‘It’s always an outstanding experience’
Coal Bowl provided quality competition, hospitality from the start: Veinot
Kevin Veinot says from the time the New Waterford Coal Bowl Classic began in 1982, it provided quality high school basketball competition and that hasn’t changed over the years.
Veinot, the assistant coach with the Northeast Kings Titans who played in this year’s tournament earlier this month, participated in both the inaugural and third Coal Bowl Classic tournaments and left the former coal mining town with lifelong memories.
“We didn’t know what to expect when we first attended but when we got there we were blown away by the quality of players and teams,” said Veinot, who is also the principal at Northeast Kings.
“What was most outstanding was the hospitality of the Cape Breton folks, whether it was the staff at the school or the community members that we got to meet, it amazed us at how considerate and helpful the community was to us.”
Veinot first played in the tournament in his Grade 10 year with Park View Education Centre of Bridgewater. He returned to New Waterford with the school two years later in his Grade 12 year, which is a memory he won’t forget.
“We played in the championship in 1984 and played possibly the best team to ever attend the tournament, a team by the name of George Harvey.”
Unfortunately, Veinot and Park View weren’t successful in winning the tournament that year but the experience of playing the York, Ont., school was something each player valued.
“All 12 of their players could dunk and watching them in the warm-up, I remember it was amazing,” said Veinot, who also won a gold medal at Breton Education Centre as a member of Team Nova Scotia at the Canada Winter Games in 1987.
“They had a very strong group of athletes. Every one of those players went on to play either Division 1 in the United
States or university basketball – it’s quite impressive looking back.”
THE EXPERIENCE
At the time Veinot attended the event, the Coal Bowl Classic tradition was just beginning. However, there are many similar features to the prestigious tournament that remain to this day.
“Living in the classrooms with all 12 guys and sleeping on bunk beds hasn’t changed and it’s a different aspect that not a lot of teams have a chance to experience,” said the now 56-year-old Veinot.
“Being able to take part in the local tours at places like the Miner’s Museum was an eyeopening experience and I’m sure it was for the kids as well, so just everything about the tournament is outstanding.”
Along with the living situation, players from each team have plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. In fact, the social aspect of the tournament often trumps the basketball side of things for many clubs.
“Being in that one wing of the school was awesome and there were lots of friendships made,” said Veinot. “It’s nice that they haven’t taken that aspect away from the tournament – it’s a positive thing for our student-athletes.”
Veinot said being able to live together throughout the tournament can have positive and negative effects on teams.
“When you spend a week living with one another you’re either going to get closer as a team or you’re going to completely be divided. In both years I played, we all became closer.”
COMING BACK
Following his time with Park View, Veinot was recruited to play university basketball with the Acadia Axemen. The Port Williams product would have success with the team, winning Atlantic University Sport championships and playing for national titles.
While studying to become a teacher and playing basketball, Veinot was invited back to
New Waterford to be a guest speaker at the tournament’s annual banquet.
“It was an opportunity for me to get back to the tournament and share my experience playing, what the sport meant to me, where it took me and the opportunities that they had in front of them.”
Veinot, a married father of three children, later played professional basketball before returning to Nova Scotia where continued his career in the education field.
BASKETBALL FAMILY
The Veinot family is no stranger to the basketball community in Atlantic Canada and is still on the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) scene and history books.
Along with Kevin, his wife Jennifer also played university basketball with the UNB Reds and was named the conference's MVP in 1990-91.
Meanwhile, the couple’s son Keevan suited up for the Dalhousie Tigers men’s basketball program and was named the AUS MVP in 2019-20. He’s currently playing professional basketball with Leeuwarden in the Netherlands.
Veinot’s daughter Jayda played with the Acadia Axewomen, who knocked off Cape Breton in the AUS final last year in Halifax, and was named the conference MVP She’s currently playing with the Reds.
THE TITANS
The Titans went 2-2 at the tournament, beating Polyvalente de L'Ancienne-Lorette 64-38 and Strait Area Education Recreation Centre 54-52 while losing 65-57 to Hants North Rural High School and the host Breton Education Centre Bears 88-52.
“Our team is a young group this year after we graduated nine or 10 players last year,” said Veinot. “Our team has come around, they’re playing half-decent basketball. Having the chance to play the Bears Thursday was outstanding because we had never played in front of a crowd that big before.”
The Bears defeated Riverview Rural High School 73-62 to win the tournament.