Coach Dave Drabiuk Reflects on First Half of 2017-18 Season

Augustana Viking Spencer Marion goes up for a shot during the team's game against the Grand Prairie Wolves Oct. 27.
Augustana Viking Spencer Marion goes up for a shot during the team's game against the Grand Prairie Wolves Oct. 27.
Posted: Dec 19, 2017

It was the best of times it was the worst of times. Thank you Charles Dickens for having the right words to sum up the first half of the men's basketball season.
Your 2017-18 Vikings have an excellent mix of young, exciting talent and slightly older and very experienced players that give a great level of depth in the roster and crowd pleasing excitement. The depth of this roster has been tested in a very tough first semester as much of the first 12 games have been played without much of the key core of the line up.
 
The return of Spencer Marion from his trial period with the University of Alberta Golden Bears has been bittersweet as his season has been cut short due to a serious injury requiring surgery. As well, captain Darian Smigorowsky suffered an injury and spent several weeks on crutches, which was another sore loss for the Vikings. However, in Smigorowsky's absence, Austin Brulotte ended up having his best season yet. As successful as his first semester was, Brulotte also ended up being sidelined with an injury close to the end of the first term and we're keeping our fingers crossed that he will hopefully return to form in the new year.

Nathan Bowie and Connor Gusdal have also been significant in their roles. Both players have been consistent in their play and their ability to stay healthy as the team continues to battle through a very tough North Division schedule. Alongside Eddy Nkerebehizi, the pair have helped keep the team pushing forward as rookies Mason Hunter and Jake Frostad find their footing in the ACAC.

The team took nationally ranked Lakeland College Rustlers to single digit margins on back-to-back nights, which speaks to the level of grit and toughness this team is capable of showing and as our players return to health, the roster is poised to have more exciting games like the overtime effort to close out the first half of the season.

The Vikings will be in exhibition action on January 5 and 6 at NAIT vs Southern Division opponents and then resume the regular season the following weekend with a rare two-game home stand when we host Keyano College.