Metro Vancouver…..The KPU Eagles men’s basketball team welcomed back nine alumni to the Eagles’ Nest in Surrey, BC yesterday for a friendly game to network the past and the present athletes of the program. This is the first alumni game that has taken place since the Spring 2014 appointment of new KPU Eagles’ men’s basketball head coach, Vladimir Nikić.
The young Eagles led the game for the first half with an end first-quarter score of 21-17 and halftime score of 45-41. The Alumni rallied in the latter minutes of the third quarter to change the lead in their favor 60-58, and then increased the gap over the young Eagles to 88-74 at the final buzzer.
“I would like to thank all the alumni who came out, gave us their best, and played hard. They have exceptional players with great character,” stated Coach Nikić, “I strongly believe that we need to continue this relationship with alumni and build on it. The Alumni are very important to our program and I would like to keep them involved as we move forward.”
The 2014-2015 Eagles men’s basketball team and Coach Nikić thank the following alumni for coming back to the Eagles’ Nest and hope they continue to stay involved with the team in years to come (please note: the numbers worn correspond to the jerseys worn during the game but not necessarily worn during their basketball careers):
#5 Ali Bosir
#6 Brenden Graham
#7 Gurpal Mann
#8 Roger Sheung
#9 Prince Carino
#10 John Pankratz
#11 Mark Dabrowski
#14 Chad Cowles
#15 Varinder Johal
The Eagles start the 2014-2015 PACWEST CCAA season on the road in Abbotsford, BC to take on the CBC Bearcats at 8:00pm. KPU’s home-opener is November 7th at 8:00pm against the Capilano University Blues.
(Photo Credit: KPU Eagles Sports Information)
For more information on the Department of Athletics & Recreation, please contact Junelle Mah, sports information and marketing, at 604-786-0804 or at junelle.mah@kpu.ca.
The KPU Eagles Department of Athletics & Recreation enters its 14th season of interuniversity competition. The Eagles are members of the PACWEST conference and play in the Canadian College Athletic Association (CCAA) with 100 student-athletes participating on eight varsity teams in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, badminton and golf. KPU athletics plays its home games at the Eagles’ Nest (Surrey Campus), Northview Golf & Country Club, Newton Athletic Park, all located in Surrey, BC and the Ace Badminton Centre in Richmond, BC. The Eagles are active in the conference with staff members on various advisory committees and competing to host both provincial and national championships. The student-athletes are mainly from the lower mainland but KPU’s rosters have included student-athletes from North America, South America, Asia and Europe.
Follow the Eagles on Twitter @KPUEagles, on Facebook www.facebook.com/kpueagles, or visit our website at www.kpu.ca/eagles.