Canadian University
Ultimate Championships
2008
BY ROB BRUNELLE
TO HOST THE CANADIAN University
Ultimate Championships in Edmonton AB in
October was certainly a risky move, but the
weather cooperated, and the stage was set
for some exciting matchups. The University of
Toronto, fresh off a strong win at the Eastern
University Championships hoped to continue
their dominance in the West. But the University
of Alberta Bears, carrying a roster that included championship game. In women’s, the UBC
Psychoplastique and TFP players, hoped to unseat Thunderbirds continued their dominance, leading

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the defending champions. On the women’s side, to a matchup against the U of A Pandas in the VIN
the host team, the U of A Pandas, carried a deep Sunday final where their meticulous, cautious
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and talented roster, while the UBC women, with offense and aggressive defense continued to
only seven players, surprised everyone with their work for them. The Thunderbirds won their

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ability to win quickly, carefully conserving their seventh straight game of the tournament to take
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energy throughout the weekend. the championship.
The first day of competition saw a lot of zone The men’s final was a hard-fought match
defense as the wind stifled the huck game. On between the defending champions and a fast,
the men’s side, the University of Toronto defeated young U of A squad. The U of T came out strong
the University of Regina, the U of A, and King’s and opened a 7-4 lead. After a time-out, the
College from Edmonton on its way to becoming Bears went to the huck game that has worked
the only team to go undefeated in pool play. In well for them in the past. They scored the next
women’s, the UBC Thunderbirds steamrolled point and followed with three more breaks to
opposing teams, using fast disc movement and take half. In the second half, both teams went to
limited turnovers to get past teams quickly the air, battling point for point until the U of T
without wearing themselves down. UBC’s capitalized on a callahan score and the ensuing
veteran captain, Katie Berezan, understood momentum. The University of Toronto defeated
well the challenges of playing the tournament the U of A 15-11 to become the 2008 Canadian
without substitutions. “Our game plan was University champions. »U
efficiency! Every point that we lost was one more
that we would all have to play.” Committed to
conserving their energy for the difficult upcoming
playoff rounds, the Thunderbirds methodically
stuck to their game plan and won every match
in their pool.
Pool play ended Saturday, and the top teams
moved on to playoffs. The day started with a lot
of fog, but by the afternoon, the conditions were
perfect for long strikes and big hucks. The U of T
and U of A dispatched the University of Regina
and the University of Saskatchewan respectively,
advancing to a much-anticipated East vs. West
www.canadianultimate.com — Ultimate Canada Magazine 25
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