Overnight road trips are often synonymous with leisure, adventure, and the unexpected, but for the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues athletes, these trips provide a chance to mentally and physically prepare for one thing: a win. Both men’s hockey defenseman Cameron Bernier and women’s basketball forward Liane Bailey explained their experiences with road trips to The Varsity.
WILLIAM AHN/THE VARSITY
Throughout the season and pre-season, athletes travel all over Canada and occasionally south of the border for games, tournaments, and competitions. During these trips, the athletes need to focus on the challenges posed by their opponents, despite the natural desire to explore the new cities on the way to their final destination.
“We always take road trips seriously because we need to win games, and the focus is on basketball,” says Bailey. Bernier echoes this statement in saying that, “Most guys only bring a bit of homework on the road unless it is around exam time, so it really gives us an opportunity to focus on the hockey.” Consequently, the itinerary remains simple and basic on these trips, allowing athletes to prepare for games and competitions during the little time that they have between sleep and the road.
While business is a top priority for athletes, there are no shortages of memorable moments. Often, curiosities and dreams are fulfilled on these trips: described Bernier. “Some of the fourth–year guys like myself have gotten to play in front of really big crowds in Boston a few times now… We’ve gotten to practice in the Boston Bruins practice facilities, and we also practiced in the Columbus Blue Jackets home rink.”
Bailey also reflects on an unforgettable experience while travelling with the team: “One of my most memorable road trip experiences was in my first year on the team when we travelled to Fredericton, New Brunswick to play in a championship for a berth to Nationals. It was a big challenge because the winner of the tournament got one of the eight spots at Nationals.
“It felt absolutely amazing to win our way to Nationals. It was especially sweet because we won the championship game against the Western Mustangs, a team that we have a big rivalry with,” she explains.
In addition to memorable moments, road trips give “players a chance to bond a bit more as a team, and in the early part of the season, really get to know the new guys and the new team dynamic for the year,” Bernier explained. Not only does this opportunity to bond add to the fun of any trip, but it also creates a positive environment where the sport and the games become focal points, and where each player can perform to the best of his or her ability.
“It isn’t easy trying to win on an opponent’s court in an unfavourable atmosphere and that’s a reality that all varsity players know,” Bailey says.
Road trips are certainly a part of the experience of being a varsity athlete that students look forward to. With a shift to the west division this year, the men’s hockey team has not been on as many overnight road trips and have found themselves yearning for them.
“You can tell that the second–year players and older are sometimes missing those weekends when we are away from Toronto for three or four days, and living a much simpler lifestyle,” said Bernier.
Beyond all of this, road trips are an opportunity for our varsity teams to represent the University of Toronto as best as they can, and based on the dedication and enthusiasm apparent in Bernier and Bailey, there is no doubt that they are doing just that.
