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Senate discusses Dean Manfredi’s report

by Bea Britneff on

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Last Wednesday, McGill Senate convened for the second time this academic year. Topics discussed over the course of meeting included the Report of the Open Forum on Free Expression and Peaceful Assembly, undergraduate cross-faculty course accessibility, postgraduate supervision, and the Achieving Strategic Academic Priorities (ASAP) 2012 project.

While presenting his Report of the Open Forum, Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi spoke to Senators about the discussions that took place at last semester’s Open Forum series, as well as his findings, after comparing McGill policies and protocols to those at other large universities.

Following Manfredi’s presentation, Catherine Lu, associate professor in the department of political science, expressed serious concerns about the James Protocol, a provisional security protocol that currently governs access to the James Administration building. The Protocol was issued after students occupied the building’s 6th floor for six days this past February.

“I think it’s been an irritant to collegiality,” Lu said. “I think it is unnecessary, uncalled for, and unjustified. I would like to see something done [about it] quickly.”

Law Senator Stephanie Bachelet asked Manfredi and Munroe-Blum if there were plans to revise the James Protocol.

“They have been quite dramatically revised already,” Munroe-Blum responded. “We’re open to hearing recommendations or suggestions.”

Munroe-Blum also confirmed that the three recommendations listed in Manfredi’s report will be implemented.

On the topic of undergraduate cross-faculty accessibility,  Arts Senator Max Zidel presented two questions to Senate.

“In what ways can McGill encourage and remove barriers preventing interfaculty and inter-departmental course registration?” Zidel asked. “In what ways can McGill foster cross-faculty and inter-departmental programming?”

In response, Provost Anthony Masi said that McGill’s institutional and resource constraints make it difficult for the university to make a large variety of courses accessible to students across multiple departments and faculties.

“Budgetary constraints, and shortages of faculty, support staff, and space characterize the environment at McGill,” Masi said. “[The] priority is for students to register for those courses required to complete their degree. Course schedules offer what they can.”

These challenges aside, Masi said the administration would continue to work on these issues, and that the university has already made some progress in that regard.

“We have [already] created several inter-disciplinary initiatives … [and] over the years, the Faculty of Arts has reduced the number of required credits [for a major],” Masi said. “I will explore with Deans the ways we could address students wanting a more broad experience.”

Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Senator Jonathan Mooney presented several questions regarding post-graduate supervision at McGill. In particular, Mooney expressed concern about proper training in supervision for newly hired faculty, as well as resources for graduate students experiencing difficulties with their supervisors.

“[There is] a huge power differential between professors and students,” Mooney said. “One concern at [last week’s] Consultation Fair was about students not having advocates when they have a problem with their supervisor.”

Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) Martin Kreiswirth responded that supervision is at the centre of training for new faculty, and that GPS has organized 18 events to help address concerns regarding graduate supervision.

Later during the meeting, Masi gave a presentation on ASAP 2012—McGill’s next five-year strategic academic plan. He presented three strategic priorities, and six broad goals for McGill over the next five years, including maintaining a student-centred focus, appropriate resource management, enhancing research, extending community engagement, and renewing facilities.

Several student senators expressed concern that the ASAP 2012 presentation did not feature an action plan for implementing the strategic priorities and goals. Masi responded that it would be very difficult for him to create a systematic action plan that would be applicable to all areas and spheres of the university.

“Each Dean is expected to come up with mechanisms that reflect these objectives,” Masi said. “Faculties will address this differently.”

Following the presentation, Senate passed the motion to endorse the ASAP 2012 academic priorities and goals.

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Quebec losing race to attract international students

by Erica Friesen on

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Last Friday, McGill Principal Heather Munroe-Blum called for Quebec to increase its enrollment of international students in a speech hosted by the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations. Munroe-Blum drew attention to a topic that has been the subject of much debate in recent years—the place of international students in Canada and Canadian universities.

“International students are exactly what Quebec needs,” Munroe-Blum said. “They spend years in our institutions, they speak or are motivated to learn French, they know and embrace Quebec’s values, and they are already integrating into our society.”

A study by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada estimated that international students spent over $7.7 billion dollars in Canada in 2010, and created over 81,000 jobs that same year. According to Maclean’s magazine, the two provinces most successful in recruiting international students are Ontario and British Columbia.

Although Quebec was ranked third in this study, Munroe-Blum mentioned that the province’s international student population decreased by eight per cent between 2001 and 2010.

“We face an international race for talent and Quebeckers are not winning,” she said. “We can only win with incentives for universities to attract, support, and retain top talent with quality and accessibility.”

In recent years, other provincial governments have aimed to attract more international students to their universities. In 2010, Ontario’s new Trillium Scholarship program created 75 scholarships for international graduate students studying in Ontario, while Ontario’s residency rules were modified to encourage these students to stay in the province after the completion of their degrees.

Marc Weinstein, McGill’s Vice-Principal (Development and Alumni Relations), told the Tribune that the McGill Alumni Association does not have any specific programs in place to encourage alumni to stay in Quebec after graduation.

“However, we do offer a range of career service programs that … are aimed at matching graduating McGill students with McGill alumni who have employment opportunities they are looking to fill,” he said. “This no doubt contributes to an increase in graduates choosing to launch their careers [in Quebec].”

In her speech, Munroe-Blum pointed to tuition as a frequently debated issue involving international students.

“Some would argue that low tuition will attract talent, but … low tuition does not lead to quality, and quality is precisely what students are looking for,” she said.

According to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), international students have faced steep tuition increases since 1976, and in 2009, CFS argued against continually rising international tuition fees.

“High differential fees are an unfair burden and a barrier to post-secondary education for international students,” CFS wrote. “Ultimately, such fees could threaten Canada’s ability to attract and retain foreign scholars.”

Memorial University in Newfoundland offers some of the lowest tuition rates in Canada—approximately $2,550 per year for Canadian undergraduate students, and $8,800 for international. However, only 7.9 per cent of the 17,944 students enrolled at Memorial in the fall of 2011 were international students, according to their website

In comparison, McGill’s student body is composed of roughly 25 per cent international students, each of whom pay over $14,000 in tuition per year. Despite McGill’s success in attracting international students, Munroe-Blum emphasized that very little of this additional money goes to the university.

“Under the current Quebec funding system, most of the tuition paid by students from outside Quebec returns to the government,” Munroe-Blum said. “With a few exceptions, McGill keeps only a small portion of the fees these students pay to support these students in their studies.”

In B.C., the system of incorporating international students into universities works very differently. According to Tim Rahilly, associate vice-president of students at Simon Fraser University (SFU), B.C. universities charge all Canadian students the same tuition. The institutions then set their own international student fees and—unlike McGill—none of this money is given to the province.

“The [international] fee usually is slightly more than the equivalent of what the institution gets for domestic students—a per head fee from the province, [plus] student … tuition [fees],” Rahilly told the Tribune. “The province does not fund any international student spaces.”

Rahilly added that B.C. universities who increase their international enrollment therefore benefit both from the differential student fees and from the diversification of their student body.

Munroe-Blum also discussed  the importance of the diversity brought by international students to McGill and Canada. She said that although Quebec currently falls short in attracting international students, there is time for the province to reprioritize the issue.

“Quebec is … positioned to win the race for global talent if we move quickly, competitively, and with confidence,” she said. “Quebec needs … a clear strategy for making Quebec a global education and research destination, or we will fall even further behind.”

—Additional reporting by Bea Britneff.

Members of McGill community strategize. (Anna Katycheva / McGill Tribune)
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Students voice concerns about advising at Consultation Fair

by Christy Frost on

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Last Wednesday, students, advisors, and other members of the McGill community gathered in Redpath Hall for the third semi-annual Consultation Fair. The fair provided a forum for participants to discuss and voice concerns about advising and graduate supervision at McGill.

The fair was a joint effort by the McGill administration, the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society, and the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education student associations. According to Haley Dinel, vice-president university affairs for the Students’ Society of McGill University, the fair’s theme was chosen in response to a growing concern that not all students are receiving the advising they need.

“The topic came out of some of the [Consultation Fair] conversations … last year,” Dinel said. “It was clearly a problem that a lot of undergrad students were having, [as well as] grad students, continuing education, and Mac campus [students]. The university … is hoping to change its advising mechanisms, and we wanted to give people a chance to talk about it.”

This past summer, in an attempt to take account of the existing academic advising framework, McGill took a census of all the academic advisors who are active at the university, and established the Academic Advising and Mentoring Advisory Board. The Board was mandated to find ways to improve the quality of student advising at McGill, and held its first meeting on Oct. 10.

Wednesday’s Consultation Fair provided 19 different table discussions that participants could join. Consultation sessions were divided up into three 25-minute discussions, allowing participants to engage in multiple conversations.

Topics of discussion included peer advising, roles, and expectations for graduate students, access to advising, career advising in continuing studies, and online resources and communications.

At some of the tables, students co-facilitated the discussions with a McGill staff member or advisor. Several advisors expressed their excitement at the opportunity to discuss advising directly with students, and to connect students to advising services.

Anna Katycheva / McGill Tribune
Anna Katycheva / McGill Tribune

“One of the reasons I’m here, is to chat about ways to make academic advising information easier to find,” Mark Ordonselli, McGill web communications manager, said.

Ordonselli facilitated the table dedicated to web resources, where a common theme was the need for more accessible basic web information about registration and advising.

A new, online resource that McGill is piloting is the “ask an advisor” button, which will enable students to email short questions directly to an advisor. The contacted advisor will either answer the question or direct the student to someone who can help them.

Another common concern expressed at the tables was the difficulty of getting students—especially at-risk students—to take advantage of the advising and counselling services available at McGill.

“In residences this year … the floor fellows were trained on how to spot students who were running into trouble in their first weeks,” Paul Olioff, academic advisor for the faculty of science, said.

Olioff also stressed the importance of having people check up on new students to make that sure they aren’t struggling.

Conversations at the tables discussing graduate supervision exposed a common desire for clearer expectations to be laid out for both supervisors and graduate student researchers, particularly in the lab disciplines.

At the end of the fair, a facilitator from each table shared one of the group’s key ideas with the rest of the room. Suggestions included an online map or timeline for advising, a brochure with information about advising, pre-arrival web chat with international students, and more clearly defined responsibilities for graduate supervisors.

“It was a great discussion,” Shannon Ray, co-vice-president external for the education undergraduate society, said. “Each session brought something new or innovative to make it different, but very applicable.”

Throughout the next six months, the McGill administration will review notes from the Consultation Fair, and will attempt to follow up on some of the suggestions. The notes from the sessions will be available online.

Remi Lu / McGill Tribune
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Tale of two teams: Redmen impress, Martlets falter

by Remi Lu on

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Love Competition Hall was abuzz with basketball action over the weekend, as the Martlets and Redmen took to the court for the annual McGill Redbird Classic. Six teams from across Canada competed in the preseason tournament, eager to challenge the home teams and showcase their talents in front of a rowdy and enthusiastic crowd.

Remi Lu / McGill Tribune
Remi Lu / McGill Tribune

Redmen

The Redmen entered the tournament with confidence on the backs of two decisive preseason victories against Queen’s and American International. They kicked off their weekend action against the Laurier Golden Hawks. Despite an evenly matched first quarter, the Redmen pulled away in the second half. They dominated the offensive glass and caught the Golden Hawks in futile defensive rotations with their quick ball movement. Starting point guard Adrian Hynes-Guery, and second-year forward Rodrigo Imperador de Paula had 14 points apiece. McGill ended the game on a 17-3 run, resulting in a commanding 80-59 victory.

The key to the win was McGill’s excellent defensive effort. Head Coach David DeAveiro commented on the significance of the team’s success on the defensive end.

“We have played extremely well defensively. [I’m] a little surprised since we haven’t had much time to practice with our group of guys,” DeAveiro said. “But I’m very pleased with how we are playing now … everyone is coming on and contributing.”

Following their decisive win over the Golden Hawks, the Redmen came into Saturday’s match looking to extend their winning streak and once again defend their home court against the Trinity Western Spartans. While both teams struggled to hit shots early on, it was McGill that broke its shooting funk first, led by freshman guard Christian McCue’s four three-pointers and Hynes-Guery’s 23 points. The Redmen continued to convert on hustle plays and received significant contributions from their deep roster. They came out on top 93-71 in another statement win. Coach DeAveiro was pleased with the depth of his team’s roster and second-year guard Vincent Dufort.

“Everyone has really played their part. Vincent Dufort does all the dirty work so he’s not getting a lot of credit, but Vince has been outstanding for us,” DeAveiro noted. “Christian McCue making shots [and] doing really well as a freshman, Rodrigo coming off the bench and giving us instant offense in the post… it’s been a team effort.”

McGill capped off their strong play by defeating the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s 85-64 and placing first in the Redbird Classic. Hynes-Guery was named tournament MVP and Coach DeAveiro earned his first victory over Ottawa, his old team.

The Redmen look to continue their success on the court at the Brock Invitational Tournament this coming weekend in St. Catherine’s, Ontario.

Jesse Conterato / McGill Tribune
Jesse Conterato / McGill Tribune

Martlets

The McGill Martlets entered the Classic eager to impress and looking to capitalize on their own two-game winning streak. Unfortunately, the Martlets fell short, unable to convert their effort into victories.

McGill’s first game occurred on Friday evening against the St. Mary Huskies. The game was plagued by sloppy play on both sides early on, with the Martlets and Huskies combining for 16 turnovers in the first half. Despite the considerable effort and desire exhibited in the second half, the Martlets continued to struggle, resulting in a tough 76-57 loss. Point-guard Francoise Charest and freshman forward Mariam Sylla both scored a team-high 11 points in the loss.

Following the game, Martlet Head Coach Ryan Thorne reflected critically on his team’s performance.

“I think we’re young so we make some mistakes … I think we have to do a better job of preparing [our freshmen], but I also think we got to be more disciplined in what we do,” Thorne said.

Looking to recover from their loss the night before, the Martlets  appeared energized on Saturday against the Regina Cougars. Once again, the team struggled to score, and failed to create any chemistry on the offensive end. Although there were bursts of defensive excellence from McGill in the second quarter, the Cougars ultimately forced turnovers and dominated the Martlets on the glass, leading to another disheartening 70-30 McGill loss.

That discouraging theme followed McGill into their last game on Sunday against the Ottawa Gee Gee’s. McGill fell 66-63.

Coach Thorne could only express disappointment in the Martlet’s play over the weekend.

“I don’t think we had discipline … I don’t have any highlights from this [tournament]. I’ve seen this team play really well, so I know that we’re a better team,” Thorne said. “I know that we have some injuries, but from this weekend [there are] zero highlights.”

The Martlets look to bounce back and end their preseason on a high note against Queen’s on Oct. 26.

The Redmen finished second in the 4x100m freestyle. (Sam Reynolds / McGill Tribune)
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Medley of results in the pool for McGill

by Tom DiNardo on

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Amidst cheers, whistles, and blowhorns, the McGill Martlet and Redmen swim teams hosted squads from across Quebec for the second RSEQ Cup on Saturday at Memorial Pool. The Martlets finished second out of six teams with 112 points, behind the Montreal Carabins, while the Redmen recorded 78 points, good for third behind the Laval Rouge-et-Or and Montreal.

Several individual performances stood out at the meet. Fifth-year phenom Steven Bielby claimed four medals, most impressively in the 400m individual medley (IM). He won by a full body length over second place with a time of 4:32.80.

“I wasn’t sure how the race would pan out, and I like to lead it from the front just to be in control,” Bielby said, all smiles after the meet. “It’s a strategy I normally do, and it worked out well today.”

Third-year backstroke specialist Jennifer Darling finished second for the Martlets in the 200m backstroke, clocking in at 2:18.50. Quick off the block, Darling swam neck and neck with Montreal’s Gabrielle Soucisse for the majority of the race. In the last 50 metres, Soucisse overtook Darling, winning by 2.16 seconds.

The enthusiasm of the fans and team members was evident throughout the meet. In the highly anticipated men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, McGill’s first relay team­­—consisting of Marc-André Benoit, Michael Luck, Pierre-Alexandre Renaud, and Bielby—took the lead over the first three lengths. However, in the last 100 metres, Dominique Massie-Martel of Laval outswam Bielby and stole the win with a time of 3:29.10 over McGill’s second place 3:30.30.

According to Head Coach Peter Carpenter, the “swim of the day” was Pierre-Alexandre Renaud’s performance in the 200m freestyle with a time of 1:52.21. After a strong start, Renaud maintained a steady pace, vying for first with Christopher Bezeau of Montreal and Dominique Massie-Martel of Laval. With a final spurt of energy, Renaud snatched gold in the last 50 metres. He ended the day with one gold and two silver medals, good for “swimmer-of-the-meet.”

On the whole, Coach Carpenter was pleased with the results. He noted the team’s focus on fitness since the first RSEQ Cup a couple weeks ago.

“One thing that was glaring at the first Cup meet was that we weren’t as fit as we needed to be, and we’ve worked hard these past two weeks,” Carpenter said.

The added focus definitely paid off, as several members of the Martlets and Redmen qualified for the CIS Championship in February in Calgary, thanks to their performances on Saturday. In addition to those already qualified, McGill added Darling in the 200m backstroke and first-year Kathleen Caldwell, who earned three medals at the meet, in the 400m individual medley. Second-year Taryne Landry matched Caldwell with three medals of her own. As a whole, the team effort was far from understated.

“The sum of the parts is important,” Carpenter said. “I thought that as a group they really stepped up and supported each other well today.”

Looking forward to the rest of the season, the team is realistic about their difficult schedule. “The teams we’re up against are very, very tough … we will step up to the challenges [as] best [as] we can,” Carpenter said.

McGill will face stiff competition from Montreal’s women’s team and Laval’s men’s team in future RSEQ meets. The Martlet and Redmen swim teams will hit the pool again next weekend on Oct. 27, when they host Ottawa and Toronto in a Tri-Meet at Memorial Pool.

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Around the Water Cooler

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In case you were too busy fact checking the U.S. presidential debates, or catching the first week of fall sweeps, here’s what you missed this past week in the world of sports…

BASEBALL — The boys of summer continue on, as the kings of October wait to be crowned. A-Rod proved once again he isn’t made for fall baseball, relegating himself to a pinch-hitter, as he and the Yankees waved goodbye to 2012 after being swept by the Tigers in the American League Championship Series. Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera are proving to be the winning formula for Detroit, and it should be no surprise that the Tigers are in the Fall Classic. The National League Championship series was much more spirited, as the San Francisco Giants prevailed in a dramatic seven-game series. The World Series begins on Wednesday in San Fran.

BASKETBALL — While it’s only preseason, the NBA fills a much needed void in winter sports with the absence of NHL hockey. The headlines have been dominated by the injury report, as the Knicks’ Amare Stoudemire has been ruled out for 2-3 weeks and the Minnesota Timberwolves have lost Kevin Love for 6-8 weeks. Dirk Nowitzki is fresh off knee surgery, which will make it difficult for the Dallas Mavericks in the early season. In the early goings, the Golden State Warriors are on top, but as we all know, the preseason can be deceiving—just ask the Lakers. The newest super team finds itself 0-5 on the year, but with Dwight Howard healthy and ready to play there is no reason to think the losing will last, especially into the regular season.

FOOTBALL — What a week in the NFL. Robert Griffin III showed some substance to the hype, as he threw for two touchdowns, 258 yards, and rushed for 89 more. However, it was all in a losing effort, as Eli Manning and the Giants refused to be counted out—what a surprise—scoring a 77-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left to claim the victory. In another tight contest, the Jets provided a shockingly strong performance against the usually unstoppable New England Patriots. The game went deep into overtime, with New England ultimately moving to the top of the AFC East with a 29-26 victory. Finally, the Saints are gaining some momentum in New Orleans, as they improved to 2-4, on the heels of Drew Brees’ 377 yard, four touchdown performance. The Baltimore Ravens obviously aren’t the same strong defence without Ray Lewis and LaDarius Webb—both of whom are out for the season—as the team fell to the 6-1 Houston Texans 43-13.

McGill and Bishop’s faced off for first in CUFLA East. (Mike King / McGill Tribune)
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Cruising into the playoffs, Redmen claim CUFLA East

by Peter Laing on

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The McGill Redmen claimed first place in the CUFLA East division on Thursday night after defeating the Bishop’s Gaiters 12-10 at Molson Stadium. After losing by a single goal in their previous matchup against Bishop’s (8-1), McGill (9-1) handed the previously undefeated Gaiters their first loss of the season.

McGill held the lead for the entire match, and team captain Ryan Besse added back-to-back insurance goals in the fourth quarter to solidify McGill’s position as the top team in the East.

The teams are bitter rivals, and their games often consist of physical play. This contest was no different. After coming out of the gate slowly in the teams’ previous meeting, McGill came out firing in this one, scoring five unanswered goals in the first quarter. McGill utilized its fast-break effectively by dictating the pace and surprising Bishop’s, who managed to generate little offence in the opening frame. Besse, who entered the game two points shy of becoming McGill’s all-time points leader, netted McGill’s first goal of the game, and the first of his team-high five in the match. Fourth-year Jishan Sharples, who proved to be lethal from in close, scored two of his three goals in the first quarter. In the game, Sharples set his own record by notching his 100th career point as a Redmen.

Besse opened the following quarter in style by scoring his record breaking point on a diving powerplay goal. Bishop’s managed to gain some ground on McGill in the quarter by netting three goals, cutting McGill’s lead to 7-4. Head Coach Tim Murdoch praised Besse’s effort after the game.

“Besse had an incredible game, despite playing both midfield and attack,” Murdoch explained. “He scored five impressive goals against the stingiest defence in Canada.”

However, Murdoch was quick to note that the team’s success in this game and the season as whole has certainly been more than a one-man effort.  Senior leadership has been the standout element of this year’s squad.

“Our biggest strength [this season] has been strong leadership from senior [members] Ryan Besse, Kyle Robinson, Jishan Sharples, and Jon Rathauser,” Murdoch said.

He also had high praise for his coaching staff, noting that they are responsible for teaching the younger members of team.

“[Our coaching staff] mentored our talented, young offence, and were the masterminds behind [our] league-leading offence.”

Bishop’s took control of the scoring in the third, tallying four goals against McGill. Two of these goals occurred on the powerplay, as McGill fell victim to some undisciplined, physical play early on in the quarter. Nevertheless, the Redmen headed into the final frame up 10-8.

Much of McGill’s success came from its ability to limit the Gaiters’ possession of the ball. This can be largely attributed to the work of faceoff specialist Brandon McLean, who secured 14 of 18 faceoffs for the Redmen.

Besse notched two goals to open the final quarter of play, cushioning McGill’s lead to four. From there, Bishop’s added another midway through the frame, but couldn’t seem to muster enough offensive chances to get back into the game. The Gaiters added a late tally, but it proved insufficient.

Moving forward into the playoffs, Coach Murdoch gave some insight into what the team needs to do in order to bring a national lacrosse championship back to McGill.

“[We need to] stay healthy, stay motivated over the next two weeks, and [not] overlook the ability of any team in our league to outplay us if we are not mentally prepared,” he said.

As the top-seeded team in the East division, McGill will face the Carleton Ravens in its playoff opener on Oct. 27 at Molson Stadium.

Photos by Mike King.

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Sports Briefs

by Jeff Downey on

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Rugby: Redmen continue their playoff push 

Adversity continues to have no effect on the Redmen rugby squad, as the team claimed its third straight contest following the recent ineligible player ruling by the RSEQ. Battling the Sherbrooke Vert-et-Or at Molson Stadium on Sunday, McGill cruised to a 48-5 victory over the visitors.

Cameron Perrin, a third-year fullback, claimed 13 points in the win, including one try and four converts. Six other Redmen joined Perrin with tries, and Zechary Miller leading the way with two.

Looking forward, the victory brings McGill to 3-4 this year, with one final game remaining. Currently third in Quebec, a win would go a long way in securing a home playoff game. McGill battles Bishop’s on Friday night at Molson Stadium.

Soccer: Redmen in dangerous spot as playoffs near

McGill travelled to Stade CEPSUM to face the Montreal Carabins on Sunday in men’s soccer action. Looking to erase a two-game losing streak, the Redmen were in tough against the top-ranked Carabins, who ultimately prevailed 1-0.

With the loss, McGill finds itself in fifth place with only two games remaining, a tough position to be as only the top four teams in the conference will advance.

McGill plays at home on Tuesday against the UQTR Patriotes, and then travels to Sherbrooke to take on the Vert-et-Or. McGill needs a big win against the Patriotes to cushion their playoff positioning.

Soccer: Drought persists for Martlets

Following the rain-out cancellation against UQTR on Friday, the Martlets suffered a tough 1-0 loss against the Montreal Carabins on Sunday, dropping the team into fourth place in the RSEQ standings.

The teams has struggled lately, losing three of its last five games, after a blistering 6-0-0 start on the season.

The Martlets are currently on the cusp of playoff territory with three games remaining, and Tuesday’s make-up match against UQTR is a must-win.

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Canada’s team returns to Montreal

by Adam Sadinsky on

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The doors to the Bell Centre may remain locked for NHL players, but they were pried open for players and fans of a different sport on Friday night. NBA basketball returned to Montreal for the second time in three years as the Toronto Raptors “hosted” the New York Knicks in a preseason game as part of the NBA’s Canada Series. The series also includes a game in Winnipeg between Detroit and Minnesota. A sell-out crowd lived up to its rowdy reputation, and the players didn’t disappoint. The Raptors defeated the Knicks 107-88.

Toronto entered the contest with a 3-1 exhibition record, while the Knicks were 2-0. However, the Atlantic division rivalry lacked much of its usual punch as the game was just another opportunity for head coaches Dwayne Casey and Mike Woodson to get to know their teams, and plan for the regular season. The neutral location of the game was significant to the Raptors organization, which is currently trying to broaden its fan base across the country.

“I think we need to realize that we are the Raptors from Toronto, but we have the whole country behind us,” Jose Calderon, the Raptors’ longest-tenured player, noted after the game. “That’s the difference between us and the other teams in the league … it’s good for the NBA and for Canada.”

Jamaal Magloire, a 34 year-old centre from Toronto, agreed with Calderon. He hopes that the NBA makes trips to Montreal and other Canadian cities every season.

Raptors Head Coach Dwayne Casey saw the trip as a good opportunity for the team’s young players—Toronto has an average age of almost 25—to be exposed to a different environment.

“It should be a cultural experience,” Casey said of playing exhibition games in cities without NBA teams. “It’s a situation where there’s not a lot of time for guys to go out in the day. But I know the guys understand the city [and] they know it’s a very historical city. We have young guys and every experience is probably a new experience for our guys.”

The Knicks, on the other hand, are well-travelled, but gave Montreal favourable reviews.

“It is beautiful,” Knicks point guard Jason Kidd said. “I have family here and they’ve been asking me to come up, but this is my first time. I’ll be back; it’s a beautiful city.”

Carmelo Anthony, who dropped 24 points in 34 minutes, felt the same.  He spoke of the city’s energy and  complimented Montreal’s fans, who have been starved for professional sports action beyond the CFL’s Alouettes.

“This was big time,” he said. “The fans stayed in it right through the game and were excited about basketball. We had a good time but we wished we could’ve put on a better show for them.”

Montreal’s central location—five hours from Toronto and seven from New York—meant that there was a constant tug-of-war between Toronto fans—the designated home team—and Knicks’ supporters.

“[There were] spurts when you heard the fans cheering for us ,and spurts when you heard them cheering for the home team,” Anthony said. “It was just a good atmosphere.”

The fans likely set their prior allegiances aside and cheered for basketball in general. The building erupted in response to slam dunks by the Knicks’ Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, and the Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan.

Raptors fans also got the a chance to see some of the new Raptors players, and a team that is expected to be much-improved after last season’s 23-43 performance, causing them to miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year. New faces Kyle Lowry and Landry Fields played significant roles in the win, recording 17 and six points respectively for Toronto. Andrea Bargnani led the way with 20 points.

The Raptors open their season at home on Oct. 31 against the Indiana Pacers. The Knicks will make the long trip across the Brooklyn Bridge to participate in the grand opening of the Barclays Center against the Brooklyn Nets.

Photos by Simon Poitrimolt.

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Comeback kids stall in semis, St. Clair Saints claim title

by Steven Lampert on

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Riding high from its Northern Conference championship, the McGill Redmen baseball team looked set to continue its magical run in Nepean, Ontario this past weekend at the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association National Championships. After a weekend of highs and lows, filled with dramatic finishes and individual heroics, the team fell short, losing in the national semifinal to the St. Clair College Saints 4-2.

While the result is obviously disappointing for McGill, the team should be proud of its incredible turnaround, having won 13 of its final 17 games en route to a conference title and a national semifinals qualification. First year Head Coach Jason Starr lauded his team’s effort and said they have nothing to regret.

“At first after the game, there is obviously disappointment. Our goal this year was to win a national championship,” Starr said. “The sting of it lasts for about an hour, and then [the players] realize all they’ve accomplished. We went on an unbelievable run—won a conference championship, made a national semifinal. We really accomplished a lot.”

The Redmen opened the weekend with a convincing 14-3 victory over the host team, the Carleton Ravens. First baseman Casey Auerbach carried the load offensively, hitting 4-4, including three runs batted in and four runs scored. The team exploded for a six-run third inning, squashing any Carleton hopes.

After losing to Durham College in a tight 5-4 affair, the Redmen matched up against the Crandall Chargers in a do-or-die game. The Chargers came out slugging against Redmen starting pitcher L.J. Aguinaga, and built a 7-5 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Redmen had their backs against the wall, and they needed to generate a rally, but the team never floundered. Starr attributed this attitude to the camaraderie among the players.

“One of the strengths of this team was how close they were and how they played for each other,” Starr said. “It really kept us in ballgames and allowed us to come back and have a never give up attitude.”

With one out and the bases loaded, fifth-year centrefielder Chris Ames stepped into the batter’s box. Needing one hit to extend McGill’s season, Ames provided much more. After working to a full-count, Ames sent the 3-2 pitch over the fence for a walk-off grand slam, sending the Redmen to the semis.

Only two wins away from achieving the final goal of the season, the St. Clair College Saints stood in McGill’s way. Fueled by CIBA pitcher-of-the-year Rob Cooper, the Saints’ arms shut down the Redmen’s potent offence and claimed the 4-2 win. Starr was disappointed, but thought his team played fairly well—it just wasn’t McGill’s day.

“We played a good game … we got a great pitching performance from Nolan [Were]. They got one three-run home run that really made the difference in the game,” Starr said. “The other team just came out on top. That can happen in one game.”

Starr also noted that many people around the tournament believed that these were the two best teams in the nation. The way qualifying turned out, it happened that those teams were matched against each other in the national semifinal, instead of in the championship game. Nevertheless, the Redmen had their chances and did not execute.

Notable departures this year from the team will include Ames and second baseman Max Tierno. Auerbach, Aguinaga, outfielder Chris Haddad, and pitcher Conrad Hall may also leave depending on whether they decide to stay at McGill to complete another degree. While the veteran losses will be difficult to overcome, the Redmen will look  to players like first-year all-Canadian shortstop Tyler Welence to lead the youth movement next season. Starr is certainly excited about the program’s future.

“We have a good core of rookies, [and] a good core of second and third years,” Starr said. “It’s really exciting for the McGill program where we are set to go in the next couple of years.”

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