Sports journalism during the pandemic

PHOTO BY MARKUS SPISKE / UNSPLASH   There is no question about it; most sports, especially school sports, have been slow-going over the last eight months or so, and it’s impacted more than just the athletes who play the game. …

Categories: Sports

Work ethic in sports

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   Whether you are playing on a team or competing in a solo sport, the work ethic of an athlete is crucial for any sort of success within their sport. While different sports can…

Categories: Sports

Minor sports on hold pending Ontario lockdown

PHOTO BY JEREMY VYN / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   What started as a thrilling return to minor league sports after an extended break has now reversed itself into another period of uncertainty.   Postponed and cancelled events, and unhappy athletes…

Categories: Sports

NHL returns during second wave of COVID

PHOTO BY JEREMY VYN, THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   The next NHL season has an official start date after months of uncertainty surrounding the return of professional hockey amidst a continuing pandemic.   On Dec. 20, 2020, the league made a…

Categories: Sports

Athletes balancing between sport and spirit

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   The holiday season is finally here. While the festive period is a time for relaxation from school and sports, healthy habits may slowly start to fade away. Particularly for athletes, balance is an…

Categories: Sports

What is happening in the NBA?

PHOTO BY REUBEN JAMES SORIANO / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   The NBA has announced the 2020/2021 season will start on December 22, 2020.   After confusion and mayhem surrounding when the NBA season would restart again this year, details and…

Categories: Sports

What defines a sport?

PHOTO BY SARA SHEIKH / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   A common debate that surrounds the world of sports is the elements that allow a particular activity to become labelled as a sport, the most important one being physical exertion.  …

Categories: Sports

eSports: the world of competitive gaming

PHOTO BY SARA SHEIKH / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   As we approach another semester without the inclusion of school sports, it is important to take a look at a new wave of virtual athleticism in the form of eSports.  …

Categories: Sports

Can KAOS compete?

PHOTOS BY NATASHA O’NEILL / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY Disclaimer: All photos in this article were taken prior to COVID-19.   Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there have been adjustments that dance teams across universities have had to make.  But there is…

Categories: Sports

The Value of Chemistry in Sports

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   Knowing your role for a team and coming together with others to compete for a common goal is the basis of all team sports.  While the makeup of a successful team includes elements…

Categories: Sports

Team chemistry and its importance in competitive sports

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   Competitive sport is the pinnacle of entertainment across the globe and each sport carries its own set of values and ethics, but none may be more important or more powerful than the value…

Categories: Sports

Safe and secure gym experience at Laurier YMCA

PHOTO BY SARA SHEIKH / THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   The Laurier Brantford YMCA reopened its doors for all members on Sept. 8th, 2020, after a few months of shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak.   Six weeks later, the Laurier…

Categories: Sports

OCAA cancels winter 2021 season due to pandemic

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY VANESSA BROWN   The Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) announced the cancellation of the winter season for 2021, leaving many athletes and coaches shocked across the province.  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the organization said…

Categories: Sports

Minor hockey makes its return in Brantford

PHOTO BY JEREMY VYN, THE SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) entered Stage 3B of their three-phase return to hockey plan, which includes a maximum of 25 people on the ice and bench, no travel, and strict on-ice…

Categories: Sports

The Significance Of Preparation For Athletes

IMAGE CONTRIBUTED BY AHAD NAIM   The value of preparation is part of the tools of success to be the best version of you. In whichever field you are in, preparation can be the skill that elevates your well being…

Categories: Sports

Black Lives Matter in sports

CONTRIBUTED IMAGE   “When you’re Black, it’s not a movement, it’s a lifestyle,” Los Angeles Lakers Lebron James said to a New York Post reporter.  The statement above can be seen as a common ideology between many Black people and…

Categories: Sports

Nathan Jackman: Overcoming injuries and reaching forward

When Nathan Jackman woke up one morning, he didn’t know if his dream of making semi-pro basketball would be over. “Without [basketball], I felt lost and that there was nothing I could do in life,” he said. Kind. Emotional. Hard-working.…

Categories: Sports

Brantford tournament sees Hawks make it to semifinals

  HYRRA CHUGHTAI / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY   Laurier Brantford’s women’s extramural hockey team played their third and final tournament on Feb. 7, here in Brantford at the Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre, one week earlier than their original scheduled date. The…

Categories: Sports

Hawks wrap up 2019-2020 season

HYRRA CHUGHTAI / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY Golden Hawks wrap up another remarkable dodgeball season with their last tournament on Feb. 6.  Game one did not go so smoothly with Humber North in the lead at five and WLUB at zero. However,…

Categories: Sports

Successful annual showcase for the Laurier KAOS Dance Team

  PHOTOS BY NATASHA O’NEILL / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF   Laurier Brantford’s KAOS dance team shows off their dance moves for the annual showcase.  The sport club holds the showcase every year for friends and family and to fund raise for their…

Categories: Sports

The future plans of athletics on the Brantford Campus

BRENDAN MCWILLIAM / SPUTNIK PHOTOGRAPHY Can and will Laurier Brantford’s athletics department continue to grow their varsity programs and introduce others? As the Laurier Brantford YMCA continues to draw the attention of future Laurier students and current students, many are…

Categories: Sports

Women’s XC ranked third in Canada

The Laurier Brantford Women’s Cross Country team brought home a third place medal from Nationals this past month.      The historical moment came on November 9 when the members completed the 6km course battling through the freezing conditions and challenging…

Categories: Sports

Women’s fastpitch finishes 14-1, heads into championships

Wilfrid Laurier University’s women’s softball team is heading into the national championships, with a new hunger for a national title, following an incredible 14-1 season this year. The championships will be hosted by Laurier University, from Oct. 11 to 13…

Categories: Sports

Tyson MacDonald, Laurier swimmer, wins gold medal

23-year old Tyson MacDonald, a fourth-year Laurier student, has been representing the Golden Hawks swim team in Lima, Peru, for the Parapan American Games: an international competition held every four years, featuring over 1,850 athletes in 17 sports, and bringing…

Categories: Sports