Bennie Lands

Bennie Lands joined the Young Men’s Hebrew Association at eight years old and took up basketball at the age of 16. He gained national attention for his prowess following World War II when he won MVP awards from both the YMHA and the Montreal city league at the conclusion of the 1947-1948 season, which was the year his YMHA Blues finished as Canadian national runners up to the Vancouver Clover Leafs. When the Blues bested the Clover Leafs at a qualifying tournament, Lands was selected as one of the players who would represent his nation at the 1948 Summer Olympics. At the Games, Canada defeated Italy and Great Britain in its first two matches, but lost its next two against Hungary and Brazil. A final victory against Uruguay was not sufficient to save the squad, and they were eliminated from medal contention.

Lands returned to the Blues after the Olympics and, with them, won the 1950 Canadian national championships. He was later involved with Canada’s basketball delegation to four editions of the Maccabiah Games: in 1950 as a player, 1953 as a player/coach, 1957 as a coach, and 1997 as an honourary captain. He also remained active with the YMHA as chairman of its Hall of Fame and a member of several executive boards. He was inducted into the Montreal Jewish Sports Hall of Fame as a member of his 1950 national championship-winning team in 2006.