Saying goodbye to two hometown boys

One is perhaps the most athletic player to ever suit up for the Vikes. The other is possibly the toughest player to don the blue and gold in quite some time. One terrorized opponents above the rim, while the other made his living in the paint. One was renown for his nasty dunks and massive blocks, the other noted for tenacious rebounding, tireless work ethic and silky smooth touch around the rim.




Although different in style, Victoria local products Tyler Hass (Pictured Above) and Mitch Gudgeon (Left) have both had their unique blueprint on Vikes basketball over the past five years. This weekend the senior duo and co-captains of the Vikes will take to Shields Court for one final weekend of regular season basketball.





To put the pair's prolific careers into perspective take a look at these numbers and tidbits.

Tyler Hass

• The high flying Tyler Hass has scored over 1000 points during his acclaimed Vikes career. The Langford native was named a Canada West second-team All-star last season, and was honored with the conference's Defensive Player of the Year award back in his sophomore campaign (2005-06).
  
• Hass started all but five of his 106 games with the Vikes. He will leave UVic having averaged 10.3 p/g and 4.6 rebounds-per-game. However, numbers don't do justice the athletic forwards ability to change the outcome of a game with one play. Very few players in CIS basketball had the ability to bring people out of their seats the way big #14 could. His dunks were Legendary. His blocks just down right mean. As A Calgary Dinos player said to me after last weekends game,

  "Hass is fearless! He is like the only player that would ever challenge Bekkering above the rim, and not only did he challenge him, but I thought he got a clean block off. Man he can jump."
  

  Although Hass was whistled for the foul on the play, that quote pretty much summed up Hass's career at UVic. Afraid of no one and more than willing to challenge anybody above the rim.
  

Mitch Gudgeon

• The gritty Mitch Gudgeon sits just 17 points shy of 100o for his Vikes career. Gudge has led the Vikes in rebounding in each of the past two seasons and currently sits third in the conference in 'boards-per-game averaging a shade under 10.

• During his five years Gudgeon averaged 9.5 p/g and snagged 5.1 boards-per-game. Like Hass, Gudgeon's contribution to the Vikes can't simple be measured by the numbers. The 6"7 post developed into a team leader and exemplified what it meant to wear the Vikes colours. Gudge could beat opponents with his back to the basket or face up, as his offense arsenal included his signature baby hook or his Tim Duncan like 12 footers of the window. The Oak Bay grad was also a dynamic rebounder, often taking it upon himself to ensure the Vikes would win the nightly battle on the glass.
  

Both players have left a lasting impression at UVic and would like nothing more than to cap off their careers by bringing playoff basketball to Victoria. Although the Vikes will need the Trinity Western Spartans to lose one of their final two games for that to happen, the Vikes can do their part by taking care of business this weekend. And you can do your part by making your way to McKinnon Gym this weekend to say adieu to two Vikes greats.