Press Release

SMC MEN TIP OFF WITH FOUR GAME CANADIAN EXHIBITION TOUR Purple Knights to play exhibition games at Bishop’s, Laval and McGill FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      FOR MORE INFORMATION September 22, 2005                                                                   Contact: Seth Cole                                                                                                 Phone: (802) 654-2537 COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Saint Michael’s College men’s basketball team will open the 2005-06 season earlier than normal this year, as the Purple Knights will visit Quebec next month for a four-game exhibition tour against top Canadian universities. The trip is allowable due to the NCAA’s Once-in-Four-Years Exemption for foreign tours, which permits NCAA member institutions the opportunity to participate in international competition in any sport, provided certain bylaws are met. This is believed to be the first foreign tour that the Saint Michael’s men’s basketball team has participated in, according to head coach Tom O’Shea. “This trip will allow our players and coaches to get a head start on the season,” said O’Shea, who enters his ninth year at the helm of the Purple Knights with a 124-106 record. “We have a number of new faces on the team, and the trip will serve as an opportunity for everyone to get to know one another better. It will also be a great cultural and educational experience, as we will spend four days in Quebec City and Montreal learning about the rich history of those cities.” O’Shea, assistant coach Joe Krupinski and their squad will open the trip on Friday, Oct. 7 with an 8 p.m. contest at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville. Bishop’s advanced to the semifinals of the Quebec University Basketball League last season. The Purple Knights will take on Laval University, which compiled a 14-4 record last year, on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 4:30 p.m. at Cegep de Sainte-Foy, and again on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at Laval’s campus gymnasium. Saint Michael’s will conclude the exhibition tour on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at Montreal’s McGill University at 7 p.m. The Purple Knights, captained this season by seniors BJ Robertson (Burlington, Vt./Burlington) and Aaron Spaulding (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth), also play a 1 p.m. exhibition contest on Saturday, Nov. 5 at crosstown-rival University of Vermont. Saint Michael’s opens its regular season on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. versus the New Jersey Institute of Technology at the West Chester (Pa.) University Tournament, and plays its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. against Saint Thomas Aquinas College at the Ross Sports Center. 2005 Saint Michael’s Men’s Basketball Canadian Exhibition Tour Day Date Opponent Site Time Fri. 10/7 at Bishop’s Lennoxville, Quebec. 8 p.m. Sat. 10/8 vs. Laval Cegep de Sainte-Foy, Quebec 4:30 p.m. Sun. 10/9 at Laval Laval, Quebec 7 p.m. Tue. 10/11 at McGill Montreal, Quebec 7 p.m. ###PURPLEKNIGHTS###

For more information please contact the SMC Sports Information Office at (802) 654-2537
Last Revised: October 25, 2002