Author: Alexander Cole

Frédérique Rajotte and Trenton Miller were recognized as Concordia’s athletes of the year

Stingers rugby star Frédérique Rajotte and football quarterback Trenton Miller were both given Athlete of the Year honours on April 8 during Concordia’s annual athletic banquet at Oscar Peterson Concert Hall.

“It felt so great and I was happy,” Rajotte said after the event. “It was a whirlwind of emotions because we went to Nationals, I got injured and I’m really happy that all my hard work and passion has paid off.”

Rajotte had a season to remember with the women’s rugby team, as she was named RSEQ MVP and was also a member of Team Canada. The rugby team finished the season with a record of 6-1 and made it to the RSEQ championship where they lost to the University of Ottawa. Rajotte was also nominated for Play of the Year, for her 85-yard score against Bishops.

The title of Play of the Year went to basketball player Ken Beaulieu, who won for one of his signature dunks.

“How can I compete against [Ken Beaulieu]?” Rajotte said. “I see his highlight tapes and I’m in awe. I’m glad he won and I’m glad I even got nominated.”

Miller, who stood alongside Rajotte to claim his award for Male Athlete of the Year, said the award was a reflection of his team.

“Honestly it feels pretty good, but [the award] is a testament to the hard work of my coaches and offensive line,” Miller said. “My first year was great but it was just something to build on and I think we’re ready to come out and do better than we did last year.”

Miller was a standout on the Stingers football team this year, as he was given RSEQ MVP honours and broke the Stingers record for touchdowns in a season with 20. Miller threw for 2,384 yards in his first season with the team and finished with a record of 4-4.

The show started off with a video montage of some of the year’s highlights. The video was met with immediate praise, as each time a particular team would appear in the video, the players from that team would yell out and fill the ears of everyone in attendance with Stingers pride.

Comedian Joey Elias co-hosted the event and was met with laughs and cheering from the crowd. Elias made jokes about the strength of athletes and even the obscurity of CIS sports. Elias jokingly said his career must really be taking off considering he was hosting an event put on by the Stingers.

“I really enjoyed the night,” Miller said. “Having Joey Elias, who is a funny guy, was nice and the speakers did well overall.”

One of the first awards that was given out during the night was the President’s Academic Award for high academic standing. The award was given to Kathleen Browne of the cross-country team and Petr Prokopiev of the wrestling team. The Marvin Cooper Award, which is given to students who overcome adversity, was awarded to Saby Dagenais of the rubgy team, while fittest female and male athlete honours were given to Samantha Bennett of the rugby team and Mikael Charland of the football team, respectively.

Later in the night, men’s hockey captain Olivier Hinse and wrestler Linda Morais were given the Michael Di Grappa Award of Distinction for outstanding career contributions to the Stingers organization. Women’s basketball player Tamara Pinard-Devos took home the Denise Beaudet Award for her community service and leadership, while Charles Debove of the men’s rugby team won the Ron Lapointe Award for loyalty to his team and the Department of Recreation and Athletics.

To round out the awards, football star Yanic Lessard and wrestler Jade Dufour were given Rookie of the Year honours.

“There were great awards and players and teams that were recognized,” Rajotte said. “It’s great to see teams like cross-country and baseball get recognized and to be able to cheer them all on to our fullest is an awesome feeling.”

The event finished with the Stingers’ athletic valedictorians. Stingers men’s and women’s hockey defense players Youssef Kabbaj and Marie-Pier Cloutier were given the honour of speaking on behalf of the Stingers family. Both athletes put on entertaining and funny speeches together which highlighted the quirks of being a part of the Stingers family.

Kabbaj and Cloutier were both chosen as valedictorians because they are both graduating and therefore, will not be returning to the Stingers next fall.

For Kabbaj, being chosen as a valedictorian was both an honour and a nerve-racking experience.

“I’ve seen these speeches my first three years and to get to do it now is definitely more than a dream come true,” Kabbaj said. “I’m not going to lie I was nervous before, during and after but I’m glad everyone had a good time and laughed at our jokes.

Cloutier, who shared the stage with Kabbaj, was honoured to be able to represent her fellow female athletes.

“I’ve always been very involved with the Stingers and I love the community,” Cloutier said. “It means a lot because I get to represent all of the athletes and share our hard work.”

“I was nervous but at the same time it all felt good,” Cloutier said.

The night marked the official end to the Stingers season, while the 2016-2017 season will begin for most teams in September.

Recapping the entire athletic season across all of the school’s varsity teams

Depending on what sport you follow, the Stingers were a force to be reckoned with, while in others, the Stingers may have disappointed you. Either way, let’s take a look at the “year that was” for Concordia’s varsity teams.

Football

In Mickey Donovan’s second season as head coach, the Stingers finished with  a 4-4 record which was good enough to give them a second-straight playoff appearance. The year was highlighted by an impressive season from American-born starting quarterback Trenton Miller, who ended up being crowned RSEQ MVP. Despite losing the first game of the year by a score of 37-0 against Sherbrooke, the team was able to bounce back by beating teams like McGill and Bishop’s. Their biggest moment was arguably when they defeated the McGill Redmen, 43-41 in order to secure their playoff spot. The team eventually lost to Laval in the first round of the playoffs.

Women’s Rugby

The women’s rugby team was arguably one of the most successful Stingers teams this season, finishing with a record of 6-1, which was good enough for second place in the RSEQ division. Led by Alexandra Tessier and Frédérique Rajotte, the team made it to the RSEQ finals where they eventually lost to the University of Ottawa by a score of 25-17. The team then went onto the CIS National Championships in Kingston, Ont., where the team played three games. The team defeated Victoria in their first game, but lost their next two, including the bronze medal game. The bronze medal game was also against the University of Ottawa.

Men’s Rugby

The men’s rugby team was unable to match the success of their female counterparts, but had a good season nonetheless. The team finished with a record of 4-3 and finished in second place in Pool A of the RSEQ division. Concordia remained consistent with wins against teams like Sherbrooke, beating them twice, while struggling against Université de Montreal. In the final game of the season, the Stingers played against École de Technologie Supérieure and defeated them by a score of 33-15. This match-up was a precursor to the RSEQ quarter-finals, as both teams played against each other again. However this time, the Stingers would lose by a slim margin of 19-18. This loss ended their season.

Women’s Soccer

The Stingers women’s soccer team finished the season with a record of 4-9-1 which was good enough for sixth place in the RSEQ division. Kaitlyn Fournier and Laura Lamontagne led the team in goals with four each. The team started off the season with a loss against cross-town rivals McGill, however, the team was able to come away with wins against teams like UQÀM, UQTR and Bishop’s. The end of the season was not kind to the team, as they rounded out the season with three straight losses. The Stingers ended up missing the playoffs.

Men’s Soccer

The team started off the season on a positive note with a win against the McGill Redmen on the Stingers home field. However, after starting the season 2-2, the team went on a six-game losing streak, which was snapped after a 2-1 win against Sherbrooke. The team came away with a 3-9 record to end the season which put them sixth in the RSEQ division. The only team that placed below them was Sherbrooke, who only had one win. The team was unable to make the playoffs. Elias Barutciski and Amadou Lam led the team in scoring with three goals each.

Women’s Hockey

The women’s hockey season was fairly inconsistent this year when comparing their tournament success and their regular season performance. In January, the team defeated Plattsburgh State to capture a championship at the Theresa Humes Tournament. However, the Stingers were unable to match that success during the regular season, as they finished the year with a record of 6-12-2. The team finished in fourth place in the RSEQ division, with only Carleton finishing below them. The Stingers played against Université de Montreal in the first round of the playoffs but were eliminated in two games.

Men’s Hockey

The highlight of the Stingers season was their last game of the season which was a 4-2 victory against the McGill Redmen in the 29th Corey Cup. The rest of the season, however, was not as triumphant, as the team placed seventh in the the CIS East Division and finished with a record of 10-12-6. Captain Olivier Hinse, was believed to be leaving the team after this season due to graduation, however, on April 2, Hinse confirmed that he will be back for his fifth year with the team. The Stingers played against the Redmen in the first round of the playoffs, but were eliminated in an overtime contest in Game Two.

Women’s Basketball

The team began the season with a three game losing streak, which included losses to UQÀM, Laval and McGill. In the fourth game of the season, the Stingers were able to get a win on the board with a 69-34 win against Bishop’s. The rest of the season was up and down for the team. Later on in the season, the team went on a three-game winning streak that was eventually snapped by McGill. The Stingers ended the season with a 7-9 record which put them in fourth place in the RSEQ division. The team was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs after an 85-60 loss to the McGill Martlets.

Men’s Basketball

The team came into the regular season with championship titles at the Concordia Classic Tournament and the Saskatchewan Tournament. The men started off their regular season with two straight victories against UQÀM and Laval respectively. Midway through the season, the Stingers went on a seven-game winning streak and flirted with first place in the RSEQ division. The team eventually finished second in the division, with an overall record of 10-6. The Stingers played against UQÀM in the first round of the playoffs but were eliminated by a score of 70-63.

Wrestling

Much like the women’s rugby team, the wrestling team had quite the successful year. While the team rarely competed in Montreal, the team made themselves known in universities across the country. Early in the season, Concordia hosted a tournament in which the women’s squad came second, while the men came in fourth. Throughout the year, Trevor Banks who wrestles in the 54 kilogram division, dominated with first place finishes in the UNB Open, the Western Invitational Tournament and the Brock University Tournament. At the end of the year at the CIS Wrestling Championships, the women’s team finished in ninth, while the men finished third.

Examining what could quite possibly be the hardest job in the sports world

If you have ever played a sport, those who don the white and black striped jerseys, otherwise known as referees, have either been the voice of reason, or your mortal enemy. However, most athletes would probably say the latter.

In any sport, referees are essential to the game. They enforce the rules and make sure that nothing gets out of hand. Referees have to think quickly and make the right call. If they make the right call, they are just doing their job, but if they mess up and make a sloppy decision, they never hear the end of it. Whether it be from coaches, players and in some cases, parents, referees have to face constant scrutiny for what they do. In many ways, they can never win.

Robert Ziukas is a 23-year-old soccer referee, who has officiated for the Pointe-Claire Amateur Soccer Association and the Greater Montreal Athletic Association high school league, is no stranger to the pressures of being an official.

“No matter how well you do this job, most people look at the game through rose-coloured glasses,” Ziukas said. “They see what they want to see”

Ziukas has seen many on-field incidents which in the moment, made his job as a referee that much more difficult. During one soccer match in particular, between two U-15 girl’s teams, Ziukas witnessed a player from one team yank on another player’s ponytail. As a result, Ziukas gave the player a red card and ejected her from the game, which led that player’s coach to yell at him in disagreement. Ziukas eventually ejected the coach from the game as well.

Ziukas also explained that in an adult game, players from the opposing team accused him of favouritism for the way he was officiating and even accused him of having an uncle on the other team. For Ziukas, being yelled at is just part of the job. He also said that there are three types of people he has dealt with.

“There are the people that accept the referee’s calls but disagree to some extent,” Ziukas said. “Then you have the people who disagree and respond with disrespect towards the referee. The least common thing I see is people who understand that we call what we see and we don’t care who wins.”

Nathalie Germain, a 19-year-old soccer referee who has also officiated in the same leagues as Ziukas, has had both positive and negative experiences in her job.

“I really liked reffing kids and teaching them the sport,” Germain said. “It was really nice because parents see you trying to help their kids and they tend to like refs when the level of competition is low.”

However, when reffing higher levels, Germain has been heckled by players, coaches and spectators. Germain even referenced one situation where parents were yelling at her so much, that she yelled back. Germain said that she felt awful after for losing her cool, and that referees aren’t allowed to interact with the crowd.

“With kids, it’s never the players who harass you,” Germain said. “It’s almost always the adults and the older players who talk smack and show disrespect.”

While Ziukas and Germain ref mainly amatuer leagues, the stakes are even higher when it comes to those who officiate professionals. The calls that a referee makes can influence the outcome of a game and in the case of professional sports, officiating decisions are debated on a weekly basis.

It’s hard to deny just how difficult it is to be the one in black and white.

Talking recruitment and the expectations for next season with coach Mickey Donovan

In the 2015 season, the Concordia Stingers football team finished off the year with a 4-4 record which earned them their second straight playoff appearance in a row under head coach Mickey Donovan. With the team’s significant improvement over the last few seasons, Donovan is still looking at ways to improve the team, which has been shown through the team’s recent recruitment efforts.

“Overall our recruitment class has been strong,” Donovan said. “There’s probably still a handful of guys out there that we are looking at to fill out some key positions.”

So far, the Stingers have mainly recruited players that play on the defensive side of the ball. In January, the team announced the recruitment of Jizreel Botat and Jersey Henry—two defensive backs who played for Vanier College.

Donovan said that he expects both Botat and Henry to compete for a starting position on the team next year and make an impact on defense.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Stingers have recruited Matthew Halbgewachs, an offensive lineman from Regina, who played for the Regina Thunder, and also spent some time on the practice roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The team also recruited offensive lineman Brandon Pacheco, who has played his whole life in the United States.

“We’re trying to find the best 12 guys on defense and the same with offense,” Donovan said. “The key positions, that we really focused on, were the offensive line since Roman Grozman is going to the CFL draft, and defensive backs, with Mikael Charland who is also going to the draft.”

“We need guys who can come in and compete right away, that’s why we recruit so heavily in Quebec,” Donovan said.

For Donovan, the number-one thing he looks for when recruiting players is academics. While football skills are important, academics and personality are some of the most important traits a player can have.

“[Academics] are a strength that we want for all of our players,” he said. “School is not easy for everyone. For some it comes easy and for others, they have to work hard at it. If the players don’t have a 3.0 average, we look at their personality, what type of work ethic do they have and what type of background they come from.”

When looking at players, Donovan and his coaching staff talk to the players’ coaches to understand what kind of attitude each player has. Donovan is looking for players who are good people and will care for others, especially their teammates.

“We feel that Concordia is a family,” Donovan said. “We need to have people in this family that believe that as well. If you recruit a guy that is all about himself, it will never work here with us.”

In terms of recruits and their willingness to sign on with Concordia, Donovan cites the school’s academics as a big reason why players want to come here. For Donovan, when it comes to selling Concordia to potential recruits, the team sells the players on getting an education as opposed to playing football. Donovan believes that the education offered by the university has allowed it to pick up more recruits and even players from the United States.

Concordia president Alan Shepard has also been a big help when recruiting players as he often meets with prospective recruits to talk academics and the opportunities available at Concordia.

In the last two seasons, the team has been able to improve from a 0-8 record in 2013, to a 5-3 record in 2014 and 4-4 record in 2015, which has given the football program a better reputation. According to Donovan, this is another reason why players are starting to give more consideration to the Stingers program.

“[New recruits] are all excited to be here,” Donovan said.

As Donovan described, Concordia is a program that has the potential to be ranked high on the national level, which is another reason why players are so excited to come to Concordia. They believe that the Stingers are going in the right direction.

Once the off-season begins and recruits start training with the team, Donovan makes sure that recruits are treated like everyone else in order to integrate them into the system. Each player has an equal opportunity at winning a starting spot; a spot which has to be earned through hard work.

The team is currently participating in winter practices held in the Stingers dome at the Loyola campus. Players will also be training throughout the summer in preparation for the upcoming season, which Donovan believes could be a standout season for the Stingers.

When Donovan took over the team in 2014, the team had just come off of a winless season in the RSEQ division. In his first two seasons as coach, the team has improved when it comes to playing top level teams such as the Laval Rouge et Or and the Montreal Carabins.

In 2015, the Stingers lost to the Carabins twice, once by 12 points and the second by five. According to Donovan, this is a significant improvement from his first season as head coach.

Last year’s team was young as many players were in their first year. However, with a season’s worth of experience under their belts, Donovan feels as though the team will be much more mature. With players like quarterback Trenton Miller returning to the team, and the new recruits that have been brought in, expectations are high.

“Our guys are getting better and we’re committing ourselves,” Donovan said. “We’re all excited for next season. Every year you go in with high expectations and there is no reason why we shouldn’t.”

A few basic tips on how to keep your body intact and in shape as an athlete

If you’re an athlete, you are probably well aware of the different types of injuries you can suffer while playing sports. These injuries can range from muscle tears, broken bones and even concussions. While these injuries are unpredictable, there are various precautions an athlete can take in order to reduce the risk of bodily harm while participating in sports.

Stretch
As a goalie in hockey, one of the most valuable pieces of advice that I learned was to always stretch and warm up before practices and games. Stretching is something every athlete should be doing no matter what sport they are playing. According to SportsMedicine, stretching mixed with warm up activities are one of the most effective ways to reduce injury, specifically muscle tears and cramps. This is because your muscles become looser and your range of motion becomes increased after having warmed up.

Take a Break

Furthermore, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (ADA), it is always important to take breaks as it allows your muscles to relax and not get overworked. Rest periods should also be coupled with hydration. Athletes who are competing or exercising in hot environments are susceptible to heat illnesses and staying hydrated is the best way to combat that. According to ABC, National Football League player Korey Stringer died of heat stroke during a practice. It just goes to show how important keeping cool is.

Protect your Teeth

Another thing to keep in mind, is when playing sports such as hockey, football or basketball, it is always safer to wear a mouthguard. While mouthguards don’t completely protect you from concussions, they are able to reduce the risk of getting one. According to ScienceDaily, mouthguards are able to reduce the risk of suffering a concussion because they absorb the shock of an impact and stabilize both the head and the neck. It is also recommended to get custom made mouthguards from your dentist, as these form to your teeth better than a store-bought mouthguard would.

Keep your Head Up

One way to prevent concussions and other serious injuries is by keeping your head up. According to the National Athletic Trainers Association hitting someone, or being hit, with your head down can lead to concussions and in some cases paralysis, as the impact can have severe impact on your spinal cord. This tip is especially useful for those who play hockey and football, two heavy contact sports.

Remember your Lessons

When playing any sport, it is essential to perform movements the way they are supposed to be done. While many different sports have different actions, according to the ADA, failure to use the proper techniques when playing a sport can result in serious injury.

For example, football players and hockey players should hit the way they are taught to by their coaches. The same would apply to a sport like soccer where slide-tackling is a major component to the game. It is always important to slide-tackle the proper way, or you could risk injuring yourself or another player.

While these tips can’t completely eliminate the risk of injury, they can significantly lower that risk. Just keep these tips in mind the next time you go out and play a sport and remember to have fun.

Cheering on your child is fine but some people tend to go too far and take the fun away

During a January hockey game at the Pierrefonds Sportplexe between the Pierrefonds “Junior A” Barons and the Huntington “Junior A” Huskies, 19-year-old Pierrefonds forward Nicolas Mazzilli had a shocking experience.

In the middle of the third period, with the Barons up by a score of 2-1, Mazzilli was called for a penalty. As Mazzilli described, he skated to the penalty box, shut the door and sat down on the bench like he normally does when called for an infraction. This time however, as soon as Mazzilli sat down he could feel cold liquid trickling down his neck and shoulders. When he looked up, he saw the parent of a Huntington player dumping the remains of their water bottle on him.

“When I got up to see what was happening, a parent on the opposing team was screaming obscenities at me,” Mazzilli said. “I was shocked and all I could do was scream right back at her. It was the weirdest situation.”

According to Mazzilli, a couple of “boos” here and there are something he is used to, especially when a game is getting particularly hostile, but being assaulted was something he never expected. When the Barons left the ice to go back to their room, parents from the Huntington side threw water bottles at the players and a few even spat on them from the seats above.

What happened in Pierrefonds is not an isolated incident. According to the CBC, in 2013 a fight broke out during a youth soccer game in Barrie, ON, after a parent directed a racial slur at a parent on the other team. The slur occurred after parents for one of the teams disagreed with a call that a referee had made. The incident involved 30 parents and the police were called to break up the altercation.

Another altercation between parents occurred in Belleville, ON, when parents at a Bantam C hockey game started yelling obscenities at each other. According to the Toronto Sun, the incident escalated to a point where there were fist fights happening in the stands.

With behaviour like that being seen at youth sporting events, it begs the question: are parents taking their child’s sporting events too far?

For Lorraine Du Cap, a parent of a youth hockey player, parents are definitely going too far, especially when considering the fact that many kids are just playing for fun.

“I have seen so many incidents where parents start yelling at each other and then it just escalates,” Du Cap said. “Some parents take cheering on their child way too far it gets embarrassing.”

As someone who has played organized sports in the past, I have seen many instances where parents took things too far. Seeing parents fighting on the sidelines drains all of the fun out of the game, which is especially saddening when everyone is playing to have fun.

Parents need to realize that cheering on your child is perfectly fine, but do it in a respectful way. No matter what sport, everyone is out there participating because they love doing what they do. By being belligerent and picking fights, you are ultimately embarrassing your child and the sport.

At the end of each game, both teams shake hands. It’s a sign of respect for the game; a respect some parents seem to forget about in the moment.