Mount Allison University was host to some of the best basketball teams in the country, as well as some sold out crowds at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Men’s Basketball Championships last week. Eight teams competed for the title at the newly refurbished McCormack Gymnasium.
Although the Mounties weren’t able to bring home gold, they won their first game against the Vanier Cheetahs by 20 points to a massive crowd of hundreds. Their next game was sold out, with all of the allowed 950 seats spoken for.
Ultimately, the Keyano Huskies from Fort McMurray beat out Toronto’s George Brown Huskies during Saturday’s Championship Game.
Kids from the local schools were invited to attend games during the day. Norval McConnell, chairperson of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, National Men’s Basketball Championship 2024, says it was payback to local kids for their part in supporting the university’s sports teams last year.
“Mount A was without a gym for part of the year and we were able to run our programs at some of the local schools outside of school time,” said McConnell. “It’s…our way of saying thank you for saving us last year when we didn’t have a gym.”
The McCormack Gymnasium received a $5 million upgrade, and McConnell says it was in large part because of the 2018 CCAA Women’s Championship being held in Sackville. “The gym is top drawer now,” he said.
McConnell said this calibre of event is good for the university, and it’s good the community, too. Grade 9 student Jorja agreed. She plays on the Junior Mounties team and volunteered throughout the tournament.
“It makes me excited, if I play college ball because it looks like fun and it looks like people are more advanced,” she said.
Montreal’s Vanier Cheetahs will host the tournament in 2024.
