Minor basketball association honours local hero

River East

Winnipeg

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This article was published 02/04/2025 (230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Minor Basketball Association will honour the memory of one of its own by introducing children to the sport he loved.

On April 4, the WMBA will play host to the inaugural Posthumus Family Hoopfest at Sport Manitoba’s Sport for Life Centre (145 Pacific Ave.) from 3 to 8 p.m. The event — which the WMBA runs annually — has been renamed to celebrate the memory of Chad Posthumus, the homegrown Winnipeg Sea Bears star who died on Nov. 20, 2024 at just 33 years old, following complications from surgery after he suffered a brain aneurysm.

The 6-10, 275-pound forward was widely regarded as one of the best basketball players to come from Manitoba, thanks to a 10-year professional career that took him to more than 25 countries. He played high-school ball for the River East Kodiaks and began his college career at the University of British Columbia before joining a U.S. junior college and then playing NCAA Division 1 basketball for Morehead State in Kentucky. He was the first player signed by the Winnipeg Sea Bears when the team joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2023, and playing for the local pro team made him an icon in local sports and basketball circles.

WMBA president Mike Ruta said the Posthumus Family Hoopfest will be held in the facility’s three gymnasiums and will feature skills stations, games and prizes. The dunking station will be hosted by the Posthumus family and will feature a life-size poster of Chad for kids to pose with. Players will also be able to test their three-point shots and their power dribbling skills. Free T-shirts will be handed out.

Chad’s parents, Charles and Diana Posthumus, will attend, as will Emmanuel Akot, Chad’s Sea Bears teammate, and the Winnipeg Sea Bears community team.

Ruta said plenty of kids have been introduced to basketball at Hoopfest over the years. Like everything else, the event stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now is the time for it to return, Ruta said.

“We will be back at it again this year,” Ruta said. “It was so unfortunate for the family when Chad passed away last year, so tragic for a young man. It was a devastating time for the family.”

While Chad may have been the most well-known member of Posthumus family, his parents Charles and Diana coached, convened leagues, worked through community clubs and served on boards. All the Posthumus children played in the WMBA.

“When Chad passed away, our organization wanted to honour Chad and his whole family for all they have done,” Ruta said.

Charles Posthumus said Chad would have loved seeing his family honoured at Hoopfest.

“It means a lot,” Charles said, with a pause. “That’s amazing and to do that in honour of Chad is awesome.”

Charles estimates he’s coached 50 WMBA teams over the years. His three children were among the hundreds of players he’s taught the game over a quarter-century. That’s why Charles is looking forward to April 4. Chad would have been, too.

“He would’ve been in there lifting the kids to dunk,” Charles said. “He would have been laughing and enjoying himself.”

The Posthumus family has been comforted by stories of Chad’s generosity with kids. He made numerous appearances at basketball camps. Last Halloween, Chad dressed as Elvis and accompanied neighbourhood kids trick-or-treating. Weeks before his passing, Chad visited Colombia with friends. When they couldn’t find him, their first stop was the local basketball court, where he was shooting hoops with kids.

“That’s Chad,” the proud father said. “While everything has a purpose, we’re still trying to figure out what it is with Chad leaving us so soon.

“He had so much more to do.”

Hoopfest is free and open to all WMBA teams and players. While no one will be turned away from Hoopfest, Ruta asks that everyone register in advance. Teams can register for the event by emailing their team name, age division, and coach’s email/phone number to info@wmba.ca

“It’s going to be a great day, registrations are coming in heavily,” Ruta said.