They may have been wearing Acadia colours when Carleton battled the Axemen in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) quarter-final March 9, but Anthony Ashe and Sean Stoqua are forever tied to the Ravens program.
The game resembled a reunion of sorts for the two men, who took the court against friends and former coaches when the Ravens topped the Axemen 82-64 in both teams’ CIS Final 8 tournament openers.
Ravens head coach Dave Smart was full of praise for both Ashe and Stoqua following the exciting contest, in which the two combined for 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Both men played with Smart’s Ottawa Guardsmen club before their respective collegiate careers, and the coach said he remains in contact with each of them throughout the year.
Ashe in particular is very familiar with the Ravens program. The Stittsville, Ont. native transferred to Acadia after winning a national championship with Carleton in 2009.
“I’m really happy that he’s found a home where he’s enjoying himself and getting the opportunity to play big minutes,” Smart said.
Carleton’s loss was Acadia’s gain.
In addition to his offensive skill and versatility (he can play either at guard or forward), Ashe has been relied upon for his leadership abilities with an Axemen squad that doesn’t have a single senior. The former Raven is one of only three players on the team in their third year of eligibility.
“[Ashe] is a great player; he is very talented and he can shoot the ball very well,” said fifth-year Ravens guard Elliot Thompson.
Thompson got a first-hand look at that shooting ability when Ashe drained a three-pointer over his outstretched arm in the fourth quarter. Thompson was quick to return the favour, however, knocking down a shot from beyond the arc with Ashe draped all over him.
It was a scene the two men encountered many times during their practice days in the Ravens’ Nest.
“It was fun because I played with them growing up, so you always want to play well against guys that you know,” said Ashe, who finished tied for a team-high with 13 points, while also picking up two steals on the afternoon.
The 6’4” wingman said his experience playing in the Ravens system certainly didn’t hurt his cause on the court in Halifax.
“It might have helped a bit, just knowing a couple ins-and-outs with some of the guys,” he said.
Given his impressive 2011-2012 season in Wolfville, N.S., Ashe clearly proved he’s a talented baller. It’s a fact Smart is quick to point out. Ashe was simply a victim of the numbers game during his time in the nation’s capital, said the Ravens bench boss.
While he was on the roster in 2009, Carleton boasted the likes of Thompson, Cole Hobin and Mike Kenny. The team had also secured the services of Philip Scrubb for the following year, meaning Ashe would have yet another player to jump over in the pecking order if he wanted significant playing time.
“He’s a hell of a talent, and we never questioned his talent,” Smart said. “He would have played, and he would’ve been a huge part of our program, but I’m so happy that he’s doing well with Acadia.”
While Ashe got the opportunity to experience life as a Raven, his new teammate is in a slightly different scenario.
The younger of the two players, Stoqua decided to attend Acadia after playing with the Guardsmen since he was a grade eight student. But things could have turned out very differently for the standout freshman.
Stoqua is a two-sport athlete who competes both on the court and on the gridiron. The Ottawa native said he would have seriously considered Carleton if they had a football team already in place.
“Another big part of it was that I wanted to take kinesiology, but Carleton didn’t have that program,” he said. “But it definitely would have helped, if they had a football team, for sure.”
Stoqua enjoyed a very impressive rookie campaign. It’s the type of season that makes it nearly impossible to question his decision. As a defensive back with the Axemen football team, Stoqua lifted the Atlantic University Sport championship earlier this year, before doing the same with the basketball team earlier in the month.
On the hardwood this season, the 5’11” point guard led his team in assists and steals. He also finished just behind Ashe in points with 12.4 per game, despite joining the team late because of his football commitments.
His impact on the Axemen was not lost on Smart, who said he spent the entire week telling his team “not to underestimate what [Stoqua] can do.”
“It’s very much like what Greg Carter brings to Lakehead, [Stoqua] does that as a freshman,” Smart said. “He’s just so tough and he’s such a competitive kid.”
Considering Carter was just named the CIS defensive player of the year, it’s a compliment that Stoqua welcomed with a smile.
“It’s different, because when I played for him, you never really got that,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s really good to hear coming from him, and being able to play against them was definitely pretty special.”
With Acadia able to bring back its entire roster next season, Ashe and Stoqua may get another chance to put one over on some of their old friends and make the experience that much better. And if they do return to the CIS Final 8, they’ll also return to where it all began as the tournament shifts back to Ottawa next season.
