A new 91原创 basketball facility honours the memory of renowned Pitt Meadows basketball coach Rich Goulet.

Panther Hoops Basketball Society unveiled 鈥淩ich Goulet Court,鈥� the main, NBA-sized court at the new 鈥淧anther Hoops Den鈥� facility, which is located at Unit 100, 9339 200A Street, at the official opening on Saturday, June 26.

Goulet, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 74, was a high school boys basketball coach for more than 50 years, including 39 at Pitt Meadows.

Along the way he earned a spot in the Basketball B.C. Hall of Fame and won the Prime Minister鈥檚 Volunteer award. He also won five provincial championships, including three at Pitt Meadows.

Panther Hoops Head Coach and Director Doug Dowell, who worked with Goulet several times, including on three provincial teams, said Goulet knew about the naming before he passed, and had been planning to attend.

鈥淲hen I started coaching, Rich sort of took me under his wing,鈥� Dowell told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a legend and always will be,鈥� Dowell commented.

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In addition to the big court, the Den has a half-court for practicing and skills development, and its own weight room and fitness area.

Designed as an all-in-one basketball training facility that will provide grassroots and competitive basketball opportunities for youth in the Fraser Valley and Ridge Meadows area, the Den will serve as home base for the society鈥檚 International Basketball Academy that trains high school aged elite players from across Canada and around the world.

Panther Hoops Basketball was founded in 2008 and Panther Hoops Basketball Society was formed in 2018 with a goal of providing grassroots and elite level programming and training experiences for athletes both locally and globally through faith-based programming and the motto 鈥淧lay Hard, Play Together and Play for Him.鈥�

is a non-profit organization committed to providing grassroots and elite level programming.

鈥淏eing a 鈥楴ot for Profit鈥� private facility we are hoping to add opportunities for youth basketball in the area,鈥� Dowell said.

鈥淭he immense growth of this area will ultimately stress existing community facilities until the infrastructure catches up.鈥�

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