmedia.com/ISM2//Media/2008-09%20Basketball%20Media%20Guide.pdf
The 2008-09 regular season will run until Feb. 25, with the OUA Men's Basketball Championship scheduled for March 7. The OUA playoffs are presented by Investors Group. A complete schedule can be found on OUA.ca.
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
