Brandon Bobcats

Brandon Bobcats
University Brandon University
Association Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Conference Canada West
Athletic director Russ Paddock
Location Brandon, Manitoba
Varsity teams 4
Basketball arena Healthy Living Centre
Mascot Bailey
Colours          
Website www.gobobcats.ca

The Brandon Bobcats are the athletic teams that represent Brandon University in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. Currently there are four Bobcat teams competing in Canadian Interuniversity Sport as members of the Canada West Universities Athletic Association, and the Bobcat soccer teams participate in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference.

History

Originally known as the Caps and Cappettes, Brandon University Athletics adopted the nickname Bobcats in 1969. Brandon University Athletics once fielded teams in curling, football, field hockey, tennis, badminton, judo, swimming, and ice hockey. The men’s ice hockey team ceased in 2002.

Brandon College and Brandon University athletes competed in the Western Intercollegiate Athletic Association from 1920 until it was split into two divisions in 1971, at which time the Bobcats joined the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Following the 1998 season, GPAC merged with the Canada West conference, the conference in which the Bobcats have been competing since.

Teams

Men’s Basketball

The Bobcats men’s basketball team is a 4-time Canadian University national championship winner, and one of only two Canadian universities to win three-consecutive men’s basketball national championships. The Bobcats won titles in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1996. The school’s first national championship came on March 22, 1987. The Bobcats entered the tournament ranked #1 before beating the UBC Thunderbirds 74-66 in the gold medal final.

At the 1988 national championship tournament the Bobcats defeated the Western Mustangs in the semi-final thanks to 21 points and seven rebounds from Partick Jebbison, before beating the Acadia Axeman 81-68 in the gold medal game on March 20, 1988.

The Bobcats successfully made it three national championships in a row in 1989. Entering the tournament ranked #1, the Bobcats beat the Toronto Varsity Blues 85-73 in the semi-final behind 18 second-half points from Joey Vickery before Brandon beat the Vicotria Vikes 74-73.

In 1996 the Bobcats made it back to the national championship final after wins over the Acadia Axemen and Toronto Varsity Blues, setting up a gold medal game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. The Bobcats were led by fifth-year forward Keith Vassell as he helped the Bobcats to a 79-72 win in what would be his final game after an outstanding playing career.

In the 1999/2000 season the Bobcats were silver medal winners after dropping the final to St. Francis Xavier University in a hard-fought 61-60 loss. The following year saw a rematch of the previous year’s national championship final between Brandon and St. Francis Xavier University. The game went to overtime where StFX eventually came away with an 83-76 win.

In 2001/2002 the Bobcats won a bronze medal thanks to a 69-63 win over the Victoria Vikes.

In the 2006/2007 academic year, the Bobcats basketball team advanced to the Canadian Basketball Finals. They placed second to the Carleton Ravens, in a hard fought 52-49 game.

Alumni:

Women’s Basketball

The Bobcats women’s basketball team has competed in the Canada West conference since the 1999-2000 season. Prior to joining Canada West, the Lady Bobcats were members of the Great Plains Athletics Conference from 1978-1999.

Members of the Lady Bobcats women’s basketball team have earned Academic All-Canadian status 45 times since 1989. Bobcat Hall of Famer Janet Lumsden played for Brandon University from 1980-1984 and still holds multiple school records including career points (1573) and points per game for one season (23.7 ppg in 1981-82).

Lumsden and fellow Lady Cat Sandra Hamilton are both inductees in the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame. Hamilton was named CIAU All-Canadian, GPAC MVP, and CIS Outstanding Player of the Year runner-up in 1991-1992.

Alumni:

Men’s Volleyball

Formed in 2005-2006, the Bobcats men’s volleyball team has risen from humble beginnings to a perennial nationally ranked team in the CIS. The Bobcats have made the Canada West playoffs every year since the 2007-2008 season.

The Bobcats have qualified for the CIS national championship tournament twice. The first appearance was in 2009 where they earned a bronze medal. In 2011 the Bobcats earned a spot in their first ever national championship final. They dropped a hard-fought match to eventual winner Trinity Western University at their home gym.

Alumni:

Women’s Volleyball

The Bobcats women's volleyball team joined the CIS in the 2005-06 season.

Former Bobcats are in the Canada West record books. Teagan Hunter ranks in career kills (1,006), Becky Young is second all-time in career assists (3,338) and Erin Visch-Krahn is among all-time in career blocks (271). In the 2015-16 season, Shanlee McLennan set the Canada West record for career aces.

Following the 2010-2011 season Meaghan Robertson was named to the CIS all-rookie team, Hunter was named second team all-Canadian, and German import player Donata Huebert was named CIS libero of the year (reference gobobcats.ca)

Alumni:

Former Teams

Ice Hockey The Bobcats, and previously the Caps, ice hockey team was at one point the centre-piece of Brandon University Athletics. Records show Brandon College having both men’s and women’s hockey teams as early as 1910. Arguably the most successful ice hockey program was under head coach (and former player) Andy Murray, who in the 1980-1981 season led the Bobcats to a 23-1 regular season record, a #1 national ranking and a berth in the national championship.

Alumni:

Football Re-introduced to Brandon College in 1950 under the leadership of Coach Al Tyler and Athletic Director “Curly” Tyler, the football team folded following the 1972-1973 season, coached at that time by former Athletic Director and Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame inductee Doug Steeves at the time the program ceased.

Alumni:

Curling Brandon University and the former Brandon College have long had successful curling programs, but perhaps none more successful than the team led by Mike McEwen. McEwen led his team to a CIS national championship in 2002 and a FISU World University Curling Championship in 2003.

See also Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

External links

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