By Reegan MacAulay

It’s time for the most crucial point in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) basketball season – the conference championships. After a competitive regular season with multiple battles across the standings in both women’s and men’s basketball, 12 teams are ready to fight for regional glory. 

The Holland College Hurricanes will host all the action from March 1-3 at the McMillan Centre for Community Engagement in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Here is everything you need to know for this weekend, starting with a preview of each women’s team and ending with a preview of each men’s team.

Women’s Basketball

The Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) Mystics (14-4) head into the championships as the top-seeded team. A tiebreaker was required to settle first place as Mount Allison also earned 28 points. MSVU has experienced a wonky season; from seven wins in their first eight games and winning four more in January, to having a few hiccups in the second half, including a regular-season finale loss to UKC. Despite that, the Mystics won three of their last four games and still have slight momentum, but pressure could kill it considering they’re the defending champions. Last season, the #3-ranked team upset the #1-ranked Mount Allison Mounties to win the championship; this season, there is no upsetting, it’s boom or bust. Notably, MSVU lost their last game to the hosts, Holland College, in Charlottetown, so if the two teams face each other during the championships, that game will be a hot ticket for every basketball fan.

The Mystics will get a first-round bye and will match up with the lowest advancing seed from Friday’s quarterfinals, opening their championship chase on Saturday at 1 p.m.

The Mount Allison University Mounties (14-4) may have fallen short of back-to-back regular season championships due to a tiebreaker, but they could still be argued as the hottest team heading into the playoffs. The Mounties won seven of their last eight games and never experienced a losing streak all season. Revenge will be the top word in their dictionary as, last season, they ranked #1 nationally but lost to the MSVU Mystics in the ACAA Championship Finals. The Mounties will have their sites on a National Championship berth by achieving regional glory.

The University of King’s College (UKC) Blue Devils (11-7) experienced a roller coaster of a season. From winning seven of their first eight games, to losing six of their next 10. UKC might be dizzy entering the championships, but they know what they’re capable of and they won’t be backing down. After embracing an underdog role in last season’s championships, the Blue Devils want to prove they’ve upgraded and aren’t rebuilders anymore.

The Holland College Hurricanes (10-8) have their eyes set on taking advantage of a squad filled with hungry players, both young and old, and having the home crowd to rally behind them in their second-ever hosting of the ACAA Basketball Championships. The first half of the season was rough as Holland won only four of their first nine games. The second half saw major improvements with six wins in nine games, including an upset overtime victory against MSVU that was considered by many as one of the best games of the season.

The St. Thomas University (STU) Tommies (9-9) ended their season on a high note with five wins in their last seven games, a nice rebound after six losses within eight games in the first half of the season. Late season momentum could be the key factor in a one-way trip toward upsetting the top teams in the conference. Players eligible to return next season will want to build confidence for then as the team is set to host the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Women’s Basketball Championships. 

The University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) Seawolves (4-14) are taking things one step at a time after going winless last season, jumping up a spot in this season’s standings with four wins. The underdog role is one to not take for granted, as the Seawolves slowly progressed over the season by making games closer. Unfortunately, they enter the championships with a 1-8 away record, but their quarter-final opponent makes for an interesting case. In three matches against UKC, UNBSJ went from brutal losses to only losing by four points in a game on Feb. 11. The two teams finished 12 points away from each other in the standings, but that game will be in the minds of every Seawolves player, who will be hungry to make one more trek up the hill and conquer the Blue Devils.

The women’s basketball action begins on Friday, March 1 with two quarter-final games.

11am | Holland Hurricanes (#4) vs STU Tommies (#5)

1pm | UKC Blue Devils (#3) vs UNBSJ Seawolves (#6)

Between those two games, the lowest advancing seed will play MSVU (#1) at 1 p.m. and the highest advancing seed will fight against Mount Allison (#2) on Saturday in semi-final action. The ACAA Championship game will commence on Sunday, March 3 at 1 p.m.

Men’s Basketball

The STU Tommies (15-3) are the prime candidates to capture gold in Charlottetown, entering the championships with momentum unlike any other team. A nine-game winning streak between November and January. Zero multi-game losing streaks. 90 points per game (4.1 more than MSVU and 9.3 more than Crandall). They are in prime position to go far, but the second-ranked MSVU Mystics argue otherwise, as STU failed to beat them twice. It’s been a long time since the Tommies have achieved ACAA Championship greatness, and this is the time to claim it, but the team can’t take their success for granted.

The MSVU Mystics (13-5) were the top team in the ACAA during the first half, as they won their first eight games, going undefeated between October and December. Things started to fall apart in January as the team lost four of their next five games, but they quickly rebounded in February with a four-game winning streak, eventually settling for second place. The championships will provide a fresh reset for MSVU, but the team will still need to scramble if they want to reclaim their first-half success.

The Holland Hurricanes (9-9) are one of multiple teams that create a core of mid-pack underdogs that may trail far behind STU and MSVU statistically but have proven to be elite on any given night. The Hurricanes, who won a three-way tie for the third seed, will have two advantages: late-season momentum and being the host team. Holland struggled in the first half with only three wins in nine games, but after a couple of moves during the Christmas break, the team exploded with six wins, with a four-game winning streak in January. Being the host of the championships will be huge as the Hurricanes were 6-3 on their home court, one where crowds are electric and loyal. P.E.I. basketball fans will be ready to rally behind a potential Cinderella story for the ages.

The Crandall Chargers (9-9) recently breathed sighs of relief as they snapped a five-game losing streak (all being home games) in their regular-season finale against UKC. They hope to breathe a little better during the championships as they experienced a downward spiral in the second half (four wins and seven losses) after starting the season 5-1. There is one advantage that could pay in their favour if everything goes according to plan; they have proven better on the road as they went 6-3 in away games. Only one difference is required; win at the McMillan Centre. The Chargers lost 104-101 against the Hurricanes in Charlottetown on Feb. 2.

The Mount Allison Mounties (9-9) were the opposite of Crandall this season, as they started the season on a poor note, going 2-6 in the first half. From January onward, they slowly found winning consistency, and went on a four-game winning streak in February, concluding the second half with a 7-3 record. The hosts of the 2024 CCAA Basketball National Championships are yet another candidate for biggest surprise at the ACAA Championships, but some people will argue that they’re a legitimate contender. There's nothing more motivating for Mount Allison than going on a deep run and hoisting two championships in March. 

The UNBSJ Seawolves (7-11) faired out slightly better on the men’s side compared to the women, going 7-11 in the regular season, but they still have a lot of work to do, especially when they play the championship hosts in quarter-final action on Friday. Coming off a winless 2022-23 season, the Seawolves were an up-and-down team in the first half, going from a five-game losing streak to back-to-back home wins in the first half, and then flip-flopping a similar pattern in the second half. One thing that UNBSJ was consistent with, however, was upsetting the top teams, as they defeated both STU and MSVU at least once. In other words, hard work can beat talent. This season’s ACAA Championships will be all about embracing the underdog role and taking things one step at a time. No one should count them out as, despite their turbulent season, UNBSJ finished only four points behind the three-way tie for third place. If they can beat Holland on Friday, anything’s possible.

The action begins on Friday, March 1 with two quarter-final games.

3pm | Holland Hurricanes (#3) vs UNBSJ Seawolves (#6)

5pm | Crandall Chargers (#4) vs Mount Allison Mounties (#5)

The two winners will advance to the semifinals on Saturday, March 2, with the lowest advancing seed playing STU (#1) at 5 p.m. and the highest advancing seed playing MSVU (#2) at 7 p.m. The championship game will commence on Sunday, March 3 at 3:30 p.m.

Ticket Information

Interested in attending the 2024 ACAA Basketball Championships? Tournament passes and single day passes will be available for purchase at the McMillan Centre (323 Grafton Street, Charlottetown, PEI). Payment can be made by cash or card on-site.

Tournament passes are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors, and $15 for students. Day passes are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $6 for students. All Holland College students and staff get in FREE with a valid Holland College Holl Pass. Student pricing is for those who show valid student ID from post-secondary institutions or those aged 11-18. Senior age is 65+. Children 10 and under are FREE.

All 10 games will be broadcasted, for free, live at www.acaa.tv.

Follow the 2024 ACAA Basketball Championships on social media at www.facebook.com/acaa.aasc,www.x.com/acaa_aasc and www.instagram.com/acaa_aasc.

For information on the 2024 ACAA Basketball Championship, like news, results, stats, photos and more, visit www.acaa.ca.

Connect with the Holland Hurricanes at www.hollandhurricanes.com, www.facebook.com/hollandhurricanes,www.x.com/hc_hurricanes and www.instagram.com/hollandhurricanes.

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