Strong Winter season for Durham Lords

From the basketball and volleyball court to the indoor soccer pitch, Durham College (DC) athletes gave fans a lot to cheer about this winter.

Six teams in three sports made us #DCProud with their hard work and sportsmanship while adding to the ever-expanding Durham Lords trophy case. They won two Ontario Collegiate Athletic Association (OCAA) medals to bring the 2023-24 total to seven, a school record.

“We picked up right where we left off from the fall season,” said Scott Dennis, Athletic Director. “It was a pretty amazing year.”

Here’s a look at the DC teams who kept us on the edge of our seats all winter.

Women’s Basketball

The women's basketball team lines up for a team photo.

Our women’s basketball team finished seventh in the OCAA East Division with a 3-11 record, but the challenging year still had some bright spots. The emergence of OCAA Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year Emma Bergen bodes well for the future. In addition to those honours, she won the East Division Scoring Champion title with 20.6 points per game. The forward was also first in field goal percentage (52.9) and near the top in rebounds.

Dennis – “It was a rebuilding year, but we saw one of the new stars of the league emerge in Emma Bergen. We’re excited to see where they go next year.”

 

 


Men’s Basketball

The Lords were almost unbeatable on the basketball court this year, finishing first in the East Division with a 17-1 record. They were at or near the top of the provincial rankings all year and even held the top spot in the nation at one point.

Earning the right to host the provincial championship, they fell just short of edging the
Humber Hawks in the semi-final before bouncing back against St. Clair College to win bronze.The men's basketball team lines up for a team photo.

O’Shane Taylor-Douglas was peerless, earning nods as the East Player of the Year, East Defensive Player of the Year, East First Team All-Star, OCAA Championship All-Star and a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian. Mark Stoop was named an East Second Team All-Star, while Jasean Elliott and Rudy Fakih earned spots on the East All-Rookie Team. The Lords were recognized as the East’s Best Defensive Team, and Desmond Rowley was honoured as East Coach of the Year.

Dennis – “They reached the number one spot in Canada for the first time since 1997, and we had a chance to host the OCAA final four and had sold-out crowds. They didn’t make it to nationals, but they left it all on the court. It was a great year for Coach Rowley and the Lords.”

 


Women’s Volleyball

A strong year for women’s volleyball ended just shy of a provincial medal. Finishing third in
the EaThe women's volleyball team lines up for a photo.st with a record of 14-4, the Lords finished fourth at the OCAA championship after bowing out to Loyalist in the bronze medal game.

There was plenty of individual hardware to go around. Amanda Larsen was named a East First Team All-Star as well as an OCAA Championship All-Star. Aislinn Pedersen was recognized as an East Second Team All-Star, and Chelsea Oke was named to the East All-Rookie Team.

Dennis – “We always have a very competitive team and they made it back to the final four. The St. Clair Saints had the coach of the year and the player of the year, and we came back and beat them. It was a great victory for the team.”

 


Men’s Volleyball

The men's volleyball team lines up for a photo.

The Lords were competitive in men’s volleyball, finishing sixth in the East with an 8-10 record.

Their pursuit of a provincial medal fell short, losing to St. Clair College in the championship qualifier.

Dennis – “They were a competitive team. We’re looking forward to next year. I believe we’re bringing back the majority of the lineup, so it should be more of a veteran team.”

 

 


Women’s Indoor Soccer

It was a short but successful season on the indoor soccer pitch. At Regionals, the LordThe women's indoor soccer team lines up for a team photo.s went 3-1, scoring 13 goals and allowing only one. That put them in a good position for the OCAA Championships at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan, where they won a bronze medal with a win over St. Clair. Kayla Edelhofer was named an OCAA Championship All-Star.

Dennis – “They won the bronze medal, so it was double bronze for our women’s soccer program this year. They were one goal shy of making it to the gold medal match, but overall, it was a great season for them and a nice way to cap off their year with another bronze medal.”

 


Men’s Indoor Soccer

The men's indoor soccer team lines up for a team photo.

The men’s team had a good showing at Regionals, earning a 2-1-1 record with a +7-goal differential.

At the OCAA Championship in Vaughan, they put in a good effort before falling short in the group stage.

Dennis – “They also made the final four. That was their goal, to make it to the championships and play against the best teams in the province and they competed hard.”

 

 


 

There will be even more DC student athletes to cheer for next winter with the return of Varsity Curling.

“We are always looking for opportunities to expand athletics and recreation programming for our students and bringing back Varsity Curling is a great fit,” said Dennis.


DC Esports team triumphs in Campus Clash

The best Esports athletes from Durham College (DC) and Ontario Tech battled at the second annual Campus Clash competition, with our Lords successfully defending their championship belt.

The event was held at DC’s state-of-the-art Esports Gaming Arena. The space was packed with gamers and supporters who came to watch the action and cheer on the Lords. Attendees were treated to free popcorn as well as a number of fun giveaways from DC and Monster Energy.

The teams competed in a best-of-five series featuring five different video games; Rocket League, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, League of Legends, Valorant and Counter-Strike 2.

Ontario Tech started strong with a victory in Call of Duty, but the Lords took over from there, winning each of the final four games.

“It’s always nice to see both Ontario Tech and Durham College get together for events that students can enjoy. It’s a great way to start 2024,” said Scott Dennis, DC’s athletic director, who was proud to see the Lords come out on top.

“We have a highly competitive program and a first-class facility that is available to students across campus.”

You can follow DC’s Esports team online.


Fall season a memorable one for Durham College athletes

For our Durham Lords, this fall was a season like no other.

Five teams earned Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial medals to set a Durham College (DC) record. From the rugby pitch to the ball diamond and beyond, they were powered by some of the best student athletes in Canada.

There’s a reason why top athletes choose DC each year, according to athletic director Scott Dennis.

“Durham College has always had winning teams. When a recruit sees a team that is successful, that’s where they want to go,” he said.

That cycle is sure to continue next year in light of this season’s success. Every athlete wore the DC colours with pride, and many of them produced remarkable individual efforts as they guided their teams to the medal podium.

Women’s soccer player Sage Thomas-Roberts was recognized nationally as well as provincially, becoming the 54th DC student athlete to be named a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Canadian. She scored 22 goals in the regular season to become DC’s all-time leading scorer in a single soccer season.

“It was another unbelievable season for her,” said Dennis. “Being recognized nationally is a pretty big deal.”

As an All-Canadian, Thomas-Roberts’ name will soon hang from the rafters in the DC Gym.

On the rugby pitch, Emily Cooper had another outstanding year. After being named OCAA Rookie of the Year in her first season, she outdid herself with a stellar sophomore campaign. She played a crucial role in her team’s undefeated season, becoming the league’s scoring champion with 29 tries for 145 points. For her efforts, she was named OCAA Player of the Year, as well as a two-time All-Star (League and Championship).

The Lords women’s softball team earned silver medals at both the provincial and national levels thanks in large part to the efforts of Grace Hearns, who also earned OCAA Player of the Year status. She was also named a Championship All-Star as well as a First Team All-Star.

“She’s probably the heart and soul of the team,” said Dennis. “She’s always getting on base and she’s great defensively as well. Overall, a great player.”

DC’s third and final OCAA Player of the Year was Cole Cote from the men’s baseball team. The veteran catcher from the United States immediately stepped into a leadership role on the team, earning a First Team All-Star nod and another at the Championship.

“It’s tough to go through all the players because they did so well,” said Dennis. “The individual accolades are nice, but the team medals mean more to them.”

Below is a complete list of the impressive accomplishments made by our DC athletes this season.

3 OCAA Players of the Year

  • Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby
  • Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball
  • Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball

1 CCAA All-Canadian

  • Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer

2 Scoring Champions

  • Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby
  • Tyler Janes – Men’s Rugby

1 Divisional Player of the Year

  • Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer, East

1 Championship MVP

  • Ciara London – Women’s Rugby, OCAA

7 Championship All-Stars

  • Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby, OCAA
  • Danika Johnston – Women’s Rugby, OCAA
  • Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball, OCAA
  • Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball, OCAA
  • Sydney Redick – Women’s Softball, CCSA
  • Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball, OCAA
  • Erin Michalicka – Women’s Soccer, OCAA

8 League All-Stars

  • Emily Cooper – Women’s Rugby
  • Shay Morris – Women’s Rugby
  • Maya Austin – Women’s Rugby
  • Terrell Carter – Men’s Rugby, East
  • Tyler Janes – Men’s Rugby, East
  • Alexander Lee – Men’s Rugby, East
  • Liam Spafford – Men’s Rugby, East
  • Reese Watkins – Men’s Rugby, East

11 First Team All-Stars

  • Grace Hearns – Women’s Softball
  • Emily Glendinning – Women’s Softball
  • Cole Cote – Men’s Baseball
  • Nick King – Men’s Baseball
  • Zach Rivers – Men’s Baseball
  • Ryan Mattes – Men’s Baseball
  • Sage Thomas-Roberts – Women’s Soccer
  • Jessica Ferreira – Women’s Soccer
  • Deandre Branch – Men’s Soccer
  • Romaine Watkis – Men’s Soccer
  • Garrett Werner – Men’s Soccer

9 Second Team All-Stars

  • Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball
  • Jessica Greene – Women’s Softball
  • Morgan Salter – Women’s Softball
  • Jocelyn Shelton – Women’s Softball
  • Griffin McMillan – Men’s Baseball
  • Erika Bjorgum – Women’s Soccer
  • Tenzin Chonyi – Men’s Soccer
  • Jaden Grant – Men’s Soccer
  • Isaiah Wisdom – Men’s Soccer

All-Rookie Team Members

  • Chelsea Oke – Women’s Softball
  • Jessica Greene – Women’s Softball
  • Zach Rivers – Men’s Baseball

For more on the remarkable DC teams that led the way this fall, click here


Durham Lords enjoy dominant Fall season

The Durham Lords took the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) by storm this fall.

For the first time in Durham College (DC) history, five teams won provincial medals. The women’s rugby squad rode another undefeated season to a gold medal. Women’s softball won silver at the provincial level and added another silver at nationals. Men’s baseball, men’s rugby and women’s soccer all brought home provincial bronze.

“It has been great coming back to Durham College and seeing the teams have that much success,” said Scott Dennis, DC’s new athletic director. “We’re going to be celebrating this season 20 years down the road with some potential Hall of Famers.”

Read on for a closer look at how DC’s teams made us proud this fall.

Women’s Rugby

The Women's Rugby team hold their championship banner and smile at the camera.

For the second consecutive year, the DC women were unbeatable on the rugby pitch. In a perfect 14-0 run through the regular season, they scored 538 points and allowed only 12 for an incredible differential of +526. That dominance earned them a bye through the first round at the 2023 OCAA Women’s Rugby Sevens Championship in Belleville. In the semi-final, they defeated the host Loyalist Lancers 32-0 to advance to the finals, where they won again by a 29-12 score over the St. Lawrence Surge to bring home the gold.  

Dennis – “Perfection would be the word to describe them. They outscored their opponents in the regular season by 526 points. Once again they proved they’re the best team in Ontario.”

 


Men’s Rugby


The Durham Lords Men's Rugby team smile at the camera.
DC’s rugby dominance extended to the men’s side, with these Lords also registering their second consecutive undefeated regular season.

Their first taste of adversity came at the OCAA Men’s Rugby Championship, where they dropped a hard-fought semifinal match to the Humber Hawks 23-20 in overtime. But they rebounded in the bronze medal match with a 29-7 victory over the St. Lawrence Surge. By bringing home the bronze, they collected their fifth medal in as many years.

The stellar year earned John Watkins the Coach of the Year award.

Dennis – “They’ve proven to be one of the top programs in Ontario year after year. This is John’s second consecutive year winning Coach of the Year. He put together a great team.”

 


Women’s Softball

The Durham Lords Women's Softball team smiles at the camera.

These Lords earned not one but two silver medals this season.

A 22-2 record earned them second place in the OCAA. Wins over the Mohawk Mountaineers (7-2) and the St. Clair Saints (7-4) earned them a place in the championship. Facing St. Clair once again, they gave their all in a losing effort.

At the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships in Victoria, British Columbia, they defeated Western University (7-2), the University of Victoria (4-0) and UBC – Okanagan (7-0) as they marched to the final, where St. Clair edged them out for the gold (8-3).

Dennis – “They’re always in the medal hunt. They won their fourth national medal this year. Getting back on the podium at the national level was a pretty big deal for them and winning silver was a big accomplishment.”

 


Men’s Baseball

The Men's Baseball team smiles at the camera.

With a 15-3 regular season record, these Lords finished second in the OCAA, but their 205 runs made them the highest scoring team by far (56 ahead of first-place St. Clair). It was also their best record since joining the OCAA in 2013.

By winning the provincial bronze, they earned the fourth medal in program history and their first in four years. They also earned a measure of revenge by defeating Humber multiple times after going winless against them since 2019.

Dennis – “During the regular season they had the best offense, and they showed that in the championships as well. It was good for them to be back on the medal podium.”

 


Women’s Soccer

The DC Women's Soccer Team smiles at the camera.

With a bronze medal at the 2023 OCAA Women’s Soccer Championship, these Lords stepped on to the provincial podium for the first time since 2018. 

With an 8-1-1 record in the regular season, they qualified for the Championships with a 6-2 victory over the St. Lawrence Surge. A 1-0 decision over the Mohawk Mountaineers punched their ticket to the final four at the Ontario Soccer Centre in Etobicoke. Losing their first game 2-1 to the Humber Hawks, they bounced back against the St. Clair Saints in the bronze medal game with a clutch effort that ended in penalty kicks.

Dennis – “It was Bruce Cullen’s first year as head coach, so winning bronze was a great accomplishment for his first year leading the team.”

 


Men’s Soccer

The Men's Soccer team and DC president Don Lovisa smile at the camera.An early highlight for these Lords was defeating Ontario Tech in the Campus Cup for the first time since 2015. Vaso’s Field was packed with onlookers as the game was decided in the penalty shootout.

The OCAA’s men’s soccer division was highly competitive this season, with first-place George Brown going 10-0 and the next four teams (including DC) each notching six wins. Though tiebreakers relegated them to fifth place, the Lords were almost unmatched defensively. They allowed only five goals in ten regular season games, second only to George Brown’s four.

Their season came to an end with a 2-0 loss to the Algonquin Wolves in a Championship qualifying match.

Dennis – “They started the year off right for Durham College by winning the Campus Cup, and they had a good run to the playoffs.”

 


Golf

The DC Golf team smiles at the camera.

Our Lords hit the green for three invitational tournaments this season, finishing just shy of the podium in two of them. At the 2023 OCAA Golf Championship in Windsor, a competitive effort landed them in fifth place.

Dennis – “It was a very young team, but they scrapped their way through the regular season and then the Championship and just missed out on Nationals by one stroke. They’re just going to continue to grow.”


For more on the remarkable DC athletes who led the way this fall, click here.


Durham College trio honoured by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association

Durham College (DC) and its tradition of athletic excellence was recognized by the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) earlier this month.

On May 1, two members of the DC family were inducted into the OCAA’s Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Windsor. Ken Babcock, DC’s former director of athletics and recreation who recently retired after 36 years of service, was enshrined into the Hall alongside former Durham Lords soccer coach Stan Bombino.

The OCAA also recognized DC’s women’s rugby standout Emily Cooper at the event. The Guelph native’s dominance on the field earned her the OCAA’s Female Rookie of the Year award for the 2022-23 season.

“It was a night of celebration,” said Babcock, who was humbled by his entry into the Hall of Fame. The event also served as an unofficial retirement celebration, allowing him to reunite with a number of the administrators, coaches and athletes he has worked with over the years.

Bombino’s stellar coaching career had already earned him a place in the DC Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In 16 years as head coach of the DC men’s soccer team, he led them to an impressive record of 119-66-20. They collected multiple provincial medals during his tenure, as well as a national bronze in 1999.

“It certainly was a surprise,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of being nominated.”

Though the two Hall of Famers have moved on, Cooper has only just begun her DC journey. Her remarkable rookie season included 34 tries in 18 games and 170 points, second only to her teammate Shay Morris. She played a key role in the team’s march to an undefeated season and OCAA championship.

“This award means the world to me and being able to win with my team this season means even more. I feel honoured to be winning this award out of all of the fantastic athletes in the OCAA,” she said.

With athletes like Cooper giving their all and new athletic director Scott Dennis leading the way, the future is bright for DC.


Durham College softball field named Babcock Field

Durham College (DC) has announced a name for its state-of-the-art softball field, which reopened in September 2022 after renovations. The home of the Durham Lords women’s softball team will now be known as Babcock Field, in honour of director of Athletics and Recreation Ken Babcock, who is retiring after 36 years of dedicated service to DC.

The new name was unveiled during Babcock’s retirement celebration at the Campus Ice Centre restaurant, 2200 North on Monday, May 8.

“Ken’s tireless efforts and unwavering commitment have left an indelible mark on our institution and the naming of this field demonstrates his lasting impact,” said Tara Koski, dean, Students.

DC’s athletic program has flourished under Babcock’s leadership. During his tenure, the Lords have won 116 provincial championships and 22 national championships. He has also spearheaded the addition of numerous athletic facilities, including the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre, the Campus Ice Centre, and the softball field that will now bear his name.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by Durham College this way,” said Babcock. “I am proud that my name will be on the field that I know will provide memorable experiences for students for years to come.”


Durham Lords heat up winter with four stellar seasons

The student-athletes at Durham College (DC) proved they’re among the best in Ontario this winter.

All four of DC’s winter teams – men’s and women’s volleyball and basketball — finished in the top 10 of their highly competitive Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial rankings. The Durham Lords were the only OCAA program to accomplish that feat.

“It is rare to see a college be so strong in a number of sports,” said Ken Babcock, director of Athletics and Recreation. “It has become a tradition for DC to contend in virtually all of our sports on an annual basis. The tradition and reputation earned by our players and coaches are held in high regard by all. We attempt to deliver the best varsity program possible for all our teams.”

This year’s teams were certainly an example of that.

The women’s volleyball team finished second with a sparkling 17-1 record, while the men’s volleyball team finished tenth with a 10-8 record.

On the basketball court, the women were a force to be reckoned with, their 12-2 record nabbing them a third-place ranking. The men’s 14-4 record was good for a fifth-place ranking.

All told, DC’s four teams combined for an amazing 53-15 record in conference play.

All four teams battled hard in the playoffs. Both basketball teams and the men’s volleyball team put in competitive efforts before dropping out in the qualifying round. The women’s volleyball team capped their nearly perfect season with a silver medal, making it to the finals before falling just short of toppling the undefeated Humber Hawks.

That silver medal was added to an impressive collection, as DC ranks third on the OCAA’s all-time list of championship medal victories.

“I am so proud of my staff, my coaches and all of our amazing student-athletes that represent our college so well,” said Babcock.

Looking ahead, he expects the 2023-24 season to be just as successful, with strong returning rosters in most athletic programs complimenting a highly successful recruiting drive.

Though he’s leaving his post as athletic director in June, he’ll still be cheering on the Lords next fall and winter as they continue to lead the way in collegiate athletics.

“I am excited as always to watch our teams and athletes compete in person.”


Durham College begins construction on new women’s softball facility

Durham College (DC) and its Athletics department are pleased to share that construction on a new women’s softball facility at the Oshawa campus has commenced, with plans to complete by August 2020. The facility, which will include 100-per-cent synthetic SPORTURF playing surface with an underlay shock pad for safety, will become the new home of DC’s award-winning women’s softball program.

The new softball facility will give DC the ability to host provincial, national and international games and special showcase camps, as well it will house new campus recreational programs for students. A seating capacity of 400 people, including 100 VIP seats, and a custom press box at the top of the stadium bleachers will allow for livestreaming of home games and VIP hosting.

Replacing the current halogen light system will be state-of-the-art MUSCO LED energy-efficient stadium lights to eliminate light spill. This new feature will also provide the capability to match light requirement levels for broadcast TV.

 “I am so excited to see this facility become a reality,” said DC athletic director Ken Babcock. “We will have an amazing new home for our highly successful championship women’s softball program and with our colder climate and weather, the artificial turf will allow us to extend the playing season on both ends. This will soon be the best place to play women’s softball in the country.”

Other features of the new softball facility include: team studio dugouts, dual batting tunnels for training, bullpens, a new scoreboard, maintenance storage and equipment, coaches’ room and an umpire change room. New team change rooms will be completed during Phase 2 of the project, which is estimated to begin summer 2021.

DC’s women’s softball team has won an unprecedented record twenty OCAA championships over the past 39 years, including four in the past five years alone.


DC hosts FIBA Americup 2021 qualifier game – the most-attended sporting event on campus in the college’s history

On February 21, 2,500 basketball fans filled Durham College’s (DC) Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (CRWC) to watch Canada’s Senior Men’s National team take on the team from the Dominican Republic during the International Basketball Association (FIBA) Americup 2021 Qualifiers, making it the most-attended sporting event on campus in the college’s history.

Originally slated to take place at the Tribute Communities Centre, a last-minute venue change was needed due to unforeseen technical difficulties, and based on Team Canada’s familiarity with the CRWC facilities, FIBA approved the change of location.

Thanks to the efforts of the college’s Athletics, Facilities and Ancillary Services and Parking Services departments, as well as the Office of Campus Safety, the CRWC was prepped and ready to go for the big game with only 24-hours notice.

In the end, those efforts paid off as the Canadian team emerged victorious, with a score of 89-72 over the Dominican Republic.


A winning weekend for Durham Lords men’s soccer and rugby teams

The Durham Lords celebrated national and provincial championship wins on November 9 and 10, securing gold in both the 2019 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) men’s soccer national championship and the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) men’s provincial rugby championship.

Kicking off the weekend, the Lords hosted the men’s soccer national championship and captured their first gold medal in program history, defeating the Vancouver Island University Mariners 3-2 in the championship final in front of a home crowd in Oshawa, Ont. Durham Lords first-year striker Joshua Lee was named championship MVP and a championship all-star, alongside teammates Nick Payne, Colin Reilly, Ryan Cullen, and Kevon Grant. The Lords previous men’s soccer national medal came exactly a decade ago when they previously served as host for the prestigious event, capturing the CCAA bronze in 1999.

“The win for the men’s soccer team is fantastic and the team and coaches are to be congratulated for a great season and for bringing the trophy to Durham College,” said Meri Kim Oliver, vice president, Student Affairs. “Moreover, as the coaches and teams worked hard to secure this win, so did the Athletics team who co-ordinated the banquet and awards, organized coaches meetings and field preparation and were committed to delivering an amazing championship event all while keeping the multiple athletic facilities and programs running.”

On November 10, the Lords men’s rugby team travelled to Barrie for the OCAA provincial championship. Following their first provincial banner in program history last fall, the Lords men’s rugby team made it back-to-back OCAA gold medals after defeating the Georgian Grizzlies 22-17. After returning to the OCAA conference last season and making their debut in league play, the Lords have accrued a record of 14-3 overall in their two seasons, laying their claim to be one of the best post-secondary rugby programs in the country with two provincial banners to their names in two years of competition.

Lords No. 10 Taylor Dallas was named the championship MVP making several spectacular tackles in the championship final, in addition to guiding the offence from his fly-half position. Also honoured following the match were Patrick Lynch and Austin Knox, who were both named championship all-stars.

Congratulations to the Durham Lords on their triumphant wins!