Skip to content

Abbotsford’s Friesen wins NBL title

Former Yale Lion part of Halifax Hurricanes championship team
77225abbotsford160617-ABB-friesen
Abbotsford’s Joel Friesen spends some quality time with the NBL title after Halifax’s win on Monday.

Add another basketball championship to the sparkling resume of Abbotsford basketball product Joel Friesen.

The Yale Secondary grad won a championship in high school with the Lions, a college championship with the University of Alberta, and on Monday won a professional championship with the Halifax Hurricanes of the National Basketball League.

The Hurricanes defeated the London Lightning 125-117 in game seven of the NBL championship series to capture the crown. Friesen, who also starred on the UFV Cascades during his college career, was a key contributor for the Hurricanes at the guard position during the finals, highlighted by a 28-point performance in game two. He hit seven of 10 shots from long distance to lead the Hurricanes to a 133-119 win in that game.

The title win caps off a rookie season for the Hurricanes and Friesen that saw the team finish with 29 wins and 11 losses in the regular season, before going on a playoff run that saw them sweep both the Island Storm and Saint John Mill Rats to advance to the finals.

"We overcame so much adversity this year as a team and to come out on top in this fashion is an absolute blessing," Friesen stated.

The Hurricanes will attempt to defend their title starting in December.



Ben Lypka

About the Author: Ben Lypka

I joined the Abbotsford News in 2015.
Read more