Carleton Ravens made school, city proud, Watson says.
Cole Hobin, a guard playing for the national champion Carleton Ravens men's basketball team, stands with the championship trophy during an event on March 29 to celebrate the team's seventh CIS championship.
Eddie Rwema
Mayor Jim Watson proclaimed March 29 Carleton University
Ravens Day in Ottawa in recognition of the accomplishments of the national
champion men’s basketball team.
Rowdy Ravens fans waved thundersticks as they struggled to
take pictures and have a glimpse of the team’s stars at the Galleria at
Carleton.
The team was crowned Canadian Interuniversity Sport
champions for the seventh time in nine years after an impressive 82-59 win over
Trinity Western Spartans of British Columbia in Halifax on March 13.
“The entire city of Ottawa is very proud of you for having
conducted yourselves with great skill, with great class and brought proud not
just to Carleton but to the entire city of Ottawa,” Watson told the team. “You
are not only amazing athletes, but also great role models to the next generation
of Ravens.”
The Ravens were unstoppable in the tournament, defeating
Concordia 73-66 in the quarter-final and taking a 95-83 semifinal victory over
Saskatchewan before dominating Trinity Western in the final ears.
“I am very pleased and proud with what you are doing,” university
president Roseann O’Reilly Runte told the team.
In addition to the championship, three team members also picked
up individual awards.
Second-year forward Tyson Hinz won the Mike Moser Memorial
Trophy as player of the year, guard Phil Scrubb won the Dr. Peter Mullins
Trophy as rookie of the year and head coach Dave Smart won the Stuart W.
Aberdeen Memorial Trophy as coach of the year.
“I am truly proud of what these guys do on a daily basis,
and I want to sincerely thank them for that,” said Smart.
The Ravens are now only one championship away from tying the
CIS record of eight titles, held by the University of Victoria Vikes.
“We owe this to our support and we hope they continue to
support us, as we prepare to win our eighth championship in ten years,” said Ravens
guard Elliot Thompson.
eddie.rwema@metroland.com
Ottawa This Week - Central