2023-24 Season, CCAA, Headlines, OCAA

Humber Alum Jake Gomes Inks First Professional Contract in Azerbaijan

Posted by Tyler Bennett on
Jake Gomes (13) has signed his first professional contract after graduating from Humber College. (Source: Diego Guillen – Humber Hawks | Retrieved from the Hawks Flickr Account) (Header: Diego Guillen – Humber Hawks | Retrieved from the Hawks Flickr Account)

ETOBICOKE — One of the all-time greats at Humber College is heading overseas to begin the next chapter of his volleyball career.

Humber Hawks Men’s Volleyball alum Jake Gomes has signed his first professional contract with Xari Bulbul Shusha Volleyball Club in the Azerbaijan Men’s Volleyball League.

Gomes announced the news on his Instagram page Sunday afternoon, calling the moment “a dream come true“.

Gomes capped off a stellar collegiate career this past season. The six-foot-six setter from Oakville will go down as one of the best to ever don a Hawks uniform on the volleyball court, having racked up countless individual accolades and team medals, both at the OCAA level as well as nationally across the CCAA.

Over his five-year career at Humber College, Gomes played in the OCAA Championship Game in each season, picking up three OCAA Gold Medals and a pair of OCAA Silver Medals in the process. He is a two-time CCAA Silver Medalist, one of which came this past season at home.

The 2020 OCAA Men’s Volleyball Player of the Year is also a two-time CCAA All-Canadian (2020, 2022) and a three-time member of the CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship All-Tournament Team. Gomes is one of just three Humber Men’s Volleyball players to be named a CCAA All-Canadian on multiple occasions, joining Tim Pennefather and Terrel Bramwell on the exclusive list.

[Click here to check out the full player profile for Jake Gomes]

Gomes closed his Humber career as the Hawks’ all-time leader in both assists (1,832) service aces (153).

Xari Bulbul Shusha began competition in the Azerbaijan Men’s Volleyball League in January 2023. The club was founded by Ilgar Imamguliyev, who also serves as the team’s captain. Imamguliyev owns his own sports apparel company, IL’AZERO, which is the first Azerbaijani sports apparel company.

The 2022-23 roster for Xari Bulbul Shusha featured one Canadian players on its roster, according to Volleybox. Moise Datus, who played for the Geants de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the RSEQ, was one of the 11 players listed on the club’s inaugural roster, and one of just three from outside of Azerbaijan.

  • T. Bennett

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