TORONTO - The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) announced today its 2022-23 regular season basketball schedules, set to begin on Saturday, Oct. 22.
OCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE | OCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL REGULAR SEASON SCHEDULE
KEY DATES
Regular Season First Semester Start Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
Regular Season First Semester End Date: Sunday, Dec. 4
Regular Season Second Semester Start Date: Wednesday, Jan. 11
Regular Season Second Semester End Date: Sunday, Feb. 19
Qualifying Games: Saturday, Feb. 25
Championship Dates: Friday, Mar. 3 - Sunday, Mar. 5
MEN'S BASKETBALL DIVISIONS
| EAST | WEST |
| Algonquin (Ottawa) | Canadore (North Bay) |
| Centennial (Scarborough) | Conestoga (Kitchener) |
| La Cité (Ottawa) | Fanshawe (London) |
| Durham (Oshawa) | Humber (Etobicoke) |
| Fleming (Peterborough) | Lambton (Sarnia) |
| George Brown (Toronto) | Mohawk (Hamilton) |
| Georgian (Barrie) | Niagara (Welland) |
| Loyalist (Belleville) | Redeemer (Ancaster) |
| St. Lawrence (Kingston) | St. Clair (Windsor)* |
| Seneca (North York) | Sheridan (Oakville) |
| *2022 OCAA Championship Host | |
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DIVISIONS
| EAST | WEST |
| Algonquin (Ottawa) | Conestoga (Kitchener) |
| Centennial (Scarborough) | Fanshawe (London) |
| Durham (Oshawa) | Humber (Etobicoke) |
| George Brown (Toronto) | Lambton (Sarnia) |
| Georgian (Barrie) | Mohawk (Hamilton) |
| Loyalist (Belleville) | Niagara (Welland)* |
| St. Lawrence (Kingston) | Redeemer (Ancaster) |
| Seneca (North York) | St. Clair (Windsor) |
| Sheridan (Oakville) | |
| *2022 OCAA Championship Host | |
The regular season schedule will remain a two-division format. Teams will play a double round robin within their division totalling 18 for men, and 14 or 16 for women (based on division).
Two OCAA teams advanced to the national men's basketball final for the first time since 2001 last March as the Humber Hawks (Etobicoke) prevailed 101-94 over the St. Clair Saints (Windsor). Both teams will once again play in the same division this season, with two games scheduled for Nov. 19 at Humber and again on Feb. 11 at St. Clair.
In fact, all four of last season's OCAA semi-finalists play in the West Division. A rematch of the OCAA bronze medal game will tip off the season, with the Lambton Lions (Sarnia) visiting the Redeemer Royals (Ancaster) on Oct. 22. Lambton prevailed 82-75 back in March.
Other key dates early in the season include "The Game" as the Sheridan Bruins (Brampton) host Humber on Oct. 25 in the regular season opener for both teams. A couple of Toronto schools renew acquaintances as the Seneca Sting (North York) visit the George Brown Huskies (Toronto) on Oct. 28.
Humber also stood tall in women's basketball last season, joining their male counterparts in winning the OCAA championship. Humber defeated St. Clair 103-91 in what was the latter's third consecutive trip to the provincial final. These teams will also meet Nov. 19 at Humber and again on Feb. 11 at St. Clair.
The Niagara Knights (Welland) are the reigning OCAA bronze medalists and will begin their season Oct. 29 at home against Sheridan. The Algonquin Thunder (Ottawa) advanced to the OCAA semi-finals last season and open their season at home on Oct. 28 against the St. Lawrence Surge (Kingston).
Most of the schedule will feature doubleheaders between schools alternating between men's and women's competition. A total of 180 men's and 128 women's games will be played between October and February, with a mid-season break in December for exams.
St. Clair (men) and Niagara (women) have already qualified for their respective OCAA championships as the host school. The top seven teams in each division (excluding championship hosts) will compete in an interdivisional qualifying round, in which the top seed in each division hosts the bottom seed in the opposite division, and so forth. OCAA basketball championships will return to an eight-team format with quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches being played at a single site.
The OCAA men's and women's basketball championships will take place Mar. 3-5 at St. Clair (Windsor) and Niagara (Welland), respectively.
All OCAA schedules for the 2022-23 season, including dates, times and locations, are subject to change.
- OCAA -
ABOUT ONTARIO COLLEGES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
For over 50 years, the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association has been a dedicated leader in amateur athletics through the provision of quality varsity and recreational athletic opportunities at the collegiate level.
For additional information please contact:
Josh Bell-Webster
Marketing and Communications
Ontario Colleges Athletic Association
Tel: 416-426-7041
E-mail: bell-webster@ocaa.com