TORONTO, ON (April 21, 2016) - Canada Basketball is pleased to announce that the 2016 U15 and U17 Girls National Championships will take place in Regina, Saskatchewan while the U15 and U17 Boys National Championships will be in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The girls tournament will be held at the University of Regina from July 25 - 30 and the University of Winnipeg will host the boys tournament from August 1 - 6.

"Exciting to see the talent Canada has from coast to coast," said Michele O'Keefe, President and CEO of Canada Basketball. "National Championships are an important event that allows players and coaches to take pride in representing their home provinces and territories and compete for a national title."

Welcoming the U15 and U17 girls to Regina adds another chapter to Saskatchewan's recent success in women's basketball.

"Basketball Saskatchewan feels very fortunate to be the host of the 2016 Girls National Championships" said Greg Lucas, Executive Director, Basketball Saskatchewan. "Our female membership base has grown exponentially the last few years and we look to build on the success from our U15 girls gold medal in 2014 and most recently the University of Saskatchewan winning the CIS womens championship."

The U15 and U17 boys are heading to Winnipeg where the tournament will act as a test event for the 2017 Canada Games. "Manitoba is excited to host the National Championships once again and showcase the best that Winnipeg has to offer. Since last hosting the event in 2011, the game and profile of the event has only grown and we are ready to host the best male athletes in the country this August" said Adam Wedlake, Executive Director for Basketball Manitoba. "We are excited to have this summer's championships act as the official test event for the 2017 Canada Games which will be in Winnipeg summer 2017."

In 2015, the National Championships were at opposite ends of the country, with the girls event in Edmonton, AB and the boys in Halifax, NS. Ontario swept both female age groups and also won the U15 boys, while host Nova Scotia broke a nearly 30-year championship drought by capturing the U17 boys title.

For more information please contact:

Bailey Williams
Manager, Communications
Canada Basketball
Tel: 416.614-8037, ext. 206
bwilliams@basketball.ca

Greg Lucas
Executive Director, Basketball Saskatchewan
Tel: 306.780.9264
glucas@basketballsask.com

Adam Wedlake
Executive Director, Basketball Manitoba
Tel: 204.925.5773
adam@basketballmaniroba.ca

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