Rothesay Netherwood School to Host Second Annual Milner Invitational Basketball Tournament

Rothesay, NB (September 14, 2023) – Rothesay Netherwood School is pleased to announce the second annual Milner Invitational Basketball Tournament taking place on its campus from Thursday, Sept. 28 to Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023. The tournament will feature the RNS Prep Boys’ Basketball Team and teams from U Sports, CCAA, and Cégep leagues, including Acadia University, Saint Thomas University, Cape Breton University, Cégep de Sainte-Foy, Cégep de Thetford and the University of New Brunswick. The Milner Invitational is sponsored by Scotiabank, the World’s Oldest Basketball Court, and The White Thompson Group. The tournament will be livestreamed by Maritime Athletic PROfile.

 

“We are thrilled about the growth of this event heading into our second year,” says Damian Gay, Head Coach of the RNS Prep Boys’ Basketball Team and RNS faculty member. “Having the U Sports teams join us is so meaningful. It demonstrates that Andrew’s legacy goes far beyond the RNS campus and is truly entrenched in the Canadian basketball community.” The RNS Prep Boys’ Basketball team is Atlantic Canada’s oldest – and only – prep boys team. 

 

“We have been a prep program since 2017,” explains Gay. “Andrew Milner was our first recruit who committed to the idea of providing Atlantic Canadian student-athletes something different when it comes to pursuing their dreams in basketball. Since 2017, the RNS Prep team has sent 20 athletes to the next level; three received full scholarships to NCAA Division 1 universities, and two participated in the prestigious NCAA March Madness tournament. One of our former players has won NCAA Defensive Player of the Year, and another has played for Team Canada’s U23 team. None of this would have happened if a kid from Antigonish, Nova Scotia, hadn’t decided to believe in our program.” 

 

The tournament is named in memory of RNS graduate and former RNS Prep Boys’ Basketball Team Captain, Andrew Milner ’17, who was tragically killed in a canoeing accident in British Columbia in 2019. From Antigonish, NS, Milner was a kinesiology student playing for the University of Calgary Dinos and was recognized as a rising basketball star. 

 

“Last year’s inaugural tournament was a success, and we are excited to build on it for year two,” says Paul McLellan, RNS Head of School. “Andrew Milner was a talented young man who cared about his teammates, family and friends, and the RNS community. The spirit of sportsmanship, competition, and teamwork at the tournament helps keep his memory alive.” A portion of the proceeds from the Milner Invitational will be donated to the 4AM Basketball Camp, which supports an annual scholarship in Milner’s name. 

 

Jim Harrick, 1995 NCAA National Champion, will present a Coaches Clinic and deliver a keynote address at the Banquet Dinner held on September 30th during the tournament. Harrick is the former Head Coach at UCLA, Pepperdine University, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of Georgia over a combined total of 23 seasons. 

 

Thor Olesen, Sponsorship Chair of the RNS Milner Invitational Tournament, says participants in the Saturday afternoon Coaches Clinic and Banquet Dinner attendees can expect valuable takeaways from Jim Harrick. “Coach Harrick has succeeded at the highest level of college basketball. Having someone with his experience on our campus and in our gym is truly special,” says Olesen. “If I were a young coach, an experienced coach, or even a passionate lover of the game, I would not want to miss this opportunity.” 

 

Tickets for the tournament are available at the door of the Irving Gymnasium, while tickets for the Coaches Clinic and the Banquet, featuring Harrick, can be purchased at rns.cc. The Atlantic Canadian teams will play teams from outside the Maritimes, with a championship game happening on Saturday, Sept. 30th. Event coverage will be available on the RNS Prep Basketball team’s Instagram.