McGill to take on Dalhousie for Eastern Canadian crown
A chorus of cheers rang out on Saturday as McGill captain James Stellick - for the fourth time in four years - hoisted the Quebec University Men's Rugby Championship banner above his head. Paying no heed to the wind and cold, the Redmen ran roughshod over the helpless Gaiters en route to a 55-7 victory, and secured a berth in the Eastern Canadian Championship.
As a die-hard sports fan, I see headlines about athletes signing extensions and free agents agreeing to major deals every day. Usually, I gloss over the figures of a contract to decide whether the athlete deserves the deal, or if the team is overpaying. After a minute of analysis, I move on to see what else is happening in the world of sports.
McGill opens regular season with statement win
The McGill women's volleyball team wasn't happy to discover that they had dropped to 10th in the latest CIS national rankings. But instead of complaining, the Martlets let their play do the talking on Friday night. In front of a packed crowd at Love Competition Hall, McGill dominated the fourth-ranked Laval Rouge et Or, winning in straight sets to open the regular season and send a message to the rest of the league.
McGill fails to qualify for Nationals
In most cases, a top-10 national ranking and a decisive victory in league semi-finals play would guarantee the McGill women's soccer team a spot at Nationals. But not this year. With only one Nationals berth available for a Quebec team this season, the Martlets had the misfortune of playing in the same province as the best team in the country.
McGill unable to keep up with Laval's defensive pressure
Fresh off a convincing 103-68 preseason win over UPEI last week, the McGill men's basketball team looked to start the regular season on a positive note, as they took on the Laval Rouge et Or in front of a packed gymnasium on Sunday afternoon. What started with a bang, though, soon sputtered and fizzled out, as the Redmen succumbed to Laval's constant pressure, losing 69-94.