Sports

<p>St. Thomas women&#8217;s rugby came just short of a championship win on Saturday after losing against Mount Allison in the final minute of overtime. Playing in five inches of snow, the Tommies led most of the game but ultimately fell short 10-5 in Sackville. Both teams were 1-1 against each other during the regular season. [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The Tommies faced their toughest challenge of the season so far, and they didn’t disappoint. The St. Thomas women&#8217;s basketball team took this year’s first regular season matchup against the Holland College Hurricanes on Saturday, winning 87-79. Over the past few years the two teams have developed a rivalry. They have battled for the ACAA championship [&hellip;]</p>

<p>When she speaks, you can tell she is from a different country. Her lack of the words “the” and “are” give it away. But when she skates, she’s in sync with everyone on the ice. It’s as though she speaks two languages: Russian and hockey. Marina Sergina, 28, is from the small village Poliarnue Zori, on [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas men’s basketball team had their work cut out for them when they took on the undefeated Holland College Hurricanes this weekend. The Tommies were also undefeated, but that came to an end Saturday as Holland College delivered a dominating 106-61 win for STU. After the first quarter it looked like the Tommies [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas women&#8217;s rugby team will be playing in the championship game against Mount Allison University after defeating the Dalhousie AC Rams 57-5 in Thursday&#8217;s semi-final. Graduating player Jaycee Bihun said if they win, “it would send a message that STU woman&#8217;s rugby is still a competitive team that St. Thomas and ourselves can [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas men’s volleyball team started off their season where they left off: dominating the ACAA. In a tip-off tournament hosted by Holland College on Oct. 18-19, the Tommies won 10 of 11 sets. “We established a lot of places that need a lot of work,” said Tommies head coach Francis Duguay. “We have a [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas women’s volleyball team has eight rookies, but head coach Don McKay has high hopes. “It’s going to be really exciting — very close matches I think, all year,” said McKay, who’s entering his second year as the team’s coach. Judging from what he saw at an ACAA tip-off tournament in mid-October, he [&hellip;]</p>

<p>It’s about that time of the year where my grades take a hit. I — all-of-a-sudden — have more important tasks than reading Moby Dick or writing an article about a CBC star’s fall from grace. I have a new job, and it takes priority. I have fantasy teams to run. Don’t laugh. It’s important. [&hellip;]</p>

<p>When Michelle Spavold injured her back midway through her cheerleading career, she tried not to let it affect her spirit. Now, she is paying the price. “Every day, I wake up and feel like I need a cane in the morning,” said Spavold. Spavold kept cheering until her body couldn’t keep up anymore. She admits [&hellip;]</p>

<p>After a year of turmoil, Alex Coffin had to seriously consider if his job as the St. Thomas University track and field and cross country coach was going to be a good fit. “If we had a poor climate for cross country this fall, then potentially my style is not conducive to the STU team,” [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The Tommies made a statement on Sunday: they are here to play. The St. Thomas men’s basketball team started off their season on Saturday against the University of King’s College Blue Devils.  The Tommies won 85-70. Will Barber was the high point man for the Tommies, netting 30 points in his first regular season game at St. Thomas. [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas women&#8217;s basketball team started off their season strong with two home wins, while Kelly Vass was firing on all cylinders. The first came against the University of King’s College Blue Devils, where they won 88-71. The Tommies had no problem with their offense, with five players scoring in double figures. Vass scored 18 points [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Former Tommy hockey captain wants athletes to think of their brains before pain. Matt Eagles suffered his first major concussion against Acadia. The former STU men’s hockey player was “basically unconscious.” He had trouble processing anything after the game. This was the first of three concussions in a span of 10 months that led this [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Kristi Allain grew up in Peterborough, Ont. – home of the Petes. It’s a place where if you’re a junior hockey player, you’re a town celebrity. “These players are widely celebrated,” she said. “They’re recognized on the street. People ask for autographs. It’s more of an identity than a career.” Growing up, Allain never played [&hellip;]</p>

<p>The St. Thomas University Tommies needed to give it their all to take down the league-leading Mount Saint Vincent University&#8217;s Mystics, but in the end, it wasn&#8217;t enough. Danielle Young of the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics scored a hat trick to lead the Mystics over the host Tommies in Saturday’s women’s soccer semi-final at BMO [&hellip;]</p>

<p>With 10 new players this season, the St. Thomas University women’s hockey team knew there was going to be some learning before they would be consistent. “It will come with more experience,” said team captain Kelty Apperson. “We have a lot of new girls so they are just getting used to the league.” The wake-up [&hellip;]</p>

<p>St. Thomas women&#8217;s hockey took on a battle well outside the rink this past week with a fight against breast cancer. Their first annual “Think Pink in the Rink” game took place on their home opener against Université de Moncton after a week of fund-raising. The Tommies have reached the $1,000 mark and took to [&hellip;]</p>

<p>In 2012, the men’s rugby team hit at an all-time low. They hadn’t won a game in five years and were suspended after a rookie party violated the school’s athletic code of conduct. But on Friday, the team walked away with a 20-7 upset win over Mount Allison, a three-game winning streak and a final [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Twenty-five St. Thomas student athletes have been named Academic All-Canadians by the CIS. The awards are presented every year to student athletes competing in the CIS who achieve an A-minus, or 80 per cent, cumulative average or higher. “Balancing athletics with school can be difficult when you&#8217;re running from classes to practices and games, so [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Pat Powers isn’t making any predictions, but he’s optimistic an infusion of new players will make a difference in the program. The men’s hockey coach has brought in 14 new players this year to help the team push towards a playoff spot. “I was looking for recruits that had played at the highest amateur level [&hellip;]</p>