It was a busy opening weekend in the Maritime Women’s Basketball Association as it celebrated its fifth season kick-off.
Plenty of league News&Notes:
MWBA history was made Saturday in Cole Harbour when the hometown Lake City 56ers outlasted Moncton Mystics, 102-96. That set the mark for highest combined points in a game with 198. It eclipsed the old mark set on June 18 in the second-ever Legacy Cup championship game at TD Station in Saint John. That game saw Halifax Thunder defeat host Port City Fog, 102-93 for a combined 195 points.
It should be noted that 2023 championship game between Halifax and Port City also drew the largest crowd in MWBA history. The gate attracted 1,079 patrons.
The no touch backcourt rule, with the ball being live without an official handing off to a player, was one of the most talked about features from the opening weekend. Although the majority of teams took a few plays to get used to the rule, designed to speed up the game, once players adapted it was a jailbreak at times at all venues with quick pace and hustle points being rewarded. Even some fans were caught off guard, but the rule will be embraced.
A job well done by Miramichi HerIcanes at their home opener, raising the 2025 PRO·LINE Legacy Cup banner in front of yet another big crowd. The HerIcanes’ fan engagement is a remarkable part of their game presentation following the final horn. To see so many children with the players for autographs and photos and game presentation is top notch. An army of volunteers is always willing to help, too.
Fredericton Freeze teammates will have some stories to tell when the team all gets together. Allie McCarthy and Bailey Russell are in Africa as part of a cultural trip with the University of Ottawa Gee Gees where they were long-time teammates in Ontario University Athletics. Jayda Venoit and Kristen Taylor were across the pond, the latter expected to be in the lineup when Fredericton hosts Miramichi on Sunday in a 1 p.m., game at the Lady Beaverbrook Gymnasium. McCarthy and Russell will miss the first two Freeze games before returning home.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, eh? Well, if that’s the case, Ella MacDonald certainly made a grand first impression. Coming of a solid OUA season with Toronto Metropolitan University Bold, MacDonald introduced herself to the MWBA in a big way with a 25-point outing for the Fog in its 71-63 win over Miramichi.
Thunder exploded out of the starting game, eclipsing the century mark in wins over Lake City and Truro Tidal Queens. Halifax has amassed 221 points through opening weekend.
Jasmine Parent of the Halifax Hornets appeared in her 40th career game on the weekend. Parent entered the season as the Hornets’ all-time leader in points with 333, placing her sixth in league history.
Kendra MacKinnon was the first signing in the history of the Truro Tidal Queens. The former Atlantic University Sport sharp-shooter paced Truro with 10 points including of her signature three-pointers in the Tidal Queens’ first-ever game, a loss to Thunder.
The Wonder Auto&Tire Player of the Week will be announced May 5.
Week II begins in earnest Friday night in Saint John when the Fog welcomes Moncton to town for a 7 p.m., encounter. That game is set for University of New Brunswick at Saint John and will be shown on Pay Per View through AO Live.
Weekend games features a battle of early undefeated teams on Saturday at Halifax Grammar School. Host Thunder welcomes city rival Hornets in a 3 p.m. clash. Truro is back on the road to tangle with Lake City in a 3 p.m., game at Cole Harbour High School while at 6 p.m., Miramichi welcomes the Fog. Sunday action has Truro makings its long-awaited home debut at noon against the Hornets at Dal Agricultural College and an hour later, Fredericton’s home debut unfolds against the ‘Canes at 1 p.m. Thunder remains home Sunday to tangle with Lake City at 3 p.m.
A huge thank you to our Official Electrolyte Partner, Cira Nutrition, for their support on opening weekend. Stay hydrated this summer with us, and receive 15% off all Cira Nutrition products with discount code MWBA15 at this link https://ciranutrition.com/
The PRO·LINE Legacy Cup unfolds in Fredericton at the Richard J. Currie Center June 20-21 with four teams competing. There will be two from New Brunswick and two from Nova Scotia following provincial single elimination playoffs the weekend prior.
The MWBA is full of some amazing stories. A small one from the weekend saw league veteran Emily Briggs suit up as a teammate with Fredericton’s Sophie Doiron. Briggs was an assistant Basketball New Brunswick coach when Doiron played under-17 and she also was an assistant at the Scholastic Sport New Brunswick level with Dieppe’s Mathieu Martin Vedettes.
– Miramichi veteran Kassidy Hamilton joined by plenty of young fans at the season opener. (HerIcanes Photo)
