CALGARY - University of Calgary Dinos forward Ross Bekkering is heading to Thailand with Team Canada.

Bekkering, who will enter his third season with the Dinos men’s basketball squad this fall, was named to the Canadian team for the Summer Universiade in Bangkok Aug. 8-18. The 6′8″, 225-pound forward averaged 13.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in the 2006-07 season, making him the number-four rebounder in Canada West.

“This is a huge day for both Ross and the Dinos program,” said Calgary head coach Dan Vanhooren. “For Ross, this will improve his confidence, and the international experience will make him a better competitor when he comes back.

“From the perspective of our program, having three guys with national team experience - Ross, Henry (Bekkering) and Tyler (Fidler) - is a big positive. It shows that athletes don’t have to play in the U.S. to have a shot at competing internationally, we can develop elite athletes right here in Canada.”

Bekkering’s older brother Henry joins the active roster this season after sitting out a year due to the transfer rule. An impact player known for his highlight-reel dunking ability, the elder Bekkering made the decision to return to Canada after a two-year stint at Eastern Washington University. Tyler Fidler, one of the top basketball recruits in the country this season, turned down several offers from American schools in electing to stay home and play for the Dinos. He was the consensus MVP in Calgary last season at Western Canada High School.

Vanhooren expects big things from the younger Bekkering when he returns from Thailand and begins his third year with the Dinos.

“We have huge expectations for Ross, and I think this will be his breakout year,” he said. “How well he plays will contribute to how well the team does. It’s awesome for us that he’s going to Thailand because we rely on him so much for our success, and this experience will only help him provide that leadership on our team.

“Team Canada will use him as a rebounder and an energy guy off the bench. We’re not worried so much about his playing time as much as the overall experience for him.”

Bekkering is the first Dinos men’s basketball player to represent Canada at a Universiade since Richard Bohne in the mid-1990s. Bohne won a bronze medal with the team in 1995.

The team departed for Thailand Wednesday morning after final cuts were made Tuesday night. Coach Chris O’Rourke (University of Guelph) and the team will begin training on site later this week in preparation for the competition.

Canada opens Pool A play against the host Thais on Tuesday, Aug. 7 (3:30 am MST), with their second preliminary game against New Zealand set for Wednesday morning at 8:30 am local (7:30 pm MST Tuesday night). Both of Canada’s opening round match-ups come before the Opening Ceremony, set for Wednesday evening in Thailand.

Bekkering will rejoin the Dinos in late August as they prepare for the Battle of the Border event Labour Day weekend, which will see the NCAA’s Creighton Bluejays and Weber State Wildcats pay a visit to the Jack Simpson Gym. For ticket information visit www.goDINOS.com.