Cape Breton’s Coal Bowl Classic the hottest ticket in town
The gym at Breton Education Centre in New Waterford, N.S., was empty on Sunday, but soon it will be filled with basketball players and fans.
“I joke, ‘That day, we were more popular than Taylor Swift because we were sold out in about 8 minutes.’ It was pretty awesome,” said Aimee Romard, co-chair of the Coal Bowl Classic.
The six-day basketball tournament is returning for the first time in two years. It features teams from the local area, mainland Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario.
Players were checking in on Sunday and anticipating an event they've heard so much about.
“We've already seen some of the culture. It's going to be exciting to learn more, and then the games will be competitive with lots of fans,” said Owen Ross, a St. Mark High School player.
The experience is unique. All teams stay in make-shift dorms inside the school.
The classrooms transformed into accommodations, giving players a chance to bond off the court.
For the hometown BEC Bears, they feel they have a chance to come out on top.
“This year our team is looking pretty good and we think we have a chance to be the third team to win, so that's the goal for the week,” said Luke MacKinnon, Breton Education Centre Bears player.
This will mark the 39th year for the Coal Bowl Classic that has been a slam dunk in New Waterford for decades.
The tournament is steeped in tradition and is known among the basketball community across the country.
“It's a basketball tournament for sure, but we have people leaving here as players, coaches, and fans talking about the experience. It's like they're professional players coming into town and they're celebrities, and we want them to experience New Waterford and Cape Breton's hospitality,” said teacher Doug MacKinnon.
It's also good for business.
“We've got 250 extra people in town, so it does make a difference for our small businesses and I do think they were affected by that, so it's good for them that we're back as well,” said Romard.
Play begins on Monday with the tournament and finishes up Saturday with the championship final.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.