VICTORIA – Nothing signals the start of basketball season like the Guy Vetrie Memorial Tournament.

Named in the honour of the late Guy Vetrie, the tournament memorializes the long-time head coach who was at the helm for 14 seasons with Vikes, including the team's last national championship season in 1996-97. Each fall, the tournament welcomes some of the top teams from across the country to face off in a series of exhibition tilts.

"Guy was a competitor through and through. He was also one heck of a player and a coach. It's a fitting tribute to him to hold this tournament each year," said Vikes Head Coach Craig Beaucamp. "This tournament serves as a great chance for us to evaluate where we are at against some of the top teams in the country."

Making the trip to the CARSA Performance Gym this year is the Carleton University Ravens, the University of Calgary Dinos and University of Regina Cougars.

The Ravens are the gold standard when it comes to university basketball in Canada. They are the defending W.P. McGee Trophy champions and have won the national championship an unprecedented 14 times. Last year, the Ravens suffocated the Dinos 84-49 in the national championship game at the Scotiabank Centre. There have only been two years in the past 16 in which the Ravens did not win the national title.

The Vikes are the Ravens closest competitors when it comes to national banners, as they check in second place with eight. The last time the Vikes hoisted the national championship was in 1997, when they defeated the McMaster University Marauders 84-73. The Vikes last Canada West title came during the 2014-15 season. It was the 16^th in the programs history.

"We, like most teams, have a lot of questions that need to get answered and this tournament will be a great opportunity to sort that out as we prepare for what we hope is a long season of winning basketball," said Beaucamp, who is entering his 17^th season in charge.

Last year, the Dinos were looking to repeat as national champions after they took the 2018 title in a nail bitter, 79-77 over the Ryerson University Rams. The Dinos only national championship broke up a seven-year run where the Ravens were the last ones standing.

The Dinos are missing a key piece this year, as the reigning Canada West MVP Mambi Diawara, has graduated. They will lean on Brett Layton, who was named to the second team All-Star last year and finished in the conference's top five in rebounding, blocked shots and field goal percentage.

This tournament serves as an opportunity to view the Dinos and Cougars, as they only travel to CARSA once every four years for regular season action because of the way the Canada West schedule is laid out.

"The Cougars were a tough team last year. They have most of their roster returning once again. I expect them to pick us up in the front court, throw a couple different presses at us and be tough on the perimeter," said Beaucamp.

The Cougars are still searching for their first Canada West and National championship, but they did finish 14-6 last season, good enough for fourth in the Canada West. They lost in the best-of-three quarter finals to the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Of their 15 players that will suit up this weekend, England's Arinze Emeka-Anyakwo is the only freshman available to Head Coach Steve Burrows.

All tournament games will be broadcast on CanadaWest.tv for those unable to attend. Starting Friday night (5 p.m.), two matches will be held each evening, with the second game following the conclusion of the first (7 p.m.) On Sunday, Oct. 6, game times will be earlier (12 p.m. and 2 p.m.) to accommodate for post-tournament travel plans. Tickets are still available online.