Canadian National Championships Coming Your Way!
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TORONTO, ON / WINNIPEG, MAN– More than 450 of Canada’s most talented young basketball prospects will hit the hardwood from Aug. 1 to Aug. 6 for the 2011 Canada Basketball National Championships.
The two tournaments bring together the top male and female athletes from the 13 provinces and territories, ages 15-and-under and 17-and-under, for a week long competition to determine the best 15U and 17U squads in the country.
The event features both mens’ and womens’ divisions, and historically has been a proving ground for future Canadian basketball stars.
The women’s 15U/17U tournament takes place at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Man. Notable players include sisters Audrey-Ann Caron-Goudreau and Khaléann Caron-Goudreau (Gatineau, Que.) as well as Cheyanne Roger (Etobicoke, Ont.), members of the 2011 Cadette Women’s National Team that captured the bronze medal at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Women.
“We are once again very excited to host this prestigious event for the second year in Winnipeg,” said Adam Wedlake, Tournament Director and Executive Director of Basketball Manitoba. “The tournament is creating a big buzz in our community in the middle of a hot summer with over 200 volunteers ready to put on a great show!
“It’s always exciting to work closely with all these athletes of whom many will one day represent Canada on the world stage!”
The men’s 15U/17U tournament takes place at Humber College (north campus) in Toronto, Ont. The talent pool includes 2010 U17 World Championship bronze medallist Duane Notice (Vaughan, Ont.), and 2011 Junior Men’s National Team member Braxston Bunce (Kelowna, BC).
“Ontario Basketball is thrilled to once again welcome top athletes from all around Canada to Humber College in Toronto for the 15U and 17U National Championships,” said Rob Hurtubise, Tournament Director and Coordinator of Community and Events at Ontario Basketball.
“We are anticipating an excellent week of competition which will also serve as a wonderful development opportunity for some of the nation’s best young athletes and coaches.
“We encourage all basketball supporters to come out for a glimpse of some of Canada’s next crop of basketball stars!”
This year, both the Ontario 15U women’s and men’s teams will attempt to defend last year’s gold medal performances. The 15U women’s team is looking to capture its seventh consecutive title, while the men’s team will strive for a fourth straight championship banner.
In the 17U age bracket, the Quebec boys will be defending their title while the British Columbia girls will attempt a repeat championship performance.
The official tournament website for the 15U and 17U Men’s National Championship can be found here.
The official tournament website for the 15U and 17U Women’s National Championship can be found here.
Full team rosters, tournament schedules, daily game summaries and box scores of all tournament matches will all be available on the sites, For more information, please visit www.basketball.ca.
