Trevor Bligh will host 18 guests this weekend B次元官网网址� all under the age of 17.

Crazy? Perhaps.

But the coach of the Sooke Sonics boysB次元官网网址� basketball team will welcome the players with open arms B次元官网网址� all for international goodwill.

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The Sooke Basketball Club hosts a high school team from Nyborg, Denmark for a set of games at Edward Milne Community School on Thursday and Friday.

The Danish team has visited B.C. every two years since 2007, and on off years makes it way to Gainsville, Fla. This yearB次元官网网址檚 trip itinerary includes Sooke, Courtenay, and Vancouver.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 something we get super excited about when they arrive,B次元官网网址� Bligh said.

The relationship between Nyborg and Sooke began more than 13 years ago when Sooke resident Todd Kozinka introduced Bligh to Danish coach Craig Peterson. Both Peterson and Kozinka were teammates at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.

The relationship blossomed last year when Bligh was a guest coach when the Danes made their trip to Florida.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never had a coaching mentor, so the opportunity to work with Craig Peterson and (assistant coach) Geof Kotila was inspiring and awesome,B次元官网网址� Bligh said.

Bligh brought back the skills he learned in Florida and adapted them to the Canadian game.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a whole other basketball culture. European basketball is more soccer oriented where itB次元官网网址檚 ball distribution and sharing of the ball, not so much the North American ball hog mentality,B次元官网网址� Bligh said.

Still, the international ball games are more for player development and creating goodwill between nations.

Both Bligh and Peterson said the success of the program has helped bring the two communities together.

And itB次元官网网址檚 not just about basketball.

B次元官网网址淭hey create friendships that last forever,B次元官网网址� said Bligh, adding several players have returned to visit both Canada and Denmark over the years.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great for the players to stay with families from this area,B次元官网网址� Peterson said.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment not lost on Bligh.

SIDELINES B次元官网网址� The Sooke Sonics play their first game against Denmark at 4 p.m. Thursday (May 16). The two teams go at it again on Friday at 5 p.m. Both games are at EMCS B次元官网网址� The Sonics played well in a recent up-Island road trip, going 3-1 against teams from Nanaimo, Courtenay and Comox. B次元官网网址淚 was really super happy with the kids,B次元官网网址� Bligh said. B次元官网网址淭hey played well.B次元官网网址�

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editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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