Not that there was a contest, but with its new high-definition studio, TSN has solidified itself as the superpower of Canadian sports. In all realms of sports broadcasting, TSN is superior to its rivals at the CBC and Rogers Sportsnet. But what does having sports-broadcasting hegemony mean for the Canadian market?

Most significantly, it means that CBC and RSN might as well kiss the NHL goodbye after 2007-2008. Aside from the fact that the two have no hope of matching CTV/TSN’s proposed 10-year, $1.4-billion deal to add terrestrial rights to its cable package, the fact is that CBC and RSN don’t deserve to have hockey. The consumer deserves the best product and TSN offers it. Aside from Don Cherry, Ron MacLean and CBC’s hallowed tradition, TSN’s coverage blows the competition out of the water. Judging each network’s studio, in-studio personalities, broadcasters, analysts and in-game coverage only goes to strengthen this argument.

TSN recently upgraded its studios into high-definition and while most people still do not have HD, the sparkling studio still makes CBC and RSN look foolish. CBC’s main studio is nice enough but it is only prominent during the playoffs, while the Coach’s Corner booth is obviously set up in about 10 seconds. It is still better than RSN which is sticking with the 90s-era single desk format. The bottom line is that compared to TSN’s expansive set-there is even a hockey surface in it-CBC and RSN are decades behind.

In terms of in-studio personalities, it depends what kind of sports viewer you are. The Hockeycentral crew at RSN-defined by Bill Watters and Nick Kypreos-is goofy and disorganized, yet mildly entertaining. Having dumped editor Scott Morrison and lost insider Darren Dreger to TSN, RSN has chosen personalities over real insight. At CBC, Don Cherry obviously leads all networks in the personality department but after him and Ron MacLean, the in-studio talent drops off. Kelly Hrudey is a very solid analyst, but alone, he simply can’t compete with TSN’s all-star panel of Dreger, Bob MacKenzie, James Duthie and the recently retired Tie Domi. In terms of enlightening debate and insider information, TSN can’t be topped.

In terms of national broadcasts, RSN is immediately disqualified because it’s a regional broadcaster, though I can say from experience that Senators announcers are so brutal that it’s probably a good thing that this network is localized. CBC’s main tandem of Bob Cole and Harry Neale are past their prime, and no one is debating that; they do, however, bring a sense of history and mystique to the games, which does count for something. Eventually, though, new broadcasting legends will have to emerge and TSN’s Pierre McGuire may be the prime candidate. Despite what some “hockey fans” might say about him, Pierre is the best, hands down-he knows his stuff. Gord Miller is solid and is part of this great tandem. TSN’s number two man, Chris Cuthbert, is a strong backup and an exile from CBC.

In-game coverage is the closest of all the categories, as it should be. RSN isn’t even in the race though-their broadcasts seem to preclude ice-side reporters or inventive cameras. CBC’s Scott Oake does an excellent job with player-interest stories and during HNIC playoff games, it innovated a great new feature where a camera follows the players through the tunnel and onto the ice during introductions. They also give the viewer a good feel for what is happening in the stadium by placing cameras inside the concourse and outside in the parking lot. TSN uses similar shots, but it also has Glen Healey in between the benches, which adds a good touch and has since been duplicated by the American networks. This category is as close to a draw as any, but in my mind, Healey’s bench-work is the tiebreaker and puts TSN in front.

Canadians should not be afraid of the imminent move of the NHL to CTV/TSN-it offers the best coverage and highest entertainment value. We need to accept that while Canada grew up with Foster Hewitt and Danny Gallivan, the CBC simply isn’t worthy of holding on to Canada’s game. It’s time for substance to trump sentiment. It’s time for the NHL on CTV.

The Redmen have struggled to put together a full 60 minutes of football this season, in recent weeks having held the lead at halftime against top-ranked Laval and keeping the score close at the break against Université de Montréal.

Last Saturday, the story was no different. The Redmen were trounced 41-13 by arch-rival Concordia in the Shrine Bowl after trailing the sixth-ranked Stingers by just six points at the half.

Quarterback Matt Connell was 17 of 35 for 269 yards with one touchdown and one interception as McGill’s air attack kept the Redmen in the game for the first half.

“I thought it was looking good and we would come back and win this but all of a sudden we just shut down again like we have in a few other games,” Connell said.

The Stingers also took advantage of another problem that has vexed McGill this season: its inability to stop the run. Concordia’s 366 rushing yards propelled the Stingers to pull away in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Redmen 18-0 in the period. Running back Andre Hamilton led the ground attack with 221 yards and three touchdowns.

Redmen hold their own in the first half

The Red ‘n’ White opened the game strong, with a 77-yard drive early in the first quarter. However, the offence was unable to find pay dirt, stalling on the Concordia three yard line and forcing McGill to settle for a field goal by Robert Eeuwes to go up 3-0. It would be its only lead of the game.

Concordia would respond with a drive culminating in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Scott Syvret to Nicholas Saikaly. They would go to score again via a 30-yard touchdown run by Hamilton with 13:17 remaining in the second quarter. The Stingers were then gifted two more points on McGill’s next drive, when the Redmen elected to take a safety rather than give their opponents good field position-the first of three two-point surrenders by the Red ‘n’ White.

However, McGill roared back right before half time, producing a five-play, 74-yard drive ending in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Connell to wide receiver Charles-Antoine Sinotte.

“We had a pretty good passing day but we have to improve on the little things if we want to win,” Sinotte said.

The score was the freshman’s third on the season and cut the deficit to 16-10.

Hamilton leads the Stingers to victory

McGill was again fastest off the block in the second half. Eeuwes hit a 42-yard field goal with 7:15 left in the third quarter to bring the Redmen within three. The field goal matched Eeuwes’ career long and improved his season total to eight field goals in as many attempts.

That would be the closest McGill would get, however, as the Stingers racked up 23 unanswered points, as the McGill defence seemed to tire.

“We had a hard time finishing the game and you can tell by the final score they just ran all over us,” said defensive back Anthony Lucka, who enjoyed his second straight game with an interception on Saturday.

Hamilton added two more touchdowns for the Stingers, scampering in from three yards out late in the third quarter and rumbling for an impressive 69-yard dash two minutes into the fourth. Saikaly would also add a second touchdown catch, this time from pivot Robert Mackay with 8:37 remaining in the game. The Stingers then scored four more points on safeties given up by McGill.

Next week the Redmen return home to Molson Stadium to take on the Vert et Or of Université de Sherbrooke. If the Redmen can manage to play a full 60 minutes they should be able to compete with the Vert et Or.

Sports are a transcendent element in today’s turbulent society. To use a cliché, any team can win on any given day. It is not always the supremely skilled squads that capture championships; rather, spirited, passionate and hard-working often trump the talented. It is to this philosophy that the 2006 McGill Redmen soccer team subscribes to, as they are self-avowedly not one of the more impressive teams in CIS soccer.

Second-year Head Coach Philippe Eullaffroy has taken on the mission of cultivating a new spirit and work ethic in Redmen camp. The McGill pitch will not be graced by an extraordinarily skilful team this season; however, if Eullaffroy is successful in his program, there will be a fresh dedication to soccer both within his dressing room and throughout campus.

“I played against the Redmen about 12 years ago,” Eullaffroy said, referring to his time at l’Université de Quebec à Montréal. “When we played McGill, it was a very tough game because the Redmen had spirit that no one else had. Five or six years ago, they lost that spirit and became a common team. I don’t want that. We may not be the best team in the nation, but when others come to play McGill, I want them to say ‘Wow, this will be tough.'”

While passion may be the objective for the Redmen, on the field they still appear to be a fairly average squad. Last season, McGill finished a disappointing fifth in the Quebec University Soccer League with a mediocre 7-6-1 record, missing the playoffs. As a result, the Red ‘n’ White have set themselves very realistic goals. Beginning this year, the team will engage in a step-by-step program to eventually reach the national championship.

“The first goal this year will be to make the playoffs and hopefully win a playoff game,” Eullaffroy said. “The next step would obviously be to win the provincials and then go to nationals, but we have to be realistic. We have the skill level to be national champions, but I’m not going to go out and tell our guys that we’re one of the best teams in the country.”

Young but well-rounded

McGill will look to field a well-balanced, albeit inexperienced squad on the pitch in 2006. Although Coach Eullaffroy has attempted to impart an offensive philosophy on his men-playing with a more offensively inclined 4-4-2 formation-the defence remains the strongest pillar of the team, coming off a season in which they conceded only 14 goals. The midfield-anchored by leading scorer Alec Milne, captain Jean-Philippe Drouin-Bouffard and Quebec all-star James Scolefield-will be a flexible unit that will have to alternate quickly between deep slicing attacks and helping out on the defensive end. The strikers will play an even more crucial role this season as the offensive-minded attitude becomes more ingrained in the team’s style of play.

“There is much more intensity this year,” Drouin-Bouffard said. “The team looks good in preseason, the rookies are ready to perform and bring something to the team and we’re a much stronger team. We’re going to be much harder to beat this year.”

The lack of experience is still a significant weakness for the Redmen however. Last season, 60 per cent of the team were rookies. This year, although that number is down, the squad lost six veterans and is still an overwhelmingly youthful side. In university sport, youth is not a contending team’s ally.

“We lost six players from last season,” Eullafroy said. “Anytime you lose veterans, it’s not good for the team. But the seven rookies we brought in are better than the rookies from last year so we should have some more balance.”

Playoffs within reach

One of the pluses for the season is that McGill finds itself competing in a fairly wide open QUSL where anything can happen over the course of a season.

“The two stronger teams are Montréal and UQAM for sure, and maybe Laval,” Eullaffroy said. “So we should end up around either third or fourth and make the playoffs.”

The McGill Redmen soccer team isn’t the best squad in CIS or the QUSL; however, if the coaching staff has its way, they will be an exciting and passionate team. And sometimes, spirit trumps skill.

The CIS University Cup tournament is no place for the faint of heart. Two games can catapult a team to the doorstep of national glory, or just as easily dash their dreams of a historic season. The Redmen discovered this painful truth last week at Nationals, after losing 4-2 to the Atlantic University Sport Champion St. Mary’s Huskies on Friday. Combined with McGill’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Manitoba Bisons a day earlier, the loss spelled the end of the road for a promising team that had captured the Queen’s Cup in the same building less than two weeks before.

“We’re very disappointed, as we had a great season and high expectations for this team,” said Redmen defencemen Marc-André Dorion. “We won our league and came into the tournament thinking we could win. We were ahead in both games, but the bounces didn’t go our way.”

McGill was rewarded for their dominance in Quebec with the number-two seed going into the tournament and had their sights set on qualifying for the National Championship game. Instead, the Redmen will go home empty-handed for the fourth time in five seasons. However much the loss stings, though, the Redmen can take comfort in the fact that 2009-10 was an unequivocally impressive season for McGill.

The Redmen took the Queen’s Cup earlier this month, and made quick work of their archrivals – the UQTR Patriotes – along the way. Under the guidance of rookie Head Coach Jim Webster, the team posted a 22-6 regular season record and finished as the highest-scoring team in the country. Redmen players were also rewarded for their efforts with individual accolades – sophomore Francis Verreault-Paul took home the OUA East MVP, while Dorion was recognized as the nation’s best defenceman. Second-year forward Alexandre Picard-Hooper joined Verreault-Paul and Dorion on the OUA East first team.

Despite being loaded with talent, the Redmen simply couldn’t deliver when it mattered most. McGill jumped out to a 4-1 lead against Manitoba in the tournament opener before allowing three goals in the third period to send the game to overtime. The recipe for disaster was twofold: disorganized defensive zone play and undisciplined penalties. McGill’s high-flying offence couldn’t muster a goal in the third period to put the game away. Manitoba, meanwhile, had no trouble carrying their momentum over to the extra session, as Mike Hellyer scored for the Bisons less than two minutes in to put McGill behind the eight ball going into their final group game against St. Mary’s.

Once again, the Redmen took an early lead against ex-NHL winger Mike Danton and the Huskies. Leading 2-1 after the first, championship calculations began to run through the heads of the McGill fans at the Fort William Gardens. A regulation win over St. Mary’s and a Huskies regulation victory over Manitoba on Saturday would have put McGill in the finals. Unfortunately, a furious second period charge by the Huskies – three goals scored in five minutes – spelled disaster for the Redmen. McGill mounted a late-game challenge, but couldn’t close the gap.

Three power-play opportunities fell by the wayside, and Verreault-Paul received a 10-minute misconduct, keeping him out of the game until the dying minutes of the period.

“It was very frustrating as we had a good lead early in both games,” said sophomore Maxime Langelier-Parent. “We killed ourselves with penalties.”

While general disappointment and thoughts of “could’ve” and “should’ve” are to be expected, there is a place for optimism in the Redmen locker room. McGill may not have come away with the top prize this year, but the future remains bright. The team will only lose two defencemen – Ben Gazdic and captain Yan Turcotte – along with goaltender Danny Mireault for next season. Throughout the year, the Redmen were led by a line of sophomores, and younger players had a key role in the overall success of the team. With the retention of their core, 2010-11 projects to be another great season for the McGill Redmen, who should once again be in the running for a spot at Nationals in Fredericton, N.B.

– With files from Earl Zukerman

An 86-game winning streak, three players on all-Canadian teams, and a silver-medal finish at Nationals. Not a bad result for a first -year hockey coach. Then again, experience with the team is one thing Martlets interim Head Coach Amey Doyle had in spades when she took over Canada’s most successful women’s hockey program from Peter Smith at the beginning of the year. The former McGill star took some time to share her thoughts with the Tribune about her team’s momentous season.

After your career as an all-star goaltender with McGill, what made you decide to go into coaching?I have always been very passionate about coaching, although not necessarily at McGill. My current position kind of fell into place because one of the assistant coaches left [for] Toronto. I started out with a minimal role, [working] with the goaltenders and with recruiting. My role gradually increased, and when Peter took his temporary leave, I was very glad that the Athletics Department had enough faith in me to let me have a chance to be in charge.

What did you learn as an assistant coach under Peter Smith?He definitely showed [me] the importance of paying attention to detail, and to approach everything with professionalism, regardless of the situation. I admire him for his passion for the game, his work ethic, and just how interested he is in the women’s hockey program. What was your mindset going into the season?I approached it with the goal of sticking to the keys of our success. Again, it was paying attention to detail and taking things one day at a time. Even though we were missing a few key components, I thought it was a great opportunity for players to step up, and they all did just that.

Obviously, losing to the Alberta Pandas in the National Championship game was shocking. If you could go back and play the finals all over again, what would you have changed?That is something I have been thinking for a while now. I thought Alberta played very well. They definitely played a very different style of game than they did in their two previous games. They were not afraid to get us to ice the puck, and subsequently they took away our bread and butter, which is our speed and our puck control. We just weren’t able to adapt quickly enough. They had a few bounces go their way, and if we had had our share of those, the result may have been different. With that being said, I would have liked to have seen us try to get the puck on net and score a garbage goal instead of looking for the perfect play. [Many] of our girls are returning next season, and hopefully they will all have become better players because of it.

Some key offensive players are graduating this year – which player of the returnees do you expect to step up their game and fill in for the departing veterans?I think Jordanna Peroff is definitely a candidate to break out next season. She was great at Nationals, and she continues to progress in our program. She reads the game very well and is a very strong and powerful player. Also, Ann-Sophie Bettez brings a lot to the table too, with her experience and great speed. I don’t really expect scoring to be a problem next year.

When you look back on this entire experience, what stands out to you the most? It was a lot of fun. I enjoyed my time in charge. Winning the QSSF was definitely special, [and] we didn’t expect to go undefeated this season because of the personnel we lost. There are a lot of steps that need to be taken before a team gets to the CIS championships, and I thought the team overcame a lot of adversity in taking those steps successfully.

What does the future hold for you? Are you staying in McGill?Peter will be back, and I will be the assistant coach again. I cannot stress enough how excited I am for Peter to come back. He has been a great mentor for many years. Like I said before, I still have lots to learn, and it’s great to learn from the best. I enjoyed my experience this year and I look forward to being in the thick of it again next season.

– Compiled by John Hui