Vancouver, British Columbia ? A country where hockey is king, Canada has produced hundreds of NHL stickmen compared to just 17 NBA players throughout the years.
The reason for the discrepancy in number of pro players in the two winter sports?
“More parents dream of their kids becoming famous hockey players,” reasoned Simon Dykstra, head basketball coach at Vancouver’s Langara College — which fell to Kansas University men’s basketball team, 101-46, Sunday during the Jayhawks’ exhibition trip to the Great White North. “Hockey is by far our most popular sport, but it’s not like we are in the backwoods here. We can play some ball, too.”
While it’s true Canadians prefer pucks and power plays to basketballs and fast breaks, America’s northern neighbors are interested in hoops, also.
“People like basketball. It’s become a bigger sports entity since Toronto and Vancouver came to the NBA,” said Dykstra, admittedly distraught when Vancouver’s Grizzlies moved to Memphis three seasons ago.
“You’ve heard of Steve Nash? He’s supported our developmental leagues and sports bodies,” Dykstra added of the Dallas Mavericks’ point guard, who hails from Victoria, British Columbia. “Partly because of Steve, we’re seeing more kids develop and go to the NCAA schools. More Canadian kids are getting a look from American teams every year.”
Still, it’s hockey throughout the years that really has stirred Canadians’ blood.
“From a pro standpoint, hockey is obviously our biggest sport,” said Kevin Hanson, head coach at University of British Columbia, which fell to KU, 82-51, on Saturday.
| Here’s a list of the 17 Canada natives who have played in the NBA:Norm Baker, Chicago, 1946-47; Hank Biasatti, Toronto, 1946-47; Ron Crevier, Golden State and Detroit, 1985-86; Rick Fox, Boston and Los Angeles Lakers 1991 to present; Stewart Granger, Cleveland, Atlanta and New York, 1983-87; Lars Hansen, Seattle, 1978-79; Brian Heaney, Baltimore, 1969-70; Bob Houbregs, Milwaukee, Baltimore and Boston, 1953-58; Todd MacCulloch, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Philadelphia, 1999-present; Jamaal Magloire, New Orleans, 2000 to present; Steve Nash, Phoenix and Dallas, 1996-present; Leo Rautins, Philadelphia and Atlanta, 1983-85; Mike Smrek, Chicago, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio, Golden State, Los Angeles Clippers, 1985-92; Gino Sovran, Toronto, 1946-47; Ernie Vandeweghe, New York, 1949-56; Bill Wennington, Dallas, Sacramento, Chicago, 1985-00; Jim Zoet, Detroit, 1982-83.By comparison, here’s a list of 17 of the greatest players in NHL history, all of whom hail from Canada:Mario Lemieux, Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Guy Lafleur, Maurice Richard, Ray Bourque, Phil Esposito, Mark Messier, Mike Bossy, Terry Sawchuk, Brian Trottier, Bobby Clarke, Paul Coffey, Jacques Plante and Patrick Roy. |
“On the university level, it’s football and basketball. Particularly on the west coast of Canada, thanks to Steve Nash’s basketball program, it’s caught on real well.
“The basketball community here was heartbroken when the Grizzlies left. The six years they were here (1995-96 season until 2000-01) really boosted basketball in the province.
“Hockey is still the biggest thing. Parents pressure their kids to play hockey because many have made a living at that sport. But basketball is growing, too,” Hanson added.
Canadian college teams aren’t in the same league as NCAA teams — last year UBC lost to SMU (88-76), Oral Roberts (80-61) and Creighton (83-62) — partly because the Canadian teams are overloaded with guards and small forwards, not many big men.
“The bigs are swallowed up in the U.S.” UBC’s Hanson said. “I think there’s a mystique about playing Division One basketball. It’s what they see on TV. We’ve become the ugly sister people ask to go to the dance late.”
“The skill level is not quite there, certainly not like the top level of NCAA Division One, but the heart is. That’s always been Canada,” said Pat Lee, head coach at University College of Fraser Valley.
“Steve Nash epitomizes the Canadian spirit,” Lee added. “Canadian basketball players have a strong work ethic, a never-say-die attitude — see where it takes you.”
Lee said his team takes a positive attitude into games against bigger, stronger American college teams like Kansas.
“Play like phenoms,” he said of his philosophy. “All it takes is one guy to play hard. It rubs off on the others.”
His Cascades have played against NAIA teams in the U.S., but until this year never matched up against Division One squads.
“We’ve not played a top ten team with a talent like (Wayne) Simien. He’s a talent and a half, NBA material. For us, this is win/win. It’s an unbelievable opportunity for the kids and fans in this area, to see how the game is played at a different level.
“Our kids play against Simien and say, ‘I blocked his shot once, I played against him once.’ The kids will always have a memory of this.”
Hear Bill: Fraser Valley post-game
Get the stats: KU vs. Fraser Valley box score
Photo gallery: KU vs. Langara College
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