The success of the 2024–2025 seasons of Bishop’s varsity teams is one that will be remembered for years to come. This year was filled with victories and championships across the gyms, ice, and turf here at Bishop’s University.
Throughout this season we had multiple varsity teams find success through their grit and grind. The Year of the Gaiter is not an understatement. With teams not only finding provincial success but also beating out the entire nation. This year our athletes demanded respect and achieved just that, solidifying our Gaiters as an up-and-coming powerhouse in Canadian university sports.
Despite us being a close-knit community of only roughly 2,500 Gaiters, the blood, sweat, and tears our Gaiters shed has paid off. The results speak for themselves.
An athletic season stamped with championship trophies has reinforced our purple pride. Our Gaiter fans showed out this year by standing out in the freezing cold to support our football team, bang against the glass in the Molson Arena, and screaming their hearts out at Mitchell Gym.
National Champions: Bishop’s Women’s Hockey Secures First U Sports Title
This season marked a historic year for the Bishop’s women’s hockey as they skated their way to a national U Sports title this year. Since joining the RSEQ in 2021, the women’s hockey program—although first met with struggle—was turned around by Head Coach Valérie Bois, who led the team to national success.
M.V.P. Gabrielle Santerre and her Gaiter teammates finished with an 18–12 season record this year. They closed out the RSEQ semifinals against Université de Montréal, winning the best-of-three series 2–0. They then played against the Concordia Stingers, beating them 2–1 in the series.
After sealing the RSEQ as theirs, this unstoppable Gaiters team glided to a 3–0 record in the U Sports Nationals. After a nail-biting OT victory against the UBC Thunderbirds. They then faced the Varsity Blues from the University of Toronto in the national semifinals, winning 2–1.
(Women’s Hockey team with national banner taken from gaiters athletics site)
The Gaiters, with ice in their veins, won the national title in dominant fashion, beating the Waterloo Warriors in a
3-0 game where M.V.P. Gabrielle Santerre scored one for herself and assisted teammates Gabrielle Rousseau and Maude Pepin in finding the back of the net. Tendy, Éricka Gagnon had an amazing 27-save game shutting out the Warrior’s offence completely.
Dual Dominance on the Court: Gaiter Basketball Sweeps RSEQ Championships
On the hardwood floors, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams found success in the RSEQ this year, bringing home two more banners to hang up at Mitchell Gym.
The women’s basketball team, led by their Head Coach Andrea Torres, finished the regular season with a 13–7 record. After a close 63–59 victory against McGill in the RSEQ semifinals. They bounced their way to the finals, beating Université Laval 56–50 in a gritty final. Forward Victoria Gauna A.K.A. “Big Five,”(pictured to the left with RSEQ banner) who also played for the Argentinian national team. She finished this game with an impressive 20-point and 14-rebound double.
On the men’s side, Head Coach Matt McLean gathered his troops and completed the season with a dominating 16–4 record. The semi finals was just another business day for these men, as they beat Université Laval 92–70 in blowout fashion. They then took care of business again against Concordia University Stingers on home turf, 75–61. Big man Charles Robert, who stands at an impressive 6 feet 8 inches, was named team M.V.P. as he led the team in most points per game, averaging 15.8 PPG.
Turf War at Coulter Field Ends in Glory: Gaiters Crowned AUS Champions After Perfect Season
The Bishop’s Gaiters men’s football team made history this season with a commanding 8–0 perfect record in the regular season. Ultimately battling their way to bringing home another banner for the Gaiter nation.
After joining the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) league in 2017 following their exit from the RSEQ, the Gaiters faced a tough welcome on the gridiron. Winning just two games in their first two seasons. Cherif Nicolas transformed the team by implementing his “W.I.N — What Is Next” culture and took fate into his own hands. Despite the heartbreaking 3-point loss in the semifinals to Mount Allison in the 2022–2023 season. The Gaiters found themselves in the finals every year following their two years of struggle.
This year was different. The air around Coulter Field was fresh and rejuvenated. This was the year the Gaiters football team had finally closed out that Loney Bowl victory against the Saint Mary’s Huskies. Led by M.V.P. Quarterback Justin Quiron and Defensive Player of the Year Alex MacDonald, the Gaiters found themselves in a heart-attack-inducing fourth quarter. Down by 3 points with only 16 seconds left, linebacker Gabriel Royer (2022 AUS Defensive Player of the Year) punched the ball out, forcing a fumble. Kicker, Xavier Gervais handled business and led the Gaiters to OT.
Xavier Gervais, who was named Special Teams Player of the Year, sealed the Huskies’ fate in triple overtime and sent them home with a 27-yard field goal, bringing the football team their first championship since 1994.
The Gaiter Standard
The 2024–2025 season will be remembered as one of the most accomplished years in Bishop’s athletic history. From the ice to the hardwood all the way to the turf. Our Gaiters demand respect on their name—showing they have what it takes to be the best. Make sure to tell your kids about The Year of the Gaiter.
