Add another basketball championship to the sparkling resume of Abbotsford basketball product Joel Friesen.
The Yale Secondary grad won a championship in high school with the Lions, a college championship with the University of Alberta, and on Monday won a professional championship with the Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League.
The Hurricanes defeated the London Lightning 125-117 in game seven of the NBL championship series to capture the crown. Friesen, who also starred on the UFV Cascades during his college career, was a key contributor for the Hurricanes at the guard position during the finals, highlighted by a 28-point performance in game two. He hit seven of 10 shots from long distance to lead the Hurricanes to a 133-119 win in that game.
The title win caps off a rookie season for the Hurricanes and Friesen that saw the team finish with 29 wins and 11 losses in the regular season, before going on a playoff run that saw them sweep both the Island Storm and Saint John Mill Rats to advance to the finals.
“We overcame so much adversity this year as a team and to come out on top in this fashion is an absolute blessing,” Friesen stated.
The Hurricanes will attempt to defend their title starting in December.
