CALGARY – As is the case in any year following a worlds qualifying year, the 2008
national championships lost some luster from the outset to both competitors and
fans in all divisions. Various players and teams who represented Canada at the World
Championships would not participate in the national championship held a week after
the global contest.
However, the most watched division in the sport, open, delivered an exciting and
competitive 16 team field that made up for the lack of both Furious George (Vancouver)
and GOAT (Toronto). Instead of watching two titans beat all comers to inevitably
meet in the finals, the opportunity to be national champions was finally a reality for
many of the squads present.
THURSDAY POOL PLAY
grizzled veterans left the team with high hopes and
a number two seed in the tournament. Suffering a
POOL A
scare against Firebird at half (8-6 lead with many
Benefiting from the absence of Furious George at chances squandered by their opponents), Mephisto
the tournament, Nomads (Victoria) bolstered their pulled out a victory with a strong second half. After
squad with a large number of past and present quickly disposing on the 4
th
ranked team in their pool,
Furious players. Consisting a squad that numbered Mephisto lost to lower seeded Blackfish, and finished
over 35 players, the Nomads were seeded first in the the day a disappointing 2-1 and 2
nd
in the pool.
tournament and had a very easy first day of play.
Blackfish of Vancouver looked to show the rest of
Too Bad (Toronto) entered the tournament ranked Canada that not only was their success at CUC 2007
8
th
in the tournament. Lead by Harry Burkman, the was no fluke, but that they had improved even further.
team is constantly changing its veteran roster due to Losing on universe point in the national quarterfinals
its team concept and design. The squad appearing last year to Mephisto was fresh on their minds as
in Calgary was much weaker than those in previous they upset the Montreal team by a score of 15-10
tournaments, but was still lead by legendary thrower on day one. The easily disposed of both Flatline and
Greg Lang and talent youngster Kevin Horgan. Too Firebird to finish the day 3-0. Trunk entered the tournament with a sweetheart
Bad suffered losses to both Mangina of Regina ranking of 6
th
and wanted to prove it was valid. Loic
and Nomads of Victoria, but was able to defeat Firebird of Ottawa was enjoying a highly successful Dalle, Warren Tang, Andrew Butler and teammates
Sirloin of Calgary. touring season and headed into CUC ranked 10th. suffered a tough day on day one, losing to both
While missing several players from their lineup, Invictus and lower seeded Sofa Kings. The salvaged
Mangina of Regina continues to be a pleasant Firebird still presented a strong lineup that possessed a 15-7 win over Demon to go 1-2.
surprise at each and every nationals that they attend. youth, speed, and grit. After giving Mephisto a day
Impressing many at the 2007 nationals, Mangina is one scare, the team split the remainder of their Sofa Kings of Kelowna made their return to nationals
an open team that other Canadian teams don’t see games and held seed. after a long abscense. Lead by many veterans, the
much during the season, but gains respect for their team featured two former Ottawa players who
overall team performance. Slightly underseeded Flatline of Vancouver served as the B team for provided youth and big play ability. Adam Gowenlock
once again at 9
th
, Mangina went 2-1 on day one, and Blackfish during the season and look to replicate the serves as a classy player who could play on both
nearly defeated the heavily favoured Nomads squad same success in open that other Vancouver teams sides of the disc and Jamie Walsh is a former world
(Losing 14-11 in time cap). had. Despite a strong day one performance by former junior talent who can make a big difference when his
Montreal stalwart Lawrence, the team failed to upset back cooperates. They exceeded expectations and
Sirloin of Calgary was a team assembled late in the anyone in their Thursday pool but had much to be seed on day one, beating Grand Trunk and Demon on
season, with the goal of providing Calgary second excited about heading into day two. their way to a 2-1 record.
open team representing the host city. Suffering
a tough day one, zero wins and three losses, The
POOL C
Demon of Montreal entered their first nationals in
team looked to gel further as a team on day two Invictus of Calgary looked to take home a national the midst of their inaugural touring season. Serving
and three and use their tremendous team height to championship for the Host City. Featuring a strong as the second team in Montreal’s open program, the
better advantage. squad of players, it is a team that plays a rugged team was committed to bringing in and developing
game with surprising athleticism and talent. players, not on winning in the short term. Despite
POOL B
Appearing strong throughout the team, Robert strong coaching by their captain, Demon was unable
Mephisto of Montreal serves as a team of great Macleod’s throwing and Dustin Hong’s overall play to upset any opponents on day one.
performance and longevity in Canadian Ultimate. were in full view during the weekend. They looked
Forever a quarter-finalist and championship extremely strong in all Thursday games and coasted
POOL D
contender at nationals since the nineties, Mephisto to a 3-0 record. Phoenix of Ottawa entered the tournament as
underwent major off-season changes in the hopes of the most enigmatic club. Long a team oozing with
better contending with the elite teams both now and Grand Trunk of Toronto featuring a plethora of young talented prospects and an urgency to win now, the
in the future. Implementing an A-B team program talent from a number of feeder systems. Failing to team saw many strong players return to the city and
P
r
obe
g
concept and saying goodbye to some of the team’s impress many during the touring season, Grand rejoin the club. Most importantly, world champions
:
gre
b
y
www.canadianultimate.com — Ultimate Canada Magazine 15
t
o
Pho
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