Talking with Trainor: Who is PsychoPlastique?

Nation,

Every year, Canadian Ultimate wonders when the city of Edmonton's ultimate program will have a breakthrough. We thought it might happen in 2005 with the play of Open team EMU at nationals. We thought Team Alberta's strong play at CUC 2007 was a strong indicator that the women's team would lead the way. These were all false starts for an Edmonton breakthrough (a larger Canadian city that should be a more prominent at the national level). We were disappointed when CUPA gave Edmonton CUUC 2008 and did not see any of their teams make it to CUUC 2009.

It's official- we finally have a breakthrough in Edmonton. Mixed team Psychoplastique.

Psychoplastique is not new. They finished 3rd at CUC 2007, and were a team to watch at CUC 2008. However, the team has accomplished a very tough feat recently, beating out many Northwest region opponents to capture a bid to UPA 2009 Finals in Florida. Not only is this rare for a team out of Alberta, it has not been done by a Canadian mixed squad this decade.

I interviewed team captains Jenn Nichols, Seb Toth and Patrick MacQuarrie to find out more about the team and their expecatations as they embark for their first UPA championship.

Best of luck in Sarasota!!
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How did the team take shape? What have been the keys to success in developing?

Although the name Psychoplastique has been around for a while, it was only last year that we started to adhere in an organized fashion and travel to competitive tournaments to gain experience and increased exposure to higher level Ultimate. Edmonton struggles with maintaining numbers in the competitive touring scene, so a mixed team formed as we could not support a competitive separate open and women's team.

Last year, the team had a very similar core to this year, but our systems and values were not as developed. We had a good nationals, apart from our semifinal loss to TFP, and then sent a skeleton squad (almost entirely younger players) to UPAs, and finished middle of the pack at regionals.

This year, Jenn Nicholls (Flycoons and TFP last year, making her a defending UPA and world champion) moved into a captain's role (along with Seb Toth - Furious last year) and really began to push to make this team competitive . We went to Philadelphia to play the Philly invite, and played well enough to beat a couple teams that made UPA nats last year. We had losses to AMP and Slow White, but gained a lot of experience getting to play these top teams. At Potlatch, we lost games to both Mischief and DropCop, but our top powerpool finish helped players to believe that this team had the talent to compete at a high level.

Canadian Nats was a huge let-down for us. For a variety of reasons, we just didn't bring our A game. Perhaps we got a little to comfortable with our Potlatch and Philly experience, but we didn't come into Canadian Nationals with the right attitude, and we paid the price. It was a great wake-up call for UPAs , however, as we addressed a number of issues . Practice and training intensity increased, focused roles developed a little more, and talent was brought in to fill roles that were needed.

How was the sectionals and regionals experience?

Sectionals had a couple tough losses for us. We were up a break on both Flycoons and Spike early, and then collapsed after half. We decided, before regionals, that it was important to keep the energy in games, especially on D, and that started with sideline support. One comment that stuck with me was "our sideline should pump up our D line, not the other way around."

At Regionals, the cards fell into place for us. The weather was bad, but not awful. There was rain, snow and wind, but nothing compared to playing in the swamps at Canadian Nats. The elevation was an issue on the first day, but we adjusted quickly. Although, upsets in the other side of the bracket worked in our favour, we ran hard when we needed to and got our job done.

The Saturday went as expected, as we went 3-1 with a loss to Flycoons. We played Spike on the Saturday morning, and were down 3-2, with no breaks yet, when there was a long delay due to lightning. We came out focused and cohesive, and our D line rose up to take that game 8-4.

In our first chance at a "game to go", against D'oh, we came out flat and never figured out their poaching D systems. Our next game was against Night Train, who had just beaten Mischief in a nail-biter, and seemed to have burned all their energy . We led throughout that game to a 13-3 win. The next chance in a game to go was against CTR. We targeted our D on stopping their break force throws, and took half 7-3. Each team broke early in the 2nd half, and then we traded out before breaking again to win 13-9.

I can honestly say that no one on the team expected us to make it this far, but we feel like we deserve the opportunity, and we hope to be playing meaningful games on Saturday in Sarasota. The northwest is a strong region, and we feel like we can compete near the top.

How is the team preparing for UPA Finals?

We are preparing for the tournament by pushing fitness training and player connections over the next two weeks. We just had our first snowfall, and, combined with limited day-light hours, and limited numbers to practice against, our scrimmages will likely be few and short.

How would you describe your team style of play? Who are the key players on offence and defence?

If you ask almost anyone we have played, they will tell you that we like to huck to both our men and women, and that we are very physical on defense. It is difficult for me to pick out 'key' players, but, if I had to try, on offense it would be Brendan Wong and Jenn Nicholls, while defensively, Seb Toth and Terri Whitehead usually draw the tough matchups.

What's the current state of Edmonton ultimate? Growth?

Edmonton ultimate is still struggling to achieve a high number of competitive players. While there is a healthy city league (www.eupa.ca), we struggle to maintain numbers throughout a full season and at Psycho practice. We hope that this exposure in Sarasota will help with growth in the competitive scene, as well as coaching and mentoring skills that can be brought back to our university and city teams.

Talking with Trainor- Matt Hogel, Dalhousie Ultimate

Nation,

I was part of the first Dalhousie university team. DKUT was started in 2000 and was lead by future GOAT player Chris Lee and his friend Chris Ford. Playing the game (pick up on parliament hill) for less than a year, I was excited to see the yellow poster in the Commerce building indicating an information meeting in the beautiful King's College quad area. A friend (Andrew McQuinn) and I decided to check it out.

On a beautiful September day, the team was established and practices soon followed. The team was coed because there simply wasn't the interest or competition in the region. I learned a lot from playing on the team and it was a good experience playing with a diverse group of characters.

DKUT (Dalhousie Kings Ultimate Team) has evolved over time. Located in the student mecca city of Halifax and attracting students from all over the world, Going to school at Dalhousie is very attractive and DKUT has also been attractive to many excellent players. GOAT alums John Hassell, Andy Ouchterlony , Chris Lee, James Donovan have played for the team. Ramsey Wright, Brad Callaghan, Loic Dalle, Robert Macleod, Mike Lovas and Maddie Hall are also notable club alumni.
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Few players will enter CUUC 2009 with as much experience as Matt Hogel, one of DKUT's current leaders. Hogel has been playing club ultimate (Phoenix, Red Circus) since 2005 when he played with Phoenix. He have been playing university ultimate since 2002 when he started with the Queen's B Team (Superfly).

Hogel joined Queens Mothership in 2003 and was part of one the best canadian unversity open teams on record. The school went to the 2004 UPA college finals and had a dominant run at CEUUC and CUUC championships.

Hogel provided feedback on his experiences, DKUT's expectations at CUUC 2009 and his assessment of ultimate in the martimes.

What's your greatest Ultimate accomplishment?

Qualifying and competing in the UPA College Championships in 2005. Qualifying for the tournament validated the incredible amount of hard work that everyone on the team put in, and being able to compete against some of the best players in college at that time was an unforgettable experience.

What's your worst moment in Ultimate?

Failing to qualify UPA club championships in 2005. Not being able to win games we expected to be able to win, and missing out on a great opportunity to play at the highest level in ultimate was very disappointing.

Favorite tournament city?

Boston. Nice fields, always good competition and if you can get into town there's plenty to see and do.

Favorite Opponent? (Team/Individual)

Haven't played College ulitmate in a while, but the most enjoyable team I ever played against was Texas. Staying closer to home, I enjoyed the rivalry that Queen's had with Guelph in the two years I played with Mothership. I can't say I have a favorite individual opponent. I enjoy playing against players I know and who know me.

Who's the best University player in the game today?

I am very uninformed regarding the players in the college game today, but with that in mind, if there is anyone playing right now that is better than Kielen Way I would love to see them play. He's like the 5-tool player in baseball. He can do everything and he has that competitive fire on the field that keeps him from getting complacent or relying in his skill alone.

Who's the best ever during your time?

Josh Zipperstein. I still don't understand how anyone is able to defend him. Staying inside Canada, Adam Melnyk. Aside from his abilities on the field he is the best leader I've ever played for.

What are DKUT's expectations at CUUC 2009?

We are limitted by the fact that we haven't played any tournaments together since UPA sectionals last year. We have plenty of depth, and a good veteran core. We will be looking to find our rhythm through the first couple of days and play our way into a quarter-final. After that, anything is possible.

Describe the state of ultimate for Atlantic school teams in general. Will we see more Atlantic schools at nationals soon?

Unfortunately I doubt it. Unless CUUCs come to Halifax or somewhere in the vicinity, they will never get closer than Montreal. With only Dal coming to Montreal this time, you won't see more teams traveling when the tournament moves to Toronto or Winnipeg or Vancouver. Ultimate on the east coast is disadvantaged by its isolation. It takes 11 hours to drive to Boston, 13 hours to get to Montreal and 15 to get to Ottawa. Those are the cities you have to travel to play Open and Women's tournaments. Everything in the area is co-ed which doesn't foster growth of men's and women's teams to play at CUUCs. Schools such as Acadia and SFX only have 8-10 men, and 4-6 women on their rosters. That doesn't allow them to play anything but co-ed. Until we start hosting open and women's tournaments closer to home, I don't see the smaller schools developing anything other than co-ed teams.

What was/is the most aggravating thing about the game?

The ability players have to make questionable calls that benefit themselves and their team. Everyone does it due to the inherent bias in self-officiating. Some are a lot worse than others. Watching the two observed games at Northeastern Regionals this past weekend, it was amazing to see the number of calls that were overturned by observers in those games. I don't think the game should be fully officiated as I like putting the onus on the players to know the rules and regulate themselves, but so long as you have quality observers that you can trust to make the right calls, I like having observers to keep the players in check.


How would you describe DKUT's playing style?

Hard nosed. If a team is going to beat us, we want to make them have to work hard to do it. Nothing is going to come easy.

Which players will DKUT rely on for Offence and Defence respectively?

I have a feeling that people will know who Bobo Eyrich is by the end of the tournament. He is still getting better, but as it stands now he can change a game in multiple ways on either side of the disc.

Given that Dal has a large majority of students who are from outside the maritimes, does the Halifax system help feed players to Dalhousie? Can the Halifax system improve to help foster better development (through Dal and HURL)?

I feel it's the other way around. Dalhousie feeds players to Red Circus (the halifax Open team). I count 11 guys on Red Circus whose first competitive ultimate experience was with DKUT.

Throughout the country, the goal has to be to get kids playing ultimate at a younger age. The next step is to get kids coming to university as great players already. It's starting to happen, but when you look at the quality of the high school system in the states and the types of players they are pumping out, we have a long ways to go. One of the major goals of Halifax Ultimate right now is to foster the growth of ultimate in schools in the maritimes. They are establishing coaches for high school teams and host a high school tournament every year, and are implementing clinics in junior high schools to target kids at an even younger age.

Talking with Trainor- Isabelle Ascah-Coallier, Université de Montréal - Ultimate Diva Montréal

Nation,

On the eve of the 2009 Canadian University Ultimate Championships, we profile the captain of one of the newest teams in university women's ultimate- Université de Montréal - 'Ultimate Diva Montréal'. Despite a small roster for CEUUC 2009, the team surprised many and finished second.

Beating many established programs like city rival McGill made readers ask- Who is this team?

Isabelle Ascah-Coallier has just completed her first year of women's club play with Montreal's Mystik. Identified by coach Sonia Kraijeck as one of the key players on Diva, Isabelle was kind enough to take part in an interview with me to tell us about her team, her ultimate experiences and her hopes for the U de M program in the future.

Name: Isabelle Ascah-Coallier
Number of Years playing Club : 1 year competitive with Mystik, 6 years in total
Number of Years playing University: 1
History of the U de M women's team: It is the first year of the team. We created it because the CUUC are in Montreal, but we wish to establish a long time program of ultimate at UdeM.

How would you describe your team's style of play?

We are an athletic team. We have many fast girls that are really intense in defense. I think that this is our strength. And Sonia Krajicek, our coach, worked a lot to improve our defensive play.

Describe the team's experience of CEUC 2009 in London?

It was amazing. We went there with high expectations and we achieved our goals. We were competitive against each team and we reached the final. We couldn't have asked for more from our first tournament.

Which team does U de M most want to face at CUUC 2009?

Ottawa or McGill. Two good teams. There is lot of intensity when we play against either one. We had two friendly games against McGill and each was great. It would be fun to meet them in a tournament.

What are the team's expectations at CUUC 2009?

We want to reach the semi-finals. That said, our first goal is to finish in the top two of our pool.

Describe the state of ultimate for Montreal school teams in general. Will we see more Montreal schools at nationals soon outside of CUUC 2009?

There is strong desire in Montreal to have men and women teams at each university (Concordia, McGill, UdeM, etc). The AUM is working towards that goal this year and there will be men teams from the four Montreal universities at CUUC. With all the work done by many people at each university this year, we can just hope that long time programs will be established.

On the women's side, we have two schools with women teams: McGill and us. We hope that the girls on UdeM team enjoy their experience and that next year another womens team at UQAM will be established. I think that multiplying school teams is a good way to improve womens ultimate in Montreal. And as I said, UdeM's team was created because the nationals are in Montreal this year, but we really want to keep this team alive.

What is your favorite thing about the game of ultimate?

I like the way we can combine intensity with good team spirit on the field.

What was/is the most aggravating thing about the game?

Never-ending discussion on the field.

Talking with Trainor: Anne Mercier / Ottawa Gee Gee's Women's Ultimate

Nation,

As I said before, we need to devote more attention to the women's game on this blog. No two teams are more deserving at this time than the UBC Thundbirds and the Ottawa Gee Gees, both looking to make it to the UPA College Regionals this spring.

Hammer Time at Vegas 08

Anne Mercier took the time to quickly interview with me before she and her teammates head out to regionals. Mercier, one of the best players in the college game and a UPA club game breaker, will look to help lead her talented squad right to the finals.

Best of luck to the lady Gee Gee's!
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What was the Vegas tournament like? How does it compare to other victories?

Vegas was awesome. A fun city that no one has ever visited before. It was sweet to have a different ultimate venue compared to what we were used to at home (in a gym or in the snow).

The competition was great. I think the Sunday was the best - playing UW in the quarters, Wisconsin in the semis and UCLA in the finals. It's great to see college women's ultimate at a high level. It made us realize that there were many teams who are really skilled and it was a good to see some west coast teams too.

The victory was awesome. Don't know how I'd 'rate' them against other victories but it's definitely up there. Winning the 3-day tournament with 12 girls was huge and I'm sure everyone who was there will remember it for a very long time.

How were Sectionals? Despite the weather problems, did the team take anything out of the experience?

Sectionals was good. Despite running in foot-sinking ankle-high mud fields, we're happy with the results. We were able to iron out a few more kinks in our game, and it was great to be playing outside again!

How do you feel heading into Regionals? What teams do you prepare for?

I think I speak for the whole team when I say that I'm completely stoked for the weekend. We didn't have the chance last year to attend, and any/every accomplishment will be a new one for this relatively young team.

We haven't seen much in-region competition, but based on this season's results I'd say that Maryland, Pittsburgh and NYU are the teams that we'd have to look out for. They have solid programs and I would expect to get some good games during the wknd against these teams. However, we still can't rule out the rest of the pack; a good number of teams have some great talent and could give us a run for our money (proved by Cornell's 3 point run in our sectionals final near the end of the game).

Does the narrow window of opportunity in college scare your team, given you are a favoured women's team this year?

Favoured or not - doesn't really matter. All we need to know is that there are 2 spots to go to Nationals. We have to work hard to get one of those two spots. I don't think we're scared. More-so we want to rise up to the challenge.

How do you prepare for good teams you have yet to play?

Most of the work has already been done - at practice, training and trowing on our own time etc. We go back to the basics no matter who we face and play to the level that we can play. We're going to play against many good teams that we've never met before over the next few weeks. Smart matchups will help, but if we stick to what we know and just play our game, hopefully everything will be okay. One point at a time.

Which players are expected to lead this year? Have there been any pleasant performance surprises?

I think in college it falls down to the same people on all teams: those who are confident enough to lead. That normally comes down to the comp (club) players. But in all honesty, so many people on the team have already stepped it up this year. Even though it's in different ways, every person has found their role on the team and does a superb job of doing what the team needs them to do.

Who have been the toughest opponents thus far in the spring series? (Vegas tourney included)

So far, I'd say that we had our best competition in Vegas - mainly during the Sunday games. Our toughest game was against Wisconsin. They have a really deep team, an all around athletic roster, and many big-game players that are very capable of taking over games. This was a while ago so I'd assume that they've only gotten better.

Do you think a UBC-Ottawa UPA college final is possible?

Hell yes.

It's possible, but there's still a lot between now and May 18th. It's going to take a lot of work and there will be 20+ teams that would like to have a say on that. We'll see with regionals first, then think about Nationals (hopefully).

Talking with Trainor: Tory Hislop/ UBC Women's Ultimate

Nation,

This site needs more cowbell. No wait.. it needs more ladies coverage.

The UPA College regionals are coming up, and Canada should be talking about the women's division. Why? UBC and Ottawa are both heading into their respective regionals with legitimate chances to make UPA Finals. Dare I say either of them could make the championship game, against one another?

Being in central Canada (no, Ontario is not Eastern Canada!), I don't get to see UBC mens or women's teams as much as I would like. However, I know enough to know there is a rich history of strong clubs from the school, and that is no different this year. The women's team has had an impressive spring, and I contact one of their team captains (Tory Hislop) to find out more about the team before their regionals grudge match.

Not only did I get a quick response, but an excellent one. I'm not the only one covering the team's quest.

Best wishes to the Thunderbirds!
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What was the Vegas tournament like?

Vegas is always a great tournament. It is the biggest tournament, starting on a Friday and going to Sunday. It is always a good place to get a feel for where the team is at in comparison to everyone else, and this year we saw so much potential for our team.

Overall it is a great tournament with teams from all over the states, and obviously in an extremely fun location. We made it to semi-finals and unfortunately lost to UCLA, but it didn't really feel like a lose because I think we were all so excited for the season after seeing some of the talent we had on the team.

What are your thoughts on the Stanford Invite?

(I wasn't there) But we did make it finals and again lost to UCLA. From what I heard we had to get some players "set-up" big time to compensate for the missing players and injured players. So again we walked away knowing we had lots of talent but still need to create more cohesion, to exploit it.

How big was the tourney win at Centex?

Centex is a long way from Vancouver, so with travel expenses, time commitment and injury issues, only 12 of our 24 players where able to make it down. With only 12 players the cohesion that had been missing came out in full force. Players again had to step up into bigger roles then they were use to and as a dynamic group of 12 players and 1 coach we managed to play our system all the way to the finals. However this time we did not get to face UCLA but instead UW.

The whole game was close, with some strong wind conditions making it any ones game up until the very end. Winning the tournament felt amazing especially after having being one step closer with each tournament we played but also on top of that we won $2000.

How were Sectionals?

We came to Sectionals slightly disorganized and maybe a little to confident after our Centex win. We definitely did not play very well for most of Saturday. Sunday our play in comparison to Saturday was much improved. We faced UW first game of the day and last game of the day. The first game did not go well at all, they came out strong and didn't let up. The second game was finals and again they came out strong, played really well and earned the win.

We on the other hand came out soft, with some turnovers, a couple drops, and before we knew it we were down 8-3 at half. We climbed our way back to 11-9 but the game was done before we had a chance to close the gap anymore.

How do you feel heading into Regionals? What teams do you prepare for?

I want to believe that sometimes losing is a good thing. I hoping the feeling of defeat had pushed us to practice harder, and driven us to want to win. We are in the middle of exams so have not had a full team at practice lately, because of that it is hard to say how we are looking, but I am confident that we have all the talent to do extremely well.

I am not sure that we are preparing for any team in particular, mostly we are preparing to play hard, play smart, and play our system; hopefully that preparation will help us be successful with every team we face.

Does the narrow window of opportunity in college scare your team, given you are a highly regarded women's team this year? (i.e. So few bids)

I am amazed on a daily basis by the talent, athleticism, and field sense that many of our players have. We have proven our ability to succeed and I think a lot of us were disappointed with last years finish at college nationals and would love the opportunity to go further this year.

Being led by a player like Kira Frew is truly inspiration, and a source of confidence for us, she makes us all want to play harder, run faster, and ultimately WIN! The idea of not making college nationals is always sitting in the back our minds but I think that helps push us to work harder so hopefully that hard work will pay off this weekend.

How do you prepare for good teams you have yet to play?

We have a great coach, Stephanie Chow, she tells us what to do and we go do our best to make it happen.

Which players are expected to lead this year? Have there been any pleasant performance surprises?

This is a hard question, we have a lot of talent, and on any given day a different girl may step up. I like to think we are a team of 24+coach and every win is an effort of the team. With that said I also don't think it would be fair not to give credit to Kira Frew for her beautiful throws and unbelievable D's, also Nikki Short's height and speed has make a lot happen on the field for us, and finally I want to give notice to Lindsay Olimer who although has been injured for the past two months started off the season showing lots of potential to make some great things happen, and we are very excited to be getting her back from regionals.

Who have been the toughest opponents thus far in the spring series?

Well UCLA is the only team we have played and not beaten this season, but UW is a team we have seen more and know our system better, they are a very talented team with a lot of drive. Therefore, I am going to have to say UW.

Do you think a UBC-Ottawa UPA college final is possible?

Anything is possible!

Talking with Trainor- Moses Rifkin

Nation,

Something special is happening out west.

Sockeye, the mens A team in the Emerald City (Seattle), just finished winning their 3rd UPA title in four years. Their roster is stacked with strong players from all over the country. These players have great experience already from their respective college teams, and they seem focused on holding their UPA title for many years. A second team, Voodoo, had many great performances last season and might possibly have joined their A team in Sarasota were it not for being stuck in the hardest qualifying section/region in the country. With Worlds 2008, it is important to focus on Sockeye. They will represent Team USA in the open division, and they will look take the title away from Canada.

I was fortunate to chat with Sockeye's very own Moses Rifkin. At age 28, Rifkin has accomplished much in the game. He's played for one of the greatest college programs (Brown), one of the greatest vertical stack teams (Death or Glory) and a great horizontal stack team (Sockeye). He has won everywhere.

Pictured: Moses Rifkin
Photo Courtesy: www.seattlesockeye.org and original photographer

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At what age did you start playing? Who introduced you into the game?

I first played organized Ultimate when I was 14. Jamie Epstein, a player for Ozone (Atlanta women's team) and coach at my school, was the first person to teach me the basics of Ultimate, and the following year Mike Baccarini took over for her at Paideia.

You've had high level experience with teams that use both vertical and horizontal stack strategy. Conceptually, Do you prefer the horizontal stack or the vertical stack? Do you think new players need to be introduced to both?

I feel most comfortable in a vertical stack, but I think that's more a function of experience than of superiority.

I think Sockeye has a roster that makes horizontal stack offense a good fit for it, and DoG had a roster that made vertical stack a good fit for it. It feels to me now that horizontal stacks are harder to defend against, that vertical stacks are more easy to adjust to stop...but I also think that the dominance of vertical stacks gave rise to those ways of stopping them, which helped encourage the spread of horizontal stacks... In other words, I wouldn't be surprised if things swing back and forth.

I think that offensive cutting isn't so much about one stack or another, but general principals of finding space, making space, timing, being opportunistic, etc. I think introducing new players to both is more likely to teach them that there isn't one recipe for offense. At the same time, though, a lot of new players really do benefit from having a framework to start with. I guess it doesn't feel like it really matters one way or another, I think.

Who was/is the most important teammate coach from your Brown, DoG and Sockeye days?

Nathan Wicks demands that I say it was him.

That's an impossible question for me to answer, so let me just rattle off some thoughts that spring to mind. Mike Baccarini taught me much of what I still think about today as a player, and helped me and my teammates to fall in love with the sport at the same time. Playing with my friends on Paideia clearly established Ultimate in my mind as being about community and teammates. My teammates at Brown, and Nathan, helped teach me how to compete to win. Playing with DoG was what turned me into the player I think I am today - it was a long-time dream to play with them and I feel incredibly fortunate to have played with that group of players. And playing with Sockeye has been one of the most _fun_ Ultimate experiences I've had.

So I know that's not what you were looking for, but that's how I look back on my ultimate days.

What's your best moment/experience in the sport?

Again, it's hard to say: my life as a player has gone through so many different stages, all of which were wonderful in the way that they were for who I was at that time. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be winning college nationals in 2000. I don't know if it was the best by any standard other than it was the one I was most singularly focused on for the season ahead of it, and so winning was as close as I've come to setting a goal and doing everything - absolutely everything - that I could to achieve it, and then achieving it. By that standard, it was the best.

A strange highlight for me was losing in the semis to Furious George in 2003. It was an unbelievable game - a total of 5 turnovers, and just one in the second half. I felt proud of how I'd played, and how we'd played, and to lose a game like that taught me a lot about why I play the game. It wasn't fun to lose...but it did help me get some perspective on Ultimate and what my goals really are.

What's your worst moment/experience in the sport?

I think losing to NC State in the semis of college nationals in Boulder in 1999. It was deeply, deeply emotional, and I don't think I've ever felt so bad after a game. I had plenty to think about for the next 364 days leading up to 2000.

What's your best ultimate skill?

Does teammatesmanship count? I think I'm a smart, intuitive cutter - not the fastest, not the best with the disc, but I have a knack for helping offenses to function more smoothly. I'm proud of that.

What are you working on this off season?

Getting stronger and fitter while staying healthy.

Obama, Hilary, or McCain?

I'd rather not say - not because I feel sensitive about it, just because I keep those things to myself.

How does Sockeye convince players to move from all over to play in Seattle?

We don't, as far as I know. It may seem that way from the outside, but there's no effort that I've seen to convince these folks to come here. It's also worth mentioning that for every Ron and Tim and Skip and me, there are amazing players on Sockeye (and waiting in the wings) who are the products of the Seattle-area college, high school and middle school scene.

How does Mose Rifkin enjoy Seattle weather?

Moses Rifkin is learning to enjoy Seattle weather. I'm learning to be patient through the winter, to stay active, to get outside when it's nice, and to invest in plenty of tea and a nice pair of slippers. And when it's nice out, Seattle is spectacularly beautiful. So it's going well now, which is a shift from the last few winters.

How does the team manage so many stars, and to a certain extent, egos?

The Sockeye team culture that I joined three seasons ago was shockingly close-knit. This is a team that works very hard, but also has a lot of fun - pure, goofball, stupid fun - and really cares for one another as teammates and friends. That's a wonderful thing, and I think it renders the egos either irrelevant or at least quiet. I think there's a great competitiveness that people share, everyone wanting to be the one to make the play when the opportunity arises and to push one another to make it, but I think everyone seems to buy into the team mentality.

That being said, I think our defensive and offensive strategies are uniquely suited to the roster that we have. It's an amazing set of tools that we get to work with, and I think our approach to playing tries to use that as an asset instead of a detriment or a non-factor.

How would your teammates describe you?

I hope they'd describe me as a good teammate, as a hard worker, and as a solid, strong player. I think they would. They'd also say something embarrassing in the process of doing so.

Who is the leader of the team?

Another unusual thing about Sockeye, I think, is that there are different leaders at different times. We have four captains, as well as a host of other people involved: running drills, speaking in huddles, organizing things, mapping out our season's direction. So I don't think there's a single answer, which isn't necessarily a good or bad thing but has worked well for us.

What were your thoughts on UPA Finals 2007? What teams surprised you?

I don't really know what to say about this. It was neat to see GOAT do so well, as well as the other typical surprises etc. I was sad to see Furious struggle so much with injury, and I thought that Jam and Johnny Bravo were all exceptional teams.

Do you have any political thoughts regarding the UPA and the progress of ultimate?

Not really. I don't pay as close attention to the inner workings of the UPA as maybe I should, but I appreciate the difficulty of the task that they're facing: being a variety of things to a variety of constituencies, all of which have very strong opinions about a sport that they dearly love. On a selfish level, there's so much work that goes on behind the scenes to produce the Ultimate experiences I have, and I'm grateful for that.

Will Team USA (open) beat Canada at Worlds 2008?

We're planning to.

How will Sockeye select team USA? Are there lessons learned from the Condors in 2004?

That's still up in the air. With the addition of the Dream Cup, this season is a strange one: we started training in January, are going to an international tournament in March, will train to compete in a World Championship in August...and then set our sights on Nationals. It's a great problem to have, but a challenge nonetheless. We're still working out how to choose our team as a result.

Will worlds gold mean more than a UPA title?

No, I don't think so. It means something different. It is, of course, pretty amazing to put on a jersey that says USA and think about what that means. So winning gold on the world stage would be a lifelong highlight for sure.


What is your take on the Buzz Bullets from Japan? Do they bring different strategy/tactics to the game than North American opponents?

They are a tremendous team. They bring a jaw-dropping level of skill and athleticism, and play with extraordinary heart. Strategy-wise, they do operate differently than most teams we encounter - a different set of throws and cuts to defend, a different approach to zone defense which makes throws that might seem open suddenly not - and that's a cool problem to try to wrap our minds around. We're all really looking forward to playing them in a few weeks and then hopefully again at Worlds.

Talking with Trainor: Andy Stewart

Nation,

Ottawa Open Ultimate has received a lot of attention in the past two years regarding their commitment to fitness and their team fitness levels.

The reason for this improvement is due to one man- Andy Stewart. Stewart, the strength coach of 5 time national university basketball champion Carleton Ravens, Olympic athletes, and national level athletes in many sports, has set aside time each month in the summer to introduce ultimate players to serious conditioning and training. It has been an eye opening experience for many. We don't deserve him, and that's why we need and want him.

The sad news is that Ottawa ultimate, and many ultimate players across the country, have a lot to learn about their bodies and about sport specific training. I include myself in this group.

Andy Stewart with Ultimate Athlete Cheryl Wadasinghe

Dedicating myself this off season to an average of 2-3 workouts per week at Andy's dojo sessions, I realize that a VERY GOOD fitness guru is worth their weight in gold. You have to be able to trust your trainer for information on programs and nutrition as they relate to you personally. You need someone to push you when the going gets tough. You need someone that makes you buy in and tells you what you don't want to hear as much as the stuff you do.

Here is an interview with the man my teammates and I respect greatly and curse all at the same time. I think his knowledge and leadership skills really stand out. His contact information is listed below.

Andy Stewart
stewarta@rogers.com
Open Sessions: Saturdays, 2:30 at the Douvris Martial Arts Center

SPT
___________________________________________________________________

Compare the level of fitness of competitive Ultimate Players to those of the other sports you work with. Honestly, how big is the divide?

That’s a very difficult question as I haven’t had the opportunity to test athletes in head to head and/or empirically/statistically relevant situations.

That caveat aside, the Ultimate players I have worked with are improving from training and athletic performance perspectives; they are improving their nutrition, getting smart, and trying powerlifting, cross-training – in essence they are doing all the right things. And it shows. It shows in their appearance, their athletic & on-field performance and in their positive outlooks (positive gains, from smart training, usually lead to positive outlooks).

Ultimate, as you know, requires a combination of athleticism & skills that are found in sports such as basketball, football and soccer. This includes aerobic and anaerobic system capacity with less focus on overall power – however intermittent sprints/jumps require optimal levels of burst speed, lateral quickness and leaping ability. If I compare to many of the national and Olympic level athletes I have worked with – it is on these athletic traits where I see a divide (but these cross-level comparisons may not be the most appropriate).

The primary differences are in due to ‘natural’ athleticism and years (often over a decade) of elite training/coaching and competition. By natural athleticism I mean the basic genetic athletic predisposition – such as natural speed (sprinting), lateral quickness and agility (stop/start), explosiveness (e.g. vertical leap) and raw power/strength. This translates to athletes that can run faster and jump higher/longer, change direction more quickly and more often. Good news is that through smart work, focus and nutrition you can force adaptations – you can become a better ‘natural athlete’.

As Ultimate gains in popularity several thing will happen - more competitive level athletes will join, more competitive training programs will be followed (year over year)– and a rising tide lifts all boats if you will. Increasing challenge, focus and competition will require more athleticism! Check out the NBA, tennis, heck even ping pong athlete of old – it is a natural progression for such a young sport. In Ultimate, the skills components given their precision and timing, also require sport specific skill sets including visual acuity and tracking, proprioception (think balance), muscle memory, footwork, hand eye coordination and reaction/anticipation etc. These are often overlooked when people think fitness.

What are some of the most important muscles for performing on the ultimate field?

Wow… legs, core… What isn’t?

To identify muscles I look at purposeful performance. Ultimate makes use of anaerobic and aerobic energy systems and the focus (muscular-wise) is clearly on the legs as the engines of athletic performance. The quads/glutes/hams/calves provide the basis for footwork, explosiveness, agility, quickness and are the primary movers in the anaerobic (sprints) and endurance aspects of the sport. They are called on for maximal power (vertical/long jumps) and for positional flexibility (marking/tracing). Traditionally, individuals who ‘like to play’ but don’t train the physical components enough (perhaps like highly skilled handlers) end up neglecting their endurance training, sprint training, plyometric and SAQ. The result is a lower possible output on the Ultimate field. The CORE then becomes incredibly important – as the foundation of movement is critical to the over stability of the athlete in motion. The upper body is clearly required for throwing skill development, efficiency and effectiveness.

However, the ultimate player does need not be bulky – rather explosive and lean. Great dexterity and hand-eye coordination also lend themselves to sport specific performance – what good is the fastest wide receiver if he has no hands? And that every player has to be a QB in effect! What muscles are most commonly weak in ultimate players? In my experience, the athletes (collectively) have started out at a lower experience level in overall competitive athletic training. They have missed out on years of sport-specific powerlifting, plyometric, footwork, SAQ, resistance training – and so are generally (and I am really generalizing here) weaker in overall athleticism in the legs. Upper body comparisons are not valuable.

Good news again is that now is the right time to change it! So much scientifically proven/validated information that easily accessible, so many committed athletes to learn from etc. – it’s all out there to help the athletes that want to be helped!

Who's the best Ultimate athlete you've seen?

I have had the opportunity of seeing several quintessential Ultimate athletes – and picking one doesn’t do them all justice. Colin Green comes to mind, in Ottawa, as the type of athlete that best exemplifies my vision of an Ultimate athlete. And, he most similar to the athletes I train from high-level competitive basketball à quick, agile, powerful, explosive - complimented by natural height and length, and bolstered by determination and a kick ass work ethic. I have had the pleasure of training Colin at the Dojo and on the field.

Colin Green Of GOAT (Black Hat)
CUC 2007 Championship Game

What are your strongest and weakest traits as an athlete personally and how does that affect your leadership style?

Interesting question… As an athlete, I have always been strong and more powerful (these are mesomorphic qualities – I gain muscle mass, strength and power quite quickly when I train). In my years of basketball, I was considered hard-working, typically in-shape and actually quite aggressive. Early on I was probably too aggressive for my own good. My weaknesses, physically (for my sport) were in being too short, not long enough, having poor flexibility and I had sport specific weaknesses (no left hand!). There are so many ‘mental’ aspects to sport, training and competition - occasionally these were areas of strength and weakness for me.

Leadership style – I believe I am a social communicator first and drill sergeant second. I see my role as a motivator – to inspire and challenge people (far to many people create barriers for themselves, and fail to overcome them because of weaknesses of the will and the mind!!). Authenticity and sincerity are critical in pushing people to blow threw their self-imposed limitations (and a bit of knowledge). Most importantly, I find that I have been very lucky to work with committed, driven and hard-working people. (If you’ve been to the Dojo, you understand. It is not for the faint of heart). I find that the athletes internal motivators are often more important than my leadership style.
If I had to psychoanalyze – I’d guess that my strengths support a healthy self-confidence while understanding my weaknesses (and working on them) gives me ‘athletic empathy’ and balance.

What are some of the most frustrating things when training athletes?

Things that drive me bananas:

• Laziness and complacency
  
• Dealing with highly-skilled poorly conditioned athletes with healthy egos and an inability to take constructive suggestions
• People who eat like shit, drink too much, smoke too much, don’t sleep and can’t figure out why they don’t see gains in their training!

Things that are frustrating, but are good problems to have:

• Athletes who can’t ‘slow down’ – overtrain and hurt themselves
• Trying to get athletes to ‘buy in’ – some people go on trust, others need to be convinced over a lonnngggggg period of time.

What type of athlete frustrates you?

First and foremost – ignorant athletes – individuals who lack respect for themselves, teammates, opponents, referees and for the game(s) they play. I have very little patience for ignorance… A healthy ego, aggressive style, even win at all costs attitude I can understand and manage – but overall ignorant behavior frustrates me!

The athlete that ‘doesn’t care’ or is defeatist comes in next… You know, the nice person who doesn’t believe in themselves? Can’t get past go – to even start towards self-improvement. I find these people to be a challenge, I enjoy helping them break free, but I have seen some that never believe – and it’s frustrating to see them waste their emotional time…

What are some of the most satisfying rewards training athletes?

There are to many to count… And it has less to do with ‘winning’ and more to do with the journey, the challenges and individual successes. I have truly enjoyed working with Ultimate athletes over the last two years. Making new friends, watching as people blow through personal barriers, achieve personal bests (athletically, aesthetically). I believe that everyone is capable of greatness – if they believe in themselves and have the will to work hard. I have had the wonderful opportunity and pleasure to partake in athletes’ quests for excellence. It is an honour… It’s not about me, but about seeing how people strive, challenge themselves, unite as a team or as friends towards common and individual goals.

The atmosphere that Ultimate players bring to the Dojo – friendly, interactive, supportive while at the same time motivated, with intensity - the desire to be challenged and to challenge with a kick ass work ethic – it motivates and inspires me all the time.

If you could give one piece of advice to all ultimate players, it would be...?

So very cliché – but I always recommend people get educated, get fit and play your sport… Work on your weaknesses and build on your strengths. More specifically though:

• Nutrition for performance (get educated)
• Train for performance (get a trainer, work with teammates)
• Ask questions
• Set goals and plan plan plan!!!!
  
• Mental training (for competitive athletes)
• Challenge yourself.
  
• Take chances
  
• Get advice and constructive criticism.

__________________________________________________________________

Talking with Trainor: Stella/Capitals Captain Danielle Fortin

Nation,

In 2004, a second women's team, named Maeve, was full of young exciting talent that proved they ready to compete nationally at finals. The squad finished 4th at the 2004 nationals. It was a springboard team for many females who are now highly regarded players in national and UPA ultimate today.

One of these players was nicknamed Baby D.

Danielle Fortin has gone from second team rookie to one of the Stella/Capitals captains in less than three years. While not serving as a Stella captain this year, She continues to be known for being a skilled thrower, well liked teammate and hard worker. She gladly accepted my offer to do an interview and she will hopefully be the first of many women's division players we profile.

Danielle Fortin
Photo:Corry Berghout

___________________________________________________________________

Was the Capitals a Toronto team, an Ottawa team, or really a team representing both cities?

The Capitals summer team included a representation from both cities. We were surprised that after writing down the last couple names on the roster that there was a even split of ladies from each city. It was pretty cool. We mixed things up in the fall by adding players from up North and out West.

What is the status of the Capitals for the 2008 season?

Caps jerseys will be hung up for the 2008 summer season with players taking what they learned in '07 back to their home teams. As for the fall - there's always talk between the two cities on joining forces and that's where it sits right now.

What was the highlight of the 2007 season for the Capitals?

This is a tough one - but I'd have to say either winning Boston Invitational or our finish at UPA's. Both Ottawa and Toronto have competed in the Boston Invite each year but have ended up watching the finals from the sideline. To win it all was pretty awesome. I believe it was the first time that a Canadian women's team has ever won the tournament.

What was the 2007 lowlight?

With the bid to Worlds on the line - our finish at nationals.

What happened at Nationals 2007? Specifically, the 2007 finals?

We had a strong tournament with only 14 points scored against after six games. It was a cool feeling being in Toronto. Four months earlier we found ourself playing on the exact same grass meeting our teammates, setting goals and figuring out what it meant to be on the Capitals. Our goal for the season was to be recognized as a unified, gritty, highly skilled team. There's no doubt we achieved that. It's unfortunate that the bid to Worlds rested all on one game - but that's sport. The finals was a big game for the team as many of our players found themselves there four years earlier while others were making their first appearance in a CUC final. Many factors played into the loss and I think we'd all dissect it differently as we had different experiences. It's always great to play against west coast teams as they bring experience and intensity after having a season full of high-caliber games and tournaments. It would be great if we could be exposed to challenging games throughout our entire season.

Photo Source: Capitals Ultimate

Was the UPA finals performance (5th) considered a success?

Of course! It was the highest finish for the team. Having the opportunity to play against some the top UPA teams in playoffs can always be considered a success. Our pre-quarter game against Safari was what allowed us to meet up with Riot in the quarters. Coming back from being down 11-6 to win the game 14-12 was...pretty cool. Mother nature was on our side that day.

Who was the team MVP for 2007 season overall?

I honestly don't think I can name one. Sure comparing one game to the next there was a player that really brought their best game out but when I think about a season that was over 6 months long it's hard to name just one person. It truly was a team that worked together to make the best out of the unique situation we had created.

What should we expect from Ottawa women's ultimate this summer?

Definitely expect some new faces on both Stella and Scarlett this summer. It's going to be a big building year for the program. From what I've seen in the gym, at scrimmages, and other training sessions it's going to be a good group of women that have been training hard to get back outside and challenge each other.

How would you describe the women's current relationship with its local association (OCUA)?

The women's program has a good relationship with OCUA. The competitive cell as a whole is working hard this year to get the right documents in place so that the teams can go into the season knowing what will be going on. It's always a challenge balancing personal/team development with clinics and other volunteer activities so any planning that can be done ahead of time is a bonus.

What players need to step up this year?

Every player looking to play this summer has to step it up. Last summer provided many players with unfamiliar experiences whether it was playing Capitals, Scarlett, or co-ed. Sharing these experiences with each other will only make us better so it's key for everyone to show up with their A-game.

Photo Source: Scarlett Ultimate

Who is the best female player in Ottawa? Who is the most underrated?

Top player - I'd have to go with with Ali Flynn (Lemay) (pictured, photo courtesy Corry Berghout). She brings experience, knowledge and skill to any team she plays with. On the field she's got a collection of throws that most can only dream of and her defense on the bail and in zones is so much fun to watch. She also has a great ability to anticipate movement on the field. I think the best thing is seeing how much time she puts into figuring out strategy and her own game. She's a good role model for those looking to play comp - you don't just get there without putting in a little effort.


Most underrated would have to be the Little French Girl (LFG). Marie-Andree Imbeault (Magoo) came into the Ottawa ultimate scene 3 years ago as a cutter. After a month or so on Stella she was put behind the disc to be one of the team's starting O-line handlers. She can make some sweet grabs and great break throws that are so quick you usually miss them. She's also great at breaking through zones. I think her "quiet" nature has fooled many because she's a big part of the party on any team she plays for. You can't replace a player like her on the field.

What is your assessment of the brand equity of sister team Scarlett?

It's getting better each year. Like we've seen in the men's program - it just takes time. It's great seeing more and more university students and recent high school grads playing with Scarlett as it's a great place to work on individual skills while gaining competitive tournament experience.

Photo Source: Scarlett Ultimate

Does anyone want to play with them? Will this be a good year?

I think there are a good number of women that would like to play with Scarlett. It's encouraging to see that players have made the transition from Scarlett to Stella and Capitals. Looking back at the team's 2007 roster and season I can't find a reason why it wouldn't be a good year.

How does the women's program measure success for Scarlett? What needs to be done to ensure Scarlett success?

Success can be measured in a bunch of ways - having players move from Scarlett to Stella, seeing players developing, and higher finishes at tournaments. For Scarlett to be successful there needs to be a good group of women playing on the team that are dedicated to getting better and working together. There should also be a good link between the two teams (Stella and Scarlett) as well as with the other competitive teams.

Talking with Trainor: Sharp(e) Cuts with Carl Sharpe

Nation,

My previous interview subjects have been with players who are well known in the competitive circle at the national and world stages.

Carl Sharpe is not one of these guys.

Carl is a poster boy for a lot of the players who make up open ultimate. He came into the game in his mid twenties after experience in football and other sports. He balances a very important job (that we would have to kill you if we told you about) and a young family with his ultimate commitments.

Carl Sharpe
Source: Wing Leung Chan

If you're facing Carl, it's not pleasant. He's like sandpaper. Tomas Sandstrom in dri fit. He throws lefty, he plays to win on o and d, and he knows the rules. He also is one of the best talkers in the game. The better you are, the more you will hear. Luckily, he understands the concept of humor versus insult.

I've built the guy up to an impossible level. Here's a regular guy with his take. Expect to laugh and nod.

Tomas Sandstrom
Source: Wikipedia
____________________________________________________________________

You're a renowned joker. What's the funniest thing about ultimate?

"Importing" players from other sports. Very few people at this point in time grew up playing ultimate, most are transplanted from other sports. Typical initiation into ultimate involves a 30 second pre-game speech detailing the finer points of not running with the disc. Then the player is released to sink or swim during the game.

Personal highlights from my own career involve hitting a receiver hard enough to cause him to release the disc during a catch, and knocking over a marker because he was "in my grill." The highlight had to be listening to one player explain to another that he tackled (read: destroyed) the handler because the stall count had gone over 5, and that meant he could cross the line of scrimmage.


What keeps you slagging on sites and forums? What bothers you the most about other posters?

What keeps me on forums sometimes confuses even me.

I think it might come down to ego, where I just like to throw stuff out and see what sticks. Whether it be something (I consider) funny or some sage wisdom. It's always gratifying to post something that triggers some discussion, whether it be humorous or otherwise.
Negative posting, specifically personal slights against individuals, is probably the thing that bothers me about other posters. Some people use computers and the Internet as a shield to say things that they wouldn't in other venues. Ignorant statements are a close 2nd, but personal attacks are definitely #1.
What's your off season schedule consist of?

I'm on the all Canadian Diet.

• Bacon,
  
• Eggs
  
• Timbits
  
• Double doubles.

In reality though, I work out 4 days a week, 45 minutes with weights, 30 minutes on the bike doing intervals, plus a league game. I was running for a bit, but dodging snow plows gets old fast.

With a young child and very real job, What keeps you coming back to the field?

Teammates and the game. I've been fortunate enough to meet some really outstanding people through ultimate, especially at the club level. The camaraderie is 2nd to none. There really is nothing like looking across a huddle at another player that you sweat and bled with, knowing that he's got your back and you've got his.

The game itself is great when it's pure. At the club level, the first couple of points in a game normally determine the tone of the game, the acceptable rules, etc. After that, it comes down to athleticism and intelligence, and it can be a beautiful thing.

Firebird Ultimate
Source: Wing Leung Chan

Describe your nationals experience in 2007?

Rollercoaster. Although I learned a lot of things. 1. We (Ottawa) have a lot of work to do, but I think we're heading in the right direction. I remember running a bail cut against Furious George in Game 1. We were down 14-2 (but getting ready for our comeback), and I was being covered by Kirk Savage. I managed to extend out far enough to catch the disc, but Savage was right there, laying out, fully extended, with his hand about 3 inches behind mine. Did I mention that they were up 14-2? The focus and constant intensity of players on that team is something to watch. 2. We don't play each other as physically as they should. We tend to be mild-mannered "No I insist, after you" types on the field and in practice. When we meet hard pounding, smash-mouth defenses in tournaments, this translates into turnovers. Again, though, I believe we're headed in the right direction. 3. I'm old, and need to which to HGH to keep up.

Who's the best player you've ever seen? How has your ideas of players changed since you went from being dvd watcher to opponent?

Derek Alexander. Although I should probably snub him because he didn't mention me in his article, I'll be the big man. In addition to being a great athlete, Derek has a great understanding of the game and tremendous field vision. He's also ice cold on the field. Derek was the inspiration for me to play ultimate at the club level. I should probably point out that he's almost (if not already) a better left handed thrower than I am, the key difference being that I am the only one of us that's left handed. The biggest thing I've noticed being in and around games vs watching them is the conditioning level of the players. Average tournaments can have seven or more games in a two day span, and there's people out there sprinting through cuts and tearing up grass in game seven like they were in game one. It's something you really can't appreciate unless you're in it or right next to it.

Who (teams, players) do you love to face in open?

I always like playing Toronto teams, even though our overall record isn't that great. When we play GOAT, or GT, or ROY, there's a little more than just a game on the line. There's pride, and bragging rights. Add to it that we have players from Toronto playing in Ottawa, and vice-versa, and there's another element added to the games. They're always fast paced, exciting games, even if they do get chippy once in a while.

Who's the best player in Ottawa?

Other than me right now, Derek Alexander. BT (Brett Taylor) said he'd destroy me if I didn't say him, but I think I can take him. He's a new father now, and probably tired and uncoordinated.

Who's the most overrated player in Ottawa/Canada?

Andy Corey, that guy had to go to Toronto to find a team that would take him. Then he managed to get to the semi-finals at UPA Nationals. I play with him on Wednesday's and I'm always carrying him.

Brett Taylor
Source Team Canada Masters 2004 site

What ultimate related thing is on your mind right now?

Whether or not my thumb hammer is game ready (yes, yes it is)

Anything else while I'm shoving the mic in your face?

I'm glad this is called Sharp(e) Cuts and not Sharpe(s) Cut.

Talking with Trainor- Dan Fassina

Nation,

Fresh off a UPA Masters Championship with DoG, Dan Fassina took the time to answer some of my questions about the game we all enjoy.

Montreal's Fassina becomes the first Canadian resident to win the UPA Masters. This was possible because his club team Mephisto was not active in the Fall series, and because Dan is good enough to play with DoG. He's represented Canada at Worlds (as recently as 2004 with the Masters team) and Mephisto has been a final four presence at Canadian nationals for over ten years.

What's the secret to his longevity? What are his opinions on other players, teams and the state of the game? Read on.

• I've been advised you were on DOG's Masters team this year. True?

Yes, my regular club team, Mephisto, didn’t participate in UPA Fall Series this year so I put myself out on the “free agent” market and I was fortunate enough to be invited to play for DoG.

• Describe the experience of playing with DoG?

It was an absolutely amazing experience. When I committed to playing with DoG my main goal was to get a chance to play with some of the players that I looked up to when I was learning the sport in the late 90’s. I was also hoping to get a chance to finally play at UPAs. I didn’t realistically expect that we would win the whole tournament.

It was a huge rush to get to play with legends of the game like Parinella, Alex De Frondeville, Steve Mooney, Paul Greff, Seeger, Lenny, John Bar and Jeff Brown. These guys also know so much about ultimate; I can’t imagine that there is a group of players more knowledgeable about ultimate than these guys. I tried to be a sponge around them and absorb as much information as I could.

• What teams/strategies impressed you?

I was impressed with all of the teams that we played. I expected a few of the teams to be stacked, with it being a Worlds qualifying year but I didn’t expect all of the teams to be as strong as they were. Ten of the twelve teams had a realistic chance of winning the tournament. Going into UPAs I was thinking to myself, “it’s Masters, it’ll be easy,” but there were a lot of players still capable of playing top level ultimate. Surly had a handful of guys who were on Sub-Zero and BAT last year, Boneyard had some former Ring of Fire guys and OLD SAG was loaded with guys straight out of the Philly open scene; all of whom chose Masters this year to try to qualify for Worlds.

As for strategies, most of the teams ran the standard plays that you would see anywhere else in ultimate. It was all standard vertical or horizontal stack. It seemed like a lot of the Masters players were new to the division and have brought their plays and strategies from the Open game with them. The strategy that actually impressed me the most was our own offense. It was straight out of the 1994 DoG Playbook. It hasn’t changed since then; it is so basic and it shouldn’t work but we just shredded through defenses with it.

• What does DoG do differently that any teams you have played with?

The big difference between DoG and any other team I’ve played on is the professional work ethic that they bring to every game. The focus that they bring to each game and the confidence in their abilities and training is unparalleled. I’m sure it’s largely a byproduct of their history of success but for them there is never any doubt about the outcome of a game. They are never disrespectful to the opposition but it’s more a sense that no matter how well the other team will play, DoG will play better. It’s a mentality that they back up with ridiculous amounts of hard work and effort.

• Moving on to National stuff, how was your Worlds 2004 experience?

Worlds in Finland were a great experience. The Finns did a great job hosting the tournament and really made all the teams feel like they were taking part in a World class event. It was a lot of fun to play against all the teams that I had never faced before like the Japanese, the Brits, the Swedes and even the American team, which was based out of Miami, whom I’d never faced before. It was really interesting to see how other countries approach the sport. Another thing I’ll never forget about that Worlds were the fields. Turku had the best fields I have ever played on; the amount of maintenance they put into their fields is comparable to what golf courses do over here.

• Would you like a second chance to win Masters gold at Worlds? Can Canada do it in 2008?

Since I normally play Open I think I’d rather have a chance to help Canada win gold in Open but if that doesn’t happen I would definitely relish a second shot at Masters gold. It will be difficult for the Canadian Masters team to beat the US in Vancouver but we do have the talent to pull it off. I think it’s too early to really talk about it because a lot depends on which players DoG and Tombstone will pickup to strengthen their rosters.

• What's your strongest asset as a player?

That’s a tough question to answer. In my mind every part of my game is an asset but what goes on in my mind and reality aren’t always the same. I’d have to say at this point in my career my biggest asset is the experience that I’ve picked up over the years; it helps get me out of dicey situations, helps me get into the right positions on the field, lets me make the correct throw choices (most of the time), allows me to exploit other players weaknesses and minimize my own.

• What's the most underrated skill in ultimate?

I’ve always been a very defensive minded player so I’m a little biased to that part of the game. I think the most underrated skill in ultimate is the ability to play strong silent defense. Players who play silent defense are easily overlooked because they aren’t getting big layout blocks and you don’t notice them since their player won’t get thrown to. But put a bunch of players with that ability on the field and you won’t need the big blocks, you’ll just pressure the opposition into turning it over on their own.

• What was your take on nationals 2007? What teams impress/disappointed you?

I was happy with the overall level of play of most of the teams but there is still too large of a gap between the top teams and the middle and bottom of the pack. I think there were too many teams in the tournament; I’m a big believer that Nationals should be a competitive tournament and not an expensive, party tournament. It makes it difficult to attract teams like Furious and Calgary to Nationals every year when half their games aren’t even a challenge and I really can’t blame them for only coming when Worlds is on the line. I think it’s a huge problem for Canadian ultimate right now. The focus since Nationals in Montreal in 2003 seems to be to try to have the most mind blowing party rather than on hosting the most competitive tournament. CUPA has to decide which way it wants to go because it can’t have both.

I’ll get back on topic though; of course Invictus, Goat and Furious were very impressive but there were a few other teams that impressed me, especially Red Circus. They gave us a really tough game, they had a good mix of experienced handlers and really athletic receivers. They were just missing that little bit to really breakthrough to the next level.

• Montreal Stuff.. how was the name Mephisto created? Are you an Original Member?

I wasn’t there when the captains came up with the name. I believe the story was that Mark “Shaggy” Zimmerl and the other captains sat around for hours trying to come up with a team name but couldn’t come to any sort of consensus. When everyone was on the way out the door Shaggy mentioned it was a shame they couldn’t come up with a name because he had this great drawing of Mephisto that he wanted to use as the logo. Right there everyone knew they had found the name. That happened in ’95 but Mephisto didn’t field their first regular team until ’96. I didn’t have anything to do with the team until ’96 so I don’t know if that qualifies me for original member status but it puts me pretty close. It also makes me feel a bit old. Shaggy and I are the only two players from ‘96 who are still on the team.

• How did you start playing ultimate?

I started playing ultimate in the fall of ’95 with the Concordia University Ski Team. We did it as a team building activity during dryland training. It just so happened that the field where we played was on the way home from work for Shaggy. Ever few days he would stop off and play a few points with us. Over the course of the fall he managed to convince a few of us to come to Mephisto tryouts in ’96. The fact that I managed to make Mephisto with little to no experience is more a testament to how bad we were that year than of anything else. It’s been really exciting to have been on the team from pretty much day one and to have been involved in building the team from nothing to a perennial semi-finalist at Nationals.

• What's the best Mephisto team ever (year)? Why?

Mephisto has had some really strong teams over the years. A couple that come to mind are the 1999 edition, which was the first Mephisto team that made semis at Nationals and the 2007 edition which made semis despite numerous injuries and a large number of rookies. But my vote for strongest team would go to the 2000 edition. We had a lot of great players on that team and it was the year that we finally managed to get the upper hand on Toronto when we beat Yes in the quarters.

• What is your opinion on the state of ultimate in Montreal? Quebec?

The Montreal ultimate scene has grown tremendously over the past decade. My first year playing there were only 8 teams in the league and in 2007 there were something like 150 teams. That's just the summer leagues; there are now all sorts of fall and winter leagues thanks to the explosion of both indoor and outdoor field-turf fields in the Montreal area. Probably the largest part of this growth is thanks to the increase in Francophone players in Montreal. When I started playing, ultimate was almost exclusively a sport for English speaking university kids but it's finally starting to reach more people. A lot of the Anglophone kids would play in the league for a few years and then go back home once they were finished school whereas the Francophone players are more likely to stay in Montreal since they are already home.

Currently the Montreal league is being managed by some very capable people and I can only imagine that this tremendous growth is going to continue despite the same old challenges like field availability.

This growth obviously has a trickle down effect on the level of competitive ultimate in Montreal. Mephisto's success for so many years was on the backs of students at McGill who would spend three or four years in Montreal and then move back home. That's obviously not the best way to try to build a team but it was very tough to find the talent to play at the level we wanted without relying on those players. We finally have enough local talent to build a team almost exclusively with Montreal based players; that can only be beneficial to Mephisto.

There are a lot of other teams and leagues in Quebec that are starting to develop into strong programs. The challenge for them will be to gain the experience playing high level ultimate that will really help push their growth forward. The big difficulty is that the demographic reality of Quebec is that the types of people who currently have this experience are more likely to leave the province than to move to it. As the talent pool continues to grow in Quebec there will continue to be a dispersal of this ultimate experience from Quebecers who move within the province. It's a slower process than importing a top level player into your city but you can finally start to see the results of this as some pretty solid teams are emerging from places like Quebec City, Sherbrooke, etc..

• Who's the best player in Montreal right now?

That’s a tough question to answer. I guess it depends on how you define the best player. According to my definition, it’s clearly me. Seriously though, it’s either Shaggy or Eric St-Amant. Shaggy is a remarkable player who has managed to play at the top level of the sport for a really long time. He was picked up by Goat for their latest Fall Series run and was used as a handler on the O line. Eric was also picked up by Goat this past fall; he is a machine. He’s relatively new to the game but anybody who scares the opposition as much as he does deserves to be considered among the best.

Pictured: Erik St. Amant and Mark "Shaggy" Zimmeral (#5)
Photo Source: Craig Stephen Photography