[Part 1 (Evans), Part 2 (Acheampong), Part 3 (Theil), Part 5 (Peterson)]

The Vikes Starting 5

Name: Chris McLaughlin
Eligibility Status: Third Year
Major: Geography
Hometown: Oakville, ON
High School: Abbey Park High School
Previous Team: Abbey Park men's basketball team
 
At six-foot-ten Chris McLaughlin provides the Vikes with a significant height advantage. This third year Oakville, Ont. native has hit a break-out point in his varsity career as he settles into his starting-five role.
 
With this year's addition of Vikes assistant coach Spencer McKay, McLaughlin has felt his post game improve tremendously. “It has been a turning point for me and with only two forwards I've been given the opportunity for extra floor time,” says McLaughlin.
 
From an early age he has taken basketball seriously while also playing volleyball recreationally. Over the years the support of McLaughlin's family has guided his determination to pursue basketball. Having his older brother Geoff offer advice from his basketball experience at McMaster University has also furthered McLaughlin's love for the sport.
 
The combination of Geoff's guidance and his family's enthusiasm has become a major influence for McLaughlin. His family has travelled from Ontario to both Victoria and Calgary to watch McLaughlin become first in Canada West on scoring defense, second overall in rebounds and sixth in blocks per game.
 
McLaughlin has recently made the conscious decision to change his major from Earth and Ocean Studies to Geography, hoping that the balance between his academics and the Vikes program will be more manageable. He acknowledges that life as a varsity student often requires you to make tough decisions on where your priorities lie.
 
The extra floor time has become motivation for McLaughlin as he hopes to carry this positive development into the CIS Final 8 and continue his progress into his two final seasons. McLaughlin strives to challenge himself tactically and strengthen his role on the post.
 
As for the CIS Final 8, McLaughlin plans to leave it all on the court. A continuing theme amongst the Vikes starting five has been their appreciation for the dedication of their hard-working coaching staff. McLaughlin sums it up nicely, “Coach made it clear that for some of us this may be our only CIS national experience and that has become the main motivation for a lot of us. We play for each other and we play as if that game may be the last game.”

Information About the CIS Final 8

SEEDING

1. Carleton Ravens (OUA Champions)
2. Cape Breton Capers (AUS Champions)
3. Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA Finalists)
4. UBC Thunderbirds (CWUAA Champions)
5. Acadia Axemen (AUS Finalists)
6. McGill Redmen (RSEQ Champions)
7. Lakehead Thunderwolves (OUA Bronze Medallists)
8. Victoria Vikes (CWUAA Finalists)
 
VIKES CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (All times EST)

Friday, March 8
20:00 Quarter-final #4: No. 8 Victoria vs No. 1 Carleton (www.CIS-SIC.tv)

Saturday, March 9 (Games TBD)
12:00 Consolation #1: Loser QF #1 vs. Loser QF #2 (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
14:15 Consolation #2: Loser QF #3 vs. Loser QF #4 (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
17:30 Semifinal #1: Winner QF #1 vs. Winner QF #2 (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
20:15 Semifinal #2: Winner QF #3 vs. Winner QF #4 (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 

Sunday, March 10 (Games TBD)
11:00 5^th place (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
13:15 Bronze medal game (www.CIS-SIC.tv) 
15:30 Championship final (THE SCORE / www.CIS-SIC.tv) 

Championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/mbkb/index

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport
 
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, 11,000 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 54 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
 
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/CIS_SIC  
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cissports
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/universitysport