Brandon University men's basketball dynasty honoured into Canada West Hall of Fame

Jan. 30, 2026 - One of the most dominant dynasties in Canadian university sport history has earned its place among the conference’s all-time greats, as the Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball teams from 1987, 1988, and 1989 have been inducted into the Canada West Hall of Fame in the Team category.

Guided by legendary head coach Jerry Hemmings, the Bobcats captured three consecutive national championships from 1987 to 1989, a remarkable achievement that cemented Brandon University’s reputation as a national powerhouse.

The Bobcats will honour their 1987–89 dynasty teams during a special ceremony prior to their game against the MacEwan Griffins later this evening. Fans can stream the game live on Canada West TV - Powered by BioSteel, with tip-off slated for 8 p.m. CT.

The Bobcats men's basketball dynasty is one of eight inductees named to the Canada West Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025-26, which was unveiled earlier this month. Legendary Bobcats forward Patrick Jebbison, who played an instrumental part in the Bobcats dynasty, was also inducted into the Athlete category.

Fans can view all Canada West Hall of Fame inductees on the Canada West Hall of Fame website.

Brandon Bobcats Men's Basketball 1987-89 Dynasty ​ - Team Category

The Brandon University Bobcats men’s basketball program reached unprecedented heights between 1987 and 1989, capturing three straight national championships and establishing one of the most dominant stretches in Canadian university basketball history.

The dynasty began in 1987, when the Bobcats captured the program’s first-ever national title behind the leadership of five-time First Team All-Canadian John Carson. Brandon advanced to the championship game with victories over the Concordia Stingers in the quarter-finals and the McMaster Marauders in the semifinals, before defeating the UBC Thunderbirds 74-66 in the national final. Carson delivered a signature moment late in the game with a thunderous dunk that sealed the victory, finishing with a game-high 38 points and earning tournament Most Valuable Player honours.

Brandon’s 1987 championship run was built on dominance at the conference level as well. Carson scored 34 points to lead the Bobcats past the Winnipeg Wesmen 100-88 to claim the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) title and secure qualification to nationals.

The Bobcats showed no signs of slowing down the following season, led by a breakout campaign from Patrick Jebbison, who was named the Mike Moser Memorial Award winner as top men’s basketball player in Canada. Brandon went undefeated in GPAC play during 1987-88, crushing the Regina Cougars 95-72 to claim the conference championship, and entered the national tournament as the top seed. At nationals, the Bobcats defeated the Carleton Ravens 82-69 in the quarter-finals and the Western Mustangs 73-65 in the semifinals before closing out with an 81-68 victory over the Acadia Axemen in the championship game. The win capped a remarkable 30-game winning streak, with Whitney Dabney pouring in a game-high 29 points and six rebounds to earn tournament MVP honours.

The championship hat trick was completed in 1989, as Brandon once again ruled the GPAC and claimed the conference title for the eighth time in ten years. Joey Vickery scored 21 first-half points in a decisive 95-75 win over Regina to sweep the best-of-three league final and secure Brandon’s place at nationals.

At the national championship, the Bobcats advanced to the final with a quarter-final victory over the Concordia Stingers and a semifinal win against the Toronto Varsity Blues. Brandon then edged long-time rival Victoria 74-73 in a dramatic championship game. After seeing a 16-point lead trimmed to two late, the Bobcats preserved the victory with a defining defensive play from Jebbison, who delivered a critical blocked shot in the final seconds. Vickery led the way with 20 points, six steals, and three rebounds, becoming the first-ever recipient of the Jack Donohue Trophy as tournament MVP. Jebbison was also honoured with his second consecutive national player of the year award.

Together, the 1987, 1988, and 1989 Brandon University Bobcats teams established a standard of excellence that has endured for decades. The teams have since been recognized on a local and provincial level, being inducted in to the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005, the Brandon University Sports Wall of Fame in 2014, and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2019.

ABOUT THE CANADA WEST HALL OF FAME

For the last century, organized university sport has been a central part of the student experience at institutions across Western Canada. Beginning with the University of Manitoba capturing the first Western Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (WCIAU) men's hockey banner in 1919-20, student-athletes have been competing to reach their full potential in sport and the classroom, while enriching campus life. 

To commemorate 100 years of university sport across Western Canada, the Canada West Hall of Fame was created in the spring of 2019. This year's induction class will be unveiled throughout the 2025-26 season.