NEW WATERFORD, N.S. — The New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic committee says it's business as usual.
The 38th edition of the annual tournament begins today (Monday, Feb. 3) and the organizers say there are no changes planned for the local high school basketball event.
Questions were raised about the tournament after Riverview High School announced changes to its Red Cup Showcase high school hockey tournament.
Coal Bowl Classic vice-chair Lowell Cormier told the Cape Breton Post on Wednesday this year’s tournament will be no different than previous years.
“We’ve always had gymnasium security,” said Cormier. “When we have our Coal Bowl Classic dance for the players and students, we have volunteer security and police on hand for safety.”
In December, the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education confirmed changes to the Red Cup tournament, which would see the event take place during week days with Riverview games not being played in the evening. In early January, the centre for education announced Red Cup would be played Wednesday to Saturday, instead of the traditional Thursday to Sunday.
Sources told the Post in December the changes to the Red Cup were because of concerns regarding underage drinking among students. The centre for education never confirmed underage drinking as the reason, but noted safety concerns as a factor.
Cormier said the Coal Bowl committee isn’t making any changes because there’s no reason to make changes.
“We’re not doing any more than we ever did — we don’t have an issue,” he said.
“There’s been a few issues with students over the years, back in the early years, we had some kids trying to enter the gym intoxicated, but they weren’t allowed in and their parents were called — most recently, we haven’t had any issues with attendance.”
Despite not having many problems with attendance or underage drinking, the committee has had to deal with some weather issues over the years.
Heavy snow and rain were in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday in Cape Breton. Visiting teams are expected to arrive in New Waterford on Sunday.
“We have a very experienced crew and if something happens we react to it,” said Cormier, noting over the years the committee has also had to deal with broken backboards, adjusting schedules and even a flood in its first year.
“There’s not a lot of planning that goes into it if a weather event happens — if we can get the teams in, we have everyone at the school and our tournament runs even if school is cancelled.”
As usual, 10 teams will participate in the Coal Bowl Classic tournament.
The Robbie Chiasson Division will feature the host Breton Education Centre Bears, Winston Churchill Bulldogs from Lethbridge, Alta., Montague Regional Vikings from Montague, P.E.I., Northumberland Nighthawks from New Glasgow and Juvénat Notre-Dame Islanders from Levis, Que.
And the Amanda (Wilcox) Chiasson Division will include the Sydney Academy Wildcats, Middleton High Knights, Bluefield High Bobcats from North Wiltshire, P.E.I., Silverthorn Collegiate Spartans from Etobicoke, Ont. and École secondaire de La Seigneurie Chevaliers from Quebec City.
Breton Education Centre, Sydney Academy and Northumberland Regional High School will participate in the girls portion of the tournament.
The tournament begins today at 12 p.m. with Bluefield playing Middleton. Sydney Academy takes on École secondaire de La Seigneurie at 4 p.m., before the host Bears take to the court at 7 p.m. against Winston Churchill. All games are at the BEC gym.
The tournament semifinals are slated for Friday night, while the consolation and championship games will be played on Saturday.
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