McGill Redmen

McGill Redmen
University	McGill University
Association	Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Conference	Quebec Student Sports Federation
Athletics director	Drew Love
Location	Montreal, Quebec
Varsity teams
Football stadium	Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
Mascot	Marty the Martlet
Nickname	Redmen
Colours	Red and White
Website	McGill Athletics

The McGill Redmen are the men's athletic teams that represent McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The women's teams are known as the McGill Martlets. The name Redmen was first published in 1929 as "Red Men" and was used to describe the red uniforms worn by McGill sports teams. Research done by McGill historian Dr. Stanley Frost indicated that the name Redmen derived from ancient times, when Celts were known as the "Red Men" because of their red hair... "our own Red Men were no doubt Celts in honour of James McGill's Scottish descent," notes Frost.^{[citation needed]}

Mascot

The mascot for both the Redmen and Martlet teams is Marty the Martlet[1]. The name was chosen in 2005 by students at his first appearance at the Redmen football Homecoming game, where he was presented to the McGill Athletics Department by the Student Organization for Alumni Relations (SOAR).

Football

Main article: McGill Redmen football

The McGill Redmen CIS football team is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1898. The team has appeared in three Vanier Cup national championships, in 1969, 1973 and 1987, with the Redmen finally winning the title in the 1987 game. McGill plays out of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, where the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes also play.

After their 2005 suspension, the team struggled with three losing seasons, including two winless seasons in 2007 and 2008. The program showed signs of hope as the Redmen won three games in 2009, but soon sank back down to futility with consecutive winless campaigns in 2010 and 2011.

Ice hockey

Ice hockey at McGill, 1901.

On March 3, 1875 the first organized indoor game was played at Montreal's Victoria Skating Rink by James George Aylwin Creighton and several McGill University students. In 1877, several McGill students, including Creighton, Henry Joseph, Richard F. Smith, W.F. Robertson, and W.L. Murray codified seven ice hockey rules. The McGill University Hockey Club - later re-christened "The Redmen" - was founded in 1877, arguably making the McGill Redmen the oldest ice hockey club in the world still playing.

The university operates both men's and women's teams in the CIS. The teams play at McGill's McConnell Arena. The men's team has won championships in 1883, 1903, 1905, 1912, 1918, 1921, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The women's team has won championships in 1985, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

On November 15, 2003, Kim St. Pierre was the first woman in CIS history to be credited with a win in a men's regular season game. This occurred when the McGill Redmen defeated the Ryerson Rams by a score of 5-2.

Other sports

Lacrosse

Entering its 11th season, the Redmen Lacrosse team competes in the fall in the Eastern Conference of the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (CUFLA) and generally plays an additional 2 to 3 NCAA exhibition games per season. The team has become one of the most successful varsity programs at McGill, having reached the Final Four in 3 of the past 4 seasons, including a trip to the National Championship in 2008 and an Eastern Conference Championship in 2007. The program has rostered players from 5 provinces and 20 US States, 16 of whom have been named All-Canadian at least once. The Redmen are coached by three former college lacrosse players in Tim Murdoch (Princeton), Sean Steinwald (Cornell), and Brendan Simeson (McGill), who were named CUFLA's "Coaching Staff of the Year" in 2008 and who also helped the Redmen receive back-to-back Harry Griffiths Trophies in 2008 and 2009 as McGill's best-run varsity program. The team practices out of Molson Stadium, with home games played at McGill's Forbes Field.

Soccer

Main article: McGill Redmen soccer

The soccer program at McGill operates for a big part of the school year. On top of the regular CIS fall season there is a Quebec indoor season, which runs from January to mid March. Preparation the CIS season starts with try-outs in mid-August and several preseason games against NCAA teams.

Sailing

McGill's sailing program was founded in 1949, and the first regattas took place in Northern New England. Today, the team competes in the New England Intercollegiate Sailing Association (NEISA), which itself is a part of the Intercollegiate Sailing Association (ICSA). The team trains out of the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club (RStLYC) throughout the fall and competes in dinghies such as the collegiate 420 (dinghy) and the Flying Junior. Every spring, the Redmen attend the U.K. Team Racing Championships, the Wilson Trophy in West Kirby, England.

Baseball

The baseball team plays in the Canadian Intercollegiate Baseball Association (CIBA). They have won two national championships (2006 & 2010), and have appeared in two national finals (2005 & 2008). The team plays out of Trudeau park in Cote St Luc. The program is run by head coach Ernie D'Alessandro.

Public image

2005 hazing scandal

Main article: McGill University#Hazing scandal

In October of 2005, the McGill administration cancelled the football team's season after confirmed reports of hazing involving sexual abuse.

See also

• Canadian Interuniversity Sport
• McGill Martlets

External links

• McGill University athletics
• McGill Sailing Team