After Hockey Season ….

Hockey is the undisputed sports king north of the US border in Canada, but the Canadians play some really good Volleyball as well. Just ask Marv Dunphy at Pepperdine; his Waves lost two exhibition matches to Canadian men’s college teams in the 2014 season. Canada has a population around 35,500,000 people, which is 11% of the approximately 318,500,000 people found in the US.  However, Canada has 80 men’s college Volleyball teams compared to the 160 teams found in the US – exactly 50% – if the numbers in the US haven’t changed in the last 24 hours.

Let’s do a quick synopsis of the men’s college game in our neighbor to the north. Canadian college Volleyball is divided into two distinct elements – the CIS, short for Canadian Interuniversity Sports, and the CCAA, which stands for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. The CIS represents the University division (larger schools) of Canadian men’s Volleyball while the CCAA represents the College division (smaller schools).  The CIS and the CCAA are two separate, distinct organizations.

With 30 teams distributed among four divisions, the CIS is roughly the equivalent of NCAA DI – DII and NAIA men’s Volleyball. CIS play begins in October and concludes with an eight team tournament at the very end of February.  The University of Alberta Golden Bears are the reigning CIS champion, having defeated Western University 3 – 1 in the championship match at the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta.

CCAA men’s Volleyball is the counterpart to NCAA DIII men’s volleyball.  The CCAA has 51 teams allocated among five divisions.  Play in the CCAA also begins in October and ends with an eight team tournament which immediately follows the CIS tournament.  Red Deer College won the 2014 CCAA championship by defeating Saint Jerome 3 – 0 in the championship match at Briercrest College in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

So, at the end of the day, we know there is great volleyball in Canada. Every now and then, especially in December and January, we have the privilege of seeing these teams play in the US.  Go watch them, enjoy, and support the game.