Jefferson Hagen / MacEwan Athletics
Not long after they received their silver medals from the boys basketball competition at the Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg last week, Team Alberta assistant coach Jackson Parker – who serves in the same role at MacEwan University – noticed a defining moment in the whole experience.
"At a Games like that, everything's about winning," he noted. "But I maintain the most excited I saw our guys was the last night there and all of the different provinces were travelling to the different floors in residence, trading gear. They were having so much fun. There was some of the purity of a multi-sport games with the relationships and the connection that sport brings.
"But there's also an aspect that you may not be the best team on paper, but you often know your own abilities," Parker added. "You go in there with no expectations and a lot of people aren't giving you any credit.
"We knew what we had and we gelled. We did it the right way. We worked together and played the game the right way. Who knows what can be done with a group of guys who are playing for each other? I think that's a good lesson."
That might be the most significant takeaway for Parker after helping head coach Clayton Pottinger (Red Deer College) guide Team Alberta to its best boys basketball finish ever at a Canada Games. They went 4-2 in the competition, reaching the final by winning three-straight games in consecutive days, including a triumph over B.C. in the semifinal. They achieved silver after losing 108-65 to a powerhouse Ontario team.
"There's something special when a group of guys buys into something bigger than themselves," said Parker. "The thing that was noticeable about Canada Games is every game meant something. Not only was there the spectacle of Canada Games, but there were two provinces representing a land mass with a lot of population in it at a multi-sport Games. That carried some weight to it.
"I think the guys bought into that and the importance of what we were doing and in representing themselves and the province."
For Parker, the experience was also special on a personal level as he shared it with his partner Katherine Adams – head coach of the MacEwan University women's basketball team – who was serving as an assistant coach for Team Alberta's girls squad.
"There was always that time at the end of the night right before curfew that we'd get to go for a walk and debrief the day and just hang out," he said. "It's always better when you get to do that with your significant other.
"The crazy part about it is it's the little things: I got to shake Justin Trudeau's hand and she was right there with me. Being involved in the opening ceremonies on the 50th anniversary (of the Canada Games) and Canada's 150th (birthday) – and all the unique things about summer games … it will be an experience we won't soon forget – mostly because of the people but because of the event itself."
Adams concurs. She helped head coach Dave Waknuk and fellow assistant Megan Wood – a former MacEwan basketball star player – guide Team Alberta within a whisper of the podium. They fell just short, finishing fourth after losing 76-63 to Manitoba in the bronze-medal game.
"It's an incredible experience and it's something we talked about – as part of our coaching career – we wanted to be able to experience," said Adams. "It only happens every four years, so to be fortunate enough to be selected to be a part of it, especially in such a big summer – 50th anniversary of the Canada Games and Canada's 150th – was a big deal.
"For us to be able to do it together made it just that much more special."
She also relished the chance to get to know Wood better, considering the latter finished her playing career at MacEwan a season before Adams took over the bench.
"It was a really great opportunity for me to get to know Megan and really exciting to see her invested in the game and giving back, and so passionate about helping the younger generation realize their potential," she said. "We roomed together. It was a lot of fun getting to know her – just sharing her experiences at MacEwan. We had a lot of opportunity to talk about that, stuff I can take away to help grow our program here."
MacEwan men's volleyball head coach Brad Poplawski is a co-coach of Team Alberta's boys team currently competing in Winnipeg as the Canada Summer Games head into their final few days. Incoming Griffins freshmen Caleb Weiss, Liam Huth and Ryan Zachary are on the squad.