The Laurentian Voyageurs men's and women's basketball teams will both play their 15th game of the regular season this coming Saturday opposite the Western Mustangs.

Given a later start, the Sudbury Five will only be seven games into their first season of play in the Basketball Super League when the Montreal Toundra make a visit to northern Ontario Saturday evening.

But these will be anything but "regular" regular season games.

Partnering together for the first time ever, Laurentian and the Sudbury Five are hosting a celebration of all things basketball on January 20th at the Sudbury Arena, the stage set for a triple header of game action with tipoffs at 1:00 p.m. (L.U. women), 3:00 p.m. (L.U. men) and 7:00 p.m. (the Five).

"The ambience will be a little different, maybe a little intimidating, but I think we're just really excited for the opportunity to play in a bigger arena," said Voyageur freshman Molly Adams, the youngest player on the women's team this year at just 18 years of age.

"It's huge - especially for women's basketball."

Hitting for double digits on a couple of occasions already this year, including a season-high 14 point effort against Nipissing (Dec. 2nd), the native of Bancroft has enjoyed a solid first year with elements to build on, moving forward.

"Coach (Jason Hurley) has been very supportive in getting the first years on the court, getting us some exposure," said Adams. "I still have a long, long way to go with my confidence - but I'm grateful for the opportunity to be mentored by our older players."

A native of Brooklyn Centre (Minnesota) who graduated from Barry University (Miami) before suiting up with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G-League last year, Sudbury Five newcomer Landon Kirkwood can relate to the anticipation the OUA athletes must feel as they ready themselves for the special event.

"It's a tremendous opportunity to play in front of professional coaches - and just to show off their talents," said the 26 year-old guard. "Just to be able to be around professional athletes and pick their brains, if they want - and to watch some great basketball, at the end of the day."

Like so many members of these three teams, Kirkwood knows full well that growing the sport he loves in an area that appears ready to embrace basketball at all levels is critical to the success of every single cog in this engine.

"I played in the NBA G-League last year and I can tell you that Sudbury has better fans than the majority of those teams that we played against there," he said. "It's just fun to have that feeling of community around, to have kids come to you to sign autographs because they actually care about the team and the players."

"That's what draws me here, day in and day out."

It's a sense that permeates even for those who make the move to pursue their studies in Sudbury.

"As a member of the Laurentian basketball team, the big thing we talk about is community," noted rookie Keenan Morain, a 6'8" forward from Oakville. "It extends off the court, in your day to day activities, helping wherever you can."

Already sold on the energy that comes part and parcel of the Laurentian Pot Bangers brigade at the Ben Avery Gym, Pierre Mukandila (Gatineau, PQ) is hoping that bigger is better when the Mustangs visit this weekend.

"I honestly think it should be even better (than Ben Avery) - we have more space for our fans," he suggested. "If everybody comes out, it should be a really fun environment."

Nothing would make Sudbury Five head coach/GM Logan Stutz happier.

"Laurentian jumped all over this," he said. "They wanted to make it happen; we wanted to make it happen - not just for them and for us, but for the basketball community. We all want to see basketball grow in this community."

Half-time festivities will include mini-games with members of the GSBA (Greater Sudbury Basketball Association), as well as a special recognition of the 1997-1998 Laurentian men's team during the break of the Five-Toundra encounter.

Looking to fill the arena, ticket prices for the entire day have been set at just $5 for students and $15 for adults.