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Canadore Varsity Basketball team hits the court for training camp

After a 20-year hiatus, the Canadore Panthers Varsity Basketball team will take to the court this coming fall in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association league play.
After a 20-year hiatus, the Canadore Panthers Varsity Basketball team will take to the court this coming fall in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association league play.

Head Coach Leo Bechard and Assistant Coach Stacey Gallagher have been busy recruiting during the past year and are preparing to host the Panther’s first Varsity Basketball Training Camp, which will run from Thursday August 23rd through to Sunday August 26th.

Prospective athletes will be arriving on Thursday and will have a jam packed three and a half days of skills training, scrimmages and informative sessions including topics such as flexibility to reduce the risk of injury.

Coaches Bechard and Gallagher are very optimistic for a successful first season back and they have set out to surprise the province with a team that is comprised of both strong caliber and quality players.

“We are very fortunate to have such a strong core of experienced players trying out for the team," said Bechard.

"Point guard John Gore, will certainly demonstrate the quality of players that are needed to excel at this level of college basketball. Returning for a second year at Canadore is 6’11” Center Levi Lapierre who will most definitely be a presence to contend with under the boards."

Other potential starters include: Shane Cupid 6’7”, Christian Casimier 6’6” and Kyle Romaniuk 6’6”, to name a few.

“This training camp will definitely test the character, skills and abilities of each and every one of these prospects," added Bechard.

The public is encouraged to come out and watch the scrimmages and skill sessions and to get a glimpse of some of Canadore’s potential Varsity Basketball team members.

The sessions will take place in the R.J. Surtees Gymnasium and run from: 9:30am-12:30pm, 2pm-5pm and 7pm-10pm on Friday, 9:30am-12:30pm and 3pm-6pm on Saturday and the intra-squad games will run from 9:30am-12pm on Sunday.

These games will give the coaches a final chance to evaluate the players and offer them some positive feedback. The final try-outs and team selection will take place in the middle of September.



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Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
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