Heysel Stadium Disaster -Belgium, May 29, 1985 

Soccer hooliganism has plagued the sport from its birth, but arguably no individual event has left a darker mark than the Heysel Stadium Disaster in 1985, often referred to as the “darkest hour in the history of UEFA.”  Juventus was to play the premier club of the time, Liverpool, in the European Cup Finals. Riots began an hour prior to kick-off when divided fans began hurling objects across the barricade.  Liverpool supporters then flocked to the support stanchion and climbed the wall, causing Juventus supporters to flee in fear.  The extra weight caused by the rioters cracked and toppled the divider, crushing and killing 39 people and injuring an additional 600.  Juventus went on to win a hollow victory, securing the match 1-0.  

Disco Demolition Night – Chicago, July 12, 1979 

Starting off the list is an infamous event in the history of America’s favourite pastime.  On Thursday, July 12, 1979 a double-header between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers turned nasty as fans gathered to celebrate the “Death of Disco.”  The 90,000 fans present, a crowd that pushed the stadium to capacity, were angsty from the start. They hurled vinyl records and other debris onto the field several times throughout the contest. Things came to a head at the end of the first game, when a planned detonation of disco records turned violent; thousands of fans rushed the field to revel in the destructive death of disco. Although only minor injuries were reported, the demonstration put a definitive end to disco and the planned double-header.

2011 Vancouver Stanley Cup Riot – Vancouver, June 15, 2011

What list could be complete without a return to last summer’s shameless Vancouver riot? One of the most destructive riots in Canadian and sports history, it all began to take shape as game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals wound down with Vancouver in line for the loss.  Fans became unruly, beginning by throwing bottles at large screens in the viewing area before taking to the streets in growing numbers.  By the end, 15 cars were set ablaze and countless stores were broken into and ransacked. Over 100 arrests were made, and there were over 140 injuries, and $5 million in property damages.    

Ten Cent Beer Night – Cleveland, June 4, 1974 

Returning again to baseball, the Ten Cent Beer Night had all the ingredients for disaster: extremely cheap beer, and clashing sports teams. The contest was between the Cleveland Indians and the Texas Rangers, with the idea behind the promotion being to offer as many 8 oz beer cups as a fan could drink for 10 cents each, to boost waning attendance. With the game tied 5-5 and the go-ahead Rangers’ run on second, an inebriated Cleveland fan charged the field to steal the outfielder’s cap.  The Texas bench, fearing he would be assaulted, stormed the surface-bats in hand-with the Indians following suit. This prompted a massive influx of fans to the field, many armed with an extremely bizarre repertoire of weapons including nunchuks. Ultimately, riot police arrived to restore order, but not before hundreds of injuries were reported.  Needless to say, further scheduled Beer Nights were cancelled.    

Richard Riot – Montreal, March 17, 1955 

No player has meant more to his team, or his city, than what Maurice Richard did to the Canadiens and Montreal.  Therefore, it is not surprising that tempers flared following his suspension for the remainder of the 54-55 season for a hit on a linesman. When Clarence Campbell, the head of the NHL, appeared at the first Canadiens’ game following the suspension, a riot broke out in the streets to appeal the punishment.  At its peak, the riot contained thousands of unsettled fans and accumulated more than 100 arrests and 37 injuries.  Additionally, it cost the city over $100,000.  Only the man himself could save the city at this point, as Richard did when he appealed to the hostile crowd and asked them to disperse. Finally, they obeyed.    

Being a sports fan has its pros and cons. When I think about all the time I have spent over the past years diligently following sports, not to mention the energy and sanity invested in the diehard zealousness associated with being a sports fan, I can’t help but wonder if my quality of life (and certainly my GPA) would be higher if I just stopped. Indeed, many times people argue this point, saying that time can be far better spent engaging in meaningful tasks instead of watching a bunch of paid adults make their money. 

While these arguments do have merit, nothing compares to the feeling of investing in a team and seeing them succeed. They become a part of you, and their victories become yours. A favourite player has the same effect: when they do well, you live through their success and when they don’t, it definitely detracts from the fan experience.  But when they leave the team, it’s just plain sad. Anybody who has painted his or her body, tailgated at a game, or waited hours in the cold for an autograph knows what I’m talking about. Your favourite player’s success means a lot.

So for you sports fans, the next sentence will probably be more than enough context to understand where I’m going with this: I am an Indianapolis Colts fan, and a diehard Peyton Manning fan as well.

Hockey has always been the number one sport in my life, and it wasn’t until I was 14 that I really started watching football. Since Canada doesn’t have any real football teams (sorry CFL fans), it’s pretty common to simply pick a team, for whatever reason, and cheer on for the rest of your life. Ever since then, Peyton Manning has been the only quarterback I would cheer for. His record-breaking performances, his ability to dissect a defense, and his incredible work ethic are all great reasons to be a Manning fan. However, it is also the intangibles that contribute to what makes Peyton Manning so incredibly revered. His class, southern charm, and surprisingly sound acting skills make him a fan favourite around the league, not just to Colts fans. 

It should be no surprise to anyone that I was devastated three weeks ago when the Colts released their quarterback of 14 years. I was one of those Colts fans in denial  who believed that Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning together would have been a good idea. So what if Peyton had a $28 million signing bonus? So what if he had three neck surgeries in the past year? Peyton Manning defined the Colts’ success for more than a decade, and it was almost unfathomable to think that only two weeks after his release, Manning would be holding an orange and blue jersey with a beaming John Elway standing next to him.

In today’s sports culture, it is commonplace for an athlete to leave the team that drafted him, especially with smaller market teams, for bigger, better, and more exciting cities. Peyton Manning could have made millions of dollars playing in much bigger and flashier cities than Indianapolis, but that just wouldn’t have been Peyton. In an era where class in professional sports seems to be nonexistent, Peyton Manning is a refreshingly loyal outlier. 

For those Colts fans that feel betrayed by Manning, don’t forget that it was the team that cast him out, not the other way around. Manning’s professionalism and courtesy, in addition to his unbelievable skill and immense talent, will always be remembered fondly, no matter what happens in Denver and beyond. 

–Joshua Prizant

Cole Burston / Daily Gleaner

On March 3, 1875, the first ever organized hockey game took place at Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink between various McGill students. The game introduced the use of a puck instead of a ball with the hopes of preventing any crowd members from being hit, since a puck is harder to lift. In 1877, the first ice hockey club, the McGill University Hockey Club, was born.

Now, 137 years after the birth of hockey, and 136 years after the formation of the McGill Hockey Club, the McGill Redmen have won their first ever CIS championship. The historic win came after a thrilling overtime goal scored by team captain Evan Vossen, capping a season to remember for the Redmen.

The road to the championship began with the second-seeded Redmen facing the fifth-seeded Moncton Aigles Bleus. The Redmen came out of the locker room with all cylinders firing, and Moncton was forced to take two penalties only three minutes in, giving McGill two minutes of five-on-three play. McGill took advantage of the golden opportunity, as Francis Verreault-Paul and Alexandre Picard-Hooper both scored powerplay goals to give the Redmen a 2-0 lead just five minutes in the game. Nicolas Biniek added another goal for McGill, giving the Redmen a 3-1 lead after one period.

The second and third frames were also dominated by McGill. In the second, Verreault-Paul scored his second of the night, and Andrew Wright added another, extending McGill’s lead to 5-1.

Moncton answered in the third, scoring twice and applying pressure on McGill goaltender Hubert Morin. It was too little, too late, however,  and McGill came away with the 6-3 win.

McGill moved on to play the Saskatchewan Huskies in their second game of the tournament. The Huskies lost to the Aigles Bleus 5-1 the night before, and had to defeat McGill by three goals or more in order to qualify for the gold medal game.

Fortunately for McGill, Morin was just solid enough in net, and McGill lost the game 4-3. Thanks to goal differential tiebreaking procedure, the Redmen advanced to their second consecutive CIS championship finals.

After being torn apart by UNB 4-0 in last year’s finals, the Redmen were determined not to allow history to repeat itself, learning from their past failure. Facing a Western team who had upset UNB just the night before, the finals were a rematch of the Queen’s Cup just two weeks ago, in which  McGill prevailed handily 4-1.

Unfortunately, the Redmen took a penalty for too many men at 7:21 into the game, giving Western the opportunity to take the early lead. Western’s leading scorer Keaton Turkiewicz took advantage and buried the opening goal. McGill responded exactly seven minutes later with Benoit Lévesque’s first goal of the tournament.

The tides were reversed in the second period, as Lévesque stayed hot and scored his second of the game 48 seconds in. But, the Mustangs charged back, and Kevin Baker tied the game at two. McGill once again halted any potential momentum by Western, with Nicholas Biniek  scoring his third of the tournament, giving McGill a one-goal lead heading into the second intermission.

The third period was characterized by a complete reversal of roles, as Western dominated the play while Verreault-Paul received a five-minute major and a game misconduct after charging Western goaltender Josh Unice. The Mustangs took advantage, and Turkiewicz scored his second powerplay goal. The game was headed into sudden death overtime.

Sudden death overtime is polarizing. It has the potential to be one of the worst moments for any athlete, or one of the most rewarding and exhilarating. The Redmen understood that to win their first national title, one member of the team would have to step up.

Exactly six minutes into overtime, McGill captain Evan Voss broke away from Western’s defenders and did exactly what the 1875 hockey teams hoped the puck would never do: he lifted the puck over Unice’s shoulder and scored the winning goal for the championship-starved team. Vossen, a senior playing his last game with the team, had scored not only the biggest goal of his career, but the greatest goal in McGill men’s hockey history.

As the NHL season grinds to a close, it’s fitting to take a look toward summer in Las Vegas, where the NHL awards will be given out to a multitude of deserving players around the league. Of course, some of the top nominees for these awards are not surprising-players like Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk seem to have a knack for receiving the same award year after year-but each year brings fortune to different individuals, and this year is no different. Let’s take a look at the forerunners and darkhorses for a few of the most coveted NHL awards.

Hart Memorial Trophy (League MVP)

Winner: Evgeni Malkin

This year, the NHL’s current leading point scorer, Evgeni Malkin, is the forerunner for the Hart. Malkin is a huge reason for the Penguins’ success this season given the long absence of Sidney Crosby. The Russian forward’s strong and inspirational play, game in and game out, makes him Hart worthy.

Runner up: Claude Giroux

Claude Giroux is also worthy of being a Hart candidate is Claude Giroux. His performance of late has slowed down, but it is impossible to ignore the impact that he makes on the Flyers’ team on and off the ice. 

Dark Horse: Henrik Lundqvist

Although no goalie has won the Hart since Jose Theodore in 2002, Henrik Lundqvist is also a legitimate candidate to bring home the hardware. He is probably the best goalie in the league, and his play is a huge reason why the Rangers currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender)

Winner: Henrik Lundqvist

With “King Henrik” in mind, it’s obvious that the Swede is the forerunner for the trophy. Lundqvist has an impressive 1.87 G.A.A., a staggering .934 save percentage, and a league-leading eight shutouts on the season. 

Runner up: Brian Elliot

Though astounding, Lundqvist’s G.A.A. and save percentage are second only to Brian Elliot, goalie for the St. Louis Blues. However, since Elliot splits time with other Blues’ goaltender Jaroslav Halak, he has 21 fewer starts than Lundqvist, which may restrict him from being Vezina worthy. 

Dark Horse: Jonathan Quick

Quite possibly the most underrated goaltender in the league, Jonathan Quick is a dark horse for this year’s Vezina. The LA goaltender has posted seven shutouts, a respectable 2.00 G.A.A., and a stellar .928 save percentage. He is also tied in first in goalie starts this season. 

Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman)

Winner: Erik Karlsson

It’s easy to crown Erik Karlsson as this year’s favourite for the Norris trophy. The Swede’s stellar 72 points (10th in the league) mixed with his ability to get the job defensively makes him a great selection for the Norris.

Runner up: Nicklas Lidstrom

It’s hard to count Lidstrom out for this award considering he’s won it six times in the past decade. However, his performance has slowed down this season, and injuries have kept him off the ice for too long. 

Dark Horse: Brian Campbell

The dark horse for this category is Florida’s Brian Campbell. He leads the league in average ice time per game among defensemen, and has an impressive 49 points thus far,  28 of which come on the powerplay. 

Calder Trophy (Best Rookie)

Winner: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

This year’s rookie of the year award looks like it’s going to last year’s first overall draft pick, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Despite injury, the 18-year-old has generated 46 points in 54 games, and fans are realizing that he’s the real deal. 

Runner up: Gabriel Landeskog

Colorado’s Gabriel Landeskog is also in the running for the Calder, largely because of his play late in the season. The 19-year-old is huge part of the Avs’ current push for a playoff spot and continues to show off his raw talent.

Dark Horse: Adam Henrique

The New Jersey Devils’ star left winger has been a surprise for must experts, but his 16-31-48 stat line doesn’t lie: this kid can play. Completing a line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac, Henrique will be a force to be reckoned with heading into the playoffs.

Jack Adam’s Trophy (Best Coach)

Winner: Ken Hitchcock

In all  likelihood,  the winner of this year’s Coach of the Year award will be Ken Hitchcock of the St. Louis Blues. After taking over early on in the season, the veteran coach has posted a 40-12-8 record, good enough to secure the Blues’ top ranking in the league.

Runner up: Paul McLean

Paul McLean of the Ottawa Senators has transformed a team projected to miss the playoffs into a team that is a definite threat in the Eastern Conference looking forward i
nto the playoffs. 

Dark Horse: John Tortorella

It would be difficult to ignore John Tortorella’s success this season with the Rangers. He is certainly a good candidate for this award, as the Rangers are currently first in the Eastern Conference, while managing possible distractions such as the HBO series 24/7.

ubyssey.ca

After a season of RSEQ dominance, the McGill Martlets were hopeful and confident about their chances at the CIS women’s basketball championship in Calgary, even though they faced UBC, Canada’s second-ranked team. Unfortunately, the ThunderBirds, led by their top-ranked defence in the country, defeated McGill 65-43 in their opening quarter-final matchup. 

The Martlets had a difficult time attacking UBC’s defence throughout, and shot an abysmal 18 per cent (11-60) from the field. The T-Birds were in control just a few minutes into the game, forcing McGill into tough and contested shots, while attacking the rim on the offensive end. By the end of the quarter, they had built a nine-point lead after converting on a pair of three-pointers. 

One of McGill’s strengths in the RSEQ was their rebounding. UBC had a strong front line and tall starting lineup, which translated into a huge rebounding advantage (59-39) for the T-Birds. Moreover, the Martlets’ most effective rebounder, Anneth Him-Lazarenko, was nagged by back pains, and was limited to just 19 minutes of action. 

McGill continued to struggle on the offensive end, as they were forced to take perimeter shots, and were ineffective in the paint. On the other hand, UBC dominated inside, outscoring McGill 14-0 in the paint in the second quarter, and the combination of UBC’s Zara Huntley and Leigh Stansfield put pressure on the Martlets on the defensive end. 

The injury afflicting Him-Lazarenko was the key in the game, as the Martlets had continuously employed their offence during the year from an inside-out approach-they would establish Him-Lazarenko inside, which freed up open shots for their talented perimeter players. This strategy was denied by the T-Birds, and they led by 14 at halftime. 

The second half was no different for McGill, as UBC continued to dominate the glass, translating into 11 second-chance points in the third quarter. McGill managed just six points in the frame, while Huntley added to her game-high 18 points. By the three-minute mark of the quarter, UBC had amassed a 20-point lead, which didn’t dwindle for the rest of the game. 

McGill played their best in the fourth quarter, as they were more aggressive on the offensive end and hit a couple of outside shots, outscoring UBC 16-15. Neverthless, the Martlets never challenged the T-Birds’ large lead, as it was too great to overcome. 

Point-guard Dianna Ros, who was awarded for her outstanding season with all-CIS rookie honours on Friday night at the CIS women’s basketball awards, led McGill with a team-high eight points. 

McGill was relegated to a consolation matchup against the Saskatchewan Huskies, in which they played a much better game, but lost 58-53. They led throughout the first half, building a lead as large as 12 points. The Huskies cut down the lead to seven by the half, as McGill got cold from the outside. 

The Martlets held their lead in the third, thanks to some costly turnovers by Saskatchewan, which amounted to four McGill buckets. Part of McGill’s success was due to their ability to establish Him-Lazarenko inside, who finished with 14 points in the game, and had a much stronger performance compared to the quarter-final against UBC.  

However, the Martlets were outplayed in the final quarter and lost their lead with just under two minutes to play due to some poor execution on the offensive end. The Huskies carried their momentum with them in the final minute, and converted some key free throws to ice the game. 

While the Martlets must be disappointed with how the championships turned out, they should be happy with their overall success this season. They claimed their first RSEQ championship since 1996, and showed major improvements from the beginning of the year. The team will lose two of their best players to graduation this year, Natalie Larocque and Him-Lazarenko, but the lineup still contains many bright young players who will look to build on the strong foundation developed this season. 

In honour of St. Patrick’s Day last weekend, let’s take a look at the top ten active athletes with roots in the Emerald Isle.

Tom Brady 

(NFL – QB, New England Patriots)

When measuring greatness in sports, the bar is undoubtedly set by Tom Brady. With a plethora of records to his name and a trophy room the size of the Parthenon, Brady is currently the best Irish athlete in North America. Even at the age of 34, Tom Brady’s play hasn’t skipped a beat. 

Derek Jeter 

(MLB – SS, New York Yankees)

A consummate professional, Derek Jeter has been the face of baseball’s “Evil Empire” for over a decade. In terms of awards, Jeter has amassed five World Series titles and Gold Glove Awards for his positional excellence, to name a few.

Michael Phelps 

(American swimmer)

Phelps put forth an inspiring performance at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics by nabbing eight gold medals. With the 2012 London Games just around the corner, Michael Phelps has one last chance to further cement himself in swimming glory, and as the human incarnation of Aquaman.

Patrick Kane 

(NHL – RW, Chicago Blackhawks)

When he’s not busy getting in trouble with the law, Kane is one of the pure snipers in hockey. The former number one overall pick is quick, versatile, and can pick any corner of the net with his precision shooting. He also gets bonus points for impersonating Superman at the All-Star Breakaway Challenge. 

Patrice Bergeron-Cleary 

(NHL – C, Boston Bruins)

No, that is not a typo. His father’s side hails from Ireland and while he dropped the name on the back of his jersey, Lord Stanley’s Cup proudly carries the Cleary name. Bergy is not the flashiest player, but he is the straw that stirs the Bruins’ offence with his phenomenal two-way play and faceoff prowess.

Ryan Callahan

(NHL – RW,  New York Rangers)

The captain of the Blueshirts is having a career year. Much like Bergeron, Callahan is also known for his defensive responsibilities and for elevating his linemates’ play. Time will tell if Ryan can guide the Rangers to a Stanley Cup victory this summer. 

 John Cena

(WWE -Professional wrestler)

I know what you’re thinking; pro wrestling is not a sport. Nonetheless, WWE wrestlers must be at peak physical shape to withstand the rigours of piledrivers, suplexes, and chair shots. Cena deserves an honorable mention for his tireless work ethic and athletic abilities.

Jason Kidd

(NBA – PG, Dallas Mavericks)

Kidd reached the pinnacle of his career last year when he won his first NBA championship as a member of the Dallas Mavericks. Kidd has experienced glory on numerous occasions with the U.S. national team at both the Olympic and World Championship levels, but nothing can rival the satisfaction of winning the big one in the world’s top basketball league. 

Shawn Thorton

(NHL  – LW, Boston Bruins)

Other than #22, you would be hard pressed to find an Irish athlete that presents the ensemble of intangibles. What Thornton lacks in skills, he makes up for with his grittiness, hustle, and brawling affluence. Every good hockey team requires someone of Thornton’s calibre who wears the jersey on his sleeve. Oh, and he also two Cup rings and sports a wicked handlebar mustache. 

Luke Walton

(NBA – SF, Cleveland Cavaliers)

The son of NBA legend Bill Walton, Luke hasn’t lived up to his father’s lofty accomplishments, but he has still managed to win two NBA championships as a Laker. Unfortunately, he was recently shipped to Cleveland this past trade deadline.  Who knows, he just might be the second coming of LeBron James.

In case you were busy signing the greatest free agent in NFL history, here’s what you missed this week in the world of sports…

NCAA BASKETBALL – March Madness kicked off this past Thursday to the delight of both basketball fans and bored office workers, and in typical fashion, it was upsets galore in the second round. The Tribune’s bracket was busted after little-known Norfolk State shocked the country by defeating second-ranked Missouri, a team that many expected to advance to the Final Four. Another 15-seed, Lehigh, busted a few more brackets by taking down Duke in their opening round matchup. To demonstrate how ridiculous those upsets are, consider this: with the wins, Norfolk State and Leigh became only the fifth and sixth 15th-seeded teams, respectively, to have won their opening round matchup since the tournament was founded in 1939. The last 15th-seed to pull it off was Hampton University in 2001. And we still have a couple rounds left in the tournament. 

FOOTBALL – NFL free agency continues to roll on, with the two biggest names coming off the market this past week. The endless coverage of where Peyton Manning will play finally came to an end on Monday, as it was reported that Peyton had started to negotiate a deal with the Denver Broncos. Manning will have an immediate impact on Denver, though it will be weird seeing a Bronco rather than a horseshoe on his helmet. The signing also has an impact on current Broncos quarterback and cultural icon Tim Tebow, who will now be traded in all likelihood. The most notable defensive free agent, Mario Williams, was claimed off the market by Buffalo-yes, Buffalo. In a move that was totally unanticipated before free agency began, the Bills handed Williams a six-year deal that amounts to about $100 million, $50 million of which is guaranteed. The contract is the most lucrative ever given to an NFL defensive player.

SOCCER – Alongside St. Patrick’s Day, Montreal was all hyped up on Impact fever this past weekend, as the team made their inaugural home opener on Saturday against the Chicago Fire. Davy Arnaud sealed his name in history, as he netted the Impact’s first ever MLS goal. The game, however, ended in a 1-1 draw. Montreal’s Olympic Stadium was sold out, and the atmosphere resembled that of a large rally-something McGill students are very familiar with. In other news, Toronto FC defeated the MLS defending champions, the Los Angeles Galaxy, to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals. They move on to play Mexico’s Santos Laguna in the next round on March 28. 

HOCKEY – As the NHL grinds down the finish of the regular season, teams are slowly separating themselves from the rest of the pack. Pittsburgh is certainly pulling ahead, winning 11 of their last 12 games with Sidney Crosby making his return to the lineup on Thursday. With all of this in mind, here’s a prediction: the Penguins are going to be really hard to beat in the postseason. The surprise team of the league, the St. Louis Blues, were the first to reach 100 points, as they keep finding ways to win. Good news for Habs and Leafs players: they’re a day closer to hitting the links.