Dal residences faceoff at new campus rink
The Trojans defeated the Bighorns 5-2
The Oulton-Stanish Centre opened its doors at Dalhousie University on March 12 with the Residence Charity FaceOff hockey game in support of the IWK Foundation.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, Dalhousie’s residence buildings battled it out, with the Trojans (Howe Hall, Mini Residence and Gerard Hall) facing off against the Bighorns (Risley Hall, LeMarchant Place and Shirreff Hall).
Dalhousie has raised money for the IWK through the FaceOff since 2006.
Matthew Bartley, ex-Trojans star and athletic director for the University of King’s College, was happy the event supported the hospital.
“This event is proof that sport is the vehicle to incredible things,” he said.
The Trojans dominated the game, quickly coming out of the gate and scoring two goals in the first period. Their prowess in the offensive zone was clinical, and the team’s chemistry was apparent. Matthew Fraser, a first-year commerce student who opened the scoring, said the team was focused on teamwork heading into the game.
“If we play together as a team, I think we’ll kill them for sure,” Fraser said before the game.
Towards the end of the first period, the Bighorns scored their first goal, beating the Trojans’ goalkeeper Karanveer Kooner.
To the delight of the Trojans, the game was smooth sailing from there on out, with the team taking a 5-1 lead heading into the final minutes of the third period.
As the minutes dwindled, tensions rose, and a line brawl broke out. Punches were thrown between the Trojans’ Oliver Treanor and the Bighorns’ Drew Muise, and the fans relished every minute of it.
When the buzzer sounded, the arena erupted, and the Trojans celebrated their win by mobbing the goalie before hoisting the trophy.
The moment was also special for the IWK, with Dal raising over $1,000 through the event.
Carla Britten, Dalhousie’s current director of residence life, is no stranger to the charity match. She’s organized past FaceOffs and was pleased with this year’s event.
“The event connects students, through Dal pride, through residence pride,” said Britten. “But it also connects them to the Halifax community, because the charity they’re raising money for … is really our neighbours.”
Fraser also praised the event’s organization.
“It’s a great opportunity, not just for the school, but for kids in residence to play more organized hockey.”
An organizer of the event, Zain Ul Abideen, a third-year applied computer science student and the community assistant team lead for Howe Hall, is excited for the event’s future.
He wants to expand residence athletics to dodgeball and basketball, turning it into a full-season league, and giving students an opportunity to get active while raising money for charity.
“Expect big things next year,” he said.
