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Blog
Something to Prove: Quidditch Canada Eastern Regional Preview
by Ittaana Krow and Yara Kodershah
Four days out from Canada’s Eastern Regional Championship Tournament, our Gameplay and Communications departments have collaborated to bring you a preview of what teams are looking like heading into the first major event of the season, each day leading up to #QCER17.
Our Elo Rankings have been updated with the latest scores, and the pre-regional rankings are finalized. Based on these rankings, teams have been seeded into the initial pools for round robin games on Day 1, where their performance will determine their seeding heading into Day 2 bracket play. With fourteen teams heading to Oshawa this weekend, this will be a chance for them to prove the rankings wrong.
Starting with our bottom four, let’s take a look at which of our Eastern teams have something to prove.
University of Toronto Scarborough Phoenix (Win-Loss: 0-7)
Rank: 14
University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) has a durable program that has made a consistent showing at Quidditch Canada’s Major Events during the past three years, despite having a small roster. This year, their appearances at the Valhalla Invitational (September 30, 2017) and at the Guelph Cup (October 21, 2017) have enabled them to secure seven games worth of experience heading into Regionals, and UTSC Quidditch are still looking for their first victory of the season.
The cornerstone of UTSC’s defense has been and is still veteran Cole Reynold’s beating. Teams may be caught off guard if he looks to make the aggressive offensive play, and if his quaffle players are able to follow his lanes to score. Don’t be surprised if UTSC Phoenix upset their Pool on Day 1.
Players to watch: Cole Reynolds (#9) and Jordan Winstone (#4)
Royal City Quidditch (Win-Loss: 2-8)
Rank: 13
Returning players from the 2017 Nationals roster, alongside former Guelph Gryphon’s Matthew Guilleman as coach, bring a wealth of experience to the Gryphon’s affiliate team. The Guelph program has been well structured for several years now, and the payoff has come in the form of developing talented rookies into valuable contributors who are well trained in Guelph’s system of play.
Royal City have demonstrated an ability to score in bunches, and understand how to take advantage of a disorganized defense. A critical shift in momentum may be all this team needs to rise the ranks this weekend.
Players to watch: Lisa Tubb (#5) and Nick Marinac (#59)
University of Toronto Centaurs (Win-Loss: 2-6)
Rank: 12
From the heart of downtown Toronto comes a ‘herd’ unlike what we’ve seen in some time. With a roster of 24 players, their team will have the depth to compete against lower and middle of the pack teams.
The high rate of player turnover that has plagued the Centaurs year to year means that, once again, their roster consists of a disproportionately high percentage (45%) of first timers who are still getting a feel for the game. If the athleticism of their rookies can blend with the experience of their veterans, they may find themselves playing a completely different caliber of game.
Players to watch: Madeline Surman (#7) and Sinan Keyder (#34)
Canada’s Finest Quidditch Club (Win-Loss: 0-3)
Rank: 11
McGill Quidditch’s affiliate team is the product of a decade’s worth of quidditch in Canada. Canada’s Finest Quidditch Club (CFQC) is part of a durable program that should be able to hold their own against similarly ranked teams.
Victims of a tough pool in their only appearance this season at Vive Le Quidditch Libre IV in Montreal, QC (September 23, 2017), we have yet to see much from CQFQ, whose losses are against teams currently ranked 1st, 2nd, and 7th. It’ll be worth seeing how CFQC has utilized two months of training and practice under the radar.
Players to watch: Matthew Connolly (#23) and Jesse Vella (#24)
Find the rankings page here, and our live #QCER17 schedule here.
Middle of the Pack: Quidditch Canada Eastern Regional Preview will be released on Wednesday November 8, 2017 at 2pm Eastern Time.
Ittaana Krow is the Gameplay Director at Quidditch Canada and Head Coach of Valhalla Community Quidditch, and Yara Kodershah is the Communications Director and Head Manager of Valhalla Community Quidditch. The opinions in this piece are of the writers, and not of Quidditch Canada. The Eastern Regional Championship is coming to Oshawa, Ontario, this weekend on November 11-12. RSVP to the Facebook Event here.