Author: xsun2368

My name is Michael (Xiao Wen) Sun. I was born on December 6th, 1996 in Luoyang, China. I moved to Toronto, Ontario in 2001 and then to Hamilton in 2007. My family has lived there ever since. I have a younger brother who I enjoy hanging out with. My hobbies include running, writing and playing sports. I was a sea cadet from 2009 to 2014. I have played house league hockey for three years. I went to Westdale Secondary School (near McMaster University) and I am a current Bachelor of Journalism Student at Carleton University.
U SPORTS
Men's Basketball

“Survive and advance”: Ravens edge Citadins in U SPORTS quarterfinal

Halifax, NS- It came down to the final shot. The UQAM Citadins men’s basketball team – fresh off their RSEQ championship – were trailing 73-71 with eight seconds remaining. Here was their chance to advance at U SPORTS Final 8. Just a day earlier, UQAM head coach Mario Joseph talked about his team being underdogs against Carleton in their Final 8 quarterfinal matchup. He talked about … Continue reading “Survive and advance”: Ravens edge Citadins in U SPORTS quarterfinal

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Men's Basketball

“It’s a Pretty Difficult Feat”: OUA and RSEQ U SPORTS Final 8 Preview

Hamilton, ON- With the U SPORTS men’s basketball Final 8 tipping off on Mar. 10, there is a strong contingent from the OUA. The Ottawa Gee-Gees, Carleton Ravens and Queen’s Gaels are ranked second, third and fifth in the tournament.  “We feel like we play in certainly the toughest division in Canada [with Ottawa and Carleton],” Queen’s Gaels head coach Steph Barrie said. “We’ve certainly been … Continue reading “It’s a Pretty Difficult Feat”: OUA and RSEQ U SPORTS Final 8 Preview

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Women's Basketball

U SPORTS WBB Final 8 Preview: Winds of Change Blowing in Sydney?

Hamilton, ON- With this year’s U SPORTS women’s basketball Final 8 field set, one thing stands out from last year: the different teams. Three of the four semi-finalists from 2022 are gone. The only teams returning from last year’s nationals are Queen’s and Acadia.  Also, five of the eight teams have never won a national championship and among the three who have (Carleton, Alberta, Calgary), only … Continue reading U SPORTS WBB Final 8 Preview: Winds of Change Blowing in Sydney?

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Volleyball

“You have complete trust in them”: Full McMaster squad back as Marauders reach Forsyth Finals 

Hamilton, ON- When the OUA playoffs comes around, it’s survive and move on season. That’s what McMaster Marauders men’s volleyball head coach Dave Preston calls it. The Marauders did just that, defeating the York Lions on Mar. 4 in three sets to advance to the Forsyth Cup finals.  The start of the game looked the opposite though as McMaster fell behind 5-0. Once it became 6-2, … Continue reading “You have complete trust in them”: Full McMaster squad back as Marauders reach Forsyth Finals 

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Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball

U SPORTS Final 8 At-Large berths and Seeding Announced

Hamilton, ON- Almost all the teams had been determined already by the end of Saturday night for the men’s and women’s basketball U SPORTS Final 8 tournaments. Now, we know the seeding and matchups.  On the women’s side, the OUA champion Carleton Ravens earn the number one seed. The last time the Ravens were the one seed, they won the national title in 2018. They face … Continue reading U SPORTS Final 8 At-Large berths and Seeding Announced

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Men's Basketball

Hot shooting Gee-Gees end losing run to Ravens and capture Wilson Cup

Ottawa, ON- There’s an old saying in sports that it’s hard to beat the same team multiple times in a row. Perhaps that saying holds especially true between crosstown rivals – as the Carleton Ravens and Ottawa Gee-Gees men’s basketball teams are.  Yet, the Ravens have done so recently. Carleton’s beaten Ottawa both times in this year’s regular season and the past five times in a … Continue reading Hot shooting Gee-Gees end losing run to Ravens and capture Wilson Cup

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Women's Basketball

“We bent but we didn’t break”: McMaster closes out Guelph in playoff nail-biter

Hamilton, ON- Was this the moment everything would change? Things had been going well for the McMaster Marauders women’s basketball team up until then – or at least as well as you could hope for in a tough playoff game. A nail-biter, as playoff games usually are, Marauders head coach Theresa Burns called it. The Marauders and Guelph Gryphons were in a tight battle throughout the first … Continue reading “We bent but we didn’t break”: McMaster closes out Guelph in playoff nail-biter

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Women's Basketball

The Making of Amy Stinson 

Hamilton, ON – When Keith Stinson texts his daughter Amy after one of her basketball games, he keeps it short and simple. Great game, he’ll say. He doesn’t go into detail about anything else – unless she wants to. His daughter Amy is a third-year forward on the McMaster Marauders women’s basketball team. A member of the OUA All-Rookie Team. Before that, she was a standout player … Continue reading The Making of Amy Stinson 

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Volleyball

“Tu l’a”: McMaster’s Christine Hachokake reaches her Zen point

Toronto, ON- When Christine Hachokake is in a game, she tells herself two words in French: “Tu l’a”. You have it. It’s what her mom always tells her when she’s playing volleyball. The McMaster Marauders first-year middle tells herself that as well. It helps gives her confidence. When she tells herself You have it, it brings her to a Zen.  “It makes me think that I’m unstoppable,” Hachokake said. … Continue reading “Tu l’a”: McMaster’s Christine Hachokake reaches her Zen point

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Women's Basketball

“It felt real then”: Pietra Kamstra celebrates McMaster career on emotional seniors night 

Hamilton, ON- When the starting lineups were announced, Pietra Kamstra heard her name called for the first time in her McMaster Marauders career.  It was the fourth-year forward’s final regular season game. It was seniors night. The game itself concluded with a 94-73 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues on Feb. 18. The ceremonies before and afterwards though… “It’s been a pretty special day,” Marauders head … Continue reading “It felt real then”: Pietra Kamstra celebrates McMaster career on emotional seniors night 

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