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Vancouver Island University

Season Openers: VIU vs Okanagan College

The Mariners look to take flight over the Coyotes to open the 2024-25 season

VIU Mariners vs Okanagan Coyotes men's basketball
Mariners guard Kaeleb Johnson won't be shy to shoot in his second year at VIU. Photo: Jamie Macfarlane
October 18, 2024

NANAIMO – A mix of trusted vets and new talent look to the take the Mariners back to the playoffs, starting with a home weekend against the Okanagan College Coyotes.

 When & Where

  • Friday, October 18 at the VIU Gymnasium, 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, October 19 at the VIU Gymnasium, 1 p.m.

After this weekend, games will revert to the usual 8 p.m. start times on Fridays and 3 p.m. start time on Saturday.

On Friday, the VIU Students' Union is hosting a free tailgate party between the Gym and the Students' Union Buliding (Building 193), starting at 3 p.m.

Tune In

Home games will be streamed live on YouTube. Streaming links can also be found on the PACWEST website and PACWEST.TV.

Head-To-Head

The Mariners won all four matchups with the Coyotes in 2023-24, and three were blowouts: 102-72 and 117-69 in Kelowna in November and 89-51 in Nanaimo in January. The fourth matchup was a tight 70-64 VIU victory but Okanagan led going into the fourth quarter. 

Watch Out Now

The Coyotes are evenly split between players with varsity experience and first-year student-athletes. Okanagan's leading scorer from last year, Jarron Quarles, has moved on but second-leading scorer Alex Szewczyk returns. He was the PACWEST rookie of the year in 2023-24.

For the Mariners, 2023-24 conference second-team all-stars Kai Leighton and Kaeleb Johnson will provide plenty of leadership and clutch play in their fourth collegiate seasons.

Fresh Faces 

Rylan Adams (Prince Rupert, BC) is the sole first-year on VIU roster to start the season. Adams, with the Prince Rupert Cubs, won the intermediate division at the 2023 All-Native Tournament and was named tournament MVP.

Transfers

  • Kameron Bender (Tustin, CA) will quickly become a fan favourite with his athleticism, quickness, and ability to get above the rim. He won an NWAC championship with Green River College last year.
  • Kye Kotapski-Tinga (Comox, BC) joins VIU after playing 11 games in 2022-23 with the AUS-champion St. FX X-Men (U Sports).
  • Brad Lansdell (George Town, Cayman Islands) was a Dover Bay graduate who transfers to VIU after pulling down plenty of rebounds with the CBC Bearcats in 2022-23.
  • Max D'Amato (Melbourne, AUS) enters his third year about playing two seasons in the United States, including one year at nearby Peninsula College (NWAC).

Fifth Years

The affable Noah Lehto enters his fifth and final varsity season. His post-secondary started with two seasons at SAIT before transferring to VIU.

Coaches

Head coach Matt Kuzminski and assistant Scott Marr are back for their 13th seasons leading the Mariners. Mark "The Professor" Simpson--a member of the VIU Mariners Wall of Fame--and Jacob Thom are also back to round out the coaching staff. 

For more information, please contact VIU Mariners Communications & Sports Information Coordinator Matt Carter.