Aspiring collegiate basketball players will have two opportunities this July to showcase their skills as the RRC Polytech Rebels host Men’s and Women’s Basketball ID Camps for students interested in joining the Rebels varsity basketball program.
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The Canadian Mennonite University Blazers Men’s Basketball program has announced the commitment of Winnipeg’s Carter Recksiedler for the 2026-27 season.
Recksiedler, a 6’4” forward from Linden Christian School, joins the Blazers following a strong high school career that included helping Linden Christian capture the AAA Provincial Championship this past season.
In addition to his provincial title, Recksiedler was recently named to the AAA Boys All-Manitoba Team and also participated in the 2026 Basketball Manitoba Graduating All-Star Game, recognizing him among the province’s top graduating high school players.
“Carter will bring a championship mentality to the program, having won AAA Provincials at Linden Christian,” said CMU Blazers Head Coach Scott Martin. “He is a high-energy player with good upside, and has already received quality coaching at Linden under Colten Gryba and with his club team Empire Elite under Tyrece Viner-Cox.”
Recksiedler has developed through both the high school and club basketball systems in Manitoba and is expected to bring versatility, athleticism, and strong compete level to the Blazers lineup.
The CMU Blazers compete in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) and continue to build a competitive roster focused on developing student-athletes both on and off the court.
The CMU Women's Basketball program has announced that Patrick Sumugat has been named the successor to head coach Sharlene Harding, who is leaving her post after two years with the program.
Sumugat assumes the role after already being involved with the team this past season as an assistant tasked with player development, and brings with him a wealth of experience at both the high school and club level in Manitoba, as well as in training high-level competitive athletes. The founder and head coach of Relentless Club Basketball, Sumugat also draws on his experience coaching the varsity girls program at Kildonan East Collegiate, and as the lead basketball skills trainer at Bout to Be Different (BTBD) Hoops in stepping up to the collegiate level head coaching role at CMU. Certified as a USA Basketball Youth Development Coach since 2023, Sumugat has quickly risen in the ranks of coaches in Winnipeg, building the connections necessary to recruit and continue to build the Blazers' program. His ties to the Filipino-Canadian community, including as head coach of the Basketball Federation of the Philippines (Canada) U16 girls team will also be a valuable connection in furthering the program's goals, in both bringing in and developing top local talent.
"Coach P has an undeniable passion for player development and proven success leading female athletes and teams at the local high school and club level," notes CMU Director of Athletics, Russell Willms. "The athletes here who have worked with Coach P can attest to his quality in these areas and we look forward to this new era of Blazers basketball under Coach P's influence."
Sumugat steps in as head coach as a new era of MCAC basketball is about to unfold. For the first time since the 2019/20 season, the Red River Rebels will be back in the league, bringing the conference up to four teams in basketball, also making the conference eligible for inclusion at the CCAA level for the first time, which the MCAC hopes to apply for this summer. If all goes to plan, this will create a pathway for the provincial champion to compete at a CCAA National Championships for the first time in basketball in the coming years.
Source: https://blazers.cmu.ca/a-new-era-of-blazers-basketball-begins-under-head-coach-patrick-sumugat
The Providence Pilots Men’s Basketball program has announced it will host its first Winnipeg Identification Camp and Tryout on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as the program begins building toward its inaugural season in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
The session will run from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm at the Sport for Life Centre (Court 3) in Winnipeg and is open to athletes in Grade 11 and above who are interested in competing at the collegiate level.
This ID Camp will serve as a key evaluation opportunity for athletes looking to earn a spot on the Pilots’ inaugural roster or to be identified for future recruitment classes. Players will be assessed on skill level, game play, athletic ability, and overall fit within the program’s system and culture.
With limited spots available, interested athletes are encouraged to act quickly. To register, players are asked to send a direct message to the Providence Pilots Men’s Basketball program with their full name and email address. Registration details will be provided directly.
The Pilots program is built around a “Culture of J.O.Y.”, emphasizing team-first play, personal development, and a competitive environment designed to prepare student-athletes for success both on and off the court.
This Winnipeg-based ID Camp represents an important step in the Pilots’ recruiting efforts, creating a direct pathway for Manitoba athletes to be evaluated for collegiate basketball opportunities within the CCAA.
Inquiries can be sent to the team via their Instagram account .
The RRC Polytech Students’ Association has announced the return of Red River Rebels basketball for the fall of 2026, marking the official relaunch of the institution’s men’s and women’s basketball programs after the program was discontinued in 2021.
The return of Rebels basketball is part of a broader varsity athletics revival being led by the RRC Polytech Students’ Association in partnership with RRC Polytech. The renewed model will bring back collegiate competition to campus and re-establish the Rebels brand within Manitoba’s post-secondary sport landscape.
As part of the relaunch, Ricardo Martinez has been introduced as the new head coach of the Rebels men’s basketball program for the 2026-27 season.
Martinez brings 30 years of coaching experience and a long history of athlete development at the school, club, and provincial levels. He is also the founder of Crossover Basketball Club and has built a strong reputation in Manitoba for leadership, mentorship, and community impact through basketball. His coaching background includes championship success and provincial medal finishes.
The women’s basketball program will be led by Buchi Mkanda, who has been named head coach for the 2026-27 season.
Mkanda brings 16 years of coaching experience and has developed a respected reputation in basketball development from the elementary level through to college competition. As the founder of Southside Basketball Academy, Mkanda has worked with athletes across multiple stages of the development pathway and has helped players move on to compete at the college and U SPORTS levels. He is a coach known for a hands-on style, with a strong emphasis on fundamentals, discipline, detail, and basketball IQ.
The return of the Rebels program represents a significant step forward for student-athletes at RRC Polytech and for the broader growth of collegiate basketball in Manitoba. The restored program is expected to provide new opportunities for athletes to compete at the post-secondary level while also rebuilding school spirit and campus engagement through varsity sport.
The revival also reconnects the institution with a program that had previously been part of Manitoba’s college basketball scene before varsity operations came to an end in 2021. With the return now set for this fall, attention will turn to roster building, program development, and preparation for the 2026-27 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) season.
The announcement of Martinez and Mkanda gives the returning Rebels programs experienced leadership on both sides and signals a serious commitment to building a strong and sustainable future for Red River basketball.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/our_rebels/ and https://ourrebels.ca/
The Providence Pilots Women’s Basketball team has added Manitoba athlete Danielle Asham as its fourth commitment for the 2026-27 season.
Asham, a forward from Brandon, Manitoba, will join the Pilots after building a strong reputation as a team-first player with a high basketball IQ, consistent effort, and the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. She is expected to bring size, skill, and composure to the Pilots frontcourt as she continues her academic studies in Psychology.
Asham said she is looking forward to the opportunity to continue her basketball journey at the post-secondary level.
“I’m incredibly excited to join the Pilots family and be a part of the women’s basketball program. I can’t wait to keep growing my game at the next level and compete alongside such a talented and supportive group. I’m grateful for this opportunity, and I want to thank my coaches, teammates, family, and friends for their support,” said Asham.
Coach Matt Mcleod, who has worked with Asham over a four-year period in a variety of settings, pointed to her leadership, selflessness, and steady approach as key strengths.
“Danielle is a tremendous leader on the floor with a high basketball IQ. She will do everything in her power to help her team achieve success. She is the type of player you love to have on your team because you know she is always thinking about what is best for the team and how she can use her talent to make her teammates better. Danielle is a very hard worker. She shows up ready to practice day in and day out. She is constantly looking for ways to improve her game, not just rely on the strengths she already has. She has good footwork around the rim and understands spacing concepts at a high level. She is a very selfless player and will make the right read or pass above anything else. I have coached Danielle for four years in multiple different environments, including high school, club, and Manitoba Games, and she has always been a pleasure to have in the locker room and someone who gave such consistent effort I never had to question what I was going to get from her,” said Mcleod.
Providence Pilots coach Kendall Perpall said Asham’s attitude and versatility stood out right away.
“Watching Danielle play, I instantly saw the joy she plays with and the positivity she spreads throughout the team. I witnessed this both while winning and losing. That, on top of her IQ and the skills she brings to our forward position, will be a great asset to our team. At 5’11, she has a good touch around the rim along with footwork and the ability to extend out to three-point range. I’m happy to have her join our system and the Pilots family,” said Perpall.
Asham’s commitment adds another Manitoba athlete to the university pathway and continues a strong recruiting class for the Pilots heading into the 2026-27 season.
Providence Pilots Women’s Basketball has announced Winnipeg product Sami-Jo Saunders as the program’s third signing for the 2026-27 season.
Saunders, a 6’0” guard-forward from Fort Richmond Collegiate, will join the Pilots after building a strong reputation as a skilled shooter, versatile ball-handler, and high-IQ player capable of impacting multiple positions on the floor.
In announcing her commitment, Saunders shared her appreciation for those who helped her reach this next step in her basketball journey.
“I am so grateful and excited for the opportunity to join the Providence Women’s Basketball team. I want to thank my family, parents, coaches and teammates who have supported me along the way. I can’t wait to continue to play the game I love,” said Saunders. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.”
Fort Richmond Collegiate coach Regan Leggett said Saunders has been the type of player every coach values for both her talent and the way she elevates those around her.
“Sami is the kind of player every coach hopes for,” said Leggett. “She is an exceptional shooter with a deep love and knowledge for the game, and you can see it in the way she lights up every time she steps on the court. Her energy is contagious, and her commitment to the team is unwavering. Sami reads the floor extremely well, adapts to any situation, and consistently creates scoring opportunities for herself and teammates. She is a true competitor who brings leadership, composure, and a strong basketball IQ to every game. Beyond her skill, Sami-Jo is a teammate who genuinely cares. She loves her team and plays for something bigger than herself. Her passion, work ethic, and ability to elevate those around her make her an invaluable part of our program.”
Pilots head coach Kendall Perpall said Saunders will bring flexibility and poise to the program’s backcourt and wing positions.
“Sami brings a lot of value to our guard and forward positions,” said Perpall. “You can see that she loves the game and stays calm under pressure. At 6’0, she can handle the ball as a point guard, set her teammates up, and knock down her own shots. Her size will help us recover more rebounds and guard multiple positions. I’m excited to have her join the team and watch her thrive in the system. Welcome to the Pilots family.”
Saunders’ signing adds another Manitoba athlete to the Providence roster and continues the program’s recruiting work ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWG-Oq5jdMn/?igsh=NHM2OWplZW8wM2Y3
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Closing Date: Position is open until filled
Position Description: Blazers Athletics is seeking a head coach to lead the women’s basketball program for 2026-27. The head coach is responsible for athlete recruitment, team selection, assistant coach selection, training session planning, leading team and small group training sessions, creating team unity and culture, liaising with league/media representatives, assisting with fundraising initiatives, and representing the team positively at games/tournaments/other events.
About Blazers Athletics and CMU: The Blazers compete in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC), which is a member conference of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). We have a history of athletic excellence and we are proud of our students’ exceptional academic achievements and community involvement. CMU is a small Christian liberal arts and sciences university, a member of Universities Canada, committed to rigorous teaching and research. CMU is rooted in the Mennonite tradition, emphasizing peace and community service, and offers programs in Arts, Science, Music, Music Therapy, Business, Education and Social Work.
Experience and qualifications:
- 3 years or more of collegiate or U16+ coaching experience
- Basketball Canada Train to Train (or in progress)
- Ability to recruit prospective student-athletes who can succeed academically and athletically
- Strong communication, organizational, motivation, and leadership skills
- Ability to build strong team dynamics
- Demonstrated positive attitude and openness towards cultural differences
- Availability on evenings and weekends for training and competitions
- **Successful candidate will be required to provide a current police information check and driver’s abstract.
How to apply:
Applications with coaching resume should be submitted to Russell Willms, Director of Athletics, at rwillms@cmu.ca
We encourage all qualified candidates to apply. CMU is committed to employment equity. Applications are encouraged from members of equity-seeking communities including women, racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.
Canadian Mennonite University is committed to employment equity while ensuring our recruitment process is barrier free. Applications are encouraged from members of equity-seeking communities including women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, and people of all sexual orientations and genders.
If there are ways we can make this process more accessible for you, please let us know. You can contact us confidentiality at humanresources@cmu.ca to discuss accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.
Providence Pilots Women’s Basketball has announced the signing of Winnipeg athlete Julie van Delden for the 2026-27 season, adding a forward with a strong reputation for work ethic, rebounding, interior play, and leadership.
Van Delden has committed to join the Pilots program and continue her basketball career at the post-secondary level while pursuing studies in General Biology.
“I’m so excited and grateful for the opportunity to play basketball for Providence,” said van Delden. “I can’t wait to continue playing the game I love at a higher level, while developing the gifts and talents God has given me and using them for His glory.”
Van Delden has earned praise throughout her high school career at Immanuel Christian School for her steady development, coachability, and impact on both ends of the floor.
“I’ve had the privilege of coaching Julie for the last four years and during that time she has been an extremely coachable player who strives for excellence in her game,” said coach Shawna Gortemaker. “She is a master student of the game who has spent hours improving her shot, watching rebounding angles and figuring out how best to defend in her post position. She always comes ready to work, she is a leader on and off the court, and she is humble about her athletic gifts and abilities. She is an unselfish player always trying to make those around her better.
“Throughout her high school career, I have enjoyed watching her play - at times making a seemingly impossible shot, getting a rebound she had no business getting or getting yet another block. I hoped and prayed for her that she would get the chance to play ball at the next level and am so proud of what she has accomplished thus far in her high school career. I am looking forward to watching her play and excel at the next level - Providence is blessed to have her.”
Providence head coach Kendall Perpall said van Delden’s competitiveness and presence in the paint should allow her to make an early contribution.
“Julie is a hard worker who is motivated to get better every day,” said Perpall. “She is a great rebounder and presence in the paint that will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. She has been a key contributor and leader on her team since grade 9. Julie’s ability to compete is unmatched and will make her an excellent addition to the system. Welcome to the Pilots family.”
Van Delden’s signing marks another important addition for the Pilots as the program continues to build its 2026-27 recruiting class.
Canadian Mennonite University has announced the commitment of Winnipeg guard Lily Cox to the Blazers Women’s Basketball program for the 2026–27 MCAC Athletics season.
Cox, a 5’10” shooting guard from Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, joins the program following a strong high school and provincial basketball career that has included representing Team Manitoba and competing with the Junior Wesmen program. Known for her speed, skill, and strong understanding of the game, Cox has developed into one of Manitoba’s emerging backcourt players.
At Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, Cox has been a key contributor to the Huskies program while also gaining valuable experience through provincial and club basketball competition. Her involvement with Team Manitoba has provided opportunities to compete against top athletes from across the country while continuing to refine her offensive and defensive skillset.
CMU Head Coach Sharlene Harding believes Cox’s playing style will translate well to the Blazers system.
“Lily is an outstanding basketball player with the speed, skill, and court sense that will make her seamlessly fit into the pace and style of play at CMU. Her tireless work ethic on the court is enviable and only enhances how coachable she is. Lily will be an amazing addition to Blazers Basketball.”
The commitment marks the first signing of the off-season for the Blazers Women’s Basketball program as the team prepares for the upcoming Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) season.
Cox will join the CMU Blazers roster in fall 2026 as the program continues building toward the 2026–27 MCAC campaign.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVeOvwJj1dA/?igsh=MW92YXFkMTFvbDNzaw==
Uni #
3
Team
17U Female
Roster Type
Roster Player
Position
Forward
First Name
Lily
Last Name
Cox
Age
16
City/Town
Winnipeg
Present Grade
Grade 11
Years in Basketball
3 years
School Attending This Fall
Sturgeon Heights
Basketball Club Name
Junior Wesmen
Summer Goals
To strengthen my basketball IQ and to be more confident in finishing at the rim
Basketball Aspirations
To play university basketball
Fondest Memory in Basketball
Making the U17 provincial team
Biggest Basketball Influence
My coaches
Favourite Player & Team
Caitlin Clark and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & The Lakers
After High School
Attend university
When Basketball Career is Over
Go to medical school and become a doctor
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