CAPERS Weekend Brings Alumni and Community Together

From October 4-6, generations of CAPERS athletes and fans will come together for CAPERS Weekend, presented by Protocase, as part of CBU’s 50th Anniversary festivities. The weekend aims to recognize 50 years of athletic and recreation success at CBU and includes the celebration of four new inductees to the Dr. Carl “Bucky” Buchanan CAPERS Hall of Fame, exhibition basketball games and regular season soccer games amongst other activities. 

The weekend also marks the return of two iconic groups of CAPERS athletes who hold a special place in the University’s athletic history. Members of the 1994 Men’s Basketball Team and 2004 Women’s Basketball Team will be returning to the Sullivan Fieldhouse to join in the celebrations and reminisce about their time in orange and green. Both teams represent pivotal moments in CAPERS history, having played a crucial role in shaping the legacy of CBU athletics. 

For the 1994 CAPERS, this year marks the 30th anniversary of their Championship season, the first AUAA Championship won by Cape Breton University. Under the leadership of Head Coach, Tim McGarrigle, who took home AUS Coach of the Year that season, the 1994 Capers edged out the University of Prince Edward Island with a final score of 74-69 to take home the AUS gold.

“I am extremely excited to welcome back members of our 1994 AUAA winning Men’s Basketball Team,” says John Ryan, Director of Athletics and Recreation and CAPERS Alumnus. “It was a very memorable season for us winning the first AUAA title in any sport for then UCCB. The University, fans and community were so supportive of us and this drive to a championship. It will be very special to see my teammates again and to reminisce on the journey to the championships.” 

Known for their resilience and skill, the ‘94 team laid the groundwork for future success in CAPERS men’s basketball, and their return brings back memories of thrilling games, hard-fought victories and camaraderie that has continued for decades. 

“It will be such an honour to return to the place where it started for all of us,” says Alumnus, Terry Wright. “It’s going to be an amazing weekend of reconnecting with past teammates and friends while also supporting our current generation of fine student-athletes on the hardwood and soccer field. Winning the school’s first banner is something we’re very proud of. On that amazing day the entire Cape Breton community was behind us and we will never forget it.”

Alumni from the 2004 CAPERS women’s team will return with a sense of pride and accomplishment, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the gold medal game that granted the University its first women’s title. On a cold Sunday at the Oland Centre in Antigonish, the CAPERS took down Memorial with a score of 67-61 to solidify their mark on CBU’s history books. Their incredible run and dominance on the court, backed by teamwork and sheer determination elevated women’s basketball at CBU to new heights. This team didn’t just win games – they helped define what it meant to be a CAPER, leaving a lasting legacy that athletes draw inspiration from to this day.

“As a proud member of the CAPERS women’s basketball team, coming back for CAPERS Weekend during CBU’s 50th anniversary feels like a full circle moment,” says Alumna, Sharalee Ruiz, “I’m excited to reconnect with my teammates and celebrate alongside all the basketball alumni who love CBU. My husband, who played soccer for CBU, and I have such incredible memories of our time at CBU.”

For CAPERS Alumni throughout history, this return to the Sullivan Fieldhouse is not just a trip down memory lane, but a reminder of the enduring impact they had on the basketball program and the wider university community. Each student-athlete who has donned orange and green has contributed to the legacy of the athletics program at CBU, and CAPERS Weekend is a celebration of their contributions and continued success. 

To view a full schedule of events, visit cbu.ca/capers-weekend