A Look at Red Deer’s Queens and Kings Basketball

Article submitted by Muhammad Nouman, photos from RDP Athletics

US college basketball often gets all the limelight, but Canadian basketball is seriously pulling off amazing feats in the sport. Situated in Red Deer, Alberta is Red Deer Polytechnic, a university that takes its sports and athletics seriously.
The school was founded in 1964 as Red Deer College but changed its name in 2021 to Red Deer Polytechnic. On the academic side, they offer apprenticeships, certificates, degrees, and micro-credentials. All this is impressive, but we are more interested in their sport.

Let’s take a look at what’s happening in Red Deer basketball at the moment.

A closer look at the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings

The Red Deer Kings and Queens just recently finished their season. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for the Kings after losing 87-81 to the Ambrose Lions and then beating them 95-78 the following day. Talk about nail-biting. During the first game, the Kings were looking good in the first half, but the Ambrose University Lions showed amazing offensive skill in the second half.

Coming out on top is Tyronn King with 23 points in the first Red Deer-Lions game and 13 points in the following game. On top of this, Tyronn King added eight of his team’s 43 rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Other players to notice are Kevin Szymanek, who recorded a double-double – 10 points and 12 boards, and Eduardo Crespo who totaled 19 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals, and a block.

Big changes for the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings

Speaking of Kings player’s rosters and who to look out for, Eduardo Crespo deserves some extra attention. Tyronn King, the Red Deer’s favorite is playing out his final season at the moment and the King’s head coach, Darren Graham has been scoping out a potential new leader for the team. At this point, Eduardo Crespo seems to be the most obvious choice. Eduardo Crespo is a 6 foot 4 international player who feels most comfortable playing in the “point guard” position. He recently moved over to Red Deer Polytechnic with high hopes of completing his degree as well as pouring energy into the King’s team, this means that he will be an asset to the team for another 4 to 5 seasons.

Crespo’s arrival at Red Deer has been a huge win for the Kings. He has international playing experience from his time in Spain and Italy and although he prefers “point guard”, is an incredibly talented well-rounded player. If you look at his stats, he is 2nd to Tyronn King with an average of 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 27.6 minutes per game. On top of that, Crespo has doubled his figures in the last 5 games.

A closer look at the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens

It’s been a celebration as this is the first season that the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Basketball team has returned to the playoffs since the 2009/2010 season. Scoring well in their final, regular-season home game against the Lions, the Queen team locked in the fifth spot in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) South Division standings.

Current Interim Head Coach, Ed Major, has high hopes for the game to follow the Queens-Lions match when they go up against Medicine Hat. The previous game against Medicine Hat was held in November and Amy Szymanek was a player that stood out with a double-double, 26 points, and 11 rebounds. Another player who deserves a hat tip is Sophie Melin who scored an additional 15 points.

The Queens had a similar fate to the Kings with the Ambrose Lions, losing in the first game against the Lions (69-62) and coming out on top in the second game, scoring 83 points while the Lions only scored 74. Lauren France stood out in the second game, scoring a total of 25 points and going seven-for-17 from the three-point range.

Big changes for the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens

Much like the Kings, the Queens have been experiencing some major shifts and changes of their own. The most notable of these changes is the first mid-season coaching change in over 50 years. Mandy Botham, the team’s previous coach, resigned unexpectedly during the Christmas break and those in command had to scramble to find a replacement.

Luckily, Ed Major was up to the challenge and jumped at the opportunity. Major has ample experience with Alberta college basketball and had been keeping an eye on the Queens for some time. Prior to 2022, Major had been coaching for Notre Dame. He is confident that he can lead the Queens from their current 3-3 to a potential 5-1.

The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens have proven to be much more efficient from the free-throw line (65.6 to 58.9%) and in the three-point range (31.2 to 27%). The team plans to tackle their opponents “guns a blazing,” says Ed Major, they intend to give it their all.

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The competitive disparity is so large that earlier this year, the legislature passed Bill 48, also known as the iGaming Alberta Act, to try to bring offshore operators under a regulated regime by opening up Alberta’s market to private operators. At a press conference before the bill was tabled, Minister Nally was frank enough to recognize the reality: online gambling grows in the province regardless of legislation, and if Bill 48 is defeated, that will not prevent offshore gambling from expanding.

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A player who deposits the same amount at an average offshore site can get a matching bonus of up to 100% of the deposit amount up to $2,000, with the addition of 200 bonus spins. The difference is stark, as pointed out above. PlayAlberta has asserted that responsible and sustainable play is important. However, against larger bonuses, the decision of many players is clear.

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Published on November 16, 2025

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The NHL has officially confirmed the inclusion of its players in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy, following a 12-year absence that left the fans craving the excitement of the real best-on-best international hockey. The announcement is a historical event, as it goes back to the Olympic arena where the hockey powerhouse nations of the world will eventually be faced with their complete NHL prowess.

The ruling has not only shaken the hockey fraternity but also the sports fraternity at large, as it has generated early predictions, betting debates, and revived rivalries. Also, such large websites as GGBet, where many fans place their bets, have also been on the lookout, offering odds and analysis on which country will win gold.

A Long-Awaited Comeback

Since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, NHL players have not been given the chance to play in the Olympics. The spectators have since witnessed world championships that, even though competitive, did not have the superstar appeal of Olympic hockey. This decision of the league in selecting the players to Milan-Cortina is a recreation of the desires of the NHL and the international arena to become one again.

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The Tournament Breakdown

The event in hockey will take place between 11 and 22 February 2026, and the team count will be 12, which will be divided into three groups:

● A: Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France.
● B: Italy, Finland, Sweden, Slovakia.
● C: Latvia, Denmark, the US, Germany.

The teams will be playing three pre-elimination games followed by play-off, which will lead to the final match, and a gold medal will be given on February 22.

Slovakia is going to play against Finland, and Sweden against Italy. Team USA starts playing on February 12, and Team Canada plays against Czechia. The matches would all be at either the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or the Rho Ice Hockey Arena, both in Milan.

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It is not only entertainment but a legacy that the NHL has gone back to the Olympics. To the league, it reestablishes itself as the world body in professional hockey. To players, it makes their lifelong dream of playing in the national team a reality in the biggest sporting arena. And to fans, it revives the magic that made such moments as Crosby scoring his Golden Goal in Vancouver 2010 unforgettable.

Nevertheless, beyond the ice, such a move will make the NHL more global and strengthen the new generation of sportsmen. The Games of 2026 are expected to achieve a huge global following, whereby fans in North America, Europe, and other continents will be reached.

Looking Ahead

As the opening of February 2026 approaches, the teams are plotting, investigating, and preparing to contest a tournament that numerous people are calling the most competitive Olympic hockey tournament to date. The already existing dream is Canada vs. USA, Finland vs. Sweden, and national pride will clash against the NHL-type talent.

Final Thoughts

It is not a sports story, but a cultural phenomenon because NHL players are returning to the 2026 Winter Olympics. It is an embodiment of unity, excellence, and the unadulterated affection of hockey. The fans all around the world are eagerly awaiting the days when the puck will drop in Milan and they will be watching a show that has been 12 years in the making.

The tournament will not be remembered for the successive gold medals, but rather for the first face-off to the final gold medal celebration. It can be either your country that wins; it could be just watching the magic, but in any case, one thing is certain: the Olympics are back, and the game has never been this alive.