You won't want to miss this! The University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's basketball team will battle the Duke Blue Devils on Friday, August 17 at 6 p.m., at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ont.
 
Duke will face off against Ryerson University and University of Toronto at Hershey Centre, and McGill University at Place Bell in Montreal. The tour will take place August 15-19, with all three games set to be broadcast by ESPN in the United States, and TSN and RDS in Canada.
 
"It is an exciting opportunity for the Varsity Blues athletes and staff," said U of T head coach John Campbell. "We look forward to taking on one of the top programs in collegiate basketball in a tremendous environment on Canadian soil. This is the perfect way to begin our 2018-19 season."
 
It marks the first time that the Duke men's basketball team will travel to Canada. The Blue Devils, who are led by the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history, Mike Krzyzewski, will be debuting their No. 1 ranked freshman class.
 
"We are excited about the opportunity to be tested against three quality basketball programs in Canada this summer," said Krzyzewski. "More than a third of our roster includes players competing for the first time as collegians. The practices and games associated with the tour will allow us to bond as a team, while providing us with a terrific educational opportunity to see another country and two amazing cities – Toronto and Montreal. It should be especially fun for one of our newcomers, R.J. Barrett, who will be home."
 
Barrett enters his freshman year at Duke with more high school accolades than any other Canadian in history. Barrett won the Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Player of the Year en route to an undefeated season and a national championship at Montverde Academy in Florida. Barrett also led Canada to its first-ever gold medal at an international FIBA competition at the U19 Basketball World Cup in 2017. This past April, Barrett helped guide the World Selects to a Nike Hoops Summit title in Portland.
 
The games will be played at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, and Place Bell in Laval, Quebec. The 5,395 seat Hershey Centre is home to the Toronto Raptors' G League affiliate, Raptors 905. Place Bell is a 10,000 seat multi-purpose venue, which houses the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate, Laval Rocket (Rocket de Laval).
 
SCHEDULE
August 15, 2018, 7 p.m. ET — Game No. 1 vs. Ryerson Rams — Hershey Centre
August 17, 2018, 6 p.m. ET — Game No. 2 vs. Toronto Varsity Blues — Hershey Centre
August 19, 2018, 3 p.m. ET — Game No. 3 vs. McGill Redmen — Place Bell
 
TICKETS
For tickets, please visit: DukeCanadaTour.com. Fans can choose from a number of different options. Hospitality packages are also available, including marketing assets, executive boxes and courtside suites. Tickets for the general public will go on sale in early June. More details to come.
 
ABOUT DUKE CANADA TOUR
The Duke Canada Tour is a three-game exhibition series between the Duke men's basketball team and Ryerson University, University of Toronto, and McGill University. The tour will take place in Toronto and Montreal, Canada from August 13-19, 2018. This will be the first time that the Blue Devils historic freshman class, led by Canadian R.J. Barrett, will suit up together. MEDIA
 
CONTACTS
For all media inquiries regarding Duke Men's Basketball, please contact Mike DeGeorge. For all Duke Canada Tour event information, and to apply for media credentials, please contact Matt Bontorin.
 
Mike DeGeorge
Director of Sports Information, Duke Men's Basketball
E: michael.degeorge@duke.edu
P: 1 (919) 668-1712
 
Matt Bontorin
Public Relations Manager, SBX Group
E: mbontorin@wearesbx.com
P: 1 (517) 899-5290 (United States)
P: 1 (647) 381-1463 (Canada)