BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Take one big blender and add all the men and women basketball players from the Laurentian University varsity teams and pour the mixture out onto the basketball court and it will equal fun.
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Andy Grieg and Tierney Hoo are looking forward to participating in Laurentian University?s inaugural intrasquad game featuring members of the Vees and Lady Vees. |
Add all this up and you get the Laurentian University Co-ed intrasquad squad game set for the Ben Avery Gymnasium at Laurentian on Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 pm.
The game will be a battle of wits, between the two head coaches and be a showcase for all the elite athletes.
Women?s head coach, Mike Clarke will take the helm of one team and men?s head coach, Virgil Hill, will be at the reins of the other.
There will be a $2 admission charge and all the proceeds will go to the Canadian Cancer Society.
This will mark the first time in the history of Laurentian that the women and men have teamed up to play a co-ed intrasquad game.
For the last two years, Hill has conducted an intrasquad game for the men and the event has proved to be highly successful at creating camaraderie and raising school spirit.
This year he was looking to advance the event.
?This year, I wanted to take it a step further and give the school a chance to give something back to the community,? said Hill. ?We just want to have a lot of fun with it.?
The game will also provide the backdrop for the residence challenge.
?Whatever residence floor comes to the game and cheers the loudest and is the most creative, will win a pizza and pop party,? said Hill.
Besides the game, there will also be a dunk contest between the men and a three-point shooting contest between the men and women.
Hill sees the whole event as a positive experience for both teams, as well as the university.
?It?s a chance for the two teams to share camaraderie,? said Hill. ?It also gets the student body involved to show school spirit.?
Even though the game is non-competitive, Hill expects to see some great basketball.
?People coming out to see the game will see skilled play and a genuine level of excitement by the players,? said Hill. ?The guys and the girls are excited to play with one another.?
Clarke also likes the whole idea of the game.
?It?s a fun way to encourage school spirit and a good way to form a relationship with the residence students,? said Clarke. ?People will see great shooting and passing skills.?
Fourth-year women?s veteran, Tierney Hoo, 21, is looking forward to the unique game.
?I have never played in a game like this and it will be good exposure for both teams,? said Hoo. ?It will be a chance to get to know the men?s team as well and appreciate their skills. It will also be a good chance for the public to see new players.?
Andy Grieg, a four-year veteran of the men?s team, is also excited about playing in the game.
?It gets everybody involved and it?s something different,? said Grieg. ?It?s a great opportunity for both teams to showcase their talents and a good way to kick off the season.?
After the game the real season starts for both the women?s and men?s teams. They play the Alumni game on Saturday, Oct. 18 and then get into the regular season grind.
The first home game for both teams will be Friday, Nov. 14 against Lakehead University. The women play at 6
pm and the men play at 8 pm.
