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I’ve got some tickets to the CIS University Cup and they could be yours! University hockey is one of the most competitive and high quality options in Canada. It is filled with former Major Junior stars that have matured and gotten even better.

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Axeman Takes CIS Hockey’s Top Honour

Andrew Clark, a third-year centre from Acadia University, was named the CIS player of the year in men’s hockey, Wednesday night.

The native of Brandon, Man., became the third player in school history to claim the Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy. He follows forwards Kevin Baker and Duane Dennis, who were honoured in 2005-06 and ‘93-94, respectively.

Clark won the AUS scoring title in his third season with the Axemen thanks to his 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 28 games, a tally that allowed him to edge UPEI’s Matt Carter by a single point in the conference race. Named an All-Canadian for the first time in his career, the five-foot-10, 180-pound forward tied for the league lead with four game-winning goals, led the conference with 129 shots and was an important part of Acadia’s power play and penalty kill units. He helped the Axemen finish second in the AUS in penalty killing and third in power play efficiency.

In three seasons of university hockey, the kinesiology student has amassed an impressive 99 points in 83 league contests. Prior to joining the Axemen, Clark spent four campaigns with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, recording 40 goals and 78 points in 72 games in his final major junior season in 2008-09.

“We are very proud of Andrew’s accomplishments this year. He is a tremendous leader for our hockey club. To be in on over 40 percent of our goals is truly a remarkable statistic,” said Acadia head coach Darren Burns, whose team ranked fifth in the AUS in conference play with 95 goals in 28 matches. “His approach to the game is very refreshing as he is a very unselfish player whose only concern is our team’s success. Even more impressive was his ability to help so many first year players get acclimatized to university life and the game itself.”

In addition to Clark of number of other AUS standouts received honours from the CIS.

CIS Men’s Hockey Championship Ready to Roll

The six-team tournament gets under way on Thursday and concludes Sunday with the gold medal final at 8 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time, live on Rogers Sportsnet and ssncanada.ca.

UNB captured their third University Cup title in five seasons – and the fourth in school history – a year ago with a 4-0 win on home ice over the McGill Redmen. The V-Reds have previously triumphed in 1998, 2007 and 2009.

The last team to claim back-to-back CIS men’s hockey banners was the Alberta Golden Bears, who prevailed at home in Edmonton in 2005 and 2006.

For the second straight year, UNB (AUS champs) and McGill (OUA champs) are seeded 1-2 heading into the national championship. They will be joined in Fredericton by the No. 3 Saskatchewan Huskies (Canada West champs), No. 4 Western Mustangs (OUA finalists), No. 5 Moncton Aigles Bleus (AUS finalists) and No. 6 UQTR Patriotes (OUA bronze medallists).

UNB, Western and UQTR will battle in Pool A in the preliminary round, while McGill, Saskatchewan and Moncton skate in Pool B. The first-place finishers from each group advance to the Cavendish University Cup final.

The Redmen and Aigles Bleus face off in the tourney opener Tuesday at 2 p.m. (ATL), while the V-Reds and Patriotes kick off Pool A action at 7 p.m. The Huskies and Mustangs take the ice on Day 2 against the losing teams from opening day.

McGill is the only team that will be looking for a first CIS title this week. Like UNB, Moncton and UQTR have hoisted the Cup on four occasions, while Saskatchewan and Western have taken the top prize once.

“We are proud to represent the Atlantic conference. It is also a privilege and honour to be the host of this very special event – the 50th CIS hockey championship,” says 12-year UNB head coach Gardiner MacDougall, whose roster includes 19 returning players from last season’s championship squad. “We are excited about the tremendous opportunity in front of us for our team and our passionate fan base. Together we look forward to representing our university, our city, the province of New Brunswick and the Atlantic region to the very best of our abilities.”

CIS Hands Out Hardware

On the eve of the CIS Basketball Championship, the top players and award winners were recognized.

Philip Scrubb, a second-year guard from Carleton University, was named the most outstanding player in CIS men’s basketball. The 19-year-old from Richmond, B.C., became the fifth Raven in seven years to claim the Mike Moser Memorial Trophy. Scrubb, who earned CIS top-rookie honours a year ago, is the first player in history to merit the Dr. Peter Mullins Trophy and the Moser Trophy in consecutive campaigns.

From the AUS, Jimmy Dorsey of Cape Breton University was named to the first team All-Canadian squad. Terry Thomas of St. FX and Owen Klassen of Acadia were named to the second All-Canadian team. Saint Mary’s guard Brian Rouse was selected to the All-Rookie team.

Another member of the reigning national champion Ravens entered the CIS men’s basketball annals during the All-Canadian Gala held Thursday night. Head coach Dave Smart, a native of Kingston, Ont., received the Stuart W. Aberdeen Memorial Trophy – presented by Coaches of Canada – for the second straight season and for a record-breaking fifth time overall.

Other major award winners for the 2011-12 campaign include Lakehead guard Greg Carter of Ottawa, who was named defensive player of the year; McMaster guard Adam Presutti of Oakville, Ont., the recipient of the Dr. Mullins Trophy as the nation’s top freshman; and Guelph forward Daniel McCarthy, a Guelph native who claimed the Ken Shields Award recognizing excellence in basketball, academics and community involvement.

The 50th CIS championship gets under way Friday at the Metro Centre in Halifax and culminates Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Time with the gold medal final, live on EastLink TV and SSN Canada.

The AUS Champion Acadia Axemen have the unenviable task of opening up against the reigning champion and #1 rankeed Carleton Ravens Friday afternoon at 2:15. The St. FX X-Men will take the court later that night at 8:15 to face the Concordia Stingers. The semi-finals will go Saturday evening with the Championship game at 4:30 AT on Sunday.

See

Rainmen Sign Hometown Hero Christian “T-Bear” Upshaw

The Halifax Rainmen are bringing a little local love to the court this season. The team announced the signing of Halifax basketball star Christian “T-Bear” Upshaw Tuesday afternoon.

“I finally get to live a dream I’ve been dreaming for a long time,” said Upshaw. “To play professionally in my home town is beyond what I’ve ever imagined. It means so much to me to be able to play at this level in front of the people who have been there for me from the beginning, and will hopefully be there until the end. I hope to make Halifax proud this season.”

A favourite in the local basketball community, Upshaw spent three years as a standout player for Saint Patrick’s High School where he won three provincial championships. He also spent five years on Saint Francis Xavier University’s roster where he earned back-to-back AUS MVPs in 2008/09 and 2009/10.