School has begun and you are undoubtedly running around campus and beyond, discovering the new hotspots. Montreal has a wide variety of student-friendly haunts, but do not restrict yourself—there are a lot of events outside the student bubble (and price range) for which you may want to save up. Also, you could take advantage of visits from your family and indulge yourself—and them, of course—to some of the finer (read: more expensive) attractions Montreal has to offer.
1. Hop-On, Hop-Off Double Decker Bus Tour
The best way to discover Montreal is to jump on this tour bus as it guides you through all of the must-see attractions. You are given the opportunity to get off the bus at 10 different locations to soak up the full Montreal experience. During the peak months, tours run every 30 minutes and take about 2 hours. The cost is $52.17 per person, so definitely indulge with your parents. For tour routes, visit:
Montreal, and Quebec in general, is the home to countless micro-breweries and vineyards. On this tantalizing wine-tasting adventure, explore the vineyards of Quebec and learn about their histories. Perhaps this could be your first experience with the famous French tradition of ‘wine-and-cheese’, but it certainly will not be your last! Tours are either half-day or full-day, priced at $89 or $129, respectively. For more information, visit:
This world renowned circus has been taken to new levels of awe-inspiring choreography in the shows offered by this gravity defying band of acrobats. The Cirque du Soleil is a spectacle not to be missed, and what better place to see it than in its hometown, Montreal? The innovative acrobatic routines, impressive strength and graceful musicality grow and improve with each new show, year after year, leaving its audiences breathless. Ticket prices vary depending on the show, and range from $50 – $150. For details, visit:
The Just For Laughs festival runs annually in July, when hundreds of comedians come to Montreal for a variety of indoor and free outdoor performances over the course of a few days. Outside of the festival, you can find hilarious shows by world-renowned comedians year round. Tickets range from $50 – $100 depending on the artist, so it is definitely a place to bring your parents to the next time they are in town. For details on events, check out:
Whether you are new to Canada and need to be officially introduced to the world of hockey, or you just aren’t a Habs fan yet, you must entertain a visit to the museum of hockey’s legends. Explore the history of the greatest sport ever invented and get a thorough introduction to the rowdy nights and hockey fever that you are sure to hear and experience during the season. For information on admission prices and hours of operation, visit:
The Botanical Gardens is a 75-acre outdoor complex in which you can meander around for a relaxing afternoon. In autumn, be sure to visit the Magic of Lanterns, where countless lanterns are lit in honour of Chinese history. Normal rates for the Botanical Gardens are $17.75 for adults and $13.50 for student, but additional charges apply for entrance into special events. For more information, go to:
This restaurant is like no other in Montreal. For one, your senses will be elevated by a dining experience in complete darkness. Embrace what it’s like to be blind for a few hours—like every waiter and waitress serving you. That’s right, no watches, cell phones, matches or candles – complete darkness. O Noir is located at 1631 Saint Catherine Street, right in the heart of downtown Montreal near the Guy Concordia metro station. Unfortunately, the extreme uniqueness of this restaurant is reflected in its prices and a three course meal will cost you $41. For reservation details, visit:
The Biodome is a unique nature experience. Simulations of four ecosystems have been constructed inside the Velodrome, a cycling track made for the 1967 Olympics. In the Biodome, you can experience the tropical rain forests of South America, the marine ecosystems of the Saint-Lawrence, the forests of the Laurentians, and finally, the chilled Arctic and Antarctic. Prices for adults are $17.75, or $13.50 with a valid student card. For hours of operation, visit:
What does every student moving into their first apartment need, aside from a fire evacuation plan? A trip to Ikea, of course. My parents bought all of their furniture in the eighties and have unfortunately been able to make it last well into the new millennium. So, no Ikea for us. I was also led to believe that assembling Ikea furniture is comparable to wall painting on the scale of household chore fun—more enjoyable than vacuuming, but not quite as fun as hanging posters or artwork—it wasn’t the furniture I was excited for.
Going to Ikea for the first time was an event for me. My father rented an absolute tank of a vehicle to help my sister and me move our collective belongings from apartment to apartment, which of course meant we were driving in Montreal for the first time. In the end, my roommate’s iPhone was the only thing that saved us from an unexpected and inconvenient detour to Ottawa. By the time we actually made it to the store, I was confident that if we could handle the jungles of Montreal’s roadways, we could easily find our way through the store. But even if we hadn’t suddenly become master navigators, it wouldn’t have mattered because the good people of Ikea were considerate enough to include directions on the floor! We were directed through the store by a set of yellow arrows and some whimsical footprints, which only improved the experience in my opinion.
My roommates’ explanations of the pencil and note card system was quickly interrupted when I noticed a ball pit directly to the left of the entrance. I guess the idea is that people will bring their families for a fun day at Ikea, where children can don their numbered bibs and explore the toy section while adults wander through the showrooms.
By the time we made it to the cafeteria, we were ready for a break. I was delighted to find that you can purchase red wine or choose from a variety of beers should you find yourself in need of a pick-me-up during your excursion. Luckily, I didn’t have to waste any time deciding what I would get for lunch, because every single person I spoke to about my impending trip told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had to get the Swedish meatballs. One of my roommates had actually been asked by her boyfriend to bring some back with her, since he couldn’t be there himself. I’ve also heard that some university students have a habit of making the trip out with the specific intention of purchasing this Scandinavian delicacy.
Eventually we went downstairs to pick up our boxes. After a surprisingly painless round with the self-checkout, we were out the door. We had to dodge a dauntingly long line for home delivery though, so take a car. If you don’t have one, go with a friend. If you don’t have any friends with cars, make some new ones. Of course, we also had to dodge the cheap frozen yogurt, hot dogs, and cinnamon buns that tempted us as we walked to the exit. Luckily, after those meatballs, we were able to resist.
The last chapter in my Ikea saga wrapped up back at my apartment, where I assembled my first piece of Ikea furniture: a bookcase. I now fully understand why people love assembling Ikea products so much. It’s not so hard that you get frustrated with it, but it’s just difficult enough, that you feel pretty darn good about yourself by the time you’re done. Just take the pieces, put them together and you have something new. If I hadn’t assembled it, it wouldn’t be a bookcase, but just a pile of wood and a series of screws. Definitely an ego boost.
After all that, I guess I would call myself an Ikea convert. I’m still a fan of garage sales and the occasional Walmart trip, but Ikea has definitely moved up a few notches in my book. If you have the time and the means, I would seriously recommend a trip. Even if you don’t, I can almost guarantee that somewhere on McGill Classifieds, at this very moment, someone is selling something from Ikea. Just make sure you have a screwdriver!
On Tuesday, Quebeckers went to the polls in a historic election that seemed poised to change the future direction of the province. The election call came in August, amid the continually escalating student movement against tuition hikes that began early in January. One might have expected that the student issues that dominated the lead-up to the campaign would have continued to dominate the rhetoric of the major parties once the writ was dropped. This, however, did not materialize.
The student movement’s primary objective was to oppose a government that asked students to foot the bill for education before weeding out the inefficiencies and corruption present within its own administration. A move towards limiting government funding for education is antithetical to the values Quebec has based itself on since the Quiet Revolution. Clearly, the Liberal Party of Quebec was not a choice for the students.
The movement was not rooted in the desire for sovereignty nor the protection of Quebec values and culture. The Parti Québécois has attempted to court the student vote solely through its opposition of the Charest government and not by making promises on issues important to students. They hijacked the campaign to talk about sovereignty when, at the time, most of Quebec didn’t feel the issue deserved centre stage. Once elected, Ms. Marois announced that she would freeze the hike and repeal Bill 78. During the campaign, however, she was nearly silent. Clearly, the PQ was not a choice for the students on the issue.
Francois Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec is not Jean Charest, but his policies on tuition echo the former Premier’s. He believes that the answer to the tuition question is to lower the hike while simultaneously forcing universities to “streamline their management.” Doing so would likely result in a further cutting of student services as well as a decrease in the quality of education that students receive and deserve. The CAQ was not a choice for the students.
Ironically, the issues that were most salient in media were not those that were of primary concern to the student movement. Instead, the common wedge issues of sovereignty and language laws dominated. None of the three major parties’ websites mention tuition fees in their key platform issues. Only the fourth-place party, Québec Solidaire, mentioned undergraduate tuition in its policy priorities.
The lack of emphasis on student issues during political campaigns is not a new phenomenon. It is widely known that students do not turn out on election days, and political parties treat them accordingly. Show up to the polls, and they will show some love.
It might be possible that Mr. Charest really did fear the students, as he made it very difficult for them to express themselves and vote. The timing of the election call, which meant campaigns were held in the summer, was inconvenient for students. Many, including the CAQ, accuse Mr. Charest of abruptly calling the election in the summer in order to pre-empt the Charbonneau Commission’s investigation into corruption slated for the fall. The timing, however, may have also been aimed at keeping students from the voting booth. The election took place at the beginning of September, just as many students returned to class. Large numbers of students from outside the province could not register to vote in time and, moreover, were outside Quebec for the majority of the campaign.
The lack of representation of student interests and discussion of student issues seemed disrespectful to those who were, in large part, the reason this election was originally called. Polls may emerge in the upcoming weeks showing that students did not turn out to vote, and that the parties were smart in tiptoeing around the issue. Politics, however, should not be based merely on who comes out to vote, but on the needs and interests of all constituents.
Pittsburgh Steelers— After getting a dose of Tebow-mania, the Steelers exited the 2011 playoffs earlier than expected. However, much of the roster that helped the team finish 12-4 last season is set to return, and expectations in Steeltown are high once more. New offensive coordinator Todd Haley promises to open up the offence and let QB Ben Roethlisberger find his group of talented pass catchers led by speedy
Mike Wallace and budding star Antonio Brown. While veterans Troy Polamalu and James Harrison drive the defence, the unit is slowly being infused with youthful talent, and looks to re-emerge as one of the top groups in the league.
Baltimore Ravens — The Ravens have been Super Bowl contenders for the past couple of seasons and 2012 is no different. The defensive unit took a massive hit after it was announced that Terrell Suggs, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, tore his ACL and will miss all of this season. While this undoubtedly leaves a huge hole in the defence, the Ravens still boast a talented group of players led by leader Ray Lewis. Meanwhile, Baltimore waits for QB Joe Flacco to take the next step, as the team will only go as far as he takes them.
Cincinnati Bengals — Although it is expected to take a couple of seasons, the Bengals’ rebuilding project is off to a fast and promising start. Led by rookie QB Andy Dalton and WR AJ Green, Cincinnati qualified for the playoffs last season— a result that no pundit saw coming. The offence should continue improving as Dalton and Green grow together. The Bengals’ defence surprised last year, proving to be a strong unit comprised of youthful talent at every level. Cincinnati fans feel rejuvenated and hope last season’s unexpected success wasn’t an aberration.
Cleveland Browns — Mirroring the foundation of their Ohio rivals, the Browns look for a fresh start led by a new rookie quarterback and running back. Although 28 years old, Brandon Weeden steps into his first season in the NFL with high hopes and a strong arm. He’ll be aided by former Alabama star RB Trent Richardson, who some are comparing to Adrian Peterson. The Browns hope these two players will spark an offence that has been sputtering over the past couple of years. Though the defence is a unit in progress, the core is there with DE Jabaal Sheard, MLB D’Qwell Jackson, and CB Joe Haden. Finally, things don’t look so bleak for the Browns.
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AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans — The Texans are the most skilled team in the division. With a high-flying offence and crippling run defence, there isn’t a lot the Texans can’t match favourably against. The only problem they may face is a worrisome trend of injuries to their star players. Andre Johnson can be an absolute monster receiver, but all of that is contingent on his ability to get on the field. The problem is he can’t seem to stay healthy. In the past two campaigns, Johnson has missed out on 12 regular season games. If the Texans continually smother offences as they are poised to do, and Johnson stays healthy, they should roll into the playoffs.
Tennessee Titans — There is some uncertainty in the Titans’ camp stemming from the pivotal quarterback and running back positions. The newly named sophomore starting quarterback Jake Locker is fairly untested, but does have the benefit of an offensive line that rarely yields sacks. This guaranteed time in the pocket should give him the ability to overcome any starting jitters that he may have. Running back Chris Johnson is also a frustrating uncertainty after last year’s disappointing campaign. Should he bounce back and show glimmers of what he is capable of, a playoff berth is not unthinkable for the Titans.
Indianapolis Colts — Unless the Colts’ horseshoe logo comes to life and starts providing their aptly named starting quarterback Andrew Luck some luck, the prospects are bleak for the Colts this season. This year will be all about maturing and refining Luck’s superstar potential, especially if Donald Brown continues to fall short of expectations carrying the ball. Much can be said on the other side of the ball where an explosive pass rush is in place; but a reliable pass defence is not. Although the Colts shouldn’t be counted out, 2013-2014 seems more like their time.
Jacksonville Jaguars — This isn’t going to be good. A once consistent playoff contender, the Jags have experienced a speedy fall from grace. Aside from the pint sized power and prowess of Maurice Jones-Drew, there isn’t a lot to be thankful for in Jacksonville. A sloppy sophomore quarterback in Blaine Gabbert and a ubiquitous blend of mediocrity on defence buries any hope of the Jaguars putting together a .500 record this season.
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NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers — While Green Bay’s promising 2011 season ended on a sour note, there is no reason to believe that the Packers won’t be back as a top Super Bowl contender this year. Having finished second last in total defence last season, their unit will need improvement if they’re to reach New Orleans. The team spent their first six draft picks on the defensive side of the ball—notably OLB Nick Perry and DE Jerel Worthy, both players who can put pressure on the quarterback. Their offensive talent is undeniable and will be reliable barring major injury. Undoubtedly, Aaron Rodgers will pick apart defences with his many weapons. However, Green Bay’s fate will ultimately be determined on the other side of the ball.
Detroit Lions — 2011 may go down as the year the Detroit franchise finally turned things around. Fresh off their first winning season since 2000, the Lions—led by emerging QB Matthew Stafford and star WR Calvin Johnson—boast one of the most exciting offences in the league. However, like their Cheesehead counterparts in Wisconsin, the defence is shaky and will need to improve before Detroit becomes a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Chicago Bears — After a tumultuous end to last season, marked by injuries to both their starting quarterback and running back, the Bears look rejuvenated. They hope to reach the same level of success they experienced in the 2010 campaign when they reached the NFC Championship game. While the reunion of Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler should prove lethal, the Bears’ offence will sputter if they don’t receive better offensive line play. Between Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Julius Peppers, the Bears will be tough on defence. However, the secondary will need to play well against the arms of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford if they are to contend for a division title.
Minnesota Vikings — It wasn’t too long ago that the Vikings were contending for a championship. However, Brett Favre is (thankfully) gone, and year two of the Christian Ponder era begins. Unfortunately, he won’t have his security blanket in star RB Adrian Peterson for some of the season. Other than Percy Harvin, the rest of the offence is marked by few playmakers. Jared Allen, likely the NFL’s best pass rusher, leads the Vikings’ defence, but the rest of the personnel looks bleak. Rebuilding is the name of the game in Minny this season.
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NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints — The Saints’ offseason revolved around the extensive punishments handed out as a result of the bounty scandal. Although they lose Head Coach Sean Payton for the entire year, this will not stop New Orleans from continuing their winning ways. Drew Brees is still a phenomenal quarterback, not only in his reads and accuracy, but also his ability to utilize all his options so effectively. While this may be a testament to Payton’s coaching, it is not remotely farfetched to assume that Brees—and the rest of the team—will be able to follow this path right back into the postseason and Lombardi contention. The only weakness to be found is a sub-par pass defence that is further decimated by their offseason scandal and subsequent suspensions.
Carolina Panthers — The NFL has become a quarterback’s league, and the Carolina Panthers have one definite talent at the position. Despite all the hype and predictions heading into last season, Cam Newton surpassed even the highest expectations and made his mark in the history books by amassing a first year record of 4051 passing yards, and an astonishing 706 rushing yards. Coupled with a dynamic running game, the offence is a juggernaut. The defence is somewhat suspect, especially on the passing end, but that shouldn’t prevent the Panthers from improving in 2012.
Atlanta Falcons — It’s still difficult to consider the Falcons a legitimate Super Bowl threat. Over the past four years, they have consistently put on strong regular season performances, followed by disappointing postseasons. In these playoff appearances, QB Matt Ryan has been sub-par and the defence has underperformed. Until they learn to play as a unit and break through their mental blocks, Atlanta shouldn’t be seen as a postseason or even a divisional threat.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 2011-2012 was a disastrous campaign for the Bucs on essentially all accounts. While it isn’t hard to imagine a slightly better performance this time around, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about in Tampa besides a potentially exciting group of draft picks. The young crop could mature and become relevant NFL players at some point, but this won’t be the year.
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AFC EAST
New England Patriots — No question exists as to whether the Pats are the division’s top dogs. Fresh off a 14-2 regular season and a run to the Super Bowl, this team is hungry to get back to the big dance and win it. The offence, as always, will be top notch, but defence will be what makes or breaks this season. Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower were drafted for this very purpose. They will be key to reviving what was the NFL’s last ranked defense in 2011.
Buffalo Bills — The Bills showed promise last year and the pressure is now on in Orchard Park for this team to get back to the playoffs after a lengthy hiatus. Buffalo splurged on a contract extension to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, as well as on defensive end Mario Williams, who will be called upon to anchor the defensive line. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller will share the running duties, but the big question will be whether Fitzpatrick has enough aerial weapons, besides standout Steve Johnson.
New York Jets — Today’s NFL requires that a championship team possess a game-changing, starting quarterback. The Jets have two pretenders. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow has enough skill to lead this team to match the greatness of their tenants at the Met Life Stadium. The defensive core, highlighted by Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is solid. However, the Jets won’t score enough points to keep up with the cream of the crop in the AFC.
Miami Dolphins — The ‘fins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and this year won’t be any different. Led by Joe Philbin, this is a team building towards future success which isn’t quite on the horizon. Reggie Bush, Jake Long, and Cameron Wake are some of the few household names on this squad. However, it will be up to rookie QB Ryan Tannehill who will be tasked with restoring Miami to greatness.
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AFC WEST
Denver Broncos — The Broncos finished first in the AFC west last season and upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. They did that with Tim Tebow. Fast forward to this year, and they now have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning behind the center. Combine Manning with the same strong defense from last year, and the possibilities are endless. Even though Manning missed last year, he played 12 injury-free seasons prior. Thus, there is no reason to doubt that he can’t bounce back and regain his all-pro form. Also, look for talented receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker to break out. The Broncos are real contenders.
Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs are a very deep team. Not only do the Chiefs have burner Jamaal Charles back from an ACL tear, they’ve also added RB Peyton Hillis to create arguably the best one-two punch in the NFL. To add to the arsenal, Dexter McCluster has moved from running back to a slot receiver and should flourish in that position. However, the biggest spotlight this season is on QB Matt Cassel. After an impressive 2010, he took a big step backwards in 2011 throwing nine interceptions and only 10 touchdowns. That being said, the Chiefs’ strong running game should open up the passing game for Cassel, who shouldn’t need to be a hero.
Oakland Raiders — It’s simple. If RB Darren McFadden can stay healthy, Oakland could be a dark horse to win the division. That’s a big ‘if’ though, since he hasn’t played a full season his whole career. If he isn’t healthy, Oakland’s chances are bleak, especially without backup RB Michael Bush who left for Chicago. QB Carson Palmer is still a question mark but should play better than last year considering he spent a full offseason getting comfortable with his role on the team.
San Diego Chargers — For the last couple of years, the Chargers have been surrounded by hype but haven’t lived up to expectations. This year, after losing WR Vincent Jackson and star RB Ryan Matthews for at least the first few games of the season, there isn’t much hype around this year’s team—for good reason. Coupled with their weak defence, fans should not expect much coming out of San Diego this year.
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NFC WEST
San Francisco 49ers — The Niners took the league by storm last year when they came within inches of a Super Bowl birth. This year, however, they won’t be able to sneak up on teams. Their elite defensive core from last season remains intact, and that should be enough to help overcome the target on their backs. On the offensive side of the ball, the focus is on QB Alex Smith who finally put together a good season last year, but returns with a chip on his shoulder after the 49ers openly pursued Peyton Manning. One question remains: can Smith take on this challenge and improve, or will he regress and lose confidence in his game? Should he prove he deserves to be the guy in San Fran, then the 49ers should run away with the West and prove that they are serious Super Bowl contenders.
Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are a mediocre team on paper, yet each year they seem to find a way to win games. RB Marshawn Lynch was a beast last season and often put the team on his back. However, the Seahawks will need rookie QB Russell Wilson to perform if they want to have any shot at overtaking the 49ers in the division and earning a postseason berth.
St. Louis Rams — The Rams failed to do anything right last year, finishing with an abysmal 2-14 record. That being said, there is no reason that a healthy QB Sam Bradford can’t bounce back and live up to his draft day potential. Still, that is far from certain—especially if the Rams’ offensive line doesn’t pick up their play. Don’t expect a complete turnaround, but the Rams should be better than last year.
Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals have an unproven quarterback, injuries at running back, a weak defense, and Larry Fitzgerald. Apart from Fitzgerald, nothing seems remotely promising. Plus, Larry surely cannot throw the ball to himself. Look for Arizona to struggle this season.
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NFC EAST
Philadelphia Eagles— Vince Young called this a dream team going into last season, and despite being a year late, his prediction might soon come true. The Eagles are stacked with weapons on both sides of the ball that put them squarely in the chase for the Superdome in February. If Michael Vick can escape his injury prone ways and LeSean McCoy continues to excel with a shiny contract extension in hand, this team has what it takes to go all the way.
New York Giants — This team takes clutch to a whole new level. A battle-tested unit, the Giants will scare anyone in the NFC if they can return to the playoffs. The team will have to deal with the league’s toughest schedule; but if anyone can overcome that adversity, it is this group. Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs are gone, but Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw should be able to carry the load for New York—oh, and Eli as well.
Dallas Cowboys —Jerry Jones thinks his team can contend in the NFC this season, but we disagree. This is an aging unit that, despite possessing some up-and-coming players like Sean Lee, won’t even be able to compete with two teams within its own division. The old mainstays Romo, Ware, Austin, and Jones remain; but considering the Cowboys have only won one playoff game since 1996, there is no reason to believe that the trend is going to change in 2012.
Washington Redskins —While Americans decide on whether or not to send a new president to Washington, the local team finally has a quarterback it can believe in. Robert Griffin III is the number one story for the Redskins and is expected to inject some energy into a lifeless franchise. Washington is still a few pieces away from being a contender and should hover around the 4-6 win mark, but brighter days may be ahead.
The Redmen football team has recently become a confounding disappointment for McGill Athletics and their fans. As a heavily bankrolled team, results akin to McGill’s hockey successes should rightfully be strived for and expected. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. Both of the last two seasons have ended without a tally in the victory column. However, the recent showing of promise and offseason dedication by the squad leads to the belief that the overused expression “things will be better this year” might actually have substance this season.
McGill excitedly welcomes Clint Uttley to his first full season as head coach following the completion of his interim duties. His desire to increase practice drive and intensity can already be observed. Whether or not this will translate to on-field success remains a question, but the direction is undoubtedly encouraging. Stepping off the sidelines and onto the field, McGill must primarily battle the mental errors and egregious turnovers that have plagued them over the past few years. This will rest primarily in the hands of the starting quarterback, whose identity remains unclear. The opening day starter, untested second year Dallon Kuprowski showed promise, whilst substitute and former CIS Rookie of the Year Jonathon Collin struggled as he battles to complete a return from injury. Regardless of who ultimately gets the consistent nod, cool-headed leadership and reduced turnovers must become the top priorities.
The sole bright spot for the Redmen continues to rest in special teams as rookie kicker Sammy Rassy is as consistent as they come.
Unquestionably, McGill will not be a break-out threat this season. However, if solid growth as a unit and an improved mental game is witnessed, some greatly needed victories will come and help kick-start the sputtering program.
Marlet Soccer
The Martlet soccer team entered last season with high expectations, regarded as one of the best teams in the country. As the hosts of Nationals, they automatically qualified, and made it all the way to the CIS semifinal only to come up short in their final two matches. These setbacks left the squad with a hollow, fourth-place national finish. After such a disappointing result, the Martlets looked eager and more focused this summer. They played very well in early exhibition games and tournaments notably winning the annual Old Four Tournament in late August. Fourth-year midfielder Julia Bahen, likely the team’s most consistently strong player, will be called upon often to lead the squad. The finishing will be left to emerging third-year star forward Stephanie Avery, who has already had an impressive start to her campaign. Another potential offensive threat is McGill’s freshman midfielder Kristina Pearkes, who tallied two goals and an assist in a standout performance in an exhibition match against Windsor. She should lock down a starting spot and progress as the season develops. Barring the spot filled by Pearkes, most of the Martlets’ starting lineup returns, leaving them with an older and more experienced team. This camaraderie should translate into success. With this in mind, anything short of another CIS semifinal appearance will be viewed as a disappointment.
McGill Tribune / Sam Reynolds, Ryan Reisert
After an impressive fall 2011 regular season, the Redmen soccer team advanced to the RSEQ final, only to fall to University of Montreal. With this result, however, they still managed to qualify for nationals, eventually ending up fifth in the country. Once the season had passed, Head Coach David Simon stepped down from his position, leaving ex-Redmen goalkeeper Jose Valdes at the helm. Valdes looks to steer this team back to nationals, which may not be an easy task. Many of the leaders from last year’s squad have graduated, meaning that some of the returning players must step up. For starters, new team captain and fifth-year midfielder Jeremy Hurdle will be called upon on both ends of the pitch. Offensively, third-year forward Sebastian Munro, and exciting freshman Marc Palaci-Olgun will be relied upon as primary scorers, and should create chances frequently. The backend is led by dual-threat Alexis Pradle, who was arguably one of the team’s best defenders last season. He will lead the group in front of sophomore goalkeeper Charles Kelly. Kelly should benefit from last year’s CIS Championship experience and Valdes, being a former Redmen goalkeeper, will only help his development. The Redmen had decent exhibition results, but the RSEQ will be even more competitive. McGill lost to every division rival except Concordia at least once last season. This must change if they are to achieve RSEQ success.
Redmen Baseball
The McGill Redmen baseball team suffered from a national champions’ hangover last season, when they failed to return to the tournament. This year, however, the team appears re-energized following an offseason coaching change. Head Coach Ernie D’Alessandro stepped down from his position, ending his 16-year tenure with the Redmen. Leading the transition will be new bench boss Jason Starr. Starr, a former Redman himself, has been on the team’s coaching staff for the past seven seasons. He brings a new attitude to a Redmen team that looked complacent for much of last season. Training camp has been one of the most competitive in recent memory, and Starr is giving every player his chance to fight for playing time.
On the field, McGill welcomes eight new players to the roster, most notably, 2010 team MVP, Max Tierno, who missed the 2011 season on exchange. Aside from Tierno, look for veteran outfielders Chris Ames and Adam Gordon, as well as first baseman Casey Auerbach to lead the club throughout the year. The pitching staff is yet untested, and will likely determine how successful this Redmen edition becomes.
Looking forward, Carleton is hosting nationals this season, and thus receives an automatic berth in the tournament. This leaves only one qualifying spot in the Northern Division up for grabs. The Redmen’s toughest challenge for the berth will likely come from Concordia—the team that ended McGill’s 2011 campaign. However, the Redmen have had months to digest last season’s disappointment, and enter looking focused and hungry to return to their championship form.
The McGill Martlet rugby team dominated their first preseason game, defeating the defending CIS champion Guelph Gryphons 89-0 on Sunday. The 89-point difference is the largest margin of victory for McGill since a 109-0 victory over Bishop’s last season. Brianna Miller led the way for the Martlets tallying 19 points in the match. Freshman Diana Foster had an impressive showing in her first game, adding 15 points on three tries. This game also proved to be a successful debut for new Head Coach John Lavery, who took over the duties in June. The team followed up their impressive performance on Monday with another overpowering performance, crushing St. Lawrence College 69-0. The Martlets head to Ottawa on Sept. 9 for their official season opener against Carleton.
Both the Redmen and the Martlet soccer teams took to the field over Labour Day weekend in a pair of exhibition tournaments. The Martlets found themselves in Fredericton in the UNB Fall Classic. They left the event with a 7-0 romping against the hosts, and a 1-1 tie against the PEI Panthers. The weekend was highlighted by strong play on both sides of the ball, principally by striker Stephanie Avery who slotted a hat trick against UNB.
On the men’s side, Sherbrooke played host to the preseason action, and the Redmen emerged with a 1-1 record. They defeated UNB 4-0, primarily due to their strong defensive play. The 2-1 loss came at the hands of the St. FX X-Men in a thrilling, hard-fought match.
Both teams start the official campaign Sept.6 at Molson Stadium.
McGill’s own Valerie Grand’Maison took home two swimming silver medals this week at the Paralympic Games in London. Her first came on Sunday in the 50-metre freestyle. On Monday, she was looking to improve on her second place performance in Beijing 2008 in the 100-metre freestyle, but fell short—missing out on the gold by .51 seconds. Four years ago, Grand’Maison was Canada’s most decorated Paralympic swimmer, winning three gold medals, two silver, and one bronze. Just making it to London should be seen as a success for the McGill swimmer, as she dealt with a shoulder tear only a year and a half ago.
Grand’Maison is McGill’s only Paralympic athlete, joining 14 Olympians who competed earlier this summer in London. She is accompanied by Martlet swimming Head Coach Peter Carpenter, and will compete in two more events before returning back to Canada.
In case you were too busy looking after kids, getting coffee for your very prestigious boss, or … tanning, here’s what you missed this past summer in the world of sports:
EURO 2012 — The tournament started off amid accusations of racism by European Football Championship hosts, Poland and Ukraine, and ended the same way things usually have in soccer these days: with Spain lifting a trophy. Mario Balotelli was a breakout star for runner-up Italy while Christiano Ronaldo finally performed on the international stage (but inexplicably didn’t take a pentalty kick in Portugal’s semifinal match against Spain). International soccer fans now turn to qualifying for World Cup 2014 in Brazil where, if we had to wager, we’d put a couple of Euros (or maybe not …) on Spain.
OLYMPICS — Following the Euro Cup, the world turned its attention to London, as the Games of the XXX Olympiad welcomed athletes from 205 nations. Usain Bolt was clearly still eating his chicken nuggets as he defended both his 100 and 200-metre titles, becoming the first runner ever to accomplish the feat. Michael Phelps concluded his last Olympics in style, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 22 medals. Rosanngh MacLennan bounced to Canada’s only gold medal of the games in trampoline, while our women’s soccer team was unfairly bounced from the semifinal against the USA due to what many called questionable refereeing. The red and white finished with 18 medals, the same amount they earned in Beijing four years ago.
BASEBALL — The Nationals, Orioles, Pirates, Rays, A’s, and Reds are all in playoff contention. The Angels, Red Sox, and Phillies are not. What? A surprising summer has led to the MLB standings being turned on their heads. Former Expos fans will finally see their old team make the playoffs (sorry, we had to), but the decision to shut down ace Stephen Strasburg before the team’s first playoff appearance in 31 years was probably made by the same person who built the Olympic Stadium. The Nats’ beltway rivals in Baltimore are also experiencing a renaissance, and are currently tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Elsewhere in that division, Edwin Encarnacion seems to be playing on a team by himself in Toronto and the Boston Red Sox are completely imploding… again.
HOCKEY — It looks like the NHL is heading towards another lockout. Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr better figure this out soon, or poker might once again rise to television glory. Seriously though, if there’s no Canadiens hockey keeping people busy a couple of nights a week in Montreal, Montrealers might just take to the streets…
The McGill Redmen football team dropped their 2012 opener on Sunday 33-15 against No.2-ranked, and perennial RSEQ powerhouse, the Laval Rouge et Or. Head Coach Clint Uttley wasn’t too happy with the result. “We did not play well, we did not execute in the red-zone, [and] we had 10 penalties which is too much,” he said. McGill led throughout the entire first quarter, finishing it at 9-7, thanks to three field goals by freshman kicker Boris Bede, who eventually ended up 5-5 on field goal attempts in the game. Following the first quarter however, Laval took back control, exposing the middle of the Redmen defence and compiling 182 rushing yards on the day. Freshman wide receiver Shaquille Johnson impressed, leading McGill with 85 all-purpose yards, which included six receptions for 57 yards. Junior linebacker Alexandre Bernard was a standout on the defensive side, tallying nine tackles in the loss. The Redmen return to Molson Stadium on Sept. 7 for their home opener against Sherbrooke.
