Bronx, N.Y. (August 6, 2014) – With a young roster, featuring five freshmen and two sophomores who did not see action last year, team unity will be a big factor in the success of the 2014-2015 Fordham University men's basketball program. To get a jump on the season, head coach
Tom Pecora will lead his troops north of the border to Canada as the Rams will take a foreign trip to Montreal from August 24-30.
"This is a great opportunity for us to bond as a team and develop team chemistry," said Pecora. "With so many new guys it will be important to get everyone on the same page as soon as possible. The four games, along with the ten practices we are allowed prior to the trip, will be a big help to us going forward."
The Rams will have a built in tour guide for the trip as one of the freshman, guard
Nemanja Zarkovic , is from the Canadian City of Angels, having graduated from Collège Jean-De-Brébeuf, a school founded by the Jesuits.
Fordham will open the trip by facing Concordia University on Monday, August 25, and then play the University of Laval on Tuesday, August 26. After an off day, the Rams return to action on Thursday, August 28 with a game against McGill University and then close out the trip with a game against
Zarkovic's former club team, Brookwood Elite, at his former school on Friday, August 29. All games will start at 7:00 PM.
The trip won't be all work as the Rams will also have time to take in the sights of the city, including Mount Royal Park, Old Montreal and the Notre Dame Basilica, and Olympic Stadium. The team will also take a day trip to Quebec City.
Some fun facts about Montreal:
- It is the second largest French-speaking city in the world (behind only Paris – but that's okay because Nemanja Zarkovic speaks French).
- Montreal has the highest number of restaurants per capita in Canada and the second highest in North America after New York City (so the Rams should have no problem finding a place to eat).
- There are 4,445 licensed taxis in Montreal (but the Rams will be traveling by bus).
- Like Manhattan, Montreal is an island.
- 85% of the world's maple syrup comes from Québec, Montréal's Provence (something the Rams will be thinking of as they pour the sweet stuff on their pancakes each morning).
- Brooklyn has The Cyclone but Montreal's La Ronde Amusement Park has The Monster, the highest double wooden roller coaster in the world.
This is the first foreign trip for the Rams since the 2007-2008 squad traveled to The Bahamas.
Photos, video and game highlights of the trip will be available on FordhamSports.com. You can also follow along on the Fordham Men's Basketball Twitter page (@FordhamBball) or the Athletic Department's Twitter page (@FordhamRams).
