Tommy Olsen and Gavin Reis (Image Credit: TRU Sports Information)

By Marty Hastings

CANADA WEST

Graduating seniors, WolfPack making push to host home playoff game

Jan 13, 2026 | 4:19 PM

KAMLOOPS — Gavin Reis and Tommy Olsen have been catalysts in the rejuvenation of the TRU WolfPack men’s basketball program, graduating forwards who this week will play their final regular season home games. 

“I think this is the most talented group I’ve been a part of and I’ve been able to find my role as a leader, a vocal guy and really hard worker, setting that example and trying to make life easier for this super talented group,” said Olsen, a five-time Academic All-Canadian. “It’s just been so fun to win games, make program history, just an unreal way to go out.” 

The WolfPack will play host to the Fraser Valley Cascades (7-6) of Abbotsford on Thursday (Jan. 15) and the UBC Thunderbirds (10-2) of Vancouver on Saturday (Jan. 17), with game times set for 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, at the TCC. 

Olsen of Surrey and Reis of Squamish joined the Pack in time for the 2021-2022 Canada West campaign, when the club posted a 4-14 mark. 

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The team’s record has improved each year since their arrival and the WolfPack qualified for the playoffs on merit last season for the first time since 2020. 

Earlier this season, TRU cracked the U Sports top 10 rankings for the first time since 2016. 

The graduating seniors are not star players, but they boast intangibles that helped spur the turnaround. 

“He’s kind of the heart and soul of our team,” WolfPack head coach Chad Jacobson said of Olsen. “His leadership qualities will be extremely difficult to replace next year. He plays the game hard. He’s selfless.” 

Jacobson said Reis is a beloved teammate who makes an impact on the court with physicality and athleticism in limited minutes. 

“Gavin’s just a great human being,” Jacobson said. “He’s a guy that everyone on the team loves. Coaches love being around him.” 

Reis and Olsen will be recognized on Saturday, which is seniors night at the TCC. They can boost their chances of earning a bonus home game this season with a victory over the T-Birds. 

The top two teams in the Canada West Pacific Division will host a home playoff game. 

TRU (10-4) – which has not played in a post-season tilt in Kamloops since 2016 – is in third place and chasing second-place UBC (10-2) and first-place Victoria (11-2), the first- and fifth-ranked teams in the country, respectively. 

“I’m realizing that every time I’m doing something, it’s going to be the last time I do it – walking out the tunnel for the last time, high-fiving kids. You start to reminisce on some really powerful moments,” Olsen said. 

“If we could host a playoff game, I know Kamloops would come out for us and it would just be electric at the TCC.”