UVic Sports Hall of Fame
CATEGORY: Team
The University of Victoria men’s basketball team bounced back from the 1978-79 season to capture UVic’s first basketball national championship title in 1979-80. Coached by the legendary Ken Shields, the 1979-80 Vikings were the first Canada West team to be undefeated throughout the regular season.
At the Canada West championships, Victoria defeated the University of Calgary on home court, earning the programs third Canada West title and berth to the Canadian University Athlete Union (CIAU) championships. Eli Pasquale and Billy Turney-Loos were named Canada West First Team All-Stars. Teammates Gerald Kazanowski and Reni Dolcetti were named Canada West Second Team All-Stars.
The Vikings travelled back to Calgary for the CIAU national championship tournament. The UVic men defeated University of Windsor 93-75 in their opening game. In game two, the Viking played archrivals Saint Mary’s and defeating them 91-75. The Vikings met No. 1 ranked Brandon University of Manitoba in the finals. Down to the wire, the Vikings defeated Brandon by 8 points berthing them to their first CIAU national championship victory. The final score was 73-65.
Head coach Shields was named CIAU coach of the year. Turney-Loos and Dolcetti were named tournament all-stars. Turney-Loos was also named First Team All-Canadian. Dolcetti was named CIAU most valuable player (MVP).
UVic Achievements
- Captured UVic's first basketball national championship title
- Canada West First Team All-Star: Eli Pasquale, Billy Turney-Loos
- Canada West Second Team All-Star: Remi Dolcetti, Gerald Kazanowski
- Defeated Brandon University in the final championship game
- CIAU Tournament All-Star: Billy Turney-Loos, Reni Dolcetti
- CIAU First Team All-Canadian: Billy Turney-Loos
- CIAU MVP: Reni Dolcetti
- CIAU Coach of the year: Ken Shields
1979-80 Men’s Basketball Team Roster
| NAME | POSITION | ELIGIBILITY YR. | HOMETOWN |
| Billy Turney-Loos | F/G | 2 | New Haven, Conn., USA |
| Ted Anderson | F | 4 | Port Alberni, BC |
| Gerald Kazanowski | F | 2 | Nanaimo, BC |
| Eli Pasquale | G | 1 | Sudbury, ON |
| Reni Dolcetti | F | 3 | Sudbury, ON |
| Kelly Dukeshire | F | 2 | Kimberly, BC |
| Chris Hebb | F | 5 | Prince Rupert, BC |
| Tom Narbeshuber | F/G | 2 | Cleveland, Ohio, USA |
| Bruce Hamilton | F | 1 | Capreol, ON |
| Craig Higgins | G | 2 | Victoria, BC |
| Michael Welder | G | 5 | Kelowna, BC |
| Ian Hyde–Lay | G | 5 | Duncan, BC |
| Greg Kazanowski | G | 2 | Nanaimo,BC |
Head Coach: Ken Shields
Assistant Coach: Norm Vickery
Assistant Coach: Jim Duddridge
Manager: Bill Chapman
