A Conversation with X-Women Head Coach Ben Berthiaume: Reflecting and Looking Forward

During the X-Women Hockey team’s preseason, I sat down with head coach Ben Berthiaume to discuss how last season’s success is impacting his approach to this season. We discussed the X-Women’s participation in last year’s U SPORTS National Championship, the atmosphere and goals of this year’s training camp, the values that shape the X-Women’s identity, and the players that fans can expect to excel this season.

XW: How has your team evolved from last year to this year?

Ben Berthiaume: The number one thing is more bodies. We brought in 12 new players this year. Last year, we went through a lot of injury issues, so we needed to solve that problem. We are also a bit of a quicker team this year than we were last year, in all areas.

XW: What was the X-factor that brought your team to nationals last year?

Berthiaume: The X-factor was our resiliency. If you look back at last year, we started off with injuries in September, when we were away on a road trip. The girls stepped up all year—at times we were playing with the equipment manager in the line-up, we called up a kid that was essentially not playing hockey, and we had our number one centre playing defense. That resiliency and toughness flowed throughout the year. It was the X-factor for sure.

XW: How would you describe the X-Women’s style of play?

Berthiaume: We are very quick, like I mentioned before. We are going to be very fast, especially up front. We are going to have an in-your-face style of play, using our speed to our advantage. In

all aspects of the game, we are going to be the first to the puck. We are going to be a gritty hockey team this year—that will be the difference maker for us.

XW: Who is the most dynamic player on the X-Women roster?

Berthiaume: If you look at the season that Maggy Burbidge had last year, she led the country in points. I think she went only one game without a goal last year—if she has time and space, she is going to bring it. We’re going to look to her to lead that charge again, although there are a lot of kids in the line-up that have potential. Kamdyn Switzer came back playing well this year; we have big expectations for her. She came back this year ready to prove something. We have a lot of good players down through the line-up that are ready to chip in.

XW: What was your message to players going into training camp this year?

Berthiaume: The biggest change for us this year has to be the way we practice on a daily basis. We needed to get better at having a high intensity approach every single day—practicing like it’s a game. So far, we’ve done that. We’ve been practicing intensely, and at game-speed, which will make a big difference, I think.

XW: Who will your biggest rivals be this season?

Berthiaume: If you don’t bring your A-game, you will struggle against any team in this league. But, if I look at our biggest rivals over the years, Saint Mary’s has always been a huge rival, UNB is there, and UPEI has been a big rival, too. You could keep going down through the league, to be honest. Every team is a rival, and every team wants to beat us on any given night. That’s the biggest message—we have to be prepared for whoever we play.

XW: What is the most important small detail of hockey that translates into success?

Berthiaume: The players without the puck, playing away from the puck. A big thing for us is secondary support. We also talk a lot about thinking about the game and being proactive rather than reactive. If you are reacting to the game, you are always chasing. The players away from the puck are very important.

XW: What was the most crucial moment of the season for the team as a group last year?

Berthiaume: There were a lot of key moments last year. We had to play short-staffed many times, and we realized early on that we couldn’t feel sorry for ourselves—it was just the situation we were in. A lot of people stepped up right from the get-go. Like I said, our equipment manager not only covered our equipment manager duties, but also played a lot of minutes in the line-up. I think it was the realizations that we had to be resilient, we couldn’t be down on ourselves, and we just had to push through.

XW: What defines X-Women hockey?

Berthiaume: Our grittiness, our passion for the game, and our culture. Our culture is very good, it’s something we work on consistently. We started making progress on it back in the spring when we knew what our team was going to be. If you have a good culture—a group that wants to come to the rink every day, and a group that wants to compete for each other—then you have a solid chance of winning.

XW: What is the most exciting part of your team’s offensive game?

Berthiaume: I think it’s our speed. There is a lot of talent up-front. We’ve brought in a lot of talent this summer. If you look at the two exhibition games we’ve had, especially game one here [at StFX], our speed was on display. We joke about the fact that speed kills, so using that speed to our advantage will be a big thing for us this year.

XW: What is one player on defense that fans should pay attention to this year?

Berthiaume: Right through our defensive line-up, one through eight, all of them are capable of getting the job done. We have a really good defensive core this year. I don’t know if I can point out just one in particular. They all move the puck very well—we have a very skilled group back there.

XW: UNB has been at the top of the league the last couple of years, winning the U Sports Championship back-to-back the last two years. How do you think the X-Women matched up against them in the AUS final last year?

Berthiaume: I think we played them very well during the playoffs last year. In game one, we played very well, and won. In game two, we played pretty well. It was a 1-0 game, but they have a very good goalie. [UNB Goaltender] Woodland is a very good goalie—she is very difficult to score on. In game three, we only had four defensemen on the bench. It went into double overtime, and we hit three or four posts. It was a very good game—we played well, there was just a lot of difficulty scoring against Woodland. Going into this year, she’s back, so we have to do a better job of getting in her face, and making sure the game is difficult for her.

The Correlation Between Exercise and Academic Success

It’s no secret to any university student that exercising is beneficial to their health. Yet, with exams approaching, essays, and final papers due, many students do not feel they can carve out time in their busy schedules for a workout.

This is completely understandable. However, what if I told you that even doing a quick 20-minute workout could enhance academic performance long-term?

As per a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine, executive functioning and brain health are basic cognitive functions that facilitate learning. Evidently, these functions are related to academic success. The study “shows that regular exercise enhances them” (Hillman, 65).

Furthermore, especially in university students that have ADHD, exercise allows for better focus on academics, therefore, helping improve performance in the long term. In addition, if a 20-minute morning workout allows for better focus throughout the day, you should make the effort to put it into your schedule.  You may focus better on your lectures and improve your overall sleep quality.

Regular exercise can also lead to a better quality of sleep, which is directly related to academic performance (Tomporowski, 297).

There are also so many options for working out on campus if this is a barrier for you. The gym in the Keating Centre is accessible to all STFX students. There are also many workout classes available. You could go for a run on the track, go to lane swim when the pool opens back up, or even do a quick workout at home. There are lots of options on YouTube for these workout classes.

Even just listening to music and going for a walk around campus is a great way to work out, especially with the weather warming up and the longer days.

With all the other obvious benefits to exercise, one that is less talked about is that exercise can improve our grades. For your transcript, as well as your physical and mental health, try to get a workout in, occasionally.

Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF. Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008 Jan;9(1):58-65. doi: 10.1038/nrn2298. PMID: 18094706.

Tomporowski PD. Effects of acute bouts of exercise on cognition. Acta Psychol (Amst). 2003 Mar;112(3):297-324. doi: 10.1016/s0001-6918(02)00134-8. PMID: 12595152.

Interview with Coach Tyrell Vernon, Coach of the X-Men Basketball Team on their Weekend at the U SPORTS Championships in Halifax

I talked with Tyrell Vernon, Coach of the X-Men Basketball team, to discuss the X-Men’s Basketball U SPORTS Championship that took place from the 10th-12th of March.

When asked how he would assess the way the team played over the weekend, Coach Vernon stated “Obviously, it didn't end the way that we wanted it to. But I think we put ourselves in the situation to win every single game, so now it's just kind of you know, back to the drawing board a little bit to figure out some things that we can change for next season.” He continued, saying that he feels “everybody gave everything that they had, that's for sure.”

When talking about the atmosphere in Halifax and the team's energy, he responded that it was an amazing experience to have that many people show up, and to have sold out arenas cheering for them. He says he knows the guys won’t forget it.

When discussing improvements made this year and plans for improvements for next year, Coach Vernon said the biggest area in which they improved was trusting the defensive systems and having more attention to detail at the defensive end. Next year, he wants the team to continue to evolve their approach with what works.

When asked what this means for StFX and the basketball program, he responded “they haven't won an AUS championship in 17 years so being able to do that was a big monkey off our back.” He continued by saying “and, you know, to go to nationals and get the national silver, we got a bronze when I was here, and that was 2012, so it's been a while for that as well.” He believes that being in the middle of the national stage and having everyone show up with lots of energy was definitely a good thing for them.

For next year, Coach Vernon said some of his goals included recruiting and making sure they bring in some more talent (as they are losing a few players). Another goal is “to do what we can to win AUS to put ourselves in the situation to get back to that national stage.”

Lastly, I asked him who he thought personally really stepped up during the nationals. He said that “Avan Nava and David Muenkat did what they do, but they usually do.” Defensively, he mentioned that “Steven Levnaic was huge for us on that weekend.” Levnaic was able to shut down top players on other teams.

Ultimately, the discussion with Coach Vernon was great, and we are thankful he took the time to give us some insight into the team's success this season.

Interview with Lauren Dabrowski and Josie Chisholm from the X-Women's Hockey Team on their Weekend in Montreal for the U SPORTS Championships

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the StFX Women's Hockey team headed to Montreal for the 2023 U SPORTS Women's Hockey Championships. The team played UBC, Nipissing, and Toronto. The Xaverian talked to Lauren Dabrowski, an assistant captain on the team, and Josie Chisholm the captain of the team, about their weekend in Montreal and their roles as leaders.

Ms. Dabrowski told the Xaverian that the atmosphere in Montreal was “awesome," saying that “the girls all enjoyed themselves… as this was our last away trip so we really just tried to embrace the moment we were in, whether that was eating dinner, walking the streets, practicing at McGill rink, or just hanging out in the hotel. The atmosphere was special, and I think all the girls really bought in.” She added that “One comment our team received quite often while in Montreal was how respectful and kind our team was, which is great to hear.” Josie also agreed that the atmosphere in Montreal was great, saying “personally, this was my first time in Montreal for an extended period so it was great to have some time to embrace the city.” She added, “In regard to on the ice, it was great to have the chance to play other teams from across the country.”

Ms. Chisholm talked about improvements the team made this year, saying that overall, the culture of the group improved and she says next year moving forward “it will be key to have a leadership group that is on the ball and present with the team.” Adding, “looking into next year I think that the girls have a very good foundation now for what a family should feel like and they can continue to grow from that.” Overall Josie says, “this past tournament was the first for the majority of this team, younger girls got a new sense of what to expect in regard to preparation and performance for national tournaments to come.” For next year, the girls believe the team is prepared and improved. Ms. Dabrowski says the team “definitely learned at this tournament that we are a competitive team in this nation and we need to continue to strive for those AUS and national titles.”

When discussing her role as a leader, Lauren mentioned how at the beginning of the year, they “really took a step back as the leadership group to assess the year and how we are going to go about it, with that we improved greatly in our team chemistry knowing that we needed to feel comfortable with each other off the ice first before the on ice chemistry came.” She says the team went on an annual trip to Cheticamp at the start of the year, and that “this was the time our team bonded the most.” Lauren says moving forward in the next season, “I think the girls are more experienced and realize how important the regular season games are when it comes to Nationals.” Ms. Chisholm also touched on being a leader, saying, “ being a leader on this team is a role that challenges you to always be the best version of yourself because ultimately you have teammates that are counting on you to do the right thing and do what is best for the team… this role helped me personally as a hockey player because I knew that I had people counting on me for guidance on and off the ice so I was constantly playing for something more than myself.”

Recently, Lauren was recognized as a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian. When asked what it means to her to be recognized, she told me, “It just shows that all the work I put in the off season really paid off with the help from our Strength Coach and our Coaches who went on the ice with me throughout the summer. It also demonstrates how good my teammates are as I could not have gotten this recognition without them. It took a full season of hard work, dedication and teamwork to get to where I am.”

When talking about goals for the team next year, Josie talked about striving to be a national contender again, saying “moving forward this team has the goal of being a national contender again. They have what it takes to do so as long as they work as one cohesive unit.” In regards to herself, Josie said  “personally, I have no set plan for next year. After this season, my love for the game is still strong and my goal is to continue my career in some fashion with hopes of gaining a new experience along the ride.”

It was great hearing from Lauren and Josie, and StFX cannot wait to watch the team again next year!

StFX Cheerleaders Win in Competition for the First Time in Eleven Years

When hearing the words ‘StFX cheerleaders’ the first group that comes to mind is likely the team that cheers on StFX’s athletes. This is the ‘blue team,’ and what many students may not know is that StFX has a second cheerleading team, named the ‘white team.’ Instead of performing at sports games, the white team competes around the province against other university cheerleading teams. On March 4-5, they took on their first competition of the season in Truro, NS, winning the first-place medal for the first time since 2012.

Cheerleading competitions run over the course of two days, with a performance of a pre-existing routine on each day. For this competition—named Maritime Meltdown—each performance constituted 50% of the team’s final score. A university cheerleading routine normally consists of a school cheer, multiple stunt sequences, a pyramid, a jump section, both running and standing tumbling, as well as a dance portion near the end—though this is optional as it no longer contributes to the final score.

On March 4th, the cheerleaders met in the Keating Centre before heading off to Truro. Once there, the athletes had time to finish getting ready, explore the convention centre, and watch other’s performances. Cheer competitions feature teams of various ages competing at all levels and provide an opportunity not just to compete and show all the hard work put in throughout to year, but to connect with others in their shared community.

After a quick warm-up and run-through of their routine, the StFX cheerleaders ran out to take their places on the competition mat. They were cheered on by family, friends, members of blue team, and even next year’s Student Union President Sophia Fabiano, a former cheerleader herself. During their performance, the athletes hit one of their best routines of the season, a success that was closely followed the next day. Though confident in their routine, the team would not know their final scoring until the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.

Because of Covid-19, there has not been an in-person competition since 2020, right before the pandemic hit. This meant that the competition setting was new to a lot of first-time cheerleaders who had only started the sport in university. Amber Thibodeau, a third-year student, and second-year athlete, mentioned that “it was super great to have finally cheered in person after competing online last year.” The new environment was exciting, but combined with the knowledge that StFX hadn’t won a competition since 2012, pressure was at an all-time high. However, the hard work of the athletes pulled through and they heard their names called as the champions of their level, walking away with first-place medals in what one athlete, Hailie Sock, called an “exciting moment.”

The StFX cheerleaders surprised many judges and coaches in the crowd with their high-level skills, and Emily Hubbard, one of the team’s captains, called the experience “amazing…especially knowing that no one was expecting us to show up the way we did.” Hailie Sock echoed this, saying that their performance was “reflexive of all the hard work we put in over the year.” The team practices three times a week, and many members balance a job and a full-time course load on top of this. Their dedication proves the love they have for their sport and their team. Ashley Howe, a second-year athlete, expressed her excitement about “making history for StFX cheerleading.” She continued, saying that cheer “pushes me to keep going for the future of the sport and for the university.” The team was indeed making history as the last win had been eleven years ago. As Howe put it, they are “breaking boundaries and proving to everybody that we aren’t just a student-run club, and we can do big things.” This win could be the start of a new future for StFX cheerleading, so keep an eye out and continue to cheer on your cheerleaders, both in games and at competition!

The team’s coaches, Claire Schofer, Wynona Farrell, and Kaitlyn Anderson, all expressed how proud they were of the team, with Schofer making this closing statement:

“I am incredibly proud of my wonderful athletes and their performances at Maritime Meltdown! We dealt with various adversities this school year, but the team had a continuous desire to work for something we thought was just a dream. The coaching staff has been working a lot behind the scenes for this to happen, but at the end of the day, our athletes won this for themselves and for each other. Many people complimented our performances and our athletes’ conduct at the event which was incredibly rewarding. Several young girls approached us, expressing their admiration for us as university cheerleaders. I sincerely hope our program can continue to grow and succeed for years to come. This win breaks a long streak of losses and I hope it sets a standard for our program.”

My Virtual Doctor

Amidst the recent student union elections, there was also discourse surrounding the vote on whether a new referendum should be approved. This referendum is called My Virtual Doctor, and fortunately, students voted it in.

It’s no secret that many students have waited hours, upon hours in the emergency room at St. Martha’s Hospital and that the Nova Scotia healthcare system is deeply flawed.  My Virtual Doctor helps to solve some of these social issues surrounding healthcare, especially for the vulnerable student population, some of whom are living on their own for the first time and haven’t yet learned how to advocate for themselves.

The referendum allows students to skip the waiting room, and is a virtual healthcare service that offers, confidential, unlimited, 24/7 access across Canada to registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians. Students can choose to discuss with a healthcare professional via either texting, video chat, or phone. With an average wait time of only four minutes for a consult and access to healthcare services in multiple languages, it is difficult to find flaws in this referendum.

Additionally, what services are offered to students via My Virtual Doctor? Students can receive referrals and requisitions for labs, bloodwork, and specialists. Students can be provided with diagnoses and treatment plans and can be directed to the proper facilities. There is also delivery of prescriptions to a pharmacy of the student’s choice provided, appointments are available within 24 hours, and extension is available to eligible family members at no additional cost.

Furthermore, no Nova Scotia healthcare card or Government Canada healthcare card is needed to enroll in this service, which is revolutionary as this is a common barrier to health equity. All full-time undergraduate STFX students will be enrolled automatically. The fee is only 44.85 dollars a year as well.

My Virtual Doctor also allows students the opportunity to opt-out unconditionally each year with a full refund to their student account before the opt-out deadline. There is no barrier to opting out of My Virtual Doctor.

Overall, this referendum was voted in for a reason, using students’ voices to make a difference, and helping to solve certain issues surrounding health equity, for the vulnerable student population. This includes lessening wait times and making healthcare more accessible in general. Transportation, eligibility, forgetfulness, finances, access to a health card, language, as well as mental health, are all barriers to health equity, and My Virtual Doctor is amazing for wanting to give the right to healthcare to all students.

I know that I have waited hours, late into the night for myself and for my friends in the emergency room and have struggled to access prescriptions at Antigonish pharmacies due to the barrier of being out of province. I know that I am not alone in this and that this service would’ve been very utile for me as well as other students.

Thank you, My Virtual Doctor, I cannot wait to see how you help our students in action.

Intramural Sports for The Winter

Unfortunately, at this time of year, the sun sets at 4:30pm. This means StFX students are left with less daylight than preferred, maybe even only 2 or 3 hours, depending on your sleep and class schedule. It’s also colder outside, and there’s the stress of a new semester.

However, there is one thing that can help with the mental health challenges that come in the winter months:  the possibility of registering for an intramural sport. Intramurals are an extra-curricular activity that is highly underrated, where leagues are created, and you get to play sports in a low-stress environment with your friends. There is something for everyone, with no experience required. You can meet new people and create new memories.

It’s a form of exercise that is proven to boost mood, as well as a forced, and likely well-deserved, break from academia and coursework. Whether it is studying, writing yet another paper, or doing readings, intramurals are a fantastic way to set your mind to something else for a couple of hours.

According to the StFX athletics website, there are many options for intramurals in the winter. These include recreational volleyball, super recreational volleyball, and indoor soccer. Registration for both types of volleyball closed on 6 January, however, registration for soccer closes on 16 February.

To register for these sports, simply go to https://www.goxgo.ca/recreation/intramurals/index, scroll down to “Winter Line Up 2023”, and click the registration link, where you sign in with the same username and password as you do for your Moodle account.

It is only possible to register, however, if you have already signed up with XREC. If you go to the StFX gym regularly, and can swipe your card, you are signed up. If this is not the case, simply go to the pool desk in Keating and ask to register.

There are also ESPORT tournaments happening at StFX each month this winter hosted by XREC intramurals. You can register the exact same way for ESPORTS as you do for other sports such as volleyball, except, after following the link, you are led to a sign-up sheet through Microsoft Forms. This uses a QR code, and the platform required is XBOX or PS. These are fun elimination tournaments, where the lucky winner walks away with an XREC prize package.

There is an ESPORTS football tournament where registration closes on 2 February 2023, which takes place on the game Madden 23. There is also an ESPORTS rocket league tournament, where registration closes on 9 March 2023.

Finally, XREC is hosting a student-only night of skating and music at the arena in the Keating Centre. This takes place from 7-9pm, on Saturday, 18 March. The theme for this event is St. Patrick’s Day colours! Be sure to get there early, as there is only a limited number of helmets and skates available for use.

There is also the possibility of an XREC curling night sometime in March 2023.  There are also group fitness classes that XREC offers, with a schedule available online, and plenty of games for you to go watch to support your fellow Xaverians.

For more information, visit the website mentioned above, contact XREC, or follow @stfxintramurals on Instagram.

Meningitis B in Nova Scotia

In the past 18 months, three Nova Scotian university students have passed away from MenB. Meningitis B is an infection and inflammation of the fluid and membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The inflammation from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever, and a stiff neck. It is essential to seek immediate medical care if you suspect that you or someone in your family has meningitis.

At the beginning of January, StFX sent out an email regarding the sad news and some education on MenB. StFXs email read, “before the holidays we were saddened to learn of two cases of meningococcal disease connected to Dalhousie University's student community, resulting in one death and one hospitalization.” It continues with, “Nova Scotia Public Health officials have reported that there is no indication of increased risk to the general public.” The email explains that “most university-aged students have been vaccinated against several strains of meningitis in the course of their routine childhood vaccinations; however, Meningitis B is not covered in this vaccination protocol in Nova Scotia.” Additionally, StFXs email mentions the organization BForKai, a foundation in honor of Kai, a 19-year-old that was studying Kinesiology at Acadia, who passed from Meningitis B.

I spoke with Norrie Matthews, Kai's father, who has, since his son's passing, made it his mission to educate and advocate on awareness and vaccinations for MenB. I learned that Meningitis B is the most common and most deadly strain of Meningitis. 1 in 5 people who contract Meningitis B can experience permanent complications, including brain damage, hearing loss, neurological disorders, limb loss and, shockingly, 1 in 10 cases of MenB can be fatal. Maybe most notably, post-secondary students are 5 times more likely to contract Meningitis B.

There is a huge misconception amongst Nova Scotians and other Canadians that they are already vaccinated against Meningitis B. In Nova Scotia, the publicly funded vaccine program currently provides monovalent meningococcal C vaccine at 12 months of age and as part of the Grade 7 school immunization program with the quadrivalent meningococcal A, C, Y, W135 vaccine. They do not fund or administer the Meningitis B vaccine.  Norrie said years ago, he himself was not aware that this was not included in the Nova Scotia vaccine program. When Kai was younger, he had watched a news story with his wife about a student passing from MenB and had told his wife he was thankful Kai had been vaccinated against meningitis, not knowing that meningitis B was not included in Nova Scotia’s vaccine program.

Because of Kai’s family’s advocacy, the StFX’s Students’ Union health insurance covers the cost of the vaccine. StFX employee health insurance also covers the cost for this vaccine, and the BForKai foundation is what pushed Nova Scotian universities to include this in their health plans.

When I asked Norrie what students at StFX can do to support BForKai, he noted that it isn’t just important to consider getting the vaccine, but it is also important to push the government to do more. On the BForKai website, there is a tool to find your local member of the legislative assembly. It will then help generate an email for you to send them. The email generates a message that pushes the Nova Scotia government to add the Meningitis B vaccine to the province's publicly funded vaccination program. Additionally, there is a link to sign a petition to join the fight to make Meningitis B vaccinations routinely administered to Nova Scotians. Lastly, there is a link to donate to the IWK BforKai Trust with the IWK Foundation. The funds are to support Meningitis B research, awareness, education, and training programs.

The most recent StFX Students’ Union Debate highlights the lack of knowledge surrounding Meningitis B. Some members of the current Students’ Union in the debate were not even aware that StFX’s Students’ Union health insurance covered the cost of the vaccine. Additionally, many students still believe they are vaccinated against it, even though they are not for the MenB strain. Ultimately, I encourage all StFX students to visit the BForKai website to educate themselves and consider getting vaccinated against MenB. StFX students can book an appointment at the Health and Counseling Centre if they are interested in getting vaccine. 

Group Fitness Classes at StFX

Did you know if you are a student at StFX you can get 30 group fitness classes for only 30 dollars plus tax?  XREC’s group fitness classes are a great way to stay active, meet new people, and try something new! There are several classes to choose from, offered almost every day of the week. 

As many students probably already know, the Keating and Saputo centers are under some major renovations. Next year, students can look forward to some significant upgrades. Adam Grimmitt, the StFX Fitness Centre Coordinator, said that when renovations are finished, students can look forward to new group fitness class spaces, a wider variety of classes, as well as a spin room! Until then, there are still a ton of classes from which to choose. Ranging from yoga to cardio, there’s something for everyone!

TBT – Total Body Timed (Mon. 7:30pm-8:30pm)

A class for anyone who wants to try new cardio and strength moves followed by brief recovery periods. Includes different options of intensity levels so that everyone finds success.

ABT – Abs, Butt, Thighs (Wed. 7:30pm-8:30pm)

Incorporating traditional bodyweight exercises with a timed-interval technique to help strengthen and sculpt your abs, butt, and thighs. This class is for all fitness levels with lots of modifications and options so that participants feel successful working at their own level.

Pump Up (Mon. 6:15 pm-7:30 pm & Thurs. 7:30 pm-8:20 pm)

There is no better way to pump up your mind, muscles, and heart rate than with this cardio and strength class. Incorporating weight training routines with a twist, you're bound to leave smiling.

Step It Up (Wed. 6:15pm-7:15pm & Sun. 5pm-6pm)

Time to Step It Up a notch! With simple and safe movements, you will see results in both your physical and mental health! Get ready to sweat out any stress you may have with upbeat tunes and amazing people. All fitness levels are welcome.

Upper Body Sculpt (Tues. 7:30pm-8:30pm & 8:30pm-9:30pm)

This upper body workout uses various bodyweight and strength training exercises to target your shoulders, biceps, triceps, and chest, in addition to adding elements of cardio that will raise your heart rate and leave you feeling energized and sweating. Get ready to feel the burn!

Hatha Yoga (Tues. 6:30pm-7:15pm)

Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, this class could be for you. Hatha focuses on breathing, controlled movements, and meditation. The gentle pace allows for moments of exploring what needs attention inside your body.

Yin Yoga (Sun. 6:15pm-7:15pm)

The quieter side of yoga for all levels. All poses are held for several minutes and are done either seated or laying down. Yin allows the body to sense and release, let go of all the tightness, and melt into a long-held yin pose. Your mind, body, and heart will thank you.

Mindfulness (Tues. 1:15 pm-2pm)

Meditation is a way to slow down, be in the present moment, and manage our stress.

Sponsored by the Health Centre. FREE for students, faculty, and staff.

To purchase a group fitness pass, head to the StFX Welcome Desk to get set up today!

Innovation in Achieving Healthy Equity in Rural Nova Scotia: A Conference by the StFX Health Society

Achieving health equity has been an ongoing process throughout Nova Scotia, and at StFX, the Health Society has been leading the conversation. In efforts to spread information and increase these types of discussions, the student-run society will be hosting a conference on January 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Schwartz Auditorium. Titled “Innovation in Achieving Healthy Equity in Rural Nova Scotia,” the conference will feature six changemakers of various expertise. Each will give a short presentation about their work related to current gaps in medicine and health in rural Nova Scotia, as well as share some of their innovative solutions aimed at achieving health equity. A panel discussion will follow the presentation period, focusing on how rural communities can make meaningful change in achieving health equity. The conference will feature a Q&A period with the audience members.

I was able to speak with Sophie Bezanson, the Co-Vice President of Conferences and Events of the Health Society and a co-organizer of the conference. She mentioned that the society wanted a conference that would “create a difference in the community”. They recognize that there are “so many wider social factors that impact an individual’s or a population’s health” that are often overlooked, and Bezanson spoke on how she wanted to “spotlight these issues and identify the challenges and barriers to achieving health equity in rural areas.” The conversations taking place during the conference will be a step towards “focus[ing] on the solutions and how we can move forward.”

The panelists speaking at the conference will include the following professionals: Dr. Ajantha Jayabarathan (Dr. AJ), Dr. Amy Grant, Dianne Oickle, Sarah-Marie O’Toole, as well as a representative from both the Nova Scotia Brotherhood and Sisterhood Initiative.

Dr. AJ is a family physician and director of the Coral Shared-Care Health Center. She is also an Assistant professor at Dalhousie University, where she developed a program named GeoView. The program is a virtual mapping tool that uses Geographic Information System technology to standardize health collection data. With this information, primary care providers are able to have a unique visualization of the social determinants of health.

Dr. Amy Grant has a Ph.D. in Social and Developmental Psychology and is the Senior Health Policy Researcher at the Maritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit. Here, she leads and supports mixed-methods research, with her most recent project focused on pharmacist prescribing, collaborative family practice team implementation, transition of care for pediatric patients with chronic disease, and the mental health impacts of COVID-19.

Dianne Oickle is the Knowledge Translation Specialist at the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health. She has extensive experience working in the public health field as a registered dietitian and is a frontline health practitioner. Her work focuses on mental health promotion, community engagement, intersectoral practice, movement building, digital equity, and equity in environmental public health.

Sarah-Marie O’Toole is a Physician Recruitment Consultant with the Nova Scotia Health Authority in the Eastern Zone. In their previous role as a Community Navigator, Sarah supported the arrival, settlement, and integration of new physicians and their family members into the Antigonish community. Their work follows a “people first” philosophy, focusing on the individuals and families coming to Nova Scotia and acknowledging the many factors contributing to a satisfying and fulfilling life.

The two representatives from the Nova Scotia Brotherhood Initiative and the Nova Scotia Sisterhood Initiative, Preston Matthews and Elizabeth Nkrumah, will share information about their work. This includes providing culturally appropriate primary health care services to individuals of African ancestry. The Initiatives provide rotating clinics in various Black communities in the Central Zone. Additionally, they run programs that focus on improving health literacy, social determinants of health, health advocacy, and building capacity for individuals to develop health leadership and stewardship.

Bezanson closed by saying that it is easy to see the state of our medical and healthcare system and be deterred by the challenges present, but that “there are a lot of opportunities to be innovative and create change for the better.” Conversations like those that will take place at the conference are helpful to identify the barriers that do exist and will put “more of a positive spin on it” with the solutions they can provide. Bezanson remarked that coming together and having these discussions goes to show that “change is possible” and that it “needs to happen in order for our population to be as healthy as it can be.” The conference on Innovation in Achieving Health Equity in Rural Nova Scotia is just the first step on the road by StFX Health students and activists—like Bezanson—to solving issues surrounding health equity in rural Nova Scotia.

Cheerleading Is a Sport: An Ode to True Athleticism

In the last few weeks on StFX’s campus, there has been a lot of discourse regarding whether cheerleading should be deemed a sport. I was stunned to be the biggest advocate in very heated debates in my residence lounge on the status of cheerleading in the sporting world. My competitors in these debates, unsurprising to you, I’m sure, have never once been a cheerleader in their lives.

As an author, who has done dance, as well as synchronized swimming in the past, I felt that I could speak to the hard work of cheerleaders in these debates, given that my athleticism is also frequently disrespected. However, I realize now that I was wrong.

A previously well-meaning article created unintended backlash and hurt, with the misinterpretation that cheerleading was not for all gender identities. This couldn’t be farther from the truth, or from my opinion, for that matter. I have always felt that dance and synchronized swimming would greatly benefit from more athletes that do not identify as feminine or female. The same applies to cheerleading.

 To address this, and give a voice to those who felt I spoke for them, I have reached out to current StFX cheer athletes.

According to an anonymous athlete, some members of the STFX cheer team practice three times a week, for 8 hours total. This seems like a large time commitment to me and should be enough to solidify cheerleading’s place in the sporting world!

However, for many readers, more convincing may be needed. The definition of a sport is, “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment” (Oxford Dictionary, n.d.). Cheerleading certainly takes skill, as I’m sure not everyone has the ability to throw people in the air and catch them flawlessly. It requires strength and expertise to make it look easy.

Another misconception of cheerleading is that these athletes simply cheer on the sidelines for other sports. In fact, the opposite is true. Cheerleaders have their own competitions, as does the white team here at StFX. Also, while cheering on other sports, there is choreography and difficult tumbling involved, showcasing the athleticism required in cheerleading.

 Cheer is open to all identities and is not about femininity.

What could possibly dismiss cheerleading as anything less than a sport?

Hockey Gives Blood Comes to StFX

A wonderful non-profit organization called Hockey Gives Blood has recently been established here at STFX. It’s partnered with Canadian Blood Services, and their goal is to raise awareness about blood and stem cell donations. The organization believes that athletes in the hockey community should give back and believe in social and community responsibility.

It is no secret that giving blood saves lives, and X-Woman Anna MacCara, helping to establish Hockey Gives Blood here at STFX wanted to do just that. She says that she, “wanted to be a part of something that would make a difference in someone’s life.” In a small town like Antigonish, this could be huge. Anna also says that, “the organization has made significant impacts on communities” and that she’s, “looking to continue that on campus and in Antigonish.”

Just recently on November 5th, there was a Hockey Gives Blood night right here at STFX, which was a game versus Mount Allison University, where our incredible X-Women helped to raise awareness about donating blood, and to give information about how to become a donor.

Xaverians are doing amazing things, and contrary to popular misconception, you can look no further than our small town of Antigonish for many opportunities, such as saving lives and giving blood.

Exciting Renovations to Come to The Charles V. Keating Centre

Upon, scouring the internet for information and to do some research to write this article, I found practically nothing about STFX’s renovations to the Charles V. Keating centre in January. After an interview, I have since realized there are so many exciting improvements to come.

It’s no secret that the fitness centre at STFX is getting old, offers too small of a space for our number of students, and that many students opt for a membership at Goodlife Fitness as an alternative.

Therefore, I have brought in staff member Bob Hale, director of Ancillary Services here at STFX, and asked him some questions about these renovations.

I first inquired about what these renovations would entail. Essentially, our fitness centre on the first floor will be completely gutted and will be replaced by new classrooms. The fitness centre will be moved to the second floor and will nearly triple in size.

The fitness centre will be moved to the second floor and will nearly triple in size. There will be new locker rooms as well and the welcome desk will be updated. Furthermore, there’s an additional multi-purpose space being built for yoga, stretching, or almost any type of activity. Finally, the auxiliary gymnasium will get new flooring, and will be replaced by a multipurpose floor plan, for basketball, indoor baseball, and floor hockey. There will also be walls that are updated to get rid of mold. Overall, the Charles V. Keating centre will be freshened up, with these impressive renovations.

I also wondered about the timeline for these exciting improvements to our school. Fortunately, our fitness centre will stay open until April 2023, when most of us go home for the summer. However, the pool, and racquetball courts will close in January 2023. Everything is scheduled to reopen in September 2023.

There are also economic factors to consider surrounding the renovations of which I inquired to Mr. Hale. Asking about the staff, he replied that, “if anything, these renovations could create jobs, with more staff and more space to do activities.” Additionally, this project, which will cost about 15 million dollars, was partly funded by our student body. If you remember, or even attended this school at that time, several years ago students voted on a donation fee, and this fee has been accumulating. This means that STFX students are giving back to their community, and it will pay off, as these renovations are a huge win for our student body.

Overall, this project is very promising, and should give rise to many feelings of excitement for the student population.

Meet Maddie Kwan: StFX Intramurals Marketing and Social Media Coordinator

Intramurals are a great way to get involved around campus, from hockey to basketball to water-polo, there is a little bit of something for everyone. Maddie Kwan is from Hong Kong and is a third-year student in Human Kinetics and Sports Management. She is the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for XREC Intramurals. Maddie says, “she believes intramurals are just awesome for staying active, social, getting involved in the community here at X and taking a break from one’s studies,” and I think many would agree with her.

Maddie’s main goal for her role at StFX is to “promote participation amongst all StFX students in Intramurals by managing our social media platforms and beyond.” Her job requires much creativity, management, and organization. Maddie says that on a typical day she will “edit, caption and post daily games schedules, the various activities, registration posters and pretty much all other content related to XREC and Intramurals.” She also says that her role “involves a great deal of photography and videography.” With this come a few challenges, saying “I sometimes find it challenging working in such a creative and artistic job as it is something you really need to be in the mood for (with all the creative juices flowing). However, most of the time it’s still such a unique way for me to express myself!” Although at times challenging, there are many rewards. Maddie says she enjoys how it allows her to meet students from different programs and years that she wouldn’t have crossed paths with before.

According to Maddie there is lots to look forward to in the upcoming year. She says “this year we are bringing back our flag football league, which was unfortunately postponed for the past two years due to COVID. It used to hold great popularity back in its day and is sure to be an exciting event for everyone! We will be hosting two leagues for this - a men’s and women’s league which will take place on weeknights!” She also highlighted another event that has come back post-covid, “last weekend, we also hosted another event put on hold for the past two years and that was our Annual Alumni Homecoming Fun Run. It was super cool to see a huge array of individuals from varying StFX graduating classes all dedicated to coming together for this epic event on homecoming morning!”

Maybe surprising, or perhaps not, Maddie’s favorite sport is innertube water polo, saying “It’s pretty much all laughs in the pool with your friends. It’s hilarious to see everyone flipping over in their tubes, splashing about, and getting super competitive and into the game.” Maddie says she hopes to get as involved as possible this year and to try new things she has never tried before. She states that no matter what your preference may be, you should get involved, “Intramurals create this stress-free, non-judgmental environment where everyone can get involved no matter their background is as long as they are simply a student of StFX. I don’t think I have ever thrown a football in my life. However, I’ve gathered a group of buddies for our flag football league and know even if we don’t win the league - it’s going to be a good time guaranteed!”

Maddie has also taken on a new role as the social media lead for motionball at StFX. She explains that there are many similarities between motionball and intramurals as they both are about promoting and creating opportunities in sports and activity. Motionball is targeted towards bringing together people from the Special Olympics community with members of the Antigonish community. Maddie says to look out for a few things they have coming up this year including #NoGoodWay Day taking place November 16th, this raises awareness and educates people on the inappropriateness of the “R” word.

Lastly, Maddie mentioned “getting involved with the StFX community by means of work experiences and involvement in societies has changed my entire experience at StFX. It’s given me a great sense of purpose and belonging in being able to combine my love of recreation and physical activity towards a greater community. To anyone considering joining a new club or society at X, I’d say GO FOR IT - you will have no regrets! The worst thing that could happen is you meet some cool and interesting people and learn so much from the exciting new experiences you immerse yourself in.”

StFX Subway Athletes of The Week: First Snow of The Year Didn’t Stop These Players From Bringing The Heat

X-Women Basketball Kimberly Kingsbury and X-Men Basketball Dondre Reddick were named the StFX Subway Athletes of The Week. Today I dove in a little deeper to better understand the story behind these standout athletes and what fuelled them to become the athletes they are today!

First, I talked to X-Women Basketball guard Kimberly Kingsbury, a fifth year BASCH student from Nepean, Ontario. This past week, she played two strong games, she scored a game high of 24 points and then followed the next game with a team high of 11 points!

What drives you to train every day?

I really enjoy playing basketball and learned early on that training is an integral part of being an athlete. It helps that it is something I enjoy doing and find relaxing, so when I get stressed or overwhelmed, I always turn to basketball.

Who is the biggest role model in your life?

The biggest role model in my life would have to be my dad! He played a lot of sports growing up, so he knows a lot about the work and politics surrounding sports. He has always helped me develop my game. Ever since I was a kid, he would sacrifice his time to come watch me play sports and train with me, without question. I wouldn't be the player or person I am today without his support and guidance.

What is a challenge you overcame to get to where you are today?

A challenge I have overcome was probably moving away from a big city in Ontario and coming to live in Antigonish! I had no friends or even people that I knew, I was taking a full course load, living on my own for the first time, and was not able to come home whenever I would have liked. It really made me develop as a person and I found out a lot of new things about myself.

Advice you would give to athletes looking up to you right now?

If I could give any athletes some advice, I'd have to say always try to be the hardest worker. There's always going to be a player who is faster, more talented, a better shooter...etc, but if you can be the hardest worker and always give your best it will pay off. Coaches want players who will work hard and listen to them, and in the end, you will be rewarded!

Next, I spoke with Dondre Reddick of X-Men Basketball. He is a hometown standout athlete from Antigonish and a third year Arts student. He was the player of the game in STFX’s gripping 112-101 win over SMU Saturday night! Dondre also had a big double-double night scoring a career-high 35 points!

What drives you to train every day?

What drives me to train every day is my family. Every day that I am lazy it is disrespectful to them because I would not be where I am today without them, and I am thankful. I also plan on making money off this sport overseas in years to come.

Who is the biggest role model in your life?

The biggest role model in my life is my parents. I see them work so hard and I just can't let them down, they inspire me and instilled a hard work ethic in me at a young age.

What is a challenge you overcame to get to where you are today?

A challenge I had to overcome to get where I am today is my confidence, I always had the work ethic but sometimes I doubted myself. I now have no doubts in my ability and believe that I can do anything when I believe in myself.

Advice you would give to athletes looking up to you right now?

Advice I would give to young athletes is to work hard and never stop believing in yourself, enjoy the process of getting better and listen to your coaches and work on being a leader so that you can help your teammates as well.

Congratulations to this week's StFX Subway athletes of the week Dondre and Kimberly and Goodluck with the rest of your season, LET’S FILL THE GYM! GO X GO!

Insiders Scoop on StFX Athletics

When walking  around campus going from class to class there seems to be something different amongst the students. It is not the masks, the stickers on the floor on indicating where to stand or the hand sanitizer every 10 feet. It is something more...something missing.

That inner excitement, that buzz, that something to look forward to seems to be gone for many students

COVID-19 has changed  many things at  X but there is one that hits home for many. The SPORTS! To all the X-Men and X-Women fans that miss cheering for their favourite player, team or university. While unfortunately there are no sports at X so far, all teams are still hard at work preparing for that call saying ‘the season is back on’! You may be wondering how the teams are managing through the changes COVID-19 has caused with practices as well as their season being put off. The head coaches of some of X’s most prestigious teams were happy to give the insider scoop of their league's forecast, team performance and player morale.

X-Men Football:

Head Coach Gary Waterman gives his updates on the team's strategy while abiding the Covid guidelines.

“We have had to adjust the way we do things to ensure that we are following the Health guidelines. It has made it quite challenging at times because of the restrictions to the amount of people who can practice at one time. The current guidelines say that we can have no more than 50 participants on the field practicing. We have 81 players on our roster so we have had to adjust our practices accordingly. It was even more challenging earlier when we could have no more than 10 people in a pod at one time. We found ourselves spending a great deal of time on practice planning. We had to be extremely organized and communicate in advance with our players in terms of how the practice would flow to ensure that we were following the health guidelines. In addition, we were not allowed to use our locker room early in the process so players were required to bring their gear back and forth from home to practice. There were a lot of moving parts. 

From a team morale perspective we had to be very deliberate in messaging about focusing only on the things that we can control and not becoming distracted by the things out of our control. Overall I think our team morale has been positive, but our ability to come together as a group has definitely been affected. With the gathering limitations we were not able to bring our team together all at once. The typical team bonding that naturally occurs within a team has been slowed and we have had to be more deliberate in our attempts to get to know each other. 

No new information about playing next year. We are all waiting to see how things transpire with regards to COVID-19 and what our new normal will look like. However, recruiting has definitely changed. We can no longer bring players to campus for a visit and there is a national ban on in-person recruiting for all sports. Technology has been our main method of communication. Between Zoom meetings and online conversations we find ourselves having to come up with more creative ways to build those strong connections with our future X-Men.”

X- Women Hockey:

Head Coach Ben Berthiaume touches on future play and team growth.

“The team continues to not only work hard on the ice and in the gym but in the classroom, which is a great sign for this group moving forward. We are also very appreciative of the support we are receiving from our Athletic Director Leo MacPherson, President Dr. Hakin and the university administration, without their support we would not be on the ice and doing what we love.

As a team we are practicing 4 times a week which consists of a lot of small area games and a 3 on 3 tournament every Friday. The team also has 2 off ice work out sessions to help prepare for the winter schedule if there is going to be one. We are looking to begin some blue and white games to give us some extra competition in November. The team morale seems to be pretty good considering we are not playing any games and having that competition that they practice hard for. The ability to be together as a group and get on the ice certainly helps with the team morale.  

 We have heard there is a good possibility that there will be an AUS season in January, the AUS will make a decision in the next two weeks. The Atlantic provinces and STFX have done such a great job with COVID 19 pandemic that we are very hopeful we will have the opportunity to have competition begin in January with an AUS season.”

X-Men Basketball:

Renowned Head Coach Steve Konchalski discusses adjusted practices and team morale.

“Since Oct. 1, sports activities in Nova Scotia have allowed up to 50 participants without social distancing or masks (once you leave the playing field you must put on your mask – in locker rooms for example) so we basically have been able to have normal practices for the most part. Prior to that date we were restricted to 10 athletes per group (basket).

Right now we are practicing four times a week and preparing for some kind of a season after Christmas. Currently, the AUS is formulating a return to play formula for the winter sports that hopefully will satisfy both Public Health in all the Atlantic provinces as well as the AUS Board (Presidents). My understanding is that a decision will be made by mid-November which of course will be dependent upon the virus remaining  under control into the new year. The health and safety of our student athletes are of course our first priority.

I would say our team morale is excellent despite the uncertainty prevalent in the world today. Our practices have been extremely competitive as I know that basketball is an outlet that helps young people cope with the anxiety that covid has brought to the entire planet.”

X-Women Basketball:

Head Coach Lee Anna Osei fills us in on the season status and the support they have been receiving.

“Earlier in October, U Sports officially cancelled the U Sports Championship to ensure the safety of all student athletes, coaches and athletic departments. This means that conferences will now dictate what the season will look like from a provincial and local standpoint. To date, there are still uncertainties about what the status of the AUS season is. 

Though nothing that has been confirmed for official AUS games, we are hopeful for the opportunity to play in the future, whether that be in official games, exhibitions or scrimmages. In the meantime, we have a weekly Game of the Week against our male scout players that gives us an opportunity to work on our Xs and Os throughout the semester. Our athletic department has also done a phenomenal job of providing structure for our athletes in programs like StFX Leadership Academy and celebrating varsity Players of the Week.

We consider ourselves lucky here at StFX. Our institution is a U Sport school that represents the highest percentage of F2F classes, and this has also meant that we have been afforded some privileges for contact practices with covid protocols of sanitation and safety in place. We have as much as possible simulated our practices and training schedules to provide a sense of routine and normalcy for our players.”

It is amazing to hear all the time and effort being put in by coaches, players, athletic management and league officials. The planning and execution that goes into each meeting, practice or team bonding is huge. This is driven by one thing. The love and passion for sport. Even if the season has been put off everyone is trying to make the best of what is happening. It is heartwarming and amazing to see. 

Here are some words of encouragements from the X-Coaches to the X-fans:

“X fans! We look forward to hosting you at our home and away games - you collectively are our sixth man! Although we have not had the opportunity to play in front of you, be assured that we will remain ready to dawn the blue and white when that time comes. We appreciate your support , and welcome you to contact varsity athletics if there is any way that we can support you - Hail & Health!” - Head Coach Lee Anna Osei

“X fans, we miss you and look forward to the day when we can get back on the field and welcome you back to the games.” - Head Coach Gary Waterman 

“We are so appreciative of the support we get from all our fans. Looking back to last year's AUS final with 1300 people in the building was incredible and certainly loved all the support, the atmosphere was certainly electrifying. We look forward to getting back to playing in front of our fans soon and showcasing the talent of the women’s game. “  -Head Coach Ben Berthiaume

Basketball at X

As January 5 marks the middle of winter, many varsity teams are preparing for next season. Two teams at StFX are getting ready for their last scheduled games. The men's and women’s basketball teams are approaching playoffs as the regular season comes to an end.

Both teams have their last league games after reading week on February 21. The men's team has battled hard to secure their spot in the playoffs and are currently holding second place.

Both teams have had tremendous success this season compared to previous years.

The X-Women:

• Won 3 games, in contrast with last season where they were without a win

• Had their first home win since 2017

• Won more games in a season since 2016

• X-Women head coach LeeAnna Osei’s first ever win with the team

• Beat the University of PEI in the second game of a back to back sequence even though UPEI was one of the top leaders of their pool, and had not lost a game prior

The women's team is mostly composed of rookies, 6 out of the 12 players being first year students. This being a very young team, the future looks very bright for this group of girls. On this note, StFX athletics would like to thank Jamie McCarron, the 5-season veteran, and this year's X-Women captain for her involvement.

The X-Men:

• Secured a spot in the playoff

• Won 10 games this season compared to 7 last season

• Beat the previously undefeated Dalhousie Tigers

• Have 2 players in the top 5 for points per game average

The men's team is coming off a very good season. They finished in fifth place in the 2019 season, losing in the quarter finals to Cape Breton. The men’s team has managed to outwork their competition, putting them in third place at the time this article was published. On January 11, the X-Men played nationally ranked Dalhousie Tigers. This home game ended up being a massive upset when the undefeated tigers fell to the X-Men in a 1-point game.

Congratulations to Avan Naza and Azaro Roker for finishing third and fourth in the league in points per game average at 17.5ppg and 17.3ppg. Coincidentally, the men’s team also has an unusual number of young players. No players from the X-Men team are graduating this coming spring. This will allow for chemistry to build as well as continuity for next season.

As many may know, there was a massive loss in the basketball world on January 26. The loss of the legend Kobe Bryant. As many mourned the loss of this amazing athlete on and off the court. The X-Men paid tribute by accepting a 24 second shot clock violation in honour of Mr. Bryant.

To catch all the action, visit https://www.goxgo.ca/landing/index for scheduling and live results. February 21 is the last league and home game for the women's and men's basketball team.