Zach Pancer
Men’s rugby
Fourth-year men’s outside centre Zach Pancer played a large role in the team’s 106-0 win over the Trent Excalibur Oct. 4, scoring two tries and adding eight conversions for a total of 26 points. His first try came just one minute into the game and started the rout.
Beating Trent by large margins isn’t unusual for the Gaels; they defeated the Excalibur by scores of 78-0 and 99-0 last season. But Pancer said it was important for the team to focus on improving their own play.
“We put up a big score last year as well, and we were hoping to improve on it this year just to show that we’re getting stronger and stronger,” he said. “Seeing that result was actually pretty sweet.”
Pancer said it can be difficult to maintain mental focus against a weaker opponent.
“It’s not tough technically to go into a game like that, but there’s a certain amount of mental preparation on what you need to do well, what you need to focus on, playing to the level you want to play at,” he said. “We were using it as a way to just make sure we were doing all of the things we’d been practicing all year.”
Pancer said a Grade 7 teacher of his inspired him to take up rugby at the age of 13.
“A teacher at my school actually was a Queen’s alumnus, and he played here,” Pancer said. “He was just singing rugby’s praises and those of the camaraderie that comes along with it. All his friends are rugby players, and he was telling me that it would be a great game to get involved in.”
Pancer said the off-field dimension of rugby is one of the things he loves about the sport.
“It’s not just an on the field experience. It’s a huge social one, not just with your teammates but with your opponents as well,” he said. “You can play 80 minutes of rugby when you’re trying to kill each other and afterwards you go out and have drinks with the other team. It’s a great atmosphere on and off the field.”
Pancer said the group element of rugby is what motivates him to keep going when he’s battered and bruised.
“You see the other 22 guys on your team all doing the same thing, and just being around them makes you want to step up, play in that next game and be part of the win.”
—Andrew Bucholtz
Kelsey Thomson
Women’s hockey
Kelsey Thomson opened the Gaels women’s hockey season this weekend with a bang. In Saturday’s game against Western, Thomson opened the scoring with a shorthanded first-period goal, setting the Gaels on the path to a 4-0 victory. In Sunday’s game against Windsor, Thomson scored her second shorthanded goal of the season and then another goal at the end of the third period. Despite her successes, the Gaels lost 5-3.
She said beating Western was a great way to start the season.
“Western has beaten us every year for the past five years in our opening game,” she said. “This definitely motivated us to beat them, especially on their Homecoming weekend.”
She’s very optimistic about this season for the Gaels.
“Our hope is to win the OUAs,” she said.
In order to do this, Thomson, on her third year on the team, is prepared to do whatever it takes.
“I have to keep contributing, and when my coach needs me to step up, I have to step up and fulfill his request,” she said. “I need to give 100 per cent every shift.”
Even with a three-goal weekend under her belt, Thomson still would have preferred another team victory.
“In the end, it’s the team success that I want more,” she said. “I’m happy to contribute, but I’d be much happier if the team had won.”
According to head coach Harold Parsons, this attitude is what sets Thomson apart.
“She’s one of our most talented players,” he said. “She teaches by example. All the younger players who team up with her like playing with her and find her easy to talk to and ask for advice.” Parsons said Thomson’s greatest asset is her ability to score goals.
“She shoots the puck really well and positions herself so she is always a threat,” he said. “She puts herself into high traffic areas and handles the stick really well.” But Thomson is also extremely hardworking, and keeps up with a rigorous training program even in the off season, which Parsons said is an important step.
“She works really hard, and [since her first year] has worked herself up into a top six position and has taken a lead,” Parsons said. “She didn’t want to lose without a fight and this carries a long way.”
Parsons said Thomson’s efforts are key to the team’s success.
“Winning isn’t everything. Kelsey works very hard to make sure we do win.”
—Leah Larocque
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