“Say It Ain’t So, Joe” *

Line-up juggling leads to a sham in Bears-Horns game

Lethbridge 96 at #7 Alberta 94 OT – There we were, tuned-in to Canada West TV on a Sunday night for the game to decide the #1 seed in the Canada West play-offs. Then, a strange thing happened. We have both teams using ‘alternate line-ups’, and very different playing rotations.

I guess we can’t question Lethbridge, since they had little to gain, and may have decided to rest players for this week’s 1st round games. (Why then play Dejon Burdeaux and Elliott Sentance on Saturday?) Actually, it smacked of a ‘non-aggression pact’ from both sides. “I’ll park my Maserati, if you keep your Ferrari in the garage.”

Questions – You have a chance to host the Canada West Final 4, if you win this game. Do you want to win? If not, why not? Could it be that you don’t want to meet UBC in a possible Semi-Final match-up? So, you would rather meet the Saskatchewan Huskies on a neutral floor? Did you feel the extra 1 game rest would be beneficial to your ‘stars’ as they prepare for a quarter-final game 2 weeks hence?

In any case, the game is on record … read it and weep. Box Score

This, we felt, was an embarrassment to U of A and to the League.

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Official –

First Round in Canada West Play-offs starts this Thursday for Manitoba vs Regina and Fraser Valley at Winnipeg with game 1 of their best of 3 in the Winnipeg venues starting Feb 16. The other 2 series start on Friday, with games Saturday, and Sunday if necessary.

This Canada West play-off system is easily the most arduous in the country, as teams play these gruelling Best of 3 sets, and can log a lot of travel miles, when they are in the 9-10-11-12 spots in the draw. For teams like UFV, TRU, Victoria, and Regina, it is a minor miracle for them to reach the Final 4. ___________________________________________________________________________

In the East on Sunday –

Atlantic – at UNB 91 St. FX 82, at St. Marys 93 Acadia 90, at Memorial 97 UPEI 90

Quebec – Laval 70 at Bishops 68, Concordia 63 at UQAM 52

Here are the present league standings for the AUS, Quebec, and the OUA –

The AUS has the 6 top teams in their league tournament on Friday March 3- Sunday, March 5 in Halifax. With their 2 losses to Memorial this past weekend, the UPEI Panthers, who were finalists last season, have been eliminated.

There are 2 weeks left in the regular season, as the top contenders jostle for the 1 and 2 seeds, both of whom get a quarter-final bye. A key game upcoming this week matches Halifax rivals, Saint Marys and Dalhousie.

In the RSEQ, the leaders, the McGill Redmen and their closest pursuers, the Concordia Stingers, meet at ‘The Bee Hive’ this Friday night. The 4 teams for their play-offs look set, with the Bishops Gaiters the lone team out. Their ‘Final 4’ is March 3-4.

In the OUA, we have, obviously, the ‘Raven in the room’, and Carleton looks to go unbeaten right through the OUA Tournament . Who might challenge? Maybe
plays the Rams in Ottawa this Friday in a preview. The OUA play-offs start Weds, Feb 22, with their preliminary round.