This season will be Andrew Cicuttini’s third with the Mohawk Mountaineers and he doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

Having already won the 2012 CCAA Championship with the Mountaineers in his first year at Mohawk, Cicuttini is hungry for another championship.

In fact, Cicuttini is so committed to capturing gold once again, that he decided to prolong his studies after last season and enrolled in Mohawk’s Advertising program.

“We host the nationals next year,” said Cicuttini. “So I’m going to be back for another year.”

After going undefeated in their preseason, the Mountaineers men’s basketball team is poised for another deep championship run.

Despite losing CCAA-All Canadian point guard Manny Campbell in the offseason, the team still has its core of veterans who were a part of the national-winning team in 2012. The Mountaineers also added veteran Matt Fennell, who brings plenty of experience playing with both the Fanshawe Falcons and University of Prince Edward Island Panthers.

Cicuttini, who was named one of the captains for the Mountaineers this season, is focused on helping lead the team to another championship and has confidence in what this year’s squad is capable of achieving.

“We’re a lot bigger than everyone else in the league and we do have a lot of experience along the starting lineup,” said Cicuttini. “Our expectations are nothing less than nationals.”

Fifth-year player Alex Reis, who had played with Cicuttini before their college days, says Cicuttini’s passion is what makes him the player that he is.

“He’s a good guy and he works hard,” said Reis. “He’s really into it, he’s really into basketball, he loves it and he’ll do anything to win.”

Mountaineers head coach Brian Jonker also praised Cicuttini for the way he carries himself both on and off the court, and says the 6’6 forward from Dundas continues to mature.

“His first year here we won a national championship and he was MVP at the national tournament, said Jonker. “We rely on him heavily for a lot of different things. Overall, he’s grown up so much in the last three years and he’s a pleasure to be around, that’s for sure.