Mendy Morein

Mendy Morein played basketball in high school and, upon graduation, continued this pursuit as a member of the Montreal Young Men’s Hebrew Association. In 1948 the team became Eastern Canadian champions, but lost the national championship to the Vancouver Clover Leafs. In a separate Olympic trial, however, the YMHA defeated the Clover Leafs to win their bracket, as well as the right to send several members of their squad to the 1948 Games. In London, the Canadians played five games in the preliminary round, defeating Italy, Britain, and Uruguay, but losing against Hungary and Brazil. They were ranked third overall in their pool and did not advance, and placed ninth overall after defeating Iran, Belgium, and Peru in qualification rounds. Morein took part in six of the matches; all except for the ones against Hungary and Peru.

Morein continued to be involved in basketball for several years, winning the Canadian championship with the YMHA in 1950. He also played in the Maccabiah Games in 1950 and 1953. He retired from active competition shortly thereafter and, later in life, split his time between Montreal and Florida.