Carleton University celebrates dual national basketball championships
Carleton University has made Canadian basketball history by winning both the men's and women's national championships in the same year, a feat that hasn't been achieved since the University of Victoria accomplished it in 1985.
Hundreds attended a celebration Monday to support one of the most successful basketball programs in the country.
The women’s Ravens point guard, Kali Pocrnic, describes the win as "surreal," and said she can't believe it has actually happened.
"Coming here to Carleton, I knew how hard they work, and I knew it was a possibility at some point that we could get to this point. And to be able to say that we've done it is amazing," said Pocrnic.
The Ravens women's head coach, Dani Sinclair, said the win is still sinking in.
"I felt the support from the community when I arrived here three years ago and they're with you either way,” says Sinclair. “And it's really great to be able to bring a championship back home for them. And I think it just goes to show how strong the culture is here with basketball in the community at Carleton."
The Ravens men's point guard, Aiden Warnholtz, added, "The support the community has given us and students as well, 11 o'clock on a Monday morning to come here and support the team is pretty cool. It’s pretty awesome."
Taffe Charles, the Ravens men's head coach, also expressed his gratitude for the support from the community, saying, "Just to have the community support that we have and I've heard a lot from a lot of people, really excited about the game we played, but also happy with the women's basketball team. Just being able to support both teams and you know, again, because they do support both teams, having them both here is amazing."
Lynne Armstrong is a Carleton University alum who played for the team in the 1970s. Back then, they were known as the Carleton Robins.
"It's wonderful. It's just a dream come true," says Armstrong. "For me, to see the program develop the way it did, it was just amazing. I'm still in awe, that now we've won two championships within six years."
Players from both the men's and women's teams said the support from the school and community was heartwarming.
"The amount of people that came out to Cape Breton was amazing too,” says Pocrnic. “So it just feels so special. And I'm honored to be a part of Carleton."
This marks the fourth straight title for the men's team and second title in six years for the women.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada sticking with 2050 net zero targets, but progress may come faster than expected, minister says
Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says the federal government is not ruling out finding ways to achieve net zero sooner than the existing 2050 goal, but would not say whether there would be a definitive commitment to move up the target.

Nova Scotians’ personal information stolen in global security breach: province
A global security breach has resulted in the theft of an undisclosed number of Nova Scotians’ personal information.
Increase in mosquitoes 'a trend' across Canada this year. Here's why
Mosquitoes have always been pesky, but this spring it seems the bloodsuckers are thirstier than ever, a trend one expert says is increasing.
Four kids and one man drown after Quebec fishing accident: provincial police
A fishing excursion ended in tragedy on Saturday when four children died in a village in northeastern Quebec, provincial police said.
China rebukes U.S., Canadian navies for Taiwan Strait transit
China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for 'deliberately provoking risk' after the countries' navies staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
What to know as Prince Harry prepares for court fight with British tabloid publisher
Prince Harry is set to testify in the first of his five pending legal cases largely centred around battles with British tabloids. Opening statements are scheduled Monday in his case.
Apple is expected to unveil a sleek, pricey headset. Is it the device VR has been looking for?
Apple appears poised to unveil a long-rumoured headset that will place its users between the virtual and real world, while also testing the technology trendsetter's ability to popularize new-fangled devices after others failed to capture the public's imagination.
Ukrainian father rushes home after Russian airstrike to find 2-year-old daughter dead in rubble
A Ukrainian man rushed to his home outside the central city of Dnipro in hopes of rescuing his family, only to find his two-year-old daughter dead and wife seriously wounded as he helped pull them from the rubble of their apartment destroyed in one of Russia's latest airstrikes of the war, authorities reported Sunday.
Huda Mukbil, CSIS's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim spy, opens up about her fight against terrorism and discrimination
Huda Mukbil, Canada's first Black Arab-Canadian Muslim spy, opens up in her new book about life in the world of espionage and the discrimination she faced within the CSIS.