Media releases

• From Halifax to Fredericton, March madness continues for Brock Badgers

  Monday, March 12, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 12 March 2018 – R00055

  With the USPORTS men’s basketball national championships wrapped up in Halifax, Brock Sports is turning its attention to Fredericton, where the men’s hockey team is set to play in the University Cup National Championship.

  The Badgers basketball team finished its national championship run with a decisive 94-57 win over the Acadia Axemen in the consolation final Sunday. That came after a heartbreaking 78-76 loss to the eventual national champion Calgary Dinos in the quarter-finals and then an 81-65 win over the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds in the consolation semifinals.

  The consolation title gave Brock a fifth-place finish in their first trip to the USPORTS National Championship since 2008.

  While the basketball team is headed west to go home, the men’s hockey team is packing up to head east to Fredericton, where the USPORTS U Cup National Championships will be hosted this week by the University of New Brunswick.

  Brock lost the OUA Queen’s Cup provincial championship game 5-1 to the McGill Redmen in front of a sold-out crowd at home Saturday night, but just getting to that game guaranteed them their first trip to the nationals in 10 years.

  After a media conference Wednesday, the tournament gets underway Thursday at 1 p.m. ADT (noon EST) with the Badgers, who drew the fourth seed, playing the fifth-seeded St. Francis Xavier in the quarter-finals.

  Unlike the basketball championships, there’s no consolation side of the U Cup hockey championships, so a Brock win would move them into the semifinal round Saturday while a loss would send them home.

  The bronze and gold medal games are scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ADT, respectively. The quarter-finals are all available to be streamed online at sportscanada.tv/usports while the semifinals and championship game will be broadcast on Sportsnet.

  Note to media: Story and photo packages will be sent to media each day starting from Wednesday, March 14 until after Brock’s final game. Phone interviews can be arranged with coaches and players throughout the tournament.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock students to sleep outside to raise awareness of homelessness in Niagara

  Friday, March 09, 2018 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 08 March 2018 – R00054

  Breanne Van Den Breemen has felt the impact of homelessness.

  While she’s never been without a place to lay her head, the 19-year-old Hamilton native has a close relative who, despite the best efforts of family and local shelters, has experienced homelessness for many years.

  “It’s difficult when we’re always wondering where he is and if he’s safe,” said the second-year Brock Bachelor of Arts student. “I wish I could have a greater understanding of who he is and what his life could be like if he had the proper support to have a home.”

  The circumstances have had a profound impact on Van Den Breemen’s family and, as a result, she hopes to help raise awareness and support for local services that aid with homelessness in Niagara.

  Van Den Breemen will be among about a dozen Brock students who will sleep outside next week as part of the national 5 Days for the Homeless campaign.

  From Monday, March 12 to Friday, March 16, the group of volunteers will give up their warm beds to actively raise both funds and awareness for homelessness, particularly among at-risk youth.

  Students participating in the campaign give up necessities and comforts such as shelter, proper sleeping arrangements, access to food (except what is donated to them), heat and showers.

  With the exception of using technology for homework and sharing their experience on social media to promote the 5 Days for the Homeless campaign, students will give up their smartphones and laptops while continuing to attend class throughout the week.

  Organized by the Goodman Business Students’ Association, the campaign partners annually with Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, which received more than $3,000 in donations through the 2017 initiative. This year’s team has set a fundraising goal of $5,000.

  Goodman School of Business Dean Andrew Gaudes said homelessness is an issue that’s not distant from reality for many people.

  “We have to realize that homelessness is all around us and affecting people we know and care about in our region,” he said. “St. Catharines has been declared as a compassionate city by its mayor, and we should be able to demonstrate that by recognizing the importance of this issue and by giving in any we can to help change the outcome of people’s lives.”

  The student group is collecting donations — both monetary and non-perishable food — to support Community Care.

  “We are grateful to be the recipients of Brock’s 5 Days for the Homeless campaign once again,” said Betty-Lou Souter, CEO of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

  “Through this initiative, the issue of homelessness is brought to the forefront in a unique way,” she said. “The outreach of the students is vast and reinforces the importance of supporting those who through no fault of their own do not have the luxury of sleeping in a warm bed with a roof over their heads each and every night.”

  Students will be set up outside Mackenzie Chown Complex A Block and will be accepting non-perishable food and cash donations from March 12 to 16. Online donations are also being accepted at 5days.ca/brock throughout March.

  Donations will also be collected at Niagara IceDogs games at the Meridian Centre on Thursday, March 8 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 11 at 2 p.m.; at Zehrs (Pen Centre) on Saturday, March 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and at the St. Catharines Farmers’ Market on Thursday, March 15 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

  An informal event will be held Friday, March 16 at 9 a.m. in the Scotiabank Atrium of the Cairns Family Health and Bioscience Research Complex to end the campaign and recognize the efforts of students. 

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne Firth, Writer/Editor, Brock University maryanne.firth@brocku.ca, 905-688- 5550 x4420 or 289-241-8288

  Brock University Marketing and Communications has a full-service studio where we can provide high definition video and broadcast-quality audio.

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  Categories: Media releases