Honoured Members Database

The Brandon University Bobcat Men’s Basketball Team cemented their place in Manitoba sports history by winning three consecutive National Championships from 1987 – 1989 under the guidance of legendary coach Jerry Hemmings.

The program’s first-ever title victory was built around five-time first-team All-Canadian John Carson. Carson’s emphatic slam dunk in the closing moments of the 1987 final was the exclamation point in BU’s 74-66 win over the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Carson concluded his Bobcat career with a game-high 38 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Carson and the Bobcats defeated the Concordia Stingers in the quarterfinals and the McMaster Marauders in the semi finals to reach the national title game.

Carson also played an instrumental role in the Bobcats qualifying for nationals through the front door.  His 34-point performance powered the Bobcats past the Winnipeg Wesman 100-88 to claim the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) banner.

The Bobcats dominated in 1988 to claim back-to-back national crowns. Brandon went undefeated in GPAC and crushed the Regina Cougars 95-72 to secure the conference title and enter nationals a top seed.  Brandon opened the tournament with a 82-69 quarterfinal win over the Carleton Ravens and followed that up by knocking off the Western Mustangs 73-65 in the semifinals.  BU triumphed over the Acadia Axemen 81-68 to cap off the season on a 30-game winning streak.

Brandons ruled GPAC again in 1989 and claimed the conference title for the eighth time in 10 years. Joey Vickery scored 21 first-half points as the Bobcats rolled past Regina 95-75 to sweep the best-of-three league final.

The Bobcats reached the national final with a quarterfinal victory of the Concordia Stingers and a semifinal win against the Toronto Varsity Blues.

BU completed the championship hat trick by edging long-time rival, the Victoria Vikes 74-73 in the final.  The Bobcats saw a 16-point lead trimmed to two in the closing minutes before two-time National Player of the Week Joey Vickery rose to the occasion with a critical blocked shot.  Vickery had an outstanding performance with 20 points, six steals and three rebounds.

Brandon Bobcat players John Carson, Whitney Dabney and Joey Vickers won the CIAU Tournament MVP these three years, with Vickery the first to win the honour after the trophy was renamed the Jack Donahue Trophy.

ROSTER

1987

Players:

Junior Alexander, John Carson, Robert Clarke, Scott Draper, Michael Schween, Mike Thomas, Warrant Watt

Athletic Director: George Birger

Assistant Coach: Earl Roberts

1988

Players:

Frank Bojarski, Andy Henry, Lim Lamond

Assistant Coach: Tom Price

Managers: Bill Haycock, Warren Nickerson

Equipment Manager: Anna Neufeld

1989

Players: Wayne Bennett, Dave Brown, Bill Burgess, Roman Huk, Justin Jones, Wayne Pelly, Joey Vickery

Assistant Coach: Dean Beaubien

1987 & 1988

Players: Courtney Bailey, Garry Latty, Dave Malowski

Assistant Coach: Murray McLeod

1988 & 1989

Players:

Dave Nackoney

Assistant Coach: Bob Mandziuk, Ron McCutcheon

Manager: Sam Munro

Athletic Therapist: Steve Dzubinski

1987, 1988 & 1989

Players

Doug Carmichael, Whitney Dabney, David Dominique, Patrick Jebbison, Marvin Russell

Head Coach: Jerry Hemmings