CEUCC 2007 Preview- Open

Canadian Eastern University Ultimate Championships- 2007

The best college teams from Ontario and Quebec will meet in Ottawa Ontario this weekend. Given the costs of traveling to Vancouver for this year's national championships, this will be the biggest tourney of the year for many of the teams.

Bragging rights are on the line. Before I begin, the tournament schedule for the Open division is up on the UPA site.

Unfortunately, it looks like Waterloo has pulled out of the tournament, 3 days before the first day.
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University of Toronto- Torontula A

Past Results: 2006 National Champions

Key Players: Lowell "Secretary of Defence" Heppner, Peter Jamieson, Inian Moorthy, Scotty Nichols, Kirk Nylen, Tolya Vasilyev, Shawn Chua

Players to Watch: Marcius Extavour, Steven Tam, Adrian Yearwood

Notes: The champs last year were stacked with GOAT players and were deserved champs in a season that featured perhaps the deepest pool of legitimate teams in Canadian university memory. These GOAT players all helped lead Tula last season, and reports indicate many of these players will be back, and the team will be looking to repeat as Eastern Champs.

UPDATE: As seen in the comments section, One of the TULA team captains has said many of the GOAT players will be sitting out the tournament. Given the roll GOAT has been on this summer, these players may be resting for the UPA regionals. Priorities are a necessary evil sometimes.
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McGill University- McGill A

Past Results: 2006 National Runner Up -2nd Place

Key Players: Pat Dowler, Jeremy Shaki, Richard Diaz, Kevin Barford

Notes: After a dissapointing 2005 season, McGill resurrected as a national contender. They did it with great team defense. Anyone who played against them last season complained about their tight zone (A lot of people complained about their double teams as well, but there is a call for that). After two very different seasons, one wonders what level the McGill team will have this season.
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Queens University- Queens Mothership A

Past Results: 3rd/4th - 2006 Nationals

Key Players: Ernie Lin, Miles Wilson, Pat Mooney, Ryan Lee (Is he eligible?)

Notes: One of the true dynasties of Uni Ultimate in Canada. Green, Blaine, Melnyk, Hogel, Haig and many other greats have come through the program.

It is felt that this is a rare rebuilding year for the Mothership. Players like Alex Davis, Eric Lau and others have moved on. However, Queens has always recruited well from Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver programs, so perhaps the team will be as strong as ever. Experienced handler Mooney may not make it to Easterns, which would be a big blow.

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University of Western Ontario- Western Sharks

Past Results: 5th- 2006 Nationals

Key Players: Drew Watts, Andrew Higgins, Scott Hislop

Notes: As of August 2005, the number of players in the program numbered less than 10. In mere months the work of three people (Yep, I am proudly one along with Hassell and Carnes) led to two men's teams, strong UPA performances and a narrow playoff loss to eventual champs Toronto at CUCC 2006.

Predicted by many last year to challenge for a national title this year, the Sharks have a combination of youth and experience at their disposal, but have low numbers for both the A and B teams. Will both teams be able to hold up, and will the program be able to establish a long term legacy/culture with new leadership?


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University of Waterloo- Waterloo

Past Results: 5th- 2006 Nationals

Key Players: Mike Moloney, Sebastian Bell, Martin Day

Notes: A surprise finish for Waterloo at the 2006 championships. The team will rely heavily on Mike Moloney, who continues to develop as a game breaking d line player at the Men's comp level. An interesting note is the introduction of Yaacov Iland as coach. Iland is known for his role as a coed player, and had stints with Co-Ed team Fabulous Flying Flamingoes. Will the introduction of a coach pay dividends in the short and long term, or will it be an ill fit?
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Carleton University- Carleton Chess Club A

Past Results: 7th- 2006 Nationals

Key Players: Andy Corey, Kielan Way, Rick Griffin, Bryce Ring, Scott Westwell (Injured)

Notes: We've been waiting for the Chess Club breakthrough for years. Hype was buoyed by the additions of Billy Alexander and David Milks (Both Phoenix players who had experience with GOAT). They, along with Luke Phelan, are gone.

However, the depth of Chess Club might be better than ever. Andy Corey (GOAT) and Kielan Way (Phoenix) are excellent men's players who should dominate college play. Griffin, Ring, Allen Amos Binks, Brent Gerhert, Rey Artega, Thom Moloney and Devin McCabe are some of the many players who give the A team a lot of hope for a great finish @ CEUUC 2007.
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Guelph University- Guelph

Past Results: 8th-2006 Nationals

Key Players: Jeff Lindquist

Notes: No team in recent years has relied more heavily on one player than Guelph on Jeff Lindquist. This handler, who also plays for GOAT, carried the team with his throws and his strategic acumen. With his hucks and a tough zone, Guelph proved to be a smallish school that could win more games than they lose.

Is "Link" playing this year? The answer to that question will tell me a lot about their chances in this tournament. (UPDATE: Lindquist is reportedly out for the tournament)
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McMaster University- McMaster

Past Results: 9th- 2006 Nationals

Key Players: Ryan KeyFitz, Thompson McKnight, Arjun Ramanan

Notes: At the start of this decade, McMaster was a powerhouse challenger to perennial CEUUC champs Queens. Last year was definitely a down year in the cycle for this school, and it did not appear to have any Jon Hassell, Ouchterloney or Maley on the horizon.

I would expect this year's version to be an improvement, and I hope the club puts things in place to prevent such a downturn in future years.
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University of Ottawa- Ottawa Gee Gees

Past Nationals Results: 14th- 2006 CUUC

Key Players: Eric Morrow, Hagan Riglin, Craig Tai

Notes: Despite being lead by Colin "Kid" Green, Eric "The Show" Morrow and Ramsay Wright, the U of O team had a disappointing finish as the home team in last year's nationals. However, the past two seasons have shown great development within the program, and the team leaders hope for a finish in the 4-8 spots this season.

The Carleton program is still much deeper, but look for the Gee Gees to be more explosive on offense with a Huck monstero like Hagan Riglin, an unstoppable cutter in Eric Morrow, and the defensive prowess of Craig Thai.
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Nipissing University- Nipissing

Past Results:> 10th 2006 CUUC

Key Players: Adam Vaughan

Notes: Second year at nationals for the school from North Bay. Given the rich history of ultimate in North Bay, it only makes sense to have a university team. One can expect further growing pains for the team at this year's tourney, but they will bring a lot of athleticism and opponents won't enjoy playing them.
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Other Teams
-Sherbrooke
-Queens B
-Western B
-McGill B
-Toronto B
-Ottawa B