Clippers Hosting ACAC Men’s Basketball Championships

2025 ACAC men’s basketball championships February 27 - March 1

$15 Day Pass $30 Weekend Pass

Caronport, Saskatchewan

By Robert Thomas

It’s been a long time coming. It took a lot of sweat, hard work and practice.

But Iit has paid off for the Briercrest Clippers.

The Clippers finished in first place in the southern division of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) and have won the right to host the 2025 ACAC men’s basket champions. The first time ever for the team.

Ranked third in Canada by the CCAA (Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association) it’s been the year of the Clippers says their coach Shane Sowden.

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT BRIERCREST CLIPPERS FACEBOOK PAGE

“It’s been quite a ride. I’ve got a really great group of guys including a couple of Moose Jaw guys (former Central Cyclones Riley Seaborn and Kayden Banilevic). We’ve been ranked (third) nationally since the start of the season…been in first place all season so from that standpoint it’s been quite the year,” Clippers head coach and Moose Jaw product Shane Sowden.

“We knew we had a strong team. I don’t know if we know how strong but it’s been a great ride. It’s been a lot of fun. And the boys have been playing really, really well,” Sowden said.

The Clippers ended the season with an almost perfect 19 - 1 record to capture the ACAC southern division.

He attributes the season m’s success on a team first attitude.

“A lot of the guys have let go of any ego or selfishness and put the team first. I think that’s been a massive part of our success.”

Playing at home is special for the team he said.

“It’s going to be probably massive crowds all weekend and we’re looking forward to hosting,” Sowden said.

As part of hosting the event 180 temporary seats are being added to the Margaret P. Reimer Memorial Gymnasium to allow 500 fans seating.

Additionally a large screen is being set up in the chapel for overflow viewing

The tournament will see eight teams vying for the ACAC men’s basketball title. It was a lot of work blocking off hotel rooms in Caronport and Moose Jaw for the event, he said.

The Canadian Powerlifting Championships are being held at the same time bringing on 600 athletes making it difficult to find hotel rooms.

“We’re going to have fans coming from all over Alberta. There’s a number of student athletes not just our team but other teams that are from Saskatchewan….we’re expecting a lot of people.”

Seating for the games are first come first served and the gym is expected to overflow when the Clippers play so Sowden advises fans to show up early to help get a seat.

“We’re looking forward to it and hopefully get out as many fans that is possible. Five hundred people in our gym is going to feel like a 1,000,” he said, adding “I think we have the best fans in the ACAC…we’re a school of 400 students and we’re competing against schools who have 20 and 30 thousand students. So it’s just pretty remarkable we’re able to do this.”

Although a smaller school the Clippers have a strong fan base.

“We’ll go on the road and we’ll have more fans than the other teams. We have great alumni, we’ve got great support wherever we go. Our athletes feel that and they see that. All year they’re use to playing in front of loud and excited fans. Now we’re going to add 200 fans to the side of the court,” Sowden said.

The Clippers are known to play a fast paced aggressive game. Games which have seen seven players rack up double digits on the scoresheet.

“We want to score quick. There is tons of ball movement. We don’t care who scores. We’ve got four to five shooters on the floor at all times. We move the ball. We averaged 95 points a game. We led the conference in scoring. We rebound well so we’re really deep…it’s just a total team effort,” he said.

The gold and silver champions from the tournament advance to the national Canadian Colleges Athletic Association men’s basketballl championship at Vanier College in Saint-Laurent, Québec from March 12 - 15.

Cost to attend the games is $30 for a weekend pass or $15 for a day pass. Tickets are available at the door.