‘Never dreamt that would happen’: N.W.T. women’s basketball coach wins on his childhood court

From the seventh grade, until he moved away from from St. John’s, N.L., for university, Scott Green played basketball on the same court at the Memorial University Fieldhouse. 

He says he never thought he’d be back coaching a Canada Games team on that court — much less as head coach.

Green spent the past week in St. John’s, coaching team NT’s women’s basketball team. He has coached the team at previous Canada Games, but this year was his first time as head coach.

The Games haven’t been held in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1977, 48 years ago.

“To have this opportunity is literally once in a lifetime and meant everything to me,” he said.

He found out the Games were headed to St. John’s at the last Canada Summer Games in Niagara in 2022.

“I knew I had to be here,” he said. 

He still remembers the day he got the call telling him the head coach job was his. He says he got more emotional than he expected, tears of joy instantly rolling down his face.

Green says that’s only ever happened three times in his adult life: “my children’s birth, my wedding day and getting named to coach this team,” he said. 

He had three goals for the team coming into this year’s Games. First, he wanted the girls who aspire to play on university teams to get experience playing at the national level.

Second, he wanted his team to challenge a provincial team. Green says that was accomplished when they won a quarter against New Brunswick on Tuesday, before eventually falling 83-35. 

The third and final goal was to leave as the top territory. They checked that box on Friday when they defeated Nunavut, after defeating Team Yukon on Thursday.

Player Ella Skauge said playing their two territorial rivals was a great way to finish the week. 

“You’re representing your home place and you get to go against your friendly rival,” she said.

This year was her first time at the Canada Games, but she said she’d heard stories of really tight games against other northern teams from other players.

“It was absolutely awesome to be a part of that,” she said after defeating Team Yukon.

Green says the way the team played over the week “set them up beautifully” for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games.

He added that getting a taste of victory on his home turf has felt incredible.

“For me to get to come home and do this in front of my family and friends has been pretty special.”