Issue 16, Volume 88 - The Lance

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The arts industry saw the loss of two very iconic figures last week, The Lance Arts Editor remembers them.

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Frost Week saw a collection of events bringing students to the CAW for a break from their new winter semester routine, check out The Lance’s photos.

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Inside the walls of Artcite and the Capitol Theatre, a great combination of artistic talents from the WSO and

Looking for an update on all your varsity and local sports? Look no further!

SoCA emerged.

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YOUR C AMPUS AND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER // JANUARY 21 2016 // VOL. #88 ISSUE 16 // UWINDSORLANCE.C A

UWindsor Music Competition Awards $500 Scholarship to Winning Student RHIANNONLOTZE The Lance Contributor __________________________ Nicknamed the “original Canadian Idol,” the Ianni Music Competition kicked off at the University of Windsor over the weekend. Held in the Heritage Room of Assumption Hall at the University of Windsor Jan. 17, the competition began at 2:30

woodwinds, Preston Leschyna using

future, she is going to continue singing

brass instruments, Lisette Gagnon as a

and will be part of a few student concerts

jazz/pop vocalist and Brandon Lefran-

and studio recitals.

cois as a jazz/pop instrumentalist. After two hours of competing, the winner of the scholarship was declared to be Angelica Sciacca. “I feel very fortunate to be a part of this competition and to be working with such talented people,” said Sciacca, who

While Sciacca was the only winner of the competition, many of the other competitors said they felt very fortunate to be able to compete. “It was unreal,” said Nadia Santoro, who performed on the piano. “I had such a great time… everybody put so much

p.m.. Seven music students performed

performed “The Bird of the Wilder-

to the best of their ability for those gath-

ness” by Edward Horsman. “I did not

ered in an attempt to win the Ron W.

think that, against such amazing people,

to be able to share music with all my col-

Ianni Memorial Scholarship.

I would be the one they chose at the end

leagues here.”

The competitors were Angelica Sciacca

of the day.”

For winning the competition, Sciacca

and Jacob Flynn singing, Nadia Santoro

Sciacca is a third year student at UWind-

will receive $500 dollars from the Ron

on piano, Cheyenne McLaughlin using

sor, focusing on the musical arts. In the

W. Ianni Memorial Scholarship.

hard work into this. It’s an absolute joy

Contestants of the Ianni Music Competition gather together following the end of the performances as they wait for the results to be announced. Angelica Sciacca ultimately won the competition. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze]

Angelica Sciacca comes down from the stage after winning the Ron W. Ianni Memorial Scholarship for her singing performance. Sciacca will receive $500 dollars to further her musical education and career. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze]


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JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

The Death of the Artist

HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________

The days were Jan. 10 and the 14 when the entertainment industry suffered a brutal one-two punch it wasn’t remotely expecting.

you were immediately inclined to pay extra attention, and all visual and audi-

tory senses were amplified. This was the kind of figure Bowie was. A man with such stature and artistic integrity, he was the giant in the industry who seemingly couldn’t be slain. Yet on Jan. 10, he lost a secret bout with cancer at the age of 69,

No one lives forever, yet the initial re-

and it was only a few days later when

ports of David Bowie’s death were

another giant left this world in the exact

something hard to grasp, and perhaps

same way.

something you didn’t want to believe.

Chances you may not have heard of

He was a musician who never let one song or album or even genre define him or his Ziggy Stardust persona. How often does a person have a legitimate greatest hits collection in the 1980s, only to keep creating work until his last

Alan Rickman by screen or stage name alone. But if you mention either Hans Gruber or Severus Snape, it’ll likely lead to a sudden realization, followed by a sense of sadness. It was at the age of 42 when Rickman got his big screen break

breath? If you were to compile a list of

by playing the villain in the original “Die

his greatest songs, it would be an ardu-

Hard,” quickly propelling him to being

ous process. You ask random people

one of the finest film actors of his time.

what their favorite Bowie song is, and

Between his role in “Die Hard” and his

it’s guaranteed you’d receive a wide vari-

later work in the entirety of the “Harry

ety of answers. He fearlessly veered into

Potter” franchise alone, he has brought

numerous genres, showing exemplary

compelling work both to past and pres-

versatility while maintaining an aura,

deadpan comedy, as shown in his roles

another beloved figure will leave this

ed. Bowie and Rickman were physical

ent generations. But of course, he was also a stage actor through and through,

in “Galaxy Quest” or “The Hitchhiker’s

world, and the feeling of sadness will

which was mysterious and magical.

embodiments of this idea, to where the

Guide to the Galaxy.” Rickman was the

return.

world truly is a bit less special without

Bowie also had a strong and selective

and one cherished among his peers and

actor’s actor. One who performed out of

In a way it’s strange as to how much

them.

the love for the craft.

stock we put on the deaths of celebrities.

film resume, with his most famous role

colleagues.

being the Goblin King in Jim Henson’s

There was his distinctly menacing voice,

“Labyrinth.” Oddly enough however,

the kind of poise, which dominates the

my mind goes back to “The Last Temp-

frame whenever the camera lens was

tation of Christ” where he played Pon-

squared upon him. There was also the

times you tend to forget despite their

tius Pilate. It’s a very small role admit-

admirable ability to seamlessly transition

tedly. But it showed by presence alone,

from compelling drama to wonderfully

It goes without saying both created work deserving to be celebrated, and some-

After all, chances are they weren’t remotely aware of our existence. But such is the case of being a notable artist. Art

This is why the passing was unfortunate; however being gone is not the same thing as being dead. They’ve left behind

has the capability to make significant

a body of work, which was come to im-

highly prolific and influential careers,

changes. It’s an outlet where perceptions

mortalize them as long as the Earth still

they were still human. Sooner or later

are broadened and dialogue is creat-

stands.

KYLIE TIFFIN

HANI YASSINE Arts Editor

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lance 2016 staff

BRETT HEDGES


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

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Alzheimer Society Fundraiser a Success

RHIANNONLOTZE The Lance Contributor __________________________ Windsorites used their knowledge to support other minds at the fifth annual Battle of the Brains Dinner and Trivia Challenge. The event was held to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Windsor-Essex County and was the biggest ever with over 90 teams participating and donating, more than three times the number of teams that participated in the first Battle of the Brains in 2012. Hosted at the Ciociaro Club, teams were treated to a buffet dinner before the competition began to fuel their brains in preparation for the trivia games about to ensue. This is the 5th year the event has been held in Windsor and also the 5th time Jack Ramieri has organized it. He’s seen it grow immensely since it’s beginning. “My goal for this year is to make sure ev-

Brainiac Five is a team that participated in the Battle of the Brains Trivia Challenge. This year was the fifth the challenge has take place in Windsor. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze] competition up to be the second biggest

attendance of hundreds of Windsorites.

think it’s for a good cause, and it’s a lot of

Some teams even dressed up for the

quiz competition in North America,

Some, like Julianna Biondo, have at-

fun,” said Biondo.

event, like Brainiac Five, who were

with the biggest being in Ottawa. Mov-

tended the event in the past and they

sure how we fit eight more tables in

ing forward, Ramieri would like to see

had so much fun they decided to come

here.”

the event grow even more.

back.

Over the years, Ramieri has built the

The competition was a success with the

“I think the foundation is wonderful, I

eryone has some laughs and some fun,” said Ramieri. “I’m hoping next year we break 100 tables although I’m not quite

This year was the second she participat-

dressed as superheroes.

ed in the competition and she attended

In the future, Ramieri hopes to grow to

with friends and coworkers in a team

the size of the live quiz competition in

they named “Suck It, Alex Trebek.”

Ottawa, which boasts over 140 teams.


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JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

A Celebration of Graduates and Partnerships HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________ On one side, you had a constant influx of people going in and out of the gallery. On the other, you had patrons steadily trickling through the double doors of the theatre. Both events were enough to stand tall on their own, only to be heightened as a pair. Dubbed as an evening of music and art, the anticipated Winter Celebration encompassed both Artcite Inc. and the Capitol Theatre on the suitably chilly evening of Jan. 16. The night was part of a grand collaboration between the School of Creative Arts, Artcite and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, ultimately leading to a singular purpose: celebrating the talents of more recent graduates. “Since I’m a professor and I work with graduates, it’s very important for me to see they actually continue working, and that makes me happy,” said Sigi Torinus, exhibit curator and SoCA Integrated Media professor. “When you get your degree, you don’t know if it’s really going to work. There’s no guarantee.” Kicking off the evening was the opening reception to “Nine,” the Artcite exhibit meant to showcase the visual works of nine MFA Alumni members. A variety of different images were on display, be it paintings, sculptures, some performance art or the manipulation of old photographs from 2008 graduate Amy Friend. “I’ve always been interested in vintage imagery, particularly family albums and the history of them,” Friend said, whose photos were part of a series called “Dare alla Luce,” which is loosely translated to “To bring to light.” “Instead of focusing on stories that I knew bits and pieces of, I decided to branch out and work with images I had no connections to.” Friend recently released a book, which serves as a culmination of her photographed series. An artist with a backlog, she’s now developing a new exhibit set to open in St. Catharines later in the month. When it comes to career challenges post-graduation, Friend is able to narrow it down to one word: tenacity. “You have to be tenacious, and understand that there will be successes and failures,” Friend said. “Being tenacious keeps you moving and helps produce more interesting work.” The exhibit is set to run until Feb. 27 at Artcite. One hour after the reception just next

door, another event was underway which had less to do with the visual senses and more to do with the auditory. Four alumni members from the university’s school of music were the headliners of the evening concert as they performed solo acts with the reinforcement of the Windsor Symphony. While the concert was only an hour, it was enough to highlight the talents of the graduates, which only strengthened the already strong relationship between the university and the WSO. “It’s a really great evening of partnerships and celebration of both the symphony, Artcite and our students,” said SoCA concert producer Trevor Pittman. The program was designed for the alumni to exercise their skills as best they can. Among the earlier performers was saxophonist Marc Funkenhauser, who performed “Libertango” from Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla. Described as fun and accessible, Funkenhauser said little time was spent on the rehearsal of the piece, as there’s a set expectation in being able to play it.

Greg Samek performs a solo act on the marimba, which concluded the Winter Celebration concert at the Capitol Theatre Jan. 16. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]

“You get enough time to go through it once, each piece, talk about it and kind of go through it again, spot check and that’s basically it,” Funkenhauser said. “At this level, when someone invites you, they pretty much expect you to show up and play well.” Following his studies, Funkenhauser reinforces the age-old story of wading through the difficulties of the music industry. What he found to really broaden his horizons was when he attended an intensive 10-day program in France where he didn’t realize the competition would be fiercer than initially anticipated. Like any career, he finds you have to constantly practice, be open to learning new things and employ new standards. Despite the hardships faced, he’s determined to keep to the trajectory. “When it comes to your career, it’s lucrative, it’s risky,” Funkenhauser said. “But I can’t imagine myself doing anything else as a career so I’m doing it the best I can.” The concert also featured a marimba performance from alumnus Greg Samek, as well as two soprano performances from Amelia Daigle and Erin Armstrong, who both performed solo and as a duet. With opera still being a relatively smaller aspect to the WSO’s repertoire, Armstrong is hoping to further its demand as she will be directing. “La Boheme,” set to occur on Jan. 30. The production, which served as the inspiration of the musical “Rent,” will be set as a concert opera, where the opera sets and costumes will be absent. But she

Amelia Daigle, a 2012 BMus graduate performs a mezzo-soprano performance at the Winter Celebration concert at the Captiol Theatre Jan. 16. [Photo by // Hani Yassine] hopes the baby steps taken will eventually lead to more grandiose productions. “I get to create where the picture is going to happen, but the imagery is going to have to happen in people’s minds because the orchestra will be on stage and typically that’s not how an opera is done,” Armstrong said. “We’re not at that level yet, but hopefully soon we will

be.” A 2007 graduate, Armstrong has climbed the ladder in her profession as she has performed in various operas on top of creating and directing the Music Moves Kids summer camp and children’s choir. Like several other alumni members, she is native to the Windsor-Essex region, and essentially found

community support to be one of the most important aspects for her, as it has remained undeterred since the start of her career. “The most incredible thing about this university and the group of professors and teachers is that they’re so supportive of me, which is such a gift,” Armstrong said.


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

5

Holistic Healing on the Rise RHIANNONLOTZE The Lance Contributor __________________________

The practice of holistic healing is an old

A Windsor business may have citizens

many consider to be more scientific.

looking into the practice of holistic heal-

However, it is just now growing in use.

ing as an alternative or supplement to

Considered to be a practice of healing

other health and well-being practices.

one and has typically been less popular than more mainstream practices, which

that focuses on the whole body, includ-

White Feather Holistic Arts held a work-

ing mental, emotional and spiritual

shop Jan. 12 and several Windsorites

aspects rather than just physical, many

attended. The workshop was designed

people are turning to holistic healing

to teach people about spirituality, partic-

or adding it to their daily routine. It can

ularly in the area of pendulums, which

come in the form of exercise, meditation

are small, symmetrical items thought to

or eating better. Holistic healing can also

help connect a person to their intuition.

include the use of spiritual ceremonies

Tracey Rogers taught the class, which

or spiritual items, such as pendulums.

included instructions on how to pick a

While many people stick to the ba-

pendulum, how to use it and the limita-

sics of exercise or meditation others

tions of pendulums. According to Rog-

are branching out and learning more

ers, pendulums and holistic healing in

in depth about the practice of holistic

general are becoming more widely used

healing. Jessica Marchillo is one of those

what it’s telling me and to get more focus

and are hugely beneficial.

people.

when I’m using it.”

“The benefits are endless,” said Rogers.

“I started becoming interested in energy

“It’s calmness and peace and acceptance.

work,” said Marchillo. Marchillo’s pen-

Marchillo also recommends that people

stream, it is even beginning to be paid

That’s probably one of the biggest things

dulum is orange and “marble-y” and

take more workshops like the pendu-

for by some governments. Recently, the

with holistic health. It’s being able to

she went to the workshop to learn more

lum workshop at White Feather.

American government spent three per

The next workshop at White Feather

come to a place where the mind stops

about it. “I want to learn how to control

“I just think people should be more

cent of its health budget on holistic/al-

Holistic Arts is called a Reiki Share and

racing.”

my pendulum more, to understand

open to energy because it’s everywhere,”

ternative healing.

will be held at the shop Jan. 19.

GRANTJONSSON The Lance Contributor __________________________

especially when the major shooting

and thirty-seven minutes but it earns

back for those that stay. Among those

DiCaprio’s acting work to justify a Best

location is Northern Canada. Many

your patience with a powerful story that

that volunteer is John Fitzgerald, played

Actor win at the Academy Awards this

reports were coming out of the film’s

is based on true events. DiCaprio plays

by Tom Hardy, an American on the ex-

year. While I believe some of DiCap-

early production days that the attempts

Hugh Glass, a frontiersman in the early

pedition that has disagreed with every

rio’s work to be a bit stronger, his efforts

to shoot in natural light were too diffi-

19th Century who is assisting a fur trad-

move made by the company this far. He

in “The Revenant” are without a doubt

cult and that many performers and crew

ing company with navigating their way

is a man that makes you want to grind

worthy of a reward. Most of the perfor-

members were frustrated throughout

through hostile Native territories. After

your teeth in response to. He is irritating

mance is a physical one and Leo dedi-

the length of the production. Regard-

getting attacked by natives and having to

and infuriating and Tom Hardy plays

cates himself fully to everything that this

abandon their ship to avoid further trag-

him to perfection causing you to hate

role demands of him and he sells it on

edies, the fur company troupe is forced

him at every turn. His performance

every level. He has always been watch-

to trek into the wild forests on foot. One

provides one of the most compelling

able, but his work here helps you iden-

morning, Hugh Glass is scouting out

movie villains in recent memory and is

tify with a film that does rely heavily

the immediate area when he gets at-

a large reason why this film succeeds in

on its own visual aesthetic. I applaud

tacked by a Grizzly bear. Mangled and

its narrative.

both DiCaprio and Director Iñárritu

on the edge of death, Glass is complete-

One of the big questions surrounding

for achieving what they have; I knew the

ly incapacitated. The fur company’s

this film is whether or not it will be

pairing was a just one and neither one

leader, Captain Andrew Henry played

enough of an exhibition of Leonardo

disappointed. See you at the Oscars Leo.

A workshop at White Feather Holistic Arts was held on Jan. 12 to teach Windsorites how to use pendulums to access their intuition. The use of holistic healing as a form of medicine is on the rise. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze] said Marchillo. Holistic healing is becoming so main-

Many doctors are also recommending various holistic practices as a way to improve overall health, including regular exercise and better diets.

Movie Review: The Revenant

Last year, Alejandro González Iñárritu took his film “Birdman” to the heights of Best Picture glory at the Academy Awards. That film was celebrated for its experimentation with linearity and editing, as well as the incredible performance provided by Michael Keaton. This year, Iñárritu seems to have done it again with the intense, gripping, and overall satisfying revenge epic “The Revenant”. Delivering the performance this time around is none other than Leonardo DiCaprio and the experimentation is with cinematography rather than editing. The production team set out to create the movie on screen using only natural light; a feat not easily achieved

less of the troubles however, the entire crew was able to put together a beautiful film with Cinematographer Emanuel Lubezki leading the charge. Each shot is immaculately planned and made all the more stunning from the use of natural light. You can feel the atmosphere of this world and that comes from shot composition and use of lighting; it is an absolutely astonishing feat that deserves to be witnessed on the big screen. The film is long clocking in at two hours

by Domhnall Gleeson, wants to have a couple men stay with Glass while the rest of the troupe presses on to get back to camp in order to resupply and come

4

5


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JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Justice at Work Conference Helps Students With Their Future

RHIANNONLOTZE The Lance Contributor __________________________

The University of Windsor hosted its eighth annual Justice at Work Career Conference last week, designed to help law and social justice students define their career and life goals within their

racism, particularly surrounding the

question and answer period, a career

area of carding which, in Toronto,

fair was held in the CAW building’s

means having police stop, question and

Ambassador Auditorium. The day was

document individuals though no crime

meant for students in the fields of law

or wrongdoing is typically being com-

and social justice to learn about different

mitted.

aspects of their fields and to potentially

“We have been successful in fighting

help them find a focus for their studies.

back,” said Cole about racism. “It’s get-

Many university students found this day

ting to a point where we can say to the

very helpful, including third year law

The conference kicked off Jan. 13 at nine

average person who has had this ex-

student Alisa Khan.

in the morning in the Ambassador Au-

perience, ‘’we hear you and we believe

ditorium at the CAW Centre and fea-

you and we are concerned about what

tured several guest speakers throughout

is happening to you and your commu-

the day.

nity.’”

The keynote speaker was Desmond

Cole’s most recent article, “The Skin I’m

about the same things show you that it is

Cole, a columnist for Toronto Life. He

In,” told the story of how he was carded

a possible career path, it’s empowering.”

performed a speech at 12 p.m. in Moot

by police in Toronto more than 50 times

Court of the Law building. Much of

“all because I’m black,” wrote Cole.

Cole’s speech focused on the topic of

Following Cole’s speech and a brief

fields of study.

“It’s good to have these conferences to remind you of why you originally came to law school,” said Khan. “Having people mentor you, having people who care

According to Khan, the day was very beneficial for more students than just her. Catherine Cameron listens to a speech performed by Desmond Cole during the University of Windsor’s Justice at Work Career Conference. The conference helped students find a focus for their studies. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze]

Pamphlets are spread out for attendees of the University of Windsor’s Justice at Work Career Conference Jan. 13. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze]

Desmond Cole performs a speech at the eighth annual Justice at Work Career Conference. His speech focused mainly on the topic of racism and police carding in Toronto. [Photo by // Rhiannon Lotze]


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

7

Piano Recital Held for First Class Honor Students HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________

Among the recipients of the afternoon

It was an afternoon of music, which

Ala performed the piece “Minstrels,”

served to celebrate young and exempla-

which she described as a light-hearted

ry talent.

affair.

The Windsor-Essex branch of the On-

“It’s a 20th century piece, and it’s a really

tario Registered Music Teachers Asso-

humorous fan piece,” Ala said. “It’s like

ciation held a First Class Honors piano

its own quirky comical character. It’s a

recital at the university’s School of Music

little bit dark and eccentric.”

Jan. 17. The one hour recital featured the

Both a piano and trumpet player, Ala

performances of 21 students who were

feels the piece will respond well with

recipients of the promising titles which

audiences, as there are enough charm-

came complete with awards and certif-

ing nuances to make a proper connec-

icates.

tion. Having performed with her school

“This recital is honoring the students

orchestra, this is far from the first time

who received First Class Honors, which is a mark of 80 or above in their conservatory examination last year,” said ORMTA Windsor-Essex president

was Josie Ala, a 10th grade student who attends Vincent Massey High School.

she’s played in front of an audience. Ultimately she’s glad to have been an honors recipient as she feels she’s made great progress to her overall playing.

Lynne Stenlund. “The Ontario Regis-

“It makes me feel proud that I’ve come

tered Music Teachers is an organiza-

this far with piano,” Ala said. “And that I

tion that tries to promote quality music

was able to achieve a high grade on the

teaching in the city.”

exam.”

Ashley Bi performs a piece at the First Class Honours piano recital, which was held at the School of Music Jan. 17. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]

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JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

The Love of Language HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________ Described as something akin to a pinball machine, it’s a series of loosely connected short stories which revel in nuclear and dysfunctional relationships in dark and shamelessly comic style. The title of the collection is “Are You Ready to Be Lucky?” written by short story writer, novelist and creative writing teacher Rosemary Nixon. The afternoon of Jan. 13 had Nixon on campus inside Alumni Hall’s McPherson Lounge, where she read excerpts from the book and articulated answers to questions asked by several creative writing students in the room. According to host and creative writing professor Nicole Markotich, the reading is to remind students creative writing should be enjoyed, and not feel like work. “A lot of people, especially if they’re not creative writers, think literature must be Rosemary Nixon performed a reading of “Are You Ready to be Lucky?” at Alumni Hall’s McPherson Lounge Jan. 13. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]

serious and that you have to find a deeper meaning,” Markotich said. “That has its value, but writing is supposed to be

“There’s such beauty and power in

really fun.”

language and that’s what makes a sto-

Nixon said she spends a lot of her time

ry work or not. People think it’s plot or

doing freelance editing and teaching,

character, I’m just so enamored with it

and attended a creative writing discus-

that when I get to use it on the page, it’s

sion aimed at teachers the day after the

like a spirituality,” Nixon said.

reading. But she also considers Windsor as a home away from home, as she was a writer in residence in the 2010-2011 year. “Are You Ready” is her most recent book to be released, which has been noted and proved to place pockets of wit and humor across some rather dark and even traumatic subject matter. “I think humor comes out of the absurdity of life, and life is funny when it’s absurd even though it’s also painful,” Nixon said. Writers write for varying reasons, be it

Nixon believes there’s a difference between writers and those who write. The former are those who write as some ultimate means to an end, while those who write are ones who look at the craft as an art form. The idea is to write and read out of love and enjoyment, and particularly something, which differs in style, as it can breathe new life into one’s vocabulary. While the journey won’t be easy by any stretch, Nixon ultimately implores students to shoot for the literal stars.

for personal improvement of the craft,

“Aim for the impossible,” Nixon said.

lucrative motivations, or both. What

“Don’t aim to be a little bit better or

retains Nixon’s determination in the art

competent. You won’t get there right

form can be boiled down to four words:

away, but aim high and pay attention to

the love of language.

language.”

The seats in Alumni Hall’s McPherson Lounge were quickly filled as students listened in on a reading from Rosemary Nixon Jan. 13. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

9

Walpole Panel Sheds Light on Unique Judicial System HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________

Island Justice Coordinator Donna Day.

It is an island reserve with a population

es Criminal Law and Access to Justice

of approximately 3,000 people, located

classes at the university, the aim of the

on a border region surrounded by On-

panel was to have students become

tario and Michigan.

more aware of the reserve and more

Walpole Island First Nation is a place largely unknown to most, but it is not

According to Sara Wharton, who teach-

knowledgeable of the court system’s ins and outs.

rendered inconsequential as a result. As

“We thought that it was important that

part of an ongoing pilot project initially

students learn more about this very

brought forth by the island’s chief of po-

unique judicial institution. What it is

lice, it has been the subject of a greater

trying to do, what challenges it’s facing,

picture: a call to action towards truth

and how might our future lawyers con-

and reconciliation, and building a solid

tribute to the project of reconciliation,”

foundation of trust for its indigenous

Wharton said.

inhabitants.

Ontario justice Austin finds the proj-

“I don’t think a lot of people know it ex-

ect part of her role to play in the act of

ists, and I don’t think a lot of people have

reconciliation. Upon speaking of the

started thinking about what the TRC and calls to action actually mean, and what’s going to happen with those calls to action,” said Valerie Waboose, a Walpole Island resident and Ianni Scholar in Residence. On Jan. 12, the law building’s Moot Court held a panel discussion, which provided insight towards Walpole Island’s unconventional court proceedings. The panelists were all members of legal counsel who possessed firsthand experience in the island’s proceedings. The speakers were Ontario court justice

island’s judiciary process, she noted a variety of differences from the traditional Ontario court, as it largely gears itself towards the values and traditions stationed among First Nations members. Part of this includes the logistics, and how the proceedings are done with people seated in a circle so everyone is placed on the same level. “There’s just a difference in the way we start our court and the way we run that court reflects our partnership and reflects what I would call an effort to really show mutual respect,” Austin said.

Roughly 40 law students and faculty members attend a panel discussion on Walpole Island’s judicial system at the law buidling’s moot court on Jan. 12. [Photo by // Hani Yassine] sion; for the place is only accessed by

“Generally speaking it’s an area of high

Nations people. For Austin, it’s not just

boat with no transit system and limit-

poverty, but it goes beyond poverty to

about closing a sad chapter in Canada’s

ed at best Internet functionality. Stone

social dysfunction,” Stone said. “We

history, but also forging new healing

echoed these sentiments, as he said the

work really hard to make the people

pathways. For Donna Day, it’s about ex-

island has an alarmingly low education

who are at the court understand that the

tending the call to action in hopes for a

rate, which is paired with high unem-

court is really there for them, and that

stronger collective in the present and for

ployment. Mistrust is the biggest chal-

our job is to make them a centerpiece.”

future generations.

lenge he often faces, as some of Walpole’s

Roughly 45 students and faculty mem-

“With truth and reconciliation, there

residents have anger directed towards

bers attended the panel where they

is a call to action but it isn’t a one-sided

the system and the province of Ontario

came ready with questions about the

call, it’s a call to all of us to do our part,

itself. As a result, he said it’s important to

system and the island itself. With the

work together and be a team,” Day said.

approach people in a different way, and

continuing efforts made towards build-

“There’s so much that we love within

Deborah Austin, indigenous defense

Austin also notes the island functions

despite the hurdles he remains deter-

ing a proper relationship, it all falls back

our community that we have so little,

lawyer Matthew Stone and Walpole

with a degree of isolation and regres-

mined in playing his part.

on truth and reconciliation for First

but it’s ours and we love it.”

RHIANNONLOTZE The Lance Contributor __________________________

An abstract is a summary of the con-

workshop helped students with general

The conference is a one-day event that

Students voted on the questions and the

tents of a paper although some students,

abstract writing, it was really meant to

will allow undergraduate students to

one with the most votes was the winner.

including Sarah Hansen didn’t know

prepare them for the upcoming UWill

present proposals and other creative

In 2015, the most popular question was

work to the public.

“do women who agree with society’s val-

Students interested in competing were

ues of thinness and beauty report more

Workshop Prepares Students for Conference

A workshop held at the University of

how to write one before the workshop.

Windsor to has taught students to write

“I really didn’t know how to write an ab-

abstracts for an upcoming conference.

stract at all,” said Hansen. “I didn’t know

The workshop, which focused on skills

how to write a proposal. It really helped

necessary to write abstracts and propos-

me out a lot.”

als for papers, including thesis papers,

The students who attended the confer-

was held in the Leddy Library last week

ence learned step-by-step what should

and over a dozen students were in attendance.

Discover

Undergraduate

Research

Conference. “The purpose of the conference is to try to get undergraduate students involved in conferences and submissions so when they apply to graduate school, they have something to put on their

able to submit proposals until Jan. 15. While the full conference will be held at the university in March, a competition was held in Leddy Library in late 2015.

appearance investment and higher body dissatisfaction?” It was submitted by Tanja Samardzic and could be the topic of a proposal to be presented at the full UWill Discover Conference.

resumes,” said Jason Horn, who taught

Called the Leddy Research Question

be included in an abstract and were

the workshop. “It’s kind of an experience

Competition, students were asked to

The conference itself will be held March

given examples to learn from. While the

thing.”

submit potential research questions.

29, 2016.


10 //

JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Public Info Session Brainstorms Ideas for w.a.v.e.s. 2016

HANIYASSINE Arts Editor __________________________

It’s a festival aiming to fuse local art, culture and technology within a city landmark. Windsor’s Artists, Visions, Energies and Sculptures, also known as w.a.v.e.s., is an event conjoined with Culture Days and was initially subjected to an overwhelming response when it debuted in Windsor Sculpture Park two years ago. As a result, the City of Windsor’s Recreation and Culture Development is beginning preparation for this year’s festival with the help of a public information session, which was held on the evening of Jan. 13 at the Arts Council Windsor Region. “It gives people an opportunity to think about the sculptures in the park in a different way,” said manager of Cultural Affairs Cathy Masterson. “There’s a huge creative network in the city and it’s an opportunity to a perspective on a piece that we can share and show to our community.” The forum touched on numerous planning aspects of the festival, from tips applying artists can employ, to the wide variety of artwork people can display during the two-day festival. The eligibil-

A layout of Windsor Sculpture Park was on display at the Artspeak Gallery, where a public information session for w.a.v.e.s. 2016 was held Jan. 13. [Photo by // Hani Yassine] it to be an organic museum absent of any walls. With the immense public demand made for the next festival, she believes it will become a bi-annual Culture Days staple. “We are really excited about this project.

ity concerns mainly lie in how the sub-

It’s amazing how even two years later,

mitted work ends up complementing

people in the community are still talking

the spirit and culture of the city it will be

about it, we still get e-mails asking when

shown in.

the next one’s happening,” Masterson

“It would be any project that is accepted that would complement the area and really reflect Windsor in some fashion

said. “The memory of this festival has been significant, and I think people will be excited for the next one.

as part of the future,” said Sculpture Park

The 2016 w.a.v.e.s. Festival will go from

Program Development Supervisor Ve-

Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 of this year from 4

ronica Samek.

p.m. to 11 p.m. The deadline for artist

Masterson said the community em-

applications is on Mar. 31 by 3 p.m. The

braced the first year of the festival with

applications and more information re-

open arms, and how the time and space

garding the festival can be found on the

specific structure of the event allowed

City of Windsor’s culture homepage.

Roughly a dozen people attended the public information session for w.a.v.e.s. 2016 at the ACWR’s Artspeak Gallery Jan. 13. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

11

Frost Week Takes The Chill Out of the Winter Semester Throughout the week of Jan. 11 to 15, a series of events were held by the UWSA for students to attend between classes as a way to have some fun at school. On Jan. 12, the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance hosted “Games by Day, Movie by Night” event in the CAW Commons, which had sports games in the CAW Commons from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. including ping pong tables, a football toss and mini golf. That night, students were treated to a free movie, Southpaw, at 7 p.m. UWindsor students were also invited to party at Tequila Bob’s Wednesday night as part of Frost Week, where you didn’t have to be a Roman to attend – all you had to do was wear a toga. The Toga Glowout was one of two events held Wednesday night. Dirty Bingo and Dirtier Bingo were also played in the Ambassador Auditorium in the CAW Centre from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. respectively. As for the rest of the week, Monday and Tuesday saw a petting zoo, a hypnotist performed on Thursday and another party was held at Tequila Bob’s on Friday. Students also had the opportunity to carpool to the North American International Auto Show and to go bowling. [Photos by / / Rhiannon Lotze]


12 //

JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Dream Climb Reaches For New Heights

HANIYASSINE Arts Editor _____________________________ When we enter a tall building, likely our first inclination is to use the elevator to get to the desired floor, usually undermining the benefits, which may come with climbing the stairs. An event over the weekend was looking to encourage people to do the climb, pairing intense physical activity with some charitable efforts. Between Jan. 16 and 17, the Windsor-Essex Hospitals Foundation put on the second annual Dream Climb inside the Chrysler Canada tower at the downtown riverfront. Available to both kids and adults, the climb consisted of going from the third floor of the building up until the 16th. By then, participants go back to the third floor on a separate stairwell, which would then create a loop where people can climb for as much as they’d like within a two-hour window. “One lady last year, she did 16 floors and this year she did 19, so you’re see-

Children come down the stairs and end their climb at the Dream Climb event Jan. 17. [Photo by // Hani Yassine]

ing people who are actually trying to set new personal records for themselves,”

than running,” Guitar said, who’s also a

goal he made with Vennattilli to get in

Jessica. He hopes and believes Dream

Medical Radiation Technologist.

shape, which partly consisted of a goal

Climb has the makings of being a con-

to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The idea

sistently annual event.

said Richard Vennattilli, Vice-President

being family and kid friendly.

of the Windsor-Essex Hospitals Foun-

Among the top finishers last year were

dation and co-founder of Dream Climb.

50-year old Larry Guitar, who had just

All event proceeds go towards the hos-

According to Vennattilli, eight loops

over 18 loops. He said those partici-

pital foundation’s neurosciences pro-

around the building is the equivalent to

pating should give it their all, but don’t

climbing Toronto’s CN Tower, and 12 loops is the same as climbing the Burj

overdo it, as the physical workout from climbing the stairs can be a greater de-

gram, which would serve to rehabilitate those who’ve suffered strokes, head or spinal cord injuries. The neurosciences

of Dream Climb wasn’t immediate, but developed over time as he was beginning to meet his personal goals and wanted to find a way to pair physicality with fundraising efforts.

“It was one of the paths that life takes you through,” Morassutti said. “You’re doing something for your own fitness, you have a physical mountain you want to

Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest building in

mand than realized.

the world. The event consisted of timed

“It’s a lot of legwork, pushing yourself up

co-founder Dante Morassutti, who

As of now, he does the climb along with

becomes something where you’re doing

runs and endurance portions, on top of

the stairs is a totally different workout

started the event out of a personal fitness

his wife, Marion, and Vennattilli’s wife

it for other people.”

CALEBWORKMAN News Editor ___________________________

Bill 8, effective as of Jan. 1, was created to

place to address student, employee and

The services going to the universities

The big things focused on with the om-

create accountability and transparency

other stakeholder concerns and the om-

included recommendations to improve

budsman issues are the complaints and

between the public and public sectors

budsman’s office is intended to be a last

they will all be dealt with accordingly

and MPPs. It was initially not intended

resort for individuals seeking assistance

government administration and accountability among many other things.

throughout the purview of the universi-

They will also deal with complaints;

ties across Ontario.

continuing to work with the provincial

however, a written notice will be sent to

For more information on Bill 8, visit

office to ensure that they are compliant

the university with a chance to respond

www.ontla.on.ca or contact John Cole-

with Bill 8.”

before any issues are made public.

man at john.coleman@uwindsor.ca.

program is helmed by Dream Climb

climb, you climb for yourself, and then it

Universities Under Scope in New Ombudsman Mandate

Universities across the province, including the University of Windsor, will

for schooling institutes but was opened

be checked by ombudsman offices of

up to school boards Sept. 1 and is now

Ontario to make suggestions and check

open to universities.

complaints against the university.

“The university has extensive systems in

on any matter that concerns them,” said Coleman. “Ontario universities will be


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

13

Lancer Women’s Volleyball Start Second Half With Sweep Of Waterloo Warriors BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________ The Lancer women’s volleyball team opened up 2016 with a strong performance on home court against an OUA west division rival this past weekend. A balanced Windsor offence led the lady Lancers to a 3-1 win over the Waterloo Warriors at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 15 with scores of 25-19, 25-18, 2729 and 26-24. With the win, the Lancers move to 6-4 on the season and currently occupy third place in the OUA west division standings. After a tightly contested match Windsor head coach Lucas Hodgson said he was just glad to take home the team’s sixth victory of the year, which matches the clubs entire win total from last season. “This was a big match and they dug everything on us,” said Hodgson. “We got a little complacent because we didn’t want to be the one to get dug again and it put us behind the eight-ball a little bit so we had to change our game plan. We went to a serve-blocking style and we got quite a few blocks near the end and didn’t give them any free points so that was huge.” Third year hitter Carleigh Bailey had a big game for Windsor with 12 kills and 16 digs to lead the offence. Middle blocker Emily McCloskey continued her steady production with 13 kills while Jade Ziebarth stepped up with 10 kills and 16 digs. Senior middle Shannon Dean registered nine kills. “Offensive balance was huge and to not let our middles hit every ball and give them a bit of a break, it showed in their blocking,” Hodgson said. “I believe they had five blocks each which is a huge jump. To let them not have to be so offensive and allowed our outsides to get a few points were a big difference.” The Warriors were led by starter Alyson Colpitts’s 15 kills, Krysten Bartmann led defensively registering a game-high 24 digs. After being off for almost two months, the Lancers were a little shaky to start the game but continued to push through to keep the game close. Dean put away multiple kills in the early going which allowed the Lancers to settle in and pull together to take control of the frame. The second started similar to the first as Windsor struggled to create a consistent offence, which allowed the visitors to take an early lead. Both teams showed off their great defensive skills with the set consisting of many long rallies and the score remaining close throughout. Windsor was able to pull ahead as Bailey took charge at the net with a total of five kills in the second set alone. In the third, Waterloo took control early and used a strong blocking scheme to slow down the Lancers offence early. Down 21-16 in the third set Windsor went on a 7-1 run highlighted by Holly

Clarke serving for four straight points after she was inserted into the game with the Lancers down 22-20. Windsor went up 23-22 and were on the cusp of a match victory before Waterloo rallied to tie the set 24-24. Waterloo then went ahead 26-25, which prompted Windsor’s Hodgson to call timeout and settle down his squad. Windsor went on to tie the set on a Melissa Smythe kill down the line but Waterloo eventually took the set 2927 to force a fourth. In the fourth set it was Ziebarth’s time to shine as she laid her body on the line defensively to keep the ball of the floor and chipped in with some timely kills. Both teams had their share of errors to keep the game close, but the Lancers prevailed with a big swing from McCloskey to secure the win in extra points 26-24. “If you look at the stats we didn’t do a lot of things wrong they just made us work for every point,” Hodgson said. “It was impressive on their part and I’m just glad our girls stuck with our plans and kept going.” Hodgson added it was nice to see his team gut out a win despite a few members of the Lancers feeling under the weather before, during and after the match. “We’ve got a couple people sick so we really didn’t want to go five sets,” Hodgson said. “We haven’t played a meaningful match in seven weeks but neither have they and they are playing for their playoff lives while we’re fighting to stay in the top three. They played with their hearts and they played really well but we just gutted it out.”

Carleigh Bailey of the Windsor Lancer women’s volleyball team returns serve as teammate Emily Durand looks on during OUA action at the St. Denis Centre against the Waterloo Warriors Jan.15. Bailey led the Lancers offence with 12 kills to go along with 16 digs defensively as Windsor defeated Waterloo 3-0 and improve their record to 6-4. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold]

The loss drops the Warriors record to 4-7 on the year and puts them in sixth. Despite the loss, Waterloo head coach Richard Eddy was optimistic about his team’s play to begin the second half of the regular season and their increased potential moving forward. “Windsor is a tough place to play, the fans get into it and good on them for that,” Eddy said. “I think they rattled us a bit in the first two sets but it was back and forth. I thought there were some calls that could have gone our way or the other way late in the fourth set. We would have liked to see it go five bit credit to Windsor for getting the job done.” Eddy believes there will be battles between the two clubs in the coming years after seeing the fight his team put up against Windsor. “We have some young players but I’m excited about the future,” Eddy said. “They are stepping into some roles they may not be ready for yet but maybe they are. We’re discovering that right now and we’re happy about the progress and the potential in the future.” The team will travel to St. Catharine’s to face the Brock Badgers Jan. 23 with first serve at 2 p.m. Windsor volleyball fans can watch the live-stream broadcast via OUA.tv.

Carleigh Bailey goes down to one knee to dig a Waterloo Warrior kill and pass up to Windsor’s front row during OUA women’s volleyball at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 15. The Lancers used a balanced offence led by Bailey to sweep the Warriors 3-0 and win their sixth game of the season, which equals last year’s season total in just their 10th match of 2015-2016. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold]


14 //

JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Sandven Posts Shut-Out Victory Over Ryerson Rams In Women’s Hockey BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________ The Lancer women’s hockey team earned their fourth straight victory with a convincing 5-0 victory over the Ryerson Rams at South Windsor Arena this past weekend. Ingrid Sandven stopped every one of the 24 shots the Rams sent her way to pick up the shutout between the pipes. The net-minder from Bergen, Norway now has two shutouts this season for Windsor. Sandven also picked up an assist on a Krystin Lawrence first period marker, which proved to be the game-winner just 2:41 into the contest. Erinn Noseworthy and Shawna Lesperance displayed once again why they’re one of the most dangerous in the league. The trio combined for four of Windsor’s five goals and seven points and have been the pulse to the Lancers offence this season. Jim Hunter made no secret about his plans to use the line extensively down the stretch in Windsor’s push to make the OUA playoffs.. “Their offence is kind of what we’ve been banking on and were going to continue to bank on,” Hunter said. “You don’t find players like that can score on a consistent basis often like that, there’s no question. Every team in the league knows if they are going to have to beat those three and that’s a tough task to do.” After Windsor took an early 2-0 lead in

the second period, the Lancers found themselves killing off three separate fiveon-three advantages for Ryerson. The Rams called timeout with 9:51 remaining to try and draw up a play to crack Sandven’s shield, but she would stand tall. Shortly after killing off the two-man advantage Leperance took the wind out of the Rams sails when she toe-dragged around a defender and slid it home for a 3-0 lead. Windsor would kill off another five-on-three before the end of the frame and eventually cruise to a 5-0 victory. “On a night like tonight you need your top penalty killer to be your goaltender and she was,” Hunter said. “When your goaltender is the best player on the ice on any given night you’ve got some good things ahead of you. She did an amazing job and she’s been on a roll here so we’re going to ride it.” After praising Sandven’s heroics, Hunter did not forget to add his thoughts on an area of improvement for Windsor as they move forward. “Our secondary scoring is what we need and it has to improve a bit. It’s starting to come back each game but we need to stay out of the penalty box,” Hunter said. “That’s been our nemesis and it was our nemesis (against Ryerson) but we had great goaltending. It didn’t hurt us but it very well could have and it could have been a completely different game if we continued to take penalties like that.” Two days late the Lancers unfortunately dropped a tightly-contested 5-4 contest

Krystin Lawrence of the Windsor Lancer women’s hockey team brings the puck up ice against the Ryerson Rams during OUA action at South Windsor Arena Jan. 15. Lawrence and Shawna Lesperance both registered three points on the night and along with linemate Erinn Noseworthy, the trio are among the lead scorers in the OUA. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold] to the Brock Badgers on the road in St. Catharine’s Jan. 17. Lesperance added two more goals to push her season total to 11 while captain Noseworthy scored her sixth of the season to give Windsor a 4-3 lead early in the third period. Brock’s Sophie Herbert responded for the home

team when she evened the game at 4-4 midway through the third period before Kimberley Brown notched her second and the eventual game-winner with 5:45 left in regulation. The weekend split now moves the

Lancers to 4-1-9-1 with 15 points on the season as they head into a pair of home games this coming weekend. First, the Nipissing Lakers invade South Windsor Arena Jan. 22 with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop before battling the Laurentian Voyageurs the next afternoon at 4 p.m.

Men’s Volleyball Fall To Warriors and Mustangs BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________ The Windsor Lancer men’s volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to the Waterloo Warriors and Western Mustangs as the OUA regular season resumed after nearly seven weeks off. First, the Lancers dropped a 3-0 (19-25, 17-25, 20-25) decision to the visiting Warriors at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 15. Waterloo took momentum in the opening set and never looked back in a clean sweep on the road. Two days later, Windsor stormed out to a 1-0 lead on the road against Western but was unable to sustain any consistent offence against the Mustangs the rest of the way and dropped the next three sets. The losses now put the young Lancer men’s squad at 3-9 with eight matches remaining in their regular season schedule. Windsor will now enter a bye week and head coach James Gravelle said while his team showed some flashes of

things that could help them win they had trouble sustaining any momentum long enough to snatch a win in either match. “We were inconsistent and we couldn’t take advantage after the first set [against Western],” said Gravelle. “They responded and it was a big match for both teams, the winner would put themselves in a good position going into the bye week and the loser gets put into a hole. They sensed that urgency and they dug deep after that first set.” The match against the Warriors began with Windsor struggling defensively as Waterloo came out of the gate with a strong blocking game which stifled the Lancer offence and led to a 25-19 win in the opening set. In the second, former Lancer Greg Simone was a key factor at the net for his new squad, which helped the visitors take the set 25-17 to take a commanding 2-0 lead. Windsor gained some momentum in the third going on a seven point run,

but then Waterloo seized control of the match by putting away 17 kills in the third set which allowed them to eventually pull away from the Lancers and take the set 25-20 and the match 3-0. Lancers rookie outside hitter Brad Gyemi led the offence with seven kills and three other Windsor players - Josh Edwards, Shawn Reaume and Milos Savic - all contributed with five kills a piece, but overall the Warriors had the better hitting percentage and outscored Windsor 39-22 in kills. The Waterloo offence was a balanced effort led by Simone who finished with 10 kills while Braden Cok had nine and Aidan Simone had eight, while also adding five service aces. Erich Woolley led the way for Waterloo defensively with 12 digs and setter Nikola Dimitrijevic dished out 34 assists in the victory. The Warriors then went on to defeat Western the following night and are now 5-8 on the season which puts them into a tie with the Nipissing Lakers for the seventh and final playoff spot in the

OUA conference. Two days later the Lancers braved the snowy conditions and traveled up the 401 to London for a match-up with Western. After Windsor outlasted Western in the first set, the Mustangs rallied to finally break free of a threematch losing streak as they pulled out a four set victory - 24-26, 25-15, 25-18, 25-19 - in an afternoon match at Alumni Hall Jan. 17, their first home victory since Nov. 14, 2015. After losing the first set Western head coach Jim Sage told Pam Bialik of westernmustangs.ca his team approached the rest of the match like it was do-ordie and the Mustangs played like their playoff lives depended on it. “I was worried my guys would react really negatively [to losing the first set],” Sage said. “But we talked about it, knew Windsor wouldn’t give up, and I thought that our composure after losing the first set was pretty good.” Mustangs outside hitter Bryn Ramsay

said getting the win felt real good since it was their first victory on home court since Nov. 14, 2015. “We’ve been on a bit of a losing streak lately, a few of our players are in a bit of a funk, and we haven’t won in a while – at home at least. Today was sort of the monkey off our back.” The win now gives Western’s record a boost at 6-6 after dropping a match to Waterloo the night prior, and pushed them into a tie with York for fifth place in the OUA while Windsor dropped to 10th place. Gravelle said his team and staff need to use the bye week to get better as they have dates against the McMaster Marauders and Guelph Gryphons at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 29 and 30. “McMaster is the class of our league, if not one of the best teams in the CIS so that’s going to be a really tough match,” Gravelle said. “Guelph has been hot and they are a veteran squad there so it doesn’t get any easier for us.”


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

15

Lancer Men’s Hockey Scratch Out One Point On Weekend Road Trip BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________ The Lancer men’s hockey team had a tough weekend on the road, dropping a pair of games to the Toronto Varsity Blues and Guelph Gryphons. First, head coach Kevin Hamlin and the Lancers were narrowly edged by the Varsity Blues 6-5 in a shoot-out before getting doubled-up on by Guelph the next night 6-3. Windsor earned one point on the weekend and currently sits in fifth place of the OUA west division standings. Despite results not going the way they had wished, Lancers forward Ryan Green said the team put themselves in a position to win. Against Toronto, Windsor had a goal disallowed in the extra frame the overtime period ended and the game went into a shoot-out which the hosts won 6-5. The next night, a three-goal burst from Guelph midway through the second prompted a Windsor comeback that fell short. “Going to OT gave us the point and having a goal called back on us was tough to swallow but we played well,” said Green. “Against Guelph we showed a lot of character in the third period and kept the game close but a couple bad bounces hurt and the score didn’t reflect the game. We played well and there were a lot of positives to take away especially against a very good Guelph team.” After the Lancers took a 2-1 lead over Toronto in the first period, the Blues exploded for three second period goals, including two on the power play, and

took a 4-3 advantage into the second intermission. Toronto’s Patrick Marsh scored 4:26 into the third period to make it 5-3 before Windsor responded with two goals from Kyle Hope and a shorthanded marker from defensemen Julian Luciani with 1:04 remaining in regulation which forced overtime. After Windsor had a goal disallowed in the extra frame the overtime period ended and the game went into a shoot-out with the hosts coming out with the win 6-5. The next evening, the Lancers trailed 4-1 heading into the third period but scored two goals on their first two shots of the frame to bring the score within one. Windsor out-shot Guelph 14-6 in the final period but Windsor was unable to score another past Gryphons goaltender Andrew D’Agustini as the Gryphons avenged a season-opening loss to the Lancers with a 6-3 victory. With little time in between games, Windsor now hosts the Laurier Golden Hawk in a very important mid-week match-up at South Windsor Arena Jan. 20. After squeaking out one of four points this past weekend, Lancers defensemen Chad Shepley said the two points at stake in the game ahead are crucial if they wish to climb the standings. “It’s that time of year to start getting hot and winning games as playoffs are quickly approaching,” Shepley said. “Despite having lost 2 games this weekend ... we still managed to get one point on the road and played six good periods of hockey. [Laurier]’s a huge game for us we need these two points at home.”

Windsor Lancers forward Steve Anthony skates up ice during OUA men’s hockey action at South Windsor Arena earlier this season. This past weekend the men’s squad earned one of a possible four points during a two-game road trip against the Toronto Varsity Blues and Guelph Gryphons. [Photo by // Gerry Marentette] The Lancers will then travel back to Toronto on the weekend for a single game against the Ryerson Rams at the Mattamy Athletic Centre with puck drop at 7:30 p.m Jan. 23. Although Windsor’s next five games are

against teams below them in the standings Green said he just hopes his team plays solid hockey as they look to make a push for the playoffs. “I try not to pay attention too much to the standings. This season especially it

seems like there have been a lot of upsets, and anybody can beat anybody,” said Green. “Obviously we want to be playing our best hockey going into playoffs and finishing these last remaining games we are taking a playoff style hockey in our approach.”

Women’s Basketball Topple Guelph and Algoma KIMELLIOT The Lance Contributor __________________________ In a weekend double-header, which tested their stamina and endurance, the Lancer women’s basketball team outlasted a pair of OUA competitors in the span of 24 hours. Head coach Chantal Vallee’s squad has now won their past three OUA games after dropping the Brock Badgers on the road in St. Catharine’s Jan.9. First, the Lancers were back on the road to battle the Central division’s Guelph Gryphons and came out with a 65­-49 victory Jan. 15. The next night Windsor was back on home court and flew by the Algoma Thunderbirds 91­-47 at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 16. The lady Lancers win on the road was a very physical match between teams with identical records prior to the contest. The game came down to a battle of will more than anything else and resulted in Windsor climbing to a record of 6­-3 and Guelph sliding to 5-­4..

The Windsor bigs Cheyanne Roger, Emily Prevost and Andrea Kiss in general really took it to the Gryphons up front from start to finish. While the trio accounted for 49 of the Lancers 65 points and 32 of their 48 rebounds, Guelph head coach Christin Diceknson singled out one in particular who impacted the game the most. “The main difference in the game was Roger,” Dickenson said. “She had eleven points and some clutch free throws in the first quarter alone.” Roger finished with a game high 20 points, 11 in the first quarter alone, and a season-high 16 rebounds to go along with five blocked shots. Roger’s main counterpart, Guelph’s Kate MacTavish, only scored nine points but also hauled down an impressive 12 rebounds. “It definitely was a big game and we had a few key players to stop,” Roger said. “We had a rocky start at the beginning of the season and we knew we also had to prove that we are still a pretty good team out here in the league. So we came out really strong and it was a great win.” The next night Windsor got some

strong play from their bench during a blowout against the winless Algoma Thunderbirds at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 16. The Lancers bench accounted for 56 of their 91 points and Roger said they did a really great job in front of the home crowd. “It was really nice to see them come off the bench and especially play good defense,” Roger said. “They are good players and they have a lot of skill so it was nice to see them show everyone on our home court. It also helps us as starters to know that we can give our all when we’re on the floor, and then come in and keep the tempo up.” Coach Chantal Vallee picked a good night indeed to showcase her bench depth, on a day when the NBA All­star challenge entourage came to town in celebration of the first NBA All-Star game in Canada. The event was highlighted by an appearance from former Toronto Raptors stand­out “Moe Pete”, Morris Peterson. Peterson, from nearby Flint, MI, won an NCAA national championship under Tom Izzo at Michigan State 19992000 and was in the field house sharing the spotlight with the five-time defend-

ing national champion Lancers Jan. 16. Figuring prominently in the reserve scoring were guards Chuot Angou with 11 points and two steals and Jahnae Gyles who finished with nine points and four steals. Rookie forward Alyssa Cerino also chipped in with eight points and four rebounds. Back­up guard Angou led all reserves in points but was modest in reflecting on her performance. “Individually I played alright,” Angou said. “As a rookie, I was used to standing out in high school, but at this level everyone is much more talented so I’m just trying to find myself as a player at this level. However as a team I feel we really stepped it up as we need to.” Gyles was very active defensively and said she has tried to make the most of every second of each opportunity coach Vallee has given her this season. “If you see my minutes I don’t play minutes,” said Gyles. “But when I’m out there I make sure I work hard especially on defense in rebounding and steals. When the coach puts me in there she needs to know I’m going to give it my all.”

Cerino has back up role for Windsor behind Roger and veteran Emily Prevost and said the game against Algoma was a really good experience. “We feed off of the starters energy and they started us off great,” said Cerino. “As rookies we come in and keep the game flowing so there energy needs to be at the top. Especially since its all mental.” As a mid-week battle against the fifthranked McMaster Mauraders looms shortly after playing a lower level competitor in the Thunderbirds Roger admitted it can be difficult to transition. “We prepare mentally for all games, but a bit more for important games such as this,” Roger said. “Our coaches have the same expectations for us to compete in every game at every level, no matter whether the team is at the top of the bottom.” The battle against the 7­-2 Mauraders - who sit alone at the top of the OUA central division - will take place at the Burridge Gynamsium in Hamilton Jan. 20. Live stats and live-stream coverage can be found online at OUA.tv.


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JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Lancers Men’s Basketball Edge Algoma To Snap Four-Game Skid KIMELLIOT The Lance Contributor __________________________ The Lancer men’s basketball team dropped a heart-breaking, buzzer-beater loss on the road to the Guelph Gryphons but battled back to snap a fourgame losing skid and push their record of 5­-5 this past weekend. After dropping an 81-80 nail-biter to the Guelph Grypons at the W. F. Mitchell Athletic Centre Jan. 15, the Lancers earned a solid 87-­80 victory over the pesky Algoma Thunderbirds at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 16. Statistically, Guelph’s late heroics against Windsor earned them a very key win against an upper-tier contender. Windsor’s victory at home is statistically relevant as well but was also a moral imperative in stopping the Lancers losing skid at four games. Windsor has now bumped up their win percentage at .500 which is currently good enough to keep them in first place in the OUA West, whereas a demoralizing loss in place of an expected win could have accelerated a downward trajectory mentally and otherwise. The timely spring board win also took place before 1,745 boisterous fans, some of which no doubt gathered in to the St. Denis to sneak a peak at 11-year NBA veteran Morris Peterson. “Moe Pete” was a member of coach Tom Izzo’a 1999-­200 Michigan State Spartans NCAA championship team and a beloved Toronto Raptors legend and was on hand as part of the NBA All­Star weekend skills challenge, which included a dunk contest, three-point shot contest and dribbling, passing contest held at half time. The latter two contests were won by former Lancer team MVP Khalid El-Gabar, which earned him an all expenses paid trip to the 2016 NBA All-Star game to be played in the Air Canada Centre Feb. 14. Having scored twenty three points and dishing out seven assist in the one-point loss to Guelph, Lancer guard Mike Rocca gained some personal redemption in Windsor’s win by hitting eight clutch free throws to hold off a late surge from Algoma. “I just keep telling the guys we’ve got to handle the adversity when things get tough and just keep our focus,” Rocca said. “Especially when teams go on runs like Algoma did in the first half, we can’t just hang our heads. Maybe we have to keep on finding ways to battle back, whether we win by two or 10 it doesn’t matter. I mean it’s hard on our bodies, but we just had to keep on battling, and our proud of our guys for pulling out the win.” Lancer interim head coach Ryan Steer got an equally balanced attack by his starters and got much more help from his bench in warding off the hometown

jitters. Four players once again scored in double-figure, this time lead by Alex Campbell’s game high 21 points. Campbell started to assert his scoring touch near the end of last season is having an authentic break-out year by averaging over 20 points per game which puts him among the top 10 scorers in the CIS. Campbell said being relied on to score is a new role but he learned to relish it after Windsor learned a torn labrum would keep Mitch Farrell out of the lineup this year and the departure of three Lancer greats from last season in Rotimi Osuntola, Evan Matthews and El Gabar. Points production aside, Cambpell said it was definitely a weight lifted to finally snap the four-game skid. “Hopefully this will give us some momentum for the game on [Feb. 20] against Mac,­it’s a big one,” said Campbell. “It’s also my fifth and last year of eligibility and so I intend to take care of things that I need to. Those two losses against Brock and Guelph are going to haunt me the rest of my life because they may affect our play­ -off ranking. But since Western lost a couple too, we’re still in first place in our division, so we’ll use this momentum and keep pushing.” Campell’s rookie albeit now-seasoned teammate Isiah Osborne, who has been lightening the load in the scoring department, poured in 20 points against Guelph and is averaging 15 points and six boards per game. Osborne said the confidence his coach and teammates have in him has helped his adjustment to the CIS-style of pay.

Windsor’s Marko Kovac faces up on an Algoma Thunderbird defender during OUA men’s basketball action at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 16. Windsor defeated Algoma 87-80 to move their record to 5-5 in the OUA. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold]

“Overall the league is much tougher then in high school because the guys are much bigger and stronger,” Osborne said. “But also because of all of the little things you must take care of to not get burned on like boxing out and getting back on defense. If you make one little mistake the other team capitalizes on it. But coach Ryan has a lot of confidence in me as do the guys, so when I get the ball I just attack the rim. But I basically just go off of the flow of the team and it’s being going good so far”. The all important win was mainly garner by the Lancers taking advantage of the Thunderbirds turnovers for a total of 25 points in the seven-point contest. Windsor outscored Algoma 36-20 on points in the paint, which resulted in a slightly higher overall shooting-percentage in field goals from inside and beyond three-point range. Marko Kovac backed Campbell with 17 points along with Osborne’s 15 and Tyler Persuade’s 12 point production. Windsor’s bench stepped up to aid their starter throughout the contest and dominated points of the bench with a 19-2 margin over the Thunderbirds. Answering back for Algoma upstarts was Andre Barber who hit four three-pointers en route to scoring 17 points with Sean Clendinning collecting

Windsor point guard Mike Rocca is pressed by an Algoma Thunderbirds defender during OUA men’s basketball action at the St. Denis Centre Jan. 16. Rocca and the Lancers defeated the Thunderbirds 87-80 to push their record to 5-5. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold] 16 and Nathan Riley adding 11 points. The Thunderbirds defeated Western the night before but now drop to 1-8 on the year after the seven-point defeat. Looking back on the season thus far and then forward to the match up against

the McMaster Marauders Jan. 20 on the road, Rocca said the game could very well determine the Lancers OUA play-­ off standing, which will see the top-12 teams based on an RPI standings. “We gotta get our percentage up. Yeah,

those games were tough and we had a hard schedule, but there is no excuse,” Rocca said. “We know where the top teams are and where we need to be to beat the top teams. So handling these game are really important especially rest the of the way.”


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

17

Windsor Express Drop Orangeville To Snap Two-Game Slide BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________

also dishing out four assists. Commons

The Windsor Express rode a hot of-

son but four-year veteran noted the

fensive hand early and scored a big win

admitted it was not the start the Express and their fans were hoping for this seaNBL Canada’s talent pool of players and

over the Orangeville A’s at the WFCU

coaches is the highest it has ever been.

Centre this past weekend to even their

“This league keeps getting better, team’s

NBL Canada regular season record at

have grown and advanced,” Commons

5-5.

said. “We haven’t had the easiest sched-

Following a two-game skid earlier in the

ule so for us to come home and get a win

week with close losses to the Moncton Miracles and Island Storm on consecutive nights, Windsor returned to the

in front of a home crowd is more motivation. I saw a lot of improvement and good changes made today.”

comfort of their home court and earned

Orangeville scored the opening basket

a decisive 111-95 victory against the Or-

of the game but Windsor snatched it

angeville A’s Jan. 17, who dropped to 2-5

away and never looked back after a 25-9

on the year.

run to start, which began with Tony

Express head coach Tony Jones admitted it was rather difficult to travel out east only to lose games, especially when they we were in a position to win both.

Bennett leading an active defense that capitalized on countless A’s turnovers. Windsor would lead by as many as 20 points in the opening frame capped off by the 6’11” center Ljubisa Vrcelj who

“It just puts a bitter taste in your mouth,”

tipped in an Express rebound as they

Jones said. “And then to travel all day

eventually took a comfortable 36-20

and have a 2 p.m. tip-off is difficult but

lead after 12 minutes of play.

the guys really responded.”

It was a good thing Windsor Police were

Jones said the Express knew exactly

not in the building because there would

what had prevented them from win-

have been a lot of witnesses who saw

ning during their setbacks and came out

Windsor register more than 10 steals

of the gate against the A’s pushing the

in the frame. Bennett, Commons and

pace defensively and limiting offensive

Brandon Robinson quickly turned

rebounds.

those steals into points for the Express

“Out of the five games we’ve lost we have been in a position to win each one

but the A’s battled back to cut the score to 57-46 at halftime.

if we had gotten a stop or grabbed the

Windsor’s offense was filled with some

rebound,” Jones said. “To our players

highlight-reel moments but the A’s were

credit they did a good job of limiting

only outscored by one as they entered

second and multiple opportunities and

the final frame trailing the Express 81-

that’s something that we need to do to be

69. During the final quarter, Windsor

successful. It’s still early and these guys

held a 20-plus point lead but at the final

are trying to find their niche and people

buzzer the final score was 111-95.

are still trying to understand their roles

Recently acquired 6’9” forward Paul

but being able to defend and rebound

Cooper saw some action off the bench

is something that has to be constant for

for Windsor in his first game since sign-

us to be successful and be on our way to

ing with the Express and Commons

another championship.”

believes the NBL Canada veteran will

He’s out of rhythm but we’re going to

and strength. He doesn’t get pushed

up to the Feb. 3 Clash at the Colosseum

Chris Commons was a statisticians

provide grit and toughness to the Ex-

expect him to be our enforcer. One of

around in the paint. He’s a welcome edi-

against the London Lightning, who cur-

press interior.

the things that hurt us out east was that

scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting

“Across the league all of big’s are talent-

down the stretch we are not the biggest

from the field to go along with grabbing

ed,” said Commons. “Paul brings us

team in the league. Sometimes you need

The Windsor Express now play four of

the WFCU centre for the first time this

nine rebounds, swiping five steals while

toughness and strength in the paint.

a Paul Cooper to bring some toughness

their next five games at home leading

season Jan. 22 with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

nightmare during this contest when he

Windsor Express forward Maurice Bolden slams home an alley-oop dunk against the Orangeville A’s during NBL Canada basketball action at the WFCU Centre Jan. 17. Bolden and the Express defeated Orangeville 111-95 to push their record to 5-5. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold]

tion and he is well needed.”

rently lead the Central division. Windsor will welcome the 6-2 Lightning to


18 //

JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Smith Leads The Pack For Lancers Track and Field At Bob Eubanks Invitational

BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________ Two more members of the Lancer track and field team automatically qualified for the CIS championships and Stefanie Smith smashed a school record in the women’s 3,000 meter run by 10 seconds at the Bob Eubanks Invitational this past weekend. Pole vaulter Rachael Wolfs and throw Sarah Mitton will both represent the Lancer women at the CIS meet after silver medal performances in their respective events but it was the third year distance runner Smith whose 9:26.59 performance won the women’s 3,000 meter event and broke a 21-year old Lancer team record previously set by Missy Cleary. Smith said the run was also a 12-second personal best performance which was really good for her confidence as the season progresses. “Coming into the race I wasn’t exactly sure what my fitness level was at so it was really good mentally to get in a strong effort and run well,” Smith said. “The last couple weeks have actually felt better than usual but I still know anything can happen on race day. I think a lot of it had

Stefanie Smith of the Windsor Lancers women’s track and field team broke a 21-year old record in the 3,000 metres run this weekend at the Bob Eubanks Invitiational meet hosted by Grand Valley State University in Allendale, MI. Smith’s record time of 9:26.59 beat the old record set by Missy McCleary in 1995 by more than 10 seconds. [Photo by // Edwin Tam]

to do with the race plan the coaches set

a time of 1:18.84. Bellemore said the

earned him third place with a height of

so it wasn’t like I took the whole year

Badley-Costello said she can focus on

out for me, they know me better than I

Lancers are a great group of athletes

4.95 meters and inches him closer to the

off. When I got back from France I had

fine-tuning her form in preparation for

know myself sometimes.”

who are always looking and willing to

5-metre mark. Women’s weight thrower

a bunch of kinks that I needed to work

the national championships hosted by

After Wolfs failed to vault 3.88 meters in

step up with big performances as the

Jordana Badley-Castello also captured a

out, but most of them were fixed in no

York University between Mar. 10 - 12.

Windsor last week on home turf at the

squad defends their CIS men’s team

bronze medal in a competitive field with

time.”

a toss of 17.38 meters.

“Due to the nature of the event, I will

Can-Am Classic, she pumped herself

championship from last season.

always have a bunch of things to work

up and pushed herself down the runway

Once she returned to form she was

“We have already had many personal

Last week at the St. Denis Centre, Bad-

on,” Badley-Costello said. “Every part of

to punch her ticket to nationals and hit

best performances and it is still very ear-

ley-Costello broke the Lancer women’s

highly confident in her ability to have a

a new indoor personal best of 3.91 me-

ly in the season,” said Bellemore. “The

record in the event and qualified for

ters. Mitton, a sophomore for the Lanc-

team spirit has been very good and

the CIS with a heave of 17.95 meters.

ers, threw 14.82 meters and qualified

everyone is really starting to find their

An injury kept Badley-Costello from

for CIS for her second time in as many

place in the team. It’s exciting to go to

competing indoors last season and she

technique, power, speed and strength

years with the program.

practice knowing everyone is working

admitted she was nervous coming back

over the summer with my coach back

just as hard as you to do for the team.”

into weight throw.

home,” Badley-Costello said. “I saw

Windsor’s other gold medal performance at the Grand Valley State Uni-

Chris Waugh followed up a personal

“I knew I’d do fine, I just didn’t know

versity complex came on the men’s side,

best performance last week at the Can-

that if be doing so well this early on,”

with a top performance from Corey

Am Classic with another big jump for

Badley-Costello said. “I threw hammer

Bellemore in the 600-meter run with

Windsor in the men’s pole vault which

while I was away and over the summer

big enough throw to qualify for CIS in her first meet of the season. “I did a lot of work on my footwork,

some of the numbers the other girls were throwing and I knew I should be right up there with them.” Now that she has hit the auto-standard,

the throw is so precise that it’ll take time to get them as ‘perfect’ as I possibly can ... or as close as I can get.” The Lancers track and field squads will now participate in two separate meets next week, both of which taking place in the United States. Windsor will visit the Don Hansen in Saginaw, MI Jan. 15 for a one-day meet, while the Findlay Classic takes place in Findlay, OH over a two-day stretch.


JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA //

Windsor Spitfires Join Forces With Big Brothers Big Sisters

Logan Brown of the Windsor Spitfires helps out a server during dinner hour at the Buffalo Wild Wings at Devonshire Mall Jan. 18. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Buffalo Wild Wings donated 15 percent of pre-taxed food sales to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Windsor Essex Foundation. Eight members of the Spitfires - Logan Brown, Christian Fischer, Brendan Lemieux, Cristiano DiGiacinto, Gabe Vilardi, Luke Boka, Cole Carter, Brad Latour and captain Patrick Sanvido helped great guests and serve food to help the cause. [Photo by // Brett Hedges]

Windsor Spitfires captain Patrick Sanvido poses with a young family during an appearance at the Devonshire Mall Buffalo Wild Wings Jan. 18. Sanvido and his fellow Spitfires donated their time to greet guests and serve food as B-Dubs kicked in 15 percent of all pretaxed food sales between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. [Photo by // Brett Hedges]

19

Windsor Spitfires mascot Bomber poses with a young child in attendance at the Devonshire Mall Buffalo Wild Wings Jan. 18. The Big Brothers Big Sisters Windsor Essex Foundation were the recipient of a fundraiser between the Windsor Spitfires were there from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. [Photo by // Brett Hedges]

Gabe Vilardi interacts with a group of young fans during an appearance at the Devonshire Mall Buffalo Wild Wings Jan. 18. Eight Spitfires donated their time in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Windsor Essex Foundation in an effort to help local children get the important guidance and friendship that can influence them forever. [Photo by // Brett Hedges]


20 //

JANUARY 21 2O16 • UWINDSORLANCE.CA

Windsor Spitfires Top Guns Have Team Poised For Deep Playoff Run BRETTHEDGES Sports Editor __________________________

real good pro with his habits. Having him play in front of these fans during a playoff run is going to be exciting.”

The OHL trade deadline has passed and the Windsor Spitfires are ready to make a push in their final 25 games of the regular season, and the early acquisitions of NHL draft picks Brendan Lemieux and Connor Chatham by general manager Warren Rychel has solidified a talented roster with aspirations of a long playoff run this season.

In the other huge trade for his team this season, Rychel made the call to the Flint Firebirds to bring in 2014 New Jersey devils draft pick Connor Chatham. With the addition of the 6’2”, 220 lbs. New Jersey Devils draft pick, the Spitfires have become the biggest and heaviest team in the OHL and are still evolving into a dangerous team with serious size, firepower, grit and structure.

After trading for the Winnipeg Jets product Brendan Lemieux from the Barrie Colts and putting him on a line with Christian Fischer and Logan Brown Dec. 10, the Spitfires have gone 9-4-1 and have worked their way back to being a CHL Top 10 honorable mention. In just over a month in Windsor, Lemieux has put up 13 goals with 14 assists and has established himself as the top gun among Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson’s firing squad and is the catalyst for a team that has quickly turned into a legitimate contender in the OHL Western Conference. Rychel told windsorspitfires.com it has been remarkable what Lemieux has done in Windsor and he is excited for the OHL playoffs. “He’s in the discussion for being the best left winger in the OHL and that includes the big boys too,” Rychel said. “He’s coming here to learn and go pro next year. The staff here will help him become a

This past week the Generals came down to Windsor just three days after dropping a 4-2 decision to the Spitfires on home ice in Oshawa. Windsor’s top line was active throughout the contest and combined for five points in a 2-1 victory. After both teams traded shots in the early going, an Oshawa penalty gave the Spitfires the opening they needed, and the team took no mercy as Lemieux snapped a pass from Fischer past Jeremy Brodeur and opened up the scoring. Fischer then scored his 21st of the year on the power play four minutes into the second to take a commanding 2-0 lead and churn out a 4-1 win over Oshawa in front of over 5,200 fans in attendance at the WFCU Centre. “Playing on a highly-skilled line with two guys who can move the puck really well, I have been able to put some pucks in the net thanks to them,” Lemieux said. “Our games really suit each other so it just came naturally. Rocky is a high-

Christian Fischer of the Windsor Spitfires tucks a rebound goal around Oshawa Generals Jeremy Brodeur on a second period power play goal in OHL action at the WFCU Centre Jan. 14. Fischer grabbed two points in a 4-1 win over the Generals which pushes his team-leading point total to 54, with 21 goals and 33 assists. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold] ly skilled coach who puts guys in the right position to have success and that’s what I wanted.” After the loss, Generals head coach Bob Jones, who spent seven years as an assistant under Bob Boughner and one sea-

son as head coach of the Spitfires, said the goal for his team going forward is to go out and play a consistent 60 minutes of hockey to the best our their ability. “With this young team we’re over matched at times,” Jones admitted. “Physically, [we have] strength issues. We do have a lot of young players. But we’re just trying to build in these young players confidence with ice time and we’re making sure they’re playing the right way most nights and let the chips fall as they may.” After suffering a second loss to Windsor within five days, the Generals then dropped a pair of contests to the Sarnia Sting over the weekend. Windsor then went on a rare Sunday road trip over the border to face-off against Saginaw Spirit at the Dow Event Center Jan. 17.

Windsor’s Aaron Luchuk tries to tuck the puck around Oshawa Generals goaltender Jeremy Brodeur during OHL action at the WFCU Centre Jan. 14. The Spitfires defeated the Generals 4-1 and remain in first place of the OHL’s west division with a record of 26-12-5 for 57 points and second place in the conference. [Photo by // Kevin Jarrold]

After trading away sniper Dylan Sadowey and defensemen Greg DiTomasso to the Colts, Saginaw needed their goaltender to steal a victory within the division and that’s exactly what they got from Evan Cormier. The 18-year old net-minder stopped all 29 Spitfires shots thrown his way in a 2-0 victory for the Spirit, which currently gives them a firm grip on the eighth seed in the OHL western conference.

Despite the shutout loss to the Spirit, there are many areas of offence to draw from if you are the Spitfires. Windsor’s leading scorer Fischer has quickly pushed himself past the 20-goal and 50-point plateau while five other Spits forwards have registered 35 points or more this season. The Spitfires also currently hold a fivepoint lead with two games in hand over the Sting in the OHL west division and will battle four times before season’s end. Up next for Windsor is a two-game battle with the newly formed Flint Firebirds. It will be the first game against his former club for Chatham, who was acquired by Spits general manager Warren Rychel Jan. 3 along with a second and fourthround draft pick in 2017 from the Firebirds for Luke Kirwan, who has scored one goal through six games with Flint. The two hockey clubs will take part in the second half of their home-andhome set with a meeting at the Dort Federal Event Center Jan. 23 before the Spitfires have the unlucky misfortune of traveling to Sault Ste. Marie throughout the night to battle the division rival Greyhounds on short rest at Essar Centre with a 2 p.m. puck drop.


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