Shockers Take the Win!

Last night at 11 o’clock I made the treacherous climb up to the McConnell Arena to watch the championship game of the men’s intramural hockey A league.  Hockey is one of my favorite sports to watch, but bundling up in my parka and scarf on the second day of Spring to go see this game was not appealing.  That said, I knew quite a few people on the two competing teams so skipping the game was not an option.

The competing teams were “The Shockers” and “The Big U” (it seems that each year the names of intramural teams continue to take on the most bizarre names).  Typically when I show up to watch an intramural game of any sport the mood and atmosphere is relaxed and lighthearted.  When I walked into the arena, however, members from both teams were looking very serious and intent on getting the game started.  I took my seat in the crowd amongst a few dozen other people, some noticeably students and some older people who I assume must have been parents of some of the players. 

The game started off quickly with the Shockers scoring within two minutes of the puck dropping.  The game was extremely fast paced and the skill level of the players was impressive.  The first half (intramural hockey games are divided into two twenty-two minute halves as opposed to three periods) ended with the Shockers scoring their second goal, leading the Big U by two.  During the two minute halftime over a dozen other fans showed up- better late than never.  These fans were definitely livelier than the ones already in the stands.  The fans were equipped with signs, bags of chips and some even with beer.

As the two teams returned to the ice, it was rather obvious that the new fans were here to cheer on the Shockers.  The new cheering proved to be a bit of a distraction for the Shockers as the Big U slipped a goal past the Shockers’ goalie three minutes in.  This was a bit of a wake-up call for the Shockers and things on the ice began to heat up.  Within the next five minutes, both teams had received two penalties.  Although no fights broke out, players from both teams were playing extremely aggressively, provoking cheers from the guys in the stands and alarming looks from the girls.  The game was playing out to be much less of a jovial match between two teams and more of an intense display of testosterone and aggression.  With two minutes left, the Shockers scored two goals, within one minute of each other, crushing any hopes of becoming champions for the Big U.  When the buzzer went the Shockers swarmed their goalie cheering and hugging while the Big U hung their heads and removed their helmets looking ever so defeated.  I really didn't expect an intramural hockey game to evoke such emotions in the players of both teams.  Despite the sadness felt amongst the Big U, the fans seemed to enjoy themselves and the Shockers went home with not only the title of champions but also a nice mug to commemorate their efforts and teamwork.  I am confident they put their mug to good use after the game!  Congratulations, Shockers!

Appropriate Etiquette at the Fitness Centre

After a warm, relaxing and indulgent week spent in Mexico over reading break I was not looking forward to hitting the gym upon my return.  Within two days of being back in Montreal and in the midst of a serious case of beach withdrawal I decided to make my way over to the gym for a long overdue workout.  Seeing as students had already gone on vacation I figured the pre-reading week congestion at the gym would have subsided, however, I was very mistaken.  The gym was just as busy as it had been before reading week. 

It was while I was waiting twenty minutes for a treadmill that I found myself extremely frustrated with not only the wait times for machines at the gym but also the behavior of my fellow gym goers.  Although the gym can be very busy at times I truly believe that if people practiced more suitable gym etiquette, things at the Fitness Centre might run a tad smoother.

First and foremost, the Fitness Centre provides laminated scheduling sheets for each and every cardio machine.  This is to ensure that everyone is able to access the machines fairly.  Notwithstanding the existence of these sheets, I witness countless episodes of people awkwardly and sometimes not so awkwardly interrupting someone’s workout because they’re signed up for a machine that someone else is using.  Signing up for a treadmill or elliptical takes less than a minute and can save you from having your workout interrupted.  Most importantly, if you are not signed up for the machine you’re using and are force to get off, do not simply go to the next available machine! Go and sign up so you don’t have to get kicked off for a second time! 

Secondly, the Fitness Centre is not a meeting place for people to socialize.  I am certainly not suggesting that people cannot speak to each other but that twenty-minute conversation with someone in front of the treadmill I’m using is extremely distracting and unnecessary.  So many people feel uncomfortable coming to the gym as it is and certainly do not need a stranger standing right in front of them for the entirety of their workout.  Furthermore, conversations in front of the water fountain, sets of weights, entrance or exit is not acceptable! Most people want to get in and out of the gym as quickly as possible and groups of people conversing in every corner of the gym is distracting and often bothersome. 

Lastly, a small list of less serious, but nonetheless distracting tendencies gym goers should consider ditching: talking on your cell phone, “forgetting” to wipe down the machine you just used, neglecting to put back your stretching mat and/or weights, bouncing the large exercise balls as if they were a basketballs and simply failing to remember that the McGill Fitness Centre does not only belong to you, but also to the thirty-two thousand other students at McGill!