I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t sit here and write. Sunday’s CPSHA game had ups and downs all the way through but to be frank ended in what I think may have been the most painful loss in my hockey career. The easy thing to do in this situation is not to put my feelings out there, but I have been reminded by countless people that what I write is important for others to read, and even in the tough times we need to use lessons for learning.
People often think my future is completely figured out. I have known where I am going to university since Grade 11. From the outside, it looks like certainty. It looks like I am in complete control. The truth is that the human brain always craves certainty, but the future is the complete opposite. It is very unpredictable and unstable.
Grade 11 student Liam Sumun earned a 7th-place finish in the men’s 400M last weekend at the Canadian Indoor Track & Field Championships in Toronto, earning a personal best in the process.
On Wednesday of last week Brody Molloy left campus at 3am to travel to Baie Comeau to meet up with the Drakkar and make his QMJHL debut. Brody played for the Drakkar on Friday and Saturday in the North Shore town, becoming the fourth Spartan this year to make his QMJHL debut. On Sunday morning at 11am, after walking into the rink in his blue Ugg tracksuit, Brody was back on the ice for the Spartans.
The Spartans rode a wave of momentum out of the TNPHL playoff weekend, and a major reason was the steady, standout play of goaltender Andrew Shimon(Grade 12, Sydney NS). Starting in two crucial games, Andrew delivered exactly what his team needed—calm, athletic and highly competitive goaltending in pressure moments. His Sunday performance was especially impressive. Andrew turned aside multiple highlight‑reel chances to preserve the Spartans’ lead and secure a key win to close out the weekend. His athleticism in the crease and relentless compete level set the tone for the group and helped propel the team back to Stanstead with confidence heading into the final stretch of the season. A well‑earned recognition for a goaltender who continues to rise to the moment, Athlete of the Week, from varsity boys hockey, Andrew Shimon.
Tuesday evening, young scientists in Grades 7 and 8 demonstrated the results of their experiments at the annual Science Fair. There were 23 presentations in all, ranging from comparing bacteria levels in various mouths to determining which falling ball would have the highest velocity. Parent, teacher and student judges made their rounds and tallied their scores. The results were presented at assembly Wednesday morning:
In second place in Grade 7, "What Makes Fruit Turn Brown" by William B & Hugo L
In first place in Grade 7, "Blood Glucose Response to Different Sweeteners" by Juliet L & Florence M
In third place in Grade 8, "Testing the Efficacy of Different Heat Protectants" by Olivia G-M & Grace R
In second place in Grade 8, "Holding Power: The Strength of Different Glues" by Max F & Quinn
In first place in Grade 8, "Natural Antibacterials and Bacteria Growth" by Sophie B-K & Laurel
I remember when I was first accepted as a prefect last year. As the new prefects and I talked together, we began sharing what made us most nervous about stepping into this role. Almost everyone gave the same answer: giving a prefect speech. I remember listening as others admitted their fears and slowly realizing that I felt exactly the same way. The thought of standing in front of the entire school felt overwhelming.
I write this weekend story proud, happy and appreciative, but with that bit of sadness that conclusion tends to create in our emotion knowing this was our last weekend playing “back home” close to where I grew up.
If you look at all the write-ups I have put together over the years, they try to create a moment that isn’t just the big goal or save. They try to find other feelings beyond a win or a loss. There is no doubt that themes have developed over the years: travel, teenage antics and moments, seeing alums, maturing, living, learning, education and of course family. My writing has always fought against providing shine to an individual and instead has tried to focus on the emotion of the whole. In most cases, the whole is the team. For today, the whole will be not just the team but my team, my family. Don’t get me wrong, though; there were some great goals and big saves along the way to help make this weekend successful.
When you watch sporting events, whether live or in person, it is hard not to notice the line of fans that gravitates towards the players exiting the playing surface. From six-year-olds players and their waiting parents to pros and Olympians facing fans, it seems that everyone wants to give that high five or fist bump, to be able to leave the arena or stadium and be able to tell a story about an athlete making that split-second interaction. It can truly create a fan for life and inspire a young person.
For those who don’t know me, my name is Émilie, and I am in Grade 11. Those who do know me, know my name and know me better know that I have type 1 diabetes. Today, I am not here to give you a lesson or for you to get to know me better; no, I am here to help you understand yourself better.
Our final league game of the year had little or no consequence as, win or lose, we have established second-place in our division and will face the first-place team in the other division in the playoff semi-final on February 22. Nevertheless, we wanted to play for a win and to give lots of people good minutes to end the season. We started well with Julia leading us with 8 (including a 2/2 free throws and a 3pt. basket) and her buddy Erika with three buckets for 6 points. 1Q Score: SC 14 - LB 7
This Grade 10 student-athlete from Drummondville, Quebec, had an outstanding weekend during the Graham Neil Prep Boys Hockey Tournament. He led all defenceman in scoring during the weekend, with 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 games. He logged big minutes and was a shut-down force throughout the journey to the championship. He was rewarded for his strong play and leadership on the ice with the overall tournament MVP trophy. For his outstanding play in the big moment, congratulations, Athlete of the Week Éliot Faucher.
This penultimate league game of the season was one that will long be remembered. Was it a great victory? A close victory? A great story or lesson? No. None of those. Just a weird event. Early in the first quarter the scoreboard had the wrong score. The same thing happened in the second quarter, and that time it took a lot of convincing to get our correct points on the scoreboard. One four-point swing was enough, this one was stopped. 1Q Score: SC 8 - SemSal 4
It has been 17 years since the name “Stanstead College” has appeared on the Graham Neil Hockey Tournament plaque. But after a few near misses in recent years, the Prep Boys Spartans brought it home this past Sunday in an exciting final against Triolet of Sherbrooke.
So far, my Grade 12 year has served as a reminder of one thing: time only moves forward. Grade 12 is special in that it serves as a sort of crossroads between what you perceive as the past and future. Those memories that you associate with your childhood seem to drift away as you accelerate towards the future.
Another day, another away trip. This time about half a mile from where we had been the night before. But this game was against the top team in D4 Div A, who at that point had only lost one game in their season to La Poudriere - the top team in our Div B.
This game would be the first of four away games each Monday and Tuesday evenings over two weeks in February to end our league regular game schedule. This was Seminaire’s Senior Night, so we patiently awaited their ceremony to finish and volunteered to wear yellow pinnies when both teams arrived wearing red. The custom/rule is that the home team wears pinnies, but we said we would be happy to wear the pinnies as it was their special day for photos and the like.
Memories of last year against Seminaire de Sherbrooke include our important 28-26 win that ended up clinching the league banner for SC, followed by the forfeit in their last league game against us, which rearranged the playoff seedings for all teams with interesting results. Our first game against them this season was not a close contest, but there were many positive traits shown by the Spartan players this evening.
This past weekend, the Senior Girls Basketball Spartans participated in the 48th Annual BCS Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament. They won the Consolation Winner Plaque. Julia Lee was awarded a Tournament All-Star Trophy.
Last week, the Spartans travelled to Drummondville to take on La Poudriere at their school. I heard that the game was against a very tough opponent who pressed and played well, also that at some point it was decided to remove the scores from the scoreboard as their lead went from 20 to 30 to 40 and ultimately to 50+ points. It was a very tough loss for the Spartans with a final score of 11-62.
On January 10, a new tradition began as Stanstead College and Bishop’s College School met in the inaugural 143 Rivalry Game at the Molson Arena at Bishop’s University. In a hard-fought and spirited contest, Stanstead battled until the final minutes before falling 5–3 to BCS.
This past weekend, the Senior Girl Basketball Spartans traveled to Quebec City to participate in the 53rd Annual Anderson-Bailly Small Schools Basketball Tournament.
Before attending Stanstead College, I did not participate in many team sports. My whole life, I skied during the winter and sailed during the summer. During those years, I did make my school soccer team and played for one season, and then a couple of years later I played flag football for two consecutive seasons.