Canada’s best university basketball teams compete in Halifax for national championships
This weekend marks the return of the U Sports Final 8 basketball championships for the first time since 2019.
From the University of Victoria to UPEI to the host St. FX, the championships are a national event.
Eight teams will play 11 games over the three-day event.
“I’m coming to all the games,” said Joe Chapman, who’s visiting from Alberta.
“I love basketball. I go to the U of A [University of Alberta] games. My kids went to U of A so I go to those games when I’m in Edmonton.”
Though no Albertan teams made it to the tournament, Chapman, who grew up in Halifax, has come home to take it all in.
“It’s a tradition for sure,” He said. “[I] love it."
Players recognize the tradition too.
“I’ve heard the crowd is crazy. I’ve heard it’s a great environment to play in,” said Kevin Otoo, a guard for the University of Ottawa.
“It’s a hard environment to play in, especially if you’re playing the host team, but I think it’s just fun.”
The women’s championships are also in Nova Scotia. For the first time, Sydney is hosting the event.
“It was a full house,” said Bower. “It was a great environment and they sold out the entire tournament.”
The Scotiabank Centre is nearing a sellout for Friday’s games when St. FX and UPEI will hit the floor for their first games.
The X-Men will play Queen’s, while The Panthers will tip-off against the number one seed, Victoria Vikes.
John Bower, U Sports communications director, says the tournament has brought a buzz to the city.
“Getting in the hotel or even at the airport, the train station -- people know that the Final 8 is happening here in Halifax,” said Bower.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal funding finally comes through to replace one of Canada’s worst hospitals in the Far North
The federal government is providing $1.2 billion to help build a new hospital complex on the James Bay Coast, easing residents’ fears that construction wouldn’t start this year.
The cooking method you need to learn to get excited about vegetables this fall, expert says
'Eat more vegetables,' doctors and dietitians say over and over. But for many people, it’s hard to do, because they aren’t excited about veggies or just don’t like them.
Monument unveiled for eight Nova Scotia brothers who fought in World War II
The eight sons of Richard and Sarah Harvie from Gormanville, N.S., are believed to be the most siblings from one family, from either North America or the British Commonwealth, to serve in World War II.
Officer arrested after allegedly stealing alcohol from store: TPS
A Toronto police officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing three bottles of alcohol from a store.
Frequent drinking of fizzy beverages and fruit juice linked to an increased risk of stroke: research
New data raises questions about the drinks people consume and the potential risks associated with them, according to researchers at Galway University in Ireland, in partnership with Hamilton’s McMaster University.
Northwestern Ont. woman charged with arson with disregard for human life
A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.
Liberal, Conservative MPs to speak at Oct. 7 march to Parliament Hill
A Liberal MP and a Conservative MP will be part of a team delivering speeches at an event in Ottawa commemorating the one year anniversary of the attacks on Oct. 7.
Son charged with mother's murder on Vancouver Island
Police on Vancouver Island have made an arrest in the case of a 78-year-old woman found dead in her home almost two years ago.
Taste of home: Tiffin lunch boxes bring comfort, affordability to immigrants
Yugali Bharote starts her day in the kitchen, preparing lunch boxes for her sons bound for school – but she doesn’t stop there. She then prepares almost a dozen lunch boxes for customers who have subscribed to her homemade meals.