MEDIA ADVISORY: 14 February 2017 – R00035
It’s a busy week for varsity sports at Brock University.
The Ontario University Athletics season wraps up for both figure skating and men’s fencing with the championship events being held in Niagara. The provincial championships are also being held for curling this weekend, and there are late-regular-season games for basketball and volleyball, and playoff games for hockey.
FIGURE SKATING
The OUA Figure Skating Championships got under way at the Gale Centre in Niagara Falls Tuesday with the final day of competition set for Wednesday. Tickets are $5 at the door while children, youth and Brock students get in free.
The host Brock Badgers hope the home crowd can help lift them to a podium finish this week. Earlier this season at the Queen’s Invitational, the Badgers finished second overall thanks to three gold medal-winning performances. Katie Desveaux (North York) won gold in the Open Solo Dance, while Sydney Vanderveen (Belleville) finished first in the Novice Short program. Desveaux also combined with Laura Holbrough (Ilderton) to capture gold in the Open Short Dance.
The Badgers are coming off a third place finish at the OUA Winter Invitational where just three points separated them from the gold medal-winning Varsity Blues. Just like at the Queen’s Invitational, Desveaux and Vanderveen both won gold in their events, while Lauren Collins (Minesing) and Kristen Dortono (Niagara-on-the-Lake) finished first in the Senior Silver Similar Dance event.
Wednesday’s OUA Championship schedule runs from 8 a.m. to 3:50 p.m. at the Gale Centre with the overall championship trophy and banner, as well as individual medals, presented at the end of the day.
FENCING
On Saturday and Sunday, the men’s fencing OUA Championships will be held in Ian Beddis Gymnasium at Brock University. The Brock men will be led by Logan Wilford (Ajax) and Malcolm McLeod (Beamsville) who both medalled earlier this season. In front of a hometown crowd, the Badgers will look to medal as a team.
CURLING
Both the Brock Badgers men’s and women’s varsity curling teams are off to OUA Provincial Championships running Thursday until Monday in Oshawa. The championships are being hosted by UIOT. The Brock men’s team won the Brock Invitation tournament it hosted at St. Catharines Curling Club Jan. 21-22.
HOCKEY
In men’s hockey, the Badgers head to Guelph to play the Gryphons in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series. A fan bus is headed to the away game to cheer on the Brock squad. Game 2 is back in Niagara at the Seymour-Hannah arena Saturday at 7:15 p.m. If necessary, Game 3 is back in Guelph Sunday night.
The women’s hockey playoff picture is yet to be determined with Brock playing at Queen’s Friday at noon and at University of Toronto Saturday at 7 p.m. in the final two regular season games of the year.
BASKETBALL
The Badgers women’s and men’s basketball teams each have two games left in the regular season before the playoffs get underway. The two teams head to London to play Western Wednesday night and then round out the season Saturday afternoon at McMaster.
The men’s team has secured a home playoff game Saturday, Feb. 25, while the women’s playoff picture is still yet to be finalized.
VOLLEYBALL
The regular season is still in full swing for the men’s and women’s volleyball teams with the Badgers hosting McMaster Saturday at 8 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.
For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
* Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970
* Shawn Whiteley, Sports Information & Marketing Coordinator, Brock University swhiteley@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x4506
