Canadian Eastern University Ultimate Championships- 2007
I would love to have an extensive preview of the ladies, but my sources for the girls are few and far between outside of Ottawa and London. The schedule is here. Here's a condensed version of the teams:
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University of Ottawa- Lady Gee-Gees Ultimate
Past Results: 2006 National Champions
Key Players: Anne Mercier, Shannon Becker, Kate Crump, Carrie Lugg, Sonia Komenda
Players to Watch: Sam Morris, Chantal Mayotte, Jenn Ried, Amaris Rimay
Notes: Unlike the Ottawa men, the ladies have the deepest roster of all teams attending the tournament. The defending champs are stacked with UPA level talent, led by Mercier, Becker, and Komenda . To paraphrase one insider: "How many women university teams in Canada can claim to be 12 + girls deep with players that could start anywhere else?". It's even more impressive when you consider the state of the team 4 years ago. (It wasn't good folks).
Anything short of a repeat title will be a disappointment. The real question is whether Ottawa will go to CUUC in Vancouver, skip it for UPA College Series in the spring, or do both.
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McGill University- McGill Martlets
Past Results- 2nd, CUUC 2006
Key Players: Kirsten Niles, Breanne MaCook, Jenny Tibiero
Notes: McGill produced many strong individual players in this decade that have gone on to play for Storm, Stella, Lotus or the Capitals in CUPA/UPA action, but last year's team almost claimed national glory, falling short to Ottawa in the final. No Show Dogg, No Hot Marion or Shanna Spring, no problem!
Expect McGill to face competition from Queens, Toronto and Western for a spot in the final.
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Queens University- Queens
Past Results- 3rd- 2006 CUUC
Key Players: Jenna McBride
Notes:
Lead by coach Jackie Cockburn, Queens will look to reestablish themselves as a top 2 team in the women's division.
Long a great team with great players, Queens has lost players such as Taila Hartley and Michelle Taggart to graduation. This weekend will show if the new recruits are bigger and better than ever.
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University of Western Ontario- Mustang Sally
Past Results: 5th, 2007 CUUC
Key Players: Tiffany Lin, Andrea Cheng, Erin Dahlke
Notes: The infusion of Team Fisher Price players Cheng and Lin helped the team to a surprising finish in 2006. However, there was a feeling that the team had much more room to grow. Another year for the other players (whose experience before coming to Western is minimal) can only help.
If the team can incorporate more structure in their offense, Lin's throws, Cheng's speed, and Dahlke's aggressive dominance in the endzone will give them a chance to crack top 4.
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Other Teams
Torontula- Always capable of breaking out. Capitals stalwart Lexi Marsh is running things
Carleton- Suffering from numbers and depth on an annual basis. Lost star organizer Erin Pleet.
Guelph- Known as one of the glitziest (flashy skirts) and cutest teams at the tournament every year. Like Western, they seem to be a little bit of structure away from taking it to the next level.
Nippising- North Bay school with last year's experience to help them. It's only a matter of time before they become contenders.
McMaster- Expect them to finish much higher than last year. 11th at CUUC 2006 had to be a disappointment.
University of Toronto B- Serving a very valuable feeder system function.
McGill University B- Also serving a very valuable feeder system function.
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