An unstoppable force that could not be matched.
The year 2010 was memorable for Prince George in so many ways, but none more so than what the UNBC men’s basketball team brought home in mid-March that remains in their gymnasium to this day.
Following a 17-1 regular-season record and a B.C. title, the Timberwolves won five more games in Calgary that crowned them national champions for the first time in school history.
The powerhouse program is now the first team to be inducted as a whole to the newly-created T-Wolves Wall of Honour, announced by UNBC this morning (March 12).
“That National Championship team was so special,” says Athletics Director Loralyn Murdoch, who, at the time, coached the women’s basketball program.
“Together, they worked incredibly hard, and together they earned a historic moment for this school. That team represents all the players and coaches that came before them, and all that have come since.”
UNBC boasted an array of talent on the court, especially with fourth-year ‘quicksilver’ guard Inderbir Gill who was named the CCAA Male Athlete of the Year for his efforts in the 2009-10 campaign from start to finish.
The T-Wolves first inductee to the Wall of Honour on Feb. 19, 2021 was also named the national and provincial tournament MVPs.
A fun fact about the 2010 team was that they came up short in the 2009 nationals, which they had the privilege of hosting on the green and gold court.
“There was one clear, common goal set for the team. We wanted to win the National Championship,” explains Matt Mills, a three-year T-Wolf part of the 2010 glory road.
“This was discussed and gave us a purpose in every practice, film session, and game day. We all knew the expectation. Coach [Mike] Raimbault and the assistant coaches expected a championship level effort, focus, and attention to detail every single day. We were held accountable and we got away with nothing.”
They won the season-opener at Langara, lost to the Falcons the next night, but then went on a winning streak that could not be broken, including a perfect 9-0 record at home.
A 22-1 total record by season’s end set a new standard for UNBC basketball in the years ahead laid out by Mike Raimbault, who was named both the B.C. and CCAA Coach of the Year.
“The staff, from Dale Dergousoff, Trent Folk, John Tramble, Davis Rodrigues, and Ken Shields, was a group of people who changed my life and helped solidify the foundation of our team,” he said.
“The players and staff were a collection of some of the all-time greatest people I have ever been fortunate to have spent time with. This is a team that each of us will remember being a part of forever.”
In the gold-medal match on March 20, 2010, the game was dominated by the Timberwolves against the SAIT Trojans, who hosted the national championship, and cruised to a 96-63 triumph to hoist the big trophy.
“That was crazy. We were the talk of Prince George that year, and it showed in the packed gym for home games,” said then assistant coach Dale Dergousoff.
“But that support hit the road. The picture taken after Nationals with our fans says it all. Our drummers were amazing, and that relationship with the First Nations community grew to the bond that still exists. The celebration is something I will never forget.”
The 2010 men’s basketball team is the eighth inductee to the UNBC Wall of Honour.
Members of that team, along with any accolades from that season, are as follows (in alphabetical order):
- Jose Araujo
- BCCAA Men's Basketball First Team All-Star
- BCCAA Men's Basketball Provincial All-Star
- CCAA Men's Basketball Championship First Team All-Star
- Abdu Benrabah
- Kenny Carnes
- Sam Didier
- Inderbir Gill
- BCCAA Men's Basketball Player of the Year
- BCCAA Men's Basketball First Team All-Star
- BCCAA Men's Basketball Provincial MVP
- CCAA Men's Basketball All-Canadian
- CCAA Men's Basketball Championship MVP
- CCAA National Male Athlete of the Year
- Sebastien-Kevin Louis
- Kevan Madsen
- BCCAA Men's Basketball Rookie of the Year
- BCCAA Men's Basketball All-Rookie Team
- Matt Mills
- Sam Raphael
- Francis Rowe
- CCAA Men's Basketball Championship Second Team All-Star
- Joel Rybachuk
- Jesse Smith
- Daniel Stark
- Dennis Stark
