Liberal party withdraws commitment to electoral reform

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February 3, 2017

By: Benjamin Mussett

This past week Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government formally reneged on their campaign promise to reform the federal electoral system. Following a recent cabinet shuffle, which saw Karina Gould assume the post of minister of democratic institutions, the Liberal government publicly released a mandate letter addressed to Ms. Gould stating that “changing the electoral system will not be in your mandate.”

According to the letter signed by the Prime Minister, the decision was reached after extensive assessment completed by the House of Commons Special Committee on Electoral Reform and additional public consultation found that “a clear preference for a new electoral system, let alone a consensus, has not emerged.”

The topic of electoral reform has been a mainstay in Canadian politics over the past few decades, as critics of the current electoral system have pushed for a voting process which they feel would better reflect Canada’s political diversity.

What is the current electoral system?

The present first-past-the-post system awards victories based on a simple majority where the candidate or party which receives the most votes wins. While it is straightforward and easy to understand, this winner-takes-all approach has been criticized for its failure to produce governments which proportionally represent the votes cast.

According to the CBC, while the Liberal party received 39.9% of the popular vote in the 2015 federal election, they ended up with 54% of the total seats —enough to form a majority government. Meanwhile, the Green party garnered 3.5% of the popular vote yet only have a single seat in the House of Commons, or 0.02% of the share.

Opposition cries foul

The government’s announcement caused a significant stir in Ottawa. Electoral reform had been widely touted within the 2015 Liberal party platform and was again reiterated by Prime Minister Trudeau in his first throne speech where he pledged that “2015 will be the last federal election conducted under the first-past-the-post voting system.”

“This is one of the most cynical displays of self-serving politics this government has yet to engage in,” deplored New Democratic Party democratic reform critic Nathan Cullen according to CBC News.

While the announcement to abandon electoral reform evoked strong reaction from opposition parties, the Liberals’ decision to abandon reform cannot come as a major shock after months of public wavering. In an interview with the Quebec newspaper Le Devoir in October, Trudeau appeared to be easing away from the policy pledge. Noting his continued popularity in the polls, a confident Trudeau said the call for electoral reform had been much greater under Stephen Harper and has subsequently diminished with his government.

Thereafter, Maryam Monsef, who held the democratic institutions ministership prior to Ms. Gould, drew significant backlash after ridiculing a parliamentary committee report for being imprecise and allegedly demonstrating no consensus on the matter. The report, produced by an opposition-dominated committee, had advocated for a proportional representation system and urged the government to call a national referendum. Ms. Monsef subsequently apologized for her comments.

A call to the public

In December, the Liberals introduced an online survey encouraging the public to weigh in on the issue. However, according to the Huffington Post the survey failed to pose the question of what voting system Canadians actually preferred, did not mention alternative systems and was criticized as a largely cosmetic effort to gauge public opinion. In the end, the findings reportedly showed that Canadians were fairly content with the current system, challenging previous polls which had demonstrated a palpable desire for change.

“We are in a time of dangerous politics. You must never do anything as a politician who understands what’s at stake that feeds cynicism. Cynicism has enough to feed itself. It is work to feed hope. It is work to feed faith. And when you break faith you will reap what you sow.”

Alluding to the recent wave of populism and rejection of politics as usual, these remarks, reported by CBC News, from Green party leader Elizabeth May, ominously warned of the ramifications the broken promise could have. Only time will tell whether May’s caution will come to a head. Meanwhile, the Liberals will take the risk, confident that public backlash can be weathered.

For those interested, a petition calling for electoral reform is available to sign here.

With files from CBC News, the Globe and Mail, the Guardian (Charlottetown), the Huffington Post and the Broadbent Institute.

Virtual reality technologies aren’t only for the gamers out there

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EIC

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February 3, 2017

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What used to be mere fun and games is now becoming a key player in treating various mental health conditions. Virtual reality (VR) technologies are being introduced to patients of hospitals and care homes across Canada. The premise is that users are able to escape to a more pleasing environment, and can keep their mind off of anything that may negatively affect them in their actual life.

OpenLab at Toronto General Hospital is hoping to improve the lives of seniors, in particular. For patients who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s, it is dangerous for them to wander around outside of the hospital, despite their willingness to do so. VR technology allows them to enjoy the same positive effects of going for a walk outside, while in a safe place for them to do so. This could also be beneficial to patients who suffer from depression or anxiety, where VR technology would allow them to experience being in a place that is more enjoyable for them.

Mount Royal University professor, Anthony Chaston, is focusing his studies on VR for anxiety treatment for hospital patients. According to CBC News, Chaston mentioned reasearch shows “[. . .] that being exposed to natural environments and relaxing environments will lower anxiety levels.”

In his project, they have emulated this by having users walk through beaches, Japanese zen gardens, and mountains. They hope to continue to fine-tune the experience by making sure they have virtual realities that will appease all demographics, as what’s relaxing for some may not be for others.

As for the researches at OpenLab, they’ve had some obstacles to face. Wearing the VR headset has been proven to be quite overwhelming for some users, even causing motion sickness in some. However, this may be surmounted with training, in order to adapt to these new sensations — similar to the training astronauts receive.

For now, seniors are trying different types of VR that does not require the headset component. These include driving simulators and CAREN (Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment), which is has been especially helpful for assisting those learning to walk after severe injury.

An article in VR Fitness Insider claims that VR technology will be the answer to many health issues in the future. VR could be the key to helping people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and for amputees. Those who suffer from SAD experience extreme mental and physical deterioration of their health in winter months when they have limited exposure to the sun. As they must stay indoors during the coldest times of the year, VR would be able to emulate the summer all year long for them, enabling them to have an improved lifestyle during their hardest time of the year.

For amputees suffering from phantom limb pain, researchers at the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden are working on a VR headset that can interpret signals from the brain and produce a visual replication of what their limb could previously do — almost like in Avatar! Almost.

In all of these cases, VR is proven to show a significant positive change in patients. As VR technology is rapidly becoming more advanced, the results in the medical field are surely to improve as well.

Six deaths in a shooting at the Islamic cultural centre of Quebec City

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Peak Web

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February 3, 2017

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By: Manon Busseron

The images released by the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec show bullet marks and blood on the walls. Last Sunday, the mosque was targeted by Alexandre Bissonnette, who opened fire on Muslim people gathered inside the building for evening prayers. Six people died and 19 were wounded.

Bissonnette surrendered to police after trying to escape. His classmates and neighbors described him as quiet, withdrawn, and introverted. His twin brother was called “the good one” whereas he was “the bad one,” according to Le Monde.

Bissonette was a student studying anthropology and political science at Laval University, and was known for his far-right opinions. He asserted himself as opposed to gun control and regularly “liked” Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front (France’s main far-right political party) on social media. A former classmate said that Bissonnette became more and more conservative and “radicalized a lot.” He also used Facebook to criticize a refugee support group, whose members told the police that he was also anti-feminist and often used the term “feminazi” to qualify women’s rights activists.

It is not the first time that the mosque has been attacked — swastikas were painted on the walls several months before. In June, a gift-wrapped pig head was left on the doorstep with a message saying “bon appétit.” After these incidents, surveillance cameras were installed to try to protect the mosque from other intrusions.

Premier Philippe Couillard and Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume expressed their grief to Muslim leaders. Couillard declared that “we are not different from other societies. We have the same devils. Xenophobia, racism, exclusion exist in Quebec, too. Our role as leaders is to express without any compromise our rejection of these type of thoughts and attitudes.”

This statement sounded as a direct response to Jean-François Lisée, leader of the Parti Québécois, who recently advocated a ban on Muslim clothing as a way of preventing terrorist attacks. He later retracted his statement, but has kept advocating the debate about Muslim clothing in the public sphere, regularly linking it to security matters.

Bissonnette has been charged with six counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, but it is still unsure whether he is going to face terrorism charges. Canada’s Criminal Code defines terrorism as an act committed “for a political, religious, or ideological purpose, objective or cause. . . with the intention of intimidating the public, or a segment of the public with regard to its security.” The court thus has to prove that this was the motive behind the attack to charge Bissonnette with terrorism; otherwise, it will be considered a hate crime.

Lawyer Eric Sutton declared that there was “no real purpose” in charging Bissonnette with terrorism charges, since being convicted for six first-degree murders could sentence him to 150 years without parole. Nevertheless, terrorism charges would add a symbolic weight to the sentence.

This shooting has reopened the debate about cultural diversity and tolerance in Canada. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi declared to a CBC journalist that despite an undeniable multiculturalism, “elements of intolerance, small-mindedness, and xenophobia are just below the surface.” The attack and the following divided political response seem to confirm this position.

With files from CBC and Le Monde

Men’s basketball lose 77–64 to Alaska Fairbanks

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EIC

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February 3, 2017

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Iziah Sherman-Newsome had 13 points and nine rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

Thursday night’s game against the University of Alaska Fairbanks shared a few similarities with the previous encounter. In both games SFU held a halftime lead — a much larger one in the first game — and in both games the Clan weren’t able to win. After leading 35–31 heading into the second half, SFU was outscored by 17 points in the second frame enroute to a 77–64 loss.

The Clan came out roaring to start, and at one point led by 14 after an Izaiah Sherman-Newsome layup. And even though the Nanooks were able to claw their way back, there were some positive signs that this was to be their first conference victory of the season. Michael Provenzano had 14 points to lead all players, and JJ Pankratz had 13 on a perfect 5–5 from the field.

However, in what is starting to become a common theme this season, SFU just wasn’t able to close the game out in the second half. They let in 46 points in the second half as Alaska shot over 50% from the field. SFU in contrast, exactly 33.3%. The change was evident by the stat lines of the two aforementioned players. Provenzano had only five points in the second half, while Pankratz only had three points on one for four shooting.

Michael Provenzano led SFU with 19 points in 38 minutes. Isaiah Sherman-Newsome had 13 points — nine of which came in the second half — and nine rebounds. Hidde Vos played 29 minutes after seeing only 18 against Montana State Billings.

Despite losing 17 straight games, the team hasn’t necessarily been played off the court in every single loss. Just like with every long streak such as this, whether it be wins or losses, there is a certain amount of luck that is involved. The team can look to this game, as well as the previous game against Alaska Fairbanks and the close game against Western Washington at home to situations that with a bit more good fortune, could have been victories.

Next Game: SFU has a day off to recover, but then will play the other Alaska team, Alaska Anchorage on Saturday. Last time these teams played SFU was held to under 50 points in a 77–47 loss at home. Alaska Anchorage is 10th in scoring offence with 75 points per game but have the best defence by far in the conference, giving up a paltry 65.4 points per game — close to seven points less than second place Saint Martins. Sekou Wiggs is the player to watch for the opposition. He’s second in conference scoring, averaging 24.3 points per game.

Tip-off is at 4:15 p.m. Pacific.

Velasquez, Molle repeat as champions at California Collegiate Open

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EIC

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February 2, 2017

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Simon Fraser University - North Idaho College Men's Wrestling — Cruz Velasquez was able to come out on top in the 133lbs weight class

Cruz Velasquez and Sean Molle returned from the California Collegiate Open this weekend as champions once again. Velasquez won the 133lbs weight class while Molle took the gold in heavyweight. The Clan competed in San Francisco on Saturday, placing four of their athletes in the top four.

“Great results for Cruz and Molle to repeat as champs at probably the second-toughest tournament we’ve entered this year,” head coach Justin Abdou said.

The California Collegiate Open is one of the largest tournaments attended by the men’s wrestling team. It’s in its 40th year of existence and boasts some of the top teams in multiple NCAA divisions.

Abdou said, “It’s a good measuring stick for where we are at this point in the season as we start to focus on the regional tourney.”

The regionals are an important tournament for the Clan. The top four in each weight class at the regionals will qualify for the national tournament in March. Last year, the Clan qualified just two wrestlers for the national tournament, with Tyler McLean taking All-American honours at 165lbs.

This tournament is a good measuring stick for the Clan this year. Reid Watkins narrowly missed out on the top three. This result is important for Watkins, who qualified for the national tournament last year, but just came up short of being an All-American. Abdou called the weekend “a nice step forward for Watkins, who has been somewhat inconsistent throughout his career, but always seems to step it up for the post-season. He defeated two quality Division I opponents and had a close battle with a 2016 All-American.”

The Clan had to compete without two of their biggest leaders this weekend. Josh Kim and Morgan Smith both sat out with minor injuries, and are expected to be back against Arizona on February 9. At 197lbs, Ciaran Ball was forced to fill in, and fell just short of placing in the top three.

“[He] had a strong showing with some big wins. He just came up short in the semi-final, losing an overtime tie-breaker to the eventual champion from Division I — Stanford,” Abdou said.

The Clan only have two more duels before the regional tournament. They will face off against Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Arizona on February 9, then California Baptist in Riverside, California two days later.

The regional tournament takes place on February 24 and 25 in Golden, Colorado. For those who qualify, the national tournament will be on March 11 in Birmingham, Alabama.

Clan on track after UW Invitational

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EIC

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February 1, 2017

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Joel_Webster_DSC_1940 — Joel Webster and the 4x400 relay team finished with a time good enough for 16th nationally.

A total of 11 athletes and three relay teams posted provisional qualifying times at the Seattle meet this past weekend, sparking hopes of success in 2017 for the Clan.

Speaking to The Peak following the event, head coach Brit Townsend said, “There are a few events where we look like we’re going to be pretty good. We’re currently ranked number one in the women’s DMR [distance medley relay] in the nation right now, so it’s very unlikely we’re going to drop out of the qualifying spots. Also, their time is five seconds faster than the qualifying time from last year, so I think we’re safe in that event.

“We feel pretty confident about Addy [Townsend] too — she’s 11th right now with a time of 4:54.60, but 4:58 qualified last year,” Townsend continued. “We also had a whole bunch of provisional times, too, from the likes of Katherine Lucas and Daniel Kelloway. They’re not quite there yet in terms of time, but they’re on the ranking list now and we have other competitions they’re going to.”

The team was also forced to overcome the challenge of enduring a month without an adequate track facility during the winter break, as the weather played havoc with the group’s preparation for the indoor season. Townsend, therefore, was unsurprisingly pleased with the efforts of her squad.

“The indoor season is short and fast. We really reiterated that. In the first meet out, they had to really go for it because you lose an opportunity otherwise.

“We struggled over the holidays with the weather — we ran in the AQ, or we were on the treadmills for hard workouts. We had to adapt and keep people inspired and motivated. We can adapt to different things as long as that effort and intensity is there. We were pleasantly surprised when we got that first meet under our belt.”

With their campaign now underway, a number of Clan athletes will have their eyes on securing a berth at the NCAA Indoor Nationals in Alabama at the beginning of March. The strength in depth that has emerged in the SFU team is a factor that has not escaped the attention of Townsend, who is hoping their early season potential can translate into a successful season on the national stage.

“We had more provisional qualifiers than we’ve ever had, so that just shows the overall depth of our team has improved dramatically. Katherine Lucas and Nathan Mah have been two great additions to our program this year. Addy, as a sophomore, ran a really great time, and Carlos Vargas ran a five-second personal best to be in with a chance of qualifying. Those kids are starting to show some good things.”

Townsend also praised runners who already have had good qualifying marks such as Daniel Kelloway and Chantel Desch.

“You’ve also got the likes of Daniel Kelloway, Chantel Desch, Joel Webster — honestly, a few more tenths off, and they’re right in contention as well.

“We had 11 qualify last year and that was our best ever. If we can get up and around that, then that’ll be fantastic.”

Apply to be our Editor-in-Chief

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EIC

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February 1, 2017

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It’s that time of year again: The Peak is electing its next Editor-in-Chief.

We’re looking for a student with talent, ambition, and the ability to lead and manage a diverse team of writers, editors, photographers, filmmakers, and designers. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for everything we publish in our paper, and determines the shape that The Peak will take in the coming year. Previous editorial and managerial experience is an asset.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Fill out our application form and send it to [email protected] by Friday, February 3 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants are expected to give a brief presentation and field questions during our collective meeting on Wednesday, February 8 at 12:30 p.m. The chosen candidate will be announced at the following meeting on February 15.

The Editor-in-Chief job description can be found here. Candidates must be registered students in good academic standing throughout their one-year term.

Good luck!

Meet the players who could be joining SFU football for the 2017 season

By

EIC

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January 31, 2017

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With no wins the last two season, the Clan are looking to build a foundation that will propel them to future success. This includes building the offensive line, which struggled to protect quarterback Miles Richardson.

The interesting thing about college football — or any collegiate sport, for that matter — is that players have only four years of being eligible to play. While professional sports teams lose players all the time — whether by aging, or cap troubles, or a decline in play, etc. — there’s no automated process that says they have to.

That’s what makes recruiting for college football programs so important. It’s as SFU head coach Kelly Bates says, about “plug[ging] holes.”

And SFU’s got a few holes they need plugged. With the graduation of key players like linebackers Jordan and Justin Herdman and running back Ante Milanovic-Litre, the team’s got a lot of valuable players to replace — in all, 14 seniors played their last game with the team last season.

It’s not just about plugging holes, however — it’s about building the foundation of a winning program. After two consecutive win-less seasons, the players signing this recruiting season will play a key role in whether or not this team becomes competitive in the coming years.

Obvious targets are the offensive and defensive line. Last season, the offensive line in particular struggled to protect quarterback Miles Richardson, and it seemed like he was in danger of getting sacked nearly every play.

“We’re just too small right now. We’re asking some guys right now that are young and really shouldn’t be put in that position yet to do some things, but that’s where we are right now,” Bates said after a 57–0 home loss on October 22. “We need to bring in some size and depth at those two key positions, because you’re only as good as your offensive and defensive line[s].”

Adding some depth to the quarterback position will probably be a key focus, as well.

But Bates’ shopping list is probably quite long, as SFU needs bodies in nearly every position.

National Signing Day, the first day that high school students can sign a letter of intent — a binding document that commits them to the program — is this Wednesday. Last year, SFU announced 27 recruits on National Signing Day, a marked improvement a year after having only received four on the day of.

While there are continued signings after National Signing Day, the majority of the action will be this Wednesday, as SFU announces the players who have signed with them.

Here’s a list of prospective recruits that announced having received offers from SFU in the last few months:

(NOTE: In the majority of cases with these potential recruits, the first position listed is their primary position played. However, it is common at the college level for a player to be developed in a position different than their primary high school position.)

Ryan Naylor

Announcement of Offer: January 12

Position(s): Wide Receiver, Free Safety

Height & Weight: 6’3″ 190lbs

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Football team: Stadium High School (HS) – Tacoma, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: Dakota State (NAIA)

Thankful to say I have received an offer from Simon Fraser University!🏈🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/ruwVD4O3Ef

— Ryan Naylor (@RyRynaylor) January 13, 2017

ANNOUNCED COMMITMENT TO SFU – January 30

Officially commited to Simon Fraser University!🏈🇨🇦#TheClan17 #StadiumFootball pic.twitter.com/NircCK4xj0

— Ryan Naylor (@RyRynaylor) January 31, 2017

Shea Carstens

Announcement of Offer: January 22

Position(s): Free Safety, Running Back

Height & Weight: 5’9″ 170lbs

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Football Team: O’Dea High School – Seattle, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: Buena Vista University (NCAA Div III), University of Redlands (NCAA Div III)

Beyond thankful to have received my 3rd offer from Simon Fraser University #AllfaithinGod pic.twitter.com/fBOKpWRyV3

— 21 21 (@sheaC_3) January 23, 2017

ANNOUNCED COMMITMENT TO SFU – January 30

Committed 🔴⚪️🔵pic.twitter.com/khxGgR6rju

— 21 21 (@sheaC_3) January 31, 2017

Colton Michaels

Announcement of Offer: January 31

Position(s): Centre, Guard, Defensive Tackle, Defensive End

Height & Weight: 6’3″ 220lbs

Hometown: Tacoma, WA

Football team: Stadium High School (HS) – Tacoma, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced.

ANNOUNCED COMMITMENT TO SFU – January 31

Grateful for the offer from Simon Fraser University to play at the next level. Thanks to all who have supported me through the process. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/n4ymM5BIf8

— Colton Michaels (@Colt_M79) January 31, 2017

Drew Gilmore

Announcement of Offer: September 21

Position(s): Centre, Defensive Tackle, Offensive Guard, Offensive Tackle

Height and Weight: 6’5″ 235lbs

Hometown: Vallejo, CA

Football Team: St. Patrick/St. Vincent High School (HS) – Vallejo, CA

Hudl:

Other offers: University of San Diego (Div I FCS), Kentucky Christian University (NAIA)

Blessed to have received my third offer from Simon Fraser University!! pic.twitter.com/NeHFNGWojM

— Gilly (@mrdrewgilmore) September 22, 2016

Mekai Clarke

Announcement of Offer: December 6

Position(s): Free Safety, Cornerback

Height and Weight: 5’11” 185lbs

Hometown: Toronto, ON

Football Team: Chabot College (JUCO) – Hayward, CA (2 years eligibility)

Hudl:

Other offers: Southwest Minnesota State University (NCAA Div II)

Blessed to receive an offer from SFU!! @BWyllie8 pic.twitter.com/T5O4dORRlv

— Mekai Clarke (@Donner_1) December 7, 2016

Chervendy Dorsainvil

Announcement of Offer: December 14

Position(s): Outside Linebacker

Height and Weight: 6’3″ 220lbs

Hometown: Ottawa, ON

Football Team: Canada Prep Football Academy (HS) – St Catharines, ON

Hudl:

Other offers: Southern Baptist University (NCAA Div II)

Just picked up an offer from Simon Fraser U 🙌🏾pic.twitter.com/U3cnc85bEL

— Chevy Numba6 (@ItzYaBoiiChevy) December 14, 2016

Mason Brown

Announcement of Offer: December 22

Position(s): Quarterback, Slotback

Height and Weight: 6’1″ 202lbs

Football Team: Royal Imperial Knights Football Academy – St Catharines, ON

Hudl:

Other offers: None announced.

Very excited to announce I’ve received my first NCAA scholarship offer from Simon Fraser University!! pic.twitter.com/X8siJz4n5V

— mason (@mason22brown3) December 22, 2016

Connor Johnson

Announcement of Offer: December 23

Position(s): Quarterback

Height and Weight: 6’2″ 215lbs

Hometown: Everett, WA

Football Team: Archbishop Murphy High School (HS) – Everett, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: Western State Colorado University (NCAA Div II), Dakota State University (NAIA), Southern Oregon University (NAIA)

Honored to receive my 3rd offer to play college football at Simon Fraser University🏈pic.twitter.com/bcWutleLXs

— CoJo (@ConnorJohnson66) December 23, 2016

JT Tumanuvao

Announcement of Offer: December 31

Position(s): Guard

Height and Weight: 6’2″ 270lbs

Hometown: Camas, WA

HS: Camas High School (HS) – Camas, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None announced.

Blessed to receive an offer from Simon Fraser University. #SFU #VancouverBC #Blessed pic.twitter.com/AWEcr2U3Zk

— JT Tumanuvao (@JTtumanuvao) December 31, 2016

Michael Boyle

Announcement of Offer: January 7

Position(s): Kicker, Punter

Height and Weight: 6’1″ 170lbs

Hometown: Camas, WA

HS: Camas High School (HS) – Camas, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None announced.

Excited to announce that I received an offer from Simon Fraser University! #sfu pic.twitter.com/76j3ojbJ5C

— Michael Boyle (@Michael__Boy) January 8, 2017

Devin Devlin

Announcement of Offer: January 7

Position(s): Defensive End, Outside Linebacker

Height and Weight: 6’3″ 220lbs

Hometown: Vallejo, CA

Football team: St. Patrick/St. Vincent High School (HS) – Vallejo, CA

Hudl:

Other offers: Kentucky Christian (NAIA)

Thankful to have received my second offer from Simon Fraser University! pic.twitter.com/AeLcCo2ubK

— devin devlin (@devin_devlin) January 8, 2017

Brandon Thompson

Announcement of Offer: January 13

Position(s): Running Back, Cornerback

Height and Weight: 5’10” 172lbs

Hometown: Yelm, WA

Football team: Yelm High School (HS) – Yelm, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: Tacoma Community College (baseball)

Blessed to have received my first scholarship offer to play football at Simon Fraser University!🙏🏽pic.twitter.com/RE5AWEA04b

— BT3️⃣2️⃣ (@Brandon_Thomp32) January 14, 2017

Jake Kim

Announcement of Offer: January 18

Position(s): Defensive End, Running Back

Height and Weight: 5’11” 195lbs

Hometown: Woodinville, WA

Football Team: Woodinville High School – Woodinville, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced.

Honored to have received my first football scholarship offer from SFU 🏈💪#SackCity pic.twitter.com/rxPQAJyx35

— Sack City 3️⃣2️⃣ (@KimmyJJ1999) January 19, 2017

Aron Mulugheta

Announcement of Offer: January 19

Position(s): Cornerback, Wide Receiver, Punter

Height and Weight: 6’1″ 180lbs

Hometown: Seattle, WA

Football Team: Garfield High School (HS) – Seattle, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced

Truly Blessed to receive an offer from SFU 🙌🏿@RegJones20 @KeenanNorth @JT0200 pic.twitter.com/17s6NyXlmF

— Aron Mulugheta (@A_aye_ron1) January 20, 2017

Justin Harrison

Announcement of Offer: January 22

Position(s): Defensive Tackle, Defensive End

Height and Weight: 6’0″ 265lbs

Hometown: Brampton, ON

Football team: Viera High School (HS) – Viera, FL

Hudl:

Other offers: Bethany Swedes (NAIA), Birmingham Southern (NCAA Div III), St Norbert College (NCAA Div III)

Blessed to have received an offer from Simon Fraser University! pic.twitter.com/FKbzSambS0

— Justin Harrison (@JustinHarrison) January 22, 2017

Isaiah Sahagun

Announcement of Offer: January 23

Position(s): Outside Linebacker, Running Back

Height and Weight: 5’11” 185lbs

Hometown: San Ramon, CA

Football Team: California High School (HS) – San Ramon, CA

Hudl:

Other offers: Central Methodist University (NAIA)

Proud to announce that I have received my second offer from Simon Fraser University! @SFUFootball @SFUClan pic.twitter.com/9yFw4RqX2E

— Zay (@the_isahagun) January 24, 2017

Nick Kaye

Announcement of Offer: January 29

Position(s): Middle Linebacker, Strong Safety

Height and Weight: 6’3″ 200lbs

Hometown: Monroe, WA

Football Team: Lakeside High School – Seattle, WA

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced.

Beyond blessed to say I have received my first offer from Simon Fraser University❗️pic.twitter.com/No8HmgEv0g

— Nick Kaye (@datnickcray) January 30, 2017

Peter Kourtis

Announcement of Offer: October 26

Position(s): Centre, Guard

Height & Weight: 6’6″ 320lbs

Hometown: St Catharines, ON

Football team: Canada Prep Football Academy (HS) – St Catharines, ON

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced.

S/O to 2017 OL Peter Kourtis @CanadaPrep on his offer to #SFU (NCAA D2)!! Pete is 6’6 320 & has tons of potential!! https://t.co/CnuaV2jn8r

— Geoff McArthur (@CoachMcArthur6) October 27, 2016

Sam Mueller

Announcement of Offer: January 11

Position(s): Cornerback, Kick Returner

Height & Weight: 6’1” 170lbs

Hometown: Crystal River, FL

Football team: Jesuit High School – Portland, OR

Hudl:

Other offers: None Announced.

Blessed to recieve a Division II offer from Simon Frasier🏈pic.twitter.com/mJqV47qXoc

— Sam Mueller (@sammueller33) January 12, 2017

OFF THE LIST:

There were a number of prospective recruits who announced that they received offers from SFU, but have since committed to another football program.

Darius MacKay

Committed to: Carleton University (USports)

Position(s): Center, Guard

Height and Weight: 6’4″ 285lbs

Hometown: Burnaby, BC

Football Team: Woodberry Forest High School (HS) – Woodberry Forest, VA

Hudl:

Wil Hamilton

Committed to: Air Force Academy (NCAA Div I FBS)

Position(s): Defensive Tackle, Center

Height and Weight: 6’1″ 280lbs

Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ

Football Team: Chaparral High School (HS) – Scottsdale, AZ

Hudl:

Jake Meisen

Committed to: Central Washington (NCAA Div II – GNAC)

Position(s): Wide Receiver, Quarterback

Height and Weight: 6’1″ 182lbs

Hometown: West Linn, OR

Football Team: West Linn High School (HS) – West Linn, OR

Hudl:

William George

Committed to: UC Davis (NCAA Div I FCS)

Position(s): Tackle, Defensive Tackle

Height and Weight: 6’4″ 280lbs

Hometown: Stockton, CA

Football Team: Lincoln High School (HS) – Stockton, CA

Hudl:

Anthony Reisch

Committed to: Carroll College (NAIA)

Position(s): Guard

Height and Weight: 6’3″ 280lbs

Hometown: West Pasco, WA

Football Team: Chiawana High School – Pasco, WA

Hudl:

Ryan Goodman

Committed to: Azusa Pacific (GNAC)

Position(s): Centre, Guard

Height & Weight: 6’2″ 270lbs

Hometown: Westlake Village, CA

Football team: Oaks Christian School – Westlake Village, CA

Hudl:

Other offers: University of San Diego (NCAA Div I FCS), Stetson University (NCAA Div I FCS), Southern Nazerene University (NCAA Div II), Linfield Wildcats (NCAA Div III), Minot State (NCAA Div II), Hastings College (NAIA), Missouri Baptist University (NAIA), Kentucky Christian University (NAIA)

Simon Fraser grind out win against Western Oregon

By

Peak Web

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January 30, 2017

0

sfubball-december29th-71 — Ellen Kett, seen here in action earlier in the season, had 7 points, 8 assists, and 7 rebounds in 39 minutes.

The Clan continued their strong season by winning on Saturday in Oregon, even though it wasn’t pretty. Both teams shot below 40% from the field on the night, and both teams scored well below their season average.

While Simon Fraser only scored 12 points in the first quarter, their defense made up for it as Western Oregon failed to even get into double-digits. They were on their way to a low-scoring affair.

In the second quarter, an Elisa Homer three-pointer helped give the team a 21–12 lead early. After another three-pointer by Homer, a Shelby Snook basket put the teams at 28–20 going into the half. At this point, Homer was leading all scorers with 11 points in 17 minutes, including three three-pointers. All of these points came in an impressive second quarter.

The Clan was able to extend this lead in the third quarter, as a Rachel Fradgley basket gave them a 38–24 lead at 5:51. This lead eventually extended to as much as 17, after a Homer three-pointer made the score 46–29 at 2:40. Going into the fourth quarter, the lead was still at a comfortable 13 points: 46–33. In a game in which the basket seemed two sizes too small, Simon Fraser were confident they would maintain this edge.

The fourth quarter went in favour of the opponent, however, as the Wolves were able to cut the lead to as little as seven. The Clan responded, as a layup and a pair of free throws by Ellen Kett helped stop the run, and strong play down the stretch showed why Simon Fraser is one of the best teams in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC). They would eventually go on to win 60–49, as they were outscored 16–14 in the fourth — the only quarter they didn’t win in the game.

In a game in which both teams couldn’t buy a basket, Elisa Homer’s shooting touch stood out even more than usual. She went 5–8 from behind the arc, eventually leading all scorers with 17 points. Rachel Fradgley also played well offensively, as she had 12 points on an efficient 6–9 shooting from the field. While the 21 turnovers are worrisome, the grind-it-out effort Simon Fraser displayed more than made up for it.

With this win Simon Fraser improves to 10–2 in the GNAC and 19–3 overall.

Next Game: The Clan will look to extend their winning streak to four games as they host Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday, February 2. Northwest Nazarene are an even 6–6 in conference play, and 8–10 overall.

SFU lose to Montana State Billings 93–86

By

Peak Web

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January 30, 2017

0

Michael Provenzano had 23 points and 7 assists while playing the entire 40 minutes.

It was a game that could have gone either way, but ended up going to the better team. While games like these show that Simon Fraser can play with anybody, failure to execute down the stretch plagued the Clan again.

The team got off to a nice start on the road, as JJ Pankratz and Michael Provenzano helped the team gain an 8–0 lead early. In the 11th minute, however, a three-pointer by Marc Matthews and pair of free throws by Preston Beverly gave the home team a 19–17 edge. After a Provenzano layup tied the game, Matthews and Beverly helped carry the Yellowjackets during a 15–3 run. Later on, a Beverly three-pointer gave Montana State Billings a 42–33 lead heading into the half.

Provenzano played a great first half for the Clan, as he had 12 points and three assists, including two three-pointers, playing all 20 minutes. For the other side, Beverly lead all first half scorers with 21 points.

The second half didn’t begin well for Simon Fraser, as Montana State Billings extended their lead to 14 by the 12th minute. Between 8:09 and 6:30, however, the Clan went on a 9–0 run, eventually cutting the lead to three: 66–63. At this point, the game was anybody’s.

In this one, however, Simon Fraser couldn’t pull out the win, continuing their losing streak. They eventually lost 93–86, as the Clan fouled down the stretch after being down by as much as 12 in the closing minutes.

Even with the loss, there are some positives to take from the game. Michael Provenzano played a great game for the Clan, as he had 23 points and seven assists while playing all 40 minutes. Kedar Wright finished with 16 points on an efficient 6–9 from the field. Also, Simon Fraser were plus 10 in bench points and plus nine in second chance points.

These are the type of games that are reflective of Simon Fraser’s season so far. Their relative inexperience has hurt them down the stretch before, but they have the talent to compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and should be better as the season continues.

With this loss Simon Fraser loses their 16th straight game, and fall to 0–12 in conference play (2–18 overall). While this is starting to look like a season to forget, the Clan will look to improve as the season goes on.

Next Game: The Clan will travel to Alaska on Groundhog Day, and look to put the shadows of their losing streak behind them. Alaska are 4–8 in conference play this season, and 8–11 overall.