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.

Youtube legend makes his way to Victoria

Woody Harrelson proved it through his role as a basketball hustler playing in the streets of Southern California.
Chris "the Birdman" Anderson tried to prove it, but failed miserably in the 2005 NBA slam dunk competition.

What i am talking about of course is the notion that white man can jump.

Over the past few years another baller is doing his best to make even the most nonathletic, Canadian proud. His name is Henry Bekkering and he and his amazing resume of dunks are coming to Shields Court this Friday night.

Bekkering, who is currently averaging team high 18 points-a-game for the Central Division leading and CIS No. 4 ranked Calgary Dinos, has made for than just a name for himself on Youtube. The guy's dunks have had enough online hits to make even the likes of Britney Spears blush.

His through the roof hops has seen him featured on Fox's hit show, The Best Dam Sports Show Period. He's also treated basketball camps and dunk contests across the continent to his vast arsenal of ferocious slams.

The guy can jump over 5 kids for crying out loud!

So Bekkering will bring his ridiculous spring to McKinnon Gym for the first time, looking to add to his impressive portfolio of You Tube clips. Standing in his way, is the Vikes own high flyer's of Tyler Hass and Wendell Thomas. Don't think for a minute that those two are going to stand there and let Bekkering steal the home crowd thunder.

If there is one game not to miss this season it's this showdown.
But don't get too close to the action or you may find yourself on the wrong end of a poster.

Vikes bring out the brooms in Kamloops

Another weekend and another 4-for-4 performance by the Vikes men's and women's basketball team.

On Saturday, the women had a much tougher time with the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack than they did on Friday, but still escaped with a hard fought 63-54 road victory. The Vikes, who actually trailed with two and a half minutes remaining, played some clutch basketball down the stretch scoring the final ten points of the contest. A big character win for this team as numerous girls were battling flu like symptoms and could have easily mailed this road game in. This team is learning how to win every style of basketball game and Saturday's gutsy performance demonstrated that they can win even when they aren't at full strength. Coach Cheng's girls have now won 11 of their last past 12 games, and other than their loss to the CIS No. 1 ranked SFU Clan back on Jan. 9th have not lost since Nov. 14th in Regina. The Vikes can now clinch a home playoff series at Shields Court with a win this weekend and a Trinity Western Spartan loss.

The Men got the job done in Kamloops for the second consecutive night as well, jumping out to an early lead to dispose of a WolfPack team that can't seem to have this long season end quicker. The 91-61 victory by the Vikes was their second straight win in which they blew out their opponents by 30 or more points.

However, it wasn't all good news for the Vikes as they returned to their hotel room on Saturday night only to hear that the Trinity Western Spartans had gone into CIS No. 4 ranked Calgary Dino territory and pulled out a massive road victory. Just how big was the Spartans victory? Well with only four games remaining on the schedule, the Spartans now control their own destiny in their quest for a home playoff series. The Vikes now must likely win out and hope that the Spartans drop one of their four remaining contests if they plan on making Shields court the home for a opening round playoff series. The Spartans who have an identical record with the Vikes but own that all important tie-breaker finish the season by playing two at home against SFU before hitting the road to take on Manitoba and Winnipeg.
The Vikes final four games of the season are all at home, with Calgary Lethbridge, Fraser Valley and Thompson Rivers making their way to the Island.

It will be tough as the Spartans are playing some unbelievable basketball right now, but crazier things have happened . Don't put away your playoffs towels just yet and check back with the horn from all the latest from around the Canada West!

JC checks in from Kamloops

Hey, my names Jeff Cullen and I'm a 3rd year guard on the Men's Basketball team. This is my first time writing a blog for the Vikes Horn, and I'm doing it from my hotel room in Kamloops. We're here to play two games against Thompson Rivers University. Last night was the first of two, and we came away with a decisive win in a good team effort. We play them again in a few hours, and if we get off to a good start, we should be able to come away with another win. The trip home tomorrows gonna be a long one, but it'll be easier if we come home with 2 wins. Once we're home we get to stay for at least 2 home weekends, and hopefully 3 if Trinity drops a game and we take care of our home games, which include a visit from a very good Calgary team next week.

Talk soon.

JC

Vikes take two from lowly 'Pack

The Thompson Rivers men's and women's basketball teams have combined for a total of five wins this season. That number didn't change on Friday.

The women were led by a 17-point effort from Vanessa Forstbauer en route to a 71-57 victory over the hometown 'Pack. Forstbauer, who is primarily known for her efforts on the defensive end, showed she can also put up some numbers, going 7 of 12 from the floor and hauling in a game high 8 'boards. The full game recap can be viewed by clicking here.

On the men's side it was all Vikes all game. Tyler Hass led the Vikes in the 88-56 blowout victory, pouring in a career high 27 points. The seniors loudest bucket of the game came in the first half when he capped off a 12 point Vikes run by throwing down one of his signature two-handed crams. The Vikes Horn is already pumped for next Friday night when Hass goes up against Youtube sensation and Calgary Dinos forward Henry Bekkering. The two are perhaps the most athletic forwards in the conference and the head-to-head showdown is sure to produce some highlights. So in T.O's words, "Getcha popcorn ready." Fridays recap can be accessed by clicking here

The Vikes will look to bring out the brooms tonight when they finish the two game set against TRU. Tip off goes at 6PM and 8PM.

Vikes big movers on Top Ten Tuesday

You never know what the brain trust in charge of the CIS Top Ten rankings are going to come up with. The unpredictability and eastern biases often leaves western schools pondering the crazy formula. However, the Top Ten gods have shone down on the Island this week, as the Vikes Women moved up three spots to No. 6 and the Men jumped a couple spots to No. 8. Considering the Vikes only knocked off one team that was nationally ranked team this weekend (Women, Winnipeg) it was a surprising jump. But the National love is not undeserving as both teams record and quality of opponents in the Pac D speak for themselves.

Women
School (record) / vote pts
1. Simon Fraser (16-1) / 292 pts / (1)
2. Windsor (13-1) / 263 / (2)
3. Saskatchewan (14-2) / 245 / (3)
4. Regina (12-4) / 217 / (5)
5. Alberta (11-5) / 192 / (4)
6. Victoria (11-6) / 146 / (9)
7. Memorial (9-1) / 128 / (7)
8. Winnipeg (10-6) / 106 / (6)
9. Calgary (7-9) / 86 / (8)
10. Western Ontario (11-3) / 47 / (NR)

Men
School / record / vote pts
1. Carleton (11-1) / 504 votes - 42 / (1)
2. Ottawa (11-1) / 459 / (2)
3. UBC (15-2) / 418 / (3)
4. Calgary (14-2) / 381 / (4)
5. St. FX (9-1) / 338 / (5)
6. Western Ontario (10-2) / 286 / (7)
7. Concordia (5-3) / 225 / (6)
8. Victoria (12-5) / 205 / (10)
9. Windsor (7-5) / 111 / (8)
10. Dalhousie (7-3) / 107 / (9)

Weekend Jolts

The Vikes went a perfect 4-0 at Shields court this weekend.
Saturday's early contest saw the Vikes Women play a complete four quarters of basketball to knockoff the CIS No. 6 ranked Winnipeg Wesmen 69-56. Jane Anholt led all scorers with 20, and Vanessa Forstbauer put the defensive clamps on Amy Ogidan, the reigning CW Rookie of the Year and 4th leading scoring in the conference. Ogidan who came into the contest averaging 15 pts-a-game was held without a field goal for three quarters and finished with a season low of only 5 points.

In the late game the men dismantled the visiting Wesmen with a decisive 76-55 victory. The game for all intensive purposes was over after the first half as the Vikes big guns got the majority of the second half off. Tyler Hass led all scorers with 16 pts, while Mitch Gudgeon hauled down a game high 12 'boards. Next weekend the Vikes travel to Kamloops for a pair against Thompson Rivers. The Wolf Pack sit in last in the Pac D on both the men's and women's side. I hear that brooms are easy to find in the 'loops.

Now onto the weekend awards:

Best Vikes female- Although Anholt made this decision a little bit harder after a great game on Saturday, this award has to go to Kayla Dykstra. The star post had a double-double in both contests (15 pts 12 reb on Fri, 16 and 15 on Sat). Dykstra's effort on the weekend moved her into sole possession of first in both conference scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding with (10.4 rpg). Yes you read that correctly, the third-year post is averaging a double-double. And what's that your hearing, well that's a certain three letter chant.

Best Vikes male- The nod here goes to Brandon Dunlop. The third-year guard put his squad on his back Friday night, spearheading a third-quarter Vikes comeback. Dunny finished with 17pts on the night, 7 of those coming in the 3rd quarter, to lead all Vikes scorers. The poise and confidence that he showed down the stretch in a back-and-forth contest is something that Vikes fans and Head Coach Craig Beaucamp must be excited about.
And on Saturday night, well on Saturday night Dunlop didn't get lost on the way to McKinnon Gym. And just showing up to that game made Dunlop the Vikes player-of-the-weekend

Herd sent running from the Island

After nearly a two month absence from McKinnon Gym, the Vikes men's and women's hoops team returned to their home court and took care of business, defeating the Manitoba Bisons in both contests.

The women were led by their superstar Kayla Dykstra, who posted a double double (15 pts, 12 'boards) to lead her side to a 66-43 victory. It was the fourteenth time Dykstra has led her team in scoring. The Vikes Horn will be shocked if Dykstra doesn't get some serious consideration in early February when its time to hand out a certain Canada West Award (MVP,MVP,MVP!!!!)
Tonight the Vikes will look to make it 9 wins in their last 10 contests when they host the No. 6 ranked Winnipeg Wesmen. The Wesmen were upset in Vancouver on Friday night, falling to the unranked T-Birds.

The men survived a good-ole-fashioned shootout Friday night, as the visiting Herd came in to town guns-a-blazing. The visitors knocked down 13 three pointers in the contest and had the Vikes faithful nervous until the final whistle. It was a very interesting, and for the most part entertaining game, and i loved the style of play shown by the Bisons, as they pushed the ball and shot the long ball at every opportunity. I was equally impressed by the play of Bisons guard Nathon Dixon. The fourth-year veteran stands a mere 5'9 but utilized his quickness and lightning fast release to light up the Vikes for 27 pts. In the end though the Vikes proved to be too strong, as a clutch three by Ryan MacKinnon with a minute propelled the Vikes to a 84-80 victory. Player of the Game has to go to Brandon Dunlop who poured in 7 of his team 17 points in the 3rd quarter, a quarter that saw the Vikes overcome a 46-43 halftime deficit.

Check out these two links that recap Fridays action: Times Colonist Article, UVic Press Release

Tip off for Saturdays contest against the Wesmen goes at 7PM. The Wesmen were smoked by the T-Birds on Friday night and sit in last in the Great Plains division.

TC preview for hoops weekend

Check out the Times Colonist Article by Ron Rauch. The piece gives some much deserved love towards Kayla Dykstra and the Vikes effort on the defensive end this season.

The 'Peg invades the Island

The Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Wesmen make the long flight to the Island for a pair of weekend contests at Shields Court. After last weekends loss to the Spartans the Vikes men team dropped to 3rd in the Pac. Division and cling on to the #10 spot in the CIS National Rankings. The women also earned a split on the weekend and remain as the # 8 ranked team in the nation. The girls however used Saturdays victory over the Spartans to gain some further separation between them and the third place Spartans in the Pac. Division .

A weekend sweep by both teams would go a long way in ensuring both squads a home playoff series come late February.

Check out the complete men's and women's weekend preview's at
www.govikesgo.com

Fridays game against the Bisons tip off at 6 (women) and 8 (men), while Saturdays contests against the Wesmen go at 5 (women) 7 (men). If you can't make it to Shields court you can check out the live online streaming broadcast at
http://vikes.uvic.ca/news/broadcast-info.php

Big game for JC

After a slow start to the 08-09 campaign, and finding himself on the wrong end of coach Beau's substitution patterns, Jeff Cullen needed a break through game to reassert himself in the lineup. He got that on Friday. The Oak Bay grad and Victoria native went off from beyond the arc, knocking down five treys en route to a game high 19 points. It's good to see Cullen get back on track and provide the Vikes with some much needed secondary scoring.
Cullen has agreed to contribute some posts to the Horn, so look for some inside insight from the Vikes veteran guard in the upcoming weeks.

Weekend Jolts

• The Vikes Men's basketball team came out of the mainland on the weekend with a split, knocking off SFU 78-53 on Friday night, but falling 87-83 to the Trinity Western Spartans the following night. Saturday's win for the Spartans gives them the all important tie-breaker against the Vikes, as they take the season series 2 games to 1. Both teams now sit with an identical 10-5 record, and have 8 games remaining to decide the second seed in the Pacific division and the all important home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Vikes now return to Shields court for a couple of home games against teams from the Keystone province, as Manitoba and Winnipeg will make their way to the Island. The Boys will likely need a sweep on the weekend if they hope on continuing their current streak of five straight years of hosting a playoff series. The Province newspaper Howard Tsumura was at Friday's contest and wrote this story about the swarming Vikes D

http://www.theprovince.com/Sports/Vikes+trounce+Clan+with+solid+defence+lights+shooting/1165113/story.html

• The Vikes women also made their way back to the rock with a weekend split to show for. Friday's night contest saw the girls battle the #1 ranked team in the Nation for four quarters, before falling 63-56 to the SFU Clan. The Vikes bounced back on Saturday, knocking off the Spartans by a 70-63 final. The victory gave the Vikes some separation in the Pac division standings, as they now sit in second place a game clear of the Spartans. The Vikes also own the tiebreaker against the Spartans, having swept them 3-0 in the season series. If all goes according to plan down the stretch, the Vikes women are in great shape to host their first playoff series in four years.
  

Check out www.govikesgo.com for recaps of both contests

Vikes women's hoops team make it six in a row

A long break and buckets of snow couldn't cool off the lady Vikes, as the girls continued to turn some heads this past weekend, disposing of UCFV 57-40 on Jan 2nd, and 77-54 the following night on the 3rd. The girls success so far this season (8-5, 2nd in Can West) has bolted them up to 9th in the National Polls. A home playoff series for Mr. Chengs squad is quickly becoming a reality. Check out www.govikesgo.com for the game recaps.