April 26, 2007

Even before it is officially open, the new Charles Jago Northern SportCentre is attracting a provincial tournament. The UNBC NorthernTimberwolves will be hosting the basketball championship for the BCColleges’ Athletic Association in 2008. It will mark the first timethat Prince George has hosted the provincial collegiate basketballchampionship.

“This will be a great way to end our first season in the new sportcentre,” says UNBC Athletics and Recreation Coordinator, Len McNamara.“To be able to compete for the provincial championship in our ownfacility will be terrific for our athletes, the fans, and our athleticsprogram. Thank you to Elly Johnsen, Craig Douglass, Loralyn Murdoch,and Zane Robison for putting our bid together.”

The provincial BCCAA basketball championship will run from February 28to March 1, 2008. Six men’s and six women’s teams will be participatingin the playoffs, and hosting does not provide UNBC with an automaticberth.

UNBC is also making a bid to host the 2009 national men’s basketballchampionship of the Canadian Colleges’ Athletic Association.

The Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre is currently under constructionat the entrance to UNBC’s Prince George campus. It is the result of aunique partnership between the University and the City of PrinceGeorge, together with PacificSport, the BC sport development agency.The 145,000 square foot facility will house a three-court gymnasiumwith seating for 2000, a fieldhouse with room for two indoor soccerfields, an elevated 280m indoor track, offices for high-performancesport coaches, sport medicine and physiotherapy services, and weightand cardio equipment.  
 
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for September 21.

Contact:
Len McNamara, Athletics and Recreation Coordinator, UNBC – 250.960.6358
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622