Sudbury's new professional basketball team has garnered a lot of attention this week, extending their undefeated streak at their sold-out home opener Thursday. On Sunday, the cheers from the arena could be heard at Science North as fans gathered for the Sudbury Five meet and greet.
While excited by the team's early success, assistant coach Kyle Beers said what's even more impressive is that the team is not yet at its best. Beers said with the team winning while still getting used to each other, he can't wait to see what the future holds.
If you haven't met the Sudbury Five, worry not, says head coach Logan Stutz. The team is planning several opportunities for fans and players to get to know one another.
"We can have success on the court, but if we don't have success in the community, it's almost irrelevant," said Stutz.
Team owner Dario Zulich couldn't agree more.
"If the Sudbury Five want to be a piece of the community, we have to weave ourselves into the fabric of the community," Zulich said. "We want to be part of the community forever and we have a nice clean slate to start."
While primarily an opportunity for fans to interact with the team, Beers said that these events are invaluable for athletes working to acclimatize themselves with a new community.
The team's first MVP of the week, Jaylen Bland, and point guard Braylon Rayson said it has been the overwhelming support from fans that has helped them feel at home.
Rayson said that if fans bring their home opener energy to every game, "I don't see nobody beating us at home."
For Sudbury Five player Adam (Blaze) Blazek, community events are an opportunity "to pass on some of the hope and encouragement that I received when I was a young player."
"It can really help kick start some of these kids dreams to believe, 'I can do this,' especially with a sport like basketball, which may not be as popular around here," said Blaze. "(Just) to see some players who have made it and are different sizes and backgrounds."
Science North was the perfect location to host the afternoon's event for Zulich, seeming to draw a parallel between the current controversy surrounding the Kingsway Entertainment District and the inception of the science centre.
"Thirty years ago, it was also a very controversial institution and look at it now - we can't imagine life without Science North. Science North is a big social pillar of our community and I love what it's done for our local economy and what it's done in the past 30 years."
The Sudbury Five are set to play their next game Wednesday, Nov. 28 on the road against the Windsor Express.
For more information on the Sudbury Five, visit thefive.ca.
