STFX & S|E|A to host U SPORTS Men’s Basketball Championship in Halifax, March 10-12, 2023

Long-time STFX basketball coach Steve Konchalski to serve as tournament Honourary Chair

Halifax, NS - St. Francis Xavier University (STFX) and Sports & Entertainment Atlantic (S|E|A) are pleased to announce the U SPORTS FINAL 8 Men's Basketball Championship at Scotiabank Centre from March 10-12, 2023. Basketball fans in the region will once again have the opportunity to cheer on the eight (8) best university basketball teams in Canada.  This will be the 36^th time the FINAL 8 Championship has been hosted in Halifax, dating back to 1965. This 2023 Championship reinstates the 2021 tournament, cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. STFX will be the HOST school, with one (1) other Atlantic University Sport (AUS) school also competing in the national championship.

Chris Larsen, General Manager Final 8 Host Committee said, "We are grateful for the opportunity to take care of unfinished business. The 2023 Final 8 will be staged two years after the 2021 cancellation. We are proud to be part of the Sport Tourism economy that is stimulating the City's and the Province's recovery from the impacts of the pandemic, while continuing the record-breaking history of Halifax serving as the host to the Final 8."

Leo MacPherson, STFX Director of Athletic & Recreation and Tournament Convenor notes, "We are very much looking forward to bringing the U SPORTS Men's Basketball Championship back to Halifax, the basketball capital of Canada. STFX has had great success in the Scotiabank Centre winning three national championships over the years. This year we look to chase a fourth national championship, creating new memories and an opportunity to celebrate Coach K as our Honourary Chair for the event."

The Championship format features 11 games, comprised of eight (8) championship games and three (3) consolation games. All games are played in a double-header format except the championship game on Sunday, March 12. The competition begins with the first doubleheader on Friday, March 10 at 12:00 pm. The host STFX X-Men will take to the court in the evening doubleheader Friday, March 10 at 6:00 pm.

As part of the Final 8 Championship, the Meet the Final 8 Coaches Press Conference and the U SPORTS All-Canadian Awards event will be held on Thursday, March 9 in Halifax.

All-Tournament Packages are priced at $125 for tickets to all six (6) doubleheaders and the Gold Medal game.  These packages provide lower bowl Premium Seating along the sideline in Sections 21-22-23 on the west side and Sections 7-8-9 on the east side at Scotiabank Centre. All sales are subject to Ticket Atlantic fees. Purchases can be made by phone at (902) 451-1221, or online at www.ticketatlantic.com starting Friday, October 21st at 11:00 am. 

Carrie Cussons, President & CEO of Scotiabank Centre is "thrilled to welcome the U SPORTS Final 8 back for an incredible tournament, and to showcase our country's most talented athletes. Halifax has the loudest, proudest fans and we can't wait for Scotiabank Centre to be alive with excitement this March!"

Halifax Mayor Mike Savage said, "We are delighted U SPORTS continues to choose Halifax as it's host City for major championships, with 2023 marking the 36th time in U SPORTS history that our City has served as host of the U SPORTS Final 8 championship."

The Honourable Pat Dunn, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage commented, "The Nova Scotia Event Strategy continues to position our province as a leader in event-hosting. We will continue to make investments in events that promote strong, healthy communities and create social and economic benefits for all Nova Scotians, while leaving a legacy of growth for culture and sport. We are pleased that U SPORTS continues to select Nova Scotia for their national events."

In conjunction with the Championship, STFX Athletics and S|E|A are pleased to announce that long-time STFX coach Steve 'Coach K' Konchalski will serve as the Honourary Chair of the event. Coach K retired in March, 2021 after serving 46 seasons as X-Men Basketball head coach. The winningest men's basketball coach in Canadian university sport history, he won three national championships and nine AUS conference championships during his time at STFX. The 2001 U SPORTS Coach of the Year, he was honoured on six occasions as AUS Coach of the Year, leading the X-Men to 18 U SPORTS championship appearances and 42 AUS playoff appearances as he retired with 919 career wins and a .615 win percentage.

Coach K also served as head coach of Team Canada for four years (1995-98) and was an assistant coach for 16 years prior. Coaching in three Olympic Games, Steve has been a member of Canada Basketball's Counsel of Excellence since 2009. He was a member of coaching staff of the Canadian U19 team that won the 2017 World Championship in Cairo, Egypt and is currently a Senior Advisor of Basketball Operations with the Newfoundland Growlers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

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2023 U SPORTS MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Thursday March 9, 2023

11:15 am:  Meet the Coaches Press Conference
7:00 pm:  U SPORTS All-Canadian Awards Gala

Friday March 10, 2023

Double Header #1
12:00 pm:  Quarter Final #1
2:00 pm:  Quarter Final #2

Double Header #2
6:00 pm:  Quarter Final #3 - STFX
8:00 pm:  Quarter Final #4

Saturday March 11, 2023

Double Header #3
11:00 am:  Consolation Semi-Final #1
2:00 pm:  Championship Semi-Final #1

Double Header #4
6:00 pm:  Championship Semi-Final #2
8:00 pm:  Consolation Semi-Final #2

Sunday March 12, 2023

Double Header #5          
12:00 pm:  Consolation Final
2:00 pm:  Bronze Medal Game 

6:00 pm:  Championship Game