Gryph Nation Radio

Joining us for Episode 34 is one of the most recognizable and respected hockey broadcasters in our country, as Sportsnet's Jeff Marek swings by the Gryph Nation Radio podcast!A proud U of G alum, Jeff Marek officially joined the Sportsnet family in 2011 and has since established himself as one of the lead hosts for Sportsnet's coverage of the National Hockey League. Outside of his hosting roles on the television side of things, Jeff also serves as the co-host of the wildly popular podcast, "31 Thoughts, The Podcast" alongside Elliotte Friedman. Prior to joining Sportsnet, Jeff made a name for himself on the radio, serving as the outstanding host of “Leafs Lunch.” Jeff Marek attended the University of Guelph from 1989 to 1995, majoring in English. In our chat with Jeff, it is clear that his time as a Gryphon is still something that he holds close to his heart, as we reminisce about his memorable time at U of G. Episode 34 also marks a special milestone for our Gryph Nation Podcast, as it marks the 1-year anniversary of our podcast!

Dr. Margo MountjoyInternational Olympic Committee – Medical & Scientific Committee (Games Group)Academic & Clinical Lead – University of Guelph Health and Performance CentreRegional Assistant Dean of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of MedicineAssociate Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University Medical School Dr. Carla EdwardsHigh-Performance Mental Health Advisor, Swimming CanadaSports Psychiatrist – University of Guelph Health and Performance CentreAssistant Clinical Professor, McMaster Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural NeurosciencesDirector, Student Progress - Michael G. DeGroote School of MedicineClinical Educational Coordinator, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine Waterloo Regional CampusFor Episode No. 33 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we have a fascinating conversation about the upcoming Olympic Games with a pair of talented, Tokyo-bound doctors, who just so happen to also have strong Gryphon ties. Dr. Margo Mountjoy has been a proud member of our Gryphon family since 1988, working in the heart of our campus at the University of Guelph's Health & Performance Centre, where she currently serves as HPC's clinical and academic lead. Margo is an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University Medical School and Regional Assistant Dean of McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Over the course of her distinguished medical career, Dr. Mountjoy has worked with the biggest national and international sports organizations out there, such as the World Anti-Doping Agency and the World Health Organization, just to name a few. Later this summer, Dr. Mountjoy will make her way to Tokyo as part of the International Olympic Committee's Medical and Scientific Commission – Games Group. Her portfolio within the I.O.C. is expansive, but in short, she will be working with a team of doctors from around the globe to help deliver a safe Olympic Games in Tokyo. Also joining us for Episode 33 is Dr. Carla Edwards, an accomplished Sports Psychiatrist who is also Tokyo-bound. Dr. Edwards came on board at the University of Guelph's Health & Performance Centre in 2016 and also holds several titles at McMaster University, including an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences. Carla will be heading to Tokyo as part of the Team Canada delegate, as the High-Performance Mental Health Advisor with Swimming Canada. Throughout our conversation, both Dr. Mountjoy and Dr. Edwards provide some outstanding insight into the challenges that lie ahead when it comes to the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

For Episode 32 of Gryph Nation Radio, we are thrilled to be joined by Mark Harrison, one of Canada's most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs in the world of sponsorship and marketing. After graduating from the University of Guelph in 1988 (BA, political science), Mark went on to become the Founder, President & CEO of one of Canada's most successful marketing and event firms, The T1 Agency. In nearly 30 years of running his own company, Mark has gone to work with countless major international brands, sports properties and causes – including the NFL & Nike, to develop game-changing marketing and sponsorship strategies and award-winning experiences. Since 2005, Mark has also been behind SponsorshipX, one of the most revered global conferences for sponsorship practitioners.A keynote speaker and published author ("What Sponsors Want"), Mark has made time to take on multiple volunteer roles, sitting on the Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and serving as a volunteer fundraiser for CAMH (Cetre for Addiction and Mental Health). Mark's passion for football has fueled his desire to give back to his local community, where he has served as a volunteer football coach at the high school level in Toronto, coaching the Lawrence Park Panthers since 1994. Mark also serves as a Board member for Football Canada. In the past year, Mark has shifted his attention to the combating systemic racism, serving as Chair of the OUA's Black, Biracial, Indigenous Task Force, and founding the "Black Talent Initiative" - a not-for-profit, volunteer-led initiative of 130 volunteers across the country, with the goal of creating fully-funded internships for black Canadians looking to get into marketing. In June of 2020, Mark co-founded an online school, "Park Street Education." A proud Gryphon alum, and former editor of The Ontarion during his undergrad years, Mark remains involved with his alma mater, serving as an Advisory Board Member with the University of Guelph's International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership at the Lang School of Business and Economics.

Dr. Ann Pegoraro (Chair in Sport Management, U of G's Lang School of Business and Economics)Sara Orrell (General Manager, Guelph Soccer)A.C. Lang (Marketing Specialist, Guelph Soccer)Amanda Scott (Creative Manager, U of G Communications and Public Affairs)Sophia Cremasco (Jr. Gryphons Girls Hockey Player)To celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2021, the "Gryph Nation Radio" podcast is proud to present a three-part episode featuring a cast of talented female role models from all across our Gryphon family!For Part 1, we connect with Dr. Ann Pegoraro, the Chair in Sport Management at U of G's Lang School of Business and Economics and the co-director of the National Network for Research on Gender Equity in Canadian Sport! (3:16)Part 2 features a conversation with a pair of talented women from our Guelph Soccer family, as Gryphon alum Sara Orrell (General Manager, Guelph Soccer) and former varsity women's soccer standout A.C. Lang (Marketing Specialist, Guelph Soccer) stop by for a great chat about getting girls and women involved (and remaining involved!) in soccer. (42:28) And we round out our podcast episode with an outstanding mother-daughter duo with ties to our Guelph Girls Hockey Association family, as Amanda Scott and her 9-year-old daughter, Sophia, swing by to chat all things Jr. Gryphon girls hockey! (1:12:00)

For Episode 30 of Gryph Nation Radio, we are thrilled to be joined by author Jael Richardson. Jael is a proud U of G alum and a former Gryphon student-athlete who played four seasons with our Gryphons women's soccer team (1999-2002). While pursuing her undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in theatre studies, Jael discovered her love for writing, leading her to the University of Guelph-Humber where she completed her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing. Since obtaining her undergrad and Masters from U of G, Jael has gone on to establish herself as one of the most important figures in Canadian literature. In 2012, Jael authored, The Stone Thrower: A Daughter's Lesson, a Father's Life, a memoir about her father, Chuck Ealey, and his coming of age in small-town Ohio during the U.S. civil rights era. The memoir also dives into Chuck Ealey's impressive tenure as a quarterback in the CFL, where he would go on to become the first black quarterback to win the Grey Cup (1972 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats). Jael's memoir was published to critical acclaim and later adapted into a picture book. Next up for Jael was the creation of a one-of-a-kind literary festival in her hometown of Brampton. She is the founder and executive director of F.O.L.D. (the festival of literary diversity) with the first festival taking place in May of 2016. It is the first literary festival devoted to celebrating underrepresented authors and storytellers. Jael has been at the forefront of actively promoting authors from marginalized communities, while advocating for greater inclusion within the publishing industry.And last, but certainly not least, is the arrival of Jael's debut novel, Gutter Child, which released in late January of 2021. Published by HarperCollins Canada, Gutter Child has been met with rave reviews from national media outlets across the country, including the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star.Our conversation with Jael explores her days as a Gryphon student-athlete, while also diving into her literary career and of course her debut novel, Gutter Child. 

For Episode 29 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we catch up with a pair of proud Gryphon alumni who, following their days as student-athletes at the University of Guelph, have gone on to earn the coveted titles of Canadian Olympians. With Thursday, February 4 marking exactly one year away from the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, we thought it would be the perfect time to catch up with Mirela Rahneva (Canadian Olympian in the women's skeleton in PyeongChang, 2018) and Cody Sorensen (Canadian Olympian in the men's 4-man bobsleigh, Sochi 2014).Mirela "Mimi" Rahneva played four seasons with the Gryphons women's rugby from 2007 to 2010. During her time as a Gryphon, Mimi was a three-time OUA champion and four-time CIS bronze medalist while studying tourism management. Following her graduation, Mimi made a seamless transition from the rugby pitch to the sled, where she has gone on to become a fixture on the international circuit for skeleton. Mimi currently has her sights set on Beijing 2022 where she hopes to earn the title of two-time Olympian.Ottawa native Cody Sorensen attended the University of Guelph from 2004 to 2008, competing on the Gryphons men's track and field team. During his days as a Gryphon student-athlete, Cody was a three-time national medalist in the men's 60m hurdles, and was a key part of an unforgettable 2007-08 season when the Guelph Gryphons were crowned national champions for the first time in program history (on both the men's and women's sides). After earning his undergrad from U of G in management economics and finance, Cody would move from the track to bobsleigh after turning heads at an open identifiction camp held by Bobsleigh Canada at York University. After serving as an alternate at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Cody would officially earn the title of Olympian at the 2014 Games in Sochi where he represented Canada in the four-man bobleigh alongside Justin Kripps, Jesse Lumsden and Ben Coakwell. 

For Episode 28 of Gryph Nation Radio, we are joined by three members of our Gryphon familly to chat all things mental health as part of Bell Let's Talk Day 2021. Our conversation focuses primarily around the student-athlete perspective, with Shyvonne Roxborough (Gryphons women's track & field) and Darian Hirst (Gryphons men's rugby) sharing some important insights regarding their experiences as current U of G varsity athletes. Also joining us for Episode 28 is special guest, Carrie Charles. For the past 10 years, Carrie has worked within U of G's Counselling Services, and since 2018, has served as the point person for varsity athletics when it comes to servicing mental health issues. Carrie is a registered psychotherapist from the Ontario Association of Mental Health Professionals and is also a proud Gryphon, with the Guelph native having spent four seasons competing on the U of G women's rugby while pursuing her undergrad in psychology. In Carrie's senior season as a Gryphon in 1998, she was part of the first ever national title in program history for the Gryphons women's rugby team. In our conversation with Carrie, Shyvonne and Darian, we discuss the importance of addressing mental health issues and explore the role mental health has played in their athletics, academics as well as their personal and social lives.

For our first episode of 2021, we are dipping into our favourite reoccurring segment on Gryph Nation Radio with our latest edition of “Champions Corner." For each "Champions Corner" episode, we do a little blast-to-the-past to catch up with former Gryphon student-athletes who helped secure some of the greatest championship moments in U of G history. To this day, the Guelph Gryphons have been crowned national champions in football just once in program history. The year was 1984. The Gryphons put together an unforgettable playoff run, culminating with a 22-13 victory over the Mount Allison Mounties on Nov. 24, 1984 in the Vanier Cup, which was played at Varsity Stadium in Toronto in front of nearly 20,000 fans!Joining us for Episode 27 are a pair of proud Gryphon alum from the '84 Gryphon football squad, who had front row seats to watch the Gryphon fans storm the field and tear down the uprights at Varsity Stadium on that cold, November day. From the offensive side of the ball, we have Jed Tommy joining us! Jed wore No. 23 for the Gryphons and was the team's bruising fullback who was named Team MVP of the '84 team. Jed suited up for the Gryphons from 1981-1984 and was inducted into the Gryphon Hall of Fame in 2004. After his playing days as a Gryphon, Jed went on to put together an outstanding CFL career which included earning the title of Grey Cup champion with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1986. Also joining us is Pat Tracey, who was a starting cornerback on the Gryphons 1984 Vanier Cup-winning team. Pat played football for the Gryphons from 1982-1986, serving as a key piece of a loaded Gryphon defence. Following his football playing days at the University of Guelph, Pat Tracey went on to put together one of the most decorated and respected collegiate coaching careers in our country, with over 30 years of coaching experience in Canadian university football. Pat's coaching career started at his alma mater, where he was actually part of two more Yates Cup championships with the Gryphons in 92 and 96. He was at Queen's University from 2000-to-2013 (and was defensive coordinator of the Gaels 2009 Vanier Cup team) and currently serves as defensive coordinator out west with the UBC Thunderbirds. Pat Tracey's impressive coaching resume also includes a pair of stops in the pro ranks, with the former Gryphon coaching with the Ticats in 1998 as well as with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 2014-15.Jed and Pat share some vivid memories from the Gryphons run to the 1984 Vanier Cup, with the full episode available on Thursday, Jan. 7 across all major podcast platforms.

Episode 26 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast marks our final episode of 2020! To help us reflect on the year that was (from a COVID perspective), we chat with two special guests in Dr. Tim O'Shea and Sarah Mau. From 1994-to-1997, Tim O'Shea studied biomedical sciences at the University of Guelph and played for four seasons on our Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team. After graduating from U of G, he completed his medical degree at McMaster, while also earning his Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. He is trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases and medical microbiology at McMaster and is currently an Assistant Professor in McMaster's Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases. Our chat with Dr. O'Shea revolves around COVID-19 vaccines, with the first vaccine shots in our country just administered earlier this week (Dec. 14, 2020).After Dr. O'Shea starts off Episode 26 with some great COVID-19 insight from a medical perspective, we shift our conversation to provide our listeners with some updates from the perspective of the Department of Athletics. Sarah Mau, the Associate Director (Programming, Facilities, Fitness & Recreation) with Gryphon Athletics, joins us to reflect on how the past nine months have impacted the Department of Athletics at the University of Guelph.

For Episode 25 of Gryph Nation Radio, we chat with a pair of outstanding Gryphon varsity coaches, as Colette McAuley (Gryphons women's rugby) and Megan Reid (Gryphons women's basketball) stop by the podcast.The focus of our conversation with Colette and Megan centers around female coaching opportunities in sport, as we explore some of the history, obstacles and benefits when it comes to female coaches in sport. Both Colette and Megan are important voices in the "She Can Coach" initiative, with both taking part in the Gryphons women in sports series (highlighted by a live, online event on Dec. 8, 2020). Colette McAuley has served as head coach of the Gryphons women's rugby program since 2007, and has helped establish the Gryphons as a perennial power in U SPORTS women's rugby. A three-time U SPORTS Coach of the Year, and six-time OUA Coach of the Year, Colette's decorated coaching credentials are complimented by an equally impressive background as a player. Colette was a two-sport star as a Gryphon (rugby and track), as well as a long-serving member of the Ontario Provincial team and National rugby squads. She represented Canada 21 times for the national Women's 15s, including a trip to the World Cup in 2002 and Canada Cups in 2001, 2003 and 2005. McAuley was a member of the National Women's 7s team for two years, winning tournaments in San Diego and Toronto, as well traveling with them abroad to Hong Kong, Dubai and Los Angeles. After a decade of contributions, she retired from the National team in 2007.Megan Reid is currently in her fourth season as an assistant coach with the Gryphons women's basketball team, and arrives at Guelph with a decorated coaching career at both the collegiate level (as the lead assistant of the Mohawk College women's basketball team) as well as the high school level (as a former head coach of the senior boys and senior girls basketball teams at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, where she led her teams to AAAA OFSAA appearances on four separate occasions). As a player, Megan split her varsity basketball career between York and Western, and was part of Mustangs teams that made back-to-back trips to nationals, including a CIS bronze medal in 1996.

Joining us for Episode 24 of the Gryph Nation Radio podcast are a pair of global giants in the world of sports business and marketing, both of whom just so happen to have a close affiliation with the University of Guelph thanks to their integral roles in helping with the 2018 launch of the University of Guelph's International Institute for Sports Business and Leadership. For the full bio on both Dr. Richard Pound & Dr. Norm O'Reilly, please visit our Gryph Nation Radio homepage.

Episode 23 marks the second edition of our reoccurring segment, Champions Corner, where we do a little blast-to-the-past to catch up with former Gryphon student-athletes who helped secure some of the greatest championship moments in U of G history.For this edition of Champions Corner, we're chatting with Steph Yallin and Sharon Hollinshead, two star players from the 2004-05 OUA champion Gryphons women's basketball team!During the 2004-05 season, the Gryphons women's basketball team captured the 2nd OUA title in program history (and first in 25 years, with the only other conference banner coming during the 1979-80 campaign).Both Steph Yallin and Sharon Hollinshead were instrumental in helping the Gryphons take home the OUA title, starring as sophomores throughout Guelph's 2004-05 championship run. In our conversation with Steph and Sharon, we chat about their incredible basketball careers not just at the University of Guelph, but also dating back to their teenage years, with the Port Colborne and Welland natives playing with and against each other in club basketball, before ultimately deciding to both attend the University of Guelph as part of one of the greatest recruiting classes in Gryphon basketball history. Steph Yallin, the eldest of five Yallin sisters, all of whom played varsity basketball for the Gryphons, was a four-time OUA All-Star during her outstanding four-year career at Guelph (2003-04 to 2006-07). Steph's memorable Gryphon career was also capped off with national recognition in her senior season, when the biological science major was named the recipient of the U SPORTS Sylvia Sweeney Award for her outstanding commitment to athletics, academics and community service.Sharon Hollinshead is one of the most talented and athletic players in Gryphon women's basketball history, with the Welland native earning OUA West First Team All-Star status during the Gryphs' 2004-05 championship-winning season. The human kinetics major was the focus of attention for opposing defences throughout her three seasons as a Gryphon (2003-04 to 2005-06) and was an integral part of Guelph's success, including a memorable performance in the OUA gold medal game, where Sharon recorded 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting while adding 9 rebounds and 4 steals in the Gryphons dominating 87-68 victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

For Episode 22, we chat with one of the most generous and influential donors in the history of U of G Athletics in Gryphon Hall of Famer, Larry Pearson.Larry Pearson's successful business career was highlighted by a nearly two decade tenure as the President and COO of the Guelph-based Linamar corporation (one of Canada's largest automobile parts manufacturers).Larry's long and distinguished association with Gryphon Athletics dates back 50 years ago, when he first set foot on the University of Guelph campus in 1969 as a two-sport student-athlete (varsity volleyball and junior varsity basketball). Larry completed his varsity career in 1972 and three years later, he would take the reins of the U of G men's volleyball team, serving as head coach and eventually leading the Gryphons to their first, and to this day only, OUA championship title run during the 1977-78 season. While he has been an influential member of the men's volleyball program for decades, Larry's scope expanded when he took a leadership role in the university's Building Potential Campaign and the plan to build the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre. He was a key member of the advisory council for the campaign and a personal gift he donated in 2007 kickstarted the project. Larry, who also served on the University of Guelph's Board of Governors from 1995-2001, spearheaded the support of varsity athletes and has contributed to athletic scholarships through his Larry Pearson Scholarship Fund. Larry's perseverance through multiple administrations, both at the Departmental and University level, was instrumental in ensuring the completion of the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Centre.His philanthropic impact has been felt not only on U of G campus, but also throughout the entire City of Guelph through a wide variety of infrastructure projects ranging from baseball facilities, to expansions at the Guelph General Hospital, to community splash pads. In our chat with Larry, we ask him about his successful business career as one of the top automotive executives in the country, and also dive into his philanthropic efforts and the role sports has played throughout his life. 

For Episode 21, we chat with one of the most decorated coaches in OUA men's hockey as Shawn Camp, Gryphons men's hockey head coach, swings by the Gryph Nation Radio podcast. The 2020-21 season marks Shawn Camp's 14th season in charge of the men's hockey program at the University of Guelph. Throughout his U of G coaching career, Shawn Camp has helped shape the Gryphons men's hockey program into one of the top programs in the OUA. This past season (2019-20), Coach Camp helped guide the Gryphons to a thrilling playoff run, which culminated with a triple overtime victory in the OUA title game in March of 2020, giving the Gryphons their 7th OUA title in program history.In total, Shawn has brought a trio of championships to the city of Guelph at both the OHL level (as head coach of the 2004 OHL Champion Guelph Storm) as well as at the OUA level (as head coach of the 2014-15 and 2019-20 Queen's Cup champion Gryphons). In our conversation with Coach Camp, we reflect on not only his impressive run as a head coach in the university ranks, but also dive into his coaching experiences at the CHL level, while also chatting about some of his time within Hockey Canada, including leading Team Canada's U18 team to a Gold medal at the 2005 World Jr. Cup (leading a roster which included the likes of Carey Price and Jonathan Toews).We end the conversation by asking Coach Camp about his role with the NHL's Ottawa Senators, where he has spent the better part of the past two decades working for the Sens as a development camp coach, working alongside the organization's top prospects each summer at the team's Development Camp.

For Episode 20 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we're connecting with one of the most influential members of the Gryphon family, as we chat with Carrie Chassels, vice-provost (student affairs) at the University of Guelph. Back in August of 2018, Carrie began a five-year appointment as the vice-provost (student affairs) at the University of Guelph, with a portfolio that involves nearly 300 part-and-full-time staff, as well as over 1,000 student employees. Carrie oversees six different units across U of G campus (Co-operative Education & Career Services, Student Experience, Student Housing Services, Student Wellness Services, Child Care & Learning Centre and Gryphon Athletics and Recreation). Prior to arriving at U of G, Carrie called Canada's west coast home, as she served as the associate vice-president of student affairs at Vancouver Island University. She also has strong Toronto roots, having completed her undergrad at York University before heading to the University of Toronto to complete her Masters and PhD in Education Administration from U of T's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.Carrie stops by the podcast to provide some updates on what the past eight months have looked like from her end as she has helped our student affairs division navigate the mounting challenges of a global pandemic. We also dive into Carrie's background, from growing up in rural Ontario to her academic and professional pursuits in Toronto and Canada's west coast. Please enjoy, Episode 20 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast with University of Guelph vice-provost (student affairs), Carrie Chassels.

For Episode 19 of the Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we chat with the Mayor of the City of Guelph, and avid Gryphon supporter, Cam Guthrie. Prior to becoming Mayor of Guelph, Cam Guthrie was a licensed insurance broker and local entrepreneur for 16 years. He holds a business diploma from Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough. In 2008, the Guelph Mercury named him one of the city's top “40 Under 40.” After serving as a City Councillor (Ward 4) for four years (2010-2014), Cam was elected Mayor of Guelph in December of 2014. In 2018, he successfully was re-elected for a second term.On top of his accomplished career in politics, Mayor Guthrie is also a talented drummer, having played on several studio recordings, and produced or co-produced several albums. He is also a loyal fan of the Guelph Gryphons, the Guelph Storm, and the Guelph Royals. He and his wife, Rachel, are the proud parents of two children (Anikan, age 17, and Adelaide age 16). Mayor Guthrie stops by the Gryph Nation Radio podcast to provide us with some terrific insight into the dynamic between the University of Guelph and the City of Guelph, and how those two entities have worked together seamlessly through the years. The Mayor weighs in on a variety of topics, from the City-wide benefits that have come from the contributions made by the U of G students, and to some of the most successful programming offered by Gryphon Athletics, including the local high school football "Fryday Night Lights" series, which was launched back in 2018 to showcase Guelph high school football, with games taking place at U of G's Alumni Stadium.

For Episode 18 of the Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we're celebrating some of the incredible academic accomplishments of our Gryphon student-athletes. The 2019-20 season was a record year for Gryphon Athletics in terms of success in the classroom, with 1-in-3 of our varsity athletes earning the title of Academic Award Winners! Joining us for Episode 18 are three exceptional student-athletes, all of whom have played key roles for their Gryphon teams while also excelling academically in their respective majors. Brooke Davidson, a fourth-year goalkeeper on the Gryphons women's soccer team, earned U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status during her third season in 2019-20 after posting a 94.7% average in Human Kinetics. The Cambridge native has now applied to med school at McMaster, Queen's, U of T and Ottawa and is scheduled to finish her undergrad at U of G in the spring of 2021. Dylan Niepage, a second-year accounting major from Barrie, is coming off a standout rookie season as a Gryphon in which he led the U of G men's curling team to an OUA bronze medal at the 2020 OUA Curling Championships. Niepage also impressed as a freshman in the classroom, where the accounting major posted an average of 88.5% to earn U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours. The product of Eastview Secondary School in Barrie has aspirations of pursing his designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant following the completion of his undergrad at U of G.Tara Tanasijevic, a fourth-year standout on the Gryphons women's volleyball team, has received early acceptance into U of G's prestigious Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the Ontario Veterinary College. The Toronto native posted a 93% average while studying Bio-Medical Science during the 2019-20 season, a season in which she also impressed on the volleyball court, where she helped lead the Gryphons to an OUA bronze medal (the programs first OUA podium finish since 2011).  

Episode 17 marks the first edition of our new, reoccurring segment which we've titled Champions Corner where we will be doing a little blast-to-the-past to catch up with former Gryphon student-athletes who helped secure some of the greatest championship moments in U of G history during their time as Gryphon varsity student-athletes.For our first Champions Corner edition, we're going back 24 years to March of 1997, when the Guelph Gryphons were crowned national champions for the first (and still to this date, the only) time in Gryphons men's hockey history. Nearly 6,000 fans filled the lower bowl at the iconic Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto to watch the Gryphons capture the 1996-97 CIAU title, skating to a 4-3 win over the University of New Brunswick. Joining us to re-live the greatest moment in Gryphon men's hockey history is team captain Chris Clancy, standout goalie Matt Mullin and star defenceman J.P. Davis. Chris Clancy, a Kitchener native who studied arts and played forward for three and a half years with the Gryphons (joining the team mid-way thru the 93-94 season and ending his U of G career with a national title in 96-97) served as team captain and was a former draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres who went on to become a three-time OUAA All-Star during his standout Gryphon career. Matt Mullin, a Guelph native who studied agricultural business during his two seasons as a star goalie for the Gryphons (1995-96 to 1996-97) was the first individual in program history to be named National Player of the Year, earning the prestigious Senator Joseph A. Sullivan Trophy during the Gryphons national-title winning season in 1996-97. J.P. Davis, an Oshawa native who studied biology at U of G, was a two-time All-Canadian who also was named the CIAU Player of the Year during his senior season at Guelph in 1997-98. To date, J.P. Davis and Matt Mullin remain the only Gryphon players in program history to take home National Player of the Year honours. Davis played five seasons with the Gryphons (1993-94 to 1997-98), earning All-Canadian status in each of his final two seasons. In 2014, J.P. Davis was inducted into the Gryphon Hall of Fame.

For Episode 16 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we are joined by a trio of great guests as we focus our conversation around concussion-related issues in sports.The certified, professional voice joining us is that of Judy Lynch, the head athletic therapist within the University of Guelph's Department of Athletics. Judy is one of the most familiar faces in the department, with over 30 years of experience treating patients and clients, including extensive experience leading the treatment of our very own Gryphon student-athletes. Also joining us for this important chat about concussions is a pair of student-athletes who offer some excellent first-hand perspective when it comes to some of the challenges that exist when it comes to navigating the road to recovery after having suffered a concussion in sport. Burke Bechard is a fourth-year psychology major at U of G and a star on our Gryphons women's basketball team, a two-time OUA All-Star who is fearless on the basketball court. The native of Dover Centre, Ontario has picked up more than a few injury setbacks throughout her impressive athletic career, and she opens up to us specifically about some of the concussions she has suffered during her basketball career. Ross Williams, a landscape architecture major from Oshawa who is in his final year as a Gryphon, competes on the Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team, and has emerged as an extremely valuable voice when it comes to opening up about his experiences having suffered multiple concussions during his rugby career.

For Episode 15, we chat with Stu Lang, a man who has forever changed the University of Guelph for the better with transformational gifts made through his charitable foundation, The Angel Gabriel Foundation. Over the past decade, Stu and his wife Kim have together gifted more $50 million to the University of Guelph, supporting a wide variety of areas on campus. Some of these historical donations made to the University include a $21 million donation to the U of G business school (now named the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, named after Stu's late father); an $11 million gift to U of G's Ontario Veterinary College; and a $10.5 million gift to the Gryphon football program in the form of a state-of-the-art Pavilion at Alumni Stadium. Stu's decorated career in the business world saw him take a lead role in the family business, serving as President of CCL, Label International - the largest label making corporation in the world. The family business, which started as Lang Lamps back in 1951, has now grown to a multi-billion dollar company with CCL Industries listing annual revenues of $5.3 billion (CDN) in 2019. Stu chats with us about his role with CCL Industries, where he came on board in 1982 following a standout eight-year CFL career with the Edmonton Eskimos where he was a five-time Grey Cup champion. Stu's passion for football led him to the University of Guelph in 2009, when the nearby resident (Puslinch) volunteered as a receivers coach with the Gryphon football program. One year later, Stu would take over head coaching duties, marking the beginning of a phenomenal six-year stretch for the Gryphon football program (2010-to-2015), which was capped off by the Gryphons capturing the 2015 Yates Cup. 

For Episode 14, we catch up with a trio of former Gryphon student-athletes, all of whom have used their varsity experiences at the University of Guelph as a launching pad for success when it comes to making the jump to the professional sporting ranks in their respective disciplines. Todd Winder, a dynamic forward on the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team, recently signed a pro contract in Sweden with Vimmerby HC. Todd spent a total of three seasons as a Gryphon while majoring in management economics and finance, and was named an OUA West First Team All-Star in 2019-20 after finishing tied for 3rd in the OUA in scoring with 39 points in 28 games played. The Uxbridge native capped his Gryphon career back in March of 2020 by helping lead the Gryphons men's hockey team to their seventh OUA title in program history.  Zarko Ubiparip also majored in management economics and finance during his three seasons as a Gryphon, where he starred on the Gryphons men's volleyball program. In each of his three seasons, Zarko was recognized at the conference level, including being named an OUA West First Team All-Star in 2019-20, where he helped the Gryphons reach the OUA Men's Volleyball Final Four. Zarko has recently signed a pro contract in Serbia with OK Ribnica Kraljevo. Valerie Lamenta, one of the most decorated women's hockey players in the history of the University of Guelph, joins us to chat about her experience playing professional hockey overseas last season in Hungary (where she led her pro team, KHM Budapest, to a championship in Europe). During her five-year career with the Gryphons women's hockey program, Val was a three-time OUA champion, and also led our women's hockey program to their first ever national title in 2018-19. Val was also the first Gryphons women's hockey player ever to be named the national player of the year, receiving the prestigious U SPORTS Brodrick Trophy during her sophomore season. A mechanical engineering major during her time at Guelph, Val is now pursuing her Masters in her hometown of Montreal at McGill University.Val, Zarko and Todd join us to chat about their journey from Gryphons to the pro ranks!

For Episode 13, we chat with Dr. Tim O'Shea, a leading expert in the field of infectious diseases.From 1994-to-1997, Tim studied biomedical sciences at the University of Guelph and played for four seasons on our Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team. After graduating from U of G, he completed medical degree at McMaster, while also earning his Masters of Public Health from Harvard University. He is trained in internal medicine, infectious diseases and medical microbiology at McMaster (and is Royal College certified in each of these disciplines). Tim O'Shea has traveled and worked extensively in East Africa in both general internal medicine and infectious diseases. He is currently an Assistant Professor in McMaster's Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases.Dr. O'Shea has done some truly inspiring medical work in the Hamilton area, including spearheading a program called “HamSmart” (Hamilton Social Medicine Response Team), while also serving as an integral part of the “Shelter Health Network." Both programs aim to serve people living in the Hamilton who have no family doctor, who are homeless or precariously housed, and who have complex health and social needs (links below for more info).Dr. O'Shea generously takes time from his busy schedule to stop by the Gryph Nation Radio podcast to chat with us about his outstanding medical career while also weighing in on a variety of COVID-19 related topics. Tim also looks back fondly on his time as a student-athlete at the University of Guelph during the mid-to-late 1990's. 

For Episode 12, we chat with Chantique Carey-Payne, the head coach of our Guelph Gryphon varsity swim teams. As a student-athlete at the University of Guelph from 2007-to-2011, Chantique established herself as one of the greatest swimmers in school history, racking up seven OUA gold medals as well as a CIS (now U SPORTS) gold medal during the 2009-10 season (50m butterfly), making her just the fourth women's swimmer in Gryphon history to top the podium at the national level. After a sensational varsity career, Chantique seamlessly transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant coach for our varsity swim teams for two years, before taking over head coach duties in 2017. Towards the end of the podcast, we ask Chantique about some of her favourite moments from her outstanding Gryphon career, but we start our conversation with some more important and pressing issues as Chantique opens up to us about the racial and social injustice movements which have reached historic heights here in 2020. She talks about some of the challenges she faced growing up as a black athlete in the predominantly white sport of swimming. And she offers us some insight into what some of her messaging has been to her current student-athletes when it comes to addressing some of the very difficult questions we're currently facing when it comes to combating racism in our society.

For Episode 11, we chat with one of the newest members of our Gryphon family as we connect with longtime NHL linesman Scott Driscoll.Scott recently announced his retirement from the NHL after working an incredible 28 seasons as an NHL linesman. The native of Seaforth, Ontario is now set to join the Gryphons women's hockey team as an assistant coach.With one of the most decorated officiating careers under his belt, Scott's incredible resumé includes a total of 2,032 NHL games (1,847 regular season games, 185 playoff games), three Stanley Cup Finals (2004, 2007 & 2014) and two Winter Classics (2014 Leafs/Red Wings in Ann Arbor, Michigan and the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Texas between Dallas and Nashville). His first NHL game was back in 1992, with the last game of his remarkable NHL officiating career coming on March 10, 2020 in Toronto when the Leafs hosted the Tampa Bay Lightning.Scott shares some incredible stories from his nearly three decades with a front row seat to the very best hockey players in the world, and also chats with us about his upcoming transition into the coaching ranks as the latest addition to the Guelph Gryphons women's hockey program.

For Episode 10, we chat with our Director of Athletics at the University of Guelph, Scott McRoberts. It has been four and a half years on the job for Scott, who took over as A.D. of the Gryphons back in March of 2016. He has spent more than 15 years in strategic management and fundraising with universities, national sport organizations and municipalities throughout North America.Prior to arriving at Guelph, Scott served as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus and helped lead the development of the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre (a 365,000 sq. ft. world class athletic and recreational facility) and the UTSC Tennis Centre (a brand new 8-court high performance facility) for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am games.Throughout his career, Scott has worn lots of different hats, including a teacher at both the university and college level. He also currently serves as the Associate Director for the International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership through the University of Guelph's Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. After earning a degree in Sport Management at Brock University during his days as an undergrad, Scott went south of the border, completing his Masters of Sport Management at the University of San Francisco, before working at several different institutions in California, including Stanford University and San Jose State University. Scott stops by the podcast to provide some Gryphon COVID-19 updates regarding the re-opening of our facilities, while also addressing a wide range of topics regarding our Gryphon community.

For Episode 9 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we chat with one of the most recognizable figures in Gryphon Athletics in men's basketball head coach, Chris O'Rourke.The 2020-21 season marks Chris O'Rourke's 24th season in charge of the men's basketball program at the University of Guelph. As the longest-tenured head coach in OUA men's basketball, Chris O'Rourke has served as the driving force behind some of the greatest moments in Gryphons basketball history. In 2003, he coached the Gryphons to the OUA West divisional title and would lead them to a silver medal at both the conference and national championships. During the 2005-06 season, O'Rourke became just the third Gryphon coach ever to be named OUA West Coach of the year (joining Tim Darling, 1989-90, 1994-95 and Gib Chapman, 1979-80, 1980-81). During his tenure as head coach of the Gryphons, Chris O'Rourke has had 21 players named OUA all-stars, two OUA Rookie of the Year recipients, one OUA MVP and two players named All-Canadians. "Coach O" shares some memorable stories from his legendary tenure while also diving into some of his coaching experience outside of the Gryphon program, which includes memorable stints with the Canadian national junior team. 

For Episode 8 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we check in with a pair of current Gryphon student-athletes in Victoria Hinchliffe and A.J. Chase.Victoria is a senior on the Gryphons women's soccer team who has put together one of the most decorated careers in program history. The human kinetics major has earned All-Canadian status in each of her past two seasons (First Team in 2018, Second Team in 2019) and was a key piece of the Gryphons women's soccer team that captured the first OUA title in program history during the 2017 season. A.J. Chase is a receiver on the Gryphon football team who is set to enter his fourth year at U of G in 2020. The management economics and finance major hails from Montreal and is on the radars of several CFL teams after being invited to take part in the 2020 U SPORTS East West Bowl this past spring (prior to the event being cancelled). Both Victoria and A.J. provide updates on how the cancellation of university sports in 2020 has impacted their respective situations, while also offering some insight into what the future might hold for these two impact players in the Gryphon varsity family

For Episode 7 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we chat with Dr. Scott VanBommel, a former goalie with the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team, who now makes a living south of the border in Missouri where he works as a physicist and planetary scientist at Washington University in St. Louis. Scott spent parts of four seasons (2008-09 to 2011-2012) with the Gryphons men's hockey team, suiting up for the Gryphs during the final two years of his undergrad, as well as the first two years of his Masters (in Physics). While part of the men's hockey program, Scott also contributed to a University of Guelph research team (led by Professor Ralf Gellert) that designed and calibrated an instrument called an alpha particle X-ray spectrometer, or APXS for short. This instrument was carried to Mars aboard the Mars rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity. The instrument, which is located on the arm of the Mars rovers, is used to measure the composition of rocks on Mars. Scott's incredible career has multiple highlights, including a 2018 NASA-funded expedition to Antarctica in search of meteorites. The former Gryphons men's hockey goalie also came incredibly close to earning the prestigious title of Canadian astronaut as, for just the third time in the past 25 years, the Canadian Space Agency sent out a recruitment call for astronauts. Out of a pool of over 4,000 applicants, Scott was one of the finalists for the coveted position, ultimately finishing somewhere in the range between the final 30-to-70 candidates in the Canadian Space Agency's search for their next astronaut. Scott provides us with some terrific insight into the whole astronaut selection process and also reflects on his time at the University of Guelph and explains how his athletic background has set him up for ­success in his current career as a physicist and planetary scientist.­

For Episode 6, we chat with Jennifer Sygo ---- a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist at Cleveland Clinic Canada --- who has some strong Gryphon roots! After having completed her Masters of Science from the University of Guelph, specializing in Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism, Jennifer has gone on to put together a sensational career, working alongside some of the biggest sporting teams and organizations in our country.She's the Performance Nutritionist for the Toronto Raptors and has also worked with players from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies, as well as multiple Olympians through her work with Athletics Canada and Gymnastics Canada!She's not only a registered dietician and sports nutritionist, she's also a professional speaker and author who was a whole lot of fun to talk to!Jennifer shares some great stories from her time with the Raptors (including being IN the championship parade!) at both the beginning and end of the podcast, while also sharing a bunch of entertaining and informative stories in between. Please enjoy – Episode 6 of Gryph Nation Radio with the Performance Nutritionist of the NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, Jennifer Sygo!

Britt Benn spent five years at the University of Guelph --- studying sociology and competing for the Gryphons women's rugby team from 2008-to-2012.  In that time, the native of Napanee, ON put together one of the most decorated athletic careers in Gryphon history! As a Gryphon, she was a 5-time OUA champion, a national champion in 2011 (one of just two national titles in the history of our women's rugby program at U of G) and a 4x All-Canadian. By her senior season at Guelph --- she was named U of G's Female Athlete of the Year and the OUA's Female Athlete of the Year (from across all sports)! In life after Guelph --- Britt Benn has gone on to represent Canada at the highest level in women's rugby, which has taken her all over the globe. She has helped transform the Canadian women's rugby 7's program into one the best in the world. The former Gryphon chats with us in Episode 5 about all things related to her standout career with Rugby Canada, including her experience at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where she helped lead Canada to Olympic bronze. Episode 5 is set to be released on July 23, the exact day that would have marked the opening of the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, where Britt would have officially earned the title of two-time Olympian after successfully helping Canada qualify for Tokyo. Now, she and her teammates will have to wait until 2021 with the Olympics pushed back a year due to the coronavirus. Britt also talks about her life outside of rugby, which includes a promising career as a firefighter!

Back on June 8, 2020, the OUA and U SPORTS offices announced the cancellation of all sanctioned sport programming and championships up to December 31st, 2020. For Episode 4 of our Gryph Nation Radio podcast, we chat with one of the key figures in University sport in our country in Gord Grace, President and CEO of Ontario University Athletics.Gord provides some insight into what went into the difficult decision to cancel Fall sports and programming due to COVID-19, and also weighs into what a potential return to sport might look like come 2021 and beyond.Gord's unique perspective on university sport is aided by his diverse background, which includes time not only as an administrator, but also as a former head coach (Mount Allison football), athletic director (University of Windsor) and student-athlete (Waterloo Warriors).Episode 4, which comes out on Thursday, July 16, is available across all major platforms and wherever you get your podcasts!

From the University of Guelph to the NFL in less than five years, NFL pro scouts Chris Rossetti (Miami Dolphins) and Curtis Rukavina (Buffalo Bills) stop by the Gryph Nation Radio podcast to chat about their impressive rise through the ranks of pro football scouting.Former teammates with the Gryphon football program, both reflect fondly on their time as Gryphons, as well as their time working within CFL player personnel, helping set them up for their current careers in the NFL.Chris Rossetti was a quarterback for the Gryphons from 2008-2011, while Curtis Rukavina suited up at linebacker for the Gryphs from 2009-2012.

For Episode No. 2 of Gryph Nation Radio, we're joined by the University of Guelph Female and Male Athletes of the Year for the 2019-20 season, Zoe Sherar and Job Reinhart.Zoe chats with us on her outstanding third season as a Gryphon, in which the Toronto native racked up six gold medals at championship meets (3 at OUA's, 3 at U SPORTS) en route to leading the Gryphs to a third straight national title in women's Track and Field, while Job Reinhart, a two-sport star with the Gryphons (football and wrestling), reflects on his standout, five-year career at U of G.Our chat also dives into future aspirations for these two Gryphons, including Zoe's Olympic dreams as well as the next steps in Job's post-varsity journey, which has the Guelph native applying to join the Guelph Police Service. Both of these student-athletes have dominated athletically during their time at U of G, but both have also served as tremendous ambassadors for the Gryphon community.

For our very first guest, we are proud to joined by one of the most recognizable Gryphons ever in Cassie Campbell-Pascall.A former Gryphons women's hockey player from 1992-97, and a national icon who has three Olympic medals to her name (2 gold, 1 silver), Cassie chats with us about everything from her playing days with Team Canada, to her trailblazing broadcasting career on Hockey Night in Canada, and of course, we take a look back on her formative and memorable time as a Gryphon!