Concordia Stinger point guard Damian Buckley was honored as a first team all-Canadian at a gala dinner in Ottawa on Thursday night.
The Montreal native led the Stingers to a 19-4 win-loss record versus Canadian university competition, including playoff wins versus the McGill Redmen and the UQAM Citadins. He averaged 19.3 points and 5.1 assists a game in Quebec conference action.
This season the fourth-year Arts student was the QSSF’s unanimous selection as MVP. He also earned his fourth consecutive Quebec all-star – all of which have been first team honors.
“Damian Buckley is the best point guard in the country,” said Concordia head coach John Dore of his team captain. “He has great leadership, presence and poise. He does everything we need him to do. When we need scoring, he scores. When we need him to help make someone better, he does. When we need defence, he stops people.”
At the end of the 2009 regular season, Buckley’s career stats were 113 games played for 1932 points. He scored another 43 points in the two Quebec playoff games, bringing his career total to 1975 in 115 games. He needs 25 points at the CIS Final 8 to reach the 2000-point mark.
Buckley will lead the Stingers’ charge at the national championship tournament at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ont. this weekend. First up for the Stingers – a match with the Calgary Dinos at 12:30 p.m. Friday.
