A local athlete who had travelled to the United States to play basketball is back home and will finish his degree at MacEwan University.
Sunniebend’s Dustin Gatzki, 21, is the latest addition to the Griffins men’s basketball team.
“It feels good, all my friends and family are here so they’re glad I’m staying here and that they can watch now,” he said. “I’ll probably finish my business degree and see where that takes me.”
Having spent last year playing at Eastern Wyoming College, Gatzki noted he found some subtle differences between the Canadian and American games.
“In Canada, they really like their fundamentals,” said Gatzki. “In the United States, they like a faster paced, more aggressive game.”
While he admits he prefers the faster pace of American style, he added that there was something to be said for the Canadian skill-oriented variety of play as well.
“Basketball is a team sport and that’s how it should be played,” he said.
“The coaches at MacEwan are definitely there for the players. They know their stuff and they’re here to push us further.”
His coach, Eric Magdanz, said that he had known of Gatzki through his time playing club basketball in Edmonton, but it was his physical abilities that made him stand out.
“The first thing you notice with Dustin is his remarkable athleticism,” he said.
“He can run, he can jump. But the deeper you look into his game the more you understand that not only is he a great athlete but he’s also highly skilled. He’s a player who understands the game of basketball and really thinks his way through it.
“When you can combine athleticism with someone who’s skilled and smart, that really caught our eyes that he could be someone who is a really pivotal player for us.
“We rely a lot more on skill up here than just pure athleticism. The ability to shoot and move the ball and play off your teammates is far more important here in Canada.”
With a few years left to complete his degree, Gatzki will be shooting for the Griffins for a while. He noted that he was already looking beyond his post-secondary career.
“College is nowhere close to where I want to end up,” said Gatzki. “I’m definitely looking to go farther and further.”
The Griffins’ training camp kicks off Aug. 28 and the team hits the court for the regular season Oct. 29.
