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Sports
Sports SPORTS EDITOR MARK CASCAGNETTE sports@thecord.ca
STUDENT ATHLETES
Laurier varsity teams “excited” as they prepare for a return
MARK CASCAGNETTE
SPORTS EDITOR
Following the OUA’s announcement in late June, university sports will finally return to Ontario this fall. After nearly 500 days without competition, the Laurier Golden Hawks will return to the field for the first time since March 2020, as the men’s football team hosts the York Lions on September 18th.
Student athletes across both of Laurier’s campuses endured an incredibly challenging year last season as the OUA cancelled both fall and winter sport competition. Many athletes who are accustomed to weekly practices and live games, saw their routines disrupted without access to gyms and absent competition.
“Student-athletes last year really had the athlete part taken away from them,” men’s football coach, Michael Faulds said. Several Golden Hawk athletes found creative ways to continue their training last season and deferred their eligibility hopeful for a return to play in the fall.
While Laurier did see record accomplishments in academic achievement, with over 100 student-athletes receiving academic honours this past season, many of the varsity athletes are eager to return to their field of play.
“We are super excited. We just started to train, and it has been great already,” men’s basketball coach, Justin Serresse said.
“Our coaches, our players, everyone is excited,” Coach Faulds echoed.
Both Coach Serresse and Coach Faulds mention that practices and intensity for the upcoming season will pick up once September comes. The football team has had monthly OTA’s this summer and various strength and conditioning workouts throughout the past month as training camp quickly approaches, just three weeks away.
Most varsity Laurier teams will see vast changes to their sports’ structure and schedule this year as the OUA prioritized the safety of everyone involved. Both fall term and two-term sports will see a reduction in the number of games played as well as a schedule focused on regional travel.
The Golden Hawks Football team will play a six-game schedule with their longest trip being a short travel to London to face Western. Both men’s and women’s basketball team’s will play a 16-game schedule facing eight different opponents back-to-back throughout the year.
Soccer, hockey and rugby will also see changes to the usual structure as the OUA embarks on an unusual year.
Coach Serresse is not bothered by the changes to the schedule but rather excited for the chance to be back on the court.
“16 games is less than what we are used too, but it is not too bad. We were worried about 12 games or less then that,” he said. “It’s going to be interesting; it’s going to bring a new challenge and it’s going to make it fun,” he said.
After 18 months without sports, the OUA has remained committed to a return and has crafted a schedule reducing long travel and overnight stays. Much of their plan remains reliant on provincial health authorities and the province’s reopening plan as they continue to endorse vaccinations, banking on a safe return to sport this fall.
In Laurier’s release, director of athletics and recreation, Peter Baxter commended the Golden Hawk student-athlete population for their “grit, determination and training,” throughout the course of last year’s cancellation.
As Coach Faulds acknowledges, there will certainly be “growing pains after a long 18 months without competition and a transition back to the fast-pace of university sport.”
With the fall term quickly approaching, some questions remain with the OUA’s sports return. It still remains to be seen if fans will be allowed to attend varsity games, as Laurier has not made an announcement. Across the OUA there has been little confirmation about fans and if they will be able to attend the week 1 slate of OUA football games just over a month away.
Vaccine mandates were also a hot topic across the OUA, with Laurier joining several schools announcing the requirement before mid-August. The conference just recently mandated vaccines for all student-athletes from their member schools. While some questions still remain, Laurier’s teams across both of it’s campuses remain eager for a return to play this upcoming fall.
Our coaches, our players, everyone is excited.
-Michael Faulds, Laurier football coach
-Michael Faulds, Laurier football coach It’s going to be interesting: it’s going to bring a new challenge and it’s going to make it fun.
-Justin Seresse, Laurier basketball coach
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
DARIEN FUNK/LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER
MARK CASCAGNETTE
SPORTS EDITOR
Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of athletics and recreation announced late last week that all student athletes who wish to compete in Golden Hawk sports will have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The move comes based on the recommendation by Ontario University Athletics and endorsements from both regional health departments, Brant County as well as the Region of Waterloo’s.
The top doctor of both Brantford and Waterloo’s health departments, Dr. Malcolm Lock and Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang endorsed the policy enacted by the university.
Laurier had already mandated vaccines for all students living in residence and joined several other OUA schools in implementing that requirement on student-athletes.
The University of Toronto, Brock, and Guelph among others have also made the decision to require immunization for sports competition. While the OUA announced last week that all member schools will require their student-athletes to be vaccinated to compete
Laurier will require all student-athletes and trainers to have two doses of a vaccine, be required to wait 14 days after the second dose, before they can compete in competition. The university is asking that all students receive their first dose by Aug. 16 and be fully vaccinated no later than Sept. 30.
“The vaccines have shown to work, and the school is listening to recommendations and prioritizing safety for the upcoming season,” men’s football coach, Michael Faulds said.
The school is strongly encouraging all student-athletes to get vaccinated as soon as possible so they can arrive for training camps, beginning in less then a month for men’s football as well as women’s and men’s Rugby and soccer.
The move is enacted by Laurier to emphasize the safety of their athletes and in order to minimize challenges that may arise in the upcoming fall season and the OUA’s return to play. The school announced that non-vaccinated student-athletes will be able to train with their respective teams but are barred from travelling or competing in any sport events.
Laurier university will help to facilitate access for student-athletes to receive the vaccine as they currently operate immunization clinics on both of their campuses.
Coach Faulds spoke to me on the day Laurier made the announcement and pointed to the policies that have been enacted by several other businesses across the world as well as the NFL. Stating that vaccines requirements may be a key component to avoiding cancellations and embarking on a safe and successful season.
Given the concerns with university sport such as far travel, overnight stays and close contact in the locker room, Laurier is hoping to minimize the risks of serious illness and disruption to the schedule with the implementation of this policy.
The OUA released a press statement earlier this week endorsing the decisions by many of the OUA schools who have made an announcement.
“The OUA commends the mandate that several of our universities have established with regards to their vaccine approach,” President and CEO of the OUA, Gord Grace said in a press release on their website.
“We fully endorse school’s decisions to make vaccinations mandatory for student-athletes,” the press release read.
Laurier will of course recognize exemptions protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code, asking all student-athletes to submit an accommodation form if they are ineligible to take the vaccination.
Starting quarterback excited for upcoming season
MARK CASCAGNETTE
SPORTS EDITOR
Nearly 23 months and over 700 days since the last time the Golden Hawks football team saw the field, veteran quarterback, Connor Carusello is “pumped” for the regular season to begin.
“I’m pumped man. It’s actually crazy the amount of emotions I’ve been through,” Carusello said.
With training camp staring this past week and the opener against the York Lions only two weeks away, Carusello shares the excitement of his entire team as they prepare for a return to the gridiron after a lost season.
“I think everyone in the locker room has the same feeling of getting started,” Carusello said.
“After a year without football, we are extremely excited to get back,” head coach Michael Faulds echoed.
Following the cancellation of the 2020 Ontario University Athletics football season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, each team in the OUA will have to adjust for a challenging yet unique upcoming season.
The OUA and it’s 12 member coaches met regularly throughout the pandemic and were able to agree on a reduced schedule prioritizing regional travel.
After leading a top three offense in 2019, quarterback, Connor Carusello will return for the Golden Hawks this year, playing in his senior season and slated as the team’s starting quarterback.
With several changes on the coaching staff, offensive and defensive stars selected in the CFL Draft and losses to eligibility due to the cancellation last season, the Golden Hawks will enter the upcoming year with many fresh faces in the football locker room. 2019 leading rusher, Levondre Gordon and leading receiver, Brentyn Hall are no longer with the team, while core players in Bryce Bell, Brad Cowan and Sam Acheampong have moved onto a professional career in the CFL.
Fourth-year quarterback, Carusello is not worried about the youth in the locker room and is optimistic the team will minimize the growing pains. Carusello points to a strong balance in the roster make-up and an advantageous familiarity with new offensive coordinator Todd Galloway.
“We have some key guys on defense coming back and Ente [Eguavoen] coming back. I feel that the veteran guys will help lead the way for the young guys to own their role,” Carusello said.
Coach Faulds hired Laurier alumni, Todd Galloway as their new offensive coordinator a couple of months before the pandemic started. Bringing nearly two decades of USPORTS coaching experience, Galloway led successful offenses with the Guelph Gryphons and McMaster Marauders before returning to the purple and gold.
“I didn’t know Coach Galloway too much before he joined us… it took about ten minutes through my first meeting to gain a cray amount of respect for that guy,” Carusello said.
“The stuff he does behind the scenes to develop his offense is crazy,” he continued.
While acknowledging a year without football, both Coach Faulds and Carusello believe that the pandemic was a blessing in disguise as the team was able to learn and implement the new playbook that Galloway was looking to install.
With a reduced schedule this year featuring only six games compared to the usual slate of eight games, the Golden Hawks know that they will need to start the season strong.
“We’ve been fortunate this year. [Galloway] came in early and we got to practice our plays and learn the playbook super early. We got everyone familiarized with the playbook,” Carusello said.
“The timing of the pandemic wasn’t bad. We would have been rushed to implement the new system and playbook. Having an extra year has certainly been beneficial with bringing in Todd Galloway,” Coach Faulds said.
After their second consecutive Yates Cup appearance in 2017, the Golden Hawks had back-to-back 4-4 seasons in 2018 and 2019, missing the playoffs both seasons. Laurier will rely on Carusello and some key defensive returns as they set their sights towards a return to the post-season this upcoming year.
With a tough schedule and several new pieces to the coaching staff and roster, Carusello will take on an increased leadership role this upcoming season. He was one of six Laurier Golden Hawk players to be selected to the East-West bowl showcase this past spring. A game intended for USPORTS athletes to display their talent for the CFL, however cancelled this past year due to the pandemic.
Carusello appreciated the recognition in being named to the roster but was disappointed that the game could not take place. “It sucks, because I would have liked to showcase some of my talent in the game itself,” Carusello said.
Due to his performance in 2018 and specifically in 2019, leading a dynamic Golden Hawk offense, Carusello has been nominated for the OUA cover vote. The conference voting competition started earlier this week and will continue into next week, with Carusello currently in the second-round semi-finals at the time this is written.
“I got a bunch of support from back home which was great to see,” Carusello said. “I appreciate all of the votes and support.”
Laurier fans can vote on the OUA social media page and will surely see the post promoted by all of Laurier football’s socials throughout this upcoming week.
With OUA sports finally returning and the home opener against York quickly approaching, Carusello enters the season with complete optimism.
“Everyone in the locker room is working towards a winning mindset,” he said.
Asked what would deem this football year a success, Carusello said, “We are going in with a mindset that we want to put up points and that we want to win every football game we play in.”
Training camp for Coach Faulds and the men’s football team has already begun, with the home opener against the York Lions kicking off Sept. 18 at 1:00 P.M.
TIM HARRISON/PHOTO EDITOR
HOCKEY
FILE PHOTO/DARIEN FUNK Wilfrid Laurier’s return to the ice
MARK CASCAGNETTE
SPORTS EDITOR Puhalski said.
Coaches across the Ontario University Athletics conference will have to adjust to a unique season this year as their teams prepare to take the ice for the first time in over 20 months.
“It’ll be an adjustment. It’s been so long since a lot of the guys have done consistent skating. We just got to ease ourselves into it and gradually increase our workload,” Puhalski said. The Golden Hawks last played on Feb. 16, 2020, when their season came to an end during their firstround playoff matchup with the Guelph Gryphons. Since then, the Golden Hawks have brought on over 15 players through two recruiting classes and have lost a large share of their most productive players due to graduation.
Their top three scorers in 2019; Anthony Conti, Danny Hanlon and Kyle Jenkins have left the team as has captain Will Cook, who graduated after the 2019 season. The Golden Hawks signed 11 recruits last season and announced six additions this past summer to make up their roster for the upcoming season.
“I’m really looking forward to all of us getting together and starting the process of practicing again,” Coach Puhalski said. “I know the guys are in good shape and are really excited to get going,” he continued.
Coach Puhalski is not worried about the “aches and pains” that will come with the fresh faces and a return to play as he knows teams across the conference are on a level playing field, dealing with similar issues.
“A lot of teams will be in similar situations where half of their teams are basically brand new,” Puhalski said.
“We will rely on our veteran guys to provide some guidance. We got some great leadership from our returning players and their committed to leading in the right way,” he continued. Veterans such as Anthony Sorrentino, Jeremy Pullara and goaltender, Tyler Fassl who will enter his senior season are likely to be leaned upon for the upcoming hockey season.
The OUA and their member universities were able to agree on a return to play structure this past summer, releasing a unique hockey schedule. Laurier avoids a Ottawa or Montreal trip, with their furthest travel being a weekend trip to Windsor for two games after the Christmas break. The conference also restructured their divisions in order to prioritize regional travel and competition.
While the season will look different for all OUA teams, Coach Puhalski remains optimistic, focusing on the bigger picture of OUA sports being back.
“It’s not ideal for anybody but it is what it is. The big picture is that we are able to get on the ice and play some games,” Puhalski said. “I think that in itself is what it is all about regardless of the opponent,” he continued.
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