Ice is the most familiar sporting surface at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC), but for one evening early next year, hardwood will take precedence.

It鈥檚 part of an ambitious plan unveiled yesterday (Wednesday) by the University of the Fraser Valley athletic department to take university basketball to new heights in this city.

On Jan. 28, 2012, the Cascades will host the Trinity Western University Spartans in a Canada West regular season doubleheader at the AESC. The UFV and TWU women鈥檚 hoopsters will tip things off at 5 p.m., followed by the men鈥檚 teams at 7 p.m.

Holding a hoops showcase at AESC 鈥� which seats just over 7,000 鈥� represents a massive increase in scale for the Cascades, whose average attendance for home games at the Envision Athletic Centre is numbered in hundreds rather than thousands.

But organizers are excited about the event鈥檚 potential, and hope it will grow into an annual affair.

鈥淚t has the potential to be great,鈥� enthused David Kent, UFV鈥檚 sports information and marketing co-ordinator. 鈥淲hen it comes to something big like this, it piques everyone鈥檚 interest.鈥�

Kent is the driving force behind the initiative, and he boasts extensive experience launching large-scale events.

Kent worked for the Carleton University athletic department in Ottawa before coming on board with the Cascades last year. At Carleton, he set in motion the Capital Hoops Classic 鈥� a game between the Carleton Ravens and the Ottawa Gee Gees men鈥檚 basketball teams at Scotiabank Place, the home of the NHL鈥檚 Ottawa Senators.

The inaugural Capital Hoops Classic in 2007 drew 9,720 fans, well beyond expectations, and the event is now an annual fixture in Ottawa.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 see this failing, let鈥檚 put it that way. If we get 3,500 (fans), I鈥檇 be tickled pink.鈥�

Al Tuchscherer, head coach of the Cascades women鈥檚 basketball team, said the 91原创-based Spartans are a natural choice as the opponent in the hoops showcase.

鈥淚 think it has to be Trinity,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good rivalry . . . Hatred is too strong a word, but there鈥檚 some feelings there, for sure.鈥�

Trinity Western sports information director Scott Stewart says the event should help accelerate the growing rivalry between the two schools.

The rivalry has increased since UFV joined the CIS a few years ago and two years ago, the Cascades鈥� men鈥檚 basketball team made the playoffs at the expense of the Spartans.

Last year, the Spartans returned the favour, knocking Fraser Valley out of the post-season.

Plus, the event should will be great for basketball in the Valley.

鈥淚t will help the exposure of basketball in the Valley,鈥� Stewart said. 鈥淚t will help raise the level of what people see for university sports.鈥�

As for the possibility of the event being held at the 91原创 Events Centre in the arena down the road, TWU director of athletics Murray Hall said they have not yet explored that option.

鈥� with files from Gary Ahuja/91原创 Times