University basketball fans will get a preview of the Concordia Stingers men’s team this weekend when the annual Nike Tournament tips off on Friday night at Concordia Gym.
The Stingers, who won the Quebec conference with a 14-2 win-loss record last season, will battle the Queen’s Gaels at 6 p.m. The Kingston-based Gaels finished with a 2-20 record in the OUA East division last year.
Concordia will start the season without the services of its two all-Canadians, Kyle Desmarais and Evens Laroche. That means some other players will have to step up.
“It’s a great opportunity for the younger guys to show what they can do,” said head coach John Dore.
Even without two of its stars, the team will have a strong veteran presence in the lineup.
“I expect to see a lot from our more experienced players – forwards Kafil Eyitayo in his fifth year and Taylor Garner in his fourth year,” said Dore. “With them our inside game should be strong.”
The second game of the night will see the Laurentian Voyageurs take on the Endicott College Gulls at 8 p.m.
Laurentian posted an 11-11 record in the OUA East last year, while Endicott went 12-6 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, which competes at the NCAA Division III level.
On Saturday, the Stingers host Laurentian at 5 p.m. and Queen’s will meet Endicott at 7 p.m.
Dore says the tournament is a great way for the Stingers to start the 2012 season.
“It will be entertaining,” he promised. “We have a lot of athleticism, we shoots 3s. It’s going to be press, run and have some fun.”
On Friday night, there will be $1 hotdogs at the Stinger Café beginning at 5 p.m. Also holders of basketball tickets will be able to cross the lobby to the arena and watch the men’s hockey Stingers’ regular season opener versus the McGill Redmen free of charge.
