Close-up look at two student-athletes

Up close and personal with Gaiter student-athletes

David Rossiter Sports Editor

Introducing a new recurring segment: we think this is a great way to learn more about our Bishop’s Gaiters student-athletes and who they are as people.

Each issue will feature two student-athletes from our many amazing sports teams. Enjoy!

Mitchell Broussard Hometown: Saint John, New Brunswick

Lacrosse Age: 21 Program: Business Hometown: Bedford, Nova Scotia Position: Midfield What is your go-to study spot?

Favourite hangover breakfast in Lennoxville? I’d give my backflips an 8/10. Interestingly enough they seem to improve with the number

McDonald’s hotcakes

What is your greatest fear? Wasps

Do you bleed purple?

Cats or dogs? Dogs 100 per cent

Mitchell Broussard during practice. Photo courtesy of David Rossiter Katie Shea Rugby Age: 20 Program: Health sciences Position: Outside back/Kicker

What is your favourite moment from your rugby career? Winning our first game in 10 years last year. We beat McGill and I remember having so much pressure on me as the kicker. Good times.

Top study spot in Lennoxville is easily the Sportsplex

On a scale from one to 10, how good are you at doing backflips? Of course, I bleed purple. Come on.

of drinks I have. Maybe it’s just the confidence that improves.

What do you say to people who refer to New Brunswick as “No Funswick?” I just tell them to meet more people from there and that would change their opinion.

What is your greatest fear? listen to it in certain moods and for a Open water that I can’t see the bottom of. Not knowing what’s under me is absolutely terrifying.

On a scale from one to 10, how good are you at yard work? I am about a 6 at yard work for free, but a solid 8 when getting paid.

Acrylic or watercolour paint? Watercolour. Next question.

Why are you the way that you are? Cause that’s how mama raised me. What is your all-time favourite moment from your lacrosse career? Favourite rom-com and why?

Winning bronze for team Nova Scotia at the Canadian box lacrosse national championships

Favourite sport to play other than lacrosse?

Favourite rom-com? Wedding Crashers

Do you bleed purple? That’s an easy question. Yes, and I always will.

Country music. Yay or nay? Big yay for me. However, I can only certain amount of time.

Pick-up basketball Friends With Benefits. It never gets old.

Katie Shea during practice. Photo courtesy of David Rossiter

Winter sports in jeopardy

David Rossiter Sports Editor

The Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) convened on Thursday, Oct. 15, amid rising COVID-19 case numbers in the province. Other provincial and national sport governing bodies across Canada did the same.

The university sector of the RSEQ – other sectors are for the grade school and CEGEP levels – announced that regular sports programming and competition is suspended until at least Jan. 15.

Meanwhile, U SPORTS, a national university athletic governing body, announced that national championships will not happen this school year.

This news delivered a tough blow to Gaiter athletes of fall and winter sports alike. While the regular-season play had already been officially ruled out for fall sports, the immediate suspension of sports programming dashed the hopes of informal exhibition play for our fall sports teams.

At Bishop’s University, our varsity winter sports teams include men’s and women’s basketball and women’s hockey. The U SPORTS and RSEQ announcements have the optimism of these teams dwindling. The RSEQ has not officially cancelled their seasons, but the suspension of all activities does not bode well for happy news.

The fact that there is now officially no shot at a U SPORTS national championship is a further sign that this pandemic will likely make the 2020/2021 school year a wash for athletics.

Our men’s basketball team placed eighth in last year’s U SPORTS national championship after winning the RSEQ title in a dramatic fashion. Returning players are disappointed that they won’t get another shot at a national championship this year, but that doesn’t put an end to their hard work.

Connor Kelly is a third-year guard with a passion for shooting threes. When asked for his thoughts on the matter, he perfectly encapsulated the general mood of his team: “Although understandable because of the state of Canada at the moment, it was still disappointing to hear the news about U SPORTS cancelling national championships in the winter term. After getting a taste of the national championship tournament last year, I know myself and my teammates were hoping to get a chance to defend our RSEQ title and try to earn a berth back there. Our team is thankful, however, for the opportunity to use our sporting facility to continue getting better and prepare for the 2021/2022 season.”

This winter was supposed to be the first for our women’s hockey team as a member of the RSEQ. The current suspension of games and cancellation of national championships is a letdown, but not a death sentence.

Depending on the progression of the pandemic and a myriad of other factors, on Jan. 15, the RSEQ could announce a modified regular season or at least the opportunity for schools to play exhibition games against one another.

This is the best case scenario that is on the minds of our basketball and hockey players. No doubt that they will use this shred of hope as motivation while they continue to push themselves and improve over the next few months.

While it’s been a grim school year for athletics so far, our coaches, staff and athletes have worked hard to keep things as normal as possible. It is obviously quite a disappointment to not compete as usual, but the general mindset of Gaiter athletes tends to be that they are at least allowed to practice. Let’s all hope for the possibility of seeing our Bishop’s Gaiters compete in the new year.