Author: Jeffrey Muntu

Chris Schultz and Kate Beirness were just a few of this year’s guests

There were plenty of reasons to attend the third annual JMSM Halftime Conference, which focused on the NBA and the NFL. On March 26, the John Molson Sports Marketing Committee was able to put up a relatively diverse and dynamic panel of speakers that notably featured longtime TSN broadcasters, Chris Schultz and Kate Beirness. The other two invitees were Tim Zenner, director of ticketing and fan engagement for the Detroit Lions and Ram Padmanabhan, vice president of financial and general counsel for the Chicago Bulls.

Chris Schultz was the first speaker to address the audience. Schultz started the conference by explaining how hard it was for him to earn an athletic scholarship. Schultz described how he had to tour the United States and walk in to all the big universities, asking for a chance to join their ranks.

The main point of his speech was that just like in football, you have to come prepared in order to perform in broadcasting. He stressed the importance of paying attention to the little things because, as Schultz described, “that is what bosses notice.” The former CFL’er stressed that broadcasting is a matter of performing optimally every single time you get in front of the teleprompter. Pointing at his colleague Kate Beirness, he marveled at the extreme attention she puts into watching highlights, doing research and taking notes before every Sportscentre broadcast.

Schultz and Beirness jabbed at each other jokingly throughout the evening. “Schultzy,” as Beirness calls him, reminded us how he had no idea what to do after his football career and really had to rely on what he learned in pro-sports to make it in the broadcasting industry. Basically, preparation, discipline and accountability were the recurrent themes of his speech.

Up next was TSN’s very own Sportscentre host Kate Beirness, who had plenty of advice and anecdotes to give the crowd.

Beirness expressed her concerns about the recent layoffs in the sports broadcasting industries, specifically acknowledging her ex-colleague James Cybulski who had been laid off by the recent cuts. She said she never takes her job for granted and that it is her’s to lose every day. She also said you would probably have to work for free at some point in time in an earlier part of your career in order to get recognized. On a more positive note, Beirness told the crowd that the relationships she has with her colleagues is probably the most enjoyable aspect of her job.

“People say that I am the female version of [TSN broadcaster Darren Dutchyshen],” Beirness said. “I have learned so much from him.”

The later part of the conference was held by Zenner and Padmanabhan. One of the important takeaways from their talk was that sports teams are first and foremost, ran as a business.

Padmanabhan finished the conference by giving his perspective on what his role is with the Chicago Bulls and the relationship teams have with the league. He credited the NBA for being, “very progressive and thoughtful in the way they market their product and the way they work with teams.”

The Carabins now lead the best of three series 1-0

After an even strength four-on-four overtime period that failed to produce much action, the Stingers were unable to hold off the Université de Montreal Carabins as Carabins forward Ariane Barker scored in the second overtime. This gave the Carabins a 3-2 win and a 1-0 lead in the three game playoff series.

In what was almost a mirror image of the season finale, the Stingers looked as though they could pull off the upset only to watch a rallying Carabins team score late and escape with a victory.

Everything was smooth for the Stingers at the start of the game. In the first period, the Stingers went on the powerplay, where Stingers defenseman Marie-Joelle Allard scored off of a pass from teammate Devon Thompson.

The Stingers continued the strong play throughout the period and the team was able to win loose pucks against the strong Carabins team.

“Anytime you lose in overtime is tough but our girls battled and it was a great game and we’re really proud of their effort and the way they competed today,” said Stingers coach Julie Chu.

The same sentiments were echoed by Stingers goaltender Briar Bache who made save after save to keep her team in the game.

“My team was unreal today,” Bache said. “They battled so hard and sacrificed everything, literally putting their bodies on the line in order to stop the puck getting to the net. They were amazing in front of me.”

The start of the second period went exactly the same way for the Stingers as they replicated their formula from the first period. The Stingers were limiting access to the center of the ice, blocking shots and relying on Bache to make opportune saves.

Feeding off the momentum, Stingers defenseman Veronique Boudreau sparked a two on one on a nifty move along the boards then quickly passed to Stingers forward Suzie Sauriol who made no mistake and put it past Carabins goaltender Marie-Pier Chabot. This gave the Stingers a 2-0 lead to end the second period.

In the third period the momentum began to shift. The Stingers were unable to contain the Carabins offense which led to goals by Carabins forwards Jessica Cormier and Barker. These goals tied the game and sent the match into overtime, where the Stingers eventually lost. For Chu, it was a lack of capitalizing on opportunities that led to the third period collapse.

“We had our powerplays, we didn’t get as much flow off of those like we wanted to and then right off the powerplay they got momentum scoring a goal,” said Chu. “We got to make sure that we manage that energy. Our power play should give us momentum.”

Heading into game two, the Stingers game plan will not be changed.

“We did a great job. I think for our team it’s just continuing to execute and taking advantage of the opportunities we get to score,” said Chu. “Our special teams are going to be huge for us.”

The Stingers will have a chance to tie the best of three series at one game apiece on Saturday, Feb. 27 at home.

Concordia and Université de Montreal to meet in the playoffs

Coming into the Ed Meagher Arena undefeated in their last 11 games, the high flying Carabins from Université de Montreal pulled some late -game magic and escaped with a 3-2 win on Feb. 21. Despite the Stingers taking the lead twice, they could not come away with the win.

“Today was a great game,” said interim head coach Julie Chu. “They’re a bigger team so we got a make sure that we are able to play the physical game to match theirs as well.”

“I don’t think they are a dirty team, I think that they are a physical team and they are big bodies. They might take a penalty here and there for that but we got to make sure we got to play a physical game also,” said Chu.

The Stingers matched up well against the Carabins all season which led to many close games.  With both teams about to play each other again—this time in a playoff game—the Stingers are confident they can win.

“I feel a hundred percent confident that we could make it into the next round,” said captain Erica Porter. “We have had a great track record against them. We could have even potentially have won four of the five games. We play some of our best hockey when we play against them so I really like our chances.”

After giving the Stingers a  2-1 lead  late in the second period,  Stingers forward Claudia Dubois who scored on a beautiful tip-in goal from a point shot expressed the same confidence while also stressing the team’s play in powerplay situations.

“We just got to capitalize on our chances. We know we can beat them and could’ve have easily beaten them at least four times this season,” Dubois said. “We got to make sure to move the puck faster on the power play man a send pucks to the net when we can.”

Special teams was an issue for the Stingers as they gave up a goal on the penalty kill which was crucial in deciding the winner. Chu was critical of her squad’s’ special teams play.

“Special teams are always really important. Whether you are on the penalty kill or the power play, executing those in key moments are really important,” Chu said. “For us we had a five-on-three and it would have been good for us to capitalize on that.”

After the game coach Les Lawton, who took an indefinite absence for an illness, was honoured. For some on the team, Lawton is a source of motivation.

“Les has been in the back of our minds every single practice and every single game and obviously we want to make it as far as we can not only for our team but for him and make him proud of us,” said Porter.

The Stingers start their best of three playoff series on the road against Université de Montreal on Thursday, Feb. 25.  

The Stingers goaltender talks about her career, her education and superstitions

Katherine Purchase is fresh off of a year where she was awarded the RSEQ rookie of the year award, as well as being named to the first All-Rookie team. She was also named as a second team All-Star and put up stellar numbers with a 95.9 per cent save percentage, and a goals-against average of 1.07.

The accolades did not stop there for Purchase, as the Fondation de l’Athlète d’excellence de Québec (FAEQ), a government foundation for student-athletes in Quebec recognized her work off the ice and rewarded her with a bursary after she maintained a perfect 4.3 GPA in accounting.

“I love math. I’m a math person,” said Purchase. “I knew coming into university that I really liked accounting. I don’t like physics so engineering was out of the question which pretty much leaves me with business.”

“Both of my parents are accountants so I’m really enjoying it,” she added.

When Purchase is not stopping pucks on the ice, she spends the majority of her time studying at the library on campus.

“The team would define me as [a library rat],” Purchase said. “I spend a lot the time at the library. I spend a lot of time studying. I definitely put my work in there.”

In 2014, Purchase was not recruited by any of the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) teams back in the Maritimes which got her thinking about choosing a different avenue for her future in hockey.

“None of the teams in the AUS were really recruiting goalies that year so that immediately led me to thinking that I had to leave the Maritimes in order to play university hockey,” Purchase said. “Last year’s coach Les [Lawton] contacted me. I looked up Concordia and right away I was pumped it was in Montreal. JMSB is a great business school so everything is great on the academic side. I love the hockey program and the athletics here.”

Despite her stellar statistical season last year, Purchase admits that she is having a bit of a down year.

“This year has gone a little bit rockier for me personally,” Purchase said. “We just haven’t done as well as we had hoped, but the nice thing is that we are in a playoff spot and all we need to do is win two games.”

Purchase doesn’t blame anybody and takes full credit for her performances; seeing this season as more of a mental challenge.

“Everyone goes through a sophomore slump. I started pretty early in the season and was mentally tired from school and hockey,” Purchase said. “It’s kind of hard to break the slump once you get into it. I just needed the Christmas break. I was excited to come back. I was excited to get back on the ice again so I feel a lot better now.”

Combining her studies with her on-ice performances is not the only challenge the accounting student has to face. The language barrier is also a reality for Purchase.

“The biggest adjustment is probably French because I don’t speak any,” Purchase said. “I’m working on it. I’m getting a little bit better. I am going to try to get in a French course next year.”

Purchase also pointed out that Halifax was similar to Montreal in terms of being a big city. Although, Purchase did mention that she finds Montreal to be more multicultural than Halifax.

On a lighter side, Purchase doesn’t think she is the goofy character that people assume goalies to be. In fact, she has a love-hate relationship with the stereotype.

“People immediately think I’m weird as soon as they find out I’m a goalie, so that’s kind of hard to deal with,” Purchase said. “I hope I am not abnormally weird compared to everyone else. I don’t have too many superstitions. Just the way I put on my gear. I have to go left to right then right to left and I also have to chew gum.”

Purchase also added that she doesn’t want her superstitions to get in the way of her real preparation.

Purchase doesn’t rule out going pro but maintains that her degree is the priority. She credits her mom as being the ultimate hockey mom and confessed that former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St-Louis is her all-time favorite player for his “resilience and passion for the game.”

Purchase still has a few years left with the team and when it comes to her past and future success, she said that she doesn’t let it get to her.

“I don’t really put much thought into it. I just kind of keep my head down,” Purchase said.

Purchase’s experiences as a minor hockey player, have allowed her to give advice to younger goalies that she has helped coach.

“I never really had much success in my minor career. I never made any provincial teams or had anything like that happen to me,” Purchase said. “Whether one of the coaches thinks you’re good enough to make the team has no effect on how good you actually are.”

“You’re still as talented before or after you get cut off of a team so don’t worry about it,” said Purchase.