A men’s and women’s Division 1 basketball tournament hosted by Dawson College, featuring 10 of the most competitive teams in Canada, has been a tradition each October. The 2026 edition is taking place Oct. 9 to 11.

The Joel Tyrell Basketball Classic has a deep tradition within Canada’s basketball community. Beginning in the late 1970s as the Hagen, as that company was the title sponsor. It then morphed into the Dawson Fall Classic (men’s tournament) and Dawson Winter Classic (women’s tournament) around 2014. Finally, it was recombined and  renamed the Joel Tyrell Classic in 2023, the year after dedicated long-time Athletics staff member Joel Tyrell retired. A fitting tribute to a beloved Dawson employee after working at the College for 49 years. Not only a valuable member of the Dawson community, Tyrell was also inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

The tournament happens preseason for the Quebec and Ontario teams. It is really an opportunity for the schools to see how they measure up against one another with an eye on national rankings and the spring 2027 CCAA Basketball Nationals at Mohawk College (men’s) and Columbia Bible College (women’s).

This edition will see the women’s division made up of Mohawk College (Ontario), Montmorency (Quebec), Ahuntsic (Quebec), Humber College (Ontario), Durham College (Ontario), Loyalist College (Ontario), and our Dawson Blues. The men’s division features Humber College, Ahuntsic, Mohawk College, Vanier College (Quebec), Durham College, John Abbott College (Quebec), Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf (Quebec), Cégep de Thetford (Quebec), and our Dawson Blues.

It is guaranteed to be an exciting weekend with a thrilling lineup! There’s a game for everyone!

Come out and support our men’s and women’s Blues as they take the court. Teams will be running food concession stands as a fundraiser so you can enjoy snacks and drinks courtside. 

Friday, October 9

Women – 5 PM Dawson vs. Durham

Men – 9 PM Dawson vs. Algonquin

Saturday, October 10

Women – 3 PM Dawson vs. Humber

Sunday, October 11

Women – 10:15 AM Dawson vs. Mohawk

Men – 1:45 PM Dawson vs. Humber

Ticket Prices:

Kids under 12 – free all weekend

Friday: $10 (one admission price allowing you to watch all games)

Saturday and Sunday: $15 (per day – all games)

Tickets must be purchased on site. Cards only; no cash accepted.

-by Carey-Ann Pawsey