The KVHS Riverboat Tournament began in 1987 under the guidance of KVHS head basketball coach and Athletic Director, Peter Corby. Peter had a vision of creating a tournament that would showcase the best high school basketball teams from Eastern Canada.
The first year of the tournament more than lived up to that billing. That inaugural tournament featured the host team KVHS Crusaders who would go on to win the 1987 NBIAA Championship; the Fredericton High Black Kats who would be the 1987 provincial finalist; Halifax West High School featuring future CIS All Canadian and professional basketball player Brian Thompson; MacDonald-Cartier High School from St. Hubert, Quebec ; Three Oaks High School who was the most dominant team on PEI at the time; and Mount Pearl High School from St. John’s, NFLD.
Action on the basketball court back in 1987 didn’t disappoint either. The semi-finals featured KVHS defeating Fredericton High 50-48 while Halifax West snuck by Three Oaks 58-57. In the tournament final, Halifax West would hold off the Crusaders for a 65-60 victory to take home the 1987 Riverboat championship.
From 1987 to today, the KVHS Riverboat tournament has carried on the tradition of attracting the best teams from Eastern Canada and to serve as a showcase for some of the best talent the region has ever produced. Starting in 1998, this also included the best female players when the tournament was expanded from six to 12 teams to include a women’s division.