Senior: St. Benedict "Saints Invitational" 32-Team Tournament This Weekend

It's that time of year.

Another edition (the 24th for those counting) of the St. Benedict CSS "Saints Invitational" is set to go this weekend in Cambridge, a massive 32-team tournament that will be played at 4 gyms over two days.  Teams are coming from all areas of the province --- Chatham in the south through to Sault Ste. Marie in the north, and from all reaches of the GTA and Hamilton as well.

Last year's tournament champions, the Resurrection CSS Phoenix (who defeated Forest Heights 50-46 in the championship final) are set to return alongside two other teams currently ranked in my top four CWOSSA teams --- the St. Mary's Eagles (#2) and the JF Ross Royals (#3).  The Forest Heights Trojans (#1) will be playing in Hamilton this weekend (Silver Fox Tournament). 

Other CWOSSA top-ten teams appearing will be the Waterloo CI Vikings (#6), North Park Trojans (#7) and the Jacob Hespeler Hawks (#9).

Interestingly enough, we could see a couple of great intra-CWOSSA matchups as early as the second round as the JF Ross Royals and Jacob Hespeler Hawks as well as the WCI Vikings and Resurrection Phoenix are on collision courses to play each other in the second round.  The WCI-Resurrection game could be very interesting if that match-up comes to fruition as both teams rely on their size and interior game down low --- strength against strength.

Favourites to take the title would arguably be the Notre Dame (Burlington) Irish or the St. Basil (SSM) Saints.  Notre Dame is currently ranked at #6 in the GTA Top Ten and have an impressive win over Kitchener Resurrection on their resume to this point in the season, while the Saints are last year's "AA" antique bronze medalists at OFSAA and have already pulled out a win over the aforementioned Irish this season.  

Other challengers should include the top CWOSSA teams (St. Mary's, JF Ross, Rez) and as an outside shot, you might see Turner Fenton from Brampton make some noise.  Remember, this is the school that knocked of JF Ross in last year's first round --- and they have an equally solid squad this year that is off to a 3-0 start in ROPSSAA play.

If you want my pick, I'll take the St. Basil (SSM) - Notre Dame winner over Kitchener St. Mary's in the tournament final.  

Here's a look at first round "quadrants":

Games at St. Benedict

9:30 - St. Mary's (Kitchener) vs. Lo-Ellen Park (Sudbury)

11:00 - Galt CI vs. Parkside (Dundas)

12:30 - St. Benedict vs. North Park (Brantford)

2:00 - North Albion (Toronto) vs. Eastwood

Games at Jacob Hespeler West

9:30 - La Salle (Sudbury) vs. JF Ross

11:00 - Jacob Hespeler vs. IE Weldon (Lindsay)

12:30 - Bluevale vs. Ancaster

2:00 - West Ferris (North Bay) vs. St. Anne (Lakeshore)

Games at Jacob Hespeler East

9:30 - St. Basil's (SSM) vs. Bishop Mac

11:00 - Huron Heights (Kit.) vs. John McGregor (Chatham)

12:30 - WCI vs. Richmond Hill

2:00 - Southwood vs. Resurrection

Games at Monsignor Doyle

9:30 - Monsignor Doyle vs. Turner Fenton

11:00 - St. James (Guelph) vs. Ursuline (Chatham)

12:30 - Preston vs. Sacred Heart (Newmkt)

2:00 - St. Mike's (Stratford) vs. Notre Dame (Burl.)

FYI - A tournament pass (good for all games) is only $5.  We'll have a lot more on this tournament to come later in the week.