The Tribune

In the world of sports – where every team seems to think they have a chance at the playoffs and every player parrots the same lines about winning on “Any given Sunday” – the honest and realistic goals of the McGill Redmen volleyball team are refreshing. The players and coaches talk about single games, not tournaments; about learning from mistakes, not about knocking off powerhouse teams like the Dalhousie Tigers; and about competing, not necessarily about winning.

Typically a match-up between two nationally ranked hockey teams would all but ensure an exciting and hard-fought match. Nevertheless, the McGill women’s hockey team is far from ordinary. And on Friday, the Martlets further cemented their reputation as Canada’s best women’s hockey team, defeating 10th-ranked Montreal 3-0 at McConnell Arena.

The McGill men’s hockey team scored four special-team markers on Sunday in a 5-3 win over Nipissing University at McConnell Arena. The result snapped the Redmen’s two-game win streak and improved their record to 17-4-0, reclaiming first place in the OUA East, one point ahead of idle UQTR (16-3-1).

In a little less than two weeks from now, football fans around the world will be glued to their television sets as Superbowl XLIV kicks off in south Florida. Before the football hangover has time to wear off completely, we’ll be turning our sights to the Canadian west coast, as the Olympic torch arrives in Vancouver to tip off the Winter Olympic games.

It’s rare for the Tribune to recognize a rookie with its Athlete of the Year award, but freshman McGill swimmer Steven Bielby lapped the field of nominees this year, making it impossible to ignore his accomplishments. In February, Bielby became the first male swimmer in McGill history to win three individual gold medals at the CIS National Championships in Vancouver, but what made his medal haul so impressive was the way in which he won his races.

Less than two weeks ago, the McGill women’s basketball team was riding high after upsetting sixth-ranked Laval on their home floor. Fast forward to Friday night, and the post-game atmosphere at Love Competition Hall was anything but celebratory. The Martlets failed to reach double figures in scoring in three out of four quarters, and connected on an abysmal 23 per cent of their field goal attempts as they were picked apart by the visiting Rouge et Or, 55-37.

Going into Sunday afternoon’s match-up against the visiting Sherbrooke Vert et Or, Head Coach Rachel Beliveau stressed the importance of establishing a presence at the middle of the net as early as possible. Clearly, her players were listening. Sophomore middle Kaiva Mateus opened up the scoring in the first set with a thunderous solo block, and the McGill women’s volleyball team shut down the Sherbrooke offence en route to a convincing straight-set victory at Love Competition Hall.

Most footage of the Olympic Torch Relay showcases celebrity athletes or political figures dutifully passing the Olympic flame in front of hundreds of cameras. While Olympians may be the only ones allowed to light the cauldron at the opening ceremonies, the Torch Relay consists of over 12,000 torchbearers, most of them non-athletes.

The stellar play of the men’s hockey team is bringing the legitimacy of the McGill Athletics advertising department into question. Wednesday’s annual Winter Carnival Game against Concordia looked and felt like anything but a rivalry match. A pair of hat tricks from centre Guillaume Doucet and left-winger Evan Vossen punctuated a night of absolute dominance, as the Redmen steamrolled the visiting Stingers 12-3 on before more than 1,000 spectators at McConnell Arena.