KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Leo Rautins keynote speaker at Mickey Place Memorial tournament breakfast, Oct. 5
Leo Rautins, Raptors analyst to give address at UPEI on Oct. 5
Veteran sports journalist Leo Rautins will speak at the inaugural Breakfast of Champions during the Mickey Place Memorial basketball tournament on Oct. 5.
The annual tournament runs Oct. 4-6 and features eight U SPORTS teams – four on the women’s side (Cape Breton University, University of Ottawa, University of Waterloo and UPEI) and four men’s (Cape Breton University, University of Ottawa, Saint Mary’s University, and UPEI).
Rautins has also offered to lead a skills clinic for students from Grades 3 to 9 also on Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. He will be assisted by members of the UPEI women’s and men’s basketball teams.
Space is limited so participants are encouraged to preregister.
“We are excited to have Leo join us at our first Breakfast of Champions and to lead our youth skills clinic, as part of what is shaping up to be one of the best editions of the Mickey Place Memorial basketball tournament ever,” said Chris Huggan, director of athletics and recreation at UPEI.
“Leo captured all of us during the Raptors’ recent championship run and we’re fortunate to have someone with us who has so much depth and experience in all facets of the sport. I know he will inspire all of us.”
Rautins has been on the Canadian basketball scene for more than 30 years as a player, coach, broadcaster and ambassador of the game.
He is now in his 25th season as television analyst for the Toronto Raptors and handles the duties for all Sportsnet broadcasts, while working alongside Rod Black as studio analyst on TSN’s NBA studio shows. He also provides pre- and postgame analysis for NBA TV Canada.
His distinguished playing career began with the Canadian national team in 1977, where Rautins was the youngest player to make the Team Canada at 16 years of age and the first team-sport member to win the Canadian junior athlete of the year award.
An outstanding college career at Syracuse resulted in Rautins being drafted 17th by Philadelphia in the first round of 1983 NBA Draft.
He played with the 76ers and Atlanta Hawks before moving on to the Italian, Spanish and French professional leagues from 1985 to 1992.
From 1989 to 1992, he again represented his country as a member of the Canadian national team.
Rautins was head coach for the national team from 2005 to 2011, helping Canada reach the world championship in 2010.
The Breakfast of Champions on Oct. 5 takes place at 9 a.m. at the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall on the UPEI campus.
Corporate tables of eight, including eight tournament passes, are priced at $400 while individual tickets are $40.
To learn more, or to purchase breakfast tickets, tournament passes, or register a child for the skills clinic, contact Koren Bogle Glenn at 902-620-5158, or email kglenn@upei.ca.